A Mommy for His Daughter

by Amy Ruttan

  Evelyn continued wandering until she was standing in front of a clapboard house that had used to be bright red, but was now faded and chipped. Everything was the same—including the covered porch with the rocking chair. Only no one was home. The lights were out. The car was gone...

  “Evelyn?” Derek said in confusion. “You’re soaked.”

  Evelyn turned. “How did you find me?”

  “I had a hunch.”

  “Good hunch.” She chuckled nervously.

  “Come on—my car is over here. I’ll take you back to your place.”

  He slipped his arm around her and led her the way to his car and out of the rain.

  It was comforting.

  It felt good that someone cared for her.

  They didn’t say much as he drove her back to the clinic and led her to the apartment in the back. Once they were inside he took off her coat.

  “Go get changed and I’ll make some tea.”

  Evelyn nodded and went to change into dry clothes. By the time she was done the tea was ready.

  “Thank you, Derek,” she said, not knowing what else to say. She was appreciative of the fact that he’d found her standing in the rain before anyone else had seen her.

  He nodded. “What would you like in your tea? Honey or lemon?”

  “Something stronger?” she said dryly.

  Derek laughed and pulled out some whiskey. “This do?”

  “Yes!”

  Derek poured them both tea with a shot of whiskey. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “No,” she muttered. “Not really.”

  “Okay.”

  She scrubbed a hand over her face, because she needed to talk about it to someone.

  “Martha Washington is my half sister.”

  His eyes widened briefly. “Oh. That I didn’t know.”

  “That’s all I’ll say.”

  “Okay,” he said.

  “I know you think I have walls...”

  “I told you—we all have walls, Evie. I’m just glad that you’ve decided to let me in.”

  Tears stung Evelyn’s eyes. “What am I doing here?”

  “You’ve come home to lay some ghosts to rest. It’s obvious.” Derek finished his tea. “And to practice medicine, obviously?”

  “You think so?” she teased, and then sighed.

  “Well, you are a doctor.” He winked.

  Evelyn laughed, felt her mood lifting.

  “If I had just accepted that my father wanted to marry again I could’ve had a sister. I wouldn’t have had to leave.”

  Derek sighed. “We can’t look at the past. It’s hard, but we just have to do what’s right going forward.”

  She nodded. “I suppose you’re right.”

  “I know I am. Now, I’m going to head back down to the clinic. I’ll see you later.”

  He pulled her close into a warm hug and she tried not to cling to him, but it felt so good to be in his arms.

  After he’d left her phone buzzed and she picked it up. It was an email from Juneau General Hospital and her heart skipped a beat.

  It was Jennifer’s results.

  She had to get to her computer and analyze them.

  She was hoping the baby didn’t have any chromosomal defects. She was hoping the baby would be able to survive an emergency birth if it came down to it. But if the baby had issues she was going to put Jennifer on a plane to Sitka and deliver the child.

  Then, when Martha was stable and Jennifer’s baby was safe, she was going to get the heck out of Wolf’s Harbor.

  She’d done her duty to her father. She was tired of ghosts.

  Forgive yourself.

  Only she couldn’t. She’d caused too much pain and she had to leave before she caused anymore.

  And the only way she’d escape was if she ran—and that was what she planned to do as soon as she could.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  “WHAT DO YOU MEAN, a hurricane is tracking toward us?” Derek asked.

  Tim Vance showed him the emergency report that was flashing on his laptop. “It’s rare, but a hurricane that cropped up off the coast of Hawaii is building strength and heading straight for us. They’re warning all residents of southeast Alaska to brace for hurricane conditions.”

  “Is Juneau included?”

  Tim nodded.

  Derek’s heart skipped a beat and he picked up the phone to call his in-laws. He owed Vivian that much.

  “Hi, George, it’s Derek. Yeah, Mo is okay... But have you and Melanie heard about the hurricane? Okay, good. Stay safe. I know. Thanks.”

  Derek ended the call. His in-laws had already heard about the hurricane barreling its way toward them and had taken precautions, boarding up their windows and stocking their house with supplies. And they’d reminded him to take care of Mo more than once. He knew they blamed him for Vivian’s death, because they’d told him so—many times.

  Mo would be okay with Edna at the house until he was able to get out there and collect her. It would be best if they all just hung out at the clinic until it blew over. And he was positive that Evelyn would let them crash at her place.

  “Do you know when it’s supposed to hit?” Derek asked Tim.

  “Tonight.”

  “I think we’re going to stay here tonight, then. We have Martha still resting until Dr. Saunders discharges her. I’ll have to go get Mo and bring her in here.”

  “I’ll get her,” Janet offered. “I have to check on my place and it’s on the way.”

  “Are you sure, Janet? Edna is with her—do you think you can bring Edna back into town too?”

  “Yeah, of course. I’ve watched Mo before, and I know she likes riding in my truck, and picking up Edna is no problem.” Janet grabbed her coat. “I’ll get your house locked up too, and get some supplies.”

  “Thanks, Janet. And if you see Dr. Saunders tell her I need her.”

  Janet nodded and left just as Evelyn walked in. There were dark circles under her eyes. She looked exhausted.

  “What happened to you?” Derek asked.

  “I got the results in from Jennifer’s amnio. I spent all last night analyzing them.” She scrubbed a hand over her face. “How’s Martha?”

  “Stable,” Tim answered. “I just went to check on her. They’re wondering when they can leave. Mrs. Washington wants to get their home stocked up before the hurricane hits.”

  Evelyn’s eyes widened. “Hurricane?”

  “Yeah—they’re grounding all planes,” Derek said.

  “Right. Well, I just went to check on Jennifer Yazzie. Baby is strong and no signs of labor. Let’s hope it stays that way until the planes have clearance to fly, and then I’m getting her to Sitka as soon as possible.”

  “Why? Is it bad?” Derek asked.

  “No chromosomal abnormalities, but Jennifer has symptoms of the beginning stages of kidney failure and the baby has polycythemia.”

  “What’s that?” Tim asked.

  “A concentration of red blood cells,” Derek answered. “Not fatal, but it can cause complications.”

  “I need to get that baby out of her.” Evelyn hung up her jacket. “I’ll go check on Martha and get her discharged.”

  Derek nodded. “Okay, and then we need to get this clinic ready for the hurricane.”

  She nodded and disappeared into the back room.

  In all his fifteen years in Alaska he’d never encountered a hurricane. They were rare in Alaska, but not unheard of. Hopefully this hurricane would lose steam, or the jet stream would make it change direction so they didn’t get slammed with one.

  Alaska got storms, even tropical ones, and really bad winter storms, but this was the first time a hurricane was coming to batter his clinic.

  “Nancy?” Derek called out to his recep
tionist, who was in the filing cabinet. “Do we have any protocols for hurricanes?”

  “Yes, Dr. Taylor.” Nancy went over to a drawer and pulled out a binder. “Every possible natural disaster is listed in there.”

  “Great—and now you’re going home.”

  “Dr. Taylor, I can stay and help.”

  “No, Nancy. You go home. You’ve got kids, and you need to make sure your house is ready for this storm. Go—and that’s an order. I would send Janet too, but we’re going to need her once she gets back.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Taylor.” Nancy collected up her things and left.

  Derek sat down behind her desk with the binder and flipped to the page about hurricanes. They could hole up in here. After Evelyn had taken care of Martha and sent her on her way they’d raid Evelyn’s apartment for food and supplies and then board up her windows before securing the clinic.

  At least they had enough supplies. At least people could get to them for help. Unlike the night that big snow storm had hit and he’d lost his Vivian because she hadn’t been able to get the emergency care she’d needed.

  “We were called for a transfer?” said Dan, one of the paramedics, from the door.

  Evelyn came out. “Yes, Martha Washington. You have the address. But she needs to lie flat for a bit longer.”

  Dan nodded and they followed her in with a stretcher.

  It wasn’t long before they were bringing Martha out. She didn’t have an IV anymore and looked better.

  “Don’t try to come out if there’s a hurricane. When it’s all clear drive her over to the clinic and I’ll do an ultrasound,” Evelyn warned.

  “Thank you, Dr. Saunders,” Jocelyn said, not looking at her.

  When Martha was loaded into the ambulance Evelyn came back inside.

  “Okay, what do we have to do to get ready for this hurricane?”

  “Supplies. Food and water. All of us are going to crash here tonight. I’m going to drive out to my place and secure it, also grab as much bottled water and food as I can, and Tim will help you with your apartment.”

  “Okay.”

  “Planes are grounded, as you know, and ferry service has stopped. All the roads out of town are closed except for emergency services. It’s a complete shut-down.”

  “Yeah, we used to have hurricanes in Boston. I remember. I’ll take what I can and we’ll meet back here in a couple of hours.”

  “Sounds good.”

  * * *

  Janet called to say she was delayed. The wind had picked up and there were trees that had been knocked over, blocking the road back into town.

  Edna, Mo and Janet were at Janet’s place while the trees were cleared by the volunteer fire department.

  Derek was stressed, but he knew Mo was safe with Edna and Janet, so he focused on battening down the hatches at the clinic. They would need the generator when the power went out, so he took stock of the supplies he could grab and other essential items—including another generator.

  Lives depended on those generators.

  By the time he’d finished unloading everything into the storeroom Evelyn and Tim were bringing down boxes of food from her place.

  The apartment was on higher ground, but it had more windows. The clinic didn’t have as many interior windows and they would be safer there. He was glad that the clinic was high above the sea walls that surrounded the lower part of town and the downs. They were perfectly situated on the hill.

  It was then that the rain hit. And it was heavy.

  “What time is this hurricane coming?” Derek asked.

  “I’ll check the weather network.” Tim pulled out his phone. “Two hours it’ll make landfall. It’s large. So when it makes landfall in Sitka it’s going to hit us.”

  “This clinic has back-up generators, right?” Evelyn asked worriedly.

  “Of course. We’ll be fine. You seem agitated? I thought you were used to hurricanes.”

  “I have a bad feeling,” she muttered, and she was twitching nervously.

  Derek wanted to comfort her, but not in front of Tim. Besides, he was worried about Mo and hoped the road would be cleared soon.

  He had to keep his distance from her. That was what they’d agreed upon. It was for the best. If he comforted her now, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself. She’d draw him in again. Get through his defenses.

  Who are you kidding? She already had. Evelyn had a way about her that just drew him in and he was a lost man.

  “Where’s Janet? I thought she’d be back with Mo,” Evelyn asked, and there was concern in her voice.

  “Tree fell, blocking the road. They’ll be here as soon as it clears.”

  Evelyn still looked worried and it melted his heart, seeing her concern for his daughter.

  She loved Mo too. It was obvious.

  He wrapped his arm around her and gave her a hug. She rested her head on his shoulder. It was comforting, sharing this burden with someone else, with her. He didn’t feel so alone.

  Only you are.

  He broke the connection.

  “Come on—let’s finish boarding up the windows of the clinic,” Derek said.

  They worked together in uneasy silence. Then Derek made a preliminary check on the generators. Outside it was growing dark, which was unusual it being summer time in Alaska.

  It was eerie. He could hear the rain pelting the metal roof and the sides of the clinic. It was harder than it had been before. Once that gale force wind picked up it wouldn’t be safe for anyone out there on the street.

  What was that old saying? It wasn’t that the wind was blowing, but what the wind was blowing around? He glanced at the clock.

  How long did it take to clear a tree from a road anyway?

  “Help!”

  Derek ran from the back as he saw Joe Jr. come in, supporting Jennifer. On her other side was Joe Sr.

  Evelyn came rushing from the back room. “Jennifer!”

  Jennifer was moaning in pain, doubled over, and Derek’s chest tightened as he saw himself in Joe’s shoes, holding Vivian as she cried out.

  “She went into labor, Evie,” Joe Jr. said. “It happened so fast. One minute she was fine and the next her water broke.”

  “Her water broke? Get her into exam room one,” Evelyn said.

  She was cursing under her breath as Joe Jr. scooped up his wife and carried her to the back.

  Joe Sr. and Tim braced the door shut, locking it as the wind hit, trying to throw it open with a god-awful howl which made Derek’s insides turn into ice. It reminded him of the night Mo was born. The storm that had hit then. The howl and groan of the wind as it had dumped snow, almost burying them alive and impeding the medical attention Vivian had needed. They hadn’t been able to get out and by the time help came it had been too late.

  That storm had cost Vivian her life, and he prayed that this storm wouldn’t cost Jennifer hers.

  Derek headed to the back room and helped Joe lie Jennifer on the operating table. Evelyn was in the next room, putting on scrubs. He could see the look of dread on her face as she did so.

  Tim was prepping Jennifer, and was already in a set of scrubs. Jennifer was unconscious, the pain having overtaken her.

  “What’s going to happen, Dr. Taylor?” Joe asked with terror in his eyes. “I can’t lose her!”

  “Come on, Joe. Let’s go sit with your dad. Let Evie take care of her.”

  Tim ran past him to lend a hand as Derek walked Joe Jr. back to his father.

  “What do we do?” Joe Sr. asked.

  “I have to go help, but Jennifer is in safe hands, Joe. Evie is a good doctor. A good surgeon. Evelyn is brilliant.”

  And he would be there, every step of the way.

  It wasn’t ideal, but they wouldn’t lose Jennifer or the baby.

  He had every confide
nce.

  This time he would win out over death.

  “It will be fine, Joe.”

  Joe nodded nervously and didn’t respond, but Derek had a good feeling that Evelyn would save Jennifer’s life.

  He was willing to bet on it.

  Evelyn gave him hope even though he was worried about the storm, about Mo—about a lot. The one thing he was sure of, that he believed in, was Evelyn.

  She’d done it before and he knew she’d do it again.

  She might have a complicated past, like him, but she didn’t let it interfere with her work.

  The past was in the past. That was what he’d told her the other day when she’d opened up about Martha.

  He had never thought he’d say that.

  Ever.

  But he’d meant it. Evelyn had given him hope for so much more. If he could just let go...

  * * *

  “I know anesthetics,” Tim said as he finished scrubbing and headed into exam room one, which was now an operating theater. “I can manage her airway.”

  “Great,” Evelyn said as she got into a surgical gown and gloves. “We’ll deliver this baby here and now. Tim, get the incubator ready when Jennifer’s anesthesia is stable.”

  “Of course, Dr. Saunders.”

  Derek came into the scrub room and changed in front of her. She was grateful that he was going to assist. She needed Janet to manage the baby while Evelyn operated on Jennifer and got her stable. Then Evelyn could focus on keeping the baby alive.

  “There was meconium in the water,” Evelyn said to Derek as he finished scrubbing and got a gown on.

  “That’s bad,” Derek said.

  “Yeah, I’m worried the baby aspirated it, and that’s a definite sign of distress. The baby’s heart-rate is elevated. We need to get that baby out of there.”

  The wind howled and the clinic creaked. The lights flickered and Evelyn took a deep breath.

  You got this. You can do this.

  “Back-up generators are running. If we lose main power we have the back-ups, and the incubator has a battery pack that is charged.” Derek smiled from behind his surgical mask. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  “Thanks.” She sighed. “Let’s go.”

  Evelyn took a deep breath as she entered the makeshift operating room. She wasn’t used to conditions like this. She was used to state-of-the-art facilities. Large operating theaters that were fully staffed, and a gallery full of eager interns and residents who wanted to learn.