Thursday, August 24, 2017

Thursday's Second Scene _ Divided Dreams - Janet Lane Walters #MFRWauthor #romance #medical

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. His hands clenched. Her beauty stunned him. He wanted to go to her, but that would be the wrong move. She walked toward him. Her braced shoulders and stiff spine showed this wasn’t her choice.
“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? Who had fathered her child?


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