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They were exiting the bistro when Jean pointed out the poster about the island’s Founder’s Day Weekend taped to the glass window. “Daddy, Fleur has been teaching us dances at day care. She wants us to do them on Saturday of Founder’s Day Weekend. We have to have costumes.”
“Costumes. That sounds like fun. I love to dress up,” Stacey commented as she held the door open for the girls to exit.
Cody almost groaned out loud. Putting together costumes was his least favorite thing to do. Imagination wasn’t his strong suit. They’d had to have outfits for the library’s Fright Night a couple of months back. They had gone as trolls only because those had been the only costumes he could find in the store. He believed he should at least be allowed a full year before he had to come up with more. The side of his brain he used most held facts and numbers. He had to stretch to the other to be creative and inventive. Hopefully, Fleur, a recent patient and now the soon-to-be wife of Rick Fleming, a doctor at the clinic, would provide some guidelines or ideas.
They were out on the sidewalk when Stacey asked, “Founder’s Day Weekend. What’s that?”
“It’s so much fun,” Lizzy said, hopping with anticipation. “I like the pony rides.”
Cody rubbed the top of his younger daughter’s head and chuckled. “You like anything that has to do with a pony.” He regarded Stacey. “We celebrate the settling of the island. The story goes that after a long and very hard winter a few early settlers traveled from the mainland over to the island, seeking food. They found the maple trees and tapped them. The maple syrup helped restore the strength of the people. No one really knows whether it is true or not, but we remember those early settlers and focus on maple syrup by having a Founder’s Day Weekend. With all the trimmings—food, entertainment and fireworks. Everyone turns out for the event.”
“I’ve never been to a Founder’s Day anywhere,” Stacey said.
“You’ll come see us dance?” Lizzy stopped twisting to and fro long enough to ask.
“Of course I will.” Stacey assured her. “If I am still here.”
Jean and Lizzy grinned from ear to ear.
“Well, we’d better be going. Thanks again for sharing your table with us.” He was uneasy on some level with what was happening between Stacey and his girls, as well as his reaction to her. The whole meal had seemed far too family-like for his comfort.
“No problem. I’ll see you in the morning. Bye, Jean and Lizzy.” Stacey glanced back at him as she turned. “Thanks again for the pizza.”
He nodded. She lifted a hand and strolled away, looking in shop windows as she went. Why did he feel some of the pleasure in the evening was walking away from them?
* * *
Two days later, Stacey fixed a cup of hot chocolate in the employees’ kitchen and pulled on her sweater. She loved the ocean and didn’t always get an assignment near one, so she planned to take her afternoon break on the sundeck.
She eased into a chair. Being early April, the days were still cool. Raising her face to the sun, she closed her eyes. She’d been at the clinic for almost a week already. To her surprise she’d relished every minute of it. After living in little more than huts most of her professional life, she enjoyed staying in the tiny cottage called Paradise, facing the harbor. It was a slice of heaven. The village was pretty and she was slowly working her way through all the eating places. People were friendly and she was at ease here. She would miss it when she left.
Inhaling the damp salt air deeply, she released it slowly. The seagulls squawked nearby as the waves rolled in. Oh, yes, this was a great place to recharge her batteries. She needed this downtime in her life. This would be her first weekend on the island and she planned to do more of this.
A hand touched her arm. Her eyes jerked open. Cody’s dark coffee gaze looked down at her. Determination, along with a touch of something else, etched his features.
“I’ve been searching everywhere for you. I need you to come with me.”
She’d been so absorbed in her thoughts she’d not heard either him approaching or apparently her phone ringing.
“Where’re we going?” She thought through the fog of surprise and tried not to react to his touch, which had left her forearm tingling, tiny hairs raised by goose-bumps. Her reaction to him had to stop. She was too old for a crush.
“Boston. We have an emergency. I need you at the helipad in ten.” He was already walking away.
Stacey rushed into the clinic behind him. She spoke to his back when she asked, “Do I need to prepare a bag, take anything?”
“They’ll have everything we need there. I’ll see you at the pad. I have to check on the girls.”
She was waiting at the helicopter pad when Cody arrived. His lips were moving rapidly as he spoke into his phone. A furrow creased his forehead. The blades of the machine were already humming as they climbed aboard. She was a nervous flier. She gulped and climbed aboard. A high level of trepidation zipped through her.
She fumbled with her seatbelt. Cody reached over and clipped it into place. She gave him a weak smile. “Thanks.”
He cupped his ear, shook his head and mouthed, “Use headphones,” then pointed to them hanging above her.
Stacey placed them on her head.
“This the first time you’ve ever been in a helicopter?” He spoke through the headpiece.
She looked at him and nodded. Over the years she’d ridden in jeeps and in the back of trucks over rutted, washed-out roads, and once in a small plane, which she hadn’t liked any better than the helicopter. Apparently, her fear was showing.
“There’s a button on your headphones just above your right ear. Push it when you talk and release it so you can hear me.”
She found the button and did as he instructed. “You can hear me now?”
“I can.”
The helicopter shifted, and the wind swooshed before the machine started to lift. Her hands gripped the edge of the seat as she stared out the front windshield. Seconds later her right hand was prised off the seat. Cody took it in his, holding it. His hand was large, enveloping hers and radiating a promise that he was there for her. Unsure what was more disconcerting, Cody holding her hand or the flight, she gripped his fingers tightly like the lifeline they were.
She dared to glance at him. His eyes were intently focused forward. Was he already envisioning the surgery ahead of him? She’d gotten to know many of his facial expressions over the last few days. More than once she had seen those worry lines on his brow, the twinkle in his eyes when he talked about his girls and the rare but always breathtaking event when he laughed. Which happened usually when he was talking to Alex.
She relaxed somewhat and Cody released her hand. Her growing security was gone. Placing fisted hands in her lap, she looked out the side window. The view of the island was amazing. It was green, a luscious ornament in the middle of a vibrant blue dotted with tiny spots of white.
As they sped out over the water she peeked at Cody again. He looked much as he had earlier. It was as if he were somewhere else. Her attention moved to the approaching coastline. The tall ship moored in Boston harbor was clearly visible along with a few of the historical buildings. They flew by them and over the modern structures. Suddenly the helicopter went into hover mode.
Panic tightened her chest. As she reached for the edge of her seat Cody took hold of her hand once more. Gratefully she clung to it.
There was a crackle in her headset before his voice fill her ears. “The take-off and landing are always the worst.”
She gave him what she hoped was a look of gratitude, but she worried that her actual expression appeared pained. Not soon enough for her, the helicopter settled on the top of what she assumed was the hospital. Too soon Cody let go of her hand. With his simple action he had shown more awareness of her needs than her mother or fiancé ever had.
He climbed out of the helicopter and stopped long enough to help her down. After they were out from under the blades, he was on the phone. His questions were clipped and his responses short.
Soon they were on the elevator, going down.
Cody leaned against the opposite wall from her as they rode. “Our case is a seventeen-year-old boy involved in a car accident. His knee has been crushed and both his tibia and fibula are broken. When the general surgeon is done with some internal injuries I’ll get to work. To add to the trickiness of the surgery, the boy is the son of a state senator. I understand the kid was running from the police when the accident happened so make sure you don’t speak out of turn to anyone. The family should be in a private waiting room. I’ll talk to them before I go into the OR.”
“I understand.” She had no experience dealing with high-profile cases, but she had no intention of disappointing Cody.
She hurried to keep up as he took long strides toward the surgery department. She waited to the side while he quietly conferred with another doctor. Done, Cody stepped to the hallway door. He said to her, “This way.”
They walked down the hall side by side. Soon they came to a closed door. He opened it and she followed him through. Inside was a room with cushioned chairs that didn’t match. She was sure they had been pulled from various places. People in suits sat and stood, all talking on phones.
“Mr. and Mrs. Clark?” Cody said, loud enough so he could be heard over the din.
“I’m Mr. Clark.” A man with graying temples stepped toward them. “This is my wife. Senator Ann Clark.”
A woman with a stately bearing and bloodshot eyes rose from the chair in the corner.
Cody stepped forward and offered his hand. “Senator Clark, I’m Dr. Cody Brennan. I’ll be taking care of your son’s knee and leg.”
She nodded. “I understand you’re the best at this type of surgery.”
“I’ll certainly be doing my best for your son.”
“His name is James.” The senator leaned against her husband.
“This is Stacey Ryder, my clinical nurse. She’ll be keeping you updated on how things are going in surgery. If you have any questions or concerns you let her know.”
Stacey nodded and gave the parents a professional smile of reassurance.
“How long should James be in there?” The senator sniffled. “It’s already been hours.”
Cody’s grave look didn’t waver. “My guess is it’ll be after midnight before you can see James. Now I have to go. I’ll be out to speak to you as soon as I’m done in the OR.”
The terrified parents just stared at him hopefully.
Cody lifted his chin toward the door. Stacey followed him out.
“I’ll show you the OR I’m using. Sit with them for a few minutes then come check in with me. I want to give them as much reassurance as possible. Based on what I’ve been told over the phone, the surgery is going to be a tough one.”
They entered the surgical unit. Cody was greeted by a couple of people in surgical scrubs. At the OR unit desk he introduced her to the clerk. While they were there a man hurried up to them. Again, Cody introduced her. It was nice he remembered to do so because it would have been easy for him to get caught up in the case and forget she was there. It made her feel valued. The man was the surgeon’s assistant who would be aiding Cody.
The two men went into a deep discussion about the amount of damage to the boy’s leg.
Cody finished with, “Then we’ll plan to stabilize everything tonight and go in again in a day or two to complete the repair. The swelling needs to go down and James needs to be stable first.”
“The general surgeon should be through in about fifteen minutes. They’ll be ready for you then.” His surgical assistant was already headed down the hall.
“Sounds good. That’ll give me time for something to drink and a granola bar.”
The striding assistant called over his shoulder, “The dinner of champions.”
Cody looked at her. “Come join me?”
Stacey followed him to a small break room a few doors down containing a couple of vending machines.
“May I offer you dinner?” Cody waved his hand toward the machines. She couldn’t help but smile at his levity. “I suggest you have something. It’ll be a long night.” He pulled some bills out of his pocket and looked at them.
Stacey had left the island without even thinking about getting her purse. She was at his mercy in more ways than one. “My, Doctor, you do know how to turn a girl’s head with a meal.” She tried for her best nineteen-forties seductive-movie-star voice.
He looked over his shoulder and gave her a dry smile. “I’ll try to do better in the future.”
“In that case, for now I’ll have a protein bar and a bottle of water, please.”
Cody nodded. “Good choice. I’ll have the same.” He fed money into the slot.
With their food in hand, they sat at a small table with only two chairs.
“Are you sure this meager fare will be enough to get you through surgery?” She didn’t hide her concern. When had she taken on worrying about him? Surely it was just one human being feeling concern about another and not something more.
Chewing, he studied her a moment. “I’ve gone on far less.”
“I’m sure that isn’t healthy.”
“Maybe not, but necessary sometimes.” He took a long draw on his water. She watched his throat as it went down. A day’s worth of beard growth gave him a sexy edgy look. A little less buttoned up and more uninhibited. She liked it. He needed to let go somewhat.
“Is something wrong?” He stared her back to reality.
“Uh...nothing. Just thinking.” To her dismay, her cheeks grew warm.
“About what?” Cody watched her much too closely.
Yeah, like she would admit she’d been thinking about how sexy he was. Her eyes didn’t meet his as she spoke. “I was just wondering about who’s watching the girls.” That was such a lie.
Cody gave her a suspicious look as if he suspected she hadn’t spoken the truth. “When Alex and I set up the clinic we knew we would have to occasionally be away for emergencies, so we set up an after-hours plan through the day care. Someone who works there is always on call. That person will come to my home and make sure the girls are taken care of. Even see they get to school. Because the girls are familiar with the person, they don’t usually mind.”
Stacey pursed her lips in thought, seriously impressed with such planning. “Nice thinking. Maple Island Clinic is really special.”
“Thanks. We tried to think of everything.” He shrugged. “If we didn’t, we’ve figured it out as we’ve gone along.” Cody stood. “I’ve got to head to surgery.”
She needed to check in with James’s parents.
“Just ask the unit clerk for anything you need. Give me half an hour to assess what I’ll have to do, then you can come and get a report.”
“Will do.”
He gave her a wry smile and went out the door.
* * *
Cody was in the process of resecting the damaged skin when one of the surgical nurses said, “Doctor, I’m not feeling well.” She ran for the door.
“Get some help in here!” He already had his hands full with the mangled leg and now he was short a nurse.
Another nurse in the room said, “At this time of night we’ll have to call someone in.”
“I need those hands now.” The case was tough enough without this issue.
The ill nurse hadn’t been gone a minute when the phone rang. No one could stop long enough to answer it. A few minutes later, with a mask over her mouth, Stacey stuck her head in the door.
“Dr. Brennan—”
“Scrub in. I need you in here,” he barked, not even taking the time to look at her.
The door closed and a short time later Stacey entered. “Where do you want me?”
“Stand beside me. I need you to resect and clean the blood away so I can see.” He had no more time to give directions. If any more tissue was lost then the boy would require skin grafts.
“Little to the left, Stacey. That’s right.”
