Love in Bloom (12 page)

Clay wrote her name on the paper attached to the clipboard.  "No problems?"

"No, it's just...never mind."

He raised his head.  "If you want to wait to tell Dr. Conrad--"

"It's not that.  It's just...I don't need to come every week."

"I imagine Dr. Conrad thinks it's important you do."

Miriam's hands fluttered.  "But I don't have insurance and I can't pay her.  She's done so much already."

"You should talk to her about this."

"I have.  She's letting me do sewing for her for payment.  Even for office visits that's not enough."

Clay wondered if Paige was used to bartering for services.  It seemed like a good idea to him.  It would put everyone on a more equal footing.  "Maybe for her it is."

Miriam shook her head.  "I know what doctors get to deliver babies.  Even if she delivers my baby at home, she should get paid."

"Dr. Conrad's going to deliver your baby at home?"

"Uh, huh, if everything's all right.  But she told me she'll call the ambulance if something doesn't look right.  She made me get a blood test and another test.  A sonogram?"

Clay knew all about sonograms, CT scans, MRIs.  He'd had the full gamut at one time or another.  All were expensive.  "If you follow what Dr. Conrad says, I'm sure you and the baby will be fine."

"It's my first.  I'm scared."

"I would be, too."

Miriam smiled.

****

Paige considered checking the waiting room to see if it had filled up again.  The morning's calendar had been loaded with appointments.  She didn't take time to peek in, but hurried to her next patient, wondering where Clay was.

The door to the second examining room stood partially open.  What Paige saw stopped her in her tracks.  Clay was lifting a two-year-old into the air.  The baby gurgled, smiled, and reached for Clay's chin.

Clay laughed and set the child on the examining table.  But the toddler reached out for Clay, wanting more attention.

The baby's mother said, "He's been crabby for the past hour.  I should have given him to you sooner."

"He was just bored, weren't you, little guy?"

The child stuck his thumb in his mouth and smiled around it.

Paige knew Clay was a gentle man.  It shouldn't surprise her that he'd be good with children.  Had he ever been in love?  Had he ever considered having a family?  In some ways he seemed so alone.  But he had a family.  He had friends.  Figuring him out was more difficult than putting together one of Doc's jigsaw puzzles.

Paige entered the room.  Clay handed her the clipboard, poked the toddler's tummy, receiving a giggle in return, and closed the door behind him.

When Paige finished with her patients, it was well after noon.  She returned the charts to the files in her office and went to the reception area.  Her last patient was handing Clay his co-pay for the visit.

The man waved at Paige.  "Thanks, Dr. Conrad.  Hope I don't see you for a while."

"Take all the antibiotics," Paige warned.

The man looked sheepish.  "I will this time."

After he left her office, Paige sat on the corner of the desk and said to Clay, "I thought you'd be gone.  Don't you have a store to run?"

"I have two people on the floor this morning."

Paige smiled.  "You managed the office well.  Thinking of a second job?"

He smiled reluctantly.  "No, thanks.  There's a list of call-backs you have to make.  Nothing urgent.  Mostly appointments.  I didn't want to mess with your system."

"I don't know how to thank you, Clay.  Without your help, I'd still be backed up."

"No thanks necessary.  Just a neighbor helping a neighbor."

Something was different about Clay today.  He was keeping himself remote.

He stood.  "I'd better let you return your calls."

He seemed to take up most of the waiting room.  "You said there was nothing urgent.  I have sandwiches in the refrigerator in my office.  You're welcome to share them."

He checked his watch.  "No.  I have to get going."  He was halfway across the waiting room when he turned around and asked, "Are you really going to deliver Miriam Jacobs' baby at home?"  He sounded wary of the idea and surprised.

"Yes.  Why?"

"Just seems risky to me when a hospital's so close."

Paige considered information about patients confidential.  Ben was a different matter since, in a way, she was consulting with Clay.  But Miriam...  "There are reasons."

"Yeah, she told me she can't afford it.  I'm sure people would chip in--"

"Miriam won't accept charity.  She only lets me treat her because we're...trading services."  Paige had had Miriam hem slacks, replace zippers, mend frayed pillowcases.

"She does sewing for you."

"You and she had quite a discussion."

"She seemed to need someone to talk to.  Is her husband out of work?"

"Clay, I really can't discuss--"

"Wait a minute.  Jacobs.  I heard someone in the store talking about him running out on his wife."  Clay shook his head.  "I can't understand men like that."

She imagined Clay couldn't.  From everything she'd seen of him, she realized he had a strong moral character.  "I'll take good care of her, Clay.  She's healthy.  I see no signs of problems, though you never know.  I won't hesitate to call an ambulance if she needs it.  You wouldn't believe the conditions under which I've delivered babies."

"Dirt floors and grass shacks?"

She could picture it all too vividly.  "Sometimes.  With Miriam I can make sure conditions are sterile.  I've taught her birthing exercises.  She wants to have a natural delivery for the baby's sake and so she recovers faster."  Paige took her stethoscope from around her neck and stuffed it in her coat pocket.  "Did Ben call you?"

"No.  Why?  Did you tell him to?"  Clay didn't seem pleased by the idea.

"No.  But I thought he might after he thought about everything you said."

Clay frowned and a lock of his black hair fell lower on his forehead.  "Maybe I said too much.  Don't hope for miracles, Paige.  He's troubled and I don't think I'm the one to help him."

She wanted to brush Clay's hair from his forehead and ease the creases from his brow.  "I think you're just the one to help him.  But only if you want to.  Has something happened to make you want to back off again?"

"No."  He hesitated for only a fraction of a second, but she noticed it.

"Then what's wrong?"

"You saw what happened Sunday.  I might have made the situation worse."

She hopped off the desk, approached Clay, and instinctively touched his arm.  "You did what you could."

His muscles tensed under her fingers.  "Yes, and sometimes we can't do enough."  He pulled back, away from her touch, saying, "I have to go.  I hope your afternoon doesn't stampede you like the morning."

She smiled.  "I'll handle it.  Thanks again."

Clay looked as if he wanted to say something more, but he didn't.  He turned, and with a last long look, left the office.

CHAPTER SIX

Clay had left Paige, fully intending not to see her again.  But as he drove home from work at five-thirty and passed her office, he noticed six cars still parked in the small lot.  He thought about her being snowed under again and he veered into the parking area.

When he entered the office, the situation was similar to the morning's.  He searched for the closed examining room door and knocked.

Paige opened it slightly and before she saw him said, "I'll get to you as soon as I--Oh, Clay!"

This morning she'd been busy but not harried.  Now her cheeks were flushed, her hair was mussed where she'd brushed it away from her forehead and face.  She looked drained.  "Clipboard in your office?"

"Clay, I can't ask you to--"

"You're not asking."

Her stomach growled.

He gazed at her steadily.  "Did you eat lunch?"

She brushed stray strands of hair away from her cheek.  "I didn't have time.  After you left, the phone started ringing.  Before I knew it, the waiting room was full again.  How many are out there now?"

"Five.  You finish with this one, I'll take care of settling the others."

"Clay?"

"Don't say it," he warned with a grin.

She smiled a thank-you instead.

Clay was waiting for her in the hall when she finished with her patient.  He held out a napkin with half a turkey sandwich.  "I'd have brought you the whole thing, but I knew you wouldn't take time for that.  Take a few deep breaths and eat this."

She tried to hide a smile.  "I'm the one who's supposed to be giving orders."

He cocked his head.  "I don't see why you can't share the honor."

She laughed and took the sandwich from him.

"And don't gulp it down."

She saluted him smartly.  "Yes, sir."

Clay and Paige worked as a team as they had in the morning.  Finally, the office and reception area were empty.  Clay watched Paige as she shrugged out of her lab coat, hung it in her office, and sat in her desk chair, jotting notes on a chart.  He stood in the doorway without her noticing.

She'd brushed her hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear.  A few wisps strayed across her cheek.  She looked tired. 

After the nightmare, he'd sworn he wouldn't see her again.  But he kept coming back.  Why?  Because she needed help?  That was one reason, but there were others.  Some better left alone.

Sometimes she seemed so untouched, other times there was a world of sadness in her eyes.  He wanted to wipe that away.

He should lighten up and so should she.  What could chase nightmares away faster than good times?  They could both use an afternoon of pure fun.  They could forget about Ben and whatever else bogged them down and simply have an enjoyable afternoon.

The decision made, he tapped lightly on the doorjamb.

She looked up and smiled.  "I have to write this down before I forget."  She finished the paragraph of notes, then put down the pencil and leaned back in her chair.  "You're sure you don't want a second job?"