Side Effects

by Bobby Hutchinson

  First she told him about David and his vigil at the hospital, and they had the kind of discussion married people have about families. That led to a long, satisfying conversation about Wade and Thea and their marriage, and Alex's newfound courage in standing up to her mother.

  About that time, Cameron pulled into a fast-food outlet and bought them substantial breakfasts, and over coffee Alex related every detail of her difficult first days at the clinic, and Cam told her about the clever trap he'd set at the mine to catch the thieves.

  "I had it in my head that small-town policing would be boring, but it's not at all," he confided. "I remember the magistrate telling me when I first got here that there was nothing as satisfying as being the law in a little town, and I'm beginning to think he was right. I like getting to know everyone and I enjoy working with Greg. He's becoming a close friend, something I never had time for in the city."

  Their conversation was erratic, interrupted by the radio and numerous stops to search a new area, but gradually they related all the events they'd neglected to share over the past months.

  They went on looking for the cat, but as the hours passed, Alex grew less certain they'd ever find him.

  "He's just a cat," she told Cameron despondently, trying to control the wobble in her voice. "I have to keep telling myself he's a cat. It's not like it was when Wade was hurt, or—" She stopped abruptly. She'd been about to say, when I left you.

  "Or when you left me," he supplied in a soft voice. His dark eyes were eloquent when he turned and looked at her. "You know, I'd rather die than lose you, Alex. I've been doing a lot of thinking the past couple of days, and I understand how I hurt you and why. Ever since we left the city, I kept thinking that what I did, turning Perchinsky in, was wrong. I was ashamed of it. Then when you told me about King, I saw you going through the same thing. You did the right thing, Alex. You really had no choice. And right about then it dawned on me that I didn't have a choice, either. What I did had to be done. All I did wrong was hide my feelings from you.''

  He gave her a sidelong glance. "I figured if I told you, you'd finally see through me. You'd see that I wasn't really as tough or sure of myself as I pretended to be. And I knew when that happened, you'd stop loving me."

  Completely stunned, she turned to stare at him, and she remembered David telling her of a little boy who had to play at being a man before he was ready, who somehow got it into his head that it was his strength that was lovable instead of his soul.

  There was no trace of that child now, but the feelings were still there, that conviction that he had to be always in control, always on guard. Something hurt in her chest when she thought of how difficult that must be for him.

  Cameron's face was like granite, and he was looking straight ahead. "Ever since I was a kid, I've pretended to be a tough guy, when all the time, inside, I knew different. It always scared me that someday people would find out I was a fraud. I couldn't let you get too close, because if you did, you'd be the one to see—" He stopped abruptly and swore.

  "See what, Cam?" Her voice was gentle. "See that you're human? See that you're vulnerable? Don't you think I already know those things about you?" She drew a quick breath and added bravely, "Don't you know that I love you because of them?"

  He turned toward her, fighting for control, his face ravaged, his voice breaking. "If you could give me another chance, Alex, I swear to God I'll never hide another damned thing from you as long as I live. I'll show you all my weak spots and I'll talk your ears off. And I'll listen, really listen, to what you have to say."

  The words went straight to her heart, but it was the look in his eyes, the naked vulnerability and terrible, lifelong need that broke down the last of the barriers. She lifted her hand and gently touched his lean, rough cheek with her palm.

  "You need a shave, Copper."

  "My razor's back at the house." He sighed, a hopeless, bitter sigh. "And we haven't found that damned cat yet."

  "Maybe we should go home and rest awhile. We could look again later."

  "Home? You mean-"

  She nodded. It took another instant to register, and then a look of pure joy spread across his face. He picked up the radio, and in his voice was all the authority of the head of the detachment. "Korbin Lake, 85. I'll be 10-7 at my residence."

  There was suspicious moisture in his eyes, but he gave her the crooked grin she loved. He came close to breaking several of her ribs when he unhooked her seat belt and dragged her across the seat and into his arms. His kiss said all the things he still hadn't learned to say in words, but Alex didn't mind at all.

  They exceeded the speed limit by an astonishing amount on the way out of town, and gravel flew when he steered down their narrow driveway.

  "We're here, my love," he whispered.

  Alex remembered clearly the first day he'd brought her here. Her breath caught in her throat just as it had then at the wild beauty of this, their first real home.

  "Alex." Cameron's voice was suddenly filled with laughter, and with wonder. "I'll be damned. Look there, on the front porch."

  She looked, and there was Pavarotti, sitting regally on the top step, cleaning first behind one ear and then behind the other with a front paw. He waited until they tumbled out of the car, and then he raised his formidable voice in welcome.

  EPILOGUE

  DAVID AND BECKY'S wedding took place on a windy afternoon in April, in the quaint old wooden church on Korbin Lake's main street where Becky's mother and father had been married years before.

  Of course, Alex and Cam attended the wedding. And they had been at this church not long before.

  Winifred's funeral had been held here two months ago, on a bleak, snowy morning in early February. The old woman had held on to life tenaciously during the uncertain and worrying time that followed Becky's suspension from her job at Korbin Lake General Hospital.

  Winifred was worried about her granddaughter, and she had good reason. The battle that raged after Becky's testimony to the college and her report to the hospital board about the death of Johnnie Williams had been both violent and nasty. Becky had been verbally reprimanded and immediately suspended by Perkins, as well as castigated in front of other staff members by Dr. King.

  Inevitably, the whole messy situation became common knowledge among the townspeople, and many old-timers rallied behind King—but even more staunchly supported Alex and Becky. It took two months for the college to hire an investigator, and all of December for them to examine every detail surrounding the death of Johnnie Williams. Finally, ten days after Christmas, the college released its report. Although it didn't recommend criminal charges, it strongly suggested that Dr. King no longer perform surgery.

  King had lost the battle. He resigned and immediately left town with his wife.

  Shirley Boyd also resigned, and it was rumored that her long-standing association with King was over. She stayed on in Korbin Lake in spite of the gossip that raged about her role in the Williams affair, although it was said she'd become a recluse.

  King's resignation was the signal for a massive rebellion among the members of the hospital board. Late in January, Harry Perkins was forced to resign, and a much younger man, a stranger skilled in business administration, was hired in his place.

  Immediately, Becky was reinstated, Alex's admitting privileges were restored and applications were invited for the hiring of a second doctor, subject to Alex's approval.

  She and the board agreed on Larry Kajinskji, a genial young GP with notable surgical skills. Larry had become a friend, and it was a pleasure for Alex to go to work each morning.

  And so, with her family once again secure, Winifred died peacefully, in her sleep. Her huge funeral here in this church had been a testament to her life in Korbin Lake.

  Alex remembered that day so well. Just as now, the pews had been filled to overflowing, the air redolent with the piercing sweet smell of flowers and beeswax, and the powerful notes of the old organ had reverberated through Alex's very
pores.

  Today, however, the tears that blurred her vision as she walked ahead of the bride down the aisle were tears of joy. She smiled through them, responding to the warm expressions on one familiar face after another as the congregation turned en masse to welcome the bridal party.

  It wasn't a typical procession by any means—Alex, the maid of honor, was carrying the tiny flower girl, who'd had an attack of desperate shyness at the very last moment.

  Just a few minutes ago, Emily had plumped her round, padded bottom down on the threadbare carpet in the vestibule and, like a little turtle, pulled up her ankle-length blue satin dress until it completely covered her head. Alex had lifted her and managed to coax her into smoothing down the pretty dress, but Emily wasn't about to walk down the aisle on her own two feet, so Alex had swung her up in her arms.

  The church was filled to overflowing with patients, family, co-workers and out of town guests. Alex grinned at Morgan Jacobsen, who'd arrived just hours ago in typical Morgan disarray. The airlines had somehow lost her suitcase on the two-hour flight, and Alex had scrambled around to find a patient as tiny as Morgan from whom to borrow a dress suitable for the wedding.

  Actually, she concluded fondly as she winked at her friend, Morgan looked better in the borrowed amber silk suit than she probably would have done in her own garments. Alex knew from experience that every scrap of Morgan's clothing seemed to have a mysterious stain of some sort, undoubtedly originating from the delivery room.

  Old friends, new friends; all were gathered here for this occasion, and as Alex led the way in the traditional walk down the red-carpeted aisle, she had the strangest feeling that Winifred, too, was invisibly present this afternoon to witness and bless her granddaughter's marriage to David Ross.

  There were other guests also conspicuous by their absence. Alex's parents were spending the winter in the Bahamas and had sent their regrets. Nor had Wade and Thea been able to attend, but the reason for their absence sent a thrill of excitement through Alex.

  Wade's rehabilitation had progressed steadily. Her brother was able to walk now with canes, and he was studying hard so he could enter college the following semester. He'd decided he wanted to be a counselor for others with spinal injuries.

  The fact that Thea was six weeks pregnant and too nauseous to travel was proof positive that her brother was recovering in all the ways that mattered, Alex had told Cam in bed early that morning. "I just can't wait to hold my niece or nephew. It's like a miracle, Thea getting pregnant so quickly."

  "We could try again for our own miracle, Doc," he'd suggested, nibbling her neck. "We don't have to get up for at least another half hour. Mom's down there taking care of Pavarotti and making breakfast for everybody."

  "Well, all right then." She'd sighed with mock reluctance, giving herself up to his loving.

  It was only five weeks since they'd decided to try to have a child. Alex thought there was just a faint possibility they'd already been successful, but she found she was embarrassingly superstitious about her own possible pregnancy. She didn't want to do any tests just yet. Paradoxically, she wanted her body to signal the news instead of a test tube. And it was far, far too soon to raise Cam's hopes by saying anything.

  She nuzzled Emily's neck and thought of babies as they progressed slowly down the aisle, and the little girl giggled and grew brave enough to peek through her fingers.

  Her small square face split in a huge grin when she spied her mother close behind. Becky was breathtakingly lovely

  in an ivory satin suit, carrying a rich bouquet of spring flowers.

  "Hey, Mummum, hiya!" Emily's surprisingly powerful voice rose above the organ, and a ripple of laughter erupted at her delighted exclamation. More confident now, she loosened her stranglehold on Alex's neck enough to gaze all around her. When she realized that everyone was smiling lovingly at her, she grinned and planted a huge, sloppy kiss of sheer exuberance on Alex's cheek, prompting another burst of amusement from the congregation.

  "Gamma, hiya!" Emily waved frantically as she spotted Sadie, sitting next to Verna at the very front of the church, and as Alex drew abreast of their pew, Emily wriggled like a little eel to get down.

  Alex bent, setting her on her feet, and the small girl hurried over to where her grandmother and Verna were seated.

  The two older women had ignored the traditional rule of seating guests on either the bride's side of the church or the groom's, choosing to sit together for this occasion. They'd become fast friends during Verna's visit to Korbin Lake at Christmastime, and Sadie had accepted an invitation to visit Verna in Vancouver after Winifred's death. Both welcomed Emily now, making a space for her to snuggle down between them.

  With Emily settled, Alex straightened her dress and smiled at the three men who watched and waited at the altar—David, Cameron and, of course, the pastor. David was resplendent in his tuxedo, but to Alex, it was Cameron who dominated the group.

  As David's best man, he wore red serge, his close-fitting tunic emphasizing his broad shoulders and narrow waist; the blue pants and highly polished congress boots of his dress uniform highlighting his long, strong legs.

  He caught his wife's admiring glance, holding her gaze with his own, and a thrill coursed through Alex at the naked admiration and raw sexual desire she saw reflected in his dark eyes. Wickedly, he gave her a lascivious wink, and Alex had to grin, even as she shook her head a tiny bit, reproving him for having what were obviously lewd thoughts in church.

  "Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here..."

  The majestic words of the traditional service rolled out and over the congregation. Alex looked at Cam and silently echoed each sacred promise along with the bridal couple. She knew by the expression on his face that Cam was doing the same. He looked steadfastly back at her, and she could feel the power of his love touching her very soul.

  "—to love and to cherish from this day forward—"

  "—in sickness and in health, for better and for worse—"

  Alex's mouth curved in a wry smile, and Cameron's lips, too, tilted up in his signature one-sided grin, ruefully acknowledging that over the past year, they'd had a whopping dose of worse.

  They'd come through it, however. Whatever was wounded had healed and become stronger than before. Alex knew that the relationship they now shared was infinitely richer for the stresses it had endured. She knew by the somberness in the depths of her husband's eyes that he, too, was thinking of how close they'd come to losing each other during those first troubled months here in Korbin Lake.

  "—pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride, David."

  Reverently, David drew Becky into his arms. She tilted her face up for his kiss, and as they embraced, Emily let out an outraged roar and slid down from her seat beside her grandmother, making her determined way toward the group at the altar.

  "Em kiss, too, Dabid," she said in an indignant tone, giving David's pant leg an insistent tug. Amidst a ripple of laughter from the congregation, he bent and scooped her into his arms.

  Crowing with delight, she cupped his face in her tiny hands and kissed him exuberantly, smack on the mouth.

  Through the tears that accompanied her laughter, Alex looked at them, the strong, handsome man holding the fragile child, and her hand moved unconsciously to her abdomen.

  In that moment, in that holy place, she knew that she carried Cam's baby, and along with the ecstasy of knowing came a flutter of uncertainty.

  Wife, mother, doctor—would she be able to fulfill with grace all the demanding roles she'd chosen in her life?

  The organ music swelled into the strains of the wedding march. The congregation surged to their feet, and the bride and groom and Emily started their triumphant journey back down the aisle.

  Cam reached out in an old-fashioned, courtly gesture, and with a tiny bow, offered Alex his arm. She placed her hand on the bright scarlet serge, aware of the corded muscle beneath the cloth, the utter solidity and goodness of this man who was her
life's partner.

  She was strong and capable and confident, but it was comforting to know that her husband was there to sup port her along the way, should she need support—just as she was there for him.