“Amanda?”
“Yes.” She still had her eyes closed.
“It’s Sam.”
Her eyes sprang open. “Sam?” She sat up in bed. “What’s wrong?” She knew it had to be something. Why else would he be calling her at this time of night?
“It’s Caroline,” he said. “She has a fever.”
“Did you call her doctor?”
“No. I called you.”
“What’s her temperature?”
“One hundred and one. And she says her throat hurts.”
Amanda’s heart picked up tempo. Caroline—sick? It felt as though someone was telling her her own child was ill. Throwing back the covers on her bed, she planted her feet on the floor. “From what I understand from my colleagues, there’s a lot of strep going around, especially among younger children. You need to call her doctor.”
“Can’t you examine her?” Sam asked.
“Well, yes, I can. But I’m not a pediatrician.”
“I know. But Caroline wants you.”
“She wants me?” Amanda repeated in awe, a warm feeling suddenly spreading throughout her body.
“She trusts you,” Sam said.
A huge lump formed in Amanda’s throat. Never before had someone asking for her as their physician meant so much to her.
“Look,” Sam said, his tone of voice deepening. “I think she’s scared. It’s the first time she’s been sick since she lost her mother. All I know is, she’s asking for you.”
That was it for Amanda. She had to get to Caroline’s side as soon as possible. “I’ll be there in ten minutes,” she said, knowing that nothing short of a world catastrophe could keep her from going to the Arquette farm. For the first time in her career, this was going to be a very, very personal house call for her.
Hanging up the telephone, she got dressed, made sure her medical bag was in the trunk of her car and drove toward the Arquette farm.
The front porch light was on when she arrived. And before she could even knock on the door, Sam was opening it. “Hi,” he said, his eyes meeting hers. “I’m glad you came.”
“Where is she?” Amanda asked.
“In her bed. I put Sara in my bedroom so she could sleep.”
Amanda nodded.
Somehow, without saying a word, they both knew they had a common goal now, and the protective barriers they usually held up against each other were lowered for the time being. This was one time they needed each other’s support, and they both knew it.
Amanda hurried down the hall with Sam at her heels. But as she drew closer to Caroline’s room, she began walking with more composure. Automatically switching into her doctor mode, she entered the child’s bedroom, sat down on the edge of the mattress and placed her medical bag on the floor at her feet. Amanda knew that Sam was standing right behind her. She glanced back at him and saw he had placed his hands on his hips and was watching her every move. It was his parental instincts, she knew. Well, Caroline and Sara were special to her, too. But she couldn’t think about her personal feelings right now. She had a job to do, and she couldn’t let her emotions get in the way. It was enough that Sam was practically breathing down her neck.
Amanda placed her hand on Caroline’s forehead and the little girl opened her eyes. “Hi, precious,” Amanda said, giving her a warm, caring smile. “Your daddy tells me that you aren’t feeling very well.”
Caroline shook her head. “Uh-huh.”
“Is something hurting you?” Amanda asked.
“My throat,” Caroline replied, and tears filled her eyes.
“Don’t cry, dumpling,” Sam said. “Everything’s going to be okay. Amanda’s here to help you get well.”
Amanda smiled. “Your daddy’s right. Everything is going to be okay. Now, can I have a look at your throat?”
“Will you make it all better?” the child asked.
“I’m going to try,” Amanda replied, her heart going out to her. This wasn’t just any child. This time was altogether different for Amanda.
Caroline nodded her approval.
Amanda smiled, then got the mini flashlight and a tongue depressor from inside her medical bag. “Open wide,” she told Caroline, and the little girl obeyed her.
“Mmm...” Amanda said. “Her throat’s spotted. She has an infection, all right.”
“Strep?” Sam asked in concern.
“Possibly. But we won’t know for sure until a throat culture is done.”
“When?”
Amanda squeezed Caroline’s hand and then glanced back at Sam. “If she were my child, I’d do it first thing tomorrow morning. If it’s streptococcus, then she’ll have to be given antibiotics. Is she allergic to any medications?”
“No—not that I know of.” There was a hint of panic in Sam’s voice.
Picking up on it, Amanda reached back and touched his arm. “Hey, don’t look so worried. She’ll be all right.”
“I know,” he replied. Then he lifted his eyes to hers. “I just hate seeing her sick.”
“Have you given her something for the fever?”
“Yeah,” Sam replied. “About a half hour ago.”
“Good. I’m going to check it again now.”
In no time at all, Amanda had a reading. “It’s dropped eight-tenths of a degree,” she said.
“That’s a good sign, isn’t it?” Sam asked, worry etched across his face.
“Yes,” Amanda replied cheerfully, hoping to keep both the child and her father as calm as possible.
Smiling at Caroline, she said, “Honey, I want you to let me swab your throat with some medication I have with me. It won’t hurt. And once it’s done, the pain won’t be as much, and you’ll be able to fall back to sleep. And if it’s okay with you,” she added, taking Caroline’s hand in hers, “I’d like to stay right here at your side until you do.”
For just a moment Caroline’s eyes regained their sparkle and Amanda knew she had the child’s approval for both swabbing her throat and for staying with her until she was asleep again.
Sam hovered even closer to see what she was doing as she medicated Caroline’s throat. When she was done, he said, “I think I’ll go make a pot of coffee. My nerves could stand a cup.”
After sighing heavily from the tension, Amanda glanced back at him and said, “Mine, too.”
He walked around to the other side of the bed, leaned down and kissed Caroline on the forehead. “I’ll be right back, dumpling,” he said to her.
Sam left the room and Amanda tucked Caroline’s blanket in place around her. “Sleep tight, little one,” she said, placing a featherlight kiss on Caroline’s forehead in almost the same fashion as Sam. And then, as if it were something she did every night for her own children—which, of course, was a fantasy at best—Amanda began to hum a soft, sweet lullaby.
When Sam came back to his daughter’s bedroom a few minutes later, the scene that confronted him stopped him cold in his tracks. He could only stare. For a moment, his whole system shut down. It was so poignant, so... natural to see Amanda at Caroline’s bedside, humming a tune. But, of course, he certainly didn’t want to pursue that train of thought. Amanda was a great doctor, and he was going to leave it at that.
“Is she asleep?” he whispered, finally walking into the room.
“I think so,” Amanda replied, rubbing the back of her neck.
Sam knew Amanda was tired. She had to be. She worked practically twenty-four hours a day. Where, he wondered, did she get her stamina? Without even thinking of what he was doing, he walked up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. Moving his thumbs in small, circular movements, he began working out the tenseness in her muscles.
“Thanks for coming here like this in the middle of the night,” he said, now searching to find a valid excuse for what he was doing. “I know you must be tired. I really do appreciate it.”
Amanda’s breath locked in her throat. His hands had begun to work magic on her tired muscles. And, heaven help her, it felt so
good, she didn’t want him to stop. This time, instead of listening to the warning bells going off in her head, she listened to her heart. Closing her eyes, she moaned. “Mmm...you’re pretty good at this,” she murmured.
Realizing what she had just said, Amanda sat up straight and cleared her throat. A moment later, clutching her medical bag in her hand, she rose to her feet. “The only thing you can do for now is keep an eye on her fever. If it should spike, bring her to the emergency room. But I doubt if that will happen,” she added rather quickly. “In the morning, take her to her pediatrician for a throat culture. I’m almost certain she is going to need medication.” She paused, waiting for Sam to speak. When he didn’t, she said, “Do you have any questions?”
“Ah, none that I can think of right now. Aren’t you staying?”
“Staying?” Amanda said in confusion.
“For the rest of the night. What if Caroline wakes up again?”
“I think she’ll sleep the rest of the night.”
“Look, I have a spare bedroom, and there’s always the sofa.”
Amanda paused, unable to believe what he was saying. Did he actually think she would stay for the rest of the night?
“Sam, there’s no need for me to stay. Caroline is going to be just fine.”
With one last lingering look at both father and daughter, Amanda headed for the door.
Sam was following right on her heels as she entered the living room. “You’re running away again, aren’t you?”
“That’s ridiculous. I might make house calls, but I don’t spend the night.”
“We’re not talking about house calls and you know it. I’m talking about you not wanting to stay here with me.”
“That’s your opinion and you have a right to it. I happen to have my own opinion.”
“And what is that?”
“I’m simply protecting myself.”
“From what?”
“Involvement,” she answered without stopping to glance back at him.
Suddenly, Sam took two long strides and was standing in front of her, blocking her path to the front door.
“I’m not asking you to get involved,” he said, placing his hands on his hips. “Frankly, I’m not interested in an involvement, either.”
Amanda frowned. “Then what do you want from me?”
This time it was Sam who frowned. Shaking his head, he said, “To tell you the truth, I don’t know. But what I do know is that tonight Caroline needed a doctor, so I called you.”
“And I came,” Amanda replied.
“Yeah,” he said, then glanced down at the floor momentarily before bringing his gaze up to level with hers. “I’m not being completely truthful with you. I guess somewhere in the back of my mind, I was thinking that the two of us could get involved.”
“Oh, really,” Amanda said, a lump swelling in her throat. “Tell me, Sam, are you looking to have a fling with me?”
“Not a fling, exactly.”
“What then? A full-fledged, long-term affair?”
“Hell, I don’t know,” Sam said, running his fingers through his hair.
“Is that how you think of me? As a potential mistress?” she asked, her eyes brimming with tears.
“No, of course not,” he replied.
“Then what? As a wife?”
“It’s too soon to think about marriage at all right now—not even to you.”
“Really?” she replied heatedly. “Well, let me give you a little advice before you ever decide to think in those terms about me. I’m barren. Do you know what that means? It means I can’t have children of my own.”
“I know what it means,” Sam replied, only his voice was no longer harsh. He took a step toward her. “Amanda, I—I don’t know what to say. I’m so sorry.”
“Well, like you once told me about your girls, I don’t need your pity. I have a fulfilling career and a good reputation in the area. I’m doing just fine.”
“Yeah, I can see that,” he said in a way that let her know he didn’t believe one word of it. “Come here,” he said, pulling her into his arms. He held her close.
It was heaven to have his big, strong arms as her sanctuary, even if it was only temporary. She wrapped her arms around his waist and held on.
“Look at me, Amanda,” he whispered.
There was no use denying it. Her willpower was shattered. She did as he bid.
And then he took her lips in a soft, sweet kiss that warmed her insides to the tips of her toes. When the kiss finally ended, he didn’t pull away, but placed his forehead against hers.
Amanda was dangerously close to falling apart. If she was going to save even a shred of her pride, she knew what she had to do.
Moistening her lips, she said, “I’ve got to go.”
“No, you don’t,” Sam said. “You could stay.”
“No. Please, let me go.”
For what seemed a timeless moment, he pulled away just enough to gaze deeply into her eyes. “Are you sure this is how you want it?”
Holding her emotions tightly in check, Amanda gave a slight nod.
“Can I call you tomorrow?”
“No,” she replied. Then, lifting her medical bag from the floor where she’d dropped it, she added, “We both know it would never work.”
Without further resistance from him, she turned and walked out the door.
Sam didn’t sleep at all that night and was up bright and early the next morning. One of the first things he did was call and make Caroline an appointment at the doctor’s office. By midmorning they were in the physician’s office. The pediatrician diagnosed Caroline with a mild case of strep throat and gave her a prescription for penicillin, which Sam had filled at the nearest pharmacy. Then he drove home and made sure that Caroline went straight to bed. Without her sister to play with, Sara kept herself entertained with their new puppy.
The first moment Sam got to himself, he sat down with a cup of coffee. And, of course, all too soon, his thoughts turned to the one person whom he wished he didn’t think about so often. Amanda.
What she had told him last night hadn’t completely registered until after she was gone. Only then had the weight of her words sunk in. She couldn’t have children. How tragic for someone who obviously loved them. Who devoted her life to bringing them into the world. What he didn’t understand was why she held that world—men, in particular—at a distance.
She was an enigma, all right. An enigma he couldn’t figure out and couldn’t stop thinking about. But he knew one thing for sure. Underneath her iceberg facade was a flesh-and-blood woman he wanted to make love with.
Sam rose from the kitchen chair where he had been sitting and checked the pantry, only to find he was in short supply of canned soups and juices, the very foods Caroline needed while she was convalescing. He called Mrs. Cunningham to see if she would be able to stay with the girls while he went back into town for groceries.
Within the hour Sam found himself standing in the middle of a grocery aisle, examining the labels on canned goods. Finally, he had what he came for, checked out at the register and started for home.
Suddenly, he got a wild idea. Since it was close to noon, maybe Amanda would consider having lunch with him. It was going to be a long week ahead with Caroline sick and all. Besides, he had told Amanda he would call her with news about Caroline. He would just give it to her in person instead.
He drove straight to her office.
“Hi,” the young receptionist said when she saw him.
Sam cleared his throat. “Would you please tell Amanda that I’m here to see her,” he said.
The young woman widened her eyes. “D-did you say Amanda?”
“That’s right,” Sam said, perplexed. “She is in, isn’t she?”
“W-well, yes, but—never mind,” she said as though she remembered this scenario from their past conversation and now knew the drill. “I’ll get her.”
Sam nodded in reply.
A short time later, Amanda
entered the reception area.
“Sam, what are you doing here?”
For a moment, Sam wondered the same thing himself.
It was obvious that she was still seeing patients—and none too happy to see him.
He probably looked like a complete fool.
Who was he kidding? He was a fool.
“Would you like to have lunch with me?” he asked.
Amanda frowned. “Sam, you know I can’t.”
“Too busy?”
“Well, yes,” she said hesitantly, pulling him aside to where their conversation couldn’t be easily overheard. “But that’s not the only reason, and you know it.” She leaned forward and spoke in a lowered voice. “We discussed this last night.”
“No, you discussed this last night. I barely got a word in edgewise.”
“How’s Caroline?” she asked. “I was planning to call as soon as I got a break from seeing patients.”
“You were right,” Sam said, knowing she was deliberately changing the subject. “She has strep throat. The doctor gave her a prescription for some oral antibiotics.”
“Give her plenty of liquids.”
“Yeah, I know. Mrs. Cunningham has already given me those instructions.”
“Well, then,” Amanda said, taking in a deep breath. “I’d better get back to my patients. You will see yourself out, won’t you?”
“Amanda,” Sam began. “We can’t just never talk about last night again.”
“I don’t see why not,” she replied.
“Because nothing was settled.”
“For me, it was.” She turned to go.
“Wait,” Sam said, touching her elbow. “I didn’t really get to think about what you told me until after you were gone.”
“Good. It was probably for the best that way.”
“There’s so much I don’t understand,” he argued.
Amanda whirled around. “Look, Sam. If ever you decided to remarry again, wouldn’t you want more children?”
“Well, yes, I suppose so,” he replied.
“I think I’ve made my point,” she said.
“Now just a minute, Amanda.”
“No. Please, leave me alone.”
Sam took a step back. “Fine. I will.”
The Daddy And The Baby Doctor Page 10
