“Asking for trouble here, you know that right?”
“Yeah, but I don’t consider it trouble.”
“Tempted to make you change your mind, Dr. Sinclair.”
“Did it worry you that I didn’t change my name, Evan?” She listened to his heart beating in his chest. They hadn’t really discussed it when she’d signed the register. He’d accepted it without question.
“No, why should it? I figured you’d want to keep it anyway. I mean, you have all those medical papers written and Sinclair is the name you have on them. Be a shame for you to have to explain to anyone who cared that you are the same person when you didn’t have to.”
“That’s another thing I love about you. So practical and easygoing.”
“Don’t see the point of being any other way. I can stand up for myself when I need to but why make waves when it’s unnecessary? I prefer the quiet life and I’m happy to leave the drama to other people.”
“I can’t wait to start our new life together.”
Chapter Seventeen
After the move to Marietta. settling into a new routine seemed easy for the both of them. Evan loved kissing his wife goodbye each morning as they went to their respective jobs—Denver to the hospital and him to the quieter-paced job as a family doctor.
Each evening over dinner, he listened to Denver telling him about her day. The challenges she faced and the plans she was putting in place. He was excited for her and fiercely proud of his new wife as he told Rory over a cup of coffee on his lunch break. “She is so keen to bring the hospital into this century. I think she’s got more work cut out for her than she realizes.”
Rory leaned back in his old leather chair and sipped his coffee, watching his younger brother over the rim of his mug. “Sounds like she’s enjoying it though. Happy wife, happy life.”
“Well, she’s certainly that.”
“How are you fitting in with the locals? Enjoying it?”
Evan smiled, thinking over his morning’s list of minor ailments and patients who wanted nothing more than an encouraging word from him or to scope out the new doctor. “I love it. Funny because I wasn’t sure I would. Going from a large city hospital to a small-town practice is a bit of a change, no doubt about it. I’m finding it’s interesting and the slower pace of life is rather nice.” He put his mug on the cluttered desk. “What’s the go with Tyson and Layla? Didn’t I see him leave your wedding with her?”
Rory frowned. “Did you? I didn’t.” He grinned. “Sneaky little beast. Knew there was something going on though. Soon as she laid her eyes on him you could see the spark of interest on her part and Chance did say once Layla sets her mind to something there’s no stopping her.” He chewed on his bottom lip. “Probably why she makes such a damned good lawyer. Like a dog with a particularly juicy bone.”
Evan snorted with laughter. “That’s no way to talk about Tyson. He’d have a fit if he could hear us now.”
“Yeah, well he can’t.”
“True. Well…” He stood and placed his empty mug on the desk and stretched out his body. “Best I get back to it so I can pick up my dear wife on time. Got a hot date planned for tonight.”
“Uh, Evan, something I want to tell you before you go.” Rory stood up and came around from the back of his desk. “Don’t let this get too far for now but, well Gina and I are having a baby. I wondered if you’d mind looking after her through the pregnancy for me.”
“Oh, wow. Awesome news, and of course I will.” He grabbed his brother and hugged him, slapping his hand on the back of the man he’d shared a room with growing up. “Congratulations, Rory. You make a great father. I’m very pleased for you.”
“Yeah, me too. I was over the moon when she told me. Best wedding gift ever. Couldn’t have chosen better if she’d asked me to.” He grinned and wiped his hand across his jaw. “I think Denver knows; she guessed at the wedding apparently.”
“We’ll have to have dinner to celebrate.”
“Sounds good.” He slung a casual arm across Evan’s shoulders. “You guys planning on kids anytime soon?”
Evan paused and looked up into the earnest gaze wondering how much he should tell Rory. “Actually, that’s rather a sticky point and not something we’ve discussed that much.”
“How come?” Rory folded his arms and perched on the corner of his desk.
“Well, the night we had dinner with Denver’s father, he made me an offer. It was quite obvious he doesn’t approve of his daughter’s job choice. Thinks she should be home breeding, even if it is with me, and being socially active, not saving lives and premature babies.”
“Guy must live in the dark ages and what’s wrong with you? It’s not like you’re a weird serial killer or something. You’re a valued member of society. Who cares if you were born without a silver spoon in your mouth?”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence but we aren’t in the same league as the Sinclairs. I can live with that but you’re right. He does live in the dark ages, the way he talks, and since her mother died I get the feeling he’s been grooming her to take over the entertainment side of things for him when I know she’s happier doing what she’s doing.”
“So what does that have to do with you guys getting pregnant? I don’t follow.” A frown line set on his forehead.
“You know that job I wanted but missed out on?” Rory nodded, the frown still in place. “Well, he, ah, offered me the job at the end of twelve months if I got Denver pregnant.”
“Are you kidding me? What a dick.”
“I figure he thinks she will suddenly turn into the perfect little hostess he wanted her mother to be and I’ll fall into line and do what he wants as well.”
“What does Denver say about it all?”
Evan shook his head. “I didn’t tell her. She was so upset that night with having to be there and all the innuendos that I kept it to myself. She had enough going on as it was.” He almost broke out in a sweat thinking about how upset she’d been after spending time with her father.
“Probably for the best, in my opinion. You’re not going to let that stop you though?”
“Not if I can help it. Nothing I’d like more than a couple of little ones running around the place. I want to give her time to enjoy the new job first though.” He stepped forward and opened the office door. “Let me know when we can catch up for a meal and we can decide where to have it. Kind of looking forward to having you all over to our place to christen it though.”
“I’ll get Gina onto it then. Catch you later.”
Evan waved a hand and walked out, nodding to the receptionist on the way out the door. He ran down the steps and paused on the sidewalk. Having a baby would be the icing on the cake right now. He had the wife he wanted, a cozy home, great job, and was back living close to family. What more could a guy ask for?
*
Denver’s beeper went off as she washed her hands. She’d been down to maternity to catch up with staff and get to know them when a young woman came in with injuries from a traffic accident. She’d hurried down to emergency to see if she could assist. The screen showed a message and a telephone number for her to call. It’ll keep for another few minutes.
“Thanks for your help, Dr. Sinclair. We were rather understaffed this morning.” The bright young doctor pushed the dirty apron into the wash basket and soaped up his hands.
“Happy to help anytime. That’s what I’m here for. I planned to get down to see you anyway. I want to go over your rosters and see how the present staff-to-patient ratios are working. Any input from you would be great.”
Dr. Kinlay glanced up at her. “Really? That’s great. I’d love to be able to discuss it with you. We get so many non-urgent cases that take up our time that when an emergency comes in the beds could all be full, and it’s hard to shuffle things in a hurry.”
Denver leaned against the wall and watched him scrub. “What would you suggest to make things run more smoothly in that area then? I imagine you’ve given it so
me serious thought.”
“Funnily enough, I have. The last director told us we had to make do and we have, but the strain shows on the staff and it’s not an ideal situation.”
“I have five minutes now, let’s go and get coffee and we can chat about it. All right with you?”
“Perfect. I’ll tell the nurse where I am and then I’m all yours.” He ducked out the door and Denver followed at a more sedate pace. By the time she walked to the nursing station in ER, Dr. Kinlay stood waiting. Together they walked out along the corridor connecting the ER with the entrance to the hospital and the café. Denver ordered a black coffee and paid when her companion placed his order.
They stood back and waited for their drinks and then took them to an unoccupied table in the corner of the room. “What I had in mind was separating the emergencies from the daily doctors’ visits. Lots of people prefer to come to us for what their local GP could do for them for a number of reasons. Money, no insurance or whatever. If we had a dedicated clinic like the one the previous board closed down a few years ago, it would keep them out of the emergency room and free up valuable beds for us.”
“And why wouldn’t the last director do anything about this?” She picked up her cup and sipped, the hot strong brew jolting her senses into instant alert. She swallowed and put it down.
“He was close to retiring and I feel it was something he didn’t want to deal with.”
“Hmm, I can understand that. I rather like the idea myself. Of course we’d have to find a suitable area that would house a doctor and a waiting room if that previous space had been used for something else. I’m assuming it has?” He nodded his head. “I like the idea and I’m keen enough to put it to the board, too, once I’ve done some research on figures, etc. I’ll need to do a proper proposal for it. I like everything in order before I make a move.”
“I agree with that. I do believe there is a large enough space next to x-ray. Pathology used to be there but moved upstairs near your office when it became too small for them. Once their equipment was updated, they had to make the move and nothing’s gone in there as far as I know apart from some storage.”
“Thanks, Dr. Kinlay. I’ll check it out.”
“Call me Reg. It’s nice to have an approachable director for a change. Let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help. Best make my way back before the girls have to page me.” He stood up. “We’ll have to organize a cookout soon too, to welcome you to town. I believe your husband is working in the local clinic. I’d like meet him. If memory serves me right, we were at school together although I was a couple of classes ahead of him.”
“That’s very kind of you. I’d like that and so would Evan.”
“I’ll speak to my wife then. She loves putting these things together. Thanks for the coffee and the chat, Dr. Sinclair.” He smiled and walked away, hands pushed into the pockets of his white coat.
A clinic inside the hospital to ease the case load on the emergency department. What a simple but effective idea that would be. Even though Denver had the authority to go ahead and do what she thought was best for the hospital, she still thought she would like to advise the board of any major changes like this idea.
The buzzer in her pocket sounded again. Damn, forgot about it. She pulled it out of her pocket and read the message. The same number as before. Denver keyed the number in on her phone as she made her way back upstairs to her office. “Hello, this is Dr. Sinclair.”
“Dr. Sinclair, this is Dr. Dunlop. Thought I’d give you a call and see how you’re settling in to the place.”
“Oh, Dr. Dunlop. Hello. I’m loving it so far. Everyone is very friendly and kind, I have to say.”
“Wonderful, wonderful. Listen, the members of the board want to get together for a meet and greet if you don’t mind. It’s a shame they didn’t get to meet you when you came for the visit but with the other candidate dropping out and a few personal commitments, it didn’t quite go to plan. That’s neither here nor there because we can make up for it now. Bring your husband so we can get acquainted. Can we say six o’clock tomorrow?” He gave her directions and hung up.
Wow. She opened the door to her office and walked in, sagging down onto the couch under the window. They still wanted to meet Evan. Oh well, it had to happen sooner or later. At least they were married and it had been his idea to move here to work. It wasn’t as though she only married him for the job as she’d initially planned. She was desperately in love with him and the feeling was mutual. And she could float her idea to Dr. Dunlop as well. It would all work out fine, she just knew it. This was the best move she and Evan could have made. She couldn’t wait to tell him.
Chapter Eighteen
“Do we have to stay long?” Evan whispered in Denver’s ear as she tried to make conversation with one of the most boring people Evan had met. The only indication she gave was a small twitch of her lips. The old lady was a patron of the hospital and a member of the board, and had taken a shine to Denver the moment they’d met. She was probably very nice in small doses, but monopolizing his wife’s time was running a bit thin as far as Evan was concerned.
He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned his head. “Let me get you a fresh drink. Dr. Watson, isn’t it?” The man Denver introduced to him as Dr. Dunlop reached for his glass and Evan took the opportunity to walk away and seek more interesting conversation.
“She really is a lovely lady, but she can be a bit of a bore some days and I’m afraid today is one of them.”
“Hmm, thanks for this.” Evan took the glass and sipped the scotch, letting the alcohol slide down his throat like a trail of deliciously hot fire. “All part of the job I presume. Denver seems happy enough anyway.”
“I’m sorry we never got to meet earlier. I did tell your lovely wife in a phone call before she came in for that fleeting visit we would love to meet you and welcome you back to town. One of the requirements of the job actually.” He smiled serenely and a tingle raced up Evan’s spine.
“Not sure what you mean. Requirement for the job?”
“Well, yes. You were already planning on moving back when she applied so, I rather think it a moot point, don’t you?”
“Yes, I suppose it was.” He took another sip of his drink and looked back over his shoulder at his wife. She was still talking to the old lady and seemed to be enjoying herself. A few other board members were huddled in groups chatting away between themselves.
“Tell me, Evan, if I may call you that, how do you think your wife will handle restoring the hospital? It’s rather a large job to take on. There seems to be a fair bit of re-organizing needed to make the place flow as well as the hospital you both left. I’m afraid things have been let slide just a little and the last director wasn’t really up to the task.”
“Denver is more than capable at tackling anything she puts her mind to. Working with her in the city, it was easy to see how dedicated she is for her job and the people that rely on her.” Unless that person is me, then I seem to be left out somewhat from what you’re saying.
“As I suspected. When she applied for the job we were rather thrilled to read about all of her accomplishments. She’s done a lot of good research work too, which I hope will be put to good use here as well.”
“I’m sure it will be. She’s nothing if not dedicated.”
“And you, Evan, are you enjoying the change from hospital to small-clinic medicine?”
“Yes, I am actually, it’s a nice change of pace for me.” He was rather surprised himself about how much he did enjoy the change and how he wasn’t even missing the hospital.
*
Later that night as they got ready for bed, Denver sat wiping off her makeup when Evan approached her. “When were you going to tell me the real reason you were so keen to get married and move here?”
Her hand stilled and she dropped the cleansing cloth. “What do you mean? You asked me remember?” She focused on a point over the back of his head in the mirror.
�
��According to the dear chatty Dr. Dunlop, he requested to meet me when you applied for the job. Seems he needed to be sure we were going to be living here as a married couple. Local job for local person. This all happened when we were still in the city before we came here for the wedding!” His breathing was ragged, the tension that had been building up since the conversation now finding its way out. “You knew that job was available because you’d already applied for it and had the initial offer.”
“Evan, I—”
“Save it, Denver. You used me. Hell, we’re more like my brothers and their brides than I could imagine. Here I am, the mail-order husband, made to measure. Lucky for you, me being so stuck on you meant you didn’t have to put an ad in the paper. I was already there ripe for the picking.”
“No, it’s not like that.” She turned around but didn’t meet his gaze.
“Bullshit. It’s exactly like that. You needed a husband who lived in town to get the job you wanted. The job that dear old Dad didn’t want you to have. And there I was.” He ran a hand through his hair as she sat there watching him. “The poor sap already half in love with you, just dying for a date. It must have made your day when I invited you here for the wedding and then made noises about moving back. How opportunistic that was. You could pretend you didn’t know anything about it and suck me in.”
“Evan…”
He held up his hand, closed his eyes for a moment. “No, let me finish. I loved you, Denver, so much I couldn’t wait to make you my wife. And you, you couldn’t wait because you wanted something different and, like the fool I am, I fell in with your plans. Like ants to sugar, wasn’t I? So easy to pull in it wasn’t even funny.”
Denver stood up, her gut churning. “I might have known about the job before we went to the wedding but, I swear, I didn’t marry you for it.”
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