The jangling noise
of three alarm clocks startled Rob Grantlan. He straightened and stared at the
computer. Must have dozed. He hit
save and stretched.
Six months ago
he’d signed a contract giving him his dream. The first of his medical suspense
novels had been accepted. He’d signed a contract committing him to two more.
After stretching
he rose. Time for a shave, shower, and coffee, before heading to Fern Lake
General to okay a deal granting him freedom. He strode to the bathroom between
his study and his bedroom and stripped to step beneath the spray. He shaved and
returned to the bedroom. He paused at the walk-in closet, found slacks and a
shirt. He dressed, checked the time and poured the last of the liquid from his
gallon thermos into the cap doubling as a cup. The time had come to relinquish
the last tie to his father.
Six months ago his
father’s death had set Rob on a path to explore a world he’d always wanted. He
could leave a profession the older man had considered marginally acceptable.
Rob’s stern and money-loving father had hated his oldest son’s dislike for
business. Rob’s younger brother had delighted in making, spending and losing
money often not his own. At times the investment schemes had brought rich
rewards and others deep losses. The younger man’s life had ended when his car
plunged over a cliff after an evening of heavy drinking.
Rob strode through
the main room and grabbed his keys from a hook beside the door. He revved the
engine of his silver sports car and drove from the cabin to the main road. Full
leaved maples and oaks shaded the lane.
He laughed. In an
hour he would be free. The money from the sale of the nursing home/rehab center
would repay the remaining debts left by his brother and father. With his mother
settled in the Florida
luxury condo he would be rid of all entanglements and able to follow his
desire. With a three book contract and a savvy agent he couldn’t wait to end
the old life and begin the new.
Twenty minutes
later he pulled into a spot in the doctor’s lot near the hospital’s Emergency
Department. He strode to the narrow door beside the wider one for ambulance
arrivals. His smile broadened. Old man,
I’m not following your rules. Those hated scribblings will rule my life.
According to the
older Grantlan writers were dilettantes who didn’t earn important money. Even
when Rob had pointed to the hefty advances offered to some authors, his father
had scoffed.
As Rob stepped
inside, the odors of the hospital reached him. People, antiseptics, and some
less than pleasant smells, swirled in the air. As he passed the reception desk
one of the women seated behind the L-shaped desk called for him to stop. He
turned.
“Who are…Sorry,
Dr. Grantlan.”
Rob waved. “No
problem.” He strode to the bank of elevators around the corner, entered one and
hit five. On the fifth floor he walked to the conference room. At a long table
the Board members and two attorneys waited.
Nate Forbes, Rob’s
lawyer waved. “Ready for this?”
“More than ready.”
Before long Rob
had read, signed, or initialed, a stack of papers. With each stroke of the pen
an ounce of weight slid from his shoulders. Finally, he endorsed the check and
saw the papers notarized. After passing the endorsed check to his attorney he
grinned.
Free at last.
He rose. “You know
what to do with the money.”
Nate Forbes
nodded. “Take care of the taxes and finish paying the people your father and
brother cheated. Do you think we’ll ever find where they hid their stash?”
“Doubtful.” Rob
strode to the door. Euphoria filled his thoughts. He felt as though he’d drunk
a magnum of champagne. The glow of freedom filled him.
He bolted for the
elevators and collided with a woman. “Sorry.”
Manon Marshall
grasped his arm to steady herself. “My fault for barging out of Rafe’s office.”
“We’ll share the
blame.”
“You look pleased.
I guess the sale went through.”
He felt his grin
broaden. “Certainly did.”
“Are you really
giving up your medical practice?”
“Absolutely.”
She frowned.
“Aren’t you wasting your education? You’re a good doctor. Why walk away?”
“I’ve found a
different way to use what I learned.” He released a held breath. He had an
answer for her but it was too soon to let everyone know. “Medicine wasn’t my
first choice.”
“Then why go to
med school?”
“My father
insisted I pursue a real career. Even during my school and residency I felt
like an actor playing a part. Every day as I drove to the nursing home I kept
repeating, today I am a doctor.”
She pressed for
the elevator. “Then you’re right to walk away. I wish you luck.”
“Thanks.” Though
he wanted to shout to everyone that soon he would be a published author, he
refrained. She wasn’t the person he wanted to tell.
Andi Sherman was,
but he had no idea where she’d gone. Immediately after graduating from high
school she’d left town. He’d come home from his freshman college year to find
her. No one knew where she could be found.
So far his mother,
Hattie, Simon, Dana, and Nate, were the only people who knew about the books.
He and Manon rode
the elevator in silence. She left on the third floor. “Good luck.”
The doors closed
on his response. On the first floor, with a carefree stride, he walked to the
doors. He stepped outside into the warm July afternoon. The brilliant blue sky
added to his joy. The air smelled of flowers, fresh mown grass and summer. He
turned toward the doctor’s lot.
An ambulance
blocked his way. EMTs unloaded a gurney. A third carried an occupied infant
seat.
Rob glanced at the
swollen face of the woman as the gurney sped past. He stared. Even though her
face was bruised he knew her. “Patricia.”
The doors closed.
His plans for the day changed. He couldn’t leave until he knew why his sister
was here, and why an infant had come with her. He looked toward the drive
expecting to see a second ambulance. Had his sister caused another accident? He
sucked in a breath and entered the treatment area.
“Dr. Grantlan, can
I help you?” a nurse asked.
“The woman who
just arrived. She’s my sister. Where is she?”
She pointed to one
of the curtained cubicles. Rob drew the cloth aside and viewed the scene. An ED
physician issued orders. One nurse slid an IV needle into Patricia’s arm.
Another placed a mask and adjusted the flow of oxygen.
Rob gestured to
the doctor. “Her name is Patricia Grantlan. What’s her condition?”
The doctor turned.
“There’s internal bleeding. Dr. Reed just arrived and we’re taking her to the
OR.”
Rob stepped to the
gurney. He touched his sister’s hand. “Patricia.”
Her eyelids
fluttered open. So did her mouth. The mask muffled her words. He leaned closer.
“Hurts…He did…Take
care of…”
A nurse opened the
curtain. “They’re ready for her.” She hung a unit of blood and stepped aside.
“Do you want to
observe?” the ER doctor asked.
Rob shook his
head. “I’ll take care of the paperwork and stay in the ED waiting room to hear
the news.”
As they wheeled
his sister away Rob strode to the waiting room door. What had Patricia meant by
her words? Had someone hurt her? Was she in danger? Who should he care for?
He stopped at the
admissions’ desk. “I’m here about the woman who just arrived by ambulance.”
The clerk looked
up. “Dr. Grantlan, do you know her? The EMTs had no idea. They found no
identification, but they left two suitcases I was about to open.”
“Her name is
Patricia Grantlan.” At her startled gasp he continued. “She’s my sister, but I
have no idea if she has insurance. I’ll handle the bills.”
She passed a
clipboard holding several forms to him. “Fill these out as best as you can.”
Rob retreated to a
seat at the rear of the room. He added as much information as he could. After
returning the forms the clerk gave him the suitcases. He returned to his seat
on one of the plastic chairs facing a television tuned to a cooking show.
A young woman with
light brown hair entered. A diaper bag hung from her shoulder. She must be the
baby’s mother. Relief rolled like a stream released from a beaver’s dam.
Patricia hadn’t caused a fatality. The young woman stopped at the desk.
Who was she?
Though curious, knowing wouldn’t halt the thoughts galloping through his head.
Something about the way she stood with one hand on her hip drew him and made
him think he knew her. Her shorts revealed long tanned legs. Would her face
match the rear view?
He groaned. She
reminded him of Andi Sherman. Why think of her now? He’d ruined any chance of a
future with her. Twelve years ago, he’d followed his father’s demands and told
her he didn’t love her. Once more the words spoken in a steel-coated voice slid
into his thoughts.
You want to go to college and become a
doctor. Though that’s not my choice for you, I’ll accept your decision. Your
brother will have the place I reserved for you. Do you want college?
Yes.”
Ditch Andi Sherman. She’s poor white trash.
Members of her family are known criminals. Unless you tell her what she is,
forget your plans. Forget any inheritance. Your brother will be near your
trysting place and will report to me.
He’d followed his
father’s orders. Rob still remembered that evening and the tears in her eyes.
He swallowed memories of his failure to face his bullying father.
The young woman
turned. She studied the rows of waiting people. Her face blanched.
His felt on fire.
Andi Sherman was back in town. Why? She had no family in Fern Lake
“I’m sorry.” His
voice sounded hollow.
“No reason. What
happened in the past should remain there.” The coldness in her voice chilled
him.
“That’s not what I
meant.”
She shrugged. “The
woman at the desk told me the driver of the wrecked car I came upon was your
sister.”
“She was.” He drew
a deep breath and caught a faint aroma of lilacs. “Is your baby all right?”
Her laughter held
a strange note. “The child wasn’t mine.” She dropped the diaper bag on his lap.
“The infant was in the car your sister drove. I took the little girl to my car
and grabbed this. Forgot to give it to the EMTs. Looks like the baby is your
responsibility.”
Rob swallowed. She
was right, but he was uneasy with the news. What did he know about children?
“What are you doing in Fern
Lake
“I’m joining a
friend’s pediatric practice.”
“You’re a doctor.
Congratulations.”
She shook her
head. “I’m a nurse practitioner.”
The door to the
treatment room opened. Josh Patton waved. “Andi.”
Without another
word she walked toward the other man. She turned her head and glared at Rob. He
clenched the diaper bag when Josh embraced and kissed Andi.
He sank back in
the chair. Andi was back in town and she’d found someone else. He owed her an
apology but her glaring brown eyes didn’t promise an easy time.
He pressed his
hands to his head. The baby was Patricia’s. Since his sister had fled the
alcohol rehabilitation facility about a year ago, he had learned nothing about
her whereabouts. Why had she returned to Fern Lake
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