Justin placed the dad into a cross-chest carry, supporting the man’s back with his body. He was safer out of Adam’s eyesight, because if the man became conscious during the rescue, he’d probably panic and try to use Justin as a buoy, potentially drowning both of them. And Justin didn’t want to knock the man out to save him.
With the father secured, Justin swam toward the basket. Caleb was already inside, his back resting against the iron grate.
Justin gave Ty the thumbs-up signal, and the basket ascended to the helicopter. He treaded water while waiting for Ty to unload the kid. As soon as the bucket hit the water again, Justin loaded up the dad and gave another thumbs up. He watched while the man was hoisted into the air and onto the helicopter, then sighed in relief when it was his turn. Even though he knew the inferno in his chest would resume as soon as he left the water, he was ready to leave the raging sea behind. He attached the cable to his hoist and moaned when the full weight of his body rested on the straps digging into his back.
Once inside, he fell to his knees on the cabin floor and watched Ty stabilize Adam. He wanted to help, but every inch of him burned too much to move.
“Straight to the doc,” Lieutenant Dale said.
Justin nodded, then grabbed a handlebar for leverage, lifted himself off the floor, and settled into a seat. He usually put up a stink over visiting medical, but not today. Besides, they’d all seen the mast knock the crap out of him. He ran his hands down his face and stifled a groan. They’d seen more than a piece of wood clobber him; they’d witnessed his abilities.
Ty finished securing the boy’s father and sat down next to Justin. “I told you to watch the mast.”
“I had an unconscious guy on my back and a twenty foot wave hovering over me.” He snorted. “Don’t tell me how to do my job.”
“You’re a reckless son of a bitch. You need to keep your eyes open.”
Even over the pain of his smoldering ribs, he felt his body tense. “Did you take any pictures?”
“I just want to know why the water miraculously calmed when the ship rolled.”
“Pictures or not?”
“Not.”
Justin relaxed. For another day, he wouldn’t be deemed the freak of the Coast Guard.
“Pact with the devil?” Ty asked.
“Something like that.” Only he’d had no choice in the matter. He’d been born into this pact. With a god.
* * *
Mandy’s heart hammered against her ribs as she stepped inside the bathroom stall and locked the door. With restless fingers, she pulled off her top and hung the pink garment on the hook by its collar. Her fingertips fumbled over her bra clasp twice before she finally unlatched it, slipped it off, and hung the strap over her shirt, the lavender lace cups dangling daintily next to her nurse’s top.
She stifled a disgusted groan. Stripping in a bathroom stall during her lunch break was ridiculous, but she’d never be able to focus on her patients with worry eating at her mind. After a steadying breath, she lifted her arm high over her head and massaged her right breast.
The bathroom door clinked as it opened. She froze. The sound of a woman singing in Spanish echoed off the tile walls. Even though a metal door separated her from the unwanted visitor, she felt as if she were standing naked on a New York sidewalk during rush hour. She wrapped her arms around her chest and peeked through the tiny slit between the stall and the door. A blur of purple fabric danced next to the sinks, the cleaning lady wiping up droplets of water and splatters of soap.
Mandy gnawed on her bottom lip. She should put her clothes back on and walk out, but every second she delayed the exam, her stomach knotted tighter. If she didn’t do it now, she’d just have to come back and finish later. Besides, Lori was waiting for her in the hospital cafeteria and would come looking for her if she took too long.
She sat on the toilet and lifted her arm over her head again. The tips of her fingers traced a path around her nipple, searching for the lump she’d felt that morning. She poked and prodded until she found the dense mass, a ball the size of her pinky nail and the texture of a frozen pea. She massaged it as if she could force it to crumble into oblivion, but it didn’t disappear.
“Thursday,” she whispered.
In two days, she had a mammogram scheduled, but that seemed like an eternity given the pebble of flesh beneath her fingers. She thought about calling and demanding an earlier appointment, but she’d done that before and her suspicious lump had turned out to be nothing.
She was probably just being paranoid, but as she ran her finger across the glossy pink scar that bisected her left breast, she wasn’t so sure. A year ago, cancer had almost stolen her life. Every day since her diagnosis, she’d been terrified it would come back and finish her off. The lump only added fuel to her panic.
“Whatcha doin’?” Lori’s voice carried over the stall.
Mandy shrieked and covered her breasts, mashing her palms to her chest. She peered up, her mouth agape.
Lori’s chin rested on the top of the stall divider, and her eyes were wide with alarm. “Sheesh, woman. I was just checking on you.”
“Have you ever heard of privacy?” Mandy grumbled.
“I was worried about you.” Lori’s gaze swept over Mandy’s bare shoulders, then down to her cupped breasts. “Apparently for good reason.”
Mandy listened for the singing she’d heard moments before, but all was quiet. “Is the janitor still in here?” she whispered, her cheeks flaming hot from embarrassment.
Lori shrugged, then disappeared, apparently having hopped off the toilet. “Open your stall. I’m comin’ in.”
“No, you’re not!”
“Are you seriously going to make me crawl on the floor to get in there? That is so gross.”
Mandy groaned as she unlocked the door. Dear Lord, what must the cleaning lady think of all this? And what if there were others in the bathroom?
Lori slid inside and quickly shut the door. Her face completely serious, she said, “Let me feel the lump.”
“No way!” Mandy paused for a moment, her brow furrowing. “How did you know?”
Lori rolled her eyes. “Unless you’re waiting for an illicit rendezvous, what else would you be doing topless in a bathroom?” She inched her outstretched hand closer. “Now let me feel it.”
Mandy shook her head frantically. “Don’t even think about it.”
“Fine.” Lori peeled off her scrub top and hung it over Mandy’s. “If it makes you more comfortable, we’ll both get naked.” She slipped off her bra, revealing perky, apple-sized breasts with large mocha-colored nipples.
“You’ve lost your mind.” Mandy clutched her breasts so hard they ached, at least, the real one ached. The reconstructed one was numb as always.
“We’ve seen each other naked before. What’s the big deal?”
That had been before her surgery. Other than nurses and doctors, no one had seen her topless since her mastectomy. “It’s embarrassing now.”
“You don’t have to take your hands off your breasts. Just give me the general vicinity, and I’ll find it.”
Mandy took a deep breath through her nose and blew it out through her mouth. “Will you get your boobs out of my face if I let you do this?”
“Yep.” With the satisfaction of victory written on her face, Lori flexed her fingers. “Now let me cop a feel.”
Mandy reluctantly dropped her hands and watched with embarrassment when Lori’s gaze locked on her mutilated breast.
The little ‘v’ between Lori’s eyebrows deepened. “I’ve never seen a reconstructed breast before.” Her eyes seemed to get bigger the longer she stared, and her frown grew more pronounced.
Mandy cringed at Lori’s expression. She ran her finger across the red scar, fighting the urge to cover herself. “It’s hideous.”
“No.” Lori cleared her throat. “Actually, your surgeon did a good job. The nipple looks real.” She leaned down to take a closer look, then peered up sheepishly. “Am
I making you uncomfortable?”
“We’re two topless women in a three-by-four space. I don’t think it gets more uncomfortable than that.”
Lori continued to study Mandy’s breast, her head cocking to one side. “Is it sensitive? Your nipple?”
“Not a bit. It’s a tattoo.”
Lori nodded and straightened. “Okay, time to feel that lump.”
Mandy pointed to the spot just below her real nipple. “It’s not very big, but it’s hard.”
Lori gently massaged the area with her fingertips. “It feels fibrous.” She placed her hand on her own breast and massaged. “Actually, I’ve got some pea sized lumps, too.” She thrust her perky breast toward Mandy and took her hand. “Here, feel.”
Mandy jerked back. “No. Really, that’s okay.”
“Feel,” Lori demanded, her expression suddenly fierce. “It’ll make you feel better.”
Mandy held her breath as Lori guided her fingers toward the outside of her nipple. She applied pressure and felt a lump just like the one in her own breast.
“I think we have lumpy boobs,” Lori said matter-of-factly. “Some women do.” She smiled brightly. “Feel better?”
Mandy blinked a few times, surprised that her anxiety had actually eased a bit, though she wasn’t sure if it was from the embarrassment of her best friend feeling her up, or from their identical lumps. “I do feel better. But if you ever make me touch your boob again, I’m breaking off our friendship.”
Lori shrugged as she pulled their shirts and bras from the hook. “Fair enough.”
They dressed quickly and exited the stall. The janitor had left, but a woman was washing her hands in one of the sinks. In the mirror, Mandy saw her raise an eyebrow at them. They politely ignored the woman while they washed their own hands.
“Kirsten and I are going to Moe’s tonight,” Lori said as she grabbed a paper towel and dried her hands. “Wanna come?”
Mandy stared at her pallid reflection, pondering Lori’s invitation. “What if Ty’s there?” She pinched her cheeks, trying to force color into her skin.
Lori sighed dramatically. “You can’t stay holed up in your apartment forever because of that jerk. Besides, we can go somewhere else.”
Mandy threw her paper towel into the trash, and they headed out the door. “I think I’d rather stay home.”
“I’m giving you one more month of moping. After that, you’re going out… even if I have to drag you by your hair.”
Mandy chuckled and ran her hands through her short blond locks. “Then I’ve got nothing to worry about. Thanks to the chemo, there’s hardly anything to grab hold of.”
“You know you’re lucky, right? Most women can’t sport a haircut that short and still look hot. I think it’s your high cheekbones.”
“Of course, I’m lucky.” She jabbed her elbow into Lori’s arm as they strode toward the cafeteria. “I have a friend who let me molest her to make me feel better.”
Lori chuckled. “Dr. Stegnar would’ve paid good money to see that. That pervert’s always staring at our ta-tas.”
Mandy cringed, remembering all too vividly the look on Lori’s face when she’d seen the scar. “He’d have paid to see you, not me.”
“Both of us. And if you don’t get out of this funk soon, I’m taking you to a psychiatrist.”
“I promise I’ll perk up next month, and we can hit the town.”
Lori tossed her an encouraging smile. “I’ll hold you to it.”
God, she hoped she spoke the truth, and things would take a turn for the better next month.
Chapter 2
Help! Kirsten texted.
Mandy discreetly held her cell in her palm as she strolled down the hospital hall. Personal use of phones was frowned upon while working, but since she was always waiting for a test result, her floor was more than forgiving.
What’s up? Mandy texted.
A chunk of my hair fell out!
Salon appointment?
Can’t get me in. Date at six.
Off in ten. I’ll head to your place.
Thx.
Mandy tucked the cell back in her pocket and sighed. She felt bad for her friend. Living with her condition couldn’t be easy, especially since only Mandy, Kirsten’s mom, and Kirsten’s salon knew about it. Thank goodness, over the past ten years, Mandy had become an expert with weaves after reattaching Kirsten’s more times than she could count. She glanced at her watch. In an hour and a half, she was due at her niece’s recital. Kirsten’s hair would take thirty minutes, then she had to change, and… well, so much for dinner.
Lost in thought, she rounded the corner to the west wing and saw a tall man step inside Caleb Ferry’s room. She abruptly skidded to a stop. Justin. She’d only caught a glimpse of his profile, but recognized him immediately.
A knot formed in the pit of her stomach as she forced her feet forward again, past the blue porpoises and pink seahorses lining the pediatric walls. It was the first time she’d seen Justin in eight months… since her mastectomy. After her diagnosis, he’d called her more times than she could count, though she’d never answered. He’d even sent her a letter because she wouldn’t answer his emails or texts.
She’d been such a witch. But since Justin was Ty’s best friend, she’d been too afraid that talking to him would magnify the ache in her heart. She clutched her chest. Even now, almost a year after Ty had left her, the edges of the wound still burned. As much as she hated him, shouldn’t her wound have turned to hardened steel already? Instead, it smoldered, as if made of an infinite supply of seasoned wood.
The past is the past, she reminded herself. Out of every bad situation comes good, her mom always said. Wasn’t it better to see Ty’s true colors now, rather than after having two kids with him? Of course, she was right. As she inhaled deeply and blew the air out slowly, the ache eased. Now, she just had to deal with Justin.
For a split second, she thought about turning on her heel and hightailing it out of there, but Caleb’s room was her next stop on the rounds of giving her patients the number of their new nurse. She couldn’t exactly leave the boy without a nurse to call just for the sake of avoiding Justin. Besides, she knew she’d run into him eventually. And if he was angry at her for not calling, today was as good a day as any to deal with it.
Before entering Caleb’s room, she smoothed the wrinkles on her purple scrub’s top and repositioned her badge to cover a small coffee stain. Without thinking, she raised her hands to tame her long hair. Mid-gesture, she froze. The flowing blond locks that had framed her face were gone. Would Justin be surprised that her tresses no longer grazed her waist? Did she care? She sighed. Yes, she did care, which only made her feel vain. She flicked her badge aside, revealing the brown blob of coffee on her chest. There, now she wasn’t a narcissist.
She pushed open the door and glimpsed Justin standing next to Caleb’s bed, his back to her.
“The basket lifted me, and I couldn’t breathe,” the boy said in an energetic voice, his knees bouncing like bunny rabbits beneath the white bed sheet. “The helicopter was super windy and loud!” Caleb stared up at Justin with awe-filled eyes. “And I thought I was going to puke!” Since the boy had been checked into the hospital yesterday, he’d done nothing but drone on about his high-seas adventure.
Caleb’s mom sank into the recliner by his bed. “Honey, you need to settle down.” Her eyes were bloodshot from all the tears she’d shed, but she managed to smile at Mandy.
Undeterred, Caleb said, “I can’t wait to tell everyone at school when summer ends. Can you come to show and tell?” He gazed up at Justin with that sincere expression only a child could manage.
Justin chuckled. “I’ll tell you what, kid. When they have career day, give me a call.”
Mandy’s tension turned into butterflies as her gaze raked over Justin’s trim frame. She wanted him to turn and acknowledge her, but he never looked away from Caleb’s animated face.
She took a deep breath, deciding it
was time to pay the piper. Either he’d scowl, smile, or worst of all, ignore her. She crossed her fingers and prayed for the smile. “I think you have a new fan, Shep.”
Justin glanced over at her, and his face lit up with a broad grin. “It’s been a while.”
The knots in her stomach relaxed. Wanting to hold onto his smile, she said, “You’re looking good.” No exaggeration there.
His gray Coast Guard T-shirt framed his broad shoulders beautifully, and his jeans fit perfectly across his slender hips. Even under the hospital’s drab florescent bulbs, his dark, short hair was lustrous, and his chocolate eyes seemed to pick up some invisible light source that made them sparkle. The sun had tanned his skin to a perfect golden brown, and the beginnings of lines creased his eyes in just the right spots.
His smile widened. “Thanks. You’re lookin’ good, too.” He winked. “Especially with short hair.”
Mandy mashed her lips together to keep from grinning like a lunatic. Did he really mean that, or was he just being a gentleman?
She hoped for the former as she resituated her nametag to cover the brown blob and walked across the room to the dry-erase board. Yes, she was vain, and she just didn’t care anymore.
Justin’s eyes bored a hole in her. She straightened, suddenly self-conscious. Maybe he did think she looked good. Or maybe he was just surprised to see her.
With a swipe of a paper towel, she cleared her name. “I’m off duty, buddy.” She wrote the new nurse’s name and phone number on the board. “Melisa will take care of you this afternoon. If you need anything, give her a call.”
Caleb’s mom nodded. “Thanks. You’ll be back tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow’s my day off.” She looked over to see Caleb chatting up Justin again. “Chances are, he’ll be checked out Friday, but if he’s still here, I’ll try to get on his schedule again.”
“Caleb would like that.”
Mandy doubted they’d keep Caleb for more than one additional night. Other than a broken wrist, dehydration, and a mild concussion, he was doing fine.
The Calling Page 2
