Yeah. Surprise!
“It’s for the best that she never knows, believe me. You two together were too intense. Young love. Bound to burn itself out in time.”
If that were true, why did he still feel like he was waiting for that flame to die out?
6
“You can’t be serious.” Marissa Hartsell fixed Ivey with a look equal parts badass and college professor. Ivey was pretty sure that not a single one of Marissa’s patients thought twice when she ordered them to push.
Even though her A Little Miracle office waiting room was filled with clouds of pink, blue, and white, Marissa didn’t give off the same calming vibe. Ivey hadn’t known what to expect, but it certainly wasn’t this.
Marissa had managed to fit Ivey into her schedule two weeks after Ivey had phoned to ask for some time to talk about her midwifery practice. They were sitting on two chairs in the empty waiting room of the office converted from an old Victorian in the middle of town, and Marissa, from the looks of it, was not one bit thrilled by the idea of a staff of midwives at St. Vincent’s Hospital’s new women’s center.
Ivey had explained the dilemma and her appointment to the subcommittee. She’d explained the doctors’ objections to the idea. This was where Marissa should get on her soapbox and have a tirade about the unfairness of it all.
“Why on earth would you want to work in a hospital?” Marissa asked.
“Because I want women to have the choice of a completely natural labor without any medical interference.”
“In a hospital?” Marissa nearly squeaked out the last word.
“I realize it doesn’t sound like the best place to avoid medical intervention, but—”
“It doesn’t sound like it, because it isn’t. That why we’re here, Ivey.” She waved around her waiting room. “Women do have a choice. We’re part of one of the oldest professions, working with the most natural event in nature. Well maybe the second most natural event, not coincidentally arising from the first.”
“But women don’t even think about midwives anymore. They’re trained to go to doctors, and the option isn’t really ever presented to them. Not often enough.”
“We’ve done a good job of getting the word out around here. But some women are always going to feel safer within the confines of a hospital.” Marissa lifted a shoulder. “I can’t help those women.”
“Don’t you think it would be best if we could all work together? Doctors refer low-risk cases to midwives, and midwives refer high risk to doctors?”
Marissa leaned back in her seat. “Ah, so you’re a dreamer. You didn’t tell me that.”
Ivey sighed. This wasn’t going well. She was supposed to meet Jeff in an hour so she could report on the results of the meeting. Only so far it didn’t look like she’d have anything good to say. “Wouldn’t this give new opportunities to midwives?”
“New opportunities to be subservient to doctors. Let’s face it, the hospital is their turf. They’ve earned it through hundreds of years of the establishment’s rules. We’ve always worked in homes and places where women feel most comfortable. Let the doctors keep the hospitals. As long as they’re in the same building, they’ll never stop interfering.”
Ivey hadn’t expected to have this fight with a midwife. She hadn’t been too surprised by the doctors’ attitudes, but why couldn’t Marissa see this as a new frontier?
“This is already being done in some hospitals in LA and other large cities.”
“I’ve heard, and it’s not working well, in my opinion. Too much medical intervention. Lots of fighting between midwives and doctors. Anyone who has ever been through labor knows that it’s tough to get through it naturally. When the option is available for drugs and comfort, it’s too tempting. Being at home removes that option.”
Sounded like Marissa didn’t have a whole lot of faith in women in labor.
“But what about complications?” Surely Marissa could see the need to be in a hospital for that.
“Ah, yes, for the five percent of low-risk women in labor who wind up having complications? Well that’s when we transport to the hospital. But believe me when I tell you that I’ve never once had to take a patient to the hospital. That’s because being at home reduces the risk of complications. Whenever pain relief is introduced, for instance, complications arise.”
A half hour later, Ivey hadn’t managed to make Marissa budge. When Marissa’s next patient waddled in precisely at noon, Ivey felt as tired as the pregnant woman looked.
After introductions, Ivey prepared to leave, but Marissa quickly pulled her aside for one last parting shot.
“I wouldn’t want to see you lose sight of what’s important. A completely natural, non-medical experience for our patients. Anything less than that and we’ve robbed them of that joyful experience.”
“Thanks for your time.”
“Of course, dear. Anything for a friend of Babs. Why don’t you think about coming to work for me here? I could always use an extra helping hand.”
Ivey nodded. “I’ll give it some thought.”
She hopped in her SUV and it came alive with a pathetic effort, meaning she should have taken Aunt Lucy up on her offer to buy her a new car. The engine light had been flashing on and off for a while. That probably wasn’t good. Next week she’d get it into the shop for a tune-up. Or a major overhaul.
For now, she needed to rethink everything. How was she ever going to convince the board to go along with hiring a staff of midwives? If Marissa’s sentiment was the norm, she’d not only have a bunch of doctors angry for encroaching on their territory, but she’d also have midwives in a tizzy. And you didn’t want to get a midwife in a tizzy.
Maybe she was going about this the wrong way.
Her SUV seemed to agree, as it made a screeching flappetty clackety sound. Ivey coasted off to the side of Merlot Highway. Perfect. Stranded on a sweltering August day. Wearing a white halter dress—obviously the perfect outfit for car trouble. She made the useless effort of pulling up her hood, always more of call for help than anything else. Like waving a flag of distress. Nothing under the hood made sense to her anyway.
With the hood up, she stared at the engine. Someone would stop and help. She should stand and look concerned. Oh look, the thingamajig is broken. Dear me, I’ll need a new whatchamacallit.
Within a few minutes, she had her first stop. She didn’t recognize the guy, so he might be a tourist. Then again, she didn’t know everyone in town anymore. This guy looked like an auto guy, big and burly with a handlebar mustache. And probably no danger to her at all in the middle of the day.
“What’s the trouble?” he asked.
“Ah, well. Not sure.” Ivey looked down at the engine and shook her head. Like she’d tried to figure it out, but dang it, she was stumped this time.
She moved aside so he could look, but before he did he gave her a long look. “You’re Ivey, aren’t you?”
She tried to smile. “Do I know you?”
“Nope, but I know you.” He rocked back on his heels. “I had a blue ribbon.”
“Let me guess. You work at the hardware store.”
He took a few steps back, shaking his head. “I work at the car shop. Bad luck for you that Dr. Jeff doesn’t work on his own car. I’d help you, but I had a blue ribbon.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! Everyone took down their ribbons ages ago. It doesn’t count anymore. Are you going to leave me out here? Where’s your sense of decency?”
“Where’s yours? Date a Deusch.com over a doctor, lady? Anyway, it’s the bro code. Nah, tell you what. I’ll call someone else to help you. Someone who had a pink ribbon.” He ambled over to his truck and got back in.
It was official. Everyone in this town was shit-faced crazy. Certifiable.
“He broke up with me!” Ivey shouted as the guy took off.
Ivey stomped her foot, took out her cell and dialed Brooke. She was working, something about the first crush, but maybe she’d answer. No such luck,
as the phone switched over to voice mail. Was Ivey really supposed to wait here until someone who had a pink ribbon showed up? Would the insanity ever end?
No other cars passed by in the next few minutes. It was the middle of the day in the middle of the week, and she wasn’t going to stand around until someone meandered home. She was only a few miles from the hospital, and if she didn’t get there soon she’d be late for her meeting with Jeff. Late to tell him that the women’s center might have to be fully staffed by doctors, because no midwives would come near it.
Lillian wouldn’t be thrilled. She’d given her a chance, and Ivey couldn’t blow it now.
Ivey rubbed her forehead. She felt a headache coming on, and the heat didn’t help.
Whipping out her cell phone, she thought about calling Jeff, but that would take him away from the hospital. Sick people needed him more than she needed a ride.
She’d walk. It couldn’t be more than a mile or two.
* * *
Some people changed their mind every ten minutes. Ivey now wanted more of his fries. She had that familiar longing in her eyes, so he pushed the plate in her direction.
“Have as many as you want, Little Face.” He couldn’t remember the last time he’d called her that, but she didn’t even blink. Smiled and licked her lips.
And since when did she wear lingerie to the diner? How had he failed to notice she wore the same red lace teddy he’d bought her from Victoria’s Secret so long ago?
Damn, she drove him crazy. Always had.
He wanted to kiss her more than he wanted his next breath, and for the first time in years they seemed to be on the same wavelength. She joined him on his side of the booth, threading her fingers through his hair.
“Ivey,” he groaned.
She put a finger on his lips. “Shhhh.”
That’s when he heard the buzzing sound. It got louder and louder as Ivey got smaller and smaller in his arms. “Wait. What’s happening? Where are you going?”
When she disappeared, he woke up with a jolt.
Damn it. Sleeping on a cot in the doctor’s lounge again. Alone. No Ivey anywhere in sight. Certainly not in his arms.
His cell phone was buzzing. “What?”
“Hey, Doc. It’s me, Tim.”
Tim? His mechanic? Jeff rubbed his eyes. “What’s up?”
“Thought you should know. Your ex? She’s stranded on the side of Merlot Highway. I didn’t help her. Solidarity, bro.”
What the hell? “Wait. Are you telling me you didn’t help her because of the blue ribbon?”
“Yeah, and I feel bad. I was going to call someone, then I thought maybe you’d want to know.”
“Tim, you should have picked her up.”
“I can go back now. I’ll do it. Whatever you say.”
“Never mind. I’ll go get her.”
“By now someone else gave her a ride. Doc, she looked real pretty.”
Jeff was almost positive she did, especially in this heat. Probably not dressed like a prairie woman today. The thought had him reaching inside his locker for his keys and grabbing a cold bottle of water from the fridge in the lounge.
“Anyway, thanks for calling me. You and I will talk about this later.”
“Good luck. I really would like to get rid of the blue and pink ribbons. I have a lot of female customers that still won’t talk to me.”
“Yeah.” Jeff thought they had gotten rid of them, but apparently Ivey’s reappearance had dredged the whole thing back up.
“I’ll be right back,” he called out to the charge nurse.
He wasn’t a mile from the hospital when he saw her in the distance, walking slowly until she saw him pull to the side of the road. Then she picked up her pace. It made him smile.
“Get in.” He turned the car around, and hung his head out the window as he drove behind her on the shoulder.
“I’m almost there. Sorry I’m late for our meeting, but my SUV broke down.” She finally stopped walking, turned to him, and damn if she didn’t look like she could headline a wet t-shirt contest. Sweat dripped down her neck and had soaked through her halter dress, leaving nothing to the imagination, not that he needed any reminders.
“I got here as soon as I heard.” He stopped the car, and walked around to open the passenger door. “I’ve got air conditioning.”
She tentatively moved toward the car, for which he was grateful because he didn’t really want to throw her over his shoulder and drag her into the car.
Her hand went to her neck, dabbing at some of the sweat. “Thanks. It’s getting a little hot out here.”
Considering the trip computer in his car said the temperature was a balmy ninety-eight degrees, he’d have to agree. He felt stuck somewhere between anger with her for trying to walk all this way in the heat, and guilt that his car mechanic thought he’d been doing Jeff a favor.
Finally she climbed in the passenger seat and turned the dial up to Antarctica, pointing every vent in her direction.
“Drink.” He handed her the bottled water. “Why didn’t you call your aunt, anyway?”
“She’s in Europe on vacation.”
Ah, the constant holiday of the wealthy Aunt. “Speaking of your Aunt Lucy, why couldn’t she use some of her bounty to get you a better car?”
“She offered. But I’m not going to be one of the people who are constantly taking her money.”
Typical Ivey, always offering to help, never asking for any. “She is your aunt.”
She guzzled, then turned to him with a pout. “Your mechanic wouldn’t help me. Something about the bro code. And the blue ribbon.”
“Sorry. But he did call me, so his conscience must have been nagging at him.” As well it should have. If it weren’t for the fact that Tim was an excellent mechanic and Jeff was a doctor that shouldn’t send people to the ER, he would have no compulsion with beating the shit out of Tim. Jeff could take him, too.
Ivey finished off the bottle, and as if she’d suddenly noticed that she was giving him a free show, she covered her breasts with her hands. “Oh. My. God.”
He turned to keep from showing her his smile, and pulled out onto the highway.
“I guess you’re enjoying this.”
“Never.”
“What did you tell everyone after we broke up? There must be some reason the entire town took sides. It must have been something you told them.”
Of course she would blame him. “I didn’t say anything at all. But I don’t know, maybe I might have given off a certain vibe.”
“What kind of vibe?” Her eyes narrowed.
That his heart had been ripped out by the seams? That he was a damn fool? He hadn’t said a word, but he was pretty sure his face had said everything for him. “The bummer vibe?”
“This isn’t fair. There are two sides to this story.”
“There usually are. But you’re the one who left.”
“And you left me first. That’s the part everyone seems to be missing, because you kept your mouth shut like a typical man! So I leave town and some people assume I’m the one who broke up with you?”
Yeah, she was really fired up now. Too bad he loved it when she got all heated and outraged. It didn’t happen often enough. “That’s usually how it works. And you told everyone that would listen that you’d met someone over the internet and were going to be with him.”
“So because I try to move on with my life, I get the blame?”
“Forget about it. This is what people in a small town do. Entertain themselves with the gossip mill. You knew that before you left.”
“But why do they have to pick on us?” She sighed and brought her hands down from her breasts. “It’s kind of funny, in a bizarre way. Blue and pink ribbons.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I think today’s going to go a long way toward ending the problem.”
“You do?”
“Think about it. Tim called me, and he knew I was coming to get you. He’ll tell his wife, who’ll
tell her friends. And on and on.”
“Right. They’ll know that you and I aren’t angry at each other, and maybe then they’ll stop being mad too.”
Jeff sensed an opening and he proceeded to drive the proverbial Mac truck through it. “The best thing you and I can do is show everyone in town that we’re getting along. That we’re friends again.”
“Yeah. We better get the word out.”
He nodded. “Having dinner with me might help too.”
She whipped her head around so fast he worried about whiplash for a minute. “You and me? Not for real. That can’t happen. We’re not going there again.”
“Going where?” Yep, he was going to do this. Watch her walk right into his trap.
“Sex. Getting back together. Do I have spell it out for you?”
“Wow,” he said. “I’m flattered. But I was talking about dinner. You and your one-track mind.”
Suddenly, absolute quiet from the passenger seat. But as his luck would have it, not for long. “I caught you staring at my boobs. Don’t try to lie to me now.”
“I’m a man, Ivey, and right now you’re a wet-t-shirt-contest dream.”
“Don’t you dare stare at my boobs!”
He grinned. “Try and stop me.”
She shifted her entire body away from him, facing the passenger side door. “I don’t suppose you’d consider taking me home to change before we have our meeting.”
Would he consider taking her home? This day was turning out better than he could have expected, but he was due back at the hospital. Eventually someone would page him.
He hesitated too long because Ivey changed her mind. “Never mind, actually. We shouldn’t even bother with a meeting. Take me home.”
THE STARLIGHT HILL COMPLETE COLLECTION: 1-8 Page 6