Zenith Rising (2 page)

She stepped in the elevator and pressed Floor
3 for the maternity ward.

“Guess I was heading back at the right
time.”

Erica turned and looked up at Spencer. He had
a low, gravelly voice. “Yes. Looks like I’m about on. Are you
staying?”

“Joelle was feeling a little
Lassiter-overwhelmed. She asked me to stay.”

“Yes. It would help if she had less Lassiters
and more people here just for her. And I don’t help much, being her
doctor and all. It’s nice of you to come. I didn’t realize you were
still in contact.”

“We’ve been friends a long time. Seen each
other through a lot.”

Erica glanced up at his face. He was
so
shockingly not Spike, it startled her. He was too
handsome now, like this, that she felt nearly tongue-tied next to
him, and oddly uncomfortable. The elevator dinged then, the doors
opened, and Erica nearly jumped through them, so ill at ease as she
was with Spencer. He was someone she didn’t know, but the weird
part was she
did
know him, except he was someone else:
Spike. Still that didn’t explain why he made her so nervous or act
so flustered. She dealt with hundreds of people in her practice:
patients, relatives, friends, spouses. She was never shy or unsure
of herself. She was, in fact, confident, and in control, usually
the leader in most situations. Except with this man. He soon
managed to have her looking away, blushing, and almost
stammering.

“Hey, Doc.”

Erica turned at the sound of Spencer’s lazy
tone, drawling out his “Doc.”

He nodded towards Joelle’s room. “Take care
of Joelle. No matter what. Take care of her.”

“I’ll take care of both of them. That I can
promise you.”

Spencer nodded, drifting off towards the
waiting room and Erica turned back and rushed to Joelle’s room.

****

Inside the birthing room, Erica came to life
in her element. As the contractions increased, and time pressed
faster, yet seemed to move slower, Erica moved through the process
with her usual confidence and caring. She was an exceptional
professional at this, especially at this point, when she brought
the new life out of its mother. Whether naturally or by Caesarian,
she excelled at both. She didn’t make mistakes, and had steady,
gentle, caring hands. She led the entire process with a calm that
contrasted with the rushed nature of the event. She never panicked,
even when there were times to panic. She knew what to do and how to
do it. So, it was with confidence and competence that she delivered
Nick and Joelle’s baby into the world.

“What is it?” Joelle gasped, as she pushed
her baby out. They chose not to know the sex beforehand. Thirteen
girls had already been born to the Lassiter clan, and everyone
hoped that Joelle would have a boy. Except Nick. Nick didn’t care
what they had as long as Joelle and the baby were safe.

Nick looked between Joelle’s legs, and looked
up at Erica as he smiled. His unbridled joy shone in his eyes.

“Our healthy, perfect baby, Joelle,” Nick
said, looking at her, as he took her hand and smiled. “Our perfect
daughter.”

Joelle exhaled a weary laugh.

Erica handed the baby off to the nurses, who
took her to the prep station, where they washed, bathed, and
weighed her before getting her Apgar scores.

“Nick come and hold your baby for me,” Erica
said, smiling into Nick’s blue eyes. He reverently took the baby
from her. Erica still had more work to do. Joelle had to push the
placenta out, and get some stitches where she tore.

Erica kept on working, and all the while she
piqued with delight, glad in her heart at the new family she helped
create. Joelle fearfully took the baby, and Nick kept his hands on
her and on Joelle as he kissed Joelle gently. Tears pricked Erica’s
eyes. She blinked to clear them. She had things to do, and no time
for crying. But no matter how many times she witnessed this, it was
always a pleasure, one which she’d never grown tired of
watching.

“Is she okay, Erica?”

Erica was finally done, and took her gloves
and gown off, throwing them in the garbage can, before washing her
hands, and finally approaching Joelle. “She’s really okay. She’s
perfect. You did it.”

Joelle’s eyes gleamed with unshed tears and
her lips trembled. Erica touched her shoulder. Tears trickled onto
her sheet. This moment was so huge to Joelle, perhaps even more so
than most new mothers. Joelle had no mother, and never pictured
herself becoming one. Nick touched her hand.

Erica slipped out, letting Nick and Joelle
have their moment. Even though the nurses were there, it was easier
for them to be sentimental in front of nurses than their best
friend and doctor. Erica tugged off the headband that was holding
her hair back. She massaged her temples and leaned against the wall
out in the corridor, smiling to herself. She’d done it. Another
healthy life seeing the world for the first time. Another success.
Another wonderful miracle.

There was no other high like it. It never
ceased to rush the adrenaline through her, or make the worst days
great.

“What’s got you looking so smug?”

Erica glanced up as Roy Bennett approached
her. He was a surgeon, in his forties with salt and pepper hair, a
killer smile, and smoky-blue eyes. He was no taller than she, and
kept himself fit and trim. They had been dating for a few
months.

Erica forced a smile. She craved having a
moment to herself, but Roy couldn’t have known that.

“I delivered Joelle’s baby, a healthy
six-pound, four-ounce, little girl.”

Roy’s eyes clouded and his mouth tightened.
He didn’t like hearing that Erica was still close to Nick and
Joelle. Nick intimidated Roy, and made him feel less than manly, as
far as Erica could determine. Otherwise, why would Roy care so much
that she was friends, as a couple, with her ex and her ex’s new
wife? It wasn’t like Erica and Nick hung out together all alone.
She saw Nick, but only as husband to Joelle. It was a stupid
insecurity on Roy’s part.

“You could say ‘good job Erica,’” she said,
when Roy only frowned at her.

“Of course. Of course. Miracle of life and
all that. Good, the baby’s healthy. Still, why does it have to be
you delivering Nick’s baby?”

“We’ve been through this. Joelle is my best
friend. That should mean something to you. Nick and I are friends,
sure, but it’s insulting to me that you could think it might be
something more. Especially as I’m delivering his wife’s baby. God,
Roy.”

Roy wrapped an arm around her waist as he
kissed her on the mouth. “All right. I’ll lay off it.
Congratulations.”

As he stepped back to leave, Erica noticed
Spencer sitting on a bench that was around the corner from where
Roy and she stood. He wasn’t so much as listening, as he couldn’t
help but hear them by his close proximity. Erica blushed when they
made eye contact, but Spencer’s expression didn’t change. He
glanced at Roy. Then at her.

She passed around Roy and went over to
Spencer.

“They had a girl. Everything went like it
should. Textbook perfect, in fact.”

Spencer looked her over with no reaction on
his face. Wow, he could do a poker face like no one else she’d ever
met. “Quite a job you have, isn’t it, Doc?”

“Yes it is,” Erica said, satisfied someone
noticed that.

Then Nick’s family spotted Erica, nearly
engulfing her as they surged around her. The door to Joelle’s room
opened, and Nick stepped out. He was instantly enveloped, as they
started to trickle into the room with loud, happy squeals. Erica
was soon alone in the corridor with Spencer as the last Lassiter
sister disappeared inside the room. Spencer stood up slowly to his
full height beside her.

“Looks like they’ll be awhile.”

Erica smiled, as she looked up at Spencer.
“I’d imagine so.”

“Are you done then?”

Erica checked her watch and saw it was
midnight. “For tonight. I was here primarily for Joelle. I’m not
scheduled beyond that.”

“You look like you could use a cup of
coffee.”

She was hungry, and she skipped dinner. “I’m
starving.”

“It’ll be a wait for the Lassiter crew to
clear out. We might as well grab a coffee or something.”

Erica jerked to attention and raised her
eyebrows in surprise. She didn’t expect that. It was
nothing
. They kind of knew each other. He was passing time.
He was simply waiting to see Joelle. He was being a good friend.
None of it had anything to do with her.

“Cafeteria is closed.”

“Anything else closeby?”

“There’s a twenty-four-hour diner across the
street.”

Spencer shrugged. “All right.”

“Okay.” He said it so blasé, she was sure he
didn’t particularly want her company, but she decided she’d help
him pass an hour.

They turned in sync, got on the elevator and
stood without touching, facing forward. Erica looked nowhere, but
at the door. It was if her eyeballs were riveted to the steel
doors. Anything was better than the urge to fidget, or simply stare
at Spencer beside her.

On the ground floor, Erica exited first. She
was way too aware of Spencer walking behind her. Before she reached
the door, Spencer reached around her, and opened it for her. She
was surprised at the small courtesy from the former Spike. The
night air brought goose bumps to her bare arms, and she rubbed
them. Or was it just her nerves caused by this man beside her who
was so out of her sphere of acquaintances that his mere presence
subjected her arms to goose flesh?

“It’s there.” Erica pointed across the side
street towards a small diner that was lit up with
Tara’s
Diner
in pink neon. They crossed the street together, now
side-by-side. Tara, owner and operator greeted them. She smiled and
asked how Erica was as she led them to a small, private booth near
the window that looked back towards the hospital.

The entire time Spencer, was silently
following behind her. Appraising. Watching. No comments. No smiles.
No indication what he saw or thought. He managed to completely
disconcert her. How could she so easily deliver a baby less than an
hour ago, yet now she was tied up in knots just to have coffee with
this man she once met?

Chapter Two

“How’re things tonight, Dr. Heathersby? Any
new miracles?” Jenna, the waitress, asked.

“Yes. A girl. Born to a friend of mine.”

“Well, you must be starved after all that
work. The usual?”

“Okay,” Erica said to the waitress as she
glanced at Spencer.

“I’ll have a coffee.”

“Nothing else?”

“No.”

“Okay then, I’ll put this order in for you.
Be right back with your coffee.”

Why wouldn’t he order something to eat?
Great.
Now she got to eat with him watching her. Just what
every woman loved.

“You’re here often.”

“Comes with the territory. I’m on call every
other week or so. When I get off, day or night, I’m usually ready
for something besides cafeteria or vending machine food.”

“On call?”

“We have a rotating schedule of doctors who
are on call at the hospital. That way, we’re not recruited every
time a mother goes into labor.”

“How long have you been doing this?” His
voice sounded uninterested, as if he asked her purely out of duty
or obligation. But his eyes were right on her face. Intense. She
glanced away, looking out the window to the city lights beyond.

“I’ve been with my practice for four
years.”

Jenna returned with the coffee, and poured it
out in generic, white mugs. Spencer leaned back, sprawling his long
body in the booth, his arm resting along the length, his black coat
separating to reveal the button-up brown shirt he wore with dark
jeans. He looked so normal. So manly. So unlike Spike. Erica
couldn’t reconcile the two images of this one man.

“How long does it take to become a baby
doctor?”

“A long time. College, med-school,
internship, residency, and now, practicing.”

“Crap. I couldn’t even finish high school.
How could you commit for so long?”

Erica shrugged. “Interest, I guess. I wanted
to be there. I devoured my anatomy classes, med classes, and loved
anything pertaining to the woman’s body.”

“I can understand that.”

Erica rolled her eyes with a half smile.
“Yeah, well, mine was primarily a clinical interest.”

“Joelle says you’re the best doctor she’s
ever gone to.”

“Helps that I’m also her best friend.” Erica
grabbed a packet of sugar and dumped it into her steaming coffee.
She folded the pink wrapper and rolled it between her fingers.
Anything to avoid those dark, melting, brown eyes of his.

“She says it wouldn’t matter.”

“What else does Joelle says about me?” She
peeked over her glasses, unable to avoid looking his way. It was
like the sun, in its brightness, beckoned her, but its brilliance
was too blinding.

He cocked his head to the side. “That you’re
intelligent, kind, beautiful, wonderful, funny, sweet, rich...”

“Oh, God, she doesn’t! She doesn’t really go
on like that about me? To you?”

He chuckled. “Oh, she really does. To
everyone. She loves you. I could keep going on.”

“She’s my best friend. But that’s a load of
crap.”

“So you’re not all those things?”

“No. Not even close.”

“Except for intelligent, beautiful, rich, and
a great doctor?”

“Intelligent. Rich. And a fantastic doctor,”
she said with a smile. It was the only thing in the world she could
be so sure about.

He leaned on the table as if closing the
distance between them. “I have eyes, Doc; Joelle’s more than right
about your IQ, but I figured the intelligent part was pretty
accurate with the MD attached to your name.”