Page 48 of Isla by Any Other Name

“I’m hoping. It would be my first.”

“Well then, let’s hope congratulations are in order.”

“I’m praying that they are,” Isla said, smiling. For a moment she pretended that this was a normal pregnancy. That the father was at home, and she was going to surprise him in some memorable way. “Can I ask you something personal?”

“Sure, what do you want to know?”

“I’ve just moved here and I was wondering if you could recommend either a good OB/GYN or a family practitioner in the area?”

“The only OB/GYNs you’ll find here are in Billings, but Dr. Aketcheta Bear is my GP and he’s wonderful. He has office hours right at the Green Lake Clinic. It’s a few blocks from here.”

“Thanks,” Isla said, smiling. “I actually start working there next week. I’m a nurse practitioner. I’ll be working part-time there, three days a week.”

“Welcome to town. I’m Allison Keffler and this is my son, Liam. Maybe we’ll see you around.”

“Thanks, I’m Siobhan O’Grady. I just moved here from Florida.”

“We’re a small town,” Allison said warmly. “So I’m sure we’ll be running into each other. Good luck with the new job and best of everything with the new baby. Fingers crossed.”

“It was really nice meeting you. You have a good day,” Isla said. She looked down at the toddler. “Bye, Liam. Such a cutie.”

“He is, and a handful at that,” she laughed. “He’s trouble.” Allison tickled his tummy as he giggled and squirmed.

If all went well, that would be her in the next few months. She finally had something to look forward to.

Back at the cottage, Isla followed the instructions on the pregnancy test and then sat on the tub edge watching her phone tick down the minutes. She waited, worrying her lower lip between her teeth. Please God, let me be pregnant. I need this baby. The timer beeped. She closed her eyes and took the first test off the sink.

Two pink lines. Before she got too excited, she picked up the other one and the outcome was the same.

Thank you, God. Please keep me and my baby safe. Tears sprang to her eyes. And its father.

Now that she had this baby, she had a family for life—no matter what. It wasn’t all she’d ever wanted—but it was also better than she could ever hope.

Monday came soon enough. Isla was scheduled to work from seven to three. Office hours started at nine. She’d be filling out paperwork till then. She had taken the test for her licensing online while she was under lock and key, so she was ready to go.

Leslie at reception was short and round with long gray hair and warm eyes. She greeted Isla as she walked in the door. “Good morning, Siobhan. How was the move?”

“It went well, no problems at all,” Isla answered. “I was glad to have the week off before I started here. Everything’s unpacked so it feels a little more like home.” She wanted to go all-in with this ruse, pretending that she was really just a woman up for a change in her life. “I’m excited about today. What do I need to do before patients arrive?”

“Dr. Bear will be here soon. You didn’t get a chance to meet him when you were here for your interview. You’ll like him. He’s easy to work with and one of the best doctors I know. He knows his stuff. With your experience in a big city ER this will be pretty boring stuff around here. I’m not saying we don’t get the occasional upheaval, but normally it’s runny noses and stomach flu and the rare broken bone.”

“I’m looking forward to a slower pace, but I can run with the best of them,” Isla said with a grin.

The door to the clinic opened and in walked Dr. Bear. At six-four, the man was not easily overlooked. His chiseled features and glowing tanned skin would turn heads for sure. Black hair hung in a braid down his back and his warm smile lit up the room.

Leslie looked in his direction. “Kech, this is our new nurse practitioner, Siobhan O’Grady. After she’s filled out the paperwork, she’s all yours.”

He held out a hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Siobhan. I’ve heard a lot of wonderful things about you. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to meet you when you came in for the interview.”

“I’ve heard some wonderful things about you as well, Dr. Bear,” she said. “I’m excited to be here.”

“Call me Kech,” he insisted. She nodded. At one point in her life, she may have protested and called him Dr. Bear anyway. But if there was one thing she knew after this experience, it was the simple freedom in owning your name.

“Kech, I’ll send her to you as soon as she’s done,” Leslie said.

“Looking forward to it. Siobhan, I’ll see you soon.” Off he went down the hall, presumably to his office.

“He seems nice,” Isla said.