Page 14 of Every Rose

Chapter Five

When the coffee was drunk and she and James had caught up on each other’s latest, she said, “I hate to run, but I have to go and check on a patient.”

“Yeah. I should be getting back, too.”

They said their goodbyes and she headed to the hospital. Belinda wasn’t bouncing back after the long labor and the cesarean and Rose wanted to check on her, as well as two other patients who were in hospital. One after gall bladder surgery and one about tests for possible cancer.

When she got to Belinda’s room she paused on the threshold, her eyebrows raised in surprise. Matt was sitting beside Belinda, chatting to her as though they were old friends, the newest Tate baby asleep in his arms. He wore surgical scrubs, needed a shave, and a comb dragged through the dark curls on his head, but she still felt the inevitableoh that’s so adorablefeeling of seeing a full-grown, virile man holding a sleeping newborn.

“Hi,” she said as she walked in.

“Hi Rose,” Belinda said.

Matt merely nodded.

She picked up Belinda’s chart and scanned it. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired,” Belinda admitted. Then she looked over at Matt and grinned. “Look, Pippin’s got her first boyfriend.”

“Pippin? Is that baby’s name?”

Belinda nodded. “I was eating a Cox’s Red Pippin apple when I went into labor. We grow them on our property. It was Charlie’s idea to call her Pippin. She damned near killed me, but at least she’s an easy baby.”

“Rose, good to see you,” Matt said. “You usually work weekends?”

Right, because she was sointerestingshe had nothing better to do on a Saturday than hang around the hospital. “I was out shopping for bridal wear with Theresa and the rest of the bridesmaids, and then we went for lunch. I’m only stopping in quickly to check on Belinda and a couple of other patients before heading out for the evening.”

“Sounds like fun.”

Or like she was trying to make herself come across as social and busy. What was she doing? What did she care what he thought? If he believed she was an interesting woman why should she try and change his mind? It wasn’t like she wasinterestedin him.

Belinda might be tired, but she was obviously getting stronger every day. “Can I go home, Rose? I miss my kids.”

Pippin was doing great. She wasn’t only big in the shoulders, she was big everywhere, and didn’t seem to have suffered any ill effects from her calamitous beginning. “Do you have help at home?”

“My mother’s looking after the kids while I’m in here. She’ll come and help out. Plus, Charlie’s really good.”

She nodded, relieved to find Belinda wasn’t going to be wearing herself out when she was still so weak. “If you promise me to rest every day. Have a nap when Pippin sleeps, and let your mother and Charlie take over the cooking and cleaning. Then yes, I think you could go home tomorrow.”

The baby stirred at that moment and started to fuss. Matt stood, gracefully, as though screaming babies were no big deal. He passed the baby to its mother. She prepared to nurse and, after wishing her well, he headed for the door. Rose followed him out.

She turned to him when they were out in the hall with no chance that Belinda could overhear them. “Well, what do you think?”

“I think it’s a good thing she wasn’t eating a Golden Delicious when she went into labor.”

She snorted with laughter. “I mean, what do you think about her health? When I saw you there, I thought maybe you were worried about her. Am I letting her go home too early?”

“No. I like to check on a patient sometimes, that’s all.” He shrugged, looking uncomfortable. “I know we’re not supposed to let this get personal. But saving lives is personal.”

She nodded, surprised to find he felt that way.

They trod down the corridor, both sidestepping an orderly mopping the floor with practiced efficiency. They diverged around the swooshing mop, she to the left and he to the right, and then met back again in the middle and continued on their way. “So,” he said. “Your brother.”

“My brother?”

“Yeah. The firearms range I want to get into said you have to be a member. When I called they said a lot of law enforcement personnel practice there. I was wondering whether your brother might be able to help us.”

“Sure. I was with him an hour ago. I could have asked him then.” She pulled out her cell phone and ducked into an empty lounge containing four easy chairs and a TV that was off. “What’s the name of the facility?”

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