The Doctor's Devotion (Love Inspired) (20 page)
Read The Doctor's Devotion (Love Inspired) Online
Authors: Cheryl Wyatt
“We might even name one of the ambulance stalls after you.” Mitch chuckled. “Mara’s Place.”
A shy smile overcame Mara’s trembling mouth. Her chin quivered with emotion as she squeezed their hands hard enough that they knew she’d be okay. “Thanks, all of you.” Mara roved grateful eyes over each person, then paused on Lauren. She smiled and reached out for a hug. “Especially you. Don’t ever stop being a nurse or someone who helps people. You’re good at it.”
Once the sheriff helped Mara into the car, she turned and, through the window, latched on to Lauren’s gaze.
Lauren waved until her wrist ached. The patrol car pulled away. Mara’s face and hands pressed to the glass as if she could draw strength through the clear pane. Mara’s now-hopeful eyes held Lauren’s until the car passed Mitch’s dad’s cross at the roadside and taillights shrank out of sight.
* * *
Overcome with emotion, Lauren slipped from the entrance to flee. Mitch held her up against him in a doubt-crushing hug. “She’ll be okay, Lauren.” He kissed the top of her head and squeezed her again. Firmly. “And so will we. Okay?”
She nodded but couldn’t speak. She hugged back, with all her might, choosing to believe in Mitch’s goodness—and in God’s.
“I didn’t mean to make it seem like my love’s conditional.” Heartfelt sincerity deepened his voice and filled her with reassurance that melted fear.
“I’m glad. More than I can articulate.” She gave him another hug, then looked up as Ian approached.
He squeezed her shoulder. “Hang in there, Bates.”
“Boy, did I fall apart back there. I could barely comprehend the sheriff’s report. She’s just a patient.”
Ian shook his head. “No. She’s a troubled young girl who couldn’t bear the weight of what she’d done. She’s a person who made a huge mistake that made her sorry enough to want to die. I’m a cynical doctor who should’ve shown her more compassion.”
Seeing Ian’s face all pinched up made Lauren laugh. “You were compassionate. You just didn’t want anyone to know. I saw your moist cheeks at her ICU window when she became comatose.”
“It was sweat.” Ian grinned sheepishly.
“From your tear ducts? Then you’d better see a specialist because something’s askew with your eyes.”
Ian chuckled.
Lauren patted his cheek. “Ian, God won’t abandon you like your wife did.”
His smile faded. She hoped he’d listen. Really listen.
Lauren faced the man she loved. “And Mitch, God won’t abandon this center. So don’t worry about money.”
Mitch jangled his keys. “What makes you think I’m worried about that?”
“You’re borrowing money to help with the trauma center or something. A bank officer kept calling for you in the middle of all those codes last shift.”
Mitch stared at her for three seconds, then burst out laughing. “You’re under the influence of a few minor misunderstandings. But trust me, tomorrow everything will be made clear.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
“D
on’t dislocate your neck, Shupe,” Mitch
said to Ian the next day when Bri passed by to greet Lauren, setting up for the
rescheduled picnic.
Ian’s head whipped around. “What’s that supposed to mean,
Wellington?” Ian moved forcefully into Mitch’s personal space.
“You practically got whiplash when Bri came down those steps.”
Mitch stood his ground. And tried not to grin.
“I’m not divorced yet, Mitch.”
Mitch sobered. “Sorry, man. When’s it final?”
“Two o’clock today.” Ian twisted the band on his finger. Mitch
knew he refused to take it off until papers were inked.
“Speaking of rings, I ditched Sheila’s.”
“What do you mean
ditched?
Thing
cost you an arm and a couple legs.”
“Sold it to a high-end jeweler. I paid off Lauren’s half of the
building loan with it, plus used a CD I cashed in.”
“She know yet?”
“No.”
“The proposal still a go for today?”
“Definitely.”
“How’s this gonna go down?” Ian asked.
“I’m having an ambulance pull up with a
Marry Me
message on a gurney, instead of a patient. I have another
crew covering us today so my proposal doesn’t get squashed by real traumas.” A
horrible feeling hit Mitch. “Man, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize your divorce was
going through today.”
Ian’s chin rose. “No sweat. I’m happy for you, man.”
A flashing ambulance came down the road.
Mitch smacked Ian. “It’s time.” His pulse hammered.
But he hadn’t considered something.
What if she said no?
* * *
A siren pulled Lauren’s attention from slicing brownies
for dessert today. “Oh, dear, we have trouble, guys.” She jumped up and bolted
toward the trauma center.
But strangely, everyone lagged.
She darted looks over her shoulder. Rarely was she first to the
ambulance stall.
Everyone must be tired today.
Lauren approached the paramedic who rushed out of the cab to
meet her. “Lauren Bates?”
She skidded to a halt. “Yes?”
“This patient specifically requested you.” The paramedic
clasped the ambulance door handle and yanked it open.
Her face tilted in. “What? There’s no one in here.”
The paramedic grinned but pulled out the gurney anyway.
He stepped back and up stepped Mitch, still the most gorgeous
creature to ever own two legs.
Only now, he also owned her heart.
And there, in the center of the gurney, sat a bright pink
stethoscope curved into the shape of a heart.
She turned to find Lem and everyone staring at her with
excitement and anticipation that could only mean one thing.
“Mitch?” Lauren searched his to-die-for eyes. “What’s going
on?”
He nodded toward the stethoscope and grinned. “Read it.”
She scooped the stethoscope, sheathed in a soft, washable
fabric dotted with tiny green tractors.
Just like the one at Lem’s that she loved to drive.
Tears sprang to her eyes at Mitch’s thoughtfulness.
She turned the stethoscope over and over, then looked at the
bell. “A Littmann!” she breathed. “And not a cheap one.”
She looked closer. He’d engraved her full name in it.
Lauren Esther Bates, RN
Below that was a Bible verse, the same one engraved on the
building: “The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Numbers
6:26.”
Then below it, the words
Marry
Me?
Lauren sucked in so much air, she almost aspirated. “Oh!”
Mitch drew close. “Only a stupid man would let you get away.
I’d like to think I’m a little smarter than that.”
He dropped to one knee.
She gasped.
He took her hands in his and turned as serious as a stroke.
“Lauren Esther Bates, you’re worth every mile, even a million if I have to walk
it. Texas or not, will you marry me?”
She rose on tiptoes like a giggling schoolgirl. “Oh, yes! Yes!
Yes! Wait. One question. You don’t still have that item of my greatest ire in
your glove box, do you?”
Ian snickered.
Mitch grinned. “Come see.”
* * *
He’d already gone to that glove box, gotten rid of the
ring for good and had ripped up Sheila’s Dear John letter.
Lauren pulled out a sheet of paper, which held Mitch’s
handwriting. The beginnings of what looked like a romantic poem. “What’s
this?”
“My end of our wedding vows.”
She smiled. “You took out the letter and ring and replaced it
with this, for me?”
“For me, too. For us. Also this.” He pulled out an
envelope.
She opened it. “The note to my half of the building? This says
it’s paid off!”
Mitch smiled.
“Mitch Wellington, did you?”
He put his fingers to her mouth, then his lips.
She leaned back. “When did you do all this? Why? How?”
“The details aren’t important. All you need to know is you can
securely, legally, morally and ethically leave Texas in the dust. I also got
your ex to back off completely.”
“How on earth?”
“A call to the D.A., who has a particular interest in
protecting speed limits…and enforcing justice on those who disregard public
safety.”
Her smile erupted. “How did you manage all this?”
“Consulted with The Great Physician. Everything fell into
place. Ian knew the D.A. We thought of a fellow war vet with a
health-care-management degree looking for a place to open a clinic. He loves
Texas. Said your building location’s ideal.” Mitch handed her a card. “Have your
Realtor give him a call.”
“I don’t have a Realtor.”
“You do now. Took care of that, too. You’ll have a substantial
amount left. And your business partner said she’d better be invited to the
wedding, or you’re in big trouble.”
“Of course! She’s not upset about the building?”
“Hardly. She’s relieved to be rid of the contractors.”
Lem’s teeth clacked as he laughed. “Who were horrible and
perpetually delayed the timeline.”
Lauren shook her head.
“You can open a seamstress shop here if you like.”
“I’d rather sew from our home and stand next to you in surgery.
Is that full-time permanent position still open?”
Mitch grinned. “Until you start having babies. One of us will
have to keep them out of Lem’s cornfields.”
She laughed. “But where’s my ring?”
“Lem said you always played pretend with your grandma’s
engagement ring, passed down to your mother.”
“I’d be honored to use it!”
Lem swiped tears. “Nothing would make me happier. Except a
passel of great-grandbabies wreaking havoc in my cornfields.”
Mitch grinned at Lauren. “We could oblige.”
Lem chuckled, dug in his overall pocket and brandished the
heirloom ring.
Mitch slipped it onto Lauren’s trembling finger.
She held it to sunlight, then to her heart. “I hoped and it
came true,” she breathed. Then hugged Mitch so hard she punted air from his
chest. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, my favorite nurse and future wife. To heaven
and back.”
“To heaven and back.” Lauren laughed. “But thankfully not to
Texas.”
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt of
The Promise of Home
by
Kathryn Springer!
Dear Reader,
During the writing of this book, I not only lost my
grandmother, my husband was involved in a tragic head-on collision that killed
the other driver, whose car skidded into my husband’s lane on an icy curve. The
accident happened just down the road from our home. I heard several ambulances
and had the thought to call my husband. When he answered severely shaken and out
of breath, he said, “It was me, but I’m okay.” I couldn’t comprehend at first
what he meant. Being the nurse that I am, I rushed to the scene to realize that
the precise moment I was speaking to my husband on the phone, another young wife
was losing hers.
My children have their daddy, but that day, other little ones
lost theirs. This same family lost their home and all possessions to a house
fire two months before. I don’t understand why tragedy comes in relentless waves
at times, but I trust in God’s goodness in bad times as well as good. Please
keep the Watson family in your prayers. If you are overwhelmed by hardship, I
would love to pray for you. Feel free to write me at my publisher: Love Inspired
Books, 233 Broadway, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10279. Or email me at
[email protected]
.
I’m active on Facebook. If you’d like to connect and keep up
with book news, “Like” my author page at
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We’d love to get to know you!
If you’re an aspiring writer, visit a fifteen-author
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is a helpful thing to do as
well as frequent the writing articles and community at
www.harlequin.com
The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace!
Blessings,
Cheryl Wyatt
Questions for Discussion
- Grandpa Lem was afraid of turning seventy because
his father and grandfather died in their seventieth year. Could you
understand his fear? Why do you think Lem’s outlook on aging and health
improved after Lauren came to visit? - Why do you think Mitch kept the rejected engagement
ring in his glove box? - Lauren learned that we will often have opposition
when we try to pursue our dreams. Have you experienced this? If so, how?
Likewise, what dreams have you realized? - Lauren’s dream of becoming a nurse was inspired by a
traumatic event in her childhood. What people or events in your own life
influenced your career or other life choice/s? - Mitch also lost his parents in a traumatic way. His
dad’s death inspired his choice of location for the trauma center. Have you
experienced a traumatic event in your life that inspired you to reach out to
others or your community in some way? - Mitch struggled with opening his heart to Lauren
when he saw his best friend going through a painful divorce. Have you had a
difficult time seeing someone you love experience difficulty or
disappointment? - What person/s and/or event/s in the book do you
think most helped Mitch turn the corner as far as being willing to plan a
future with Lauren despite the possibility of her having to return to Texas? - Can you understand Lauren’s fear of hoping for good
things in her future? Have you experienced loss that made it hard to hope?
Please discuss. - Between Mitch and Lauren, who do you think
compromised the most to make the relationship work? In what ways do you feel
they met in the middle? - In what ways do you think Lauren’s life would have
turned out differently had she lived with Lem full-time after the death of
her parents? - Do you think Mitch’s life would have been
drastically different had he not experienced the loss of his father and
mother? If so, how? Do you think the trauma center still would have been
opened? - At what point in the book could you begin to
sympathize with Mara? If this were a real teen, do you think her telling her
story to other teens would prevent them from texting while driving? - Mitch and Lauren grew close as a result of getting
to know one another through Lem’s stories. Is there someone in your life who
you got to know through a story before meeting them in person? Please
discuss.