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

  “Are you and Dad really going to get married again?” he asked, looking up at his mother.

  Phoebe looked over at Alec with wide eyes. She’d been certain he hadn’t paid attention to what they were saying, but clearly, she was mistaken. She knelt down beside him and shook her head.

  “No, Jacob, we’re not getting married again. Always remember that your dad loves you, just like I do. Okay? That’s the only part you need to be concerned with. The rest of it’s just boring adult stuff.”

  He nodded, seemingly content with the answer.

  “Did Pete go back to his room?” He nodded. “Well then, why don’t you take your toys now and go play with that little boy over there? He looks like he’d enjoy seeing your cars.” Phoebe nodded toward another child, and Jacob gathered his things.

  Phoebe stood up and looked toward the door in the direction her ex had gone. She took a deep breath with a hand over her chest.

  Alec cleared his throat and she looked over at him. “You told me last night what he said, but I didn’t think that he was really that serious about it. Shows what I know.” He grabbed his charts and held them against his chest as he so often did, and Phoebe nodded.

  “I don’t know what to make of it myself, to be completely honest. I thought when we were divorced that that would be the end of it. He was the one who wanted the divorce. I was willing to give it a second try after his affair, but he wanted out. And now this.” Phoebe had a distant look in her eyes, and Alec gave her a concerned glance.

  “Have you considered getting back together with him? Um, I don’t mean to pry.”

  Phoebe looked at him and quickly shook her head. “No, not in the slightest. That’s the last thing I want, I can promise you that.”

  Alec looked pensive, tapping his foot absent-mindedly. After a few moments of silence, his cell phone beeped, and he glanced down.

  “Need to go?” Phoebe asked as she looked over at him. He looked at the message and nodded.

  “Yep. Duty calls.” He laughed, and Phoebe smiled.

  She felt her heart flutter in her chest every time he laughed, especially when he laughed in the way he just did. She could see him watching her, and she felt her cheeks flush. It was difficult to maintain a casual attitude when he was around, and she was still embarrassed about the incident they’d just had with her ex-husband.

  “Well, I’ll check in on Jacob later. Um, it was good to see you, Phoebe.”

  He turned to go, and Phoebe searched frantically for something to say. Anything not crazy would do. She felt she had poured her problems on the man once again, but all her good qualities were well-hidden. As always, she was just the damsel in distress, and he was the fixer who got nothing in return. She didn’t want him to see her as the person who was always in need, but the further away he got, the less she knew what to say.

  Unexpectedly, he turned around. “Hey, Phoebe? How about dinner this weekend?”

  Phoebe’s eyes widened, and she could hardly trust she’d heard him correctly. She hesitated, and Alec rushed to justify his invitation.

  “I think it would do you good to have a bit of a diversion. Nothing heavy. Just a casual dinner. And I hear that new Thai restaurant is really good. What do you say?”

  He smiled, and Phoebe felt her heart flutter once more. She was silent for a few moments, then a smile slowly spread across her own face.

  “I would like that very much,” she said. His smiled reflected hers.

  “Excellent, then it’s a date.”

  15

  “Are you leaving again?” Jacob asked as the nurse came to get him to take him back to his room. He looked up at his mother, and Phoebe shook her head.

  “Nope. I don’t have anything else to do today but be here with you. You’re going to go get a few more tests done, and I’m going to go get lunch down in the cafeteria. But I just bet I make it back here before you do. When your tests are done, we can play a game.”

  “Can we play Monopoly? And Sorry, too?” he called as he was being rolled to his room.

  “You bet!” She tried to keep her voice low enough that she didn’t bother the other patients, but she wanted to show her son how enthusiastic she was to be spending the afternoon with him. With any luck, playing games would take his mind off of being stuck in the hospital.

  After he’d had lunch, they came to get him for his tests. Phoebe watched the door close, then she decided to head to the cafeteria. The food there was never as bad as she thought it was going to be, so it wasn’t a bad option since she didn’t want to leave the building.

  Stepping onto the elevator, Phoebe smiled at the other man who got in with her. She hated elevator talk and was relieved when the man pulled out a pamphlet and began looking it over.

  A sweet memory flashed through Phoebe’s mind, and she remembered riding in this same elevator and heading for the same cafeteria. She’d been meeting with Alec to discuss Jacob’s progress. They’d made the decision regarding his treatment quickly and instead of ending the meeting, they’d continued talking.

  It was almost like a first date, as they talked about their lives outside the hospital. He told her his interests and hobbies, and the more she learned about him, the more she realized how much alike they were. She told him about her own life and how she loved her son. He seemed truly interested in her. Like he wanted to get to know her.

  She didn’t feel like she was just the mother of one of his patients, she was a human being. An individual. A woman. The way he asked questions and shared about himself was so unlike any man she’d ever been around. Dan was her only real example and she was in awe that a man could be the complete opposite of her ex-husband.

  The elevator dinged, the door opened, and Phoebe was brought back to the present. The man left without a word, and she headed for the cafeteria, feeling the hunger in her stomach. Phoebe was relieved to see soup was an option, and within minutes she was seated in the middle of the room.

  “Is there anyone sitting here?” a voice behind her asked, and Phoebe smiled as Alec came up beside her and took the seat next to her.

  “I found a moment to myself, and decided it was a good time to get a bite to eat.” He explained as he bit into his sandwich.

  “So I see.” Phoebe nodded. “They took Jacob back for the tests you ordered. He made me promise to play Monopoly and Sorry with him all afternoon. I imagine I’ll be brain-dead sometime around three-fifteen,” she said with a laugh.

  He laughed, too, and Phoebe felt really happy now that Jacob was doing better, and she was having an unplanned lunch with Alec. On a sudden whim, she brought up the other time they’d had lunch together here.

  “Just like old times, huh?”

  “Yeah, you know, I was just thinking about that.” Alec winked. Phoebe felt her heart skip a beat.

  “You were?” she asked, and he nodded.

  “Mmm hmm. I was. I enjoyed talking to you that day.” He was focused on his sandwich, but he was smiling.

  “I enjoyed talking to you, too. I was honored you shared so much about yourself with me. How’s your granddad doing? He sounded like such a character. I loved your stories.”

  “Pop’s doing fine. Sort of, anyway.” He chuckled and shook his head. “He decided to paint the living room a few weeks ago. He dropped a paintbrush on the carpet and can’t get it out. Gram’s pretty mad at him. They’re having to get new carpet installed.”

  “Oh, gosh. I think I’d be annoyed, too. They sound like fun.”

  Keeping the subject on him rather than on her was refreshing. There’d been so much drama going on in her life that she was sick and tired of talking about her own stuff. She didn’t want to talk about her problems with him anymore. At least, not right now.

  Right now, she wanted him to know that she was interested in him. His life, his stories. She hoped maybe she could be the one he chose to talk to when he needed an understanding ear.

  To her delight, he continued to ramble on about the things he had been up to, and P
hoebe felt normal for a while. Like someone who didn’t have a crazy ex, a sick kid, and a very light pocketbook.

  Far too soon for her liking, lunch was over. “I suppose I better get back to my rounds, but I’m glad we ran into each other for lunch.”

  He grinned and winked and then he was walking away. Phoebe watched each step he took until he was out of sight. Her mind drifted back to his story about his grandparents. She enjoyed seeing the stability that must come with his family. Sure, her extended family gave her a good foundation and support, but her life in general had just been a mess for the past few years.

  She shook her head and sighed, quickly stacking up the dishes from her own lunch. She turned her attention back to Jacob. She’d have to hurry if she was going to be back in the room before he got back from his tests.

  Unable to hide her good mood, she had a spring in her step as she headed to the elevator to go back to the third floor.

  16

  “I don’t want to take it! It tastes really bad,” Jacob whined.

  Phoebe looked over at Mrs. Caldwell and blew out her breath. “Is it like this every time?”

  The nurse nodded and raised her eyebrows. “You know, Jacob, we can try that applesauce trick we did yesterday. I think that helps make it taste better. How would that be?” She smiled at him, nodding to encourage him to agree with her.

  “Jacob, you know your medicine is what you need to get better. I’m sorry it doesn’t taste good, but you still have to take it. Now Mrs. Caldwell’s trying to help so please do what she says.” Phoebe crossed her arms over her chest, and Jacob sighed.

  He reluctantly agreed and ate the applesauce with the medicine mixed in. His glower said the medicine was the most vile thing in the world and being forced to take it was the next thing to torture. Phoebe had to look away to keep from laughing at him. He looked grumpy and miserable as he leaned back on the pillow.

  “You’re going to feel so much better. Now don’t be such a sad-sack. Remember you played games all afternoon. How awesome was that?”

  Phoebe tilted her head to the side and smiled at him. Leaning closer, she pushed his hair back from his forehead and was pleased to note he didn’t seem to have a fever. This was good news.

  He looked up at her with a sad expression. In spite of his theatrics about the horrible tasting medication, she knew he still wasn’t feeling well. Phoebe knew she’d do anything she could to take away the pain he was feeling. She stroked his hair until he drifted off to sleep.

  Taking one last look at him, she turned to gather her things. Book and purse in hand, she was about to head into the hallway. She was reaching to pull the door open when it opened from the other side.

  “Hey, Phoebe. I’m surprised you’re still here.” Alec nearly ran into her as he strode into the room.

  Just seeing him again made her smile. “Yeah, but not for long. I was just leaving. He just went to sleep. I thought you’d be gone by now.”

  “I was finishing up some paperwork, then I thought I would check on Jacob again before I left. So, he’s sleeping. That’s good. Sleep helps.” He went over to Jacob and looked down at him. He flipped to a page in the chart he had in his hand and nodded briefly.

  “I think he had a pretty good day. Mrs. Caldwell said the fever has been gone all day.” Phoebe came to stand at the foot of the bed. She felt more confident that her son would recover quickly than she had at any time since he’d been admitted.

  He nodded. “I’d call that a good day, too. Hey, um, why don’t I give you a lift home?”

  Phoebe looked at him with a puzzled look on her face.

  “It’s on my way…” He grinned and tilted his head to the side.

  “Oh, that’s okay. I have my car.”

  He shrugged, then looked her in the eyes. “Well, that’s okay. I can pick you up again in the morning, since we’ll be coming back to the same place. Unless you have things to do before you come over here, I guess.”

  Phoebe felt her heart begin to pound. With a sigh, she realized she wanted his company.

  “All right, then. Let’s go,” she said.

  They started out talking about Jacob’s progress and Alec repeated his professional opinion that he was doing well. He hoped he’d be able to send him home in a week or so if things continued on the same path.

  Then they moved to other topics and chatted comfortably like old friends. Phoebe was amazed at how easily their conversation flowed. Relaxed and easy conversation with a man was something she hadn’t experienced in a very long time—until she met Alec.

  She was once again careful not to complain to him. The things she was facing in her life didn’t have to define her and she’d given herself that pep talk on the ride down in the elevator as they walked out to his car. She didn’t want to remind him that she was a big ball of problems.

  She also didn’t want him to think she was only looking for someone to rescue her. As much as she daydreamed about being out from under her troubles, she didn’t expect someone else to fix it all for her.

  They pulled up in her driveway and she was sorry the drive together was over. With one hand on the door handle, she turned to him and smiled. “Thank you for the—”

  “I’ll walk you to your door,” Alec cut her off as he opened his door.

  Phoebe looked at his back with a sly smile. “You don’t have to, Alec,” she said, but inside, she really did want him to.

  Phoebe was glad Dan wasn’t there, and a quick flash of the scene that could have happened if he had been made her shiver.

  “Want to come in for a minute?” She felt bold for a moment and decided on a whim to invite him in. She didn’t want to put him on the spot, but she thought he must have been interested in spending time with her since he offered to drive her home—especially when she didn’t need him to. And when he’d walked her to the door, well… she was sure he’d agree to a cup of tea.

  Alec hesitated. “You know, you’ve had a long day. I think I’m going to just head on home. Um, I need to be at the hospital by about seven-thirty. I’ll pick you up at seven. Okay?”

  She nodded, her ego stinging just a bit. “Sure. Seven’s fine. Hey, I can fix some tea if you want to come in for just a minute.” Sounding too desperate to herself, she immediately regretted her last invitation.

  He took both her hands in his and looked down into her eyes, and for a moment, Phoebe wondered if maybe he was going to change his mind.

  “Phoebe, I have so much respect for you and I don’t want to hurt your feelings. But you told me that Dan shows up unexpectedly. Often. The last thing you need is for him to find me here. After what happened this morning, things could get out of hand.” He gave her hands a squeeze, and Phoebe felt her heart sink.

  She knew he was right, but at the same time, she was irritated that once again her ex-husband was causing problems. She brushed her hair out of her eyes and looked up at him, forcing a bigger smile than she felt.

  “You’re right.”

  On impulse, she stood on her tiptoes, expecting to give him a kiss. But Alec put his hand on her shoulder and gently eased her back onto her feet. Phoebe looked at him with a confused look in her eyes. She had thought he would welcome a kiss, and she felt a sting of rejection run through her body.

  “Oh, gosh. I’m so sorry.” She put her hands down by her sides and took a step back. She embarrassed herself even further by bumping awkwardly into the door.

  He reached out and took her hand again and his eyes never looked away from her. “Phoebe, I want to kiss you more than anything. You know how I feel about you. I haven’t made a secret of that at all. But I don’t want you to do anything that you’ll regret. Let’s save that kiss until things are less complicated, okay?”

  Phoebe nodded, though she felt her cheeks burn with humiliation. She didn’t know if she had offended him, since he was too much of a gentleman to say so if she had. Alec paused at his car door and held up his hand, and Phoebe waved back. Before she knew it, he was gone, and she w
as standing alone on her front porch.

  Her mind was racing. What had she done? Why had she practically propositioned the man? How was she going to face him again?

  17

  “Did you know your son cheats at cards?”

  Phoebe smiled and nodded. Anna rolled her eyes and laughed.

  “I caught him more than once. He has no shame, either. He didn’t even act like it bothered him when I called him out.” Anna took a sip of her iced tea and shook her head. “Is that Dan’s contribution to raising a son?”

  “Yep. When I pick a baby daddy I do it up right, don’t I?”

  The two women sat in the hospital cafeteria having a late lunch. “It’s good to see him feeling better, though. He seemed much more perky than when I saw him last week.”

  “He’s definitely better. It’s really sweet of you to come by, too. He loved having someone different to play games with.”

  “When do you think he’ll get out of here?” Anna took a bite of her sandwich and looked up at Phoebe.

  “I think maybe in a few days. I hope it’ll be that soon. Just waiting on more lab results.”

  Anna nodded then smiled. “You seem a little off today. Things okay? Jacob’s coming along well, so what is it?”

  “I guess I’m just a little distracted is all,” she said as she shook her head. Not sure if she should share the details about her stalled relationship with Alec, she wrinkled her nose and took a bite of her salad.

  Anna looked at her with a sly smile. “I know it’s been a difficult time, but it seems to be, I don’t know… different. It’s not the same sort of distraction I saw when you were getting divorced or when Jacob had surgery. What’s going on?”

  Phoebe took a breath and blew it out. “There’s not really anything to tell. Dan’s causing problems. That seems to never end. My mom even asked me last night if we’re getting back together. The look on her face was priceless when I told her the rumors weren’t true.”