A Doctor's Patience (Hero Hearts; Medical Romance) Read online

  A Doctor’s Patience

  Hayley Wescott

  Contents

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  About Hero Hearts

  A Doctor’s Patience

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Preview of All About Trust

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

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  More By Hayley Wescott

  About Hayley Wescott

  Copyright © 2018 Hayley Wescott and Sweet River Publishing

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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  This is a work of fiction. Any references to names, characters, organizations, places, events, or incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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  Do you love sweet romance with a Christian tone? Mysterious Ways is a story of childhood friends who learn they’re meant to be together when their paths cross again.

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  About Hero Hearts

  Welcome to Hero Hearts, a historical and contemporary Christian romance series.

  Join Annie Boone, Hayley Wescott, Natalie Dean, Cat McGill, Terri Grace, and Kate Cambridge in a world unlike any other; a world where Heroes are honored with unforgettable characters and beautiful, Christian love stories.

  The authors of this series are committed to writing stories of faith, hope and love centered in fictional heroes who sacrifice daily to protect and save. A mix of historical and modern-day. We hope you enjoy the Hero Hearts Christian romance series!

  ~Annie Boone, Hayley Wescott, Natalie Dean, Cat McGill, Terri Grace, and Kate Cambridge

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  A Doctor’s Patience

  A Christian Medical Romance by Hayley Wescott

  1

  Phoebe looked up when the curtain parted, and the doctor stepped into their little space in the emergency room. She’d been pacing back and forth the length of Jacob’s hospital bed as he slept fitfully.

  Dr. Dawson looked up at her, smiling a friendly smile in spite of the circumstances. Though she felt her stomach twisting and turning with nerves, Phoebe couldn’t help but smile back at him. A smile meant that things were going to be okay. Her son was going to be just fine. She could feel relief wash over her like a soothing spring rain.

  As he began to explain what the tests had shown, Phoebe felt her heartbeat drop to a more normal rate. Her son had an infection. An infection that could be treated. She’d been right to trust his smile—Jacob was going to be just fine.

  “It’s pneumonia. Like I said, the good news is that we can treat it. The bad news is that he needs to be in the hospital. The treatment is antibiotics, breathing treatments, and we’ll monitor his rejection meds. So, Jacob will have to be admitted.” Dr. Dawson looked sympathetic, but firm. “I know it’s not what you expected since he’s done so well, but we’ll take good care of him. I promise you that.”

  Phoebe was sitting on the foot of Jacob’s bed, fidgeting with the strap of her purse. She wanted to cry, but she needed to be strong. “I know. Thank you for that. So, how long will he have to be here?”

  “It’s difficult to say. Depends on how quickly he responds to the antibiotics. If we have to try more than one drug for the infection, it may take a few weeks. I hope it won’t come to that, but we’ll have to wait and see how it goes.”

  He was flipping through some of Jacob’s chart as he spoke, and Phoebe sighed.

  “He’s not going to be happy about more time in the hospital. He’s spent way too much time here already.” Phoebe paused and looked away. “Maybe I was naïve, but I really thought we were finished with the hospital for a while.”

  He looked up and smiled. “Yeah, he’s been through a lot. But this setback isn’t uncommon. We’re prepared to deal with it, though. When we get his lungs cleared, he’ll be able to be a normal kid again.”

  “I hope you’re right, Dr. Dawson.”

  He reached out and touched her shoulder briefly as he nodded and closed the chart. “It’ll all be fine.”

  Nodding, she bowed her head and glanced sideways at her sleeping son. She needed just one more minute to gather her thoughts.

  She didn’t know how she was going to pay another round of hospital expenses. Sure, Dan’s insurance still covered Jacob, but all the deductible and out of pocket bills came to her. And there had been so many doctor and hospital visits over the past two years. Trying to get her ex-husband to pay his share was next to impossible.

  It was hard enough paying the regular bills. Dan owned the house and he paid the mortgage, but that was all. She could count on him for little else. At times like these, she felt too many emotions to list.

  The painful memory of moving into the little house always cropped up at the most inconvenient times. She flashed back to the day Dan told her he’d moved the tenants in their rental house out so she and Jacob could move in. He’d filed for divorce and his mistress would take her place in the house she’d loved. She had felt such shock and betrayal.

  Her soon-to-be-ex would be moving another woman into the house the two of them had bought together when Jacob was a baby. All he’d needed to get on with his life was for her and their son to be gone. He’d set everything up before she had a clue about any of it. She’d felt like a fool on top of being hurt.

  Phoebe tried not to dwell on those things, but she was annoyed that Dan treated caring for his son as a chore. He provided practically nothing other than the roof over their head. He could see Jacob every other weekend based on the custody agreement, but he was undependable and mostly absent in his son’s life.

  “Well, I suppose I’ll figure it out,” she said as cheerfully as she could. She could see by the look in Alec’s eyes that he, too, was worried. She knew he wasn’t just worried about her son. He was worried about her as well.

  “How are you doing with all this?” He set the chart down on the bedside table and looked at her with compassionate eyes.

  Phoebe sighed. She was torn. She didn’t know if she should tell him the things she was stressed about or keep it all to herself. If she told him, she would once again be inviting him into her life. She wasn’t entirely sure she wanted him there. Shutting him out, however, meant she might give up a chance for support for her son. She forced a smile.

  “It’s never easy, but I’m keeping it together. You’re right—we’ll be just fine. Thank you for your concern.” Phoebe hoped her optimism showed through the wo
rry in her voice. She also hoped that by not using his first name he’d respect the distance she was putting between them.

  Though she could clearly see that he wanted to pursue the topic further, he didn’t. She was thankful, and sad, he let it go.

  “I assume you still have my number. If you need anything—anything at all—please don’t hesitate to call. Or text. Or whatever.” He smiled weakly but remained professional.

  Phoebe extended her hand and thanked him, though she was relieved when she was finally alone behind the curtains at Jacob’s bedside. She knew she should call Dan and let him know the news about Jacob, but she ignored the thought as she pulled the strap of her purse over her head and adjusted it on her shoulder. If he wanted to know so badly, he would have been there to hear the news himself.

  Soon after she woke Jacob and told him he’d be staying in the hospital for a few days, they came to get him to take him to his room. Once they were settled, he fell asleep again. The nurse assured her they’d let him sleep until suppertime so he could eat and get his next round of medicine.

  “All right, then. I think I’ll run home and get some of his things. I didn’t expect him to be admitted, so I didn’t bring anything with me.” Phoebe looked back at her sleeping son, wishing he was at home and doing well.

  “Take your time. I’m sure you won’t miss a thing. And I promise we’ll take good care of him.” The RN, Susan Caldwell, smiled while she made notes in Jacob’s chart.

  Reluctantly, Phoebe left. She did need to get a few of Jacob’s favorite things and bring them back to the hospital for him. There were a few movies he didn’t think he could live without. She’d grab his favorite blanket, and, of course, Trooper, his stuffed dog.

  Making a mental note of all the things she needed to bring back with her, she unlocked her car and headed to the little house she now called home.

  2

  As Phoebe drove, she couldn’t help but think about Dr. Alec Dawson. He looked good. Really good. It had been nearly two months since she’d seen him. She’d thought of him often, but knew it was best to not see him except for Jacob’s check-ups in his office.

  Jacob had gone to spend the weekend with his father for the first time since his heart surgery. Phoebe had been a nervous wreck about letting him go, but Dan assured her he’d keep a close eye on their son. She’d rather Jacob never saw his father in their old home with his new step-mother, but she had no choice. The courts had deemed Dan a reasonable father and denied her petition for sole custody.

  Worried and lonely, she’d decided to take Dr. Dawson up on his offer to call him any time. Deep down, she’d known this was treacherous water, but she’d made the call anyway.

  “Phoebe, hi,” he’d said. His voice had been smooth and confident, just like always.

  “Dr. Dawson. Um, Alec…” Her voice had been a little shaky. Before she could say anything else, he’d cut her off.

  “Is Jacob all right? Anything wrong?”

  “No, he’s fine. He’s fine.”

  “Oh, well, that’s good.”

  “I’m sorry to bother you, but I was just wondering if… um, if we could talk. I won’t take up much of your time.” Phoebe had wanted to sound more sure of herself, but she just hadn’t had it in her.

  “Of course. I told you I’ll always be happy to hear from you and I mean it. Why don’t we meet for coffee? The City Center Perk okay? Three o’clock?”

  “Sure. That sounds great. I’ll see you then.”

  After they’d hung up, Phoebe thought she was going to faint. What had she been thinking? She’d considered texting him that something had come up, but finally talked herself into going through with it.

  She’d been a nervous wreck when she’d walked into the Perk. Alec had made it clear he was interested in more than a professional relationship with her, so rejection wasn’t her fear. He’d been so kind to her. Was accepting his friendship taking advantage of him? Could she stop at friendship only?

  They’d sipped their lattes slowly over small talk until Alec had smiled and tilted his head. “So, I’m really glad you called, Phoebe. I was hoping you would.”

  “I almost canceled.”

  He’d laughed. “Somehow I knew that.”

  “The truth is, I don’t know what I’m doing here. I like you. A lot, actually. But this just isn’t a smart thing to do. You’re my son’s doctor. And you’re going to be his doctor for a long time.”

  “That’s true. I am his doctor and he’s going to need a cardiologist for the rest of his life. But that doesn’t have to stop us from being friends. Or more.”

  She’d looked at him and raised an eyebrow. It was one of the things Dan had always made fun of her for when she’d believed it to be a special talent.

  “Oh, and here we go with the eyebrow. That’s when I know you’re going to argue.” He’d laughed again.

  Phoebe had thought how cruel it was that he was so wonderfully different than her ex-husband when it wasn’t possible for her to be with him. Then it had hit her again. She couldn’t do this.

  “No, Alec. We can’t. Jacob will be confused. You’re his doctor and that’s what he understands. He’s too young to try to figure how that all works. And my divorce wasn’t that long ago. I guess I’m still recovering from all that.”

  He’d looked away, almost as if he’d been expecting her protests. When he looked back at her, there was compassion in his eyes. “Phoebe, your divorce was final over a year ago and kids are resilient. Those two arguments are lame. If you’re afraid, that’s okay. But admit it, okay?”

  She’d nodded, but she couldn’t look him in the eyes right then. She’d been shocked he’d called her out like that, even though his point was reasonable. They sat in silence for a few more minutes, quietly sipping the last of their drinks.

  “What I’m afraid of is complicating things for my seven-year-old son. The very son who happens to be your patient. Don’t you worry about a conflict of interest?” She’d let out a frustrated sigh and raised her eyebrow again.

  “It’s something to consider—the conflict of interest. There’s no doubt about that. But, there are solutions to that. We can get him another doctor. There are other good ones, you know.” He’d jutted his chin out in stubborn defiance of her objections.

  “You know, I just can’t think about this anymore right now. I just don’t want to make any more mistakes, Alec.”

  “Okay. I get that. But think about it. Call me when you’re ready. I hope it’ll be soon.”

  She’d stood up and walked out without another word. She regretted that abrupt departure, but she couldn’t take it back now. She’d felt disappointed and sad that she’d seen no hope for a future with him. That was two months ago and here she was thrown right back into that same disappointment and sadness.

  She had done what she always did when things got uncomfortable. She ran away.

  As Phoebe pulled into her driveway, she recalled the hot tears that had rolled down her cheeks as the door closed behind her. He’d never seen that. He probably had no idea how hard it had been for her to walk away.

  How quickly those two months had passed. How strangely beautiful and terribly annoying that he hadn’t changed at all. The way he looked at her was the same as before. The way he smiled at her. Everything about him was exactly the same.

  Phoebe tried to force the thoughts of Dr. Alec Dawson out of her mind as she walked through the house gathering Jacob’s things. But she couldn’t argue with the fact that he was as wonderful as ever. The thoughts of what could have been started to creep in.

  He might be the same, but I’m not! I’ve grown, and I don’t need a relationship. She shoved things into a backpack as she practically stomped around her little house. Phoebe knew if she told herself something long enough, she would begin to believe it, and this would be no different. She could convince herself that she had changed. That she no longer had any feelings for the man.

  But was she lying?

  3


  “I really wish you’d knock!” Phoebe snapped, after recovering from her momentary panic. She had walked back out to the kitchen to discover Dan sitting at the kitchen table, waiting for her to come back out from Jacob’s bedroom.

  “Why knock when I have a key to the place?” Dan asked with a sneer.

  Phoebe didn’t find him at all attractive anymore. In fact, she was repulsed by the sight of him. Though she still felt it important to have communication with him, it taxed her patience to the limits. Since he owned the house, he insisted on having access. She felt like she had to give in to keep the peace. He was unpredictable enough to become even more difficult if she didn’t cooperate, so she chose her battles.

  Dan had been coming around more and more often, claiming that he had seen the light and was ready to make things work with her. He said he’d separated from wife number two and wanted nothing more than to be a family again.

  The only problem was, Phoebe didn’t want to work things out with him. He had hurt her too deeply, and she didn’t trust that wife number two, Candy, was really out of the picture.

  And most importantly, he’d rarely been available when Jacob had been in the hospital for surgery. In addition to the irresponsible way he handled his weekends with his son, he’d seemed completely unaffected by the seriousness of Jacob’s health issues.