Saving Forever - Part 5 (Saving Forever #5) (5 page)

At least she had two fantastic surgeries to talk about later tonight. If she saw her father, she could open with those and then mention the baby. He, of everyone, was probably the most excited she had come back. He had even backed off pushing and pressuring her since the wedding and his heart attack.

Maybe he would finally start embracing life outside the hospital and enjoy it a little.

He’d better,
she thought. Pretty soon, there would be a little one. With her mom gone, she wanted her dad to be the get-down-on-the-floor kind of granddad, rolling around and playing pretend with his grandchildren. She highly doubted that would happen, but you couldn’t blame her for dreaming.

Charity headed down the side stairwell of the hospital at the end of shift Sunday afternoon. It had been a ridiculously busy weekend.
Hadn’t
it just been Thursday?
She and Elijah had barely seen each other, having breakfast in the cafeteria this morning for the first time since the multi-vehicle accident. The driver of Peter’s vehicle had been pronounced dead at the scene and the two girls were now in recovery with broken limbs but were on the mend. They had ended up in PACU, the Post Anesthesia Care Unit or recovery room right after surgery. They were happy to be roommates and would be released tomorrow.

The other driver had severe injuries and would hopefully be out of ICU in a few days. Elijah had to operate on him shortly after Peter had been brought up to the IC Unit. His wounds were healing nicely.

Peter was fairing alright. His parents were worried, and Charity didn’t blame them. He had made major steps in improvement. His determination and fight made Charity want him to get better fast. She knew she shouldn’t let herself become emotionally involved in a patient’s recovery, but the spark Peter had created an intensity that lit anyone around him. They all felt it; nurses, doctors, staff. He was a medical miracle delicately woven by Elijah’s gifted hands. The two of them were like peas in a pod. Elijah was already trying to talk Peter into switching his major to pre-med.

In all the craziness, Charity hadn’t had a chance to talk to her father. She had seen him twice in the hallway on her way to surgery. He stopped her earlier today to ask if Elijah’s mother, Margaret, had someone picking her up from the airport.

Thankfully her father offered. Elijah hadn’t mentioned it to Charity and they had not gone over what would happen tomorrow. Also, she knew: she had rounds, patient forms to fill out, an OB/GYN appointment herself, plus a million other things to do tomorrow. Tonight she had to clean the house and somehow make the spare room appear like it had always been a guest room.

She thrived on busy, but this was getting a little out of hand.

“Charity! Wait!”

She paused on the bottom step at the sound of her best friend’s voice. “Julie!”

Julie jogged down the steps in similar medical attire as Charity, even down to the same color. Her dark brown curls were pulled back into a bun and a pair of glasses sitting on the bridge of her nose made her hazel eyes appear bright.

“When did you start needing those?” Charity pointed to her friend’s face.

“I’m becoming nearsighted.” She laughed and hugged Charity. “I’ve been for a while and can’t get away with no glasses anymore. It’s barely a prescription but apparently I have a slightly lazy left eye.” She rolled them. “Simon’s paranoid the eye is going to wander on its own and I’ll start looking dodgy.” Julie pushed the black frames up her nose. “How do they look?”

“Fantastic.”

“Don’t get too excited. I’ve already got contacts ordered. I’ll wear them until I can schedule laser eye surgery.”

Charity smiled. “Are you becoming vain?”

Julie touched the sides of her face by her eyes. “Do you think the sides of the glasses hide the growing crow’s lines?”

“I’m going to ignore that question.” Julie barely looked twenty and her naturally tanned skin seemed to be oblivious to aging. “Are you finished with your shift?”

“I’m staying tonight. On call.” She shrugged. “Simon’s working tonight as well.” Julie was a doctor, and so was her husband, Simon. “You heading home?”

“Elijah’s mother arrives tomorrow. I managed to get tonight off. I’m in tomorrow during the day and will hopefully be off again tomorrow night. However, I’ll have to see what the schedule changes say.”

“You enjoying it?” Julie sat down on the stairwell and patted the cement next to her.

Charity sat down. “I am. I forgot how busy it was, but it’s unbelievably great to be back.”

Julie rubbed her shoulder against her friend’s. “I’m glad. Can I let you in on a little secret? You’re not going to believe me when I tell you. No one knows, not even Simon.”

Charity folded her hands and let her elbows rest on her thighs to cover her belly.
What if Julie’s pregnant?
That would be way too ironic. She tried not to smile, excited that she would finally be able to tell someone. Would Julie even believe her? Their kids would be in the same class together. What if one of them had a boy and the other had a girl and then they got married when they grew up. It would be so cute. “Spill it, roomie.” Old roommates in university, friends forever.

“It’s silly. You’ll laugh.” Julie picked at a fluff on her pants. “When we started our residence before your mom got sick, I couldn’t wait, but I was so jealous of you. Don’t get me wrong, I totally admired you, but man, you had skills! You made everything look so easy.”

“Pardon?” Charity blinked, not sure she had heard Julie correctly.

“I told you it was silly.” Julie squeezed Charity’s knee. “I was totally jealous of you with your natural, surgical ability, your confidence and defiance with the doctors, and shit! You are so bloody smart! I wished back then, and now still, that I could be like you.” She grinned sheepishly. “I was envious and hated that your father was this top doctor. When you had gone, I thought you left me to go and work beside your father. I told Simon I was going to hunt you down.”

Charity tried not to show her disappointment that she was wrong in thinking Julie might be pregnant. She forced a smile, attempting to pretend Julie’s revelation was funny. “You were going to hunt me down? You are deeply disturbing.”

“I am, I know.” Julie put her arm around Charity. “But I want you to know that I’m so proud you came back. You are going to be amazing. This is your destiny.”

“My destiny?” Charity appreciated the pep talk, but this felt a bit overboard. “I’m barely keeping my head above water.” What was Julie getting at?

“Whatever. I hear the doctors talking. Fulton wants you to do a year of residence with him on the cardiac ward. He’s threatening anyone who asks to put you on their rounds.”

“Dr. Fulton? That guy can’t stand me.”

Julie laughed. “He wants you to take over when he retires in three years.”

Charity gave her head a slight shake. She had barely started her residence and had a long way to go before she should even be considered capable of doing anything. She hadn’t even done a solo surgery yet! Plus she had one other little bump to consider. “I’m not taking over anything! I have no idea what I’m going to be doing tomorrow, let alone a year from now.” Her chest grew tight and she tried to suck in short, quick breaths. It was all she could manage.

Julie tightened her arm around Charity’s shoulder. “Breathe girl, breathe.” She waited as Charity took a moment to calm down. “What’s going on? I thought you would be excited to hear that doctors were fighting over you. Simon’s joking you are going to take over his position. He said if you and him job-shared Peeds, he could be a part-time stay-at-home dad.”

Charity snorted in surprise. “You having a baby?”

Julie laughed loudly. “No, freakin’ way! Simon wants a baby, he just hasn’t convinced me I want one yet.”

“You should. You two would be great parents.”

“I’m way too busy. In a year or two things will settle down, then he and I can
talk
about the issue. Maybe practice making one, but not actually have one! If you know what I mean!”

Charity stood. A few minutes ago she was excited to have this conversation, now she wasn’t ready to tell Julie. It could wait a few more days. “I should get going. My never ending list isn’t going to get finished if I don’t start.” She stretched and yawned.

Julie’s eyebrows pressed together as her eyes ran down, then up, and then settled on Charity’s mid-region. “When’s the last time you went to see your doctor?”

Oh shit.
Charity pulled on the hem of her shirt to straighten and hide her stomach. “A year ago?” Why did she have to say it like it was a question? Julie would totally know she was lying.

Julie stood and reached out to lift Charity’s shirt.

Charity jumped back. “What’re you doing?” She swatted Julie’s hand.

“Something’s wrong. Have you been feeling tired? I think you need to go back upstairs and let’s get some bloodwork done. I’m not trying to scare you, but you know something isn’t right. I can see it in your face.” Julie frowned and put her hands on her hips. “So help me, if you have cancer and you’re ignoring the signs I’m going to kill you myself. You have family history!”

Charity sympathized with Julie’s concern. She really did. However, she couldn’t stop the smile and then the giggle that escaped her lips.

“This isn’t funny!” Julie looked ready to cry.

Charity held her hand up. “I know, I know. I’m sorry.” She pressed her lips tight trying to suppress their corners from arching upward. “I don’t have cancer.”

“You’ve checked? Don’t lie to me now.”

“I have been to see my doctor. It’s definitely not cancer.” For all Julie’s brilliance, how was she not clueing into why Charity had a bump on her stomach. It wasn’t rocket science.

“Then what… Wait! Oh! Ahhhh!” Julie’s face brightened. “You’re not!”

Charity nodded. She knew she must look like a complete dork with a big, silly smile plastered on her face. “I am.”

“How far? Does Elijah know? Does your dad? Why the heck didn’t you tell me right away? I’m your best friend! Is it Elijah’s?”

Charity slapped Julie’s arm. “Of course it’s Elijah’s.” She shook her head trying to go through the questions just drilled at her at break-neck speed. “Elijah and I haven’t told anyone yet. We kind of figured with me working on my residence, it would single me out. I do not want to be treated as fragile.”

“You’re a Thompson, no one would think you delicate. Trust me on that one. You do realize you need to be careful. There are a number of situations you can’t put yourself into.” Julie held out her left hand and began touching each finger as she started listing out concerns. “There’s radiation, that’s the biggest. Then what if some druggy comes in high as a kite and stabs you with a needle he’s just shot up with? There’s over-work, over-stress, not enough sleep, not enough nutrients. Are you taking a multi-vitamin? And Folic acid?”

Charity burst out laughing. She hadn’t got past the mental image of some poor homeless person coming into the ER waving a dirty needle and chasing after Charity. “Drug crazed needle pusher? Really?”

Julie waved her hand, oblivious to Charity’s teasing. “It could happen. You should see some of the crap that goes on in here.”

“There’s a lot of crazy that goes on in my life, Juls. In the past year I’ve made friends with my dad, dated his top doctor, got shot, got married, almost lost my father after finally finding him, got pregnant and then went back to med school. Nothing’s going to stop me now.”

“Hold up a sec. Did you say got pregnant and then went back to finish your residence and take your test?”

Charity shrugged. “I’m five months.”

Julie’s mouth dropped. “You’re barely showing.”

“It’s my first. Nothing’s stretched out, you know, broken in, yet.”

“What does Elijah think?” She hugged Charity. “I’m so happy for you! Right? You want this baby?”

“Definitely. It wasn’t exactly planned for, but I’m ready. Elijah’s ecstatic. He can’t wait.”

“I think I’m jealous of you all over again.”

Charity blinked. “Why?”

“You are like a super hero. Like that old song we used to listen to in uni.” She snapped her fingers. “What was the name of the band again? They were a one hit wonder.”

“What was the song?”

Julie moved her body to an invisible rhythm. “I get knocked down… but I get up again. You ain’t ever gonna get me down.”

Charity covered her ears. “That’s awful.” She dropped her hands and pretended to cover the baby’s ears. “Chumbawamba.”

“That’s it!” Her phone vibrated in her pant pocket. Julie pulled the cell out and scrolled through the message. “Shoot! I gotta go.”

“Duty calls.” She saluted her friend as she watched Julie dash up the steps taking two at a time. “Hey, Jules?”

Julie paused at the top of the next set of steps.

“Don’t mention this,” she pointed to her tummy, “to anyone, kay? I don’t want my dad hearing about this from some first-year rez or someone who doesn’t know us. Things have been pretty good. I kind of want to try and keep it that way.”

“No probs. I can hold the secret… Until tomorrow!” She disappeared through the doorway at the landing of the next set of stairs.

Until tomorrow?
Charity had no idea if they were going to tell her dad and Elijah’s mom right away. Her poor mother-in-law would just be getting off the plane from a long flight from New Zealand, she might just want to rest when she arrived.

With her luck, Julie would congratulate her dad first thing tomorrow morning. Charity rubbed her temple. They probably should have told everyone two months ago. Now it was going to be a bigger deal than she wanted it to be. She rested her hand on her lower stomach. She was excited that a tiny little person was growing inside her, someone who Elijah and she had created.