A Mommy for His Daughter

by Amy Ruttan

  Evelyn laughed. “I’m glad you’re letting Mo still have a connection to her mother, and I hope for Mo’s sake it continues for a while longer.”

  She knew all too well the pain of losing your connection with everything you knew. Your heritage, everyone you loved. It was horrible, and no one should ever have to go through the pain of losing a piece of their soul.

  “Me too,” Derek admitted.

  It didn’t take them long to reach Derek’s in-laws. Evelyn stayed in the car and Derek made a couple of trips to bring in the luggage that Mo needed for her couple of nights with her grandparents.

  Mo gave Evelyn a hug before she left, and Evelyn cherished those small arms wrapped around her neck in a hug that had completely caught her off guard but was appreciated all the same.

  Once Mo was settled, Derek returned to the car. “You ready for a trip to the summit?”

  “I suppose...”

  “Come on! Your léelk’w has an adventurous spirit. You need to have one too.”

  “I do have an adventurous spirit.”

  “Then there’s no problem,” Derek teased.

  It wasn’t a long drive to the center of Juneau’s cruise ship dock. There were a couple of large ships in the harbor, but Derek parked and was able to get tickets for the next trip up in the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tramway.

  They crammed onto the tram with all the other people on their trip. It was a bit of crush, and most of the people were tourists from the cruise ships. Evelyn found herself crammed in a corner, with Derek pressed against her.

  Evelyn craned her neck and saw the cables disappear almost vertically up the side of the mountain into the mist.

  “Oh, my God,” she whispered. “We’re going up that?”

  Derek looked. “Yep. It’s eighteen hundred feet up and it’s one of the most vertical tramways in the world.”

  She closed her eyes. “Remind me to murder you if we survive this.”

  “You can hold on to me—or to the hand-holds.”

  Evelyn went to reach for one, but an older man in front of her grabbed it, not noticing her. Derek reached down and wrapped a strong arm around her, pulling her close as he held onto a hand-hold himself. His arm around her gave her a sense of security she hadn’t felt in so long.

  It was nice.

  The door shut and the tram began to move out of the station and up through the mist and the rainforest that blanketed the lower elevation around the mountain, on their way to the subalpine eco system at the summit.

  Evelyn opened her eyes and braved the view as Juneau disappeared below them and they rose above the mist that was clinging above the city. The sun came out, burning away the drizzle, and she couldn’t help but stare at the beauty in wonder.

  Derek chuckled. “See—it’s worth it.”

  “If we survive to the upper station,” she teased.

  “Well, since we’re almost there I think that’s a safe bet.”

  Evelyn peered over to the front of the tram to see the upper tram station waiting for them. Once the tram was safely docked the doors opened. Derek and Evelyn lingered to let the other people get off first, so they weren’t caught up in the mad crush of tourists.

  “Want to go for a quick hike? John said he’d meet us at the Langstrom Grill at seven o’clock. We can head up to the alpine meadow and then take the tram back down.”

  “Sounds good. Lead the way. I don’t think I have my footing yet.”

  “What?” Derek asked playfully. “Come on, you, goose. This is solid ground.”

  “It’s a cliff. This station is hovering over a cliff.”

  Derek rolled his eyes and then stomped his foot. “See—it’s solid... Whoa! Whoa! Oh, my God, I’m going to fall off the edge of this cliff.”

  Evelyn punched his arm. “Ha-ha. Funny.”

  Derek was shaking his head and still laughing as they left the tram and headed for a path that wound its way through two-hundred-foot-tall trees up to the alpine meadow. There were a lot of tourists going there and back, but Evelyn didn’t find them as overwhelming as when they were riding the tram.

  In fact as they picked their way through the zigzag path away from the upper station she found it quite relaxing, though it was a bit cooler up on the summit than it was down in the city.

  They stopped halfway and sat down on a bench. Through the trees she could see Juneau below them. All the brightly colored homes, and the cruise ships that seemed like toys in the Gastineau Channel.

  She sighed. “This is great.”

  “Got your footing back?” he teased again.

  She elbowed him. “Yes. Thanks for bringing me up here.”

  “No problem. I haven’t been up here in a long time. Usually I come by myself, because I have time to kill after dropping Mo off, waiting to catch the ferry back to Wolf’s Harbor the next day. Sometimes I take a couple days off to myself and spend it in Juneau before I go back. A little mini-vacation.”

  “Your family is still in Chicago?”

  “My mom is. My dad passed away two years ago.”

  “I’m surprised you didn’t move back to Chicago.”

  Derek shrugged. “Well, I love it here, and Mo needs her grandparents.”

  “What about her grandma in Chicago?”

  She didn’t want Mo not to have contact with her loved ones—especially the ones who wanted her and made an effort to stay in her life.

  “My mom is coming up next month to spend several months with me, and I have siblings in Chicago and they have kids. Mo is getting old enough that if I can get another general practitioner up here we can go back home for Christmas or something. Mom would like that.”

  “I hope you find someone. I wish I could help.”

  Derek nodded solemnly. “Yeah, I know. But you don’t know where you’ll end up.”

  “I have offers in Seattle and at the Mayo. Even in Boston. All good offers.”

  “So why haven’t you taken one of them?” he asked.

  “I’m helping out a friend.”

  Those gray-green eyes narrowed in disbelief. “I think it’s more than that.”

  “Pardon?” she asked, annoyed.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I didn’t think it was a touchy subject.”

  She didn’t respond to that. She didn’t tell him that it was indeed a touchy subject and she didn’t feel like discussing it right now.

  “It’s not. I’m helping out a friend. If I wasn’t, I would’ve left the moment she said Wolf’s Harbor.”

  “Um...didn’t you find out after the fact? Like after she left?”

  “Details, details.” Evelyn smiled. “Come on. Show me this alpine meadow before we have to catch our tram back down to meet with this John.”

  She didn’t want to talk anymore. She didn’t want to talk about why she was there, seeking acceptance of the never-ending guilt over her father’s death. It wasn’t his business. He was just her colleague. Nothing more.

  She had to remember that and protect herself.

  Even if she wanted more.

  * * *

  Derek had a shower and changed his clothes into business casual for their meeting with John. When he’d called John his friend had been wary at first, thinking that Derek was going to bombard him with questions and talk about a hospital for Wolf’s Harbor, but once Derek had name-dropped Dr. Evelyn Saunders, John had taken notice. He’d heard of her.

  “Derek, how the heck did you land Dr. Evelyn Saunders in Wolf’s Harbor?”

  “She’s covering for a friend.”

  “She’s a hot commodity. What I wouldn’t give to bring her on board at Juneau General, but the board wouldn’t pay enough to keep her happy here.”

  “Well, she needs to run some tests on a patient...”

  “She can use our facilities. Of course. W
hen is she planning on coming to Juneau?”

  “I’m bringing her Saturday.”

  “Great. We’ll have dinner Saturday night at Langstrom’s.”

  Derek had the distinct feeling that he was going to be a third wheel in this situation, but he was okay with that. This was about helping Jennifer and Joe’s baby.

  He waited in the lounge for Evelyn and glanced at his watch.

  The elevator dinged and she walked off.

  Derek had to take a step back.

  He hadn’t seen her dressed up before. Her dark auburn hair was swept up off her neck and a tight black shift dress clung to her curves. High heels accented her legs and her rear, and he couldn’t help but tilt his head just so in order to check her out.

  And although he was glad he had, as his temperature rose, suddenly he didn’t feel like having dinner with a colleague. He wanted to keep her all to himself.

  Hey! Get a hold of yourself.

  “You look handsome,” Evelyn said.

  She seemed nervous too. She was wringing her hands and fidgeting.

  Good.

  He was glad he wasn’t the only one, and it gave him a thrill to think that maybe he was affecting her just as much as she was affecting him.

  At least he hoped it was that.

  “I’ve never seen you in a suit and dress shirt. Usually you’re lumbering around in a flannel shirt.”

  “I can say the same about you. Jeans, cotton shirts and flats. And my shirts are woolen plaid. It deals with the moisture and the rain better than flannel.”

  “Are you really starting a conversation about flannel right now?” she asked teasingly.

  “I do believe that I am.”

  Evelyn laughed. “Well, this must be important. I take it Langstrom’s is the nicest place in Juneau?”

  “Something like that.” Derek proffered his arm. “It’s not far from the hotel—just down the street. We can walk.”

  Derek led her outside. Even though it was seven at night, the summer’s midnight sun was out—which was too bad, because the twinkling lights down by the water were a sight to see. But it was nice to see the mountains and the water in the Gastineau Channel, which was like a mirror reflecting the mountains. At least it was early in the summer still. They wouldn’t have sun till midnight quite yet.

  A horn sounded from one of the cruise ships, and music was blasting from another onboard party, but it didn’t ruin the beauty of the evening.

  Summer in Alaska was his favorite time of year. Though there were times when he missed those endless summers in Chicago. He missed the heat, the beach, and the complete freedom he’d felt back then, when his heart had been open wide and not closed. Not so full of responsibility.

  Still, he loved Mo with all his heart, and Alaska and his patients, but it would be nice not to carry the burden of all the things he was—to let loose and be who he used to be.

  Derek held open the door and Evelyn stepped inside.

  Langstrom’s was dark. It had plush leather booths, and wide windows that overlooked the yacht club and the water. The walls were painted burgundy and the exposed beams only added to the ambiance.

  He’d always liked this place. But if it had just been him coming to meet John for dinner he seriously doubted that they would’ve been dining here. They would’ve probably met at the hotel bar.

  John was pulling out the big guns, and since dinner was on him and the hospital board, Derek wasn’t going to object.

  The maître d’ led them toward a private booth tucked in the corner, and as they wound their way through happy diners Derek’s heart sank as he saw that Dr. Mark Pearson was at the table.

  Oh. No.

  At first all he felt was a sense of dread at the thought of Evelyn and Mark meeting, but then he thought that this might be an interesting dinner indeed, and relished the idea of Evelyn putting Mark in his place.

  John stood up and seemed practically giddy. Mark, the creep, was eyeing Evelyn as if she was the main course, and Derek instinctively put his hand in the small of her back, which made Evelyn take a tiny intake of breath.

  And that little sound coming from her responding to his touch made his blood heat.

  “Derek—so glad that you and Dr. Saunders could make it.”

  “I’m happy you’re accommodating us, John.” Derek shook John’s hand and then turned to Evelyn. “Evelyn, this is Dr. John Collins, Chief of Surgery at Juneau General.”

  “A pleasure,” Evelyn said, gripping his hand and shaking it firmly.

  “The pleasure is all mine, Dr. Saunders,” John gushed.

  “Please call me, Evelyn.”

  John grinned again and turned to Mark. “Derek, I know you’re familiar with Mark—Evelyn, this is Dr. Mark Pearson, Head of Obstetrics at Juneau General.”

  The warm, friendly smile instantly disappeared from Evelyn’s face as Mark, totally unaware, took her hand.

  “A pleasure, Dr. Saunders. I’ve been reading your work for years.”

  Evelyn kept the cool, fake smile on her face. “Have you really? Could’ve fooled me.”

  Derek coughed, clearing his throat and trying not to laugh as Mark looked thoroughly confused and John seemed completely oblivious to the burn directed at his head of obstetrics.

  “Let’s take a seat, shall we?” Derek suggested, and slid into the booth next to Mark rather than letting Evelyn sit there, which he knew Pearson was not impressed about.

  “We’re absolutely thrilled, Evelyn, that you’re going to be using our facilities on Sunday. Everything is at your disposal.”

  “Thank you, John. I really shouldn’t have to be doing this testing so late in the patient’s pregnancy, but the last doctor who was in charge of this case was lacking.”

  Mark’s eyes narrowed and Derek stifled another laugh.

  “Well, it is hard in these smaller communities to get proper assistance when needed,” said John.

  Now it was Derek’s turn to grind his teeth as John gave him this jab.

  “Oh, Dr. Taylor has been wonderful. I honestly don’t know how he manages to run things so smoothly and skillfully on his own. The town needs a hospital and more staff for sure,” Evelyn said. “No, the fault of this patient falling through the cracks lies solely with the rotating OB/GYNs.”

  “How did you come to that conclusion, Dr. Saunders?” Mark asked tersely.

  “I came to that conclusion because I have a patient who is documented as having intrauterine growth restriction, and yet she was never informed of that suspicion and an amniocentesis wasn’t performed at twenty weeks. She’s now at thirty-two weeks.”

  John frowned and Mark gritted his teeth.

  “Perhaps an amnio would’ve put the patient in danger—and perhaps that patient didn’t follow doctor’s orders and get herself to Sitka or Juneau to have it taken care of with proper genetic counsellors?”

  Evelyn smiled and picked up her menu. “Perhaps. But something should’ve been done before this.”

  Derek was having the best time. He loved her sense of humor and he especially loved watching Dr. Mark Pearson squirm in his seat. Evelyn was smart, she had an edge, and he was really enjoying this interchange.

  “What’s good here?” Evelyn asked, directing her question to John, who looked relieved to turn the conversation away from talking about Mark’s error.

  * * *

  It took every ounce of Evelyn’s strength during that long dinner not to reach across the table and throttle Dr. Mark Pearson for so many reasons, but she didn’t want to embarrass Derek or John, who was a lovely man.

  She was very aware that she was being wooed by this hospital, but she wasn’t interested in Juneau General. Not if it meant that she had to work with Dr. Pearson. Perhaps he was a capable OB/GYN, but his mismanagement of two patients in Wolf’s Harbor put a sour taste in her mout
h.

  The dinner was delicious, and she was glad to be treated to lobster and wine. She was even more glad that she would have the full run of all the hospital’s facilities.

  She’d received a text from Joe Jr. in the middle of the meal that stated he and Jennifer were in Hoonah for the night, so they wouldn’t have to spend all day on the road, and Evelyn had texted back that it was a smart decision.

  “Well, gentleman, it’s been an absolute pleasure, but it’s been a long day and I have to prepare for a very risky amniocentesis tomorrow.” Evelyn stood up and the men followed suit.

  “I look forward to seeing you tomorrow,” John said, taking her hand.

  “Thank you, John,” said Derek, shaking John’s hand next.

  Mark just nodded, but didn’t say anything as she slid out of the booth, completely satisfied that she’d put the pompous ass in his place.

  Derek slid out after her and guided her through the restaurant.

  They didn’t say anything until they were outside, but when they were a few feet from the restaurant Evelyn started laughing uncontrollably, as did Derek. It eased the tension between them that had become almost palpable.

  “Evelyn, that dinner...that was worth the drive to Juneau,” Derek said through his laughing. “Mark’s face, it was priceless. I love karma.”

  “It was good, wasn’t it?” She giggled. “I didn’t know he was going to be there.”

  “Neither did I. I swear. I was worried you were going to deck him.”

  “I wanted to, believe me,” Evelyn muttered. “He was brought there as bait.”

  “Bait?”

  “I’m a woman,” she said astutely.

  Derek grinned lazily. “I’m very well aware of that.”

  Heat bloomed in her cheeks. “I mean he’s a very good-looking man and he was meant to entice me. This isn’t been the first time this has happened and it probably won’t be the last.”

  “How many times has this happened to you before?”

  “Twice, really. And one time it did work. I was with Nathan for two years.”

  “You don’t seem sad about it,” Derek remarked.

  She shrugged. “It was for the best.”

  “You wanted different things?”