“You misinterpreted things. I was trying to get him to move, but I didn’t do anything heroic—it was an accident. You don’t owe me anything, and neither does Jace. I mean... I love Jace, and I’m glad he’s okay, but...”
“You’re wrong,” Josh said, as he felt himself losing his tight control. “I do owe you. I owe you everything.” He banged his hand down on the bedside table. “You’re the reason I’m getting to adopt Chloe and Jace, and you’re the reason Jace is alive.”
She gave a heavy sigh, and he saw a glimpse of pain before an impassive mask fell over her face. “I’ve been thinking, I’m not sure I like you being in emergency medicine. There are too many times you’d be on call. So I thought you might switch over to something different. Something like say... dermatology.”
“Dermatology!” he snapped. “Are you kidding me?” She was asking him to abandon the career he loved after completing a four-year residency and working his way up in the hospital. He’d have to start a brand new residency. What’s more, he wasn’t even interested in dermatology. He glared her direction and saw her expression, wide-eyed and hopeful. How could he disappoint her? If
this was what it took to make her happy, he at least had to be willing to try.
“I’ll be honest. I’m not crazy about the idea. But if it’s really what you want, I’ll check into residency programs in New York.”
He saw the hope die in her eyes. “That’s okay—I think the ER is fine. Whatever you want is fine.”
“But I thought you wanted—”
“Never mind.” She turned her head away. “I think I want to go back to sleep.”
“But we haven’t really talked.”
She closed her eyes and refused to respond.
He’d have to wait for another opportunity to tell her he already loved her.
“WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO to get out of here?” Charlie complained. “It’s almost Christmas and I still have shopping to do.”
“I know how much you hate it. I think you get that from me.” Her mom’s grin was infectious.
“But Steven got you out of the hospital and hired Connie Marshall as a home nurse. I’m still stuck in here.” She heard the whine in her voice, but she couldn’t stop herself.
“There’s a chance they’ll release you today,” said Anne. “But I think Josh likes having you here where he can run up and check on you.”
“Well I don’t like it. If they don’t release me, I swear I’m going to get dressed and walk out and take the subway home.”
“Oh my.” Charlie heard someone chuckling from the doorway. “We can’t have you taking the subway home.” Her doctor, Sherri Evans, approached her bed. “Is it so terrible in here?”
“Yes. Please let me out.”
“I can probably release you today if you won’t be alone. I know you’re engaged to Dr. Branson. Will you be going home with him?”
Charlie felt her face redden, but her Mom saved her from explaining. “She’ll be coming home with us for now. I’m not working for the next two weeks, so I can keep an eye on her.”
“I start law school on January eighth,” said Charlie.
“That’s pretty quick.” Dr. Evans checked Charlie’s incisions. “You seem to be healing well on the outside, but don’t let that fool you. You’ve got a lot more healing to do internally.” She looked up and smiled. “Okay, I’ll sign your release papers.”
“Thank you!” Charlie wanted to leap from the bed, but she knew better than to make any jerky movements that might cause a flash of pain.
“When is the wedding?” Dr. Evans asked.
“Soon—we’re not doing a big ceremony.”
“That sounds like Josh. He’s lucky he found someone who thinks like he does. He’s very excited—he talks about you all the time.”
“He does?” She couldn’t hide the surprise in her voice.
“Yes. And he smiles all the time now. He used to be a bit grouchy. So we’re all really grateful to you.”
“Yeah, he’s grateful, too.”