Read Online One Summerhill Day (The Summerhill Series Book 1) by Keira Montclair - Free Book Online Page A

it Strong Memorial Hospital. This place is SMH too, so it gets confusing sometimes. I love working with students at the U. of R. med school.
    “But now my new family keeps me plenty busy, especially since it’s so large. Lorraine and I have been blessed in many ways. I enjoy all the Grant and Ramsay kids. They’re each special in their own way.” He gave her a serious look. “Though Ryan is my first and will always be special. Don’t tell anyone I said that.” Dr. Ramsay smiled.
    They headed down the hallway and he stopped in front of an office door. “Here we are.” He stood back as he pushed the door open and gestured for her to enter the room.
    “Ellen, I have a new nurse for you.” After the introductions, Caitlyn sat and Ellen ushered her brother to the door. He turned around before he left. “Caitlyn, lovely seeing you this morning. I have other places to go, but please stop at our house any time.”
    A short time later, Caitlyn followed Ellen Ramsay into the Emergency Room. After spending an hour discussing the hospital, the various units, and where Caitlyn would fit best, Ellen had offered to take her on a small tour of the facility. The last unit was the emergency room, where Caitlyn was most interested in working.
    Summerville Memorial Hospital was much smaller than the hospital she’d worked at in Philadelphia, but it reminded her of a small facility she’d loved working in during one of her clinical rotations at Niagara University, where she had received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. Ellen introduced her to the charge nurse, Mary Decamp, and to the Nurse Manager, Susan White. After the tour, she was interviewed by Susan White and one of the floor nurses.
    When she was satisfied with Caitlyn’s answers, Susan said, “Well, if you’re interested and we confirm your license and experience, we would be pleased to welcome you as a member of our staff. When can you start?”
    Caitlyn smiled. She might have ended up in Summerhill by some fluke of fate, but everything was falling into place.
    ***
    After Ryan pulled into Erin’s apartment complex, he stayed in his parked car for a moment before summoning the will to go inside. Visiting was hard, though he came every few weeks.
    Erin was his best friend’s widow.
    Chad Armstrong had been Ryan’s best friend all through high school. They had enlisted together at the age of twenty, along with Jake, who had just turned nineteen. The three of them had pledged to come home together.
    Unusual though it was, they had been stationed together in Baghdad. But they hadn’t come home together like they’d planned. Ryan had come home first, disgraced. Jake had stayed on another year and come home as a hero.
    But Chad? Chad never made it back. Well, in a way, he had, but it was in a body bag. Chad was dead. He could no longer breathe or laugh or kiss his wife. He would never see his son, never spend a fun-filled day with his family or his friends.
    As Ryan climbed the stairs to her door and rang the doorbell, his stomach clenched again. When he had first returned from the service, he had visited Erin often, believing that he was obligated to take care of her. After all, Chad had been his best friend and had died in his arms. It was only right that he take care of Erin and their son, especially since Chad had said something to that effect before he had died.
    But Ryan and Erin just didn’t mesh together. He had asked her about dating, but she had turned him down. However, he couldn’t just walk away, so he came back to visit at least once a month. They were both comfortable about it now, and their son had accepted him.
    Erin answered. “Hi, Ryan. Come on in.” Her long brown hair sat piled on top of her head, and her brown eyes warmed to his smile.
    Ryan stepped over a couple of toys, then leaned over to kiss her cheek. “Hey, Erin. Everything okay? How’s Sammy?”
    A young boy came charging out of his room and ran into his arms. “Uncle Ryan!”