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Authors: Sandy Sullivan

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BOOK: Strictly Professional
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“Same thing, different year I would imagine.”

“I’m thinking that way, too. I just wish they would give up already.”

“Me, too.”

“Any prospects on your end?”

“If you mean prospects of a husband and father to their grandchildren—nothing.”

“I know what you mean. Me either.”

“Have you heard from Sabrina or Serena?”

“I called them earlier today to make sure they were coming. I don’t want to be the only one getting chewed out because I don’t have a steady boyfriend.”

“They don’t have any prospects either, huh?”

“Nope.”

“Mom and Dad aren’t going to be happy about this.”

“Are they ever?”

Susannah chuckled again. “No. I know they want us to be happy, but dang it! This is ridiculous! We’ll find the right guys when the time comes.”

“And ones that aren’t after money.”

“That’s why it has to be someone who doesn't know who our parents are. Don’t you have any cute doctor friends over there in Nashville?”

“A few, but nobody I’m interested in having children with. Besides, there are tons of cowboys here and you know how much I
love
cowboys.”

“Well then why the hell did you move to Nashville? The home of country music?”

“Just because I like country doesn’t mean I necessarily want to hook up with a cowboy. I had enough of those at home. Being raised in Texas, you tend to be surrounded by them, you know?”

“I know. Listen Sis, I need to go. I’ve got an appointment this afternoon before I head for home this weekend.”

“Yeah, me too. I’m almost home myself and I’m hoping for a quiet night, but I’m on call, so you never know.”

“I guess I’ll see you on Saturday at the ranch.”

“Yep. Be careful, Susie, and I’ll see you in a few days.”

“Love you, Vannah.”

“Love you too, Susie. Bye.”

“Bye.”

The soft click of the phone met Savannah’s ear as she pulled into her complex. She slipped her duffle out of the back seat, got out of her car, and locked the door before she slammed it shut.

Once she reached her apartment, she flipped on the lights, walked inside, and threw her bag across the couch. She sighed and moved toward the small kitchen to grab something to eat. The freezer held several frozen dinners, some ice cream, and a couple of chunks of meat or some other complete inedible food that she didn't want to identify. She wrinkled her nose, pulled out a chicken frozen dinner, and popped it into the microwave before she headed down the hall to change her clothes.

The bell on the microwave pinged as she came back into the living room. “This is pretty sad, Savannah. You’re spending the evening with your television, a frozen dinner, and your cat.” Said feline meowed from the corner and Savannah frowned. “No wonder your parents are all over you to find a man, get married, and have babies.”

Her phone rang as she removed her food and set it on the bar.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Vannah.”

“Hey, Sabrina. What’s up?”

“I called to see if you were driving or flying. I forgot to ask you earlier.”

“Flying. I don’t have time to drive in. I have to be back at work early next week.”

“Yeah, me too. What time are you coming in?”

“Mmm...hang on and let me check.” She grabbed her purse and flipped open the side pocket before she pulled out the flight itinerary she’d stuffed in it earlier. “Three tomorrow afternoon. I’m hoping I don’t get called tonight for the emergency room.”

“You’re on call tonight?”

“Yep.”

“Damn! Do you have any time to yourself?”

“Nope. Not until I’m done with my residency next year and I finally start getting paid to do this.”

Sabrina's bubbly laugh met her ear. “Yeah. I know what you mean. I fly in shortly before you do, so I’ll just wait for you and we can catch a cab together.”

“United front and all that?”

“You bet! I’m sure you have the same idea I do as to what this little gathering of the children entails.”

“Unfortunately, yes. Husbands and grandchildren.”

“I wish they would give up already. This is getting crazy.”

“I know, but listen, I need to go. I have to eat a bite and try to get some shut eye. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay. See you at the airport.”

“Bye, Sabrina.”

“Bye.”

Savannah shut the phone and pulled open the refrigerator to retrieve the butter before she plopped some on top of the potatoes and stirred. “Such a gourmet meal. What will I do?” She picked up the paper container and headed for the couch. Grabbing the remote to the television, she flipped on the news and sat back against the cushion.

Scenes from a robbery that happened earlier in the day on West End Avenue flashed across the screen and she cringed. “I don’t need to see this. I get enough gore at work.”

She continued to change the channel until she found reruns of Grey’s Anatomy and zeroed in on Patrick Dempsey. “Now why can’t I find a guy that looks like him?”

Her phone rang and she reached over to grab the receiver without taking her eyes off the television screen.

“Hello?”

“Savannah. What time are you coming in tomorrow, sweetheart?”

“Hi, Mom. My plane gets there about three. Sabrina and I are going to share a cab out to the house so we should be there around four.”

“Good. We’re having a small dinner party tomorrow night and I wanted to make sure you’d be arriving in time.”

Great.

“Don’t go to any trouble on our account. You know it’s no big deal for us to come home for the weekend.”

“Yes, well, we are anyway. You girls haven’t been home in quite a while. It’s nothing big. Just a few friends.”

Friends with sons, brothers or cousins who we might be interested in.

“Great. I’m sure we’ll have a blast.” Savannah’s cell phone rang on the other side of the room. “Mom, I need to go. My cell is ringing and it’s probably the hospital.”

“Are you working tonight?”

“I’m on call.” She stood and moved toward where she'd dropped her duffle. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye.” Dropping the phone on the cradle, she flipped open her cell and said, “Hello?”

“Doctor Gibson?”

“Yes.”

“This is Marie at the emergency room. We need you to come in. We’ve got a five car accident coming in with multiple injuries.”

Savannah sighed.
So much for a nice dinner at home.
“I’ll be there in about ten minutes.”

“Great. See you in a few.”

She hung up the phone, stuffed the roll in her mouth, grabbed her duffle and keys before she opened the door and let it shut behind her. Rain fell from the sky in buckets and Savannah flipped on the windshield winders of her car on high. “Damn! Next I expect cats and dogs!”

The hospital parking garage came into view and she turned on her signal to make the left. She grabbed her badge to swipe her way through the gate and pulled into an empty parking spot when she realized the big black dually sat in front of her again. Rolling her eyes, she grabbed her bag and popped open her car door.

The screech of ambulances pulling into the emergency room bays brought her attention back to the task at hand. She knew they wouldn’t have called her unless they really needed the extra pair of hands. With a deep breath and a sigh of resignation, she swiped her badge and headed for the locker room to store her bag.

It’s a good thing I never changed out of my scrubs.

She picked up her stethoscope and headed for the nurses’ station to find out what needed to be done first.

“Hey, Marie. Where do you need me?”

The pretty Asian nurse swung around to look at Savannah and said, “Thank goodness you’re here. They probably need some help in trauma four.”

“What’s the scoop?”

“Child in a MVA. Mom was driver and she’s in exam three.”

“Was?”

“Yeah. She didn’t make it.”

“Shit,” Savannah whispered. “I got four, then.”

She moved toward the curtained-off area, not knowing what she would find on the other side. When she pulled the drape aside, she found a little girl approximately ten years old still strapped to the back board. “Hey, sweetie. I’m Savannah. What’s your name?”

“Molly.”

“Well, Molly. Let’s see what we can do to help you feel better, okay?”

Molly whimpered then asked, “Are you a doctor?”

“Yes, I am and I’m going to take care of you. Do you hurt anywhere, Molly?”

“My leg hurts and my stomach.”

“Okay. Let’s see what we have here.” Savannah cut the clothing from Molly’s left leg. “We are going to need some pictures of your leg sweetie. I need to make sure whether it’s broken or not.”

“Where’s my mom?”

Savannah’s heart sank in her chest. She didn’t want to be the one to break the news to this little girl that her mother was dead. “Was your dad in the car with you, pumpkin?’

“No. He’s at work.”

“Do you know his phone number? I need to call him.”

“It’s in Mom’s phone.”

“Let me go see if I can find it, okay? I’ll be right back, but in the mean time, I’ll have one of the nurses come in and sit with you for a minute.”

“Will you come back?”

Savannah stroked the hair back from Molly’s forehead and whispered, “You bet. I won’t leave you alone.”

“Okay.”

She fought the tears burning behind her eyelids and stepped out of the trauma bay. “Marie? Can you sit with this little girl while I see if I can find a phone number for her dad?”

“Sure.” Marie’s gaze searched her face. “Did you tell her?”

“No. I’m hoping to get in touch with her father.”

Savannah moved toward the room where Molly’s mother lay and pushed open the door. A pretty thirty-something woman lay on the gurney covered with a white sheet to her chin. Savannah could see where Molly probably got her coloring and it saddened her to think the little girl would never be held against her mother again.

God, I hate this part.

Inhaling a deep breath, she tipped her head back on her shoulders for a moment before she moved to the woman’s side and moved the sheet so she could look for her cell phone.

A knock sounded on the door and she answered with a crisp, “Come in.”

“Hey, doc.”

Her gaze shot up to the state trooper then back to the patient. “Hey, John. You working this one?”

BOOK: Strictly Professional
9.22Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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