can pull some
ropes.” Sandra’s tone betrayed her concern and Madelyn had her own doubts. Nick
had been very busy with his new responsibilities as Clinic Director and his
move to the apartment he’d rented on the twenty-third floor of the Blue
Lagoon high rise.
Things didn’t look rosy for the
lovely bundles in her arms. “We won’t abandon you, sweethearts. Do your part
and get bigger, and I’ll move heaven and earth to help you.”
“Hmm, what happened to the Don’t
get too chummy with your patients they drilled in our heads during residency?”
Nick’s baritone voice rang ominously behind her.
“Hi, Dr. Preston.” A little
rattled by the boss’s presence, Sandra scampered out of the NICU while he
slipped on the yellow sterile gown and gloves.
Madelyn spun her head. He stood
at the door, arms crossed over his chest. One eyebrow arched. Darn if he didn’t
look very directorial.
“We can’t abandon our patients
when they’re still so weak.”
“Really? Our business is to keep
them healthy. Not to organize their lives. There are others responsible for that.”
A grin denied his scorn. “I wish I had a camera to take a picture. You look so beautiful
with babies in your arms.” Then all humor faded from his face. “Madelyn, you’ll
make a wonderful mother one day.”
She frowned and lowered her gaze
to the babies. Wrapped in red and green Christmassy blankets, their light blue
eyes shining, they looked at her as if she was the center of their universe.
Too late. I can’t have
children now. She swallowed the lump in her throat and stiffened. “I told
you once I don’t believe in relationship and commitment.”
“A woman according to my heart.”
He considered her for a moment. “Yet the pose suits you.”
“Stop it, Nick.” His words
needled her with regret and longing. She’d never realized she’d sacrificed so
much for her career. Now it hurt. “As long as they are in the NICU, they are my
responsibility. I’ll make sure they’re well taken care of.”
“I don’t doubt it. But I heard
part of your conversation with Sandra. Don’t expect me to suggest anything to
the CPS, or argue or plead with them. It’s not my job.” A scowl formed on his
forehead.
“I understand.” Independence had
been her motto since she’d joined college. She wasn’t used to asking for help
from anyone and wouldn’t start now. “Maybe someone will adopt both. We can hope
and pray.” And she wouldn’t allow Nick—as boss or friend—to smother her now.
“Madelyn, adoption is a very
secretive procedure. No one will tell you anything. I’ve learned it firsthand.”
A shadow obscured his usually charming face. Was he talking about his own situation?
“Have you tried to find your
birth parents?” She regretted the question the second she blurted it out. Would
he resent her curiosity? “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
A one-sided smile curled his mouth
“I have no secrets for you.”
Oh God. She had plenty. Why
couldn’t she get herself to confide in him?
Because he’d put his director’s
hat on and used his authoritative tone to demand...who knows what.
“To answer your question, yes, I
tried to find my birth parents. First I asked Dad about them. He got upset and
said to drop the subject and stop being ungrateful. They were dead and I’d
never find anything about them. Mom cried and said I was the most precious
person in the world.”
“What about your certificate of
adoption? You needed official papers to apply for college. Right?” Interested
in spite of herself, she wanted to learn about the adoption procedure. If only
to help the sweet things she carefully held in her arms.
“Dad gave me a birth certificate
showing Frank David Preston as my father and Anne Lee Meyer as my mother.”
“Born in what hospital, what
city?”
Nick shrugged. “Born in a clinic
that doesn’t exist anymore in New Haven, Connecticut. The birth certificate was
probably a fake my parents
ropes.” Sandra’s tone betrayed her concern and Madelyn had her own doubts. Nick
had been very busy with his new responsibilities as Clinic Director and his
move to the apartment he’d rented on the twenty-third floor of the Blue
Lagoon high rise.
Things didn’t look rosy for the
lovely bundles in her arms. “We won’t abandon you, sweethearts. Do your part
and get bigger, and I’ll move heaven and earth to help you.”
“Hmm, what happened to the Don’t
get too chummy with your patients they drilled in our heads during residency?”
Nick’s baritone voice rang ominously behind her.
“Hi, Dr. Preston.” A little
rattled by the boss’s presence, Sandra scampered out of the NICU while he
slipped on the yellow sterile gown and gloves.
Madelyn spun her head. He stood
at the door, arms crossed over his chest. One eyebrow arched. Darn if he didn’t
look very directorial.
“We can’t abandon our patients
when they’re still so weak.”
“Really? Our business is to keep
them healthy. Not to organize their lives. There are others responsible for that.”
A grin denied his scorn. “I wish I had a camera to take a picture. You look so beautiful
with babies in your arms.” Then all humor faded from his face. “Madelyn, you’ll
make a wonderful mother one day.”
She frowned and lowered her gaze
to the babies. Wrapped in red and green Christmassy blankets, their light blue
eyes shining, they looked at her as if she was the center of their universe.
Too late. I can’t have
children now. She swallowed the lump in her throat and stiffened. “I told
you once I don’t believe in relationship and commitment.”
“A woman according to my heart.”
He considered her for a moment. “Yet the pose suits you.”
“Stop it, Nick.” His words
needled her with regret and longing. She’d never realized she’d sacrificed so
much for her career. Now it hurt. “As long as they are in the NICU, they are my
responsibility. I’ll make sure they’re well taken care of.”
“I don’t doubt it. But I heard
part of your conversation with Sandra. Don’t expect me to suggest anything to
the CPS, or argue or plead with them. It’s not my job.” A scowl formed on his
forehead.
“I understand.” Independence had
been her motto since she’d joined college. She wasn’t used to asking for help
from anyone and wouldn’t start now. “Maybe someone will adopt both. We can hope
and pray.” And she wouldn’t allow Nick—as boss or friend—to smother her now.
“Madelyn, adoption is a very
secretive procedure. No one will tell you anything. I’ve learned it firsthand.”
A shadow obscured his usually charming face. Was he talking about his own situation?
“Have you tried to find your
birth parents?” She regretted the question the second she blurted it out. Would
he resent her curiosity? “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
A one-sided smile curled his mouth
“I have no secrets for you.”
Oh God. She had plenty. Why
couldn’t she get herself to confide in him?
Because he’d put his director’s
hat on and used his authoritative tone to demand...who knows what.
“To answer your question, yes, I
tried to find my birth parents. First I asked Dad about them. He got upset and
said to drop the subject and stop being ungrateful. They were dead and I’d
never find anything about them. Mom cried and said I was the most precious
person in the world.”
“What about your certificate of
adoption? You needed official papers to apply for college. Right?” Interested
in spite of herself, she wanted to learn about the adoption procedure. If only
to help the sweet things she carefully held in her arms.
“Dad gave me a birth certificate
showing Frank David Preston as my father and Anne Lee Meyer as my mother.”
“Born in what hospital, what
city?”
Nick shrugged. “Born in a clinic
that doesn’t exist anymore in New Haven, Connecticut. The birth certificate was
probably a fake my parents
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