Page 33 of Doctor’s Surprise Twins

We loaded the rest of the boxes into the car just as the cleaning company arrived to handle the clean-up. I handed over the keys, certain I’d get my money back out of the place. The realtor would list the home this week sometime, and I would have the full week to unpack before starting my new job a week from Monday. It was bittersweet being home, but just sweet leaving. Derek didn’t want me, so why would he want a baby hanging around?

I kissed Dad and gave Curt a hug. “I’ll come home to visit for Christmas. I promise.”

“If you need anything at all, you call us.” Dad squeezed my hand, and I saw for the first time how his age was catching up with him. He was in his seventies and still vibrant, but with the way his skin had thinned out, the little wisps of hair almost gone from the top of his head, I knew he would need more care soon.

“I love you, Daddy. I’ll call, okay?” I gave him another kiss and climbed into my car. As I pulled out and waved, I felt the tears coming on. I had never cried so much in my whole life, not even when Mom died. I was the strong one, the one who put on a smile to make others happy when tragic things happened. I knew it was just the pregnancy hormones, but it hurt too.

I headed south, toward my new home and job. Derek’s smile played on my thoughts. I knew part of him wanted something with me. We’d had a connection since high school, and it was obvious that I turned him on. He just wouldn’t get over his damn hang-up about dating an employee. I had to respect that. He could likely score a position higher up in obstetrics at the hospital if he played his cards right. And my being there would only complicate things—especially when I started showing and we were forced to tell people I was pregnant.

No.

I had to protect him and his future. And I had to respect his wishes. I wouldn’t selfishly demand that he love me at the expense of his career. My leaving was the only option.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE

Derek

I managedto make it all weekend without calling Maggie. Dad’s surprise visit had ruffled my feathers, but I had calmed myself on my own. So what if I’d jerked off to the image of her sucking my dick? I had resisted the temptation to continue the cycle of using her as a means for release because I had finally made the decision that she was worth so much more than that to me.

My parking space was empty, directly beneath the massive oak tree in front of the hospital near the main entrance. Maggie usually parked next to me, but her car was not there yet. I lingered in the car a bit, watching the minutes tick by. I bought her a coffee, decaf but dressed the way she liked it, so I hoped to walk her in. I hadn’t checked to see if she was feeling better, but it had been more than a week, so I fully expected her to be in this morning.

After nearly twenty minutes of waiting, I decided to head in. I’d have patients waiting on me if I was late, and I hated starting my day feeling rushed. Gus, the welcome host at the information desk, smiled and waved as I passed, two coffees in hand. My laptop bag hung from my shoulder, a letter handwritten and addressed to Maggie tucked in the outer pocket. I was awful with words, but I’d taken the time to tell her how I felt, and it took me four tries to get it right.

In the office, I weaved through the busy waiting room, patients already lined up. Barbra grimaced at me, and I made the assumption that it was because I was running late. I avoided her lecture by heading straight to Maggie’s office. I knew I’d be in with a patient in a matter of minutes, so I left the coffee and the letter centered on her desk. After checking that no one was looking, I picked up the lone scarf left draped over her chair and smelled it. Lilac and honey—just like her.

As I left Maggie’s office, Tammy passed by me, escorting Brita Fisher to exam room one. Brita smiled at me, her belly finally popping out a little. A first-time mom who chose our practice specifically because of the nutritional support, I was more thankful than ever that Maggie had joined us. I dropped my bag and slurped some of my steaming drink just in time to see Tammy’s face appear in my door.

“Ms. Fisher is waiting, Doc.”

I raised my cup in acknowledgement and smiled, taking the file from her hands. In one appointment and out of the next, my day ran away with me. I didn’t even have a chance to peek in and say hi to Maggie until almost lunch time. And when I did, the office was empty. The coffee was cold, the letter untouched. Gypsy saw me standing at the door looking like a lost puppy. She strolled up to me and pulled me in, shutting the door.

“Barb didn’t tell you?”

“Tell me what?” My mind went back to the grimace on her face as I walked in. I had avoided her on purpose, thinking she was going to chastise me for providing such a horrible example.

Gypsy’s quivering lip gave me my first hint that something was wrong. I glanced at the coffee and letter, collecting my second clue. But when Gypsy made her announcement, it still blindsided me.

“She’s gone, Doc. Maggie took a job somewhere else. She didn’t leave a forwarding address. She didn’t even say where the new job was.” I could see the disappointment in Gypsy’s eyes. It probably mirrored mine. Maggie hadn’t just been a fling of mine. She was a valuable member of our team, and she was a friend to everyone here. Her absence would hit everyone hard. That likely explained the somber mood everyone had been in all morning.

“Did she say why?” I headed for the door. I needed to speak to Barb directly. Gypsy followed, her hurried steps hastening my search.

“No, she didn’t say why. I assume better money or whatever. She hasn’t returned my calls or texts. Do you want me to ask her? I’m sure she’ll pick up eventually. She’s probably at her new job and can’t talk.”

My mind raced. Had she given me any more clues? I remembered her resignation letter on her computer, but she had addressed that to me and Barbra. I hadn’t gotten an email from her this morning. I always checked my email before I even got out of bed in the morning. And things seemed fine, right up until the dinner we went to for the children’s hospital. We had argued, but I didn’t think it was that bad. We’d had sex, but I couldn’t stay with her. That was the last time we spoke. What on earth had happened?

“Barb?” I searched the break room, then her office, then headed to the check-in desk. Only two patients remained in the outer office and both of them were waiting to check in. Both of them had appointments with Maggie.

Tammy was busy, but she called over her shoulder, “Barb went for lunch already, Doc.” She turned her attention back to the women in line, and I heard her explaining how Maggie was not in for the day and that they’d have to reschedule. As I backed up, I ran into Gypsy, who hovered around me like a small, annoying dog.

“Sorry... ” She moved to the side and let me pass. “So, do you? Want me to ask her what’s going on?”

“No.” I scowled, ducking into my office. This wasn’t middle school. I didn’t need a friend of a friend to chase down the reason I was being slighted. “If she didn’t want us to know, that’s fine.” I shut the door in Gypsy’s face, maybe a little harder than I should have. I’d apologize later. She didn’t deserve to carry the brunt of my frustration.

I had the urge to run into her office and take the letter back so Gypsy didn’t read it, but I felt glued to the floor. I had been such an asshole to her, kept her at arm’s length and made it seem like I felt nothing. In reality, I was feeling strong things, things I didn’t want to admit that I felt because it would mean I had to be vulnerable again. Maggie had done nothing but care for me, be there, listen, and support me, and now she was gone.

I pulled out my cell and sat at my desk, my thumb swiping through my contacts to find Curt’s. But the moment I saw his contact image, I knew I couldn’t call and ask him what happened. If I pursued any thread like that with him, he’d ask what I was so interested in her for. He’d be irate that I was calling after her and eventually, he’d put the pieces together. I growled and locked my phone, tossing it onto my desk.

I didn’t have the right to open that can of worms without letting Maggie decide whether she wanted it open. For all I knew, she was moving on to be with someone else because I hadn’t told her how I really felt. If I told Curt about the relationship—whatever it was—it would be breaching her trust and his.

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