The Doctor's Accidental Family

He ignored the question. “The two of us should keep our distance.”

But you’re the most interesting thing that’s happened since I got here. Now, where had that thought sprung from? True, Zady had lain awake last night reviewing their interaction in light of her sister’s revelation, and, a short while ago, she’d relished their verbal sparring. The guy had a quick wit and delightfully teasing manner, although until this moment, she’d considered Nick simply an attractive nuisance.

But if he took this divided-loyalties business seriously, there was no sense arguing. “Agreed.”

Despite the flat overhead lighting, shadows touched his eyes. He couldn’t have grabbed more than a few hours of sleep since his overnight shift. “It isn’t personal. I just prefer that we lay our cards on the table.”

“And give them the royal flush,” she finished.

“Apt image,” he said. “Well, see you around. Or not.” As he departed, Zady waited a few beats to avoid the awkwardness of exiting together.

That was that. No more Nick Davis to bump into, trip over and match wits with.

As she walked toward the staff entrance, she reluctantly acknowledged the unpleasant emotion stirring inside her.

Disappointment.

Chapter Three (#ulink_7ac28b66-43fb-58c8-b4ee-3143f29b1ed7)

“You don’t have to allow relatives in the delivery room if you’d rather be alone.” Nick regarded young Mr. and Mrs. Wang sympathetically.

The wife, seven months pregnant, sat on the examining table in a skimpy hospital gown, while her husband shifted uneasily from foot to foot. Nick would have preferred to have this discussion in a less sterile setting, but he could hardly invite them into his office, which was a former storage closet.

In the week since he’d arrived at Safe Harbor, he’d adjusted fairly well to the overnight schedule. It was harder to double as counselor and lifestyle coach during his two hours of evening consultations, but these appointments brought in extra income and helped him build a patient roster for the future.

“Do we have to let them into the waiting room, either?” asked the husband. “Her mother drives me crazy.”

“And his mother drives me crazy,” added his wife.

“I can issue orders to keep family members in the main lobby,” Nick suggested. “It would be simpler if you talked to them honestly, though.”

“They’d be horrified.” Mrs. Wang shook her head, brown hair tumbling around her shoulders. “I have a PhD in business administration, but around my mother and mother-in-law, I feel about five years old.”

“They always cite Chinese traditions,” said her husband. “I think they make them up just to torment us.”

“Outline your reasons for desiring privacy during the birth,” he said. “Then share them in writing so your parents have a chance to think them over before reacting. And don’t forget that family can be an important source of love and support for new parents.”

The couple thanked Nick for his advice, and he urged them to contact him with any further questions.

Although he struggled to look wise and fatherly, he felt like a phony.

When Bethany had delivered Caleb, she and her parents hadn’t allowed Nick anywhere near her. As for his mother, under the circumstances, there’d been no question of inviting her to the hospital, but he wouldn’t have done so, anyway. His mom could be charming, but also self-centered and unpredictable. Still, she’d adored her grandson, although she’d died of lung cancer a year after Caleb’s birth.

For all her flaws, at least his mom had stuck around during Nick’s childhood. His father, who experienced severe mood swings, had kept the household in turmoil until he left for good when Nick was ten. His later, sporadic attempts at reconciliation had ended in disappointment when he failed to appear as promised or talked nonstop, rambling from one topic to another. Yet he’d refused to accept treatment for bipolar disorder.

By the time the Wangs departed, it was nearly eight, and he had to report to the hospital next door. Nick checked the text messages in his phone. According to the charge nurse in L&D, three women had been admitted. All had been seen by obstetricians and labor was progressing normally, with none close to delivering.

He could afford a few minutes to relax. With the Wangs receiving follow-up instructions from evening nurse Lori Sellers, Nick finished entering his notes in the computer and went to drink what would be the first of many cups of coffee tonight. Caffeine kept him alert, but he’d become inured enough to it that he could fall asleep instantly whenever he had a chance to lie down.

In the break room, he found one of his suitemates, Dr. Jack Ryder, eating a slice of cake left by the daytime staff. “Surprised to see you here this late,” Nick said, eyeing the last piece set out on the counter.

“I had to perform emergency surgery this afternoon. It put me behind. I offered to let patients return this evening rather than reschedule for a later date, and some of them did.” Jack, a handsome fellow oblivious to his impact on the hospital’s female staff, indicated the remaining slice. “Help yourself. There’s no one else here. Adrienne hightailed it home to relieve her babysitter.”

Dr. Adrienne Cavill-Hunter, who’d formerly held down the overnight shift and still maintained evening hours, was married, with a six-year-old son. Nick appreciated sharing an office with fellow parents; Jack had a four-month-old daughter with his wife, a surgical nurse.

As he dug into the cake, Nick considered asking his colleague’s advice about his uneasy feelings regarding the Carrigans. The puppet show on Saturday had been fun, and Caleb had snuggled happily with his father at the ice-cream parlor they’d visited afterward. Elaine’s nephew and his wife, a couple in their late thirties, had proved likable, as had their little girl.

Yet, twice the couple had changed the subject when Caleb mentioned his grandparents. While Nick didn’t wish to act paranoid, his instincts told him the Carrigans were keeping him in the dark about something.

However, he decided against raising the subject with Jack. His fellow obstetrician didn’t know the people involved, nor did he necessarily have any relevant experience.

“I’ve been meaning to talk to you.” Jack’s statement broke into his thoughts.

“Shoot.”

“It’s about the office situation. Adrienne believes it’s too early, but if we wait, we may lose our chance.” Jack stuffed his paper plate into the trash.

“Too early for what?” Nick wasn’t keen on hospital politics. Still, he felt a natural affinity for the colleagues who, in some cases, had to work odd schedules and share inadequate office space due to overcrowding.

“The Porvamm.” At his blank reaction, Jack explained, “That’s our nickname for the Portia and Vince Adams Memorial Medical Building.”

That name rang a bell. “The dental building.”

His colleague perched on the arm of a couch. “It’s got five stories. You’d think there’d be plenty of room to go around, right?”

“Sure.” Nick peered into the staff refrigerator on the chance that there might be additional, overlooked treats. No such luck.

“The upper floors will house labs, operating suites and so on for the men’s fertility program,” Jack told him. “We all hope there’ll still be space for the rest of us, but we can’t assume. We’re forming a committee to encourage Dr. Rayburn to set aside a floor for ob-gyns, pediatricians and neonatologists. Are you in?”

“I’d like to know more about it.” Caution paid, especially for a guy who’d been on staff only a week.

“Okay.” Jack cleared his throat. “You aren’t close to your cousin, are you?”

“That would be an understatement. Why, is he involved?”

The other doctor nodded. “Considering that he just arrived in November, he’s already throwing his weight around plenty. Buzzing in Cole Rattigan and Mark Rayburn’s ears about making sure there’s room for future urology fellows.”

“He’d rather leave offices empty than fill them with current doctors who’re already overcrowded?” That sounded like Marshall. The spoiled product of a privileged upbringing, he looked down his nose at anyone who wasn’t part of his group or, in this case, his medical specialty.

“So you’re with us?”

Nick tapped his watch. “Listen, I’m interested, but if I don’t get moving, the L&D nurse is going to send out a search party.”

“Speaking of parties, you should get better acquainted with the rest of the staff.” Jack accompanied him toward the hall. “We’re having a get-together Saturday afternoon in honor of my uncle’s recent marriage. Anesthesiologist Rod Vintner. You’ve met him?”

A mental image formed of a slender man wearing a fedora, his short graying beard and mustache neatly trimmed. “Dr. Rayburn introduced us. He’s a funny guy.”

“Hilarious, mostly at my expense.” Jack smiled. “I’ll email you the details.”