Read Online PARADISE COVE (PARADISE SERIES Book 1) by Patrice Wilton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Patrice Wilton
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is," she told Kayla. "And to make damn sure that she'll survive this. I don't want to be aiding and abetting an illegal and have her go and die on us."
“Mom!” Kayla sucked in a breath. "Sean's a doctor."
"A cardiac surgeon is no more familiar with delivering a baby than I am. At least I've had some experience, giving birth to three children. Besides," she added, removing the woman's ragged clothing, one piece at a time, "I think Dr. Flannigan, if that's who he really is—has already made up his mind to save this woman and her baby and to hell with the consequences."
"Isn't that risky?" Kayla hated to hear suspicion from her mom, especially because once she had doubted him too. Things had changed and she knew Sean had all of their best interests at heart. "Couldn't he lose his medical license?"
"I wasn't thinking about that." Her mother lowered her voice. "I meant with the law. Us too."
"Are we doing the right thing?" Kayla asked nervously. "I tried to Google it, but I couldn't find out anything about a rescue at sea. Still, as a doctor, he could do no less. Isn’t there some kind of oath?"
"Yes, well perhaps it might be better to say that we found them early this morning. Clinging to the pier, or washed ashore."
"Mother,” Kayla said with surprise. “You want to lie to the authorities?"
"Not lie, exactly.” Anna had the woman draped with a sheet for modesty in no time. “Perhaps you stumbled upon them during your early morning jog?"
Kayla put a hand to her mouth, smothering a laugh. "You amaze me."
"Good.” Anna reached around for the cotton balls on the floor by her feet. “Now get a damp cloth and please wipe Juanita's face. She hasn't opened her eyes since I came in." Her mother used the vinegar to treat the infected areas where the stings were most apparent. "Poor thing has hundreds of bites. Never seen it this bad."
“She was awake earlier. She's sleeping.” They worked together to bring the unfortunate woman some relief. After a few minutes Juanita opened her eyes and was able to answer most of her mother's questions. Her English was limited and Anna had only studied Spanish a few years in school.
Somehow the two women communicated, and Anna was able to deduce that her labor had subsided. Her contractions had stopped, and she was frightened, wanting to know if the baby was all right.
Anna got up and moved to the door. "Dr. Flannigan. May I see you for a moment?"
Kayla stepped back. Her mother sounded like she was playing a lead role in a soap opera.
Sean met her in the hallway. Anna took his arm and whispered, "She's not in labor anymore and is worried about her baby. Is there any way to tell if it’s okay? Still alive?"
"I have my black bag in the closet. I'll get it. My scope is inside."
"I didn't see any vaginal bleeding," Anna spoke quietly. "But I didn't feel any movement in her tummy either."
"I'll be right back." Sean strode toward the other bedroom. Kayla helped her mother get Juanita into one of her soft terry cloth robes, then Anna gathered the old clothes to be washed.
Miguel stood in the doorway watching, Raul by his side. Miguel nodded toward his wife. "Thank you," he said in broken English. Tears rolled down his cheeks. " Gracias ."
"You're welcome," Anna answered, patting the man on his arm. “She will be fine. Your family, too.” Kayla had never been more proud of her mother.
Sean returned and Anna smiled. "I didn't know surgeons carried bags. Thought that was just the basic tool for a physician," she said pleasantly.
He colored a little and Kayla found his embarrassment endearing. "It may be "old school"," he told Anna, "but living on the boat, I feel it's as essential as any first aid kit."
"Well, I'm glad you have it handy," Anna agreed, stepping out of his way.
He placed the bag on the bed, and leaned over Juanita. "You're looking better already," he said in a reassuring manner. "You have some color back in your face."
He put the stethoscope around his
“Mom!” Kayla sucked in a breath. "Sean's a doctor."
"A cardiac surgeon is no more familiar with delivering a baby than I am. At least I've had some experience, giving birth to three children. Besides," she added, removing the woman's ragged clothing, one piece at a time, "I think Dr. Flannigan, if that's who he really is—has already made up his mind to save this woman and her baby and to hell with the consequences."
"Isn't that risky?" Kayla hated to hear suspicion from her mom, especially because once she had doubted him too. Things had changed and she knew Sean had all of their best interests at heart. "Couldn't he lose his medical license?"
"I wasn't thinking about that." Her mother lowered her voice. "I meant with the law. Us too."
"Are we doing the right thing?" Kayla asked nervously. "I tried to Google it, but I couldn't find out anything about a rescue at sea. Still, as a doctor, he could do no less. Isn’t there some kind of oath?"
"Yes, well perhaps it might be better to say that we found them early this morning. Clinging to the pier, or washed ashore."
"Mother,” Kayla said with surprise. “You want to lie to the authorities?"
"Not lie, exactly.” Anna had the woman draped with a sheet for modesty in no time. “Perhaps you stumbled upon them during your early morning jog?"
Kayla put a hand to her mouth, smothering a laugh. "You amaze me."
"Good.” Anna reached around for the cotton balls on the floor by her feet. “Now get a damp cloth and please wipe Juanita's face. She hasn't opened her eyes since I came in." Her mother used the vinegar to treat the infected areas where the stings were most apparent. "Poor thing has hundreds of bites. Never seen it this bad."
“She was awake earlier. She's sleeping.” They worked together to bring the unfortunate woman some relief. After a few minutes Juanita opened her eyes and was able to answer most of her mother's questions. Her English was limited and Anna had only studied Spanish a few years in school.
Somehow the two women communicated, and Anna was able to deduce that her labor had subsided. Her contractions had stopped, and she was frightened, wanting to know if the baby was all right.
Anna got up and moved to the door. "Dr. Flannigan. May I see you for a moment?"
Kayla stepped back. Her mother sounded like she was playing a lead role in a soap opera.
Sean met her in the hallway. Anna took his arm and whispered, "She's not in labor anymore and is worried about her baby. Is there any way to tell if it’s okay? Still alive?"
"I have my black bag in the closet. I'll get it. My scope is inside."
"I didn't see any vaginal bleeding," Anna spoke quietly. "But I didn't feel any movement in her tummy either."
"I'll be right back." Sean strode toward the other bedroom. Kayla helped her mother get Juanita into one of her soft terry cloth robes, then Anna gathered the old clothes to be washed.
Miguel stood in the doorway watching, Raul by his side. Miguel nodded toward his wife. "Thank you," he said in broken English. Tears rolled down his cheeks. " Gracias ."
"You're welcome," Anna answered, patting the man on his arm. “She will be fine. Your family, too.” Kayla had never been more proud of her mother.
Sean returned and Anna smiled. "I didn't know surgeons carried bags. Thought that was just the basic tool for a physician," she said pleasantly.
He colored a little and Kayla found his embarrassment endearing. "It may be "old school"," he told Anna, "but living on the boat, I feel it's as essential as any first aid kit."
"Well, I'm glad you have it handy," Anna agreed, stepping out of his way.
He placed the bag on the bed, and leaned over Juanita. "You're looking better already," he said in a reassuring manner. "You have some color back in your face."
He put the stethoscope around his
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