by Aiden Bates
Most of the people out on the back deck were, like the men in the living room, lawyer friends of Tom's from work. Carter recognized a few of the others as friends of Paul's, young omegas starting out in their married lives. Most of them blushed and looked away when they saw him, and he didn't blame them. Very few people wanted to be socially friendly with their doctor, especially with their obstetrician.
Tom was on the back deck. Carter's breath caught in his throat, just like it always did when he saw his former lover. Carter didn't go to him, though. Paul wouldn't want him to, and Carter knew that it would be inappropriate. Instead, he brought the tray of food over to the large table in the middle of the room and set it down. Then he asked Paul if he needed any help in the kitchen.
Paul did not need help in the kitchen. Paul would probably have preferred to burn the house down than work with Carter anyway, but at least Carter had made that one little nod toward manners. Now he could head on down toward the river and walk along its banks, enjoying the property for what it was.
He wasn't alone in his explorations. He met a couple of Tom's buddies down there, and one or two of Paul's friends' husbands. He knew these men, some better than others. They were nice enough guys, pleasant to talk with. Paul's friends' husbands were quick to give him updates on the babies he'd delivered, which was kind of gratifying. Tom's buddies caught him up on what had been going on since the last time they'd met up. One had gotten engaged, which was definitely exciting news. Another had taken a new job, which amazed Carter because he'd thought that Andy would never leave the old one.
About halfway through the party, Carter had the sensation of being watched. He turned around to see Finn Riley's ice blue eyes stuck to him like glue. Of course Riley would be here. Why wouldn't he be? All Carter needed to make the day complete was a complicated delivery and maybe a nice surprise snowstorm. He decided that he would ignore Finn Riley. Obviously the guy knew someone here, because Carter sure hadn't invited him. It wasn't on Carter to play host at his ex's new omega's birthday party.
For a moment, just a second, he let himself be resentful. Was this what it meant to "move on like grownups," and "stay friends?" Having his nose constantly rubbed in his own inadequacies?
This should have been his beautiful house. He shouldn't have to come down to this river as a guest. He should be able to bring his own three beautiful children down to the banks to look at the turtles and watch the boats go by. He shouldn't be standing here alone, the only single omega at the party when he'd given his best years to Tom.
Then he banished those thoughts. Friendship was the only way to keep Tom in his life. And he didn't need a big, beautiful house on the banks of the Seneca River. His own house was just fine for him and his needs. He did good work, important work. He saved lives, every day, and he was proud of that. He repeated the words like a mantra in his head until he believed them, and then he kept walking.
He'd been lost in his musing for a few long moments, and he hadn't picked up on the approach of Tom's vetiver cologne until it was too late. "Beautiful day, isn't it?" Tom stuck his large hands into his pockets and looked out over the river. "Adam's really taking an interest in the boats. We just redid his room with a nautical theme."
"That's great. He's a good kid." Carter looked at the soft ground beneath his feet. He'd gotten used to the rhythm of the seasons in Syracuse, finally. It hadn't been easy, but the world was definitely coming to life again all around him. "So how are things?"
"They're okay. Paul's a nice kid, you know? He's a good dad. Stays on top of things at the house. You know how it is." Tom rolled his shoulders. "I miss you, you know."
Here they went again. Had Tom been drinking? He kind of smelled a little bit like beer. Carter would have hoped that he'd avoid this stuff out here in the open, while Tom's guests were still here and his husband wasn't distracted by children.
"I don't know what to tell you." Carter looked across the river. "This was your decision, not mine." It was like a formula, like the call and response during mass. Peace be with you, and also with you.
"I guess I don't see why me marrying Paul had to change anything." Tom reached out and clenched his hand around Carter's wrist.
Carter could have done a few things then. He could have thrown Tom into the Seneca River, for one. He could have broken his kneecap and left him writhing in the mud, for another. Instead, he broke the hold with as much gentleness as he could. "Because I respect Paul. I respect those kids. And I respect myself."
The scent of leather joined the fresh spring earth and vetiver, and Carter's bitterness level ratcheted up a notch. The day just got better and better. "If it isn't Dr. Idoni." Finn Riley's cold, mocking voice cut through Carter's confrontation with Tom like a sword. "I had no idea that you even knew the Gearys. I didn't expect to see you here."
Tom narrowed his green eyes in annoyance, but he was a consummate professional. "Finn, hi! Yeah, me and Carter here go way back. We're old buddies, going back to when he first moved to the 315. Carter delivered all three of my kids, he's just the best. The absolute best. You've obviously already met."
"We did." Carter had never been one to let an opportunity slip by. He might not be thrilled about having Riley at the party, but he was more than happy to let the loathsome administrator intervene in an awkward situation. "I have to admit that I'm a little curious as to how you know each other, seeing how Mr. Riley's only been in town for what, a month?"
Riley nodded once, with a little lift to his eyebrows. He seemed to be acknowledging Carter's assessment. "Tom is handling some investment transactions for me," he explained. His ice blue eyes didn't stir from Carter's. It was an unsettling feeling. "And of course we're looking into satellite offices for Silver Oak, to expand our reach into some of the more remote areas that we serve. I mean you have to admit that it would be easier to bring quality healthcare to people living in the North Country if they didn't have to leave the North Country, and drive for umpteen hours, to get to the doctor."
Carter tilted his head, impressed. "Well you're not going to get an argument from me there."
"It's been my experience, Dr. Idoni, that I can get an argument from you anywhere." Riley smirked, but he never took his eyes from Carter.
Tom laughed and clapped his hands. "Well, that's our Carter. He's never been a guy to shy from speaking his mind. It's part of his charm."
"And I am full of charm." Carter snorted. "Listen, it's been good to see you, Tom, but I've got to run. I'm overseeing a tournament tomorrow and I need to be sharp. Say goodbye to the birthday boy for me, would you?"
Tom opened his mouth to object, but Riley smoothly spoke up before Tom could. "I'll walk you to your car."
Part of Carter wanted to laugh. There weren't many dangers in the wilds of Lysander that Carter couldn't handle, but it was cute that Riley thought otherwise. The rest of him, though, recognized exactly what Riley was doing. He was helping Carter to make a smooth exit.
That meant that he'd heard a lot more of the confrontation between Carter and Tom than Carter would have liked.
Once they were out on the street, and away from prying ears, Riley cleared his throat. "I'm reasonably certain that Tom had been drinking."
Carter looked at his ultimate boss. He wore some kind of ridiculous skinny pants, with a button-down shirt that had probably looked absurd on the mannequin. It was an absurd outfit. It didn't look absurd on him, not completely. It emphasized his muscles, and it all but screamed at Carter about what an alpha this guy was. Not that Riley's body would let him forget; every time that Carter inhaled he wanted to curl up under Riley's arm and accept his protection.
There was no protection on offer, of course. Carter just shrugged. "It's a big day. Paul's birthday, the kids are away at their grandmother's, you know how it is." Riley probably didn't know how it was. He probably had no idea how life with children was supposed to go, or even which end of a baby was which.
"That's probably it. Anyway, you're okay? Not hurt or an
ything?"
Carter wanted to laugh. "I'm fine. But thank you for checking."
"I'll see you at work on Monday, Dr. Idoni." Riley walked back to the party. Carter watched him go, confused.
***
Finn wasn't quite sure what to make of the party at Tom Geary's house. The real estate lawyer seemed like a good enough guy, and he was definitely knowledgeable about real estate law. Seeing him drink like that at an event with work people was a little jarring, but plenty of people had been drinking and no one else seemed to think anything was amiss.
Maybe that was just the culture here.
Finding out that Geary had a prior relationship with Finn's personal bête noire had been a whole separate issue, and he wasn't quite sure how to handle it. Finn had wondered what exactly was keeping Idoni at Silver Oak. He could make more money in a bigger city, and he could probably take a lighter workload while he was at it. He'd be happier in a warmer climate, too, but he stuck it out.
Apparently he'd had a relationship. But why not leave when that relationship ended?
Finn tried not to obsess about his questions. Dr. Idoni was only one of Finn's concerns. He was the biggest obstacle to Finn's success here right now, but he wasn't going to be solved in a day. The obstetrics ward wasn't the only money sink, and he still needed to come up with a proposal for his new remote health centers idea.
He focused on those problems for most of the week. He would never admit that he was focusing on those issues to stop himself from thinking about Idoni's wood smoke scent or the confusing reasons that he stayed in Syracuse. Robert, the CFO, was more than happy to work on the remote centers with him.
"They did something similar for Regent Texas," Robert told him. "This was years ago, you wouldn't remember. You would probably have been in high school. Maybe middle school, come to think of it."
"Could be." Finn tried not to roll his eyes. Maybe now that Robert had mentioned Finn's age once today, he'd let the rest of the day pass without bringing it up. "So how did they roll it out?"
"Well, we built up the regional hospital in Alpine, and then we set up satellite centers at pre-determined distances. They weren't huge. They had basic services, you know. They had urgent care, pediatrics, a midwife—that kind of thing. It wasn't state of the art, but it was something. If a patient needed something more in-depth, he could go to the bigger towns." Robert snorted. "Now, of course, there would be referrals and all that nonsense, but I think this could work out to be roughly the same kind of structure."
"Do you have any documentation about the outcomes?" Finn looked across his desk at his CFO. He hadn't been allowed to choose which senior staff accompanied him to Silver Oak. The entire senior management team had been appointed at the same time. He could probably fire them, but he would have to make a stellar case to the corporate higher-ups at Regent. Just saying that the guy reminded him of a rat and wouldn't stop timing his stories according to what grade Finn had been in at the time wouldn't cut the mustard.
"Outcomes?" Robert blinked.
"Yes, outcomes. I need to know if outcomes for those rural patients served by those satellite centers were at all affected by those centers or if they were harmful. I need to know if those centers were a drain on hospital resources or if they brought in additional revenue. I need to know about staffing needs. Was staffing those centers more of a hassle than it was worth, or was it comparatively easy to find a midwife and a nurse practitioner who were willing to go sit in the middle of rural Texas and take potshots at rabid armadillos or whatever people out there do for fun." Finn pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. Was he losing his mind here? Was he really the only one in the hospital who was interested in making this place a success?
"I see." Robert tugged at his tie. "I'll have someone start the research on that right away."
"Thank you." He let his gaze rest on Robert just long enough that he knew he was being dismissed.
Just when he thought that he would finally get enough time to himself, the intercom on his phone buzzed. "Sir?"
The voice belonged to his assistant, Marcia. Marcia had come with the hospital. Finn hadn't decided yet if he was going to keep Marcia or let her go yet. "What is it?"
"There's a bit of a situation down in Emergency. Security has already been called."
Finn sat up a little straighter, but he didn't lose the frown. "Is this normal?"
"It happens. But you did ask to be kept advised if Dr. Idoni were involved with anything unusual, and he's in the middle of things."
Finn jumped to his feet. "Thank you, Marcia."
He raced down to Emergency. It wasn't easy. All hospitals, but especially venerable hospitals like Silver Oak, were designed like mazes. Five weeks hadn't been quite enough to learn all of the ins and outs of this one yet, but he was getting there. Fortunately, there were helpful red signs all over the place with little arrows that showed him the way.
He got to the emergency department in what was, for him, record time. Unfortunately for him, the police had gotten there faster. So had camera crews from two of the four local news channels. That was all that Silver Oak needed. That was all that Finn needed—a scandal. At least it would give him the ammunition he needed to fire Dr. Idoni.
"You can't go in there!" The cop couldn't have been more than twenty. He still had zits. His voice hadn't changed, for crying out loud.
Finn just wrinkled his nose at the younger man. "I'm the CEO of this hospital. I will go where I please." Then he shoved the door open and let himself into the emergency department.
The scene inside was bizarre. Finn would have expected the room to be chaos, with people running to and fro and not knowing what to do with themselves to save their life. Instead, no one moved a muscle. Most of the staff had disappeared, although Finn could see scrub-clad legs sticking out from under the curtains in the treatment bays. Finn could see Dr. Idoni. The irascible doctor held his hands up, palms out, and refused to take his eyes off of another man. That other man had a gun and a red baseball cap. A couple of paramedics stood next to a gurney,
On that gurney was a body. Finn couldn't call it a woman, not anymore. He wasn't a doctor, and wasn't medically qualified to make that call, but her chest wasn't moving, her eyes were fixed and glassy, and she had a bullet hole in the middle of her forehead. That bullet hole wasn't bleeding. Life had ceased.
The woman's belly was grossly distended with pregnancy, and it moved.
Finn covered his mouth with his hands. "Is that a dead body?" he blurted.
He had time to see Idoni roll his eyes. "Idiot!" the doctor hissed.
Hot gasses seared past Finn's face as a bullet tore through the air. "She is not dead!" the gunman howled. "This is a hospital! You fix her! You fix her now!"
Idoni slid in between the gunman and Finn. His hands were still up and out. "Listen. I don't know you. I don't know what happened, and I don't have to. I can see that you love this woman, and her baby, very much. Okay?"
"She is my everything!" Tears streamed down the father's face.
"That's good. That's beautiful. If she was willing to be with you, and have a baby with you, then she loved you too. And that baby—that baby is something that you made together. It's a piece of her and a piece of you, something that she wanted to give you."
Idoni's eyes were on the gunman's. If Finn hadn't been looking for something, anything, that could save them from this situation, he wouldn't have noticed that Idoni was inching closer to the gunman by the second. Why would he do that? What was he playing at?
"We were going to move out to Cicero." The man sniffed. "Just as soon as we could save up enough to afford the rent out there."
"Yeah." Idoni's sympathetic voice didn't sound faked. "It's hard to get out, right? But listen. I'm a doctor. I know you don't want to hear this, but this woman wanted to give you this baby. I cannot save her. No one can. But my friend, I can save that baby. I can save that baby if I do it right now, and act very quickly."
"You have
to save her!" the man howled again.
Idoni moved faster than the eye could see. He grabbed the gunman's gun hand by the wrist and pulled it down toward the floor. Then he drove his other hand up into the man's jaw. The gunman fell to the ground, unconscious.
Idoniturned cool brown eyes to the paramedics. "You—secure the gun. You—get this guy on a gurney, secure him with soft restraints, and get him admitted to psych. I need a nurse, stat, and clean surgical equipment!" he yelled.
People materialized from behind treatment bay curtains, and they moved the mother's dead body into an empty treatment bay. "Come on, Riley," Idoni muttered. "We've got to scrub in." He grabbed Finn and dragged him over to a washing station, where he started to scrub his hands to within an inch of their lives. "Get to it, man!"
Finn jumped but obeyed. "What are you thinking? I'm not a nurse."
