Page 3 of Ice Cold Hearts

She sighs. “Fine, you've got a deal.

Damn, this guy must really be a big deal. She usually does everything she can to get out of doing those.

“When do I need to be there?” I ask.

“In about thirty minutes,” she says sheepishly.

“Seriously, Jenna?” I grumble. “No way am I going to be able to find a sitter and get there on time. It takes twenty-five minutes on a good day.”

“I told him he might have to wait a while for you to get there, and believe me, I tried to get him to reschedule, but he said he'd wait there all night if that's what he needed to do to get seen today,” Jenna says apologetically.

“I'll get there as fast as I can,” I promise. “And is there anything I can bring you on my way there or back? You really don't sound good.”

“Dr. Kang’s got me covered. I'm picking up the antibiotics now, and Henry's home making me some soup. He tried to tell me he'd call Cara and have her pick them up on the way home from college, but I just couldn't take any more of his fussing over me like a nervous hen. I had to get out of the house. He's insufferable. You're lucky not to have to deal with any of that.”

Yeah, lucky me, all alone.

I'm not saying I'd kill for a husband like Henry to fuss over me when I'm sick, but I'd certainly consider maiming someone for the chance.

As soon as I hang up with Jenna, I fire off a series of panicked texts to my parents explaining the situation and begging one of them to come over and watch Audrey.

Two minutes pass. No response.

Five minutes. My hand is cramping from how hard I’m gripping the phone.

I know Jenna said he’d wait for me, but the closer I am to being on time, the better an impression I can make. If he’s actually a celebrity and I make a good impression, then maybe he’ll refer other patients my way. Then those patients will refer other patients, and by the time I’ve saved enough to open my practice, I’ll have a massive network of high-paying clients!

Slow down, girl. You haven’t even laid eyes on the man yet. Not to mention he’s already being a diva about the appointment date. Are you sure you want to put all your eggs in that basket?

I shake my head to clear away the fantasy and unlock my phone to call my parents. It’s unlike them not to have responded yet, but before I can navigate to my contacts, Mom’s heavy knock rattles the front door.

“Did you run down the street to get here?” I laugh, waving her inside.

“If you must know, I power walked.” Mom sasses me, but then her brows knit together and she says, “You did say it was urgent.”

“It is.” I nod. “Jenna’s sick, and there’s a high-profile patient who won’t reschedule their appointment for love or money. Normally, I’d say no, but?—”

“If you make a good impression, it could help you later on. I know, Love. Go on.” She shoos me with her hands. “Get out of here.”

I throw my arms around her and kiss her cheek. “You are the best. I love you.”

I drop a quick kiss on the top of Audrey’s head and race out the door.

“Emily, your clothes!” my mother shouts from the window.

Without stopping, I shout over my shoulder, “I have emergency scrubs in my office.”

Driving in plastic shoes isn’t the easiest thing in the world, but I manage to get to the hospital in record time. I try not to dwell on the fact that if Audrey had been in the car with me, I’d probably have been arrested for child endangerment. Honestly, it was a small miracle I hadn’t run into a single cop on my way there… or gotten into a wreck.

My hands shake as my nerves catch up to me.

How could I be so stupid? At the speed I was going, one wrong move could have orphaned my daughter.

Mom guilt later, I tell myself. Parking spot now.

I scan the limited parking at the front of the hospital. While I’d rather not walk through the main entrance looking like a Disney Princess reject, it is the fastest way to my office. It’s that weird time of day where the afternoon emergencies have been discharged but the evening emergency patients might not have taken over the entire parking lot yet.

Please, please, please let there be a spot for me.

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