by Amy Ruttan
Why he didn’t deserve a chance. If he explained it, it would just bring back all those painful memories for Eira. Getting Eira to this point, where she was opening up and becoming a bit more mature, was a step forward. He didn’t need to take a step back and he didn’t want to open old wounds with her.
So he gladly bore the cold shoulder at home.
He closed his eyes.
“You okay?”
He opened his eyes to see Betty standing on the other side of the nursing station where he’d been working.
“Tired,” he said quickly.
“I haven’t seen you around.”
“You’ve been busy with the residents, doing the job you were brought here to do, and I’ve been busy with patients.”
She smiled warmly at him. “I know, but you looked—”
“How did I look?” Axel snapped. “I’m tired. Nothing more.”
“Fine. You’re tired. I’m sorry for asking, I thought we were friends and I had a feeling you were avoiding me. I guess I wasn’t wrong about that.”
“What makes you think I’m avoiding you?”
“For one thing, you didn’t offer to carry me up to my house when you dropped me off.” There was a twinkle of humor in her eyes and he couldn’t help but crack a smile.
“You made it to the top of the cathedral despite your fear of heights. I think you’re now capable of safely walking the icy Reykjavik streets.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Are you referring to me as a street walker?”
“Does that mean something else in America?”
“It’s a colloquial term for prostitute.”
Good job.
“I’m sorry,” he said, chuckling a bit. “That’s not what I meant at all.”
“I know. How’s Eira?”
“She’s fine,” he answered tightly.
“Oh, that bad, huh?”
“She’s mad that you left and that I didn’t make you stay. She thinks it’s as bad as me kicking you out.”
“Do you want me to have a talk with her?” Betty asked.
“No, it’s fine. She’ll get over it. I just think...” He trailed off because he didn’t want to tell Betty what he thought, that Eira was trying to reclaim some kind of semblance of happy family. Calder and their mother were the two in the family who always knew how to make a house feel like a home. They were the glue that held the family together.
Axel and his father, they just couldn’t seem to make a connection. To keep that sense of family. To make a house a home.
Calder always said Axel and their father were the same. Axel didn’t see it, because he was trying and his father wasn’t.
“I get it,” Betty said. There was a flush of pink in her cheek. “Well, I’ll let you get back to work.”
He felt so bad for brushing her off.
What was wrong with him?
“Betty, wait.”
She turned around.
“I wouldn’t mind if you talk to Eira. I think she needs a woman’s input.”
Betty’s expression softened. “Okay. I can do that.”
Axel sank down in his seat and finished the rest of his cold coffee. Angry at himself for everything he had done wrong.
He was a surgeon. Mechanical and cold-hearted.
And he would never be anything else. Calder had been right. He was just like his father.
* * *
Axel finished the rest of his surgical and post-operative notes. It took him most of the day because he would often get interrupted by residents who were working the trauma floor, especially if Betty was busy with another patient. But he didn’t mind.
He also made several visits to check on Mr. Bjorn and monitor his blood pressure. He was glad to see that his patient was taking to the blood-pressure-medicine protocol well.
“You saved his life,” Mrs. Bjorn said as Axel finished checking the incision sight and changing the bandage.
“He’s got a strong will to live,” Axel said, not taking the compliment.
“But you were there. If you weren’t there he...” Mrs. Bjorn looked away, brushing the tears from her eyes.
He wanted to tell her that even if he hadn’t been there, paramedics still would’ve come and someone else here would’ve done the surgery.
“Well, I’m glad I was there that day too.”
Mr. Bjorn smiled weakly at him, in thanks.
“Do you know when we’ll be able to go home?” she asked.
“Not for some time. I want to make sure he’s fully healed and that he’ll be able to take the cabin-pressure changes on the flight. He’s also at a risk for a pulmonary embolus. I promise you, Mrs. Bjorn, we’re doing all we can to get you both home safely and healthy as quickly as possible. I have contacted your family physician in Sweden. He’s up to date on everything and once we get your husband strong enough to travel, I’m confident your family doctor can take it from there.”
“Oh, good,” Mrs. Bjorn said in relief.
Axel pulled off the rubber gloves and disposed of everything. He cleaned his hands with hand sanitizer and then left the room. As soon as he stepped out of the door his phone went off. Eira was texting him.
She wanted to meet for dinner in Old Town. She wanted to talk to him.
Axel responded that he’d be there at seven. He slipped his phone into his pocket and then ran smack dab into the last person he wanted to see.
His father.
His father appeared flustered and annoyed. “How is your aortic dissection patient progressing?”
“He’s doing well,” Axel said.
“And your delinquent post-operative reports?”
“All done. Have you reconsidered my request to join the cardiothoracic team now? I want to learn more under the head of Cardio. He is more than willing to take me on. I’ve learned the basics as a trauma surgeon.”
“Why would I do that? You’re a trauma doctor.”
Axel’s jaw clenched. Of course. His father was never going to see him for who he was. He didn’t even know why he was bothering to try. His father was going to hold him back and keep him down just to keep punishing him.
“This is me trying to improve, Father.”
“You’re a trauma doctor. I don’t need you on the cardio team.”
“Of course. Well, if you’ll excuse me, I have to finish my rounds and then I’m meeting Eira for dinner. You could join us, if you’d like?”
“What?” his father asked, as if he’d been slapped.
“Your granddaughter. When was the last time you saw her, Father?”
“I see her during the holidays,” his father snapped.
“You can see her more than that. I know she would like it.”
“Don’t speak to me about Eira,” his father said under his breath. “You have no right to talk to me about her.”
“I only thought that you might like to have dinner with us. That’s all.”
“I’m busy,” his father said, nodding curtly before storming away.
Axel shook his head. He wished Calder and his mother were here. They would be able to reach out to his father and help them bridge the gap. His mother had had a way of softening their father; without her his father just lived in this perpetual cloud of anger and bitterness.
Aren’t you doing just the same?
Axel shook that thought away. He didn’t have time to think about this. He had his rounds to finish and then he’d meet Eira for dinner. Maybe they could talk about what had happened with Betty. Maybe he could be the one to try to bridge the gap, but he was afraid he just didn’t know how.
* * *
“Betty, I’m so glad I found you.”
Betty looked up from where she was going over a chart to see Eira standing in front of her. The girl had a big smile on her face and lo
oked a lot better than she had when they’d first met.
“Eira, what’re you doing here?”
“Well, I’m here to get my stitches out.” Eira held up her arm. “It’s been two weeks.”
Betty smiled. “Of course. Let’s get you settled into an exam room.”
“Great.”
Eira fell into step beside Betty. They found an empty exam room and Eira set her stuff down in one of the chairs before climbing up into the larger chair that was used for triage, blood work and assessments of patients.
Betty found what she needed to remove the sutures in the cupboards.
“I thought you would’ve gone to your family doctor or had your uncle remove the stitches,” Betty said as she set down all the things she would need to do the job.
“No, I wanted you to do them. I hope you don’t mind?”
“Not at all.” Betty pulled on a pair of rubber gloves and dabbed alcohol on a cotton ball before cleaning the incision.
Eira winced. “That’s cold.”
“This won’t hurt very much or for very long.” Betty examined the healed wound, glad to see all signs of infection were gone.
“Are you sure?” Eira asked nervously.
“Positive. I got stitches in my leg when I was about your age and I had a lot more than you have here. I was so worried that it was going to hurt, but it was fine. The sensation was a bit weird, but, really, it doesn’t hurt much at all.”
“Okay.” Eira closed her eyes and Betty could see that her other hand was clenched.
“Relax, it’s going to be all right.”
Betty started to do her work and it didn’t take long before the stitches were out and she was cleaning up the remnants.
“Is it over?” Eira asked in surprise.
“It is.” Betty disposed of everything and placed the surgical instruments in a bucket to be sent off to be sterilized.
“Oh, I’m so glad and you’re right—it didn’t hurt.”
“See, I told you.”
Eira bit her lip and Betty instantly suspected there was something else she wanted to say to her, but it was clear the younger girl was nervous.
“Eira, you know that you can talk to me if you need to. Your uncle doesn’t mind us talking.”
She looked relieved. “Well, I was actually hoping that we could go out for dinner and talk about something that’s bothering me.”
“Sure. When were you thinking?”
“Are you available now?”
Betty glanced at her watch. It was almost six-thirty and her shift was supposed to be over at five-thirty.
“Yeah, I’m done for the night. I’ll just change and we can walk into Old Town together?”
Eira nodded, grinning. “Yes and I know a perfect place.”
“Sounds great.”
Betty changed quickly and then returned to the emergency room to find Eira loitering around the nurses’ station. Eira appeared nervous, almost jumpy, looking around as if she was afraid that her uncle or possibly her grandfather was going to see her.
Maybe Axel really isn’t okay with it.
And if Axel wasn’t okay with it, she shouldn’t go.
Eira turned and smiled at Betty. “Are you ready?”
“Eira, are you sure your uncle is okay with this? I mean, he told me that he was okay if you turned to me to talk but...”
“But what? If he said it’s okay, then it’s fine.”
“You look like you’re ready to bolt,” Betty teased as she slipped on her winter jacket and wound her infinity scarf around her neck.
“I don’t want to run into my grandfather,” Eira admitted sheepishly. “He doesn’t like children lingering in his emergency room.”
Betty was stunned. “Oh, okay, well, let’s go so that he doesn’t get the chance to get angry with you for being here.”
Eira smiled and nodded.
They chatted about weather and school as they took the short walk through lightly falling snow to Old Town, Eira leading them toward a cozy café that was in an older building just off the main street.
Inside it was all wood and stone, with a roaring fireplace in the center. They found a booth near the back and Eira ordered a couple of coffees for them.
“Usually fourteen-year-olds don’t drink coffee.”
Eira looked at her in disbelief. “I find that hard to believe. Besides, I’ll be fifteen soon and most of us drink coffee. Or at least in my circle of friends.”
Betty tried not to laugh. Eira was so cute. There were flashes of confidence, though they were rare, but that confidence completely suited her.
“So what did you want to talk about?” Betty asked, folding her hands on the table in front of her.
Eira smiled at her hands. “I feel like I’m in an interview.”
“You’re not.” Betty chuckled. “Sorry, it’s just usually how I sit. I don’t have many dinners that are not business related.”
“You live in New York City and you’re a young, single woman. Shouldn’t you be out there dating? Like on all the American TV shows set in New York City.”
Betty’s mouth dropped open and now she was embarrassed. “A surgeon doesn’t have much time for dating. And what’re you doing watching those shows?”
Eira ignored her question. “I guess that’s why doctors marry other doctors. Their dating pool is very small.”
“Was your mother a doctor?” Betty asked gently. She didn’t want to bring up a topic that might be sore for Eira, but Eira wanted to speak to her about something that was obviously bothering her.
“She was a nurse practitioner for the tactical navy,” Eira said. There was no hint of sadness in her voice, just pride. “She died of cancer.”
“She had cancer when she was pregnant with you?” Betty asked, shocked.
“She did. She refused treatment. I always used to worry that my father resented me, but then...” Eira trailed off. There were tears in her eyes. “He loved me. And he made sure that I knew how much my mother loved me.”
“And how about your uncle?” Betty asked.
“He loves me.” Eira smiled brightly at her. “He just...he blames himself for my father’s death. I don’t think that he thinks he’s good enough and he pushes people away.”
Betty knew that feeling all too well. Thomas had made her feel not good enough so many times and every time she tried to find her confidence again, he was right there, pulling her back into the toxic cycle of their relationship and she let him. Why did she let him?
“He didn’t mean to send you away, Betty,” Eira said quickly, interrupting Betty’s train of thought.
“He didn’t send me away, Eira. I didn’t have a concussion. I was cleared to work so he took me back to my place. I wasn’t supposed to move in with you.”
“But what if you did?” Eira asked.
“Eira, I don’t think...” Betty trailed off as she saw a familiar figure move through the crowded little bistro toward the back booth.
Axel.
Her heart skipped a beat and she was suddenly very nervous. Their gazes locked and his expression was unreadable, but she could tell by the way his posture straightened that he wasn’t too pleased to see her.
“Betty,” he said curtly, nodding, and then he turned to Eira. “I thought it was going to be just us tonight?”
Eira grinned and blushed. “I thought that you two had a bit of a falling-out and I wanted to make things right.”
“Eira, we didn’t have a falling out,” Betty said.
Only they had.
They had both put up walls after that aortic dissection surgery a week ago.
And apparently they weren’t the only ones who saw this.
“Uncle Axel, you need to enjoy life and I know that you two get along so well. It was so nice when Betty was around and I
think you both miss each other.”
Betty was completely stunned and Axel said nothing.
“My friends are waiting for me,” Eira said brightly, nodding toward a group of teenage girls standing by the door, and then slipping out of the booth. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed her uncle on the cheek. “I’m going over to Janetje’s tonight. Please, you two, just talk. For me?”
Betty was too stunned to say anything else.
Axel didn’t say anything as he watched his niece disappear off with a couple of girlfriends. He stood there for a few minutes more and then slipped into the booth across from Betty.
“I’m sorry,” he said, clearing his throat.
“For what?” she asked, still stunned by Eira’s manipulation of them both.
“For Eira.” A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “She was always pushy when she was young. She always wanted to get her way and my brother would usually let her get away with murder.”
She laughed. “I can see that. She’s a very charming young woman.”
The waitress came and set down the coffee and looked confused by the change in occupants to the booth. “Will this be all?”
Betty looked at Axel. “I can go for a bite to eat. What about you?”
He didn’t say anything and for a moment she thought he was going to get up and leave.
“I can definitely eat.” He turned to the waitress and ordered some food.
When the waitress left Betty leaned over the table. “What did you just order for us?”
Axel chuckled and there was that twinkle in his eyes again. “Hangikjöt. It’s lamb. It’s quite tasty.”
“Okay, well, if it’s not I’m totally blaming you.”
He smiled. It was rare to see him smile so brightly, and she enjoyed the reappearance of the delicious dimples he had, which she just wanted to eat up. Axel was the most handsome man she’d ever seen, but it wasn’t just his physical looks. There was something about Axel that made her weak in the knees.
Something that made her forget that he was totally off limits.
“That’s all right. You know, I should’ve known Eira would pull something like this. As I told you before, she was angry when you left our house.”
