Healing the Doctor's Heart

by Shirley Hailstock

  Instead of doing what any uninvited guest would do, apologize for the interruption and back out the door, she entered the room as if her invitation had been lost in the mail.

  “Dr. Chase, Dr. Faris, I didn’t know you were coming.”

  Again, Lauren noticed that Paula was making it appear that she was expected.

  “Sorry to be late, but isn’t that a woman’s prerogative?” She laughed, but no one else did.

  “Let me get you a drink,” Lauren offered.

  “I’ll do it,” Jake said. He put the box she’d brought on the table by the door and led her to the drinks cart that Lauren had set up.

  Lauren glanced at him and understood that his action was to help her, not Paula Ingram. Taking the opportunity, Lauren went to the kitchen and signaled the housekeeper to set another place at the table. Thankfully, the other guests had not gotten to the table yet, so no one had noticed that there was no place setting for a sixth guest.

  The night couldn’t have gone any worse. Paula dominated the conversation, speaking a little too loud and bringing everything back to her or her opinion. Her eyes were always on Jake as if they were compelled to be there like a magnetic compass pointing north. Lauren kept up conversations with the two doctors and Amy.

  It was hard for Lauren to keep her mind on what they were saying. When they lapsed into medicine, she had to remain quiet, even though she was dying to contribute.

  Dr. Chase apologized for his lapse of manners.

  “No apology needed,” Lauren said. “I’m glad you and Jake are able to communicate on medical issues.”

  “He’s good. We need him back at the hospital,” Dr. Faris said.

  “I’m on that,” she whispered conspiratorially. “I think in the next few weeks we can convince him to work at the hospital.”

  “That would be very helpful.”

  The housekeeper served dessert and coffee and Amy whispered to her, “Who is she?”

  Dr. Faris heard the question and answered. “She’s a woman who thinks she can win Jake.” He paused and glanced at Lauren. “But—” he leaned close to her “—she hasn’t seen how Jake looks at Lauren.”

  Amy smiled. Lauren knew her friend had intimated that there was a romance going on between her and Jake. While it wasn’t the truth, it wasn’t a total lie either. Lauren had fallen for Jake and she didn’t appreciate the way Dr. Ingram was all over him, but there was nothing she could say. Jake was a grown man. He had to make his choice. But Lauren had never added her name to a list of possibilities. Obviously, Paula had. There was no mistaking her intent.

  “Dr. Faris,” Lauren said.

  “Doug,” he said.

  “Doug, I’m his caretaker for the moment. Jake and I have no relationship.”

  The doctor sipped his coffee, his eyes never leaving hers.

  “You have to open my present.” Paula’s voice was high and intended for the entire table to hear.

  “Let’s move to the living room,” Lauren suggested.

  Everyone got up and started for the other room.

  “How is she as a doctor?” Amy asked.

  “Surprisingly competent,” Dr. Faris replied.

  But her intentions regarding Jake had nothing to do with medicine, Lauren thought.

  Paula retrieved the large box from the table and brought it to the living room. She presented it like a cure for cancer. Jake tried to take it in his one hand, but it teetered and fell sideways. Amy caught it.

  “Let me help,” she said.

  Lauren saw the look that Amy threw her. She was putting herself between Jake and Dr. Ingram. Jake tore the paper away and Amy pulled the flap up. She tilted the box so he could see inside. Jake reached in and pulled out a wine-colored cashmere robe with his initials monogrammed in bright white stitches.

  Amy stood up and backed away. “I’ll bet she has one just like it with her initials on it,” she said under her breath.

  Lauren smirked and started to laugh behind her hand.

  “What’d you get him?” Amy asked.

  Before she could answer, Paula’s comment caught their attention.

  “Try it on,” she said. She grabbed the robe and stood up holding it ready for him to slip his arms in.

  “Paula.” Dr. Chase stopped her. “Not now. He can do that in private.”

  “It’s only a robe,” she said. “It’s not like I’m asking him to undress.”

  “Not now,” he said again. This time his tone was like a father speaking to a child.

  Paula backed down.

  “I’ll put this away,” Lauren said.

  Lauren moved the robe, box and the wrapping paper debris to the dining room and then returned.

  “More coffee, anyone?” she asked.

  The two doctors refused. Amy accepted.

  “What a great apartment,” Paula said. “These windows are magnificent.”

  Paula was not to be put off. She walked up to the windows and looked out.

  “It must be easy to come home to all this,” she said.

  “The apartment has been in my family all my life. My grandmother used to own it,” Jake said.

  Amy came up to Lauren. “Where did you find her?”

  “I didn’t. She shouted her way in.”

  “And she’s latched onto Jake like a mountain climber with a sharp spike.”

  Lauren couldn’t help laughing. Amy joined her.

  The party went on until midnight. Of course, Paula wanted to stay on after everyone else had left, but Dr. Chase stopped her.

  “Paula, I have a car. I’m happy to drop you off. Amy, would you like to join us?”

  With kisses and handshakes all around, the group left.

  “Wow!” Jake said as he plopped down on the sofa. “That was the worst birthday party I’ve ever had.”

  “I’m sorry,” Lauren said, sitting on the table in front of him. “I tried so hard to make it a memorable one.”

  “Oh, it was.” Jake leaned forward and took both of her hands in his one. He started to laugh.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Your face when I pulled that robe out of the box.”

  Lauren smiled. She imagined what she looked like, but it couldn’t compete with the way she must have looked when Paula asked him to try it on. Jake’s hand was warm holding hers, but she had tensed when she thought he might actually slip on Paula’s gift.

  “Speaking of gifts, I have one for you, although it can’t compete with a personalized robe.”

  Both of them laughed again. Lauren got up and went to the kitchen, where she’d hidden the present. Returning, she handed him a box wrapped in black and silver paper with a huge silver bow on top.

  “Where’s Amy when you need her?” he said.

  Lauren took the box and held it while Jake pulled the ribbon free and slit the paper. Lauren opened the flaps and Jake reached inside.

  “What is this?” he said. “It’s not large enough to be a robe.”

  Lauren kept her face straight. She hoped he liked it.

  “It’s a book,” he said, placing it on his knees. “Yes, I Can,” he read the title. “Am I running for president and this is my campaign manual?”

  Lauren shook her head.

  He opened the book and the page popped up.

  “It’s a pop-up book,” he said eagerly. “This is beautiful.” He read the text and looked at the pop-ups. By the third page, he looked at her. “This is our story.”

  “It’s your story,” she said.

  The book showed the apartment with the large windows and the New York skyline outside. All their activities were featured, starting with their picnic in the park. Lauren had a hard time finding a photo of Jake that she could use. She’d come across professional shots, and some of Jake as the extreme sports enthusiast he’d
been, but few of them reflected the man that he was now.

  “Everything is here,” he said. “My first time driving. Even the Washington, DC, trip and tonight’s party.” He looked up at her. “Paula is missing.”

  “She was a surprise, but if you want me to add her...”

  “Absolutely not,” he said without hesitating. Looking down at the book again, he waved his hand. “This might not have been the best party, but this is the best present I’ve ever received. Thank you.”

  Lauren smiled. Jake leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. He moved back not far enough. He was still in her personal space, their faces close.

  “Happy birthday,” she whispered.

  “The happiest,” he said and his mouth touched hers. Lauren moved forward for a full kiss.

  * * *

  THE PARK LOOKED greener to Lauren during the last week of August. She thought she’d be gone by now, but here she was almost three months later, still staying in the apartment with Jake. He was making progress and selfishly she attributed it to her being there. They’d expanded their drives with greater distances, spending the day antiquing in Pennsylvania or exploring quaint inns in Massachusetts. But today they were walking in the park. It was like the beginning, but without the drama.

  Lauren knew exactly when the change occurred. She’d been back to visit Naliani several times alone. Leaving, she wasn’t happy, but she was no longer bereft.

  Returning to the apartment building, Jake checked his mail and they rode up in the elevator together. “I have a surprise for you,” he said, upon opening the door.

  “Surprise?” Lauren’s heart lifted. She looked at the mail in his hand. He hadn’t gone through the envelopes. Most were medical journals or magazines.

  “Saturday is your day off. Would you like to go out?”

  “We go out every day.”

  “This time we could have dinner and then go to a play.”

  “You mean like a date?” she asked.

  “Are you opposed to going on a date with me?” He put the mail on the table.

  “No,” she said.

  “I have tickets to Mary Poppins on Broadway and I thought you’d like to see it with me.”

  Lauren put her hand over her mouth to hide the bubble of laughter that threatened to burst. It worked for only a few seconds before she was laughing. Jake started to laugh with her until the two of them were struggling for breath.

  “I suppose...” Lauren began sucking air into her lungs. “I suppose it’s the perfect musical. Shall I dress the part?”

  “You did leave the carpetbag here.”

  On Saturday night as Lauren stepped into the limousine that Jake ordered, she wasn’t dressed as any nanny. Her outfit wasn’t quite special occasion, but the night was special to her and the dress she wore was a knockout shade of red. Jake wore a dark suit and white shirt. The contrast between the clothes and his skin was stark. Many of their day trips in the sun had left him with a tan and gentle highlights to his dark hair.

  Lauren watched women turning to look at him as they entered the restaurant. She felt slightly regal at the fact that he was with her.

  “Did you notice all the stares?”

  “Yes, I might have to fight all the guys who ogled you.”

  “They didn’t ogle me. It was the women looking at you.”

  He glanced around as if he hadn’t noticed. Lauren wasn’t sure if he hadn’t seen the way his entrance had attracted attention. Maybe he was so used to it that it no longer seemed like a novelty. He was a very attractive man.

  “No one seems to be looking now.”

  Lauren hid her smile as the waiter handed her a large menu. After she ordered, she asked, “Have you seen Mary Poppins before?”

  “I haven’t watched many musicals.”

  “You do know they sing in this musical?” she teased. “More than likely it will begin with a song, end with a song and have singing throughout.”

  “You’re playing with me,” he said, teasingly.

  Lauren just lifted an eyebrow. “Seriously, you’ve never seen the play or movie?”

  “Never,” he said. “But I know someone who could probably give me a rundown, complete with songs and dancing.”

  He could barely get the sentence out without laughing. Lauren liked hearing his laugh. This Jake Masters was miles away from the angry young man she’d met on her first day. He was almost as playful and happy as the college student who sat in front of her in physics class.

  Their meals arrived and for a few moments they were quiet, enjoying the flavor of the food. Lauren hadn’t been on a date in months and being with Jake felt good. She was comfortable with him. She’d gone through some of his bad days, been witness to his volatile moods and been the confidante he shared his private thoughts with. And now he was taking her out on a date.

  With all she knew about him, there was very little he knew about her. She’d told him about Naliani, and she knew he was instrumental in helping her deal with the loss of her child, but he didn’t know a particular detail about her and she needed to tell him.

  By the time they were having coffee, Lauren knew the moment had come. She needed to tell him tonight. That meant this might be the last time she saw Jake. Cal was due to return soon. Jake was continuing his consulting and eventually he would work at the hospital again. She knew he really wanted to return to medicine and he was ready. She was sure his arm wouldn’t be a problem for the doctors or the patients. As long as he didn’t have to perform surgery, he could still work as a doctor. Her job was done. Lauren hadn’t thought of it when Jake asked her out, but this date was probably the crowning moment of her time with him. Soon she’d turn back into the former college acquaintance he once knew and disappear from his life.

  He had to know the truth about her. “Jake.”

  He looked up with a smile in his eyes. Lauren almost lost her nerve. She swallowed and forced herself to speak. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

  “Okay.”

  He was still smiling. She opened her mouth to say something just as the waiter came over.

  “Curtain in half an hour,” he said, then moved to the next table.

  Jake looked at her. “We can talk after the play.”

  As she’d told Jake, the production opened with a song. They sat together in the eighth row center and for two hours were taken to a world of chimney sweeps, precocious children and the love of family. Lauren couldn’t stop thoughts of Naliani from forming when she saw the little girl in the play. Almost every little girl had once made her think of her daughter. It was the reason she sold her practice. She’d needed time away from children. The pain was too great, too raw. But now, she watched the little girl, remembered Naliani with love in her heart, but without the emotions that once destroyed her.

  When the last song was sung and the audience was on its feet applauding, Jake was up too. With his left hand, he patted his right.

  “You liked it,” Lauren stated as they joined the crowd in the aisles and headed for the exit.

  “It had its moments.”

  She knew he was kidding. “I heard you humming some of the songs.”

  “I might have learned a chorus or two.”

  Lauren squeezed his arm. “Where are we going now?” she asked.

  “How about we go for drinks and a little music? Not Broadway music.” He turned and looked at her. The warmth she felt from it was unforgettable.

  “That sounds fine.” She didn’t want the evening to end.

  Out on the street, they looked for their limousine among the many waiting at curbside. Seeing it, Jake turned her toward it. In that instant her past leapt out at her.

  “Dr. Graves.”

  Lauren couldn’t help but turn. Since she was on her way to becoming a doctor before she married Richard, she’d kept her mai
den name when it came to her profession. In her practice, she was always called Dr. Graves. A woman was rushing toward her. Someone she recognized. It was Mrs. Rawlins, Becky Rawlins’s mother. Following her was a man who had to be the child’s father. Lauren had never met him.

  “Dr. Graves.” Mrs. Rawlins stopped in front of her. “How are you? The nurse told us about your daughter.”

  “I’m doing well,” Lauren said.

  Mr. Rawlins caught up with his wife. She turned and introduced them. “This is the doctor who diagnosed what was wrong with Becky.”

  He shook hands with her and Lauren had no choice but to introduce Jake. She didn’t want to look at him. She could feel the heat of his stare. Red that it was, she was surprised it didn’t burn her skin.

  “How is Becky doing?” Lauren asked.

  “She’s back to her old self. You’d never know she had surgery,” Mr. Rawlins said. “We can’t thank you enough.”

  “No need. I was happy she got the treatment she needed.”

  “Well, thank you again,” Mr. Rawlins said. “We have to rush off now. We have a reservation for a late dinner.”

  “Good night.” Mrs. Rawlins waved.

  And now it was time to face Jake.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  THE RIDE BACK to the apartment was silent, but the mood inside the limo was vastly different from the trip out. Jake sat next to her seething. Lauren knew she couldn’t talk to him. Maybe when they reached the apartment, he’d have calmed down a bit, but she didn’t put much hope in that.

  The moment the limo stopped under the enclosed archway, he bounded out of the car and into the building. When Lauren entered the apartment minutes later, Jake was clearly upset. He paced back and forth and couldn’t seem to bring himself to look at her.

  “Doctor? You’re a doctor?” he accused.

  “Let me explain. It’s what I wanted to tell you at dinner, but the waiter interrupted us.”

  “Oh, that’s convenient. You’ve been here how long—three months—and you never found an appropriate moment to slip that little bit of information in?”

  “I wanted to, but Caleb and I knew—”