Page 95 of Paging Dr. Hart
I feel a swell of love for him, this handsome, smart, and loyal man. He’s so perfectly perfect for me. With my heels on, I don’t have to reach as far to give him a deep kiss. Softly, I confess. “I love you.” Another heart-melting kiss. “Have I told you recently that I’m glad you’re here with me?”
Ethan grins crookedly. “It’s like I’m always telling you. You’re stuck with me.”
Epilogue
It’s been a busy day in the hospital, but things are finally winding down when the lead tech, Amy, walks into my office.
“Dr. Hart?” she says, waiting patiently for me to finish the case I’m working on.
Done, I spin my chair around to face her. I glance at the other chair in the room. It’s empty. Ethan’s at the other hospital across town today, and I miss him.
“What can I do for you, Amy?”
“There’s a patient here for you, Dr. Hart. He asked for you specifically.”
My eyebrows rise. It’s unusual in radiology to have patients request a specific doctor. “Okay. Where is he?” I push out of my chair and pull on my long white coat, its pockets heavy with my stethoscope and pens.
Amy follows me out into the hallway. “I had him stay in the lobby. Our waiting room is still pretty full. I swear the nice summer weather has made every single person go outside and break a bone today.”
I agree. It’s been nonstop X-rays for fractured bones for the past couple of hours.
“Anyway,” continues Amy, “you won’t be able to miss this guy. He’s tall, dark, and handsome.” She winks at me. “I wouldn’t mind if he requested to see me, that’s for sure.”
Rolling my eyes at her, I head for the hospital lobby. My curiosity has been piqued. Once I pass the coffee cart, I spot him. A man with eyes like emeralds stands by the sliding lobby doors.
Rafe.
I freeze, my heart pounding. I have thought about him so many times, wondering if he got out of the Starlight in time. Seeing him here, whole and unharmed, brings a sense of relief. It’s quickly followed by apprehension. What does he want? Money? Revenge?
Expressionless, Rafe watches me cross the room.
“What are you doing here?” I ask when I reach him.
Now that I’m up close, I see that he looks different from the last time I saw him. He’s gained some weight. The hollows of his cheeks and under his eyes are less pronounced. Clean-shaven, he has on a newish-looking button-down shirt and a nice pair of jeans. His hair is shorter than before. Most importantly, his green eyes are warm as he regards me.
Still uncertain of his motives, I ask, “Do you…need something?” Given that I’m not sensing Rafe’s usual hostility, I wonder even more why he’s here. Maybe something’s wrong. Is he sick and needs my help? Is it about Shelly? All the questions flood my mind at once. “Are you okay?”
Rafe’s face is relaxed, and his smile is the warmest I’ve ever seen. “Actually, I’m better than okay. I’ve made…some changes since the last time I saw you, and things are good now.”
“What are you doing here?” My forehead creases.
He gestures to a pair of upholstered chairs in the corner of the room. Following his lead, I sit next to him. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you. Something that’s bothered me for a long time.” He pauses, running his hand over the back of his neck. “It’s about the night of the party. I was talking to Johnny the Shark. I didn’t really know him well. We’d only worked a couple of jobs together before he died.” Rafe checks to make sure I’m listening. “He must have seen us together because he asked me about you, Tiffany.”
“He did? He asked about me?” I point to myself.
“Yeah. He wanted to know about you and your mom. I didn’t know why he was so interested. I still don’t totally understand, but here’s where it gets weird. Johnny looked scared, the only time in my life I saw that man frightened. Even when he got shot later, he didn’t look like that. Only when he talked about you.”
“Why?” I purse my lips, thinking back to that night. Johnnyhadgiven me a strange look when I first met him. He had stared at my dress with an odd expression, almost like recognition, but he didn’t seem frightened. More like he was perplexed. “Surely, he wasn’t scared ofme?”
“No.” A brief shake of his head. “He mentioned your dad.”
“My dad? My dad is dead.” I cross my leg over my knee and lean forward, listening intently.
“You sure? Because Johnny didn’t seem to think so.” Rafe looks around suspiciously and lowers his voice. “I can’t remember the exact words, but Johnny said something about if your dad ever found out where you were, he would burn down the world to get to you. That’s when he looked scared.”
“I don’t understand. What does it mean?” I ask helplessly.
Rafe frowns. “I honestly don’t know, but the way he said it stood out to me. I made myself remember all the details so I could tell you.” His hand rubs the back of his neck again. “I had a bad feeling about it. I’ve always thought I should warn you.”
