by Amy Ruttan
“I did, but I didn’t really work with the interns or residents much. My department head did that mostly.”
And there it was again, that bitterness when she mentioned her department head and the former hospital she worked at. What had that department head done to hurt Betty? Was he the reason she’d left New York?
It couldn’t be that. She wasn’t staying in Reykjavik permanently.
The doorbell rang.
“That must be the antibiotics. Excuse me.”
Axel left and retrieved the medicine, paying the driver. He shut the door and saw Betty in the foyer.
“I should get back to my place. I’m exhausted and if I’m going to get used to this new time, I should go to sleep at a reasonable hour.”
“Let me just give Eira a dose and I’ll drive you.”
“Don’t worry, I called a cab and he’s here.”
Axel glanced out of the front window and saw the cab waiting on the street.
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.” Betty pulled on her boots and then her coat. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the hospital. I think I can make my own way over there.”
Axel nodded. “Okay. See you tomorrow.”
He opened the door and watched Betty get into the cab and then watched it drive her away.
It was nice spending the evening with her. It was unexpected, but, as nice as it was, it couldn’t continue.
There was a time limit to her being here and this was where his life was.
He had to remember to keep his distance, even if every fiber of his being wanted something completely different when it came to Dr. Betty Jacinth.
CHAPTER FIVE
BETTY WALKED THROUGH the halls of the hospital on her way to the surgical floor to remove a gallbladder from a patient who had come in during the early hours of the morning, right before the shift change, complaining of pain.
Betty could see the patient was jaundiced and because the bilirubin in the patient’s blood was high it was clear that the pancreas was taking over. If they didn’t do a cholecystectomy soon then the patient would be prone to pancreatitis, which was way worse.
She hadn’t done a surgery in a couple of weeks and she was looking forward to getting into the operating room and showing all these skeptical surgeons in Reykjavik that she had the skills. That they could trust her.
The quiet of the operating room, focusing on a procedure she’d done countless times before, would also help her get her mind off Axel.
She hadn’t intended to stay, but she was lonely. She’d only been in Iceland for a week and she was having a hard time handling the solitude.
It’s been more than a week. You’ve been lonely since your father died.
She shook that thought away as she stopped just outside the door to the surgical floor. Here she changed her lab coat for a surgical gown, placed booties over her shoes and tied back her hair, putting on her surgical scrub cap that she’d brought with her from New York.
It was pink and had hearts on it. It made her happy, but the moment she pulled it on all the other stoical surgeons that were in that room stared at her.
She realized that they all had the same scrub cap. That aqua blue that matched their scrubs.
Great.
She tried to ignore the pointed stares as she continued getting ready to perform her surgery.
“Well, if you wanted to disrupt the flow of the surgical floor I would say mission accomplished.”
She turned around to see Axel leaning beside her, grinning. He was thoroughly amused and just that grin on his face made her heart skip a beat, her palms clammy. Suddenly she was nervous around him and she could recall her dreams from last night vividly, because they had been filled with Axel. She’d enjoyed her time with him over this last week. And she loved the way he was with his niece. That made her just swoon. It took a strong man to step up and take care of a teenager like that. Especially while simultaneously balancing a demanding career.
But she had to stop thinking about that.
That was why she was looking forward to the silence and focus of the operating room.
“You think it’s funny?” she asked.
“I like seeing them shaken up a bit. And the scrub cap suits you.”
“What?”
“It’s whimsical. I don’t know, it suits you. Makes you stand out.”
“I didn’t really expect to stand out today. I thought...”
“What did you think?” he asked.
“I thought it would be like the hospital in New York. We all have our little personal scrub caps.”
“It’s nice.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’re being awfully nice to me today.”
“There’s a reason.”
“Oh?” she asked, intrigued.
“I would like to get in on your surgery.”
“It’s just an emergency cholecystectomy. I’m sure you’ve done many before.”
“I have, but I haven’t done one with you. I am your mentor while you’re here and I would like to assist. You say you’re a wizard with the laparoscope.”
Her stomach twisted and she couldn’t help but think of Thomas.
It’s not like that.
“I see. You’re observing the new girl.”
“Something like that.”
Well, that explained his friendlier attitude. He was buttering her up and she seriously doubted he would listen if she said no anyway. He was going to assist whether she liked it or not.
“Do I have a choice?” she asked.
“Not really,” he admitted.
“Then I would love to have you,” she said, faking an enthusiasm she didn’t feel. Honestly, she didn’t want him anywhere near her surgery. What if he took over as Thomas had? Maybe he wouldn’t, but she couldn’t be sure of anything.
Axel smiled at her. “I’ll see you in a few moments.”
Betty nodded and stepped through the doors onto the sterile surgical floor. She found the scrub room that was attached to her operating room and began her scrubbing. As she glanced through the window into the operating room where the patient was being prepped she saw that there was a gallery and that that gallery was filled with surgeons. Including the senior Dr. Sturlusson.
Her heart began to pound. She was suddenly nervous.
You wanted to prove to them you’re good. You want them to trust you. This is how.
She took a deep breath. It definitely was the way to do it, but there was a part of her that still felt like the second wheel behind Thomas, as she’d been in New York.
You’ve got this. You can do this.
* * *
“Let me lead this one, Betty,” Thomas had said.
“It’s my patient,” she’d argued.
“Yes, but the board is here tonight to see me do a surgery after my stellar diagnosis of the director of the board’s wife. I’m the one to watch for Head of General Surgery.” He’d touched her cheek. “And of course you’ll be at my side, assisting me. I couldn’t do it without you.”
Her heart had skipped a beat.
“Okay... And then maybe tonight we can get a drink and celebrate?”
“Sure...”
* * *
Of course there had been no celebration. He’d abandoned her for others and she’d felt the fool giving up her surgery for him because she’d thought it would make Thomas care about her more. That if she’d said no to him he’d reject her and yet he’d rejected her anyways.
Her stomach twisted.
This was different. Axel might be assisting with her surgery but he wasn’t taking it over. So why did she still feel as if she was being pushed aside? Insignificant again.
Axel entered the scrub room and stood beside her at the sink, scrubbing in. She glanced up at him and instantly a
ll the thoughts about Thomas, the self-doubt that he made her feel, melted away.
This was different.
“I apparently have quite the audience in the gallery.”
“Everyone is eager to see how you perform, Dr. Jacinth. That’s all. Your reputation precedes you.”
“What reputation?” she asked.
“You are well respected in New York. My father is a smart man—he wouldn’t have had just anyone come to teach his surgical residents for several months.”
“You flatter me.” She shot him a smile.
“Well, we’ll see how you do out there.” Axel winked and dried his hands, heading out into the operating room.
Betty took another deep breath.
This was just like every other cholecystectomy. She could do this. She dried her hands and headed out into the operating room. A scrub nurse helped her on with her gown and she glanced up briefly at the crowd in the gallery.
You’ve got this.
She nodded to Axel’s father and then tried to forget that he was there. That she was under a microscope here in the operating room.
She took her spot at the operating table and Axel stood on the other side of her. He nodded and she could tell from the crinkle in the corner of his eye that he was smiling at her from behind his surgical mask.
Yeah, she had this.
* * *
Betty was still dictating her surgical report in the operating room. Axel had just finished scrubbing out, eager to get home and check on Eira. He’d had their neighbor, Mrs. Ingborne, sitting with her this morning while he was at the hospital. Mrs. Ingborne had raised ten healthy children and, as she often watched Eira when Calder had to work, he knew his niece was in good hands.
Still, Axel needed to get home to check on her for himself. When he’d entered that operating room he had caught his father’s eye and seen the look of displeasure. He’d known exactly what his father was thinking. That he didn’t want Axel in the operating room.
“I’m surprised to see you here, Axel,” his father said stiffly.
“I was surprised to see you and so many others in the gallery. Why such a packed gallery for a simple cholecystectomy procedure?”
“The board was curious about how well Dr. Jacinth would perform and whether or not she was just as capable as her father. He was a brilliant surgeon. He worked here in this hospital for some time.”
Axel raised his eyebrows. “So I’ve heard.”
“Well, that’s why I wanted Clifford Jacinth’s daughter to lead our interns in their last few months with us. I’m hoping that she will pick out the best and the brightest. Her father had quite the knack for it.”
Betty hadn’t gone into much detail about her father or his reputation for being such a brilliant surgeon, but then again Axel hadn’t really asked her for details.
And the reason he hadn’t was because he’d wanted to keep her at arm’s length. The problem was, he kept getting sucked back in. Why couldn’t he just leave Betty alone?
Why did he have to be the surgeon to show her the ropes here?
Because you’re the lowest on the totem pole here. Even Betty outranks you.
He knew his place in the hierarchy was because of his father and not because of his skills as a surgeon. Axel also had the feeling, by the way the other surgeons were looking at Betty—as if she was an interloper who didn’t belong—that no one else had wanted the job of helping her settle in.
They were missing out. She was a talented surgeon. Two minutes into the surgery and he’d known that. Watching her operate had been awe-inspiring.
She had a level of skill he hadn’t seen since Calder.
“She did very well on the surgery. Perhaps you’ll start giving her more time in the operating room now?” It was a dig at his father for not allowing Betty to have operating-room privileges from day one and the expression on the older man’s face made it clear his father knew it.
“Of course. How is Eira today?”
“She has a mild infection. She’s on a course of antibiotics for another couple of days.”
“She has an infection and you left her at home, alone?” his father asked. “You should be with her.”
“I am a surgeon, Father. I do have to work. Besides, she’s been on antibiotics for a week and I’ve already taken time off to care for her, or have you forgotten?”
“Eira should be your priority.”
“She is.” Axel clenched his fists at his sides and tried to count back from ten; the anger he had to keep in check around his father was exhausting. “You want me here doing more and striving for more, yet you want me at home with all my attention focused on Eira. I can’t do both.”
His father ignored him. “I don’t see how Eira can be a priority when you’re here and she’s by herself at home.”
“She’s not by herself. Mrs. Ingborne is watching her until I can finish my work and get home. Perhaps you could stop by and visit your granddaughter? See for yourself how she’s doing?”
His father’s eyes narrowed. Axel had hit another sore spot.
Axel knew it was hard for his father to be around Eira—he reminded his father of Calder and Axel’s late mother—but that was no excuse for never seeing her. Axel wanted to believe that deep down his father really loved Eira, but he knew it was a lie he’d been telling himself over and over again for years.
“If time allows me, I will,” his father said. “I’d better check on the board of directors. Please pass on my congratulations to Dr. Jacinth.”
Axel watched his father storm down the hallway. Taking a deep breath, he left the operating-room floor and headed back to the change room, pulling off his scrub cap and tossing it into a laundry bin.
Betty followed him through the door, pulling off her scrub cap and sticking it in her bag in her locker.
Axel cocked an eyebrow.
“I have a feeling it won’t come back if I send it to the laundry here. I’ll just take it home and wash it myself and then stick to the regulation ones for the next couple of months.”
“Don’t give up so easily. I like your scrub cap.”
She smiled and shook her head. “It’s better to blend in sometimes.”
“Yeah, but it’s also good to stand out.”
“This is strange talk coming from you.”
“What do you mean?”
“The first time I met you, you nagged me about the inappropriate footwear I was wearing and how it didn’t conform to what you felt was appropriate footwear.”
“Well, you did slip,” he reminded her.
She crossed her arms. “It was icy.”
“And that was my point all along.” He was teasing her and he enjoyed it.
“Ha. Ha.” She pulled on her lab coat. “Back down to the pit.”
“The pit?”
“It’s what we call the emergency room back in New York.”
“I’ll walk down with you, if you don’t mind.”
“Sure.”
They were silent as they fell into step, side by side as they walked from the operating floor to the emergency room.
“Would you like to come over to dinner tonight?” The question caught him off guard because it had been a long time since he’d asked a woman out to dinner.
“Sure.” Betty sounded stunned.
“I’ll cook. I do cook, though it didn’t appear like I did when I made you sandwiches instead of pizza, which Eira loved, by the way.”
“Good to know and I would like that.”
“I’ll drive you home and then we can go back to my place.”
“I have got to get a car,” she teased. “I can’t rely on you to drive me everywhere.”
“I don’t mind. My father said you were my responsibility. I want to make sure that you’re safe.”
“And is that
why you’re inviting me to dinner?” she asked. “Because I’m just a responsibility?”
“Partly.” He was honest about it. “But also Eira does like you. I’m glad that you were there to talk to her about everything. And even though she’s suffering through that and an infection, she’s been quite pleasant the last couple of days.”
Betty grinned. “I would like to see Eira again. She’s a sweetheart and I guess I feel a connection to her because I know what she’s feeling.”
He nodded. “By the way, my father wanted me to pass on his congratulations.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Seems strange for a routine surgery.”
“Yes, it does.”
Only he understood. It might have been a routine surgery, but apparently Betty wasn’t a routine surgeon. She was the daughter of someone his father admired and that meant something. His father was not someone who gave his admiration away freely.
“I’ll meet you at the front doors of the hospital at six.”
He turned and walked away, heading to his assigned pod.
He didn’t know what he was doing inviting her to dinner.
It’s for Eira.
And that was what he had to keep telling himself, but he knew that wasn’t completely true.
He didn’t want to face the real truth. The truth that she fascinated him, she was attractive, funny, smart and feisty.
He wanted to get to know her better. Even though he knew there was a time limit on anything they might share, even though he knew he didn’t deserve happiness. He came with too much baggage. No one deserved to bear that burden but him. Happiness wasn’t for him.
He didn’t deserve it at all.
CHAPTER SIX
AFTER HER SHIFT FINISHED, Betty quickly changed out of her scrubs. In New York, the doctors’ locker room had always been filled with lively banter. But here, Betty got changed in silence. She wasn’t making many friends here in Reykjavik. It was as if the other surgeons saw her as an interloper and she’d only been here for a week.
This was not boding well for the next eighty-seven days. That was why she was clinging to the only branch of friendship she was being offered. She was just surprised it was coming from Axel. When she’d first met him, he’d been so closed off, so grumpy, but there was more to him than that first meeting, as she was discovering.
