Vital Signs

by Bobby Hutchinson

  “We could probably get it through in three or four weeks.”

  “That long?” Her shoulders slumped. “He’ll be discharged for sure before then. Where will he go?”

  “Into an emergency receiving home, unless I can find suitable foster parents right away. And if I did, I’d be obligated to place him. Once he was settled, the ministry wouldn’t see any reason to move him to your home.”

  She nodded, trying not to cry. She hadn’t understood the complications.

  Roy’s voice softened. “I personally think you’d be the best thing that could happen to David, and I promise I’ll do my best to hurry along your application, but doing the home study isn’t my department.”

  “So it’s not too likely I’ll get him, that’s what you’re saying?” Her voice wobbled, and her heart felt as if it was swirling down the drain with the dishwater.

  “Don’t get your hopes up too high is what I’m saying. I’ll see what I can do. I’d need to know, for instance, what your plans are for day care when you’re working.”

  “I’ve already registered to use the nursery at St. Joe’s.” It was a relatively new service, and it was expensive, but it was ideal. Parents could see their kids during coffee and lunch breaks, and it was open twenty-four hours a day to accommodate shift workers. David would be just a short elevator ride away.

  Hailey thought of Margaret and the complaint she was threatening to register with the association. “As long as I still have a job, that is,” she added in a despondent voice. Maybe it wasn’t the wisest thing to tell Roy that her job could be in jeopardy, but he needed to know. There mustn’t be any secrets; this was too important.

  “Problems at work?” He didn’t sound disturbed at all, just interested.

  Hailey told him in detail what had happened with Margaret Cross. “It was an accident, and certainly not life-threatening, but I feel like a jerk about it all the same. Margaret doesn’t much like me. She’d do whatever it took to get me suspended.”

  Roy was quiet for several moments. He poured himself a cup of coffee from the pot and sprawled in a kitchen chair, one long leg resting on the opposite knee.

  “I’ve noticed in my own work that it’s the people who really care who come in for the most flak from supervisors. Would a letter stating what a marvelous and caring nurse you are help your case at all? Because I’d gladly write one and send copies to the entire nursing association.” He took a swallow of coffee. “You’re one of a kind, Hailey. Anyone with half a brain can see that the kids adore you.”

  “Thanks.” She couldn’t look at him. One of a kind, huh? She felt overwhelmed and shy and humble all at the same time. She knew she was a good nurse, but one of a kind? “I don’t know if a letter would help or not, but it’s great of you to offer.” She managed a smile. “All donations gratefully accepted.”

  “Good. I’ll write it. Can’t do any harm. And, Hailey?” He stood up, coming close to her. “Keep your chin up, okay?” He used a finger to tilt it so she had to look in his eyes. For one amazing instant, she actually thought he might be going to kiss her, but then the kitchen screen door slammed open, and Nicole came in.

  “Hey, you’ve got such potential in that garden, Hailey. You could have a pond at the south end and a rustic little bridge. And the old cherry tree is ideal for a tree house.”

  Roy had stepped back, and Hailey tried to think of what to say. She was flustered.

  “I’ve always wanted a tree house,” she lied. She’d never even thought of one before, but immediately she had visions of David, old enough to play in it. Don’t get your hopes up, she reminded herself. “But it’ll have to wait. You saw the bathroom.” She’d winced when Nicole used it. “It’s my big priority at the moment.”

  Nicole grinned. “See, that’s the difference between us. If it was me, I’d do the garden and to hell with the bathroom.”

  “You’d just get me to do the bathroom for you,” Roy said.

  “I would, too.” Nicole winked at Hailey. “He’s really handy to have around. All you have to do is feed him.”

  “I’ll give that some thought.” She’d cook her fingers to the bone if there were any possibility.

  “Well, when you get around to the garden, give me a call. I’d love to help.” Nicole glanced at her watch. “God, it’s nearly two. We’ve been here half the day. We should probably be going. I’ve got briefs to do for court tomorrow.”

  As they were leaving, Nicole gave Hailey a long, hard hug. “This was wonderful of you. I’m gonna have you over to my place really soon.”

  Roy reached out a long-fingered hand, but when Hailey took it, he unexpectedly gathered her into his arms and hugged her, just as Nicole had.

  Hailey felt herself stiffen as her body pressed against his. Her heart hammered, and hot and cold chills went up and down her spine.

  “Thanks for the great food, Hailey.” Roy’s voice rumbled into her ear, which was inches from his mouth. He held her a nanosecond longer than a thank-you hug required and then let go. “I’ll be dropping by St. Joe’s tomorrow. Are you working?”

  “It’s my days off. I’m on again on Wednesday.” Maybe she could volunteer to work for somebody, though, if he was going to be there. Anybody?

  “Maybe you could give me your phone number. I’ll call and let you know what I can do about our discussion.”

  He was being discreet, even in front of his sister. Hailey scribbled her house and cell numbers down on the back of an empty envelope and handed it to him. Roy stuck it into his pocket as he and Nicole went out to the car.

  Hailey watched them drive away, wishing they’d stayed the rest of the day. Nicole put out a hand and waved, and she waved back.

  Get a grip, she warned herself. Surely you’re not stupid enough to spoil a budding friendship by developing some kind of adolescent crush on Roy, are you?

  Of course she wasn’t. It was normal to feel lust for a healthy heterosexual male, she assured herself. She didn’t have a thing for Roy Zedyck, not the slightest.

  And that was such a lie it was a wonder her nose wasn’t a foot long.

  She walked through the house, restless, nervous…sexually aroused?

  She had all of Sunday afternoon free. She could rip out the bathroom or sand the old wooden doors she was stripping of twenty coats of paint, or even go lie in the sun. Well, out of the sun. Freckles were already covering most of her face.

  She didn’t feel like doing any of those things, though. The day was a waste as far as work went, or play, either. She grabbed her handbag and keys and headed for the truck.

  Might as well ruin what was left of a good day by going to see Laura.

  ROY DROPPED Nicole off and went home, comparing his barren apartment with Hailey’s house. Sure, he’d built bookcases and refinished an old round oak table, but that was as far as his decorating skills extended.

  His place looked dusty and bare, as if nobody lived here most of the time. Well, he reminded himself, nobody did; he spent far more time at work than he did here.

  Hailey worked long hours, too, but she had a knack for making a place feel welcoming and homey, and it sure wasn’t done with expensive furniture. Her house was filled with plants and cushions and comfortably worn stuff she’d salvaged from secondhand stores, instead of expensive antique shops. It made a guy want to take his shoes off and put his feet up and relax. With his arms around the hostess?

  Nicole had noticed he was attracted to Hailey—women picked up stuff like that right out of the air. How did they do it, anyway? “She’s a rare lady, huh?” Nicole had said on the way home.

  He’d agreed, trying not to sound too enthusiastic. He was also trying not to dwell on the sudden, urgent bolt of desire that had shot through him when he drew Hailey into his arms for that hug. It had taken him totally by surprise. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. There’d been that overwhelming urge to kiss her a short while before.

  “You should maybe think about asking her out.” Nicole was watching his rea
ction; he could feel her eyes on him as he drove through heavy traffic.

  “So now you’ve decided to be a matchmaker?” He grinned at his sister and hoped he was deflecting her. He needed time to think this Hailey thing over before Nicole started probing.

  “Maybe you need one. Maybe you need a little shove toward a woman who’s got all the qualities you’ve listed as essential whenever we’ve talked about it.”

  “And what qualities are those?”

  Nicole ticked them off on her fingers. “You said you want someone who’s not materialistic, someone with the same value system you have, an earthy woman—read sexy there—who’s more interested in social issues than in her wardrobe, and who’s passionate about something besides a new car and her fingernails. And you did say once, remember, that you’d like a woman who wants a family more than a designer home. Well, toots, guess what? Hailey qualifies on all counts.”

  “How do you remember all that stuff? And wasn’t that your list, as well as mine?”

  His sister wrinkled her nose and sighed. “Yeah, pretty much. Although I think I added that it would be nice if he read a book now and then, instead of just watching hockey and waiting for the swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated to come out.”

  “I dunno, Nick, that’s really stretching the envelope, that thing about the swimsuit edition. I’ve got the date when it’ll be on the stands marked on my calendar in red ink, and so does every guy I know. You don’t think you’re being totally unrealistic here?”

  They’d laughed, and then he’d dropped her off at her condo, and now he was sitting at his desk, staring at the pile of files he’d brought home to work on. But it was hard to concentrate on anything but Hailey.

  How, exactly, did he feel about her?

  He liked her, he knew that for sure. He respected her. He liked the way she went about her life, with single-minded determination and a whole lot of guts. He admired the way she was with her young patients. He was amazed at what she’d done with that dilapidated house. And he couldn’t stop looking at her legs today in those denim shorts she’d worn.

  It was probably her legs that had caused the hard-on that forced him to sit down in her kitchen. The intensity of it had taken him by surprise, because he hadn’t been thinking of her in sexual terms right at that moment. He’d thought he’d just been enjoying her as a unique and interesting person.

  That’s a crock, Zedyck. You’ve had a buzz on over her for a while now. You know damn well you’d like to take her to bed.

  And what about this fostering thing? Could be a big conflict of interest there, son. Remember the rule about never sleeping with a client?

  She wasn’t a client, he reminded himself. David Riggs was his client. And there was no way he would ever recommend Hailey as a foster parent if he had the slightest doubt that she was the best person for the job. One thing for sure, he’d write the letter he’d promised her and make certain it got to the right people.

  She loved that kid, no question about it. And God knew David needed all the love he could find—every kid did. It was a perfect match, an ideal placement. So why did he have the gut feeling that this whole thing was peppered with land mines?

  His thoughts turned again to her hopes of fostering David. He knew that even if he pulled all the strings to make it happen for her, it was still unlikely. He also knew that the chances were overwhelming that she’d get her heart broken over the kid. Hadn’t he seen it happen time and again, kids yanked from one place to the next, regardless of where they wanted to stay? As usual, Scotty Sieberg’s round little face was there in his head, and the familiar pain and guilt and sorrow filled his soul. Maybe things would change now, but change never came soon enough. He heaved a sigh and opened a folder, trying to figure out all over again how he could best balance out his conscience, his heart and the ministry’s rules to benefit yet another family in desperate trouble.

  “I WISH YOU’D CALLED first, Hailey.” Laura wasn’t smiling. She was standing in the doorway of her house, long, polished, chestnut hair pulled into a stylish knot on top of her elegant head, wearing a silver tracksuit that probably cost more than Hailey’s entire summer wardrobe.

  “I’m really sorry, but I’m off to the gym,” she went on. “I can’t cancel because this is the only time my trainer could spare.”

  On Sunday afternoon? That didn’t sound right.

  “Well, would Sam and Chris like to come out with me for a couple hours, then? We could go to a movie. That new one’s on, about the ice age.”

  “Sorry, they’re not here. They’ve gone to visit friends.”

  Talk about a cool reception. If the temperature wasn’t in the low eighties, Hailey would have shivered. “I see.” At this rate, her niece and nephew would be voting before she got to spend any time with them. “Okay, I guess there’s no point hanging around waiting till you’re done?” Nothing like one last try at being a hero for her mother’s sake.

  Laura shrugged. “I guess you can if you like.” She sounded downright grudging. “But I’ll be about an hour and a half by the time I’ve showered, and then I have to pick up the kids and take them to the mall. They both need new runners and I’m looking for a decent fall jacket. I can’t believe the poor quality that’s out there.”

  “I’ll pass.” The last thing Hailey wanted was to end up shopping with her sister, and she suspected Laura knew it. It meant trekking from one high-end store to the next, waiting while her sister tried on piles of clothing, being called on to give an opinion and make choices between one item and another, when everything Laura put on her long, slender body could only look spectacular.

  “Maybe you could take the kids to a movie next Friday?” Laura frowned. “I’m not sure, but I don’t think they have anything going that night.”

  “Can’t. I’m working nights next week.” Hailey considered suggesting another day and decided against it. It would probably be easier to make an appointment with the mayor. “Well, I’ll be on my way. Enjoy your workout.”

  The double garage doors were open, and as she got in her truck and drove away, Hailey noticed that Frank’s black BMW wasn’t there. It was Sunday. Wouldn’t you think they’d be spending at least part of it as a family? Did they ever eat a family dinner together? Hailey had never been invited if they did. But then, what the heck did she know about how real families spent their time? The only thing she had to go on was her own life, and Jean and Laura had been on diets most of the time, so eating had been really low on their priority list.

  Thinking about families made her feel lonely. Ingrid and Sam had gone to Vancouver Island for the weekend, so visiting them was out.

  She must be really desperate, Hailey decided, to even think about dropping in on her mother.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  JEAN HAD SOLD the house the girls had grown up in and moved into an apartment in Kerrisdale, an up-scale neighborhood on the west side of Vancouver. Hailey parked the truck behind her mother’s building and buzzed the intercom.

  Jean’s voice over the speaker was tinny but welcoming. “Hailey, what a surprise. Come right up.”

  By the time the elevator stopped on the third floor, Hailey was already having second thoughts. Jean was going to grill her about Laura.

  Coincidentally her mother was wearing a tracksuit similar to the one Laura had had on. They’d probably shopped for them together, Hailey realized. Jean’s was navy blue, and Hailey thought for the billionth time how similar in appearance her mother and sister were. Apart from the obvious age difference, they could have been clones—tall, slender, high cheekbones, good boobs, that gleaming chestnut hair.

  Jean had worked for years as a doctor’s receptionist, and she took wonderful care of herself, exercising and having regular facials and manicures. Over the years she’d had a number of what she discreetly called “gentleman friends,” and Hailey often wondered why her mother had never remarried. She’d been a widow for seventeen years and must have had plenty of offers.

  Hailey took
her sandals off at the door—her mother had white carpets—and Jean led the way into the kitchen.

  “I was just going to make myself an early supper. Would you stay and have some with me?”

  “Sure, thanks. Can I help?”

  “You can wash and chop the stuff for salad,” Jean said, getting the ingredients out of the fridge and handing them to Hailey. “I’ve got soup from the deli, and I was going to make a grilled cheese sandwich to go with it.”

  “Sounds good to me.” It did, too.

  There was a companionable feeling to helping Jean prepare the simple meal. To keep her mother’s mind off Laura, Hailey asked about the elderly neighbor across the hall who kept stealing the newspapers.

  They were actually sitting at the round glass-topped dining table eating salad before Jean got around to the subject.

  “What is it with her, Hailey? I haven’t seen her for over a week, and she doesn’t confide in me the way she always has.” Jean frowned and gnawed her lip. “If she weren’t so young, I’d swear she was starting menopause.”

  Hailey had to laugh. “She’s thirty-two, Mom. I dropped over there before I came here, but she was on her way to the gym. The kids were gone and Frank wasn’t home.”

  “Oh, he’s never home,” Jean sniffed. “That’s probably half the problem.”

  Hailey’s jaw dropped. She’d never heard her mother say a negative thing about her revered son-in-law. What’s the world coming to?

  “Although maybe if Laura stayed home more,” Jean added. “An empty house isn’t very inviting to come home to.”

  Things are back to normal. What a relief.

  “And if she’s going to be this way about whatever’s bothering her, then she’ll just have to deal with it on her own,” Jean declared, but Hailey could see she was really hurt, and she couldn’t help feeling sorry for her mother. After all, Jean was missing her best friend.

  “How’s that adoption thing coming, Hailey?”

  What was going on here? Jean was actually asking her something about her life, for heaven’s sake.