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CHAPTER NINE
A WEEK LATER Zoe was on her way out of her office to make her weekly rounds to area hospitals. Her cell phone rang. Gabe’s name showed on the screen.
She and Gabe had spent a blissful week together. They had taken walks, visited her mom, enjoyed the patio and spent precious moments in bed, many times just in each other’s arms, talking. Yet there had been no more discussion of where their relationship was headed or what would happen after the baby was born. It was as if they were living in a bubble of happiness and they were the only ones who existed. They were pretending nothing would ever change, therefore no decisions needed to be made. Gabe’s silence told her that he hadn’t changed his mind about what his life would be. She couldn’t accept less than what she wanted. They were living on borrowed time. Despite all that, her heart did a flip at the mere thought of him.
She touched the button.
“Hi, honey.”
Would she ever get over the thrill of Gabe’s voice calling her that? “Hey.”
“I just received word there’s a match for Mr. Luther.”
“Really? That’s wonderful.” She couldn’t believe it. So soon. The wait was usually much longer. The match must have been perfect.
“I’ve already made the call for him to come in. Hold on a sec.” Gabe spoke to someone else then said, “He should be on his way now. I expect to be in surgery late this evening.”
“I’m on my way.”
He hurriedly said, “I don’t know if I’ll have a chance to see you or not.”
“I understand. I’ll be busy with Mr. Luther anyway.”
* * *
Gabe had been keeping exceptionally normal hours for the past week but she was sure that wouldn’t always be the case. As often as possible, liver transplants were done during business hours, but there were always emergency situations. She worked in the medical field, understood that better than most. Tonight was an example.
Forty-five minutes later she arrived at the hospital and took the elevator up to the third floor, where the liver transplant unit was located. She went to the nurses’ station and showed her credentials to the unit tech before requesting to look at Mr. Luther’s chart. Zoe had just finished her review and was headed to his room when Gabe walked up.
He smiled. “Hey, I thought I’d miss you.”
“Glad you didn’t.”
She glanced at the desk to find the unit clerk and a couple of nurses watching them.
“Come on. We’ll go and see Mr. Luther.” He put his hand on her back and directed her toward the other end of the hall.
At Mr. Luther’s door she knocked. When there was no answer, she pushed the door open slightly. “Mr. Luther?”
The room was dark and the TV wasn’t playing. Had the OR tech already come to get him? She moved further into the room with Gabe close behind. “Mr. Luther?”
A movement caught her attention. The man sat in a chair, looking out the window.
“Mr. Luther, it’s Zoe. May I come in?”
“If you want.”
It was as if all the blustery wind had gone out of the man. What was going on? “I needed to finalize some things before they come to take you to the OR. Dr. Marks is here too. May I turn the light on?”
“Please don’t. I’m enjoying the sunset.”
She knew that tone. It was the same one her father had used just before he’d left. The hopeless one. The one that said he had nothing to live for. Zoe wasn’t going to let the same thing happen to Mr. Luther that had happened to her father.
She glanced back at Gabe then went to stand beside Mr. Luther. “Mind if I watch with you?”
“If you want to.”
Gabe came to stand behind her. His hand came to rest on her waist. Would he have taken the time to do the same a few weeks ago?
The sky, already orange, slowly darkened to black. With the sun below the horizon, Gabe stepped back and she did too.
“I need to listen to you, Mr. Luther, before I have to go to the OR,” Gabe said.
The man nodded and moved back to the bed. After he settled in, he focused on Gabe.
He pulled his stethoscope from around his neck. “You know, Mr. Luther, I’m good at what I do. I’ve done many liver transplants. I don’t anticipate you having any problems.”
“If you say so.”
“I do. I want you to try not to worry.” Gabe listened to Mr. Luther’s heart.
“I thought if you didn’t mind I’d stay right here with you,” Zoe said as she stepped closer to the bed. “Maybe walk down to surgery with you. Would you mind?”
Mr. Luther, who had hardly had time for her when she’d visited, looked at her and smiled. “I’d like that.”
“Zoe,” Gabe said in a sharp voice and with a direct look. “It might run late.”
She met his glare. “I know.”
“You need to take care of yourself,” Gabe insisted.
Mr. Luther nodded toward Gabe but looked at her and asked, “So what’s the deal with you and the doctor here? That baby?”
Was their relationship that obvious? Apparently so. Under normal circumstances their conversation wouldn’t have taken place in front of a patient. At least it had Mr. Luther thinking of something besides his impending surgery.
Zoe stared at Gabe. What should they say? How like Mr. Luther to ask such a direct personal question.
Gabe straightened. “Zoe is carrying my baby. We’re having a boy.”
She liked the pride she heard in his voice.
As if Gabe’s statement had confirmed what he thought, Mr. Luther said, “Congratulations. Now, Doc, do you think you can put in that new liver?”
Zoe blinked at his change of attitude and subject.
“I can and I will. I’ll see you in the OR.” He looked at Zoe. “Can I speak to you in the hall?”
Zoe placed her hand on Mr. Luther’s arm. “I’ll be right back.” She followed Gabe out the door.
“You shouldn’t be spending long hours here,” Gabe hissed before she could completely close the door. “I don’t want to have to worry about you.”
“I’ll be fine. If I start feeling bad I’ll get one of the security guards to walk me out if necessary. I’ll just be in the
waiting room.” She glanced toward Mr. Luther’s room. “He needs to know someone is here for him. I promise to only stay as long as I feel up to it.”
“I guess there’s no point in arguing with you.” Gabe sounded resigned to the fact he couldn’t fight her.
She smiled sweetly. “No, I don’t think there is.”
“Okay, but if you do leave, will you please text me and let me know you made it home?”
“I will. Thanks for caring.”
Gabe’s look captured hers. “I do, you know.”
Joy flowed through her as hot as a beach in the summer. That was the closest Gabe had come to expressing his feelings. She smiled. “It’s always nice to hear. I care about you too.”
“Maybe we should talk about how much when I get home.” He checked his watch. “I have to go. My team is waiting.”
There was something about Gabe that hummed like electricity when he talked about doing surgery. His thoughts were already on the job ahead. He was in his element. Gabe knew how to save lives and did it well. She was proud of him. “I understand. I still have to do vitals on Mr. Luther.”
He briefly touched her hand before walking away. Hope burned bright. Were her dreams coming true?
* * *
Gabe couldn’t believe he had almost admitted to Zoe that he loved her in the middle of the hospital hallway. He had truly lost his mind where she was concerned. In his wildest dreams he would never have imagined opening his home to her would have also opened his heart. The last couple of weeks had been the most wonderful of his life. He’d never felt more content or cared for. Even going home had become more appealing than working late at the hospital. That had never entered his mind as a possibility or a desire before Zoe.
“Hello, ladies and gentlemen.” He spoke to his transplant team less than an hour later. He was pleased with how they were slowly coming together to create an impressive group. “I appreciate all of you making it a late evening.” With only their eyes visible over the masks they wore, they nodded. “This is our patient, Mr. Luther. He’ll be getting a new liver today. Let’s make sure he receives it in short order and with top care.”
A couple of his staff gave him a questioning look. Gabe moved to stand beside the table. He said to the anesthesiologist, “Are we ready?”
