CHAPTER FIFTEEN

THE TENSION IN the house hadn’t abated the next day, and Mina was glad to be working, although speculative glances at the hospital upped her stress. Knowing the entire staff had heard about the offer from the director and was wondering what she planned to do added to the pressure.

While Mina was in the small staff cafeteria having lunch, there was an all-hands emergency, after a bus carrying dozens of people overturned on one of the country roads. The call went out for all available doctors and nurses to go to the emergency department, stat. Quickly tossing the rest of her sandwich, she took off at a gallop, deciding to take a shortcut through an older part of the building, which would get her to emerge quicker.

Once inside, she was surprised at how quiet it was but then realized they’d probably pulled staff from here, as well. There was only one baby visible in the NICU, with a nurse tending to him or her, and through an open door she glimpsed a mother nursing her child. Obviously, unlike the emergency room, it was a quiet day in the maternity and labor ward.

As she got to the doors leading back outside, they swung open, and a hugely pregnant woman pushed through, almost falling into the corridor. Mina grabbed her, lending her support.

“The baby coming.” The woman was panting, holding her belly, and her face was covered in perspiration. “The baby coming.”

“Come with me,” Mina said, hastily leading her around the corner, toward the labor ward.

But the woman stopped and bent double, moaning.

Obviously, they wouldn’t make it to labor without some help.

“Nurse!” Mina called. “Nurse!”

But no help was forthcoming, so, as soon as the mother-to-be seemed able to walk again, Mina hurried her into the first room they came to.

“I’m a doctor,” Mina told the woman, trying to be reassuring, although her own heart rate was going wild. It had been years since she’d delivered a baby, and back then she’d had two hands. “Let’s get you on the bed and take a look.”

“It’s coming,” the woman moaned, after Mina got her partially undressed and lying down, and went to the end of the bed to examine her.

One peek told Mina the woman knew exactly what she was talking about. Right there, in plain sight, was a little patch of hair.

“Nurse!” Mina bellowed, just as the cell phone in her pocket buzzed. Did she even have time to answer?

A quick glance showed Kiah’s name, so she jammed it on speaker and threw it onto a handy chair, on her way to the sink to wash her hand as best she could.

Gloves? What the hell was she going to do about gloves?

“Mina? You there?”

“Yes, but I can’t speak for long.”

“Did you get the call out for the bus crash?”

“Yes,” she shouted in the general direction of the phone, while looking in vain for a sterile towel to dry up. “But I’m delivering a baby.”

“You’re what?”

“It’s coming! I want to push!” yelled her patient.

“Hold on, Mama,” Mina said in response, trying not to yell, too, as she grabbed a handful of gloves she couldn’t even put on. “Wait until I tell you to push, okay?”

“No. No. I want to push now!”

“Mina, where the hell are you?”

“Maternity!”

Another peek showed it was almost time for the baby to make its appearance, with the mother’s cervix almost perfectly dilated. Looking around, Mina spotted a package of disposable bed pads, and, sticking it between her knees, held it with a corner of a glove and tore it open. At least now the baby would have something clean to land on, she thought, as she spread it between the mother’s legs.

Having put a glove over it, she laid her stump on the mother’s belly, hoping it wouldn’t freak her out, and rubbed soothingly, saying, “It’s okay, Mama, you’re doing real good. Give it a couple more seconds, then you can push all you want, okay?”

“Argh!” was the reply, as the mother arched with the pain of her contractions, but she waited until Mina told her, before she pushed in earnest.

The baby crowned before retreating slightly, and then, as Mina chanted, “Push, push, push,” at the mother, the little head emerged.

“Good job, Mama,” Mina said. “Now don’t push again, until I tell you.”

She hadn’t been able to put a glove on her hand, so now she used the sterile latex like a pot holder, while turning the shoulders.

Then they were off to the races again, and in a trice, the baby slid out, already crying.

“It’s a boy, Mama.” Mina felt tears prickle her eyes as she looked down at the wrinkled, slippery little bundle lying on the bed. “You have a baby boy.”

“Woo-ee,” was the weary reply. “Another one?”

Then, suddenly, there was what seemed like a dozen people rushing into the room, and Mina was able to abdicate her position, although she felt strangely aggrieved about it. She’d delivered the baby, all by herself, but they weren’t going to let her cut the cord? It didn’t seem right.

But her part in it was over, so, as the obstetrician took her place, she dodged a nurse pushing a cart and turned toward the door.

And there was Kiah, shaking his head, amusement tipping his lips, although his eyes looked solemn, maybe even a little sad.

Haunted.

Why that touched her so deeply, she didn’t know, but she stepped close to him, wishing they weren’t in the hospital, so she could hug him tight, the way she wanted to.

“Delivering babies now? What’s next? Juggling?”

So they were going with the jokes. That suited Mina just fine, and she wrinkled her nose at him.

“Yep,” she answered, swinging by him and tossing her gloves into the bin by the door. “With knives.”

The triage situation at the hospital lasted most of the day, and Mina found herself back in theater that afternoon, supervising a delicate spinal operation on the driver of the bus.

“In the past, we’d have airlifted him to Port of Spain, but if you think you can guide Dr. Golding through it here, we’ll get him prepped for surgery,” Director Hamilton said.

Mina looked at the MRI and CT scans, and talked the operation through with John Golding. Then, reassured the young doctor seemed up to the task, she agreed to oversee the surgery.

Kiah, who’d also been in theater most of the day, came in to observe the operation.

“You missed the best part already,” Mina told him, sending John Golding a wink when he glanced up from the endoscope. “John’s just about finished, and ready to close.”

Since they hadn’t been in the operating room more than fifteen minutes at that point, Kiah knew she was just talking smack.

“Why are you even here?” he asked her. “I thought you’d be down in the mat ward again.”

Mina sent him a dirty look, before concentrating once more on what was happening on the table. With her guidance, John performed the bilateral thoracic laminotomy, to relieve pressure on the patient’s spinal cord, and then spinal fusion on two lumbar vertebrae, all without a hitch.

But, although pleased with the outcome of the surgery, it was the delivery of the baby that stayed with her afterward.

In that moment, when she’d seen the newborn lying there, she’d realized she really was ready for a family. She’d probably never have a baby of her own, but adoption was definitely an option, in her books.

The decision was bittersweet, since with the realization came the knowledge that the only man she wanted to father her child wasn’t interested in doing so. Kiah Langdon, although ideal father material, didn’t want children. And even if he did, it was doubtful he’d choose her as the mother anyway. Theirs was a relationship that had taken a turn neither of them expected, but the physically intimate part of it wasn’t destined to continue. He’d made that plain despite his obvious desire for her, which, although he’d said it wasn’t, actually probably was just a by-product of his self-imposed sexual drought.

Yet, however despondent that thought made her feel, Mina knew she’d make it through, no matter what. She’d come to comprehend that, prior to the accident and the end of her marriage, she’d lived a pretty charmed life. There’d been little struggle—if she didn’t count medical school—and things had come far too easily for her. Who was she to rail at fate, rather than try to steer her own destiny?

She’d always love Kiah, as a friend and more, but she wasn’t going to stop living, just because he didn’t love her as a woman.


As exhausted as he was that evening, Kiah felt restless, and jumpy, too.

When he’d gotten to the door of the maternity ward and seen Mina kneeling at the foot of the bed, looking at the newborn, he’d thought his heart would explode. The expression on her face, one of mingled wonder, joy and elation, was so beautiful he could only stare, enraptured.

Wishing for a moment like that for her.

Wishing he could be the one to share it with her wasn’t something he could contemplate and still retain his sanity, so he pushed that particular thought aside.

The barrier he’d built up over the years about fatherhood was too strong to overcome. Seeing his father die, knowing the pain that loss caused both him and Karlene, had made him leery. Recognizing his anger issues, inherited from his mother, had cemented the decision not to have kids of his own. Who knew what kind of parent he’d turn out to be? One who devastated his family by dying early, or one who did it by staying alive and bitter?

Sure, he was nominally Charm’s father now, but that in itself only made his choice seem even more sound. There were times when he barely controlled the impulse to holler at her, and he couldn’t help thinking sometimes that she was at the age now that he’d been when his father died. She’d already been through so much. He could only pray she would be a little older, on steadier ground, before she had to suffer any more losses.

Like losing Miss Pearl.

After all, she was already in a tailspin over hearing Mina was going back to Canada. Hopefully, she’d weather the parting with a minimum of trauma.

Yes, having a family was something Mina wanted. He could only hope she would one day get it, and he’d have the strength to be happy for her.

Then, as they were all in the living room watching TV, there was a news report about a baby who’d been born weighing a whopping seventeen pounds.

“What is it with babies today?” he muttered, earning a sideways glance from Mina.

“Lawks,” Miss Pearl commented. “His poor mother, carrying that much weight around.”

“How much did I weigh when I was born?” Charm asked, obviously intrigued.

“Seven pounds, three ounces,” Mina said, before Kiah could even think back that far.

“How do you know that, Auntie?”

Mina smiled, and the fondness in the way she looked at Charm was almost his undoing.

“I was there,” she said. “It was me who coached your mom, and I got to cut your umbilical cord, too.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Kiah thought that would be the end of the conversation. Even though Mina had warned him that Charm was asking about her mother, he expected her to retreat from any further discussion.

But instead, she asked, “How come?”

“Well, your daddy was in the army, and your mom was alone when you decided you were ready to be born, so I went to the hospital and was there when you popped out.”

“Where were you, Uncle Kiah?”

Taking a deep breath, and trying to sound as though talking about it didn’t hurt almost more than he could bear, he replied, “I was here, with Granny. You weren’t supposed to come for another two weeks, so I didn’t get there in time.”

“Huh,” she said and, thankfully, turned her attention back to the TV.

But later that night, when he went to tuck her into bed, he realized it really had been just the beginning.

“Uncle, do you have any pictures of me with Mommy and Daddy?”

“I do,” he said, his heart aching all over again. “Do you want me to find them for you?”

“Yes, please. And...and can you tell me more about them? Not tonight,” she added quickly. “But sometime soon?”

“I can, and I will, sweetheart. Whatever you want to know.”

Making his way back to the living room, Kiah felt as though the world, which just a few weeks ago had felt so stable, now wobbled like quicksand under his feet.

“Charm was asking about her parents,” he said without preamble, waiting to hear Mina say she’d warned him, and he was amazed when she remained uncharacteristically quiet.

“It’s not surprising,” Granny said, with a sigh tacked on. “I was wondering when she would.”

“Do you remember where we put the pictures, after I came back with her from Canada?”

“Yes. They’re in a box on top of my wardrobe. We can get them down tomorrow.”

“And I have some I can send back from Canada,” Mina added. “I think Charm would get a kick out of some pictures of you in high school and college, Kiah, as well as the ones I have of her parents.”

“Lawks,” he said, unable to stop himself smiling across at her, even as he shuddered to think how Charm would react to his past fashion sense and hair styles. “You’d do that to me?”

“I sure would. And with pleasure,” she added for good measure.

Those were the moments he would miss most when she was gone, he thought. The easy banter. The shared history that came out in stories and jokes.

He was already sure which job she’d take. St. Eustace couldn’t hold her, not when compared to the prestige and excitement of the job on offer in Toronto.

He’d miss his best friend, just like he missed having her as his lover, but her going back was for the best. For all of them.

When everyone else had gone to bed, Kiah stretched out on the couch and turned on a documentary, with the volume down low. He knew from past experience he was too keyed up to sleep, and could only hope the murmur of the commentator and the flicking screen would have a soporific effect.

The sound of a door opening down the corridor had him lifting his head, and when he saw Mina come into the room, his heart hammered in reaction.

“Hey,” he said. “Everything okay?”

“Fine,” she replied as she went by into the kitchen.

After a couple of minutes, she came back with a glass of water in her hand, and paused at the entrance to the hallway back to her room.

“Kiah, can you give me the name of the acupuncturist you mentioned a while back, please?”

He swung his feet down off the couch, instantly concerned.

“The pains have come back?”

She nodded, and he couldn’t help remembering how their lovemaking had seemingly stopped them the last time. He knew she wasn’t angling for more of the same. That was one choice that had already been settled, although he wished it hadn’t. Then he could scoop her up, carry her to his room, and love on her until her missing hand was the last thing on her mind.

But that wasn’t feasible, or advisable, so he thought back to all the research he’d done after she’d had the accident, and patted the couch beside him.

“I’ll give it to you in the morning,” he said. “In the meantime, come here. I want to try something.”

She shifted from one foot to the other, as though torn. “I’m just going to take a pain pill and try to get some sleep.”

“Come on,” he said, giving the cushion another couple of pats. “I read about a technique that’s supposed to work kind of like a mirror box. There’s no harm in trying it, and you might get some relief. At least enough to fall asleep.”

Seemingly still reluctant, she slowly made her way over and sat beside him on the couch. At his direction, she turned sideways, with her knee up on the cushions, so she was facing him.

“Okay. Now close your eyes and give me your hands.”

“You mean hand, don’t you?” she asked, cracking an eye open just as he shook his head.

“No. Keep your eyes closed and give me both hands.”

Hopefully, she understood what he was trying to achieve, and could trick her brain into thinking he was holding both her hands in his.

As she closed her eyes again, he started a gentle massage on her right hand.

When he felt her fingers tense up, as though she was going to pull her hand away, he asked, “When last did you speak to your parents?”

“Day before yesterday,” she replied, and he felt her hand relax with the distraction. “I talk to them at least twice a week.”

“How’re they doing? Are they still in Florida?”

She chuckled. “It isn’t spring in Ontario yet. They’re not going back there unless they’re sure there’ll be no more snow. Dad says he’s too old for that nonsense anymore.”

“I don’t blame him.” Kiah hoped his voice was soothing, but having her this close, touching her, even just her hand, had awakened his libido. “That, and the ice storms, make me glad I don’t live there anymore.”

He adjusted the pressure of his hand, making it a little softer, and she sighed.

Heartened, he continued to speak softly. “And how about Braden? What’s he up to?”

“Oh, the usual. He’s talking about expanding the acreage, putting in more trees. And I think he’s actually getting serious with the woman he’s been seeing. He talks about her all the time.”

“Have you met her yet?”

“No, I haven’t been to BC since they started dating, but I’ve invited them to come visit here. He’s the only one of the family who’s never visited St. Eustace.”

“That’s true,” he said, and his voice sounded a little rougher, even to his ears.

He saw her swallow, the movement obvious in her delicate throat, and knew he wasn’t the only one who felt the rising erotic tension.

“He...he asks about you all the time.” Her voice was breathy, the sound making him want to groan with need. “Says he can’t remember when last he saw you.”

Kiah couldn’t answer. It was all he could do just to keep up the gentle caresses, and not tug her onto his lap, so as to ravish that luscious mouth.

Then there was the sound of a door opening, and she opened her eyes, catching him staring. He had no doubt the desire in his eyes was unmistakable, as was the current flowing through their one, seemingly innocent, point of contact.

“Hezekiah, is that you?”

They were still staring at each other, their gazes locked, the electric flow holding them bound together, as he answered Miss Pearl.

“Yes, Granny. Me and Mina.”

“You two should be in bed.”

“Yes, Granny, you’re right. We should.”

“Go on, then,” came the unknowingly fraught reply. “Don’t be staying up this late.”

As Miss Pearl closed her door again, the tension between them was thick enough to drink, and in the dim glow of the television he saw the rush of color staining Mina’s cheeks.

Keeping his voice calm took everything inside. “How does it feel now?”

“Good,” she said, the corner of her lips tipping up for an instant, as though she tried to smile but was unable to find the wherewithal. “Thank you.”

For a long moment, neither of them moved, and Kiah felt heat billowing out into his veins.

“Go to bed, Mina,” he whispered, his gaze dropping to her lips, lingering there for an instant, as he released her hand. “If you don’t, I’m going to try to follow Granny’s advice.”

She nodded, before pushing to her feet. Picking up the glass of water, she took a step away, thankfully before he lost his head completely.

“Night,” she said. “And thanks.”

“Anytime, sweet girl. Anytime.”

Then she was gone, leaving him even more edgy than when she found him, even though he’d thought earlier it couldn’t get any worse.