by Hazel Parker
“Daniel, the only locked doors in life are the doors that you don’t kick in. For the sake of your relationship with this girl, you need to at least ask. The answer will always be ‘no’ if you don’t ask. If you knock and the door is closed, kick it in,” she said, scrubbing a dish that looked clean. “Who made those stupid rules, anyway?”
“Well, I guess I could talk to admin,” Danny said.
“Now that sounds like a plan.”
“Okay. I’ll go talk to admin tomorrow,” he said, feeling lighter than he had when he first came in.
“I’m glad,” Alyssa said, reaching forward to hug him. “And I’m glad I could help.”
Danny texted Sarah, telling her that he was finishing up dinner and would phone her in an hour. Then he went to collect his daughter. “Come on, Molly-Olly. Time for bed,” he said, swinging his daughter onto his back.
He got home and put Molly to bed before detouring into his bedroom and pulling out his phone. Seeing that Sarah hadn’t responded, he frowned. That was weird. Danny dialed her number, seeing his hour-wait was up. She didn’t answer that, either. A nagging feeling in his chest started to grow, and it got worse.
He tried calming himself with the idea that she was probably in the shower. Danny waited to hear back from her, watching the clock the whole time. When she didn’t call or message him back, he called her and, again, there was no answer. Danny felt like something was wrong. It had to be. He dialed her number a few more times and nothing. No answer or text. He jumped out of the bed, sure that something was wrong, and dialed Alyssa as he pulled his sweats back on and shoes.
“Hello?” she said drowsily.
“I need you,” Danny said, grabbing his keys.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, more alert.
“Can you come over? Watch Molly. Something’s wrong with Sarah and I need to check on her.”
Danny opened his front door, looking over to see his sister. When her shadow appeared, he hung up and ran down the stairs to meet her.
“Go. I’ll be here,” she said, hugging him quickly.
He climbed into his car and raced off to Sarah’s apartment.
Danny tried to think who he could call to check on Sarah. He didn’t know any of her friends or sisters, so he went to her apartment, unannounced. Danny buzzed the intercom, repeatedly, hoping she would answer and when he didn’t get an answer, he grew even more desperate. Danny buzzed the apartment next to Sarah’s, his legs shaking with nerves the longer it took for the person to answer.
“Hello?” An older woman’s voice said.
“Hi. Ma’am, my name is Daniel Struthers. I’m a doctor and friend of Sarah Patterson, your neighbor.”
“Okay. How can I help you?” she said.
“I really need to get in. I think something’s wrong with her and I need to check on her. Will you please buzz me in?” Danny asked, unable to stay still, hoping she would let him in.
“I don’t know,” she said drawing her words out.
Danny sense was growing stronger by the second that Sarah needed him. He needed to hear her voice or see her face, just to be sure.
“Ma’am, please. I don’t mean any harm. You can watch me and I promise I won’t cause any trouble. I will show you my credentials. I am a doctor at Tampa Hospital and I just really need to check on Sarah.”
“Alright,” she said just before the door buzzed to let him in.
Danny ran into the apartment building and took the stairs, running until he was in front of Sarah’s door. A tiny old woman with a cigarette in her mouth had stuck her head out the door to watch him.
He didn’t care about the audience. He knocked on the door, banging loudly, trying the knob. It was locked. He knocked again and, hearing nothing, he put his ear to the door.
He called Sarah’s phone again. He could hear the phone ringing inside. Now he knew something was definitely wrong.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Danny didn’t think as he rammed his shoulder into the door, intentionally trying to break it down, and it didn’t take long before the doorknob gave in and cracked open. Thankfully, she didn’t have her deadbolt locked.
Danny saw her lying on the floor in her yoga wear and he rushed over to her, touching his fingers to her pulse to see if she was alive. She was cool and clammy. Sarah groaned and he looked her over, trying to figure out what was wrong. He moved her a bit to the side and noticed blood was pooling around her bottom and he immediately dialed 911.
Danny stayed with her, never leaving her side as the medics arrived, prepped her, and loaded her into the truck. He rode with her in the ambulance and throughout the ride she was in and out of consciousness, sometimes groaning in pain and clutching her stomach. The bleeding continued. In the ER Sarah was hooked up to monitors and a rushed ultrasound was ordered while Danny found himself pacing and feeling out of control. It reminded him a little of the incident with Kim. It was bringing up the some old shit.
He couldn’t lose another woman. He loved her. This couldn’t be happening.
The friend Danny covered for was on duty in the ER and for that alone, Danny trusted something good would come out of this. It had to. His friend was the best.
“Danny, not sure what is going on here but you need to leave while we run the ultrasound. Step into the waiting room and I will be out as soon as I can. See if you can help triage to figure out how to contact some of her family.”
Reluctantly Danny followed instructions knowing he couldn’t be of much help right now anyway.
It felt like an eternity.
Finally Ben came out. “As I suspected it is an ectopic pregnancy Danny and its ruptured, this is serious. She is on her way to surgery.”
“Fuck. Shit. Who is on call for OB/GYN?”
“Dr. James, he is good. I don’t know what is going on between you two Danny but I suggest you keep your distance. I will let you know as soon as I know.”
Danny was seconds from melting down. How is this happening? Another woman he loves is going to die from child rearing issues? The seconds were ticking by slow as molasses. His heart thumping so hard he could feel it in his temples. His mind was racing all over the place.
Whose baby was this?
She was a virgin.
He wore a condom the first time.
Unless… it kind of slid off when he exited her because she was so god damn tight.
Fuck Danny now is NOT the time.
Maybe some sperm escaped?
Shit. Fuck. She has to make it through.
Danny jumped from where he was waiting when he saw Doctor Andrews. Time slowed down and Danny’s vision blurred. Why was it the doctor? Where was the nurse? The nurse always delivers the good news.
It couldn’t be bad.
He couldn’t take if it was Kim all over again.
Ben caught Danny just as he went weak at the knees.
“Hey man. You okay?” he said, helping Danny stand. “Take a deep breath.”
“Tell me she’s okay,” Danny said, feeling like he was on the brink of drowning. “Tell me Sarah is okay.”
“She is,” Ben said, holding Danny tighter. “I promise. That’s why I came. To deliver the good news.
Danny staggered back in relief. “She’s alright?”
“Yeah. Man. Fine enough. I don’t know everything but I called up, bleeding is controlled, the ectopic pregnancy was removed successfully and they are just finishing up,” he said, eyeing Danny as if asking for an explanation. “The good news is that with laparoscopic surgery to take the embryo out, she should be fine. We didn’t have to remove any of her fallopian tube.” Danny took a deep breath, waiting for the bad. “The bad news is I hear she’s finishing up the end of her nursing degree under your service. The whole hospital will know you are an item soon. You better get to admin before they get to you.”
Danny nodded along, still reeling from the emotional rollercoaster he just got off of.
Danny sat down. His adrenaline still reeling. He had to ca
lm himself before his heart exploded. Deep breathes.
He walked quickly through the white halls, passing open doors, patients clutching their robes closed and seeing doctors he hadn’t met until he was at her room.
He knocked lightly before coming in. There she was, still his girl, only this time not unconscious or covered in blood. Danny rushed to her.
“You’re here,” she said, looking up at him.
“Of course I am,” he said, scooting his chair closer to her bed. “I’m the one who found you. I just knew something was off. I was worried,” he said, sighing. “What happened?”
“I started to get stomach pain in my yoga class and I thought it was just that time of the month so I left early. I got home and the last thing I remember is excruciating pain and I guess I passed out,” she said.
“I was so scared. You were bleeding and passed out when I found you,” Danny said, rubbing his finger across her knuckles.
Their conversation was interrupted with Dr. James’ entrance. He noticed their connected hands and he eyed Danny before introducing himself to Sarah.
“Hi, my name is Dr. James. I performed your emergency surgery. I just wanted to check up on you to see if you had any questions or concerns?”
Sarah squeezed Danny’s hand and could see her apprehension about their “situation”.
Danny gave her his million dollar smile, reassuring her it will be okay. He would handle admin.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Post-surgery Sarah was in and out of sleep, groggy and confused. She looked around with bleary vision into the bright room that had too much white and saw her sisters.
“Rin? Eva?” she croaked, realizing how dry her throat was.
“Here,” Corrine said, stepping forward and bringing a glass of water with a straw to Sarah’s mouth. “Drink.”
Sarah sucked in, gulping down the refreshing cold water so fast she almost choked.
“Slow down,” Corrine said, pulling the straw away.
“I’m in the hospital,” Sarah said out loud.
“Yes, you are,” Corrine said, placing a kiss on Sarah’s forehead. “You had us worried sick."
“How did you find me?” Sarah said, a bit confused.
“We got here as soon as we heard. The nurses called us and let us know where you were and what happened. Apparently, a Danny brought you in,” Jess said, smirking.
“Who is Danny?” Eva asked, looking as if she already knew the answer to the question.
“We didn’t even know you were dating someone,” Corrine said, sounding exactly like their mom.
“I really hope it’s that hot doctor we talked about,” Eva said with a smile on her face.
“Um, it’s still very new,” Sarah said, embarrassed and off-kilter from being put on the spot.
“So who is he?” Jess asked.
“His name is Danny. Oh my God you guys back off, I almost fucking died or something. A baby did…” Sarah said, clearing her throat trying not to cry.
“Oh shit Sarah, we are so sorry. Of course. How insensitive. We were just so worried and all we heard about what that a man named Danny brought you in. Naturally we are interested. Are you ok? What can we do?”
At least Corrine can empathize.
“Ok but seriously. Is he the doctor, though?” Eva said, stepping forward in impatience.
At that moment, Danny walked in and Sarah couldn’t see anyone else. He looked disheveled but still incredibly insanely hot. Sarah worried about how she looked just before he smiled at her. She could see how happy he was.
Sarah saw her sisters were ogling Danny and she grimaced, hoping he didn’t notice.
Danny turned to the older images of herself with his hand extended.
“Hello. My name is Daniel Struthers, call me Danny. I regret meeting you under these circumstances, but it’s a pleasure,” he said.
“My name is Eva Patterson,” she said, stepping up with her hand outstretched.
Danny shook it and smiled. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“I haven’t heard a lot about you. Would you happen to be a doctor, by chance?” Eva asked with a smirk.
“I am, actually. I work up in peds, oncology,” Danny said.
Eva’s grinned even wider. “Well it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“I’m Corrine,” Corrine said, intentionally stepping up and pushing Eva out the way.
“It’s a pleasure as well,” Danny said, shaking her hand. “And you must be Jess,” Danny said, turning to the last sister.
“I am. Nice to meet you,” Jess said with a smile and impressed he knew her name.
Finally, Danny turned to Sarah and walked towards her. “Hey you,” he said sitting on the edge of her bed, pushing her hair behind her ears.
“Hey,” Sarah said, feeling her heart race in her chest.
“Babe. How are you?” he asked, looking at her with concern and love.
“I’m okay,” Sarah said, trying not to blush. She felt like a schoolgirl and they were doing all this in front of her sisters.
Danny obviously didn’t care, he leaned down and kissed her forehead just as Sarah’s nurse came in. It was clear by the nurse’s face that she recognized Doctor Struthers. He recognized her face but not her name. She was one of the float nurses who filled in for nurses who couldn’t show up for their shift.
“Doctor Struthers, I didn’t know you were working on surgical recovery,” she said, standing just inside the door with uncertainty.
Sarah watched him tense and awkwardly state, “I’m not working,” and he left it at that.
“Right,” the nurse said, her eyes moving back and forth between Danny and Sarah. “Okay. I’ll be right back,” she said and stepped out of the room.
“Guess the cat is out of the bag,” he said, turning to Sarah. “This news will spread like wild fire.” He winked.
The nurse returned and introduced herself, while eyeing Doctor Struthers and Sarah like they were animals in a zoo—like she was waiting for them to do something special for her to report back.
Everyone cleared out so the nurse could do her thing without having to climb around four people to check Sarah’s vitals. They all stood in the hallway with Danny and Sarah knew they were all feeling awkward. She was tired and ready for the testing to be over. Five minutes felt like an entire hour before the nurse left.
Danny returned alone and Sarah asked where everybody was.
“I asked them if I could have a few minutes alone with you,” he said with a smile. He sat on the edge of her bed and took her hand.
“Okay,” she said with uncertainty. “What’s up?”
“I love you,” Danny said. “Like I really really love you.”
Sarah gasped.
“I knew it weeks ago but I didn’t know what to do because I didn’t want to make you feel pressure. I know it has only been a few weeks, but this is real,” he said, gesturing between their chests. “I can feel it there and I know I love you. I’ve loved before and thought my first wife dying was the worst thing that ever happened to me. You healed me. You make me feel alive. My daughter loves you, and she’s a picky customer.”
Sarah laughed though tears fell down her face.
“You’re hilarious. You’re beautiful and kind and I believe you’re perfect for me. I don’t know what tomorrow brings or what we’re going to do about this stupid policy thing, but I know I love you and I want to be with you,” Danny said.
Tears streamed down Sarah’s face as she listened to Danny, heart racing and full of love.
“I want to be with you too,” she said, reaching forward to hug him.
The door opened and the nurse stepped in to say something but squeaked in surprise and stepped back out of the room.
“We’re really going to have the rumor mill churning now,” he said with a laugh before taking Sarah’s lips to his own.
Epilogue
14 months later
“Sarah!!!! I have to have this one. This is IT,”
Molly said with conviction.
“Whoa whoa whoa, it’s the first dress you tried on. Are you sure?”
“100 percent. Do you think dad will like it? I think he will. Eeek!”
Two months ago while he and Sarah and Molly were vacationing in Maui, Danny dropped down on one knee at a luau. Sarah was totally surprise and taken back. Obviously things were amazing. She had moved in. Work had worked out in its own way. The hospital came down hard on both of them at first but in the end Danny got probation for 6 months. It was more of a formality. They had to do something but in the end who would get rid of him? He was amazing at his job. Parents, staff and patients would be pissed if he was fired.
After Sarah healed she returned to finish up the end of her practicum. She didn’t have much left. It was a conflict for her to get a job on pediatric oncology right now so she accepted an offer on labor and delivery. Working with mommas and brand new babies sounded just as good. Sure there was heartache but there was a lot of joy too. She loved her job and some day she will join Danny on oncology but for now this was perfect.
Their decision to go to Hawaii was made last minute by Danny. He surprised his girls one night out for dinner with the plane tickets. Both lost their minds. Danny just couldn’t believe his life somedays. Madly in love, the sweetest little girl and a sister who supports him to the end.
“Babe, I cannot afford this right now…” Sarah responded nervously.
“It is all on me. I need a holiday and I couldn’t imagine spending it without either of my girls,” Danny replied with complete sincerity.
“Daddy I can’t believe this! You are the best!”
“It’s going to be great, I cannot wait, we must take surfing lessons,” Sarah said ecstatically.
Danny had never packed for himself and a young girl to go on a trip before. Thankfully he had a few helpful women in his life to help him out. Alyssa essentially packed everything for Molly and then some.
“Honestly Alyssa, I don’t know what I would do without you,” Danny said completely overwhelmed with everything she had done to help him prep. She was the only person on this planet who knew he was proposing.
