NYC Angels: The Wallflower’s Secret

He watched her leave his office. Why all of a sudden was he looking forward to coming to work the next day?

Ryan’s running shoes made a rhythmic sound as he took the turn in the paved path on his way back to the hospital. He slowed when he saw Lucy sitting on a park bench. Her head was tipped back, her face held up to the sun. That golden rope of hair gleamed in the light. She’d removed her heavy cardigan and had her legs stretched out in front of her. He hadn’t known her long but he suspected this was the most uninhibited she’d been in a long time.

She really was an attractive woman who seemed to want to blend in, go unnoticed. It hadn’t worked where he was concerned. He’d noticed too much.

As he grew closer, he could see that her eyes were closed. He wouldn’t have disturbed her but just as he approached she shifted and sat up as if jolted awake.

“Hey,” she said, drowsiness in her voice.

“Hey.” He liked this off-guard Lucy. When she had her full faculties back in a second she’d close off fast. She acted as if she was wary of everyone and everything.

“Been running.” She stated the obvious as he was standing there drenched in perspiration and wearing a sweatshirt and shorts.

“Yeah, one of the perks of working at Angel’s is that the park is so close.”

“I think so too. I already miss the lakes, forests and the spaciousness of the suburbs of Atlanta. Somehow knowing I can come to the park helps.” She began to put on her sweater.

What had caused her to make such a drastic move? He couldn’t ask that type of question if he wasn’t prepared to share in return. “Have you had a chance to explore the park?”

She laughed. “It may not surprise you to hear that I’m afraid I might get lost. So I don’t get out of sight of the hospital.”

He smiled down at her. “Maybe I can give you a tour some time. We’ll leave breadcrumbs if necessary.”

“If I’m along, it’ll be necessary.”

“Well, I’ll leave you to your sunning.”

“I’ve got to go in too. I need to get some lunch before I meet you for clinic.”

“I don’t know if it’s necessary for you to be at clinic today.”

She stood and faced him with an unwavering look. “Why not? I thought we were past having this discussion.”

He held up a hand. “It has nothing to do with me not wanting you there. I’m only going to be seeing patients who were discharged before you arrived.”

Her face relaxed. “I see. Just the same, I’d like to be there.”

She started towards the hospital without a backward glance at him. He’d been dismissed, something he wasn’t used to having happen from anyone other than his sisters.

Lucy entered the doctors’ shared clinic building attached to the hospital. Ryan’s day of the week to see patients was Wednesday. She looked around the waiting area of the clinic. It had large glass windows that provided a view of Central Park. Painted on the walls were murals with happy-faced animals. The orange furniture and light green carpet created a happy effect. Toy tables sat in an open space to the side. It was a place where children wouldn’t be afraid to come.

She found Ryan waiting in the hall of the clinic. “I’m sorry, I’m late. No matter how much time I allow myself, I still eat it up having to backtrack everywhere I go.” Lucy said as she caught her breath.

He smiled. “I’m starting to expect it.”

“I’m getting better. I can get to work without getting off the subway and doubling back a station. I do get my exercise, though.”

Ryan gave her body frank consideration. “I can see that you do.”

Warmth washed over her. It felt wonderful to have a man look at her with interest. In the past few days they’d managed to develop a working relationship that was at least doable if not comfortable. On her part, she’d spent longer than normal getting to know Ryan’s patients and their families. On his, he seemed to at least tolerate having her around.

“You know, I’ve been meaning to tell you that I like that Southern drawl.”

The grin on his lips and the dimples it brought to his cheeks made him the sexiest man she’d ever seen.

“But you talk so slowly that I forget what you said at the beginning of the sentence by the time you get to the end of it.”

She thrust her chin out and looked at him hard. “Are you making fun of me?”

The laugh lines around his eyes grew more prominent. “I would never do that.”

Lucy couldn’t help but return his teasing smile. Something she hadn’t done in a long time. It felt good to have some humor in her life again.

A nurse came down the hall. “You first patient is in exam two, Dr. O’Doherty.”

Ryan took the patient chart from the nurse and Lucy followed him. The man could turn on the charm when he chose. She’d have to watch out or he might use it against her.

Lucy joined him during each examination. All the patients were there for sixth-week post-op visits and would be released from Ryan’s care after this clinical appointment. Neither he nor she would see them again unless the patients required additional surgery. Maybe that was why Ryan didn’t invest more effort into getting to know the families. They weren’t normally long-term patients for him.

“This is the last patient,” Ryan told her as he pulled the chart out of the holder on the door. “Amanda Marcella. Three years old. “

He tapped lightly on the door then entered. Lucy followed and he introduced her. “So, how’s Amanda doing?” he asked the far-too-young mother.

“Okay, I guess.”

Lucy cringed. If she had a child who was sick she wouldn’t be treating the child’s heath so nonchalantly.

The little girl had an external shunt located on the right side of her head. Ryan removed the bandages. He really had a tender way about him.

“This shunt isn’t positioned correctly. The site needs to be checked and rebandaged. I’ll show you how I want it done,” he announced, engrossed in what he was doing.

“I don’t like doing that sort of thing. My boyfriend has to do it,” the mother said.

Ryan looked up. “This isn’t something that you have a choice about. You have to take responsibility for your child.”

He didn’t wait for the mother to respond before he turned and left the room.

At the girl’s stricken face, Lucy stepped toward her. “Do you have any one else who can help you?”

The girl shook her head slowly, her eyes filling with tears. “My parents kicked me out when I got pregnant with Amanda. I try to do what I can but I’m no good at being a nurse.”

Ryan returned with a nurse in tow. She carried a disposable suture kit. “I’m going to put in a couple of stitches to secure the shunt. It’ll still have to be bandaged and cleaned regularly.” He looked at the mother to punctuate his point.

The mother’s eyes grew larger and she screwed up her face with displeasure. Couldn’t Ryan tell he was scaring the girl? If he did notice, why didn’t he care?

“Why don’t we wait outside while Dr. O’Doherty is working?” Lucy suggested. The mother nodded and Lucy led her out into the hall.

“I know Dr. O’Doherty wants me to see about Amanda’s head but I just can’t. It makes me so sad to look at it.”