White Wedding for a Southern Belle

by Susan Carlisle

  “I’ll be fine. I’ll have a nurse to assist me, won’t I?”

  “Yes. Margaret will be here soon. She was also born and raised in Southriver. She’ll be a great help. Well, I’ve got to get ready for my day.”

  Ashley left him and he started working on arranging the supplies they’d not got to the night before. Forty-five minutes later the buzzer sounded and he went to the main door. He checked out the window. After last night he wouldn’t take any chances that Marko or his gang would catch him off guard. A dark-skinned, silver-haired, heavyset woman dressed in purple scrubs stood there. He unlocked the door and opened it.

  “I’m guessing you’re Dr. Bradford,” she said before Kiefer had a chance to speak. “I’m Margaret Nettles. I’ll be your nurse.”

  “Nice to meet you, Margaret. I’m sure I’ll be glad of your help.”

  She looked around the waiting room. “Ms. Ashley has high hopes for this clinic and I agreed to help because she’s such a fine person, but I don’t know that it’s going to work out. I’ll do my part and help you do yours. Now, can you direct me to where I can put my purse? We need to get started. You already have a couple of patients waiting outside.”

  “I didn’t see anyone.”

  “You wouldn’t. They didn’t come across the street until they saw me. They’ll be along in a minute.”

  He glanced out the door. “But we don’t open for another hour.”

  “That may be so but they’ll be here nonetheless.”

  Margaret was correct. He closed the door and showed her to the office. She’d just locked her purse in the desk when the buzzer sounded.

  “I’ll see to that,” Margaret announced.

  “I only have the one exam room set up. I thought we’d have time to work on the other two between patients.”

  “I doubt that’ll happen. Despite some in the neighborhood being against this clinic, the people around here need it. They’ll come until they’re scared away. I’ll put your first patient in the exam room.” With that she walked heavily down the hall.

  What had he got himself into?

  A boy of about three was his first patient. The mother didn’t look much older than eighteen. Much too young to have a child. Her hair was pulled back, which added to her look of youth. The little boy was clean but his clothes were well-worn and a little small on his chubby body.

  “Hello, I’m Dr. Bradford. What’s the problem today?”

  “Mikey has a bad cold.”

  Kiefer could see that clearly. The child had a horribly running nose and a wet cough. Kiefer went down on his heels. “Mikey, I need to listen to your chest for a minute. This won’t hurt.”

  He placed the stethoscope on the boy’s chest. His heartbeat was steady but his lungs made a raspy sound. After that Kiefer checked Mikey’s mouth and ears. Both were red and irritated.

  Kiefer looked at the mother. “Mikey’s going to need antibiotics for ten days. Then I want you to come back.”

  The girl’s face took on a troubled look.

  Kiefer stood. “Mikey should be just fine.”

  “Is there something else you can do for him?”

  “The medicine should fix him right up.” Kiefer looped the stethoscope around his neck.

  “I can’t get the medicine,” the mother said softly.

  “Raeshell.” Ashley spoke to the mother from the open door. “I’m on my way to the drugstore right now. Dr. Bradford can write that prescription and we’ll have it filled.”

  How long had Ashley been standing there? Was she checking on him?

  It dawned on Kiefer that the girl couldn’t pay for the medicine. “I’ll do that right away.” He stepped out into the hall.

  He would make some calls when he had a chance and see about getting a few drug companies to help out. A couple of drug reps owed him favors. He’d be calling them in.

  Kiefer pulled the pad out of his pocket and wrote the prescription. He then removed his wallet and took out some bills. He handed them to Ashley. “This should cover it.”

  “You don’t have to,” she whispered.

  “If I don’t, you will. You can’t pay for everyone that comes through here. We’re going to have to get some help in this area.”

  “I hadn’t given much thought to people’s inability to pay.” She shoved the money into her pocket.

  “Well, it’s time to do that.”

  “I’ll be back in a few hours. Maybe you’ll have a few minutes for us to discuss it then,” Ashley said.

  “I have some ideas of my own that I’ll work on as well.” Returning to the room, he told the mother, “Ms. Marsh is waiting outside to drive you to the store. Don’t worry about the cost. It’s taken care of. I’ll see you and Mikey back here in ten days. You make sure he takes all of the medicine. It doesn’t work if you don’t.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Bradford,” Raeshell said meekly.

  “You’re welcome. Bring Mikey back if he gets worse.”

  “I will.” The girl gathered her child close and left.

  * * *

  By noon he almost regretted his words to Ashley earlier. He hadn’t stopped once. There was a constant stream of patients, each with varying degrees of need but none that he couldn’t handle. His worries about being bored were long gone.

  Already Margaret was proving to be a treasure. She knew the people who came in and put them at ease. Maria, his receptionist, showed up around nine. By then Kiefer had already seen eight patients. Margaret handled telling Maria what to do, leaving him to see a waiting patient. If every day was anything like this one, working in the ER would look like spending a day at the beach.

  Around two o’clock Ashley stopped in again. This time she was wearing a simple dress and sweater. She looked refreshing on a hot day. “How’re things going?”

  “Busy.”

  “I’m glad to hear it. I was afraid Marko might bully people into staying away.”

  Kiefer looked at the notes he’d made on his last patient. He was going to have to start a charting system. “I don’t understand why he wouldn’t want a clinic here. The police, yes, but the clinic, no.”

  “It’s all about power and control. He’s afraid I’m taking it away.”

  “Doesn’t his family live in the area? Need medical service on occasion?”

  Ashley brushed her hand over her skirt. “Sure they do, but he doesn’t care. Look, I’ve got to go. I have that community meeting. I just wanted to see how you’re doing.”

  “Afraid I’m going to up and leave, Alderman?” He gave her a pointed look.

  “I can’t say it hasn’t crossed my mind.”

  “Rest assured, I’ll be here when you come back.” He wouldn’t be got rid of that easily.

  * * *

  It was late that evening when Ashley opened another supply box and searched the contents. Having no idea what they were, she left the box for Kiefer to see to. Her afternoon meeting hadn’t gone as well as she’d hoped. The businessmen were worried about retaliation if they participated in the block party she had planned to celebrate the opening of the clinic. They had complained about the cost as well. In her opinion, the neighborhood needed to come together, start acting as one, if they were ever going to make a real difference. She wanted it so badly and couldn’t figure out why the community leaders didn’t.

  Her evening council meeting had gone better. At least she’d had the good news that the clinic was up and running. It had been dark by the time she’d returned home. She’d changed clothes once again and had come down to the clinic to start arranging supplies.

  Kiefer was behind the nineteen-forties metal desk in the closet-sized office, dictating into his phone, when she went by. He hadn’t even looked up. She’d been impressed with his treatment of Raeshell and Mikey, especially when he�
�d offered to pay for the medicine. Despite his impulsive behavior at the party, he seemed to be a stand-up guy since he had already put in a full day and was now doing extra hours. She’d been disappointed that he’d not stayed later the night before to finish up organizing the supplies, but he’d more than done his share today.

  A few minutes later he joined her in the supply room. “Hey.”

  “Hi,” she returned.

  “It’s been some day.”

  “It always is in Southriver.” She opened another box.

  “That would be a great slogan for your Welcome to Southriver signs,” he said.

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  An hour later they passed each other in the hallway, she on the way to the reception area and he coming from the office. They bumped into each other and she fumbled to keep the box she carried from falling. Already aware he was a big guy, being this near him only emphasized the fact. His hands covered hers, helping her to balance the box again. He looked at her mouth. Was he going to take advantage of the situation and kiss her again? Her nerve ends danced. Something in her wanted him to, while her mind stated clearly that it was a bad idea. He was a stranger and she had no business letting him that close. She was glad for the space when he stepped back.

  He said casually, “I don’t know about you but I missed lunch and dinner today. Would you join me for a pizza? I’ll have it delivered so we don’t have to stop work except to eat.”

  Was he kidding? No one was going to deliver in Southriver after dark. She chuckled. “Good luck with that.”

  “What?”

  “Getting something delivered around here after the sun goes down. Too many drivers have been robbed.” She shifted the box so that she could see him clearly. Kiefer really was a good-looking man.

  “You have to be kidding.”

  “Nope. Give it a try if you don’t believe me.” She was going to enjoy proving she was right. She walked down the hall.

  When she returned he called from an exam room, “Pizza will be here in thirty.”

  She stepped back to the doorway. “How did you manage that?”

  “I have a buddy who’s a policeman and his family owns a pizza place. He happened to be helping out tonight.”

  “I’m impressed.” And she was.

  In a short while the front-door buzzer that she’d had installed the day before went off. To Ashley’s amazement the pizza had arrived just as Kiefer had said it would. She hoped he always used his powers for good. Following him to the door, she said, “Check the peephole first. Never open the door after hours until you know who it is.”

  “You really should consider living elsewhere.”

  That wasn’t going to happen. She’d made a promise years ago and she wasn’t going to go back on it now. “That’s not going to happen. It would defeat everything I stand for.”

  Kiefer looked at her for a second then out the peephole. “It’s Bull.” He opened the door.

  A man as tall as Kiefer but much bulkier stood there with a large pizza box in his hands. “Well, Kie, you’re sure slumming tonight.”

  Anger flared in Ashley. That was the way everyone thought of Southriver. If a person was in Southriver then it wasn’t for a good reason, one of many perceptions she was working to change. She stepped around Kiefer.

  Even in the dim light she could see Bull’s eyes widen and his instant embarrassment. “Ah, I’m sorry. No offense.”

  She said in a clipped tone, “None taken. That isn’t the first time my neighborhood has been insulted.”

  Kiefer chuckled softly as he gave Bull space to enter and closed the door behind him. “Careful, Bull. She might take you out, gun and all.”

  His warm sound of compassion took the edge off the moment for Ashley.

  “Truly my apologies, Ms. Marsh.” Bull sounded sincere.

  Ashley looked closely at Bull. “Don’t I know you? Aren’t you the officer who caught the guy robbing the café a couple of weeks ago?”

  Bull squared his shoulders and gave her a look of pride. “That was me.”

  “I appreciate that. The Gozmans are nice people. They’ve lived here all my life. I’d have hated to see them lose their business because they couldn’t pay their bills.”

  Bull grinned. “Does that make up for my remark earlier?”

  She smiled. “I’ll let it go for now.”

  * * *

  It bothered Kiefer for some reason that Bull was flirting with Ashley. Worse, she seemed to like it. It appeared innocent enough but he knew from past experience that looks could be deceiving. Brittney and Josh had managed to conceal their affair for months. But Ashley was nothing to him, so why should it matter if Bull was interested in her?

  That wasn’t true. Somehow his reaction to their kiss had added an element he didn’t understand.

  “Okay, neighborhood hero, I’m hungry. How about that pizza?” Kiefer pulled out some cash.

  Ashley wasn’t his type anyway. He liked her high energy and understood her big heart to a certain degree, but her drive to change the world was over the top for him. Too much like his mother. If he was ever interested in woman again it would be less about commitment and more about enjoying life.

  “Bull, why don’t you join us?” Ashley asked.

  “Yeah, do,” Kiefer said, in a less-than-encouraging tone.

  “Naw. I need to get going.” Bull took the cash and turned back toward the door.

  Kiefer opened it, letting Bull exit, and stepped out as well.

  “Listen, man,” Bull said, “you be careful coming and going around here at night. Also, you need to get a security light for that lot.” He nodded toward Ashley’s place.

  “I didn’t get much else done around here today but I did call the power company about that.”

  “Great. I’ve heard good things about what Alderman Marsh is trying to do but she has stirred up some trouble as well. I hope you don’t get caught in the cross fire.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks for the pizza.”

  “No problem.”

  Ashley was waiting on him when he came back in. “I’m ravenous. Why don’t we go up to my place to eat where there’s a table?”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  She led the way down the hall. At the end she opened a door he’d assumed was a closet. It turned out to hide a staircase. He climbed the stairs after her, getting a good view of her nicely round behind. When they reached the top they went through another door that opened into a small kitchen, which had obviously been remodeled. The brick walls and patchwork tablecloth gave the room a homey and functional feel.

  Ashley placed the pizza box on the table. “What would you like to drink? I have soda, tea, beer, water.”

  “I’d love a beer, but I’d better settle for a soda.” He took one of the matching chairs.

  Ashley pulled two cans of soda out of the refrigerator.

  “So how long have you lived here?” Kiefer watched as she filled glasses with ice and then poured the drinks over it.

  “About a year. I bought the building two years ago and spent six months making it habitable. I still have work to do.” She placed his glass in front of him.

  “You did the work yourself?”

  “All that I could. I had to cut corners where I could.”

  “I’m impressed. You’ve done a nice job, from what I’ve seen.”

  Ashley smiled. She had a nice smile. Sort of made him feel like the sun had come out. “It was a labor of love. And I do mean labor.”

  He flipped the box top up and took a slice of pizza. “If you don’t mind, I’m about to starve.”

  “You need to pace yourself around here.”

  “Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black? You had meetings all day and still man
aged to check up on me.” He took another bite of pizza.

  “I wasn’t checking up.”

  “Really? What would you call it?”

  She shrugged. “Neighborly concern.”

  “We aren’t neighbors.”

  “No, we’re not. I’m pretty sure we grew up as different as daylight and darkness.”

  “You’re making a big assumption. We might have more in common than you think.” Kiefer leaned back in his chair. “To start with, we both grew up in a neighborhood. Are your parents still married?”

  She nodded.

  “Mine are too. We both went to college. We both have jobs that help people.”

  Ashley raised a hand. “Okay, maybe you’re right. But I grew up in a low-income, racially diverse area, while I’m sure yours was an upper middle class, private school community.”

  She had him there. “Yeah, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t both interested in the same things. I certainly have a mother who showed me the importance of helping people. You’re making life better. And I make people feel better. We have more in common than you might think.”

  “Now we’ve moved into philosophy. I think that may be too deep a subject for me this late at night.” Ashley took a bite of pizza. Kiefer watched her chew. Was he ever going to get that kiss out of his mind?

  “You might be right. I’ve been at it so long today I’m starting to feel loopy.”

  They ate quietly for a few minutes before Kiefer stood and pushed the chair under the table. “I need to do a couple of things downstairs. Then I’m going to head home. Thanks for the nice place to have dinner.”

  “I’m the one who should be thanking you. You bought the pizza and against all odds got it delivered. By the way, the local TV station is coming to do a story on the clinic tomorrow. They’ve asked to interview you.”

  Kiefer wanted nothing to do with that. When his mother had been hurt and the case had gone to trial, he’d been on TV as they’d come out of the courthouse. It had been a horrible experience. He had been the child who had watched his mother being beaten nearly to death but had done nothing. The shame had been more than he could carry. Since then he’d shied away from that type of attention. He had no interest in getting involved with anyone who was always on a mission. He’d been raised by a person like that, knew the risks involved.