Page 39 of Holiday Haven

“What's his latest temp? “Adam asked as he began to unwrap the sterile LP tray.

“102.8, although he feels really warm, so it may be higher by now.” She undressed the little guy who cried, not liking his heated body exposed to the air. “Hush, now, it’s okay. I’m here for you,” she crooned to the baby.

Adam glanced at her but then concentrated on the task at hand. He donned a pair of sterile gloves, then used the microbial solution to watch Frankie’s back. She tightened her grip on the baby when he lifted the long, thin spinal needle.

“Ready?” He met her gaze.

She nodded and held her breath, wondering how on earth Adam could find the column of cerebral spinal fluid in such a small baby. But he did, just as he had with Joy, on the first stick.

“I'm ready for the first tube.”

She handed him the tubes in order and he put a few drops of spinal fluid into each one. When he finished, she drew in a deep breath of relief. “Thanks, Adam.”

“You are welcome.” His deep voice reminded her of the fun they'd had playing in the snow. How he'd laughed when she hit him with that snowball and how he'd surprised her when he'd sought revenge by tackling her down into a snowbank.

Mostly she remembered their heated kiss that nearly melted the snow around them.

She forced the images away. This wasn't the time to ruminate over how much she liked him. “Have you spoken to Joy’s mother?”

He shook his head. “No, not yet. I stopped by this morning, but she wasn't home.”

“She wasn't?” She didn't like the implication of that. “Adam, what if something has happened to her?”

“Try not to think the worst. Will find her.”

Maybe they would, but she had a bad feeling the mother would be in no condition to take care of her baby. Selfishly, she hoped that if that was the case, she would be approved as Joy’s foster mother. After quickly washing the antibiotic solution from Frankie’s back, she dressed him in his light blue sleeper then she cuddled him close for a moment before setting him back in the crib so that she could carry the tubes of cerebral spinal fluid to the lab.

“Do you need anything else?” Adam watched as she labeled each of the tubes with Frankie’s name and medical record number.

“No, but thanks. You've been a huge help.” She gestured to the baby. “At least I can start the antibiotics as ordered, in case he has bacterial meningitis.”

“Sounds like a plan.” He glanced around. “I better go. Are you working tomorrow?”

“All week.” She kept her tone cheerful.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, then.” He turned to leave.

She watched him go, wishing she could call him back. As she stood there, she felt more alone than she had when Danielle had moved off to her job in London. More alone, than when Aunt Bea had passed away quietly in her sleep.

She missed the closeness she shared with Adam but wouldn't be satisfied with just a little part of him, either. The small part he chose to share.

She wanted everything. Especially his love.

* * *

She managedto keep from dwelling on Adam too much as the end of her shift loomed near. She was finishing with Frankie’s bath when Luis strode into the room.

“I'm sorry it took me so long,” he said. “It was a really rough night. There were back-to-back car accidents involving small kids.” His dark eyes held pain. “We lost one of them, a five- year-old boy.”

“I'm so sorry.” Put in perspective, those trauma victims had needed Luis's help far more than Frankie had. The lines of fatigue etched in the residence face convinced her he hadn't been simply putting her off.

He forced a smile. “Not your fault.”

“It is, because I made you rush up here for nothing.” She gave him an apologetic glance. “I should have called to let you know I don't need your help with the procedure. Dr. Monroe was here and did Frankie’s LP for us. After getting approval from Dr. Strong.”

“I’m glad.” Luis gazed down at the baby. “I really felt awful about taking so long. It seemed like the stream of patients just wouldn't end. And those last two trauma patients were bad. The little girl is still in surgery, I'm not sure she'll make it.”

“Hey, it's okay.” She touched his arm, trying to make him feel better. As much as she loved her job, she couldn't imagine working down in the emergency department with trauma patients. Especially small children. “You can head back down and get caught up.”

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