Page 2 of Paging Dr. Breakup
The smile on Calvin’s face fell. Her palms sweated. Decorum be damned. Deirdre was also very human. Calvin was an old friend. Covering the delay, she said, “You threw me for a minute. Here you go.” She opened her arms wide, pushing past a zip of fear, and something else undefinable that made her arms shake.
“Well, that’s better,” he said, drawing her in for a warm, firm hug. They embraced for a few seconds longer than colleagues should.
Giving a friendly pat on his back, more to make herself let go, she said, “Great seeing you, Calvin.”
“You already said that.” He took a step back, arms falling to his sides once more. His quick, wry smile disappeared, replaced by a thoughtful, more intense expression.
Deirdre stammered beneath the evaluation, “So, how are you getting settled in?”
His gaze narrowed as he shifted to professionalism. Good. He gave a quick nod. “This is my first shift since coming back to town. Figure it’s like riding a bicycle, except in emergency medicine, sometimes the bicycle is on fire and sometimes you’re riding four bicycles at once. Which are all on fire.”
“And sometime all of the bicycles have flat tires and brakes not working!” Deirdre laughed out loud, surprising herself with how light those few seconds felt. “Phew, you described every single day of my job. We never know what life throws at us, am I right?”
Concern creased the weathered lines of his face. She could imagine him using this exact compassionate expression when breaking bad news or discussing complex medical decisions.
He tugged at the fleece vest pocket. “You know I’m really sorry about everything that happened with Elijah. And then with your folks. All of that had to have been a lot to handle.”
It was a lot to handle without her longtime friend Calvin present. A lump ached in her throat. Her assessment was unfair. Her brother, Maverick, had supported her. They had supported each other. Besides, Calvin had visited Elijah in hospice before he had passed, and he had sent flowers after her parents’ death.
She blinked several times and locked her jaw until her teeth ached. Whatever it took to maintain control in a public and professional space, Deirdre would do it. “You’re right. I really miss them.”
“Me too. I sometimes imagine paddling with Elijah, running rapids and coming up with plans to fix everything wrong in the world.” His Adams apple bobbed a few times and then he cleared his throat. “So, lots of memories.” He smiled. “Would you be opposed to catching up with an old friend over dinner sometime?”
The tight knot in her throat eased. Warmth flowed through Deirdre’s limbs, chased by a flicker of fear. Dinner with Calvin. Their history. Her buried feelings.
Even though she stood on solid ground, his invitation triggered a sensation like stepping onto a frozen river with zero confidence that the crackling ice would hold her weight.
Stop it.They were old friends. Besides, maybe it would be good for her to talk about Elijah. Share memories and laugh or cry at stories. Expressing emotions was a tall order. If avoiding feelings had become a habit, then maintaining emotional distance from everyone and everything was her lifestyle. But this was Calvin.
Deirdre felt her head bobbing. “Sure, I wouldn’t mind grabbing a bite to eat. We can reminisce about old times. I know you’re busy with Bruce and Aggie these days, so if you want, email or text me some times that work for you.”
He pinned her with another sharp glance, then one corner of his mouth rose. “Sounds like you’re putting me off. Have your people call my people, and they’ll send a meeting invite? Should I coordinate with your administrative assistant?”
Busted. Holding up a hand, she stammered, “It’s not like that.” Actually, it was. “I just know that my busy schedule and your busy schedule may not easily line up. But yes, we will find time.” Or find excuses not to have time.
Busy. Understatement of the year. Deirdre did her part to keep the hospital running by cobbling staff together. She pitched in on shifts as a last resort, begged staff for help, and kept advertising the unfilled positions. In addition, she helped her brother Mav run their family’s lodge business. Within the past month or so, the recent discovery of potential minerals on their property meant that she also wanted to figure out how to monetize that find. Or rather, prevent others from monetizing it first.
The most pressing issue? Deirdre needed to survive the Breakup Festival next month.
Calvin glanced at her face before looking toward Billy, who was doing his level best to appear busy doing nothing, despite leaning toward them with his head cocked.
Then Calvin lightly brushed his fingertips over her forearm. “It’s great to see you, and it will be great to catch up.” He tugged at his vest and shrugged. “Sounds like I should go change before the first patient thinks I’m a sloppy mess.”
“Yikes. Well, at least you smell like coffee. There are many other stains you can get in the hospital that would be so much worse.”
His warm, baritone laugh that Deirdre hadn’t heard in so many years dredged up a deep sense of conflict.
Later.
Now wasn’t the time to be dealing with feelings. Not at work. She had a unit manager meeting to lead in ten minutes and apparently a dinner to schedule with Calvin.
Chapter Two
Deirdre Steen. Lessthan one minute of physical contact—that was all it took to encapsulate why Calvin had stayed away from Yukon Valley.
The simple acts of steadying her with his hands and holding her in his arms hit Cal harder than paddling straight into a hidden rock in class IV rapids. His stability shifted, and he had to quickly regain his balance.
He knew he’d eventually run into her at the hospital, but nothing had prepared him for those bright blue eyes twinkling up at him—at times crinkling with laughter or sad.
