The Doctor's Fake Fiancee

by Victoria James

  He scowled at them. Chicken boy squirmed in his seat, and his face grew red.

  McCann just glowered at him. “You snooze, you lose, Doctor.”

  Evan turned his back to them and assessed the rest of the situation.

  The other side was filled with his family, and he avoided looking at them. The entire place was packed with people who had known him his entire life, and he’d never felt so alone. He wanted some of his brothers’ snarky comments and useless advice. How many times when he’d been alone in the city or coming back after a double shift at the hospital had he just wanted a beer with one or both of them? He’d fooled himself for so long into thinking what he needed was to be the best. And that his family was just an addition to the life he was leading. Sure he’d always loved them, and he’d visited often. He’d been around for the birth of their children. But he’d distanced himself from Quinn and Jake. They ran their business together, saw each other day in and day out, and he was always on the sidelines. He rolled his shoulders and took a deep breath. He was going to turn everything around. He was going to be the guy Grace believed he was. He was home, and it felt right.

  He cleared his throat, and everyone looked up, and suddenly it was the typical mayhem. Even old Eunice didn’t irritate him. Even when she stood and hiked up her dress, showing him way more leg than needed. It took him a minute to register that she was pointing at her foot. A bright pink Nike sneaker with orange laces nearly blinded him. “We’re going on our daily walk!”

  Mr. Puccini rose, chest puffed. “Because of you, Dr. Evan, we started a walking club. That sweet Grace thought it was a perfect idea—we ran it by her, of course. We meet here at four every afternoon, doing a big lap around the downtown, over the river front—”

  “And then reward ourselves with cannoli at Natalia’s!”

  He shouldn’t have grinned, condoning this flawed logic, but he did.

  “Evan, I didn’t expect to see you here. Didn’t think they’d let you leave work so early in the day?” Evan met Dr. Chalmers’s cautious gaze from the doorway.

  He ran his hands through his hair. “I, uh, resigned.” He ignored the gasps and kept speaking. “I probably should have lined up something else before doing that, but, uh, I was thinking there might be a place for me here.”

  And just like that Chalmers’s weathered face cracked into a broad grin. “This is your home, dear boy. I’m happy you finally figured it out. I was worried about how much longer I’d have to keep working. But I had knew you’d be back,” he said with a wink. He lifted up his leg and showed off bright white sneakers. “Time for me to take care of myself and enjoy retirement.”

  He walked across the room and gave Evan a hearty slap on the back.

  Evan glanced at the slightly disorganized reception desk. Everything exactly where it should be. Potted, slightly dying plant perched on the edge. A picture of Chris grinning like he’d just pulled off a major coup staring back at him. Everything was as it should be, almost. Evan cleared his throat. “Where’s Grace?”

  “She’s probably typing up her resignation notice!”

  He counted to ten and turned to Sheila. “If that were the case, then she’d be sitting at her desk. Typing.”

  Sheila leaned over to Eunice and attempted a whisper. “See what I mean about the patronizing?”

  Evan turned to his family, hoping for some help. “She’s gone, Ev.” Fear slammed through him, and it took him several long moments for it to register that Jake was smiling.

  Claire shoved Jake and gave him a compassionate smile. “Grace is in the back room getting her things. We’re on our way to a picnic.”

  Evan breathed a sigh of relief. He had always felt like an outsider among his family, but never more than today. He’d spent his entire life excelling at everything. He’d skipped grades, finished his undergrad early. He’d been conditioned to excel. And yet he’d failed, in the most important aspect of his life. He had been the only one of his brothers incapable of love, until Grace. He stood there in his suit and tie and silently cursed himself for ever thinking he needed anything more than the people sitting here.

  Chris barreled through the hallway and into the waiting room, took one look at him, and dove into his arms. Without hesitating, Evan scooped him up. His heart constricted painfully as Chris’s arms wrapped around his neck, just as they had the day of the accident, small and trusting. This kid…had worked his way into his heart, and had made him a better man. Christopher had seen something in him, right from day one. Chris had believed in him, when he himself didn’t even know what or who he was. And now it was his turn. He needed to be there for Christopher and Grace…if she took him back.

  “I’m so glad you came back, Nevan. I knew you would.”

  Evan squeezed his eyes shut for a moment and pushed out words from his mouth that felt so right. “I never want to leave you again, Chris.”

  Christopher jumped down and gave him a smile with wattage only he was capable of. Evan ignored the sound of loud nose blowing behind him and made his third attempt at walking down the hall to find Grace. “I knew it. Even when I saw you sneaking out of our house every morning at four o’clock, I knew you’d come back. Maybe now, if you explain to my mom that you’re here for good, you won’t have to sneak anymore.”

  Evan’s mouth dropped open, and he ignored the snorts and snickers coming from behind him—his brothers no doubt. The gasps were courtesy of Eunice and her crew. Evan opened his mouth to answer when Grace appeared in the doorway. Her hair was up in a ponytail, slightly crazy, completely sexy. He physically ached for her, being so close to her, knowing that he’d failed her.

  Grace’s green eyes were on him, and though he’d expected to see anger in them, it wasn’t there. No, it was the unmistakable sheen of disappointment and hurt.

  “Grace.” His voice sounded hoarse to his own ears. She still didn’t say anything. And then she lifted her chin and walked right on by him, to her desk.

  “Good afternoon, Doctor Manning. I’m sorry but there aren’t any appointments left today.”

  Again, snickers and snorts from the Peanut Gallery behind him, followed this time by an overzealous “You go, girl” from Eunice. He stood in front of the desk, aware that Holly and Claire were trying to occupy the kids and give them privacy.

  Grace was shuffling papers on her desk, a Diego notepad peeking out from under a bouquet of roses. The card stapled to the cellophane wrapping said Congratulations.

  “Celebrating?”

  Grace didn’t say anything.

  So his brother, Quinn, decided to answer what he’d thought was a quiet, private question. “Someone bought Grace’s entire collection of black-and-white sketches, even before her show.”

  Evan turned around to look at him. Quinn settled a hard gaze on him. Funny how Quinn could still evoke older-brother I’m-going-to-beat-the-crap-out-of-you intimidation on him.

  Jake snorted. “What a moron. The gallery was going to do a promotion for 15 percent off that night since she’s a new artist.”

  Evan studied both his brothers, wondering if they knew. Two seconds later, it was confirmed. Quinn looked away, and Jake couldn’t keep his grin off his face.

  “You know, Evan, if you didn’t act like such an ass, maybe Grace would have given them to you for a better discount.”

  Evan would have laughed, if the situation weren’t so damn pitiful. Or if Grace hadn’t snapped her head up to look at him. She hadn’t known it was him. Though it wasn’t her fault, that hurt. She hadn’t realized those sketches meant anything to him. She had no idea just how much she and Christopher meant.

  “I’ll buy them!” Chicken boy yelled out, standing at attention.

  “They’re sold. Keep up with the conversation,” Evan snapped, scaring the boy into sitting down again.

  He walked over to where she was standing, behind the desk, the weight of the silence and his family’s stares slowing him.

  “I’m sorry, Grace.”

  She sighe
d and looked somewhere beyond his shoulder.

  He jammed his hands into his pockets. “I walked out of Medcorp today.”

  Her eyes connected with his, her full lips parting gently. “Pardon?”

  He clenched his jaw and nodded. “Didn’t look back. I’m here for good. I’ll be taking over the clinic. I’m staying in Red River, and I swear to God, I’ll do whatever it takes to earn your trust again.”

  “Well, then give’r a ring, hotshot!”

  McCann. Evan narrowed his eyes on him. “I’m upping your physio to five days a week.”

  He caught the slight softening in Grace’s eyes as she studied him. He took a step closer to her, so that he could feel her, smell her. His hands ran the length of her bare arms until he cupped her face. “If you let me, I want to help you fulfill your dreams, Grace. You are so gifted, and I want you to taste what’s it’s like to have your dreams come true. Because that’s what you’ve done for me.”

  She squeezed her eyes shut, and he hoped his words were enough.

  “You know that night that Christopher was sick?” he whispered, looking down into her glittering green eyes as she opened them. “Chris told me that an angel rescued you two.”

  She looked down.

  “I think it’s the other way around,” he said gruffly, emotion constricting his throat. He leaned down, his lips hovering over hers. “You and Chris saved me, Grace. I know enough about myself to know that. But I am not the same man who would put everything else above family. I lived and breathed my career. Being at the top of my profession—it was everything for me. But I know that all those things, titles, mean nothing when you are standing in front of me, right now. I want you, Christopher, and any other children if we decide we want them. I want to live with you forever. I want to buy the house on the river from my brothers, and I want you to have the coach house for your studio. I want to love you and make love to you every day and make up for every shitty day you ever had. I love you.”

  She leaned forward, and he clasped the back of her head to his chest, feeling the moisture seeping through his shirt. He kissed the top of her head, and then slowly she pulled away to look at him. “I begged you, Evan. I stood there, after laying it all out, telling you that I loved you and you let me walk away.”

  He winced. And then kneeled on the ground. At least behind the damn desk they could get some privacy.

  “What are you doing?” she whispered.

  “I’m not above begging you or apologizing for failing you. I want to be your rock, and if you let me, I will never fail you again. I want you to hold my hand and know that you and Christopher can count on me. I want to be the man in your sketchbook.”

  He held his breath as she covered her face.

  The moment was ruined by Eunice. “My dear, have some self-respect—”

  “Ah, man, Ev! Again with the kneeling? What is it with you two? There are kids in the room.” Evan didn’t even bother turning around to yell at Jake. He just stared up at Grace and raised his other hand from behind the desk and flipped his brother the finger.

  “I love you, too,” she said, sinking onto the ground and into his arms.

  He captured her mouth, the sound of her declaration, the sweetness in her voice filling all the little hollows inside with love.

  Cheers and hooting, along with an, “’Atta boy, Evan,” courtesy of his brothers, filled the room.

  “I thought I knew pain, and I’d hoped I lived my darkest days, but when I left you. God, Evan, I’d never felt to empty or so alone,” she whispered against his mouth.

  “I’m so sorry. I was an idiot for letting you go. I want to marry you, Grace. A real wedding. Big, small, whatever you want. But I want to stand up in front of our family, friends, and our son and say that I love you. That I want to spend the rest of my life with you and Chris. Because you are the love of my life, Grace.”

  “Hold out for a ring, dearie! You know what they say about getting the milk without buying the—”

  “Can you people give us some privacy?”

  Grace was wiping her eyes, and Evan had no idea if she was crying tears of happiness or pain brought on by his family and townspeople.

  “I think you’ve just earned a spot on my To-Do list again, Evan. I should probably also tell you that when you piss me off at work, I steal a couple of the chips from the sandwich plate you get delivered for lunch.”

  “Good girl!” Sheila hollered. “I’m glad you took my advice in the notes I left! You should hold out for better work hours and a longer lunch break.”

  Evan laughed, pulling Grace against him as he kissed her. He ignored Jake yelling out some smart-ass comment, the nose blowing, the muffled comments, and everything else just faded as Grace wrapped her arms around him. His lips locked onto hers and she tasted of their past, their future, their promise.

  “Omigod! Holly’s water just broke!”

  …

  They were all hovering around Holly, who was sitting with a blanket wrapped around her. Eunice was giving her breathing and labor advice, even though everyone damn well knew she’d never had a baby.

  Quinn yanked him over to the side. “Evan, listen to me. Nothing can happen to Holly or the baby.”

  “Well, then I suggest you pry Eunice off her.”

  “I’m serious—”

  “So am I. Clear this room.”

  Minutes later he, Quinn, and Jake had emptied the room of everyone that wasn’t family. “Now, relax,” he said to his brother, locking the door after Eunice left. “Nothing’s going to happen—” he whispered, wishing his brother would keep his voice down before he freaked his wife out. “I’ve called 9-1-1; there’s going to be a police escort meeting us en route—”

  “No, you don’t get it. I can’t live if something happens to either of them. She’s my life, man, and if something happens—”

  “Nothing is going to happen,” Evan said again, placing his hand on his brother’s shoulder, looking him squarely in the eye. “But you’ve got to haul ass and stop acting like a pansy, or she’ll freak out. It’ll take at least half an hour to get to the regional hospital in Millington.”

  “Let’s go already,” Holly yelled.

  Evan shoved his normally calm-and-collected brother over to his wife. “You guys go to the car. Grace and I will follow right behind. Jake, you and Claire get all the stuff and meet us at the hospital.”

  “Mommy’s having a baby!” Ella yelled racing in and out of them. Grace yanked Christopher over to her, just as he was about to follow Ella.

  “Ella, why don’t you ride with us?” Claire called out.

  They walked to the cars, every few minutes or so slowing when Holly had a contraction. “Evan, get over here,” Quinn yelled. Evan cursed quietly. It was always the most levelheaded guys who flaked out when their wives were in labor. Every. Freaking. Time.

  “Will she make it to the hospital in time?”

  Evan nodded. “I’m pretty sure. But we’ll be behind you the whole way. Worst-case scenario, I’ll deliver your kid on the side of the road.”

  Quinn grabbed him by the shoulders. “Are you kidding me?”

  “No, but I’m sure it won’t come to that. For the record, man, you were texting me all week about her contractions. Today? What? Nothing?”

  His brother’s mouth turned into a grim line.

  Evan slapped him on the shoulder. “Everything will be fine if you stop talking and drive your wife to the damn hospital.”

  Finally, it seemed, Quinn got his balls back and ran to the car.

  Grace turned to him. “Evan, can I have your car keys?”

  He paused. “You’re going to drive?”

  Grace nodded. “It’s time to start over,” she whispered. “Next week, I want to drive myself to that gallery. I want to walk in there, and I want to do it by myself. You go with Holly and Quinn—I don’t think he should be driving,” she said with a laugh.

  “Yeah…I love you, Grace.”

  “I know. I’d feel
a little better if your car weren’t a BMW, but I think we’ll be okay,” she said, standing on her tiptoes to give him a kiss. Minutes later they were on their way to the hospital.

  …

  An hour later, after Holly was settled into a delivery room, Grace and Evan took Chris to the park outside the hospital. She couldn’t wait for her son to hear the news. She held Evan’s hand and felt the light tremor, the reminder of everything he’d sacrificed for them.

  “Chris, why don’t we sit on this bench?”

  Christopher nodded and sat in between them. “This is so cool that Ella’s mom is having a baby, don’t you think?”

  “Yup. Means I’m going to be an uncle again,” Evan said.

  Christopher looked up at him. “That’s cool.”

  “Yeah, I think being a dad would be even cooler. And being a husband, too.”

  Christopher frowned at both of them. “Well, then you should.”

  “I’d like to be your dad. And I’d like to marry your mom.”

  Grace’s throat clogged and she didn’t know how she was going to be able to speak.

  “My dad?” Christopher whispered, staring at Evan.

  Evan nodded, smiling, slightly. The tension in his body was obvious, as he waited for Christopher to say something.

  “I always wanted a dad. Ever since I was a little kid,” Christopher whispered, staring at Evan with large eyes. “And I never wanted to tell Mom that, in case she got sad. Because she couldn’t be a dad. She was a mom, and she couldn’t get me a dad. But she was good enough.” Evan swallowed repeatedly, and his jaw clenched tight. It was when she saw the tears in his eyes as he stared at their son that she was unable to hold onto hers.

  Evan cleared his throat twice before he spoke. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be around sooner for you. But I am now. And I’ll be your dad forever and ever, okay?”