Casey gave an evil grin. “It means I’ll try.”
“Try hard, okay?”
She nodded.
“Thank you.”
Casey blew her a kiss before heading out the door. Throwing her head back against the pillows, Emma blew out a puff of air. Her hand went to her abdomen as she continued gazing up at the ceiling tiles. “Please God, please watch over Noah and don’t let anything bad happen to him. Nothing else in the world matters as much as delivering him healthy into this world at the right time.” Closing her eyes, Aidan’s face flashed before her, sending her eyes popping back open. “And if Aidan is truly the one, soften my heart to him…or give me a sign I should move on.”
Her prayers were interrupted by a nurse and an orderly. “Time to move you upstairs.”
The orderly brought the wheelchair over, and Emma swung her legs out of the bed. After she sat down, she smoothed the hospital gown down over her legs. They took a quick trip up the elevator to the 3rd floor. She couldn’t help but wonder which floor Patrick was on. She made a note of her room number, so she could text it to Casey…and to Aidan.
A sweet-faced middle aged nurse came in just as she was getting settled in the bed. “I’m Connie, and if you need anything, you just let me know.”
Emma smiled. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”
Once Connie and the orderly left, Emma turned on the TV to try to get her mind off of things. She was enjoying some old reruns of I Love Lucy when a gentle rapt came at the door.
“Yes?” she called, her brows furrowing at who would possibly be knocking.
It cracked open before Pesh stuck his head in. “Hey there.”
Emma inwardly groaned. He was the last person on earth she expected to see. Shooting up in the bed, she smoothed her ruffled bed hair and hoped she didn’t have leftover raccoon eyes from crying. “H-Hi.”
Wagging his finger, he made a tsking noise as he stepped into the room. “Just couldn’t let Mr. Fitzgerald be outdone, huh?”
Emma laughed. “No, I don’t suppose so.”
Motioning to the chair next to the bed, Pesh asked, “May I?”
“Sure.”
His jovial expression suddenly grew serious. “You can’t imagine how horrified I was to see your name come across the computer screen.” He shook his head. “So I was right in thinking you needed to take better care of yourself?”
“Unfortunately yes. But it’s not only today though.” Emma glanced down at the standard order hospital blanket. “The last three weeks have taken their toll, I suppose.”
“Does it have anything to do with your relationship with Mr. Fitzgerald’s son?”
Emma jerked her gaze from the blanket over to Pesh. “W-Wait, how did you…”
He gave her an understanding smile. “It’s a long story.”
“So is mine,” she replied, with a mirthless laugh. At the tension in the air, Emma desperately sought to change the subject. “I thought you had gone home for the day. When I was brought in, I was hoping you would be my doctor. Dr. Pendleton’s bedside manner is quite lacking.”
“I apologize for that.”
“It’s not your fault he’s so gruff.”
“No, but it’s my fault that you had to see him.”
“What?”
A sheepish grin curved on his lips. “You were assigned to my caseload, but I asked him to see you instead.”
Emma gasped. “But why?”
Ducking his head, Pesh replied, “Because I knew I wanted to see you personally in the future, and that would be too uncomfortable for both of us if I had to…” He drew in a sharp breath as pink tinged his tan cheeks. “Well, if I had to examine you physically.”
Understanding crashed over Emma as she thought of how thoroughly Dr. Pendleton had examined her. “Oh,” she murmured.
He leaned forward in his chair, his dark eyes taking on a pleading glint. “I don’t want you to think I’m a creep or something for wanting to get to know you better. It was Mr. Fitzgerald who first broached the subject.”
Emma widened her eyes in horror. “He actually did that? I’m going to give him a piece of my mind when we’re both better!” When his shoulders sagged in defeat, Emma felt terrible that he appeared insulted by her words. “Oh Pesh, I’m so sorry. It’s not that I wouldn’t want to go out with you.”
His dark eyes lit up with hope. “Really?”
“Yes. I just can’t believe that Patrick would do such a thing.”
“Because of what was once between you and his son?”
“Yes that and the fact he was laid up in the emergency room. It’s not the most opportune time to be playing matchmaker.”
“I guess I planted the seed when I called you beautiful.”
Emma’s cheeks warmed at his compliment. “Thank you.”
Staring down at his hands, Pesh said, “I want you to know that taking your phone number from Mr. Fitzgerald, saying that a total stranger is beautiful—that’s not who I am. I’m sure none of my colleagues would believe I had done such a thing.”
“Really?”
Pesh nodded. “The truth is I haven’t reacted to a woman like I did with you in a long, long time.”
“Oh?”
He peeked up at her through his long, dark lashes. Sorrow radiated in his eyes. “Eighteen months ago I lost my wife to an aneurysm.”