Second Time Around

by Carol Steward

  The fine eyebrow tweaked high above Kat’s blue eyes. “She’s fine. Still works at the department store.”

  “And Lisa—what’s she doing?”

  “In her last semester of college, thanks to Emily. Why do you ask?” Katarina dipped the cinnamon-coated cookie in her glass of milk and took a huge bite.

  There was no use lying. Kat would see right through it, anyhow. “None of you have married yet, have you?”

  The smile faded. “And you think that’s because of Mom?”

  “I don’t mean any disrespect, Kat, but it’s quite a coincidence that three out of three are still single, don’t you think?”

  Kat was silent.

  “She never liked me much, did she?” Kevin took another bite of the chewy cookie.

  “Mom has never approved of any of our beaus, Kevin. Don’t take it personally. You want my opinion? She’s incapable of loving any of the male population. She did not, however, pass along that trait to any of her three daughters.”

  Kevin nodded. “I suppose she had a few choice comments when Emily and I called off the wedding.”

  Katarina laughed. “Whatever happened between you and Em last night certainly stirred things up, didn’t it? First, Emily can’t sleep, then you show up with a hundred and one questions.” She paused. “Let’s just say we’ve learned not to take our problems regarding men to our mother after that night.”

  “Did Emily—go to her for advice?”

  “That was a long time ago, Kevin. It’s best just to pick up from where you are today, and move on if you want. Don’t try to fix that.”

  “You can’t fix a problem if you don’t acknowledge its existence.”

  Ricky West was back in the hospital after a morning playing with a friend. The combination of ferrets and a sledding trip in a snowstorm’s cold air had irritated his asthma.

  She rubbed the stethoscope against her tunic to warm it up before pressing it against Ricky’s bare back. There was still a loud rattle in the lower lobe of his left lung, yet his oxygen levels were rising, a sign that the nebulizer treatments were going well. His airways had opened back up, and Ricky was finally sleeping.

  She turned to Ricky’s parents. “I think he’s through the worst of it now. It’s going to take some time for him to get back to full speed.”

  “Thank you for coming, Dr. Emily. I hope we haven’t ruined your weekend by calling you at home. I’m sure Dr. Walker is a very capable doctor, but he has no patience with Ricky.”

  Emily felt her heart swell from the compliment, but at the same time was hesitant to let herself care so much. “It’s not a problem. That’s why I gave you my number. I’ll be back this afternoon to check on Ricky, I promise.”

  On her way home, Emily stopped at the grocery store, then drove to the church to pick up some supplies to prepare for Sunday school the next morning.

  When she drove up to her house, she was startled to see Kevin’s pickup in the driveway. She left the car in the drive, since Katarina’s things were still occupying the garage.

  She opened the front door, and was surprised to see Katarina and Kevin sitting at the table, eating cookies and drinking milk.

  Kevin jumped to his feet. “Afternoon.”

  Emily wanted to believe his being here was a good sign, but didn’t allow herself to hope for too much. They had been through ups and downs for weeks now. “Hello. I see you found my peace offering.”

  Kevin’s smile took the chill of the spring storm out of her. “Best snickerdoodles I’ve had in eight years. I came to apologize for last night.”

  Emily looked at her sister, who had a grin that spread from ear to ear, then back to Kevin.

  “Mostly, I’m sorry we didn’t say more eight years ago, Emmy.” He stepped closer and looked deep into her eyes. “We owe it to each other to talk it through, don’t we?”

  “What about demanding careers? And not dreaming anymore? And no commitments—”

  “Are you saying you’re not interested in going to dinner with me tonight?”

  She glanced at Kat.

  “Don’t be a fool, Emily. We can go out anytime. Go on.”

  She turned back to Kevin and smiled. “I’m very interested. What time?”

  “Now. Thought we could make a day of it, since we’re both off. Speaking of which, do you always get called in on your weekends off?”

  Shaking her head, she explained the situation with Ricky. “I need to check in on him again this afternoon. It won’t take very long. I’m sure he’s doing better now.”

  Humored over something, Kevin wrapped her in his arms. “That wouldn’t happen to be the same Ricky that diagnosed you with a broken heart, would it?”

  Emily felt her cheeks heat up. Leave it to Kevin to remember that day with the precocious children at the preschool.

  “I told you he was a very insightful young man, didn’t I?”

  He was gloating again. Only this time, she didn’t mind. This time, she dared to hope it was merely the beginning of his gentle teasing in her life. There were still a thousand questions she had for him, but she would take them one at a time. For now, she would have to dream enough for both of them, to show him that the schedule of a doctor and the schedule of a contractor could be merged without moving heaven and earth.

  She rested her hands on his shoulders, relishing the moment of contentment. “You don’t mind my being a doctor?”

  “Only when you try to come near me with a needle.”

  “You don’t mind an independent woman?”

  He grew uncommonly serious. “I never did. We really don’t have to settle everything right now, do we? We have a birthday to celebrate.”

  Tears stung her eyes. “You remembered? Or did Katarina tell you?” Emily struggled, uncertain she should trust her own emotions. She wanted so badly to believe it would work out between them.

  He looked for Katarina, who’d somehow slipped out of the room unnoticed. “I’m crushed. Don’t you remember my birthday?”

  “Well, of course, but it’s rather difficult to forget a July fourth birthday, and the whole country celebrates your birthday!” Emily smiled, genuinely happy remembering the past. “What should I wear?”

  There was laughter in his eyes, and his gaze softened when he looked her over. “You’re fine for our first event.”

  Emily raised her eyebrows. “First?”

  “Put on your coat and gloves and follow me.” He led her to the pickup and opened the door. A bulky package with a big blue bow sat in the passenger’s seat. “You’ll need this.”

  She removed her leather gloves and unwrapped the box. She pulled out a crumpled top hat, a ratty scarf, a carrot. A carrot? She looked back inside and pulled out two pieces of charcoal, and three large buttons. Confused, she turned to thank him. He was standing in the middle of her front yard with a large snowball in his hands.

  “Happy birthday, Em. You going to stand there, or come help?”

  “A snowman,” she whispered. “Kevin!”

  “Better watch it, Doc, your tonsils are going to get cold with your mouth hanging open like that.” He set the snowball on the ground and started packing more snow around it.

  Emily tromped through the foot of freshly fallen snow and started a second snowball. “Do you know how long it’s been since I built a snowman?”

  “Let me guess.” He tipped his head as if doing so helped him calculate each year that had passed. “Spring break, senior year of college, in Breckenridge, at precisely midnight.” Kevin smiled. “You take life too seriously, Em. And I’m here to remind you to lighten up.”

  Emily’s blush warmed her clear to her toes. She remembered the rest of that memorable night, and realized they would have a lot more issues to deal with than schedules and careers if this reunion lasted.

  But not today. Like he’d said, they didn’t need to answer everything all at once.

  When they finished the snowman, it was nearly four o’clock, time for Emily to check on Ricky. “Why d
on’t I go to the hospital and meet you back here in—” she looked at her watch “—say, an hour and a half.”

  “I’ll see you then.” Kevin stepped back and waved slightly, as if still uncomfortable with the sudden turn of their relationship. “Oh, and dress up. We’re going to the theater in Denver.”

  Emily watched him drive away, then ran inside to shower and change. I’ll show you that we can work it out, Kevin. Before leaving, she thanked her sister for understanding.

  “If you—” Kat began.

  “Don’t worry, Kat,” Emily said, holding one hand up to calm her little sister. She leaned closer. “I’m not letting him go this time.”

  When Emily reached the hospital, a nurse pulled her aside. “Dr. Berthoff, Dr. Walker had Maternity call for you. A patient is ready to deliver, and he’s with a patient in ER. Seems there’s been an onslaught of admissions this afternoon. Ten from your clinic alone. He asked you to handle the delivery.”

  Emily looked down at her dress and felt her heart sink. “Did you try to reach Dr. Gordon?”

  “No one else is in town.”

  “Another hour, and I wouldn’t have been, either. Would you tell Ricky West’s parents that I’m checking on a pregnant mother and will be there to see Ricky as soon as I can. Then call Kevin MacIntyre and tell him I’ve had an emergency at the hospital and will have to call him when I’m through here. His number’s in the phone book.”

  The nurse turned and ran down the hall. Emily removed her heels and headed in the opposite direction. She put on scrubs, but since she hadn’t even considered an emergency detaining her, had no other shoes to change into. She didn’t trust herself on heels, and decided to put shoe covers over her stocking feet, but welcomed the sight of an old pair of tennis shoes offered by one of the nurses. Three hours later, Emily left the new baby in good hands at the nursery, checked in on the mother in recovery, and headed to Ricky’s room.

  Another hour of her date with Kevin was gone. “What a start to a reunion! This emergency couldn’t have happened a month from now.” She reached inside her bag for the cellular phone to call Kevin. He wasn’t home. Surely, he hadn’t gone on over to her house. She called there, only to be greeted by the answering machine.

  Her black leather coat slung over one arm, and her bag over the other, Emily exited the elevator and headed for the lobby. Due to the snow, she had chosen to park in the general parking lot tonight. She rounded the corner to the exit, and was surprised to find Kevin seated by the door, visiting across the lobby with the receptionists. “Evening, Dr. Emily. This charming young man has been waiting for you.”

  “Hello, Sally. How are you tonight?” Emily’s questioning gaze met with Kevin’s smile.

  “Rough night, huh?” He rose to his feet, his suit wrinkled from an obviously long wait.

  “Kevin? How long have you been here? I told you I’d call. You didn’t have to meet me.”

  He took her coat from her arm and held it out for her. “I was worried about you driving through this deep snow in that sporty little coupe of yours. Besides, I thought you could use a smile.” He extended his elbow for her to take as they walked through the snow.

  She returned his smile, slipped her arm through his and told the receptionists good-night over her shoulder. A frigid gust of wind blew through the door as it opened. “I’m sorry about ruining your surprise tonight, Kevin.”

  “Doesn’t look like Denver was a great plan tonight in any case. Don’t you have boots?”

  “I wasn’t thinking of practicality, obviously. Would you like to come over to my house for some coffee?”

  “Maybe after dinner. You haven’t eaten, have you?”

  She shook her head. “Where should we meet?”

  “I’ll drive.”

  She paused. Here we go. Not even one date, and we’re already disagreeing. “My car is here, and I’ll need my own car in case I’m called back to the hospital.”

  “You think I won’t bring you back?”

  She started to argue, but he interrupted her.

  “Why don’t I follow you to your house. We can leave it there. I’m still a little old-fashioned that way, Em. When I invite a lady to dinner, I pay, I drive and I walk her to the door afterward—even if it is slammed in my face when I get there.” Slowly, his lips turned to a smile.

  His humor was a refreshing change from that of the men she had dated throughout the years. “Had a few slammed in your face, have you?” She smiled back.

  Wind swirled the snow around them, and he pulled her closer. “Enough, let’s leave it at that.”

  “Hmm. I’ll have to remember that technique. Is it effective?”

  “Guess it depends on what message you want to send. There’s only one lady who tried it and stayed a friend. Of course, that was a special circumstance.”

  Emily felt a twang of jealousy. “And who was that?”

  He laughed. “Laura Bates. You should have seen the look on her face when I suggested we go skiing instead of what she expected to hear.

  “Laura? You and Laura dated?”

  As if he sensed her panic, he rushed into an explanation. “I wouldn’t call it a date, exactly. I believe she called it an “outing.” He told her about his canceled date, about wanting a chance to see how Laura really felt about Bryan. They’d gone to the theater, then skiing together, and through the course of his best friend and Laura dating, they had become special friends. To Emily, his concern for Laura’s health now made a lot more sense.

  They reached her car, and he brushed the snow off.

  “I’ll see you at my house.”

  “Be careful. There’s ice under the snow.” Kevin waited to make sure she wasn’t stuck in the snow before going to his truck.

  She smiled, enjoying being coddled by a gentleman for a change. She had to admit—Kevin knew how to treat a lady. Old-fashioned or not, she wouldn’t argue any longer.

  A few minutes later, Emily pulled into the driveway, admiring the snowman with his scarf flapping in the wind. Kevin pulled in behind her car and Kat’s, then came around to help her get in. “Wouldn’t you rather get some boots or even change into something warmer?”

  “I’m not taking another chance at getting called in. Bob really owes me, now.”

  “He takes advantage of you, if you want my opinion,” Kevin mumbled. She knew that but certainly didn’t want to discuss it tonight, so ignored the comment.

  Kevin helped her into the truck and went around to drive. A few minutes later he dropped her off at the door of the restaurant and drove around the building to find a parking place.

  When they’d entered and were seated by the stone fireplace, Kevin ordered two cocoas and a platter of shrimp with cocktail sauce.

  Emily felt a warm glow flow through her, and it had nothing to do with the fireplace. As much as she wanted to believe it was all going to work out this time, she was still inclined to guard herself. “Kevin, please don’t make everything so perfect.”

  His gaze was soft as a caress. “We’re a long way from perfect, Emmy. Just enjoy it for what it is, okay?”

  “Which is?” She wasn’t sure she wanted an explanation.

  “Dinner with an old friend. Don’t worry about tomorrow, okay? Let’s take it one day at a time.”

  Easier said than done.

  Chapter Eleven

  Emily swung her arms in a quick rhythm opposite her feet; two more blocks, and she’d slow her pace. The spring sunshine had a crisp warmth, and invigorated her lungs. She hummed a melody in thanks for the beautiful day, and the fact that she had it off to enjoy.

  It was Emily’s first day to herself in a month. After the wonderful time she and Kevin had managed to find for each other over the past few weeks, she had hope there could really be a future for the two of them. There were no doubts in her mind that Kevin was still the man of her dreams. The man who would stand beside her, through good times and bad.

  It was her mother whom she would have to convince—and Kevin. T
hough at this moment, she wasn’t sure which would be more difficult.

  Her mother had never forgiven her father for leaving her with three daughters to raise alone. She lived with bitterness to this day. Emily had grown up believing all men fit the same mold as Dad. Yet Kevin was the first man to show her differently. He would go for visits with Emily, ignore her mother’s cold shoulder and smart remarks, and dry Emily’s tears when they left. The day they broke the engagement was the worst day of her life—the day Kevin fulfilled her mother’s lowest expectations.

  Since then, though, there had been countless other “father figures” in her life who had helped her turn away from the fears and bitterness that had threatened to consume her, as it had her mother. God had given her the gift of freedom to move into other relationships with a sense of self-confidence and hope. Though she had sometimes slipped back, God had always been there to show her another happy couple who would raise her hopes again.

  Then there was Kevin. Kevin, who refused to talk about the future, claiming he didn’t want to ruin the fun they were having with anything that serious. His hesitation sent up warning flags, yet Emily was convinced that it would take only time for him to realize his dreams, as well as her own, were alive and waiting to be fulfilled.

  She realized that changing Kevin’s heart and healing his emotional scars weren’t within her means. She could only accept Kevin into her life again, and leave the rest to Him.

  After her morning walk, Emily dusted the table and placed the flowers in the middle. Once she vacuumed, she would have the day to relax, do some shopping and bake some cookies. The phone rang, and Emily answered eagerly, hoping it was Kevin.

  “Emily!” Laura was sobbing. “Gretchen and Jack West were killed in a car accident last night.”

  Emily’s voice caught in her throat. “Oh, no. And Ricky? Was he hurt?” She paced the room.

  “No,” she squeaked. “He was with us. They went to Denver for dinner and a play. They were going to be back around midnight—” her sobbing grew softer “—at three, I started calling their house, their cell phone, everyone I could think of. Finally, I called the state patrol and explained the situation. At six this morning, they returned my call with the news.”