A Full House

Annie nodded sympathetically. “It’s obvious that they miss each other a great deal.”

Linda wiped her eyes again and took a slow breath. “The divorce was nasty. We both said things we shouldn’t have. Hateful things. I couldn’t have stayed here. This town wasn’t big enough for the two of us, and there were better opportunities for me on the west coast. I never gave much thought to what was best for Amanda, but she really misses her father.”

“Yes.” Annie felt a twinge of guilt as she spoke. Sally missed her father, too.

“The thing is, I’ve been offered the leading role in a movie that’s being filmed in Europe this summer. I was going to bring Amanda along for the filming, but the director’s afraid she might be too much of a distraction.” Linda lifted her shoulders in a gesture of confusion. “I was planning to ask Jake if he’d like to take her for the summer, but now that he’s been injured, I’m not so sure. Do you think he’d be able to take care of her?”

“Yes, I do. Lieutenant Macpherson’s as strong as a horse. He’ll probably be out of here in a few days and I don’t foresee any problems with his recovery. He could certainly take care of a five-year-old girl. It would be a wonderful opportunity for them to spend some time together, and it would give you time to concentrate on your acting job.”

Linda’s expression was hopeful. “I’d have to ask him about it…”

“How about right now? I could take Amanda for a tour of the hospital if you’d like some privacy.”

“Would you do that?”

“Of course. Summer’s right around the corner, and you need to solidify your plans.”

An hour later Annie delivered Amanda back to Macpherson’s room and caught the happy gleam in his eye. Obviously everything had worked out. Jake would share the summer with his daughter.

Annie wondered if her own plans for the coming summer would fare as well.

MR. EDELSTEIN was removing his eyeglasses and massaging his closed eyes when Annie was ushered into his office two days later. It was after 9:00 p.m., late for him to still be at the hospital. He gestured to the comfortable chair opposite his desk, but she shook her head. “I received a letter from the captain at Macpherson’s precinct,” he said, replacing his eyeglasses and making a halfhearted attempt to locate the letter in the jumble of paperwork atop his desk. “It was mostly about what a miracle worker you were, saving the lieutenant’s life. I meant to give it to you but I seem to have misplaced it…”

“Mr. Edelstein, I won’t beat about the bush,” Annie interrupted before she could lose her nerve. “The reason I wanted to see you is that on June twelfth I’m leaving here to take my daughter to Maine for the summer to visit with her father, and I thought it would be nice to take some time off myself.”

Edelstein gave off the search for the letter with an exasperated shake of his head. “Can’t find it, but when I do I’ll pass it along. How much time?”

“I was thinking of taking a three-month leave of absence.”

Edelstein leaned forward at his desk, staring at her over the rim of his glasses. His laugh was an incredulous bark. “Well you can stop thinking about that right now. I can spare you for a week, maybe two at the most. You know how hospitals are. They don’t run well without doctors.”

“Mr. Edelstein, I haven’t taken any vacation time in over three years.”

“I’m aware of that, and I’m sure you’ve been more than compensated for your dedication. Please understand. I’m not telling you you can’t take a vacation, only that you can’t take the entire summer off.”

Annie felt a flush of anger warm her cheeks. “Three months of unpaid leave is all I’m asking for, sir, no less than what we routinely grant for maternity leave.”

Edelstein stood. “If you weren’t as valuable a member of this hospital’s staff, maybe I could grant it. But there’s no one to replace you.”

“There are six fully competent trauma surgeons practicing at this hospital, Mr. Edelstein. The ER doesn’t revolve around me.”

“Grant’s the only one who comes close to your level of expertise, and he’s going to be lecturing at Stamford. I’m sorry, Dr. Crawford, but I really can’t let you go.”

Annie nodded, her hands clenching inside her lab coat pockets. “I was afraid you’d say something like that,” she said. “I’ve come prepared with my resignation.” She stepped forward and laid the envelope on top of the mountain of paperwork. “I’m giving you four weeks’ notice. I’m sorry that things didn’t work out. I hope you’ll come to understand that this was something I really had to do.”

Edelstein’s mouth dropped open. “I won’t allow you to resign,” he blustered. “I won’t accept it.”

“You have no choice. I’ve given my best efforts to this hospital for over twelve years, but I have my own life to live and right now I need some time to think things through.”

“Dr. Crawford, be reasonable. Sit down and let’s talk about this,” Edelstein said, but his plea was in vain. Annie turned on her heel and without another word departed Edelstein’s office, closing the door firmly and hoping she wasn’t making a huge mistake.

“YOU’RE PULLING MY LEG, right?” Matt Brink’s face was as shocked as Edelstein’s had been. “This is some kind of sick joke, something you thought up just to get out of our camping trip.”

“I assure you it’s quite real,” Annie said, still dazed by the sudden transformation from employed to unemployed. “I’ve been thinking about it a great deal lately, ever since Sally was arrested. I need some time off. I’ve also decided to spend the summer somewhere close to Sally, so we can still spend time together. I mean, three months is a long time not to see your daughter. But predictably, Edelstein wouldn’t grant me the unpaid leave, so I resigned.”

“Why don’t you stay for a week or two and then come back? Sally’ll be perfectly safe with her father. Annie, think about what you’re doing,” Matt pleaded. “You’re throwing away years of work. You’re at the peak of your career, the top of the ladder.”

“Not any more. I threw myself off and I’m starting all over again. And you know what? I feel great. Oh, Matt, I feel young again. I feel alive!”

Matt Brink slumped against the ER’s concrete wall. “This can’t be happening.”

Annie brandished the magazine she held rolled up in one hand. “I’m renting a house on a point of land overlooking the water in a place called Blue Harbor, which isn’t too far from Bangor, where Sally’s father lives. Listen to the description of this place.” She opened the magazine to the ads in the back of the well-thumbed magazine, but Matt turned away, raising his hands to his ears.

“I don’t want to hear it. You can’t do this. Not only is it crazy, but you’re welshing on your promise to go camping.”

“Oh, Matt, don’t be ridiculous. Take a week off and come up for a visit. You’ll have a great time.”

He dropped his hands and looked at her. “You’re asking me to visit you for an entire week?”

She smiled. “This house has four bedrooms, all with ocean views. It comes with a boathouse, a boat and its own private dock. Can you imagine such a luxury? I can hardly wait to see it.”

THAT NIGHT she visited Macpherson’s room for the final time. It was late, but he was awake, reading a Clive Cussler novel. He laid it down when she came into the room and propped himself up on his elbows.

“We’re kicking you out of here tomorrow,” she said with a rueful smile.

“No offense intended, but I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “Though I’ll miss seeing you.”

Annie walked to the foot of his bed. She’d come to like Lieutenant Macpherson very much during his short stay. She admired him greatly for not dying on her, and she enjoyed his laid-back, easygoing attitude and the long conversations they’d had. Since his admittance, he’d been shaving daily and, of his own volition, he’d had his long hair trimmed quite short. He looked virile and handsome. It was hospital policy for the staff to keep a professional distance from the patients, but there was no denying that had she met Jake in a context other than the hospital or the police precinct where Sally’d been arrested, their relationship might have been very different.

“No offense taken,” she said. “I don’t blame you a bit for wanting to get out of here. I expect you’ll take some time off.”

“I’m thinking of taking all the sick leave and vacation time I have coming to me, especially since I’ll have Amanda for the summer while Linda’s in Paris. Speaking of the summer, rumor has it you’ve resigned your post and rented a saltwater farm in a place called Blue Harbor.”

“If there’s one thing this hospital never lacks for, it’s a lively rumor mill.”

He grinned that brash, handsome grin she’d come to like very much. “Gotta love gossip. Keeps things interesting. When are you leaving?”

Annie felt her cheeks warm and dropped her eyes, pretending to study his chart. “I’m bringing Sally to Bangor after school lets out. I’m hoping her court appearance will be scheduled before we leave, but if not, rest assured I’ll bring her back for it.”

“Sally’s not being summoned,” he said in a puzzled voice. “Didn’t you get the letter?”

Annie glanced up. “She doesn’t have to go to court?”

Macpherson shook his head. “The judge decided that because it was Sarah’s first misdemeanor, ten hours of community service in addition to attending the Jump Start program was adequate punishment.” At Annie’s skeptical look, he hitched himself higher in the bed. “The judge likes me,” he explained. “I helped his daughter out once.”

Annie’s breath left her in a soundless sigh. She stared at the man on the bed in astonished silence, then said in a dazed voice, very softly, “Thank you, Lieutenant. Thank you very much.” She paused at the door and turned back. “I won’t be here when you’re discharged tomorrow morning, so I’ll say goodbye to you now.”

That brash grin returned. “Oh, there’s no need for goodbyes, Dr. Crawford,” he said. “I expect we’ll be seeing each other again sooner than you think.”