5

 

The instant Coop pushed open the door of Siobhan’s hospital suite, music flooded the hallway. A Katrina and the Waves classic, “Walking on Sunshine,” poured forth, along with a raucous sing-along that instantly captured his attention.

Aileen, Kassidy and Maeve danced around Siobhan’s bed like adorable goofballs, singing strong. They faked like they were singing into mics. They shimmied and clapped. They spun and flounced in syncopation, teasing Siobhan with winks, nudges, and taunting moves. Then, in perfect time to the instrumental bridge, Aileen busted out an air guitar move while the other two flung their hair in a classic head-banging response that left him laughing.

Not that he was noticed above the din.

AJ closed the door quickly to avoid a disturbance and lent his attention to his patient. That’s when he nearly dropped his ever-present computer. Siobhan sported a tiara. A fire-engine red boa was wrapped around her neck, its ends draped along the pillows at her back, across the monitor cords and IV line at her arm. Despite the comedic trappings, she managed to look stunning. Tears of laughter streamed down her face, the best medicine known to science.

“I’m making an executive decision. We have to add this song to the album!” Once the song ended, Maeve offered that enthused recommendation amidst cheers and declarations of approval.

“Hi there, Dr. Cooper!” That greeting came from Kassidy.

He offered a wave and grinned. “Don’t stop on my account. I didn’t mean to interrupt Siobhan’s therapy session.”

The trio preened happily, but Siobhan ducked her head and went pink with embarrassment. She swiped the crown from her head and did her best to dispose of the long and fluffy boa. Those futile gestures caused his lips to twitch into a full smile. Coop activated his computer and keyed to Siobhan’s chart while she scrambled for some semblance of decorum. He stepped to her bed and rested a hip against the railing. Peering at Siobhan, he delivered a wink. “Don’t be so fast about ditching the sparkles and feathers. Personally, I think the look works for you.”

His reward for sass was a deeper reddening of flawless, creamy skin.

Kassidy sidled up to the bed; she tweaked Siobhan’s cheek. “We decided to doll her up to celebrate the fact that she’s being released. You know, we should thank you, Doctor Cooper. It seems someone has been receiving fantastic care here at Westerville Memorial. Just look at all that lovely color.”

Heat crawled up AJ’s neck at being so thoroughly and effectively called out. He backed off in a hurry. Seriously, was he this smitten by a dainty and charming ballerina girl? The women who represented her nearest and dearest didn’t seem to take any prisoners, so he opted to proceed with caution and return to playing it cool.

“Actually, I stopped by to offer my congratulations on that milestone.” He slid effortlessly into doctor mode. “You’re officially cleared to leave. I’ve completed the discharge process, but as the nurses already mentioned, you need to set up an appointment with my office for follow-up care.”

“And that’ll be next week, right?”

Siobhan’s eager response indicated a yen for continued connection, and that wasn’t an uncommon reaction from a patient following trauma. The key, he knew, was to maintain objectivity and professionalism—which was a fine ideal until her sparkling eyes drew him into an enticing grip.

“Yes, I’ll be checking on you every other week for the next six to eight weeks, until the cast comes off. According to your chart you’re comfortable with crutches and moving for short distances, correct?”

“I am, and it felt really good to flex my muscles.”

“Dizziness?” That was his primary concern.

“Nope. Honest. I really do feel OK.”

A warm, authentic tone of voice lent credence to Siobhan’s response. Coop checked her vitals via the flashing, beeping monitors.

“I think it’s amazing that you can decipher those read outs,” Aileen said.

Coop laughed. “Well, her heart rate’s a little higher than I’d expect.” He looked at Siobhan in gentle tease. “But I’m not too worried about that. Something tells me the reason for the elevation is that sing-along session you just finished.”

Continuing to address his patient, Coop handed off a small stack of papers and then conducted a brief review of wound care and protocol for moving around on a broken leg. Before he knew it, there was nothing left to say except farewell...until next week. For reasons that were strictly personal, AJ looked forward to seeing her again. He needed to explore that realization…fast.

“Do you have any questions before I turn you loose?”

Siobhan shook her head, her focus trained. “You’ve been great, and I really appreciate it. Thank you for everything, Doctor Cooper.”

The soft-spoken commendation, coupled with her quiet sense of grace, tripped his senses. “You’re more than welcome. Take good care of yourself so you heal quickly, OK? I want to watch you perform one day.”

Smiling into his eyes, she nodded. “I look forward to that.”

 

****

 

Siobhan tolerated—just barely—being wheeled from her room to the lobby of Westerville Memorial for discharge. She itched for freedom of movement. Her crutches were propped next to her. Her injured leg was extended and jutted outward.

Aileen and the girls waited outside in a u-shaped drive. Standing alongside Aileen’s red sedan, they chatted away. Something in the timelessness and normalcy of that moment soothed Siobhan’s restless heart and grounded her spirit.

Aileen spotted her first and, before long, her friends converged. She lifted slowly to a stand and made her way to the open door of the back seat.

“The first order of business is a mani-pedi.” Aileen wrapped an arm around Siobhan’s coat-clad shoulders and gave her a side hug. “Because you’ve earned it.”

“A pedi? Seriously?” Siobhan hobbled on the crutches but did fairly well. “When I’m wrapped up in this?” She nodded toward her cast.

“Of course, silly. You see, everyone will be looking at your toes now. Especially that hunky doctor. Best to have them in top form, right?”

Leave it to the unsinkable Aileen Brewer to pick up on nuance and emotional vibrations. Siobhan blushed furiously and surrendered the point with an agreeing nod. “You have a point there. Not about the doctor though.”

“Oh. Meaning he’s not hunky?”

“No. I mean yes. I mean…” Scandalized, Siobhan gave herself an inner shake and huffed. “Oh, would you please cut me just a little bit of slack here?” Shooting her friend a pleading glance, Siobhan propped her right hip against the car for support, and Aileen grabbed the crutches. “Careful with those, Ailee. They’re my new best friend.”

Aileen paused and put on a mocking pout. “I’m displaced that easily?”

“A spa day! Yay! I’m so in the mood for pampering and some girl talk.”

While Kassidy diverted the topic from a certain orthopedic specialist, Siobhan bent and carefully maneuvered her way into the rear passenger seat of Aileen’s car. So far, so good. Awkward, but not too bad, really.

“Speaking of girl talk, KC, you need to fill us in on the latest with Todd.” Maeve claimed shotgun.

“No, I don’t. Not really.” Kassidy sat next to Siobhan and accepted the crutches from Aileen, tucking them into the vehicle. “Todd is…oh, how shall I say it…out of the picture. Permanently.”

“No! What happened?” Maeve cast a wide-eyed look over her shoulder while Aileen took to the wheel and exited the hospital parking lot.

Leaving the facility behind made Siobhan’s heart fly and ache at the same time. Her mind came alive with the image of a tender, caring man with clear blue eyes, short blond hair, and a smile hot enough to melt ice.

“I stepped away once he decided the need for sex was more important than the process of actually building a long-term relationship.”

“No!”

That from Maeve again.

Siobhan reached across the arm rest to give KC’s hand a squeeze. “Honey, if he wasn’t willing to wait for you, then he wasn’t worthy of your heart.”

The words were their time honored mantra and a point of truth. A vow of purity, and of bonded friendship, had seen the four of them through the toughest times of standing steadfast in God’s promise and their mutual desire to remain pure of body until they were married. Friends—even potential boyfriends—sometimes scoffed at them for being so guarded with their bodies and hearts, but all four of them trusted their lives to the promise of a forever love. Settling for anything less was not an option.

Still, Kassidy’s eyes glimmered, betraying her hurt. True to form, she smiled past it all and snuggled into the seat. “Oh, never mind all that drama. Let’s dive into a day of pampering and relax.”

“You’re a wonder, Kassidy. Never doubt it.” Siobhan hoped the affirmation helped, because no matter how strong the woman—and Kassidy could write a book on the topic—the path they followed wasn’t easy. She leaned over to kiss her friend’s cheek. “Pampering sounds like a perfect idea and you guys truly are the best. Thank you for the pick-me-up.”

Aileen’s sparkling eyes tagged Siobhan’s briefly as she brought the car to a stop at a traffic light. “Pick-me-up? You wish. I intend to grill you mercilessly until you tell us all about that wonderful Doctor Cooper. I’ve never seen you so flustered around a man before. And just now, you actually went all tongue-tied about him. I think that’s precious.”

Maeve and Kassidy giggled. Siobhan’s jaw dropped and she shot Aileen what she hoped was a blood-curdling glower. “Y’know, Ailee, I won’t be incapacitated forever. Eventually I’ll build up enough strength to flatten you.”

Aileen’s twinkling laughter filled the car. “Good luck with that.”

Siobhan slid her chilly hands into the pockets of her tan, wool coat. Her fingers closed around an item tucked inside—a simple white business card detailing an upcoming appointment. One week from today. At one o’clock in the afternoon. At the offices of Dr. AJ Cooper on Fourth Avenue. Withdrawing the reminder, she touched the raised lettering and wondered. What did AJ stand for? Would it be inappropriate to ask? Would doing so seem pushy or star-struck?

Like she had a crush or something?

“So sorry to interrupt your daydreams, Siobhan, but we’ve arrived.”

Siobhan’s head snapped up. A betraying flood of heat bloomed against her cheeks, blast it all. Aileen’s quirked lips featured just a bit too much satisfaction for Siobhan’s taste. It didn’t help matters any that her friend homed in on the appointment card.

“Interesting reading material?”

Following Aileen’s query, Siobhan caught the meaningful glances that passed between Kassidy and Maeve. Siobhan was busted and bruised, but she most certainly wasn’t clueless to their intrigue. Aileen maneuvered the car beneath a quaint pink and white canopy. “Door service, ladies. Hop out. I’ll park and be right in.”

Soothing ocean sounds and soft harp music filled the air upon entering Bella Angelo Spa. Warmth swept across Siobhan’s skin. Oh, how she needed this. Before long she settled into an oversized leather chair. Her hands were put to soak, as was her uninjured right foot. Glasses of orange juice and veggie snacks materialized as attendants went to work on primps and polish.

“So we’ve caught up on KC’s love life. We know Siobhan blushes and gets all squiggly about her doctor. It’s your turn, Maeve. What’s new in your romantic life?”

Maeve goggled. “Is it just me, or is Ailee becoming a tad smug now that she sports an engagement ring?”

Hoots of agreement erupted amongst the foursome.

“You’re not off the hook, you know,” Maeve said. “Sure, no one will be asking you about who you’re dating, but I predict, here and now, that you won’t have a wedding band on your finger for a day before folks start asking when you’ll present the world with a brand new little Douglas cherub.”

Siobhan jumped right on that band wagon. “I never thought of it that way! I could be an auntie in a year!”

Aileen groaned and her skin went from a two to a solid ten on the pink meter. “Not likely since Liam and I haven’t even set a date yet.”

“Why not?” Siobhan blurted the question without really thinking. Instantly she regretted the words. Of course the delay was because of her and the accident. Along with the tour schedule quandry and recording contract drama, everything was thrown into uncertainty now, simply because the way her life had struck ice and swirled out of control.

Aileen gave Siobhan a tender-hearted, loving look. “Because we’ve had far more important matters to consider.”

The words set a clamp on Siobhan’s heart. Never again did she intend to sit behind the driver’s wheel of an automobile. Unreasonable, perhaps, but she’d find a way. Driving was off the list. Permanently.

Siobhan focused on Aileen as she absorbed the accompanying round of playful chatter. The interlude with her friends chased away shadows. Siobhan’s heart filled with the kind of easy joy she hadn’t experienced since the accident. What she focused on beyond that, however, was the way Maeve had dodged Aileen’s question about romance. With cool efficiency, their fiery red-head had switched topics, and even now, Maeve cast her eyes downward, ostensibly to track the manicure process. The motions were a ruse, and Siobhan knew it. She recognized a heart in hiding when she saw it. She speculated about why Maeve might be skittish, but could only come up with one answer: personality. Maeve had always been the more guarded of their ensemble. Quiet and reserved, she didn’t reveal much about matters of the heart.

Siobhan’s brow puckered while she thought that through, but as usual, conversations skipped along a swerving path. Talk soon turned to the album and tour, which pulled Siobhan far from thoughts of Maeve’s reticence.

“Zion’s Peak has chosen eleven songs. They’re covers of Christian classics we all know, but we need to develop our own interpretation; hopefully the task ahead won’t be too daunting.” Aileen tipped her head back and released a sigh when her feet were dipped into a warm whirlpool. “Get this, though—they’re even interested in including the song I wrote for Liam, ‘The Story of Us.’”

“Ailee, how wonderful! That piece is incredible.” Kassidy swirled her fingertips through the water receptacle built into the armrest of her chair. “We’re facing some serious rehearsal time, ladies.”

Heaviness fell upon Siobhan’s chest. She cleared her throat softly and watched her attendant carefully perform a toenail trim and buff—ever mindful of the plaster cast. “Actually, that brings me to a point I’d like to discuss.”

Siobhan’s quiet comment might as well have been blared over loudspeakers with HD amplification. At once, silence reigned. At once, three pairs of eyes focused on her. At once, intensity wrapped her in a cord against which she fought.

Breathing deep she decided to take the necessary dive, hating what she was about to do. “Here’s the thing. I’ve got so much to do—with intensive recovery plans, the dance studio and such. Really, this stupid accident of mine couldn’t have come at a worse time.”

Aileen and Kassidy scowled. Meanwhile, Maeve centered her gaze on Siobhan. “Meaning what, exactly?”

Her friend’s careful, deliberate words didn’t diminish Siobhan’s commitment to the decision she had made. “Meaning I need to step back from Sisters in Spirit.”

Sizzling lightning bolts, a deep, vibrating roll of thunder, couldn’t compete with the triple-threat reaction of her friends.

“What on God’s green earth are you talking about, Siobhan?”

Aileen’s ominous tone struck against Siobhan’s resolve, but walls of doubt stood strong. Push through, she thought. Push through and release your friends to the future…

Forcing her face and posture into calm lines, Siobhan plowed ahead. “I’ve given the idea considerable thought, and believe me nothing would give me greater joy than being right there with the three of you on stage, but—”

Kassidy gasped, eyes going wide. “There’s no but here. None whatsoever. Furthermore, you better not even try to say—”

“Please—don’t make this more difficult. I’ve made up my mind. You don’t need me. Not really.”

Preparing to launch from her seat, Maeve nearly upended the bubbling aqua-treatment for her feet. Siobhan stayed her friend’s reaction by raising her hands. “All of you need to look at the big picture. God has sent us a pretty clear message. You’re meant to take the stage by storm. I am as well, but in a completely different way. By teaching. By focusing on my studio. Really, it’s for the best.”

A bright, even tone belied the fact that Siobhan’s heart shattered with every word she spoke. Still, she doled out an assuring smile and focused intently on the attendant who sat on a stool before her. The manicurist urged Siobhan’s hands back into silky, perfectly warmed water perfumed by the scent of roses. That delicate aroma was a lovely counterbalance to the turbulence in her soul.

“What does Doctor Wonderful have to say about this? Did he tell you this would be a wise and necessary course of action?”

Maeve waited on the answer, eyes sharp and narrow.

“His name is Doctor Cooper, and he happens to think I’ll be just fine. As do I. The problem is I can’t and won’t hold the three of you back. My recovery will take time, and there are things you need from me—promptly—that I’m not able to give.”

Speaking that truth aloud, confronting its ugly residue punched Siobhan in the chest and cracked the protective walls she had built in an attempt to survive this moment. She trembled, and her chin quaked as she blinked furiously to keep from crying. She needed to surrender to God’s will and move on; her friends needed to do the same.

“That said”—Siobhan expelled a puff of air and lifted her chin when she addressed her manicurist—”I’m opting for the cotton candy pink shade today…the third one from the left on your tray. It’ll be perfect.”

“If you think that’s the end of this conversation, Siobhan Marie Douglas, you’re terribly mistaken.”

Siobhan ignored the icy undercurrent of warning in Aileen’s voice. “I’ve made up my mind. Now, let’s celebrate my freedom from medical incarceration and indulge.”

“I’m sorry. Your decision is not accepted at this time. Please try again later.” Maeve put on a robotic voice. She closed her eyes and leaned back, visibly ignoring Siobhan when her specialist went to work on a foot massage. “I have an idea. Let’s return to the topic of Doctor Wonderful.”

Curse it all, Maeve, Siobhan thought. No way are we returning to the topic of AJ Coop—Doctor Cooper…whatever.

Giddy and warm, Siobhan scrabbled for mental purchase. How could her besties be so blooming stubborn? “I’m decided, so deal with it. And by the way, when did you guys decide to change his name? I think that’s just weird.”

Aileen snickered. “Oh, at about the same time you fluttered those disgustingly thick lashes of yours and did the whole, ‘Thank you for everything’ swoon when he handed you your release forms. Plus there was that adorable, I’ve-got-a-crush-on-you way you tried to regain your dignity when he entered the suite during our perfectly fabulous sing-along. You do many things well, Siobhan, but you’ve never been able to hide your emotions, or your heart.”

Increasingly helpless, Siobhan leaned forward a bit so she could see Aileen. “I was only being nice.”

Aileen snorted.

Siobhan flung out her hands in exasperation which caused her manicurist to back off from the subtle spray of water. After an apologetic glance to her attendant, Siobhan beseeched Maeve and Kassidy. “Neither of you are willing to step in and lend an assist? Seriously?”

“Nope. Sorry.” Maeve studied her now raspberry hued fingernails.

“Nah, not really.” Kassidy wiggled her freshly painted, sparkly purple toes. “I’m good for now.”

“Chickens.” Siobhan’s mutter didn’t even stir a ripple of regret amongst her friends. Giggling, her manicurist went back to work by drying Siobhan’s hands and starting to polish.

Aileen moved just far enough to give Siobhan a tender glance. “You’re adorable when you’re riled. It happens so seldom. You’re perfectly in control, every movement beautifully and wonderfully executed. Every once in a while, though, it’s OK to stumble. Especially when there’s the potential to fall into a safe pair of arms. Doctor Wonderful or not, it’s something to think about, Siobhan.”