“Oh, my gosh, I can’t believe I forgot to ask.” Sophia shook her head. “What did the doctor say?”
“I had tests and finally had the lump removed. It was an intraductal papilloma—”
“English please.”
“A small wartlike growth in a milk duct. Completely harmless.”
“Thank goodness,” Sophia said. “Remind me to punish you severely for not letting me know.”
“Considering the fact that I’m dealing with Caleb Westen fallout, I would ask you to cut me some slack.”
“Done,” her friend agreed. “But it’s a one-time pass, and I’d advise you not to let it happen again.”
“I swear.” Em made a cross over her heart to seal the promise.
“Okay, then. So tell me about the fallout. What’s going on?”
Em sank into one of the visitor chairs. “He’s doing all the right things. Offered financial support.”
“Knowing and loving you as I do, I’m guessing it was refused?”
“Yeah. He didn’t believe at first that I wasn’t after money. Or something.”
“Or something?” Sophia crossed her arms over her chest. “If he’s the picture of paternal perfection, why don’t you look happier?”
“For starters, he doesn’t trust me. After not telling him about Annie, I can’t say I blame him.”
“But? And I know there is one.”
“You and I know that everyone has reason to question their faith in people to varying degrees. We’ve all been let down at one time or another. But, Soph, it goes deeper with Cal.”
“How do you know?”
Em thought about how to put this into words. “It’s a feeling really. The way he questions everything. And—”
“What?” her friend prompted.
“Something his father said.” She smiled softly. “It was Annie’s first birthday. A party at his house.”
“I wasn’t invited.”
“I’ll make it up to you.” Em sighed. “It’s no excuse, but I’ve had a lot on my plate. I realize now how selfish it was to keep Cal in the dark about Annie. His folks met her for the first time on her birthday. They adored her on sight and barely managed to keep in check their hostility toward me. Again, I don’t blame them. But his father said something.”
“Which was?”
“About Cal’s past. When I asked him to cut me some slack—” Em smiled wryly. “Apparently I’m doing that to everyone lately.”
“You think?”
Ignoring the barb, she continued, “Anyway, I was explaining that I had my reasons for keeping quiet about the pregnancy but didn’t want to talk about them. His dad said I wasn’t the only one with baggage. Cal was married.”
Sophia frowned. “Did you get the details?”
“He said it was Cal’s story to tell.”
“Can’t argue with that, Em. And you won’t have to ask. Cal will tell you if he wants you to know.”
Emily twisted her fingers together in her lap. “Something happened to him.”
“That doesn’t make him unique,” Sophia said. “It’s not your problem, Em. What do you care what he thinks of you?”
“I don’t. Not really. Except that his opinion could impact Annie’s perceptions.”
“That’s not what’s getting to you. It’s more personal.” Sophia tapped her index finger against her lips. “You’re falling for him again, aren’t you?”
“Don’t be silly,” Em scoffed. “I’m smarter than that. Again implies I had deep feelings the first time around, but I walked away, remember?”
“Not without regret.” Her friend’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “You slept with him, didn’t you?”
Technically when he’d had his way with her they were standing up and no one had been sleeping, least of all her. Em shivered with the memory of how desperately she’d wanted him. “Why would you think that?”
“Oh, please. Don’t even try to wiggle your way out of telling me. You’re a very bad liar.”
“Cal wouldn’t agree with you about that. And the truth is that we were intimate.” Em squirmed in the chair. “Please don’t lecture me. Anything you say is nothing compared to what I’ve said to myself. It was stupid and won’t happen again.”
“Because you got him out of your system?”
If only. From her mouth to God’s ear.
“I’m still working on it. The problem is now that he knows about Annie and has taken to being a father, there won’t be any way not to see him.”
“So what you’re saying is that the only way you can get over him is out of sight, out of mind?”
It was more like out of the frying pan into the fire. Em didn’t want to admit that not seeing Cal hadn’t worked very well in getting over him.
“Look, Soph, I’m sailing in uncharted waters here. I didn’t mean to keep you out of the loop.”
“I know. That’s not your style, and no one knows that better than me. But it’s too much fun and too easy to give you a hard time.”
Em grinned. “I’ll get even with you. Don’t think I won’t—” Her cell phone range interrupting her. She dug it out of her purse and flipped it open. “Hello?”
“Em? It’s Patty.”
She knew from the teen’s tone that something was wrong. “What is it?”
“Henry fell and hit his head. He’s bleeding. He’s not crying—like he’s out of it. Jonas wants to take him to the clinic, but I don’t think that’s best—”
“Go to Mercy Medical Center, Patty,” she said. “Cal’s there. He’ll take care of Henry.”
“What if he won’t?” There was panic in Patty’s voice.
“He will because I’m going to call him right now. I’ll meet you at the E.R.” Just in case they needed backup. She flipped her phone closed and looked at her friend. “Can you keep Annie for me?”
“Of course. I’ll bring Annie home with me. Sounds like Patty needs you more right now.”
“Thanks. I’ll get her as soon as I can. I owe you more than I can say, but right now I have to go.”
Chapter Ten
Emily parked her car outside Mercy Medical Center’s emergency entrance and hurried into the crowded waiting area. She scanned the faces and didn’t see Patty and Jonas, which meant either that they’d been taken to an exam room or hadn’t arrived yet. Stopping at the information desk, she was just about to ask which when Cal came through the double doors to meet her.
Without a word he took her elbow and guided her to a quiet place in the hall just around the corner. She’d felt so scared and alone during the twenty-minute drive here that his hand on her arm felt really good. It was warm and safe, a sensation that had never been very familiar to her until Cal. And she didn’t want to count on it—especially from Cal.
“Hi,” she said, meeting his gaze. “Did Patty and Jonas get here yet?”
He nodded. “After you called me I was waiting for them.”
“How’s Henry? Can I see him?” She tried to read his expression, wondering if he was worried or just tired. “I know I’m not family. Technically. But Patty wants me to be there for her.”
“Henry’s not back there.”
“Where is he?”
“Having tests.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “CAT scan and EEG.”
Her stomach knotted. “Is it more than just a bump on the head? Patty said he was bleeding.”
“There can be a lot of blood from a head wound, which doesn’t necessarily mean severe trauma. But—”
“I hate that word!” she said fiercely. “Why is he having tests?”
“To rule out bleeding in the brain that can cause intracranial pressure. He’s lethargic. Could be a slight concussion. Not severe,” he assured her when she sucked in a breath. “He didn’t lose consciousness, but—”
She stared at him. “There’s that word again.”
“Let’s just say he’s not the same energetic kid who wore me out at the barbecue. I just want to be sure.”
&nb
sp; “Did they tell you what happened?”
“He was running and tripped over a toy. Hit his head on a table. The one Jonas was making for him,” he added.
“Oh, no.” Her heart twisted.
“For sure he’s going to need stitches to close the laceration,” he said.
“How are Patty and Jonas holding up?”
“They’re putting on a brave front to keep Henry calm. But you can see the fear in their eyes, like every concerned parent with a child in the E.R.”
There was something in his eyes that she’d never seen before. After dating for a while she’d gotten to know him pretty well but this expression was new. “It’s different for you now, isn’t it?”
“Care to be more specific?”
She tilted her head to the side and studied him intently. “You understand how the moms and dads feel when their children are suffering,” she observed.
“How did you know?”
“Because of Annie.” She was talking more about herself when she added, “When you’re walking in the same shoes it’s hard to ignore the pain because you know what they’re going through.”
And because of the baby she’d given up, she understood so many more things. She knew Patty and Jonas were struggling to do right by their little boy because they’d made the decision to raise him against their families’ advice and didn’t want to hear the I-told-you-so. But it was more than that. Again she understood because of the baby she gave away and Annie. The love for their little boy was bigger and more consuming than anything else. Giving him a perfect, pain-free life was their only goal, however impossible.
“Doctor Westen?”
They glanced at the young woman in scrubs standing by one of the open double doors separating them from the trauma bays.
“What is it, Gretchen?”
“The Blackford boy is back from radiology.”
“Thanks. Tell his parents I’ll be right in.”
“Yes, Doctor.”
Emily looked up at him. “That was fast.”
He shrugged. “I pulled some strings.”
“So Henry took cuts?”
“Maybe.” A small smile threatened at the corners of his mouth. “But no one’s medical care was compromised.”
“How long will it take to get the results?” Em asked.
“Guaranteed in thirty minutes. I’m going to call right now and see if I can’t get them sooner,” he answered. “Do you want to see Patty?”
“Yeah.”
To avoid the crowded waiting area he led her through the maze of halls, which was the back way into the trauma bays. He walked past curtained areas that protected the privacy of patients being tended to and dodged various mysterious machines with dials and tubes and equipment carts. They were on wheels to make them portable but for the time being had served their purpose and were hastily parked until needed again. He indicated the third room on the right.
“Stay with them. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Okay.”
Em watched his broad shoulders until he turned a corner and disappeared. She felt the loss of his warmth and security. She spent time here and worked with patients after Cal had saved their lives or did what he did to get them back on the road to health. But tonight it felt like she was making her way through a foreign country because a little boy she cared very much about was hurt. Thank goodness Cal was here.
She walked into the room where the young mother sat on the bed holding Henry. Her sleeveless white T-shirt had brownish stains that were no doubt her baby’s dried blood. Jonas stood beside the two of them looking angry, which meant he was feeling worried and helpless.
Then Patty saw her and a tear slid from the corner of her eye. “Emily—”
Em rushed over to them and gave the teen a quick hug. “Hi, kiddo. How is he?”
“Not having a good day,” Patty said.
She sat beside the young mom and gently rubbed a hand on the toddler’s chubby leg. A gauze square covered the gash on his forehead and he was unusually quiet. “Hi, Henry. Did you get an owie?”
“Big time,” Jonas said.
“Cal is checking on the test results now. I’m sure he’ll have some news soon.”
“He’ll need stitches,” Patty said, looking scared at the prospect.
“We wish he didn’t have to go through that,” Em said. “But I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have take care of him than Cal. Henry is in very good hands.”
He loved his job and was very good at it. That’s one of the things that had attracted her from the very beginning and why she’d advised Patty to bring her little boy here to Cal.
He walked into the room and they all looked at him expectantly. “The tests came out fine,” he said, not wasting time. “Good thing Henry has such a hard head.”
“Thank goodness.” Patty reached a hand up to Jonas who instantly squeezed it.
“All the news is positive, but to be on the safe side I’d like to admit Henry and keep him overnight for observation—”
Patty glanced worriedly at Jonas. “Can’t we watch him at home? You could tell us what to look for.”
Cal rubbed a hand over his neck. “This is about not having medical insurance, right?”
“Yeah.” Jonas brushed a gentle hand over his son’s matted hair. “Don’t get me wrong, Doc. I want him to have what he needs. But I’m not sure how I’m going to pay for everything already.”
“It’s not as bad as you think,” Cal said.
“That’s because you’re not the one on the hook for it.” Jonas crossed his arms over his chest. “Everything always costs more than you think.”
“I don’t recommend taking him home yet.”
Henry sat up and pointed at Cal. “Cookie?”
“Hey, you. Feeling better, big guy?” Patty looked at him. “But he’s perked up, almost back to normal.”
Cal blew out a long breath. “It may not be necessary, but I’d rather err on the side of caution.”
Jonas shifted from one foot to the other. “Look, man, Patty and I appreciate everything you’ve done. And we respect your opinion. But we’ll watch out for him ourselves.”
“Then you’ll be taking him home AMA.” He saw their confused looks and added, “Against medical advice.”
Emily knew the intense expression on Cal’s face and had been on the receiving end quite a bit lately. She also knew it was generated because he sincerely cared. Both sides had a point and she watched from the cheap seats between a rock and a hard place.
“There must be some kind of compromise between caution and common sense,” Emily said. “If he’s at home there are four adults to take turns looking out for him and you can tell us what to watch for.”
“Like a family,” Cal said.
“That’s what we are.” She wondered why he was staring at her as if she’d come from another planet. “And just so we’re clear, I’ve got your cell number if we have any questions.”
“I’ll go you one better.” He glanced at the watch on his wrist. “How about this. My shift is almost over. You guys hang here until then, and I’ll come home with you and stay the night, to direct the troops.”
Patty and Jonas exchanged a look, before she said, “Why?”
Cal met her gaze. “Because Henry is my daughter’s best friend.”
That was guy speak for how much he cared and Emily’s heart did a stop, drop and roll maneuver that was completely involuntary.
“You don’t have to, man.” Jonas sounded as if he wasn’t accustomed to catching a break.
“It’s what I do.” He looked at her. “My compromise. Take it or leave it. And before answering you should know that I’ll be there no matter what you say. And I know where you live.”
Emily cleared the lump from her throat before saying, “As far as the rest of the cost for Henry’s E.R. visit, I’ll look into finding a way to pay for everything. It’s what I do. I’ll talk to Sister Monica. This is a nonprofit hospital and they have to gi
ve back a certain amount to the community to maintain their tax-exempt status.”
“My medical group bills independently from the hospital and I’ll write off my time,” Cal offered.
Patty blinked up at him. “We don’t want charity.”
“The heck we don’t,” Jonas argued.
Cal grinned. “Attaboy.”
“Jonas, I thought we agreed we were going to do this on our own,” Patty said.
“You are,” Cal assured her. “But give people a chance to lend a hand. It makes us feel good about ourselves.”
“You’re just saying that so we won’t feel bad,” she accused, as Henry started squirming in her lap.
“Is it working?” he asked.
“I’m good, man.” Jonas took his son when the boy held out his arms.
“His male pride is off life support, that just leaves your maternal instincts.” Cal looked from one parent to the other. “Let me help. Just because I can.”
“But coming with us to watch Henry is enough,” Patty protested. “We can’t ask you to donate more of your time.”
“Technically, you didn’t ask. I volunteered. So it’s settled.” He nodded with satisfaction. “Now I’ll just get my little buddy stitched up. Don’t worry. I’ll make him as comfortable as possible.”
When he left the room to get what he needed for the repair, Emily followed. “Cal?”
He turned. “Hmm?”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“As if you didn’t know.” She smiled. “Why are you really doing it?”
“As if you didn’t know,” he said, echoing her words.
“I don’t.” Maybe she didn’t want to know. Or more to the point, didn’t want to hope.
“You make it hard to stand on the outside just observing instead of stepping up to help.”
That sounded a lot like a compliment and her heart did another flip-floppy thing as she looked at him.
“You’re my hero.” The words just popped out of her mouth before she could stop them.
It wasn’t often he looked surprised, but he did now. “Even though I’m judgmental, pigheaded and sometimes don’t know when to stop talking?”
She shrugged. “Heroes are imperfect. Maybe that’s why the heroic stuff stands out. They do the right thing in spite of the flaws.”
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