PARADISE COVE (PARADISE SERIES Book 1) (6 page)

"Well, unfortunately too many people do,” Sean said, sitting back on his heels. “No one knows for sure how many lives are lost, but it's believed that only one in four rafters make it to shore."

One in four? What terrible odds. "How do you know this stuff?"

"I had a lot of spare time when I was sailing around for the past month." Sean kept his eye on Juanita as she took shallow breaths. "I'd seen the Coast Guard patrolling the straits, and found it interesting enough to read up on."

"Speaking of the Coast Guard, we need to alert the authorities and tell them they’re here. You can explain to Homeland Security or Immigration, or whoever's in charge, just how you rescued them at sea." He could be a hero; she’d be out of trouble.

"That's the problem,” Sean said with a slight shrug, glancing at her over his shoulder. “They didn't make it by themselves. My rescue at sea could mean they have "wet foot." Not sure how that would play out. Might mean they'd be deported."

Ah.
"I see. Well, that makes things more difficult, doesn't it?"

"Guess it does." He shrugged. "There's something else you should know. I'm a doctor, Kayla.”

She blinked. Why would a doctor be hiding away like a recluse in her humble little cottage instead of doing what he was trained to do? Except today, he was. Fighting to save these people, rescuing them from certain death.

“I'm just asking for a few hours, until they’re strong enough to leave. Then we can call the authorities. I'm sure there's some protocol that has to be followed, but first I want to deliver a healthy baby, a US citizen. Don't you?"

She chewed on her bottom lip. He had a compelling argument, but what were the consequences of helping them illegally? She took a few steps back. "I'm going to get something for their jellyfish bites and talk this through with my family. I want the same things you do, but we also have a business to protect." Her stomach was roiling, making her slightly nauseas. "I'm worried, that's all."

"I don't want to cause you or your family any trouble." He glanced at the woman and her husband, then swore softly. Sean got to his feet, and led Kayla from the bedroom.

"What?" she asked. His firm touch was oddly comforting.

"Change of mind.” He scowled and released his hold on her arm. “This isn't fair for me to put you in this situation. Hell, I rescued them. I’ll take them back to the boat, deliver the baby there. It's better not to involve you in this. I wasn’t thinking beyond their long-term safety. I should have considered yours, too. Go back to bed, Kayla."

She heaved a sigh, and kept her head lowered. “Give me a moment. I have to think.” Her mind swirled. This was dangerous business.

Of course she wanted to help! Yet neither of them knew the legal implications. Paradise Cove Cottages might lose their operating license for assisting Sean and the Cuban immigrants. She couldn’t risk that. If he went back to the boat, all she had to do was return to her own cabin and pretend this never happened. She didn't have to worry her mom and sisters over this. All was good.

Kayla lifted her head, having made her practical decision. Their eyes met and her heart shifted. A cloud of doubt dissipated as she held his unwavering gaze. He was a good man. Brooding and dark, but courageous and strong. He cared deeply about these people. Having saved them once, he was fighting to save them again.

She sighed, and her shoulders slumped in surrender. She couldn't do what he asked.

"Leave them be." Kayla straightened her shoulders, going into management mode. "A few hours won't matter. Tell me what you need. More towels? Hot water. Help me here. I've only seen this done on TV."

His brown eyes lit up, and she was struck again by that zing she’d felt at the pool yesterday. He had a wide sensual mouth that looked particularly good spread in a big grin. "Vinegar to treat the jellyfish bites, and tweezers to help remove the tentacles. Sheets to protect your floor. A jug of water. Food. It could be a long day, or night."

"Forget the floor. Put that poor woman on the bed. I have an old comforter that I'll bring and she can lay on that. You can save them both, can't you? No one is going to die."

Something dark flashed across his face. "No one will die."

"What kind of doctor are you?"

"I'm a cardiac surgeon. A specialist. I haven’t delivered a baby since med school." He shrugged. "But I'm sure I'll remember enough."

She nodded and backed down the hall. "Hopefully, my family will agree to let them stay. But only for a few hours." She turned and raced to get supplies.

***

Sean released a long breath. He sure hadn't expected Kayla’s understanding, figuring he might have to carry Juanita back to his boat and deliver the baby there. The cabin was a hundred times better than the narrow, rocking boat, and it was going to be tricky enough.

Juanita was delivering two months early, and the woman was both in shock and in poor health. It was obvious that she and the boy were malnourished. The father was wiry, without an extra ounce to spare. He had no idea when they’d eaten their last good meal.

He told Miguel what was going on, telling him to get his wife comfortable, and then left to make breakfast. It was going to be a long morning and they would all need some nourishment. He made a large pot of coffee, and glanced in his refrigerator, wishing he'd bought a dozen eggs. He had some Egg Beaters, milk, cheese and bread for toast. That would have to do.

He put the first three items in a bowl, whisked it and had it simmering on the stove when Kayla waltzed back in. She was carrying the comforter, towels, a water jug, and extra sheets and dumped them on the sofa. "Is that coffee I smell?"

"Help yourself." He took down an extra cup from the cupboard, and offered her some milk, not having bought cream or sugar. "How did your family take it?" He turned off the back burner, then grabbed some plates and set them near the toaster.

"They’ve agreed for the moment." She drank her coffee quickly, then put the cup on the counter.

"Okay. Thanks. I’ll do my best to keep you from being involved." He sipped his coffee, studying her. She'd showered and taken off that sports bra and her tight fitting Nike gym shorts. Shame really. He didn't get to feast his eyes on a body like that every day. She wore a pink Paradise Cottages tee, and jean shorts that came to mid-thigh.

"What are you looking at?"

"Sorry, if I was staring," he answered, lifting his gaze. "Just thinking."

"Well think more, and stare less," she told him. She folded her arms under her breasts and leaned against the counter. "I still have some questions."

"Go ahead. Ask away."

She gnawed on her bottom lip. "I was just wondering how you managed to find them clinging to a hunk of wood in the dark, if the Coast Guard didn't? And how in the world did you get three people out of the water and onto your boat?"

"I tossed a life preserver, but when they couldn't reach it I knew they were in trouble. I jumped in and managed to get Juanita safe. Raul and his dad still had the wood they were clinging to and paddled over to the ladder. When they climbed into the boat, Miguel was able to help me get his wife on board."

"How long were they in the water?" she asked, imagining the terror and hardship they'd gone through. It made her shake, just thinking of it.

"I don't know," he answered. "Hours, maybe."

She swallowed, and tossed back the hair on her face. "Juanita's in bad shape. Thank God you're a doctor. If you weren't, she'd be in an ambulance right now. Which still seems like not a bad idea."

"I understand." He glanced away. "If she hasn't delivered soon, I'll drive them to the hospital."

Anna walked in after a quick knock on the cabin door and caught the last part of the conversation. "We will see about that. This is a difficult situation you've put us all in. We don't want to toss them out anymore than you do, but we have too much to lose." She marched toward the bedrooms. "I brought the vinegar and hot compresses to treat the jellyfish bites. Now where's the woman?"

CHAPTER SEVEN

Kayla followed her mother down the hall, amazed at the transformation she was seeing. She'd never seen her mother take charge before. Well, not in recent history, anyway.

"Second bedroom, Mom."

Anna knocked on the door. "May I come in?"

Sean moved past her, and opened the door. "This is your cottage. You can do anything you like, and that includes throwing all of us out." He paused for a second before moving out of the way. "But I hope you won't."

"Now why would I do a thing like that? I'm here to help, not toss them back into the sea, or that country they came from." She clicked her tongue as if he were a boy in her schoolroom misbehaving. "Why don't you take the others to the kitchen and let me examine the woman?"

"Juanita," he told her. "Miguel is the husband, and the boy's name is Raul."

"Got it." She made shooing motions toward the door. “You might be a heart doctor, but sometimes a woman needs the company of other women.”

Sean looked ready to argue, so Kayla spoke up. "Breakfast is a good idea. I'm sure they're starving." She smiled at the boy, noticing he’d stopped shivering beneath the blanket he wore like a cape. "Come Raul. Food." She indicated putting food in her mouth, and watched his eyes light up, but he didn't leave his spot next to his mother's feet.

Anna sat gently on the side of the bed, touching Juanita’s hand as she said hello.

Sean watched in silence, then decided to let the two of them have a minute alone. “Miguel, Raul, let’s eat. Ms. Anna is going to watch over Juanita and make her comfortable.
Si
?”

Miguel nodded. "
Gracias
." He cupped his hands and lowered his head. "
Mucho gusto,
" he said with reverence, then backed out of the room.

Once they were gone, Anna asked Kayla to open the curtains and turn on the lights. "I want to see how far along she is," she told Kayla. "And to make damn sure that she'll survive this. I don't want to be aiding and abetting an illegal and have her go and die on us."

“Mom!” Kayla sucked in a breath. "Sean's a doctor."

"A cardiac surgeon is no more familiar with delivering a baby than I am. At least I've had some experience, giving birth to three children. Besides," she added, removing the woman's ragged clothing, one piece at a time, "I think Dr. Flannigan, if that's who he really is—has already made up his mind to save this woman and her baby and to hell with the consequences."

"Isn't that risky?" Kayla hated to hear suspicion from her mom, especially because once she had doubted him too. Things had changed and she knew Sean had all of their best interests at heart. "Couldn't he lose his medical license?"

"I wasn't thinking about that." Her mother lowered her voice. "I meant with the law. Us too."

"Are we doing the right thing?" Kayla asked nervously. "I tried to Google it, but I couldn't find out anything about a rescue at sea. Still, as a doctor, he could do no less. Isn’t there some kind of oath?"

"Yes, well perhaps it might be better to say that we found them early this morning. Clinging to the pier, or washed ashore."

"Mother,” Kayla said with surprise. “You want to
lie
to the authorities?"

"Not lie, exactly.” Anna had the woman draped with a sheet for modesty in no time. “Perhaps you stumbled upon them during your early morning jog?"

Kayla put a hand to her mouth, smothering a laugh. "You amaze me."

"Good.” Anna reached around for the cotton balls on the floor by her feet. “Now get a damp cloth and please wipe Juanita's face. She hasn't opened her eyes since I came in." Her mother used the vinegar to treat the infected areas where the stings were most apparent. "Poor thing has hundreds of bites. Never seen it this bad."

“She was awake earlier. She's sleeping.” They worked together to bring the unfortunate woman some relief. After a few minutes Juanita opened her eyes and was able to answer most of her mother's questions. Her English was limited and Anna had only studied Spanish a few years in school.

   Somehow the two women communicated, and Anna was able to deduce that her labor had subsided. Her contractions had stopped, and she was frightened, wanting to know if the baby was all right.

Anna got up and moved to the door. "Dr. Flannigan. May I see you for a moment?"

Kayla stepped back. Her mother sounded like she was playing a lead role in a soap opera.

Sean met her in the hallway. Anna took his arm and whispered, "She's not in labor anymore and is worried about her baby. Is there any way to tell if it’s okay? Still alive?"

"I have my black bag in the closet. I'll get it. My scope is inside."

"I didn't see any vaginal bleeding," Anna spoke quietly. "But I didn't feel any movement in her tummy either."

"I'll be right back." Sean strode toward the other bedroom. Kayla helped her mother get Juanita into one of her soft terry cloth robes, then Anna gathered the old clothes to be washed.

Miguel stood in the doorway watching, Raul by his side. Miguel nodded toward his wife. "Thank you," he said in broken English. Tears rolled down his cheeks. "
Gracias
."

"You're welcome," Anna answered, patting the man on his arm. “She will be fine. Your family, too.” Kayla had never been more proud of her mother.

Sean returned and Anna smiled. "I didn't know surgeons carried bags. Thought that was just the basic tool for a physician," she said pleasantly.

He colored a little and Kayla found his embarrassment endearing. "It may be "old school"," he told Anna, "but living on the boat, I feel it's as essential as any first aid kit."

"Well, I'm glad you have it handy," Anna agreed, stepping out of his way.

He placed the bag on the bed, and leaned over Juanita. "You're looking better already," he said in a reassuring manner. "You have some color back in your face."

He put the stethoscope around his neck and indicated her stomach. "I would like to check the baby's heartbeat," he told Miguel.

Miguel repeated this to his wife, who nodded, and untied the robe.

Sean placed it on her abdomen and moved it around until he heard a steady beat. A big smile spread across his face. "Here it is." He lifted the earpiece and fitted it over Juanita's head. "Hear that?
Thump, thump, thump
. That's your baby."

Juanita’s tears were happy ones as she gestured for Raul to come inside and listen too. Kayla’s heart squeezed and her gaze was drawn to Sean. He’d made this happen. Saved this family—for the moment, at least.

The three of them left the room, leaving the family alone. Sean turned to Kayla and her mom, and she thought he was going to thank them for their help. Instead he surprised her by saying, “Juanita is out of immediate danger. I think it’s safe to take her to the hospital now, like I said I’d do. I appreciate all that you've done."

"That's great news!" Kayla smiled her gratitude and glanced at her mother, who still wore a concerned look on her face.

"I have some clothes that I can give them," Anna spoke slowly, thinking aloud. "I'm sure we can find plenty of useful items they'll need. I'll go home and take a look around."

"I have another idea," Kayla said, following her mother outside. "We have empty cabins. After Juanita is released from the hospital, couldn't we offer them a place to stay for a few weeks? Give them a chance to get stronger, and the baby especially, before they need to fend for themselves."

"Perhaps,” Anna said, her brow wrinkling. “But likely they have family waiting for them here. That makes more sense than coming across on a raft with his wife seven month's pregnant and nowhere to go."

Kayla nodded, wondering why she was so disappointed. "Agreed. But if they don't...could they stay?"

"We will see."

"I'm going with them to the hospital," Kayla said, looking back at the open door. "I'll help Sean get them checked in. I'll call you later and let you know what's going on."

"That's a good idea." Anna gave her a big wink. "Get to know him better. He seems like a very kind-hearted man. He’s a
doctor
, you know."

"I'm not interested.” Kayla recalled the heat between them and swallowed. “Remember?"

"You'd be surprised. When you meet someone special, it doesn't matter if you're ready. Love finds you."