Emergency: Parents Needed (13 page)

Shooting her a glare, Sandler obeyed.

After they’d slid Sandler into the back of the ambulance, Joe pulled her aside. “You OK?”

“Yeah, sure.”

His gaze was searching, but she’d obviously convinced him because he finally nodded. “Let’s get this guy off our hands.”

Ten minutes later they were wheeling a whiny and less belligerent Sandler into a trauma room.

Joe beckoned Dr. Mike into the hallway where he quietly reported their observations. “He’s a drug-seeker if I’ve seen one, right down to the supposed allergy to non-narcotics and the confrontational behavior.”

The E.R. doctor glanced into the trauma room at the patient. “He seems docile enough now.”

“Trust me. He wasn’t earlier.”

“OK. We’ll take it from here. If he has a kidney stone, we’ll find it. If not…” he grinned “…I have a few med students on duty tonight. They always can use extra practice on giving rectal exams and enemas.”

As soon as he went in to his patient, Joe turned to Maggie. “What about you? Are you OK?”

“I’m fine. He only scared me for a moment.”

“Tell me about it,” he said fervently.

“I was more afraid you’d give him what he wanted.”

“Not a chance.”

“You seemed so interested and overly concerned…” And that, she decided, should have been her first clue. While she’d seen Joe care for their patients on numerous occasions, the behavior she’d seen today had been
too
obvious to be real.

“In spite of my doubts, there was a chance he wasn’t faking, so I wanted to draw him out so he’d say something that I could use as proof. To do that, I had to make him believe we were sympathetic enough to give him exactly what he wanted. But enough about our patient. How about a cup of coffee to celebrate before we head back?”

“We probably shouldn’t,” she began.

“I’m buying,” he coaxed.

“In that case, you’re on.”

As she sat in the cafeteria, sipping her French vanilla cappuccino while Joe drank a cup of French roast, she noticed the bulletin board display featuring the birthday winner of the week.

“Joe,” she said slowly, “what day was Breanna born?”

He thought for a moment. “April twenty-eighth, if I remember right. Why?”

“That’s this weekend!”

“Yeah, so?”

She leaned back in her chair and stared at him incredulously. “So, it’s her birthday. She needs a party.”

“A party?”

“Absolutely. You can’t ignore her first birthday.”

He winced. “Actually, I hadn’t thought about it.”

“It’s a good thing I did,” she declared. “What shall we do?”

“Who said we had to do anything? She’s too little to understand the significance.”

She’d had no idea Joe was a bah-humbug sort, but considering his lack of family she wasn’t surprised. It saddened her to think he’d missed out on something that she’d taken for granted and she made a mental note to learn his birthday, even if she had to bribe the captain to peek in Joe’s personnel file. “Every kid needs a party on his or her birthday.”

“Maybe when they’re older.”

She shook her head. “Are you kidding? When she looks in her photo album, she’ll notice she doesn’t have any pictures to mark this milestone. What will you tell her when she asks why you didn’t celebrate?”

“I…I don’t know,” he confessed. “She was too young?”

“Dee would have marked the occasion,” she reminded him, “and don’t tell me otherwise. You owe it to her as well as your daughter to do something special.”

“OK, OK. We’ll buy a cake.”

“And presents.”

“And presents,” he agreed.

“Don’t forget guests.”

Now he looked pained. “Guests? She doesn’t know anyone except us.”

“Don’t forget Nancy or Dee’s neighbor, Hannah.”

“Two people doesn’t sound like much of a party.”

“We’ll invite more than two,” she insisted. “Between my family and the guys from the station and
their
families, we’ll have a houseful.”

“Wait a minute. Your party is becoming an event, not a little get-together.”

“You’re right, it is.” She tapped a finger to her mouth. “We’ll host it at my parents’ place. It’ll be large enough for everybody and the kids can play outside on the swingset.”

“Maggie,” he warned.

She leaned over and patted his hand. “Don’t worry, Joe. It won’t be as bad as you think. We’ll decide on a theme and—”

“A theme?”

“You know. Cinderella, Dora the Explorer, clowns, that type of thing. Because she loves her bunny, we could decorate in Peter Rabbit or Winnie the Pooh.”

He stared at her as if she’d sprouted an extra eye. “You’re kidding, right?”

“No, I’m not. Gosh, Donatelli, didn’t you have any birthday parties or attend a friend’s?”

“Not that I remember.”

Damn
, she thought, irritated at herself for her thoughtlessness. She knew his upbringing hadn’t been idyllic. The idea of a young version of Joe missing out on such a tradition stabbed her chest and brought tears to her eyes. Because he wouldn’t appreciate her sympathy, she blinked them away and swallowed hard.

“Well, then,” she said lightly, “I’ll bring you up to speed. We’ll have a lot to plan if we’re going to be ready.”

It took a full minute before he lost his dumbfounded expression. “OK. We’ll organize it over dinner on our date tomorrow night.”

“It won’t matter if Breanna hears us talking,” she pointed out.

He folded his arms. “If you want a party for her, we’ll discuss it over dinner. If not…” He raised an eyebrow.

She smiled. “You’re on, Donatelli. I can wait until tomorrow.”

As they returned to the E.R. on their way back to the lot where Maggie had parked their ambulance, Dr. Mike stopped them.

“I’m glad I caught you,” he said, his expression impassive on his craggy face. “Saves me from making a phone call.”

“What’s up?” Joe asked.

“You know that man you brought in with the kidney stone?”

Maggie braced herself for bad news. “Yes.”

“I’m sure you won’t be surprised when I tell you he balked at having tests run,” he said wryly.

“Let me guess,” Joe said. “He’s already had them and his doctor has the results.”

“He could also quote the radiology reports verbatim,” Dr. Mike added. “I don’t mind telling you, I was impressed with this guy. He’s definitely a smooth operator. If you hadn’t warned me, I might have bought his story.”

“He’s good, isn’t he?” Joe remarked.

“Too good. The truth is, he’s probably had kidney stones in the past or knew someone who did. Lucky for us you gave a heads-up. I told him that if he wanted a prescription on my watch, considering how much pain he was in, we had to be absolutely certain we didn’t miss anything. With malpractice being what it is, I was legally bound to leave no stone unturned. Pun not intended.” He winked.

Maggie grinned. “What did you do?”

“What I’d normally do for anyone reporting the pain he’d described. I ordered a CT scan. And if that didn’t show anything, I told him I’d order a full-body scan, colonoscopy, the works.”

As he paused for effect, Maggie couldn’t wait. “And?”

Dr. Mike smiled broadly. “He skipped out. After the nurse left to contact Radiology, he pulled a disappearing act.”

Joe chuckled. “No kidding?”

Mike nodded. “He’ll probably try the same stunt somewhere else, but he won’t be getting his drugs from us. Not today, anyway. You made a good call.”

Joe’s satisfied smile matched Maggie’s. “Thanks, Doc.”

As they headed outside to their parked ambulance, Joe had a definite spring to his step, but before they separated—Maggie to the driver’s side and Joe to the passenger’s—he swept her off her feet and began twirling her around.

She clutched his shoulders as a giggle bubbled out of her chest. “What are you doing, Joe? Someone will see us.”

“No one’s around and if someone was, I don’t care.” He stopped turning in circles but kept her anchored against him. “We scored a point for the good guys, Maggie. I know it’s a small thing and won’t stop this guy from trying the same trick again, but it felt good to stop him. Even if we only manage it once.”

“You have every right to be proud for seeing the truth.”

“And you thought I was making a mistake.”

“I did,” she admitted.

“Let this be a lesson to you, Randall. Never argue with your partner.”

“Unless he’s wrong,” she replied pertly.

He laughed. “OK, maybe then.” He paused. “I couldn’t have asked for the day to end better.”

If Maggie had ever wondered what drove Joe, she knew the reason now. Like her, Joe needed to be needed. Whether he was saving the world from a drug abuser, watching over his colleagues as they fought a fire, or looking out for a derelict, Joe simply had to prove his value. To him, being a paramedic wasn’t a job but a calling.

It also explained why he hated to commit to a long-term role in Breanna’s or any other woman’s life. He simply wasn’t convinced that anyone needed
him,
or that
he
could fill an empty space in someone else’s life.

“Sure you could,” she teased. “You could have snatched some fellow from the jaws of death. Leaped tall buildings with a single bound. Saved the world from nuclear holocaust.”

“Too flashy,” he said as he stared into her eyes with a gaze so heated she curled her toes inside her boots. “Only one thing would truly end this day on a perfect note.”

Awareness sparkled like the stars in the night sky. “Not enough time,” she remarked. “It’s two minutes until midnight.”

“Darn it,” he said snapping his fingers. “I knew we shouldn’t have stopped for coffee.”

“Wouldn’t matter. You really don’t want to make love in the back of an ambulance, do you?”

His grin was lopsided. “It has possibilities.”

“Not when we’re due back at the station.”

“True. I guess this means I’ll have to go to Plan B.”

As his gaze landed on her mouth, she unconsciously parted her lips. “What’s Plan B?” she asked, already anticipating his answer.

Without a word, he swung her around in front of him. Then, in the empty parking lot with the Emergency sign acting as a beacon in the darkness, he slanted his mouth over hers and kissed her.

J
OE
debated for the rest of their shift as to where he should take Maggie on their first date. The Courtyard was an option, but too ostentatious for his purposes. Fast-food restaurants were out and the other, middle-of-the-road establishments were nice, but after they ate, what would they do for the rest of the evening? He’d seen the movie theater listings and wasn’t eager for a repeat of horror shows and chick flicks, but he didn’t want to waste this opportunity to have Maggie to himself by taking her home early.

In fact, he’d like to take her home with him.

As it turned out, Maggie suggested his favorite eating establishment, Lefty’s Bar and Grill, where the big-screen television was permanently set on the sports channel, the burgers were thick and juicy, and the potato skins were to die for. Considering they were fried in oil loaded with the trans-fats that were bad for one’s heart, his description wasn’t far off the mark.

After a melt-in-your-mouth steak dinner, he negotiated the terms of Breanna’s birthday party, giving Maggie carte blanche for the cake design and trappings associated with it but drawing the line on the other items.

“Are you sure you won’t budge on your ten-guest limit?” she asked.

“Breanna doesn’t like crowds so we’re limited by the number who will fit comfortably in my house.”

“The guys’ wives will be disappointed,” she warned. “Everyone was looking forward to meeting her. And remember the offer still stands to host the party at my parents’ house.”

“Can’t be helped,” he said, although Maggie was right. He’d received a sudden flurry of invitations to drop by for a beer or to watch a baseball game. Although he appreciated being included in the personal gatherings, he’d declined. He wasn’t going to overwhelm Breanna with more new people until she’d grown accustomed to the old ones.

“I wonder why they want to meet her so badly,” he mused aloud.

“Face it, Joe, they can’t quite see you as a family man and they’re trying to reconcile the Joe Donatelli they think you are with the
real
guy.”

A family man. Yeah, that’s what he was. At least for a few more weeks. Which was also why he didn’t want to make a big deal out of his new status. He might be growing into his responsibilities while Breanna was doling out more of her shy smiles and trusting hugs, but he still had a lot of fatherhood skills to learn. It was simply hard to predict how the situation would ultimately end and he didn’t want to be in the position of having to give awkward explanations.

Although he had to admit that his life was rolling along better than he’d expected. The turning point had come when Maggie had refused to move in with him, which honestly hadn’t made sense at the time. And yet, if what he was seeing unfold in his own house was love, he understood why she refused to settle for anything less. Why, during the odd moments, he was half-convinced to give love one more chance, especially if it meant his current state of happiness and contentment would last.

“They’ll have to be curious for a little longer. But now that we’ve decided on the party stuff, would you like to
shoot some pool or do you want to go?” He mentally crossed his fingers and waited for her reply.

“How long did you book your sitter?”

“Until ten.”

She smiled. “In that case, I’d love to shoot pool. I’m not very good, so don’t expect a lot.”

Yes!
he wanted to shout his excitement that the evening wasn’t ending before it had had a chance to begin. “Not to worry. We’re playing for fun.”

Minutes later they were standing next to a billiards table, cues in hand as the jukebox played the latest country and western tune. “Would you like to break or shall I?”

She answered with a heart-stopping smile. “Go ahead. Breaking isn’t my strong suit.”

With cool aim, the game began. By the time he’d struck all the solids into the pockets, Maggie had managed to remove one stripe from the surface. “I told you I was terrible,” she said, clearly unfazed by her lack of skill.

“You just need a few pointers,” he said.

“More than a few, I’m sure.”

Joe patiently demonstrated everything from the proper grip to positioning the cue. “Just remember to take your time and aim,” he finished. “Now it’s your turn.”

He told himself to pay attention to her technique, but it was too easy to watch her bend over the table and notice how her jeans fit her long legs like a tailor-made glove. Her curly hair, brushed to a shine, hung free over her shoulders. The soft, velvety fabric of her long-sleeved purple top drew his notice as it screamed, Touch me. What the material didn’t do for his libido, the curvaceous swell revealed by the scoop neckline did.

“Did I do it right?” she asked as she straightened after making her shot.

He shifted position to ease the sudden tightness in his own jeans. “Yeah, sure.”

She tilted her head as she studied him. “Do I have steak sauce on my chin?”

“No, why?”

“Because you’re staring.”

“Sorry. You just look…fantastic.”

Her skin turned rosy. “Thanks,” she said. “Should I try another shot on my own or should I watch you instead?”

And miss out on his view? Not a chance. Yet it was dangerous to help her in the way he wanted—to place his hands over hers, to bend over her as she leaned on the table while he guided her shot. Yeah, it was dangerous, but he lived for danger.

“I have a better idea. I’ll help you.” As she leaned on the table, he bent himself to fit over her. Conscious of every delectably soft inch, her light scent and the tickle of her hair against his chin, his throat grew parched. “Hold your cue like this.”

His palms itched against her hands and he wanted to forget playing pool so he could carry her out and find a quiet place to play something else. Something more physical. Something that would satisfy his aches.

Instead, he simply inhaled and guided her hands to take the shot. “Keep your eye on the ball,” he told her, wishing he could focus his gaze on her instead.

He took the shot. As soon as the two balls smacked each other, he quickly stood up out of a sense of self-preservation. He would have been happy to hold that position for hours if need be, but there were a lot of striped balls left, waiting to join their buddies in the side pockets. He intended to help her send each and every one there.

Yellow-and-white shot home and Maggie’s face lit up with excitement. She raised her hand to high-five him. “We did it. Can we try that again?”

As if she had to ask…“Sure.”

By the time they’d cleared the table, he was certain the room temperature had risen twenty degrees.

“Can we play another round?” Maggie asked, clearly excited by her success.

No doubt about it—he was a glutton for punishment. “Yes. How about a refill of your tea, or would you prefer something stronger?”

“Tea is fine.”

He raised his hand to attract their waitress, but it was clear that Gabby, the thirty-year-old brunette who waited on him regularly, was heading toward them.

“I hate to bother you when you’re off duty,” Gabby began, her forehead furrowed with concern. “But one of my customers doesn’t look very well.”

“What’s wrong?”

“From what I’ve seen, he keeps rubbing his chest and his color is off. His wife suggested calling an ambulance, but he says it’s indigestion. I’ve seen plenty of indigestion in my time, but…” She shook her head. “Anyway, I told him we had a paramedic here tonight and asked if he’d let you check him out. He didn’t want to, but after his wife badgered him, he agreed. So, please, Joe? I know you’re not on duty and you don’t have any of your equipment, but I’d really rather not have any drama here tonight.”

Joe glanced at Maggie. “Do you mind?”

“Not at all. Lead the way.”

As soon as they were within a table-length’s distance of the booth where a middle-aged man was seated with his wife, Joe saw him clutch his chest, then tumble off the padded bench.

Maggie heard Joe’s softly spoken “Damn” before he sprinted forward with her at his heels.

“Call 911,” she told the waitress as she helped Joe position the man on the floor. “And ask someone to clear some space for us and the ambulance.”

Helpful bystanders scurried into action. By the time she’d turned her attention back to Joe’s patient, Joe was feeling the man’s carotid with one hand.

“It’s his heart, isn’t it?” his wife said from her place in the booth. “I told Vernon we should stay home but, no, does he listen?”

“Has he had heart problems before?” Maggie asked.

“None.”

“I can’t feel a pulse,” Joe said as he ripped open the man’s shirt. “No respirations.”

Maggie tilted Vernon’s head so she could breathe for him as Joe began chest compressions.

A distant siren grew louder, but Maggie didn’t pay attention to the noise. She was too busy watching Joe so she could obey his terse commands.

A blast of cold air entered with the paramedic team from Fire Station Three. “Hope you boys brought your defibrillator,” Joe huffed.

“Wouldn’t leave home without it,” Aaron McElroy said as he set the case on the floor and opened it.

Maggie moved out of the way, noticing how Joe remained in the thick of things. As soon as Aaron had successfully restored the patient’s sinus rhythm, his partner had established an IV and Joe had regulated the oxygen flow, Maggie helped the men lift Vernon onto the stretcher.

Minutes later the ambulance took off, leaving nothing behind except a few paper wrappers and Vernon’s distraught wife.

“Would you like a ride to the hospital?” Joe asked her kindly.

She seemed nervous and uncertain. “Our car’s in the parking lot, but I don’t think I can drive.” She held out her hands. “I’m shaking like a leaf.”

“I’d be happy to take you in your own car,” he offered, glancing at Maggie as if to ask permission. She smiled and nodded.

“Oh, would you, please?” Suddenly, she frowned. “But what about your vehicle?”

Maggie piped up. “I’ll be right behind you.”

“Oh, I couldn’t put you both to that much trouble and ruin your evening.”

“You won’t,” Maggie assured her. “And it’s no trouble at all.”

So Maggie found herself behind the wheel of Joe’s pickup while he drove Mrs. Patterson to the hospital. As soon as she was situated in the waiting room to hear from Dr. Mike about her husband, Joe ushered Maggie back outside.

“You certainly know how to show a girl a good time,” Maggie teased.

He laughed. “I guess.”

“On our next date, though, let’s not rustle up any business for the department. I don’t think the guys appreciate it,” she said wryly.

“Then you’re willing to go out again?”

She heard the tentative note in his voice and saw the doubt in his eyes. He may be confident in an emergency, but when it came to personal relationships, he carried enough insecurity to sink a ship. “Of course I’m willing,” she said. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“No reason. I just…No reason.”

She glanced at him as he pulled out of the hospital parking lot. “You did something very nice for Mrs Patterson.”

He shrugged. “It wasn’t anything you wouldn’t have done.”

“Don’t be so modest, Joe. A lot of guys wouldn’t have given her a second thought.” Certain her praise would make him uncomfortable, she added, “Especially guys on a date with someone as hot and as exciting as I am.”

He laughed. “You’re right. We’ll have to go out again because we didn’t finish this one.”

“Not finish?” she said. “I thought we did.”

“I don’t normally wrap up my evening with a lady at the hospital,” he said. “I’m asking for a do-over.”

The idea of a second date raised her already high spirits. “You’re on.”

The days until Breanna’s birthday flew past as Maggie threw herself into the preparations. While there weren’t many because Joe had decreed she keep the event small, choosing the perfect cake for a one-year-old took time. Selecting the right presents took even longer.

For the most part she was able to avoid dwelling on how she’d done this before—twice, in fact—for two little boys who now only touched her life a couple of times a year by telephone. There were occasions, however, when she couldn’t ignore the nasty thought that she was setting herself up for another painful experience, but she told herself the wide-eyed wonderment on Breanna’s face was worth the risk.

“Do you need any help?” Joe walked into the kitchen where Trista and Maggie were organizing the light supper she had prepared for their small gathering which also included Maggie’s brother and his family.

Maggie smiled at him. “Everything’s under control. We’ll be able to eat in about fifteen minutes.”

“That long?”

She watched as he grabbed a piece of Cheddar cheese and a cracker, then popped both into his mouth. “You’ll spoil your dinner.”

“Not a chance.”

As he reached for another, she rapped his knuckles with a plastic spoon. “Be patient.”

“Why are you the food police?” he asked without rancor. “My house, my rules.”

“The cook has final say,” she told him. “However, I might
be tempted to let you have a few more crackers if you tell me what you bought Breanna.”

“And ruin the surprise? Not a chance.”

“I showed you my gift,” she reminded him.

“And that was thoughtful of you, but you’ll find out what’s in my box when everyone else does.”

“Spoilsport,” she teased, then waved him away with her hands. “Go on. We’ll call when it’s safe to come in.”

With a saucy wink, he stole another cracker before she could stop him, then left.

“I assume he shopped on his own?” Trista asked.

“He did,” Maggie assured her. “And he wrapped his gift before I could see it. The box is huge and it’s killing me not knowing what’s inside.”

“Maybe he thinks you won’t approve. Or maybe he gets as much fun out of surprising you as he does Breanna.”

Food for thought but, whatever his reasons, she only had a few more hours to wait.

“So how are things going with the three of you?” Trista asked as she stirred the crockpot of creamed corn while Maggie checked the chicken casserole in the oven.

“Breanna has been doing so much better now that she has her silk lovey. She goes to sleep at night without any fuss at all. Joe is settling into his new role as a father.” She grinned. “He’s finally learning that he doesn’t have to watch every move Breanna makes and that she won’t break. Just the other day I saw him crawling on the floor with her on his back while they played horsey.”