Page 11 of The Calendar of New Beginnings
She rubbed her thumb over his hand. “But I knowyouand all your superhero healing ways. I know you feel like you failed Kim as a doctor for not detecting her breast cancer sooner. I won’t let you be hurt if my right eye doesn’t return to normal. It won’t be anyone’s fault.”
“I don’t see you as a second chance!” He had to press his lips together to keep the angry words from spurting out. “First of all, you’re my friend, and that’s what friends do. Second, I’m a doctor. Even if it’s not my specialty, I can use my contacts to help. I can do some research, ask around. Don’t deny me the opportunity to support you.”
Turning, she settled back against the bench and crossed her feet again. “I didn’t mean to make you angry. I’m not great…at accepting help sometimes.”
No shit, he wanted to say. “Good thing I know that about you.” He let go of one of her hands to nudge her shoulder, but then he stilled, horrified. “That didn’t hurt you, did it?”
She barked out a harsh laugh. “Not really. It only made my kidneys twitch.”
Was she kidding? “Let me see your kidneys,” he ordered.
“You can’t, moron,” she said in an aggrieved tone. “They’re internal organs, remember?”
“I know that.” He let go of her other hand andreached for her shirt. “Are you sure your doctors said you only need an ophthalmologist? Everything should be looked at.”
“Let me rephrase. Myteamof doctors agreed the only doctor I need to see is an ophthalmologist who specializes in eye trauma, and that’s Dr. Davidson. And I amnotshowing you my kidneys. I was only kidding anyway. I had a few wounds and a little gash on my back, but they’re healing nicely.”
He wasn’t so sure he bought it. “Don’t make me pull out my Dr. Hardcase with you, Luce,” he said in a hard tone. “I mean business.”
“Don’t makemecall for a police officer and get your ass thrown in jail.”
“I want to see your back,” he ground out.
She stood. “No. It will only make me uncomfortable. All you need to know is the stitches are out and everything’s progressing normally—to use one of your doctor terms.”
He stared her down, but she didn’t budge. “If something changes—” he started.
“I’ll take care of it,” she assured him. “Andy, I need you to promise not to tell anyone about this.”
Somehow he hadn’t seen that coming, although he should have known better. “Dammit, Lucy, your parents deserve to know what happened. They love you! Don’t keep something like this from them.”
“It’s my decision,” she said, putting her hands on her hips. “I’ll tell them if and when I feel it’s right. I don’t want them to lose any sleep trying to fix something that can’t be changed. Besides, I don’t want them playing on the fears I already have about going back overseas.”
Standing, he gazed across the park. Decades ago, they used to swing together here. Back then, the worst thing she had to worry about was her braids being pulled by Jason thebully. Times had changed so much, and they kept right on changing. Everyone else seemed to keep up, so why did it feel like such a struggle for him?
“Fine!” he said, kicking at the gravel under his foot. “I’ll keep your counsel on one condition. You will keep me up to date on your medical progress.”
“What?” she blasted out.
“I’m not asking to go to your appointments with you, but I will if you’ll let me.” He held up a hand when she opened her mouth to protest. “Please don’t shut me out of this, Luce. It would…kill me.”
She turned her back to him, and he heard another unmistakable sniff. He took a few deep breaths to calm the messy emotions coursing through his own chest.
“Okay,” she said, “but I want your promise you won’t boss me around when it comes to medical things.”
“I’m not completely sure what you mean by that. I would never do anything that wasn’t in your best interest.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” she said, looking weary suddenly.
He fought a string of curses. “Fine. I promise I will not do anything without talking to you first,” he said, hoping he could keep that promise.
“Or do anythingperiod,”Lucy said, wrapping her arms around herself like she was suddenly cold. “I’m pretty independent. I don’t like being told what to do.”
He fought a smile. “Don’t I know it? It’s one of your most charming and aggravating qualities.”
“If I wasn’t so tired, I’d throw a handful of gravel at you right now,” she said with a trace of humor in her voice.
“It’s a good thing I’m adept at ducking,” he said, making a show of his skills. “Just promise me something, okay?”
