NYC Angels: Unmasking Dr. Serious Page 14

  He swung round to face her. “I’ll take you up on that offer any time,” he said in a low voice. Just the thought of her hands on him made him tighten with need.

  “What’s for breakfast?” The way she shied away from the subject helped cool his desire.

  “Just cereal today, hot or cold. Josh wants maple and brown sugar oatmeal.”

  “Sounds good to me. Make that a double.”

  “I’ll make it a triple, since that’s easiest all the way around. Just give me a few minutes to heat it up.”

  “I’ll get the brown sugar, if you tell me where to find it,” she offered.

  “Third cupboard on your left.” Within ten minutes they all sat down at the table and he was struck by the fact that even that first year, when Josh had just been a baby, he and Suzy had rarely shared breakfast.

  Maybe an indication their marriage had been doomed from the start.

  “If you want to drop me and Josh off at the physical therapy gym, we can start the session while you check on your patient,” she offered.

  “That would be great, thanks.” As they finished their meal and then worked together to take care of the dishes, he wondered if this was how other families lived.

  Or if this was just another of his fantasies that had no basis in reality?

  * * *

  Dan left Molly and Josh in the therapy gym and headed up to the NNICU to see Erica.

  He found Erica’s parents wrapped tightly in each other’s arms, gazing at their tiny daughter in the isolette.

  For a moment he had to look away. The love in their gazes was so intensely private, he felt like the worst kind of intruder. But he couldn’t stand here forever, he had to check on their daughter’s progress, so he cleared his throat and stepped forward.

  “Dr. Morris,” Jennifer greeted him tearfully, breaking away from her soldier husband. “Thank you for saving our daughter’s life. This is my husband, Sergeant Eric Thompson.”

  Her husband was still wearing the fatigues he must have worn on the flight home. Dan stepped forward and offered his hand. “Pleased to meet you, Sergeant.”

  “I’m the lucky one,” the young man said, shaking his hand. “I have you to thank for saving my family.”

  Uncomfortable with the praise, Dan brushed it aside. “Your daughter is a fighter. She’s doing great. If she stays this good over the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours, we’ll be able to get that breathing tube out.”

  “That would be wonderful,” Jennifer said. “I want to hold her in my arms.”

  He understood. Obviously putting gloved hands through the windows of the isolette to touch their baby wasn’t nearly as satisfying. “Soon,” he promised. It was on the tip of his tongue to remind them that Erica would need more surgery down the road, but he decided there was plenty of time to broach that subject after they’d successfully gotten through this crisis.

  According to the electronic medical record, Erica’s vital signs were stable. She hadn’t lost any more blood and the rest of her labwork was good. He used his pediatric stethoscope and reached through the windows of the isolette to listen to Erica’s heart and lungs.

  Satisfied the baby girl was holding her own, he stepped away. “She’s doing fine,” he said to reassure her parents. “I’m going to order some weaning parameters later on this afternoon, to see if we can turn the ventilator down a few notches.”

  “Thank you,” Eric murmured, hugging his wife close.

  Dan wrote the orders, chatted with Rebecca’s replacement and then looked for Erica’s nurse. He scowled a bit when he didn’t recognize her and glanced at the nametag she wore on her scrubs. “Scarlet?” he asked. “Are you new here?”

  “Yes, I’m the new head nurse, but I’m taking care of patients today.” She wore her chocolate-brown hair pulled back from her face, and jutted her chin stubbornly. “Why, do you have a problem with that?”

  “Depends on how well you do your job,” he said, refusing to back down. “Marcus is covering for me, but if Erica takes a turn for the worse, I want you to call me directly, okay?”

  “No problem. And don’t worry—I have a lot of experience with neonates. I promise Erica is in good hands.”

  He gave a terse nod and turned away because he believed her. And it was time to pick up Josh.

  As he left he glanced back at the young couple at Erica’s isolette, impressed once again at how they physically and emotionally supported each other through this difficult time.

  Would they make it over the long haul? Or would the endless toil and stress of life with a sick child eventually force them to part?

  Cynically, he assumed the latter.

  Then he stopped and turned back one more time to watch the young couple. Maybe, just maybe he needed to give them the benefit of the doubt. Just because he’d never experienced the type of love that lasted forever, it didn’t mean that type of love didn’t exist.

  * * *

  Molly was just finishing up with Josh’s therapy when Dan arrived. She glanced up at him while she was running the ultrasound machine. “How’s your patient?”

  He was touched by her concern. Suzy had resented his pediatric patients, treating them like annoying inconveniences. “Much better. Should be able to start weaning her off the ventilator soon.”

  “That’s wonderful. I’m sure her parents are relieved.”

  They were, so he nodded, but he didn’t say anything more as he couldn’t really talk about his patients much. All those privacy rules tended to get in the way. “How are you doing, Josh?” he asked, turning his attention to his son.

  “We had fun. And I stood up again, right, Molly?”

  “Yes, you did,” she agreed with a soft smile. It struck him in that moment how much she’d bonded with his son. “Your muscles are getting stronger every day.”

  “I’m glad.” He took a seat on a stool next to Josh. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be here this morning, Josh.”

  “That’s okay,” Josh said pragmatically. “Molly told me there’s a baby with a sick heart that you need to take care of. That’s way more important.”

  His chest tightened and he slowly shook his head. “No, that’s not true. I do have to take care of kids that have sick hearts, but they’re not more important than you, Josh. You’re the most important thing in my life. But sometimes I do have to take care of sick kids, like today. Especially because I knew that you’d be okay here with Molly for a little while. But I want you to know that I’ll always love you best.”

  “All finished,” she said, and then shut off the ultrasound machine. “I, um, have to check on something. Excuse me.” She hurried out of the room, without even wiping the gooey gel off Josh’s legs.

  Dan took the towel and did the task himself. “You’re not mad at me, are you, Josh?” he finally asked, breaking the silence.

  “No. I think I understand.”

  He was tempted to spring the news about the surprise birthday party on Saturday, but forced himself to keep silent. The look on Josh’s face would be well worth the wait.

  “What flavor lollipop do you want today?” he asked, reaching for the candy jar.

  For a moment Josh simply stared at the various flavors. Then he turned his head up to face him. “What’s your favorite flavor, Daddy?”

  He was touched that his son cared enough to ask. “Lime. The green ones are my favorite.”

  “Then I’m going to have a green one,” Josh said, digging his little fist in
the jar until he grabbed a lime sucker. He ripped off the wrapper and stuck the candy into his mouth.

  Dan glanced toward the doorway and saw Molly hovering there. He realized she’d purposefully left them alone to give them time to talk.

  “So I’ll see you tomorrow, then,” she said lightly, as Josh levered himself into his wheelchair.

  “Don’t forget about Friday night,” Dan said, following her out into the hallway so Josh couldn’t overhear.

  She froze and then shook her head. “Look, Dan, I don’t think Friday is a good idea,” she said, avoiding his gaze.

  He frowned and glanced back to make sure Josh was still preoccupied. “Why not?”

  She took a deep breath. “I came over last night to help out because you and Josh needed me, but I don’t want to be a convenient surrogate nanny. Been there, done that, don’t want to do it again.”

  He was startled by her revelation. “I want to see you, alone, Molly. Certainly not as a surrogate nanny. And I had no idea Gemma was planning to call you.”

  “Yet she did, because you left my name and number to be used in case of an emergency.”

  He couldn’t quite hide the flash of guilt, but he wanted to know more about this previous relationship of hers. “What do you mean, been there, done that?”

  “The last guy I dated was also a single father, and he used me as a surrogate mother for his boys all the time. Yet when I thought he was going to propose, he told me he loved someone else. He never cared about me the way he should have.”

  That guy was just plain stupid, he thought, but managed to keep it to himself. “But I haven’t been doing that with you, Molly. I do care about you. I want to take you to dinner so we can spend some time alone. I swear to you, making you a surrogate nanny was never my intention.”

  But she shook her head, not giving an inch. “Dan, I’ll help you with...Saturday’s plans because I promised I would, but that’s all. I have to go, my next patient is waiting.”

  And before he could protest or ask anything more, she turned and walked away.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  MOLLY TRIED TO ERASE the stricken expression on Dan’s face from her mind, but it stuck with her as she worked with her patients throughout the day.

  Logically, she knew she’d made the right decision. Getting involved with Dan hadn’t been very smart in the first place. She should have known better than to make the same mistakes she’d made with James.

  Wasn’t he already using her as a replacement nanny? Soon he’d leave her at home with Josh while he went out on dates. She had no doubt he’d find someone else to fall in love with, breaking her heart in the process. Just like James had done.

  The organ in question ached in her chest as she rode the subway home. The newspaper she’d brought along to read didn’t even come close to holding her attention.

  Two more days of therapy and then Josh’s birthday party on Saturday. After that, she probably wouldn’t see Dan anymore. He’d go back to work full time, as Josh had gotten through the worst of his crisis. She’d continue to see Josh as a patient, but wouldn’t see Dan. Wouldn’t be forced to make small talk with him, as if she wasn’t slowly bleeding to death inside.

  She loved him.

  The realization made her blink in surprise, although now that she’d admitted it she was surprised she’d fooled herself for this long.

  She loved him. She loved the way he’d turned his relationship with his son around. She loved the way he cared about his tiny patients. She loved the way she could make him smile and laugh.

  And most of all she loved the way he centered his intenseness on her when they were alone, as if she was the only person on the planet who mattered.

  But they hadn’t been alone together much. The night of Jack’s going-away party and the night he’d taken her to dinner. Two nights out of two weeks.

  Ridiculous to think she could fall in love in such a short time. She cared about Dan, but love? How could that be?

  She didn’t know how it had happened, but it had. She loved him or she wouldn’t be so upset about leaving him.

  She got off the subway at her stop, holding the newspaper she hadn’t read over her head when it started raining. She shivered and practically ran the rest of the way to her apartment.

  Inside, she quickly changed out of her damp clothes into a pair of warm sweats. When her phone rang, she leaped to answer it, trying not to be too disappointed when she recognized the caller as her sister. “Hi, Sally, how are you?”

  “Great, I’m great. Hey, listen, I know I should have asked you about this earlier, but will you be one of my bridesmaids at my wedding?”

  Molly hesitated, wanting nothing more than to be included, but she knew her sister really would rather have one of her friends.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t ask you sooner,” Sally said in a rush, filling the awkward silence. “And I don’t blame you for being upset. I ran into your boyfriend in the cafeteria yesterday and he told me I should be ashamed at how I’m always taking you for granted. That I should be grateful for having a sister. And he’s right. I am grateful, Molly. So will you please consider standing up with me at my wedding?”

  Tears burned her eyelids as her heart swelled with joy. “Yes, Sally, of course I will. I’d love to be a bridesmaid at your wedding.”

  “Oh, I’m so glad, Molly. Thank you.” She thought it must be her imagination because she thought she heard Sally sniffling on the other end of the line. “We’re going shopping for dresses a week from Saturday. Do you want to come along? That is, if you don’t have other plans.”

  “I’d love to come along, and of course I don’t have other plans.” She was still reeling from the knowledge that Dan had approached Sally at work, just to stick up for her. And she was glad they weren’t shopping this weekend, as this Saturday was Josh’s birthday. “Let me know what time and what store you’re planning to meet at.”

  “I haven’t figured that out yet,” Sally admitted. “But I will soon. Thanks again, Molly. I love you.”

  Her heart almost folded in half at the second shocker of the day. “I love you, too,” she managed to choke out.

  “Bye, Molly.” After her sister had hung up, she stared at the phone for several moments before she set it down, grinning like a fool. She’d mentally prepared herself to be left out of the wedding party, had even wondered if she’d make the invite list. But thanks to Dan, Sally had realized that being sisters was important.

  Maybe their relationship wouldn’t be completely fixed overnight, but this was a good start. A really, really good start.

  Her smile faded. She wondered who in Dan’s life had made him aware of how important he was? Certainly not his ex-wife. And he didn’t have any brothers or sisters, because he’d mentioned being an only child.

  The ache in her heart returned, and she wondered if she’d been too hasty in her refusal to see Dan again.

  * * *

  Molly looked for opportunities to have a personal conversation with Dan, but as the week went on she hardly saw him at all. According to Josh, his dad had been on call again, leaving Mitch to spend the night and subsequently accompany Josh to therapy.

  She should have been glad to hear Dan hadn’t used her as one of his nannies but instead she couldn’t help feeling guilty at how she’d left things between them.

  Telling herself that putting distance between them was for the better was one thing. But the lingering doubts wouldn’t go away.

 
; After rain during the week, the sun came out by Friday and according to the weather reports, temperatures were supposed to get up as high as sixty degrees by Saturday. Perfect weather for Josh’s surprise birthday party and the wheelchair football game.

  She’d been thrilled to see Dan on Friday afternoon, but he was all business as they stored the wheelchairs in the truck he’d rented.

  “That’s the last of them,” he said, stepping down from the truck. “Thanks for your help, Molly.”

  She tried to smile, even though she missed the easy camaraderie that they’d once shared. “No problem. I’m going to head out to the park early to hide the prizes. What time are you going to have Josh there?”

  “The party starts at one, so I thought we’d get there about one-fifteen.” They’d already agreed that the other kids should all be there, holding a big birthday banner, before Josh arrived. “Unless you think we need to wait a little longer?” he asked uncertainly.

  She pursed her lips, considering the timeframe. “No, I think one-fifteen should be fine. I suspect some of the kids will get there early, anyway.”

  Dan reached out to take her hand in his. “Molly, I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said earlier this week. If you don’t want to help me with this party, I can handle it on my own,” he said, his eyes dark and serious. “I don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of you.”

  “You’re not taking advantage. I want to help. I want to be there for Josh.” Seeing him now, after missing him for several days, she wondered if she’d been wrong to compare him to James. “Besides, I owe you for the way you stood up for me with my sister. She told me what you said to her in the cafeteria.”

  Dan scowled. “She needed to hear the truth. But that doesn’t matter, because there isn’t a score card, Molly. Friends help friends without expecting anything in return.”

  “I know.” She kept the smile on her face, even though she feared her cheeks might crack from the pressure. Her instincts were screaming at her that she’d been wrong, but this wasn’t the time or the place to discuss their personal issues.