“No. I was offered a position of course, but I’ve decided I may as well take my retirement now. That way the wife and I can get traveling and enjoy what time we have left.” He patted Evan on the shoulder, his touch firm belying his advanced years. “Don’t look so wounded on my part, Evan. I’m rather happy the way it’s all turned out to tell you the truth. I struggle to keep up now and I’m going to make the most of my retirement, make no bones about that.” He walked to the door. “If you want to go up and make yourself known to the hospital staff, feel free. The appointment book is rather lacking today.”
“Right, I might just do that. Thanks.” Evan watched him walk out and shut the door before letting out the deep sigh of frustration building up inside him. How could Denver not tell him what was happening? It didn’t make sense. Even if she was annoyed over his blunder, he would have thought she would take pleasure in informing him of the change. To say nothing was strange indeed. Perhaps it was her way of making him pay for being so demanding.
There was nothing for it, he needed to go and speak to her before things got out of hand and he lost his cool completely. After the last couple of weeks, it almost felt like they had reached an impasse. Both holding back on their tempers, being polite because they couldn’t agree on the solution to their problem and neither of them wanting to back down. This just about put the final nail in the coffin as far as he was concerned. Evan grabbed his truck keys and headed out only to be stopped by the receptionist.
“Dr. Watson, I have Dr. Sinclair on the phone for you.” She held out the receiver but he shook his head, his heart heavy.
“Tell her I’m not available at this time please.” So now she calls to tell me. Too late, Denver. He turned from her, ignoring the shocked expression, and walked out. When he climbed behind the wheel, Evan berated himself. That was childish and uncalled for. He excused it by telling himself he wanted to see her face when she explained why she’d failed to inform him of the change on plans. Plans that had an effect on how they looked at each other from here on in.
He parked in the visitor’s bay and strode into the hospital, walked past the receptionist to the elevator, and punched the button for the top floor with anger in every movement. When the doors opened he stomped in and turned his back on the other occupants, waiting for the doors to close and the elevator to rise. He wondered how she would react and what her excuses would be. Surely she would come clean and apologize. At least look as though she’d gone over the top without consulting him.
The doors opened with a ping and he stepped out and walked over to her office. Her receptionist knew him and nodded for him to go ahead. When he stepped into her room, she was on the phone having a heated discussion. Evan saw the resignation in her eyes and knew he had picked it right. This was payback for his ultimatum and bile burned its way up his throat. There could be no marriage if this was how they were going to treat each other.
Denver put down the phone and turned to him. “Evan, why didn’t you take my call?”
*
She waited for him to answer, but it was the hurt and disappointment in his eyes that she noticed more than anything.
“Why didn’t you tell me? Seems to be a pattern with you lately.” He walked over and rested his hands on the back of the chair opposite her desk. His knuckles showed white and she knew he was angrier than his cold face showed. As she would have been too if the roles were reversed.
“I didn’t know until this morning.”
He raised an eyebrow and made a noise she could only describe as a snort. “Right. How convenient. And you being the head of the hospital, you seriously expect me to believe that?” He kept his voice low. “You knew what you were doing, Denver, you can’t deny it. I’ve lost my job because of what you put in place.”
“Evan, I’m sorry.” She walked around the table with the email in her hand and held it out to him. “I only found out this morning, the same as you did. I had no idea they would do this to you. You have to believe me.” She winced as he ripped the paper from her hand and Denver returned to the safety of her chair. While he read the letter that had gutted her first thing this morning, she tried to see things from his point of view. His job was the reason they’d moved here to begin with. And now it was all taken from him and it was indirectly her fault.
He threw the email on her desk and ran a hand around the back of his neck before looking in her direction. “I’m sorry. I thought it was your fault and you weren’t telling me because we fought again and aren’t really talking to each other. I figured it was payback for me being such an idiot.” He sighed before moving to sit in the chair. “We can’t go on like this, Denver. I love you and I’ve made a mess of things. I don’t know how to fix it between us.”
The tears welled in her eyes and she averted her gaze. Hormones playing up already. How on earth do people manage this thing called pregnancy? She wasn’t a crier, never had been. When things went wrong she turned in on herself and hid behind a mask of calm and disinterest.
Evan jumped to his feet and hurried around the desk toward her. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her to her feet to snuggle her against his chest. That was when she really lost it and sobbed uncontrollably. The soft, smooth action of his hand rubbing circles on her back as he spoke soothing words in her ear took her back to childhood. Her mother had been the caring, nurturing type unlike her father. She missed the comforting arms when her mother died and left them in the hands of their work-oriented father.
Now she had Evan to look after her. It was a warm, loving heat that went straight to her heart. He was a good man and she’d hurt him by doing what she’d done. Perhaps if they’d talked it over at night instead of being evasive and caught up in their own sadness, this wouldn’t have happened.
Denver sniffed and tried to form the right words. “I’m sorry. If I’d known they were going to do that to you I wouldn’t have gone ahead with the clinic.” She listened to the patter of his steady heartbeat against her cheek, content to stay against his chest.
“I know it’s not your fault, the email proves that. Regardless, I should have trusted you and I didn’t. I’m sorry.” He kissed the top of her head before letting her go.
She glanced into his face. “We should have talked about it before I made the decision.”
“No, we shouldn’t have. It’s your job, Denver, to do what you want to do here. Including me in your plans might be nice but not necessary. Besides, if you’d asked, I would have said go ahead because I know it makes sense.” He wiped his thumbs under her eyes, drying the remnants of her tears. “I’ll gladly start work here next week if that’s what you want me to do.”
“I want you to head the unit, Evan. You have the knack for organizing people and making everyone feel good about themselves, and I’m not only talking about the patients. The doctors love you, too. My father made a mistake not giving you that job. Now I’m so grateful he didn’t.”
“Yeah, me too as it happens. Part of me is still pissed, although I’m loving being back home with the family.” He dropped a kiss on her lips. “Listen, about what I said about a baby.” He shushed her when she tried to speak. “I was out of line, way out of line. We talked about this already and decided to wait until we had time together for ourselves and I still think that’s the best way. We’re in no position to bring a baby into the world just now; it wouldn’t be fair. My pissy mood isn’t enough to make us change our mind. Let’s leave things as they were for now. No baby, not until we’re both ready. Let’s just concentrate on the two of us, okay?”
Any further protests were stayed when his lips met hers and he kissed her with such passion her brain went into meltdown. She’d missed their lovemaking these last few weeks while they’d been avoiding each other. Now her body reacted with a need that frightened her. Denver nibbled at his lips as her hips thrust against his pelvis. “Tonight, Evan. We have so much to make up for.” Her tongue delved into his mouth to play a game of catch and keep.
Ev
an pulled away from her, his breath ragged. “If you don’t stop that, we’ll be on your desk making up for lost time.” He kissed her gently and untangled her arms from around his neck. “I have to get back to work. Maybe when we’re working closer together we can organize a lunchtime liaison. For now I must leave you, as much as it pains me.”
Denver walked him to the door. She was prepared to tell Evan about the baby, but after his words she needed to think about it some more. He wasn’t ready so it was a case of how to make him think he was. It would bear some careful planning on her part, but it was early days and anything could happen. She had plenty of time.
Chapter Twenty-Two
After a few weeks on the job, Evan was happier than he’d been for a long time. The position was all he wanted and more. He had the responsibility of a small team of doctors rather than a large department in a city hospital and being a hands-on unit manager suited him more than he thought possible. He spent the better part of his day seeing patients and always finished it off by doing paperwork, and most of that he did in Denver’s office so they could spend time together. She set him up with his own desk and computer and neither of them seemed to encroach on the other’s work.
Things at home settled down and he was now a happy man. He’d mended the fences with Denver and their relationship was on an even keel once again. The couple of attempts she’d made to start a discussion about babies was quickly averted and even though he wouldn’t be upset if she changed her mind, the last thing he wanted to do was pressure her. Being the head of the hospital agreed with her. She sported a healthy happy glow he’d never seen in the city. Mix that in with the fresh country air, and it was bound to make a woman more beautiful.
He gathered up his papers and files ready to log into the computer and headed out to the corridor ready to go upstairs. “Hi, Evan. Long time no see.”
A tall red-headed woman walked over to him and matched his pace to the elevator. “Claire? Claire Banks?”
“Yep, that’s me. Local pathologist. Been meaning to come down and have a chat with you. I’ve been kind of busy upstairs doing my thing. Glad to see you’re here working alongside your gorgeous wife, too.”
“Worked out well, didn’t it? I have to say it’s a change from the city. Tell me, what are you up to? Married, kids?” He pushed the button for the top floor and glanced at her. She still had the freckles across her nose that he used to tease her about in school. And the pigtails he used to pull were now in a sleek ponytail down her back.
“Yes, two little horrors. You remember Tommy Hilderburg?”
“Nerdy Burg? The kid who always had his head in a book at school?” Evan waited for her to walk in before him and then he pushed the button for his floor.
“That’s the guy, my guy now.” She grinned and held a basket of blood vials in front of her. “Been married seven years next month. He’s a research scientist for the agriculture department.”
“Guess all that reading paid off then. That’s wonderful. I’ll tell Denver. We’ll have to catch up. Can’t wait to meet your kids.”
“They are pretty cute. Best thing I did apart from marry their father. You’re going to make a great dad too, Evan. Can’t wait to see you with a baby in your arms. When’s it due, about August, isn’t it?”
He must have blanched because the look on Claire’s face was almost comical. “Oh heck. I’ve put my foot in it, haven’t I?” She swallowed and looked down at her hands. “I do that, speak when I should shut my mouth. I’m sorry, Evan.”
He recovered quickly. “No, no, it’s alright. I didn’t think we were telling anyone until next month. I must have been mistaken.” His gut churned and he willed the elevator to hurry up and get to her floor so he could be rid of her and get his head around the latest news Denver hadn’t shared with him. “Yes, August it is. We’re both very excited.”
At last the elevator paused and the door dinged open. Claire rushed out with a backward glance at Evan. “Bye.”
“See you around.” He waved his hand willing the doors to close and trap him alone with the latest bombshell. He needed to think about this before he ran off at a tangent and made matters worse again. Why would Denver not tell him but tell Claire? It didn’t make sense, at least not to him.
*
The following day was his morning off and he headed straight to where he knew he would find a sympathetic ear—his brother Rory. They caught up as the deputy walked the streets, doing his rounds of the town, talking to locals and keeping an eye on things. He stopped when Evan walked toward him, the expression on his face one of here we go again, what have you done? The look Evan was used to getting when he was growing up.
“What’s wrong now?” Rory paused and crossed his arms as if waiting for bad news.
“I need to talk to you. Can we go somewhere a bit more private?” He felt bad interrupting his brother’s day, but Rory was always the best person to bounce ideas off of.
“Let’s head to the park across the road. Nobody over there at the moment. I’ll even push you on the swing if it’ll take the sour look from your face.”
“Gee thanks. You’re too kind to me.” He knew the sarcasm would be lost on his older brother, but saying the words made him feel better, if only for a second.
Rory leaned against the fence and watched as Evan perched himself on a swing. “What’s up?”
“Denver is pregnant.”
Rory grinned, then paused. “Why aren’t you happy? I thought it was what you wanted.”
“I do. At least I did I think. Denver didn’t tell me though. Claire did yesterday when I met her at the hospital. She thought I knew.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh. I don’t get it. Do I see a pattern here?” Evan gripped the chain supporting the swing. “Why can’t my own wife tell me these things? Why do I have to find out from someone else?”
“The last time wasn’t her fault, was it? So you might be being a little bit dramatic. I’d be interested to hear why she didn’t see fit to tell you you’re going to be a father though. Unless she doesn’t want a baby. Have you thought of that?”
“Yeah and it scares the crap out of me. What am I going to do if that’s the case?” He let his legs fold under him and the swing moved forward. More by instinct than anything, he leaned back and forward, upping the momentum until he was kicking his feet over the height of his brother’s head. Only when a car horn tooted as it passed and a local gave him a cheery wave did Evan curtail his movements, letting the swing slow until his feet touched the ground again.
“You should be talking to her then, not me.”
“You always help me figure stuff out. It’s only natural I come to you first.”
“Not anymore, Evan. She’s your wife, you need to go to her.”
*
Denver walked down the passageway to emergency to check on staff rosters when a sharp pain sliced through her abdomen, stopping her in her tracks. She doubled over and grasped her stomach, fighting the urge to cry out.
“Denver, Dr. Sinclair, are you okay?” The pathologist who took her blood and did her pregnancy test gripped her arm and eased her back to lean against the wall. “Tell me what’s wrong and I can get you some help.”
Denver bit her lip, the intense pain gripping her abdomen once again. “I don’t know. I think, ah—” She cried out and gripped Claire’s arm, digging her fingers into the flesh.
From a distance, she heard Claire call for a nurse. They bundled her into a wheelchair and hurried her along the passage to the emergency room. She was hustled into a private cubicle and up onto a bed before a doctor was called.
Claire held her hand. “Do you want me to call Evan?”
Biting her lip, she nodded her head, the tears starting to trickle down her cheeks.
“Hold on, Denver. It’ll be alright, you’ll see.”
The grip on her hand disappeared and the doctor took over asking her questions relating to her pregnancy. When he’d done a full exam, he wrote up a r
equest for an ultrasound. “This will give us a better picture. From what I can see, there is a small amount of bleeding and, as you know, that in itself isn’t always a bad sign.” He signaled the nurse. “Take Dr. Sinclair down for this right away and tell them to call me with the results as soon as possible.” He patted Denver on the shoulder, smiling reassuringly at her as they took her down to the women’s health department.
Claire came running up to her as they pushed her down the corridor. “He’s on his way.”
“Thanks, Claire.”
“You hang on, Denver. I’m going with you until he gets here.” She reached for Denver’s hand and gripped it, lending her support which was appreciated.
The trip to the women’s health center only took a few minutes and then there was the hushed consultation with the nurse and ultrasound technician before Denver was wheeled in.
“Hi, Dr. Sinclair. My name is Rosie. Let’s see what’s going on here with this little one, shall we?” Rosie got a sheet and draped it over Denver before lifting her blouse up to expose her barely swollen belly. Once she’d turned on her machine, she got a bottle of gel and squirted it on Denver’s stomach.
“Sorry, it’s always a little bit cold, even though we try to keep it warmer.” She sat on her stool and keyed in some figures before asking the question, “How far along are you?”
“I believe around thirteen weeks.” Her gaze stayed on the screen waiting to see her baby.
“We can give you a confirmation of that anyway once we get started.”
The door burst open and Evan filled the frame. His gaze went to her exposed belly and then her face. Claire stepped aside and he took her space, reaching for Denver’s hand. She started to cry in earnest and he leaned down and held her. She reached her arms around his neck and sobbed.
The Doctor's Husband (The Watson Brothers #3) Page 14