Page 57 of A Mommy for His Daughter

Evelyn raised her eyebrows. “Joe the Third?”

Tim laughed and left the room.

She turned back to the baby. “Sorry, kid. I mean sorry about being Joe the Third.”

Evelyn stood up, her body aching from being hunched over. She grabbed the chart she’d been keeping and stuck it under the incubator. The paramedics were already wheeling Jennifer out and Joe Jr. looked beside himself.

“She’s not awake,” he said when he saw Evelyn.

“I’ve kept her out—she’s been through a lot. She’ll wake up soon. She’s stable, Joe. Remember? We talked about it? She’ll need you when she wakes up.”

Joe nodded and then looked at the incubator. Evelyn hadn’t let him get too close to Joe the Third because she didn’t want to put any strain on the baby.

Joe Jr. grinned and Joe Sr. came over.

“He’ll be fine too,” Evelyn said. “He needs to spend time in the neonatal intensive care unit, but he’s made it this long.”

“Thank you, Evie,” said Joe Jr., and followed the paramedics outside with Jennifer.

Joe Sr. lingered behind and looked at his grandson. “Your parents would be so proud, Evelyn. If it wasn’t for you I don’t think Jennifer or the baby would be here. Thank you.”

Evelyn nodded, but she didn’t know how to respond to that at all. She wheeled Joe the Third out to the ambulance and the incubator was loaded in beside Jennifer and Joe Jr.

She stood there watching as they secured them and then shut the doors. The ambulance fired up and headed toward the airport, where the air ambulance was waiting to take them to Sitka.

Evelyn walked slowly back into the clinic.

She was wiped out.

“Have you seen Derek, Tim?”

Tim stretched where he was sitting behind the reception desk. “No, not since the surgeries.”

Evelyn frowned. “I’m going to have a shower. Think you can man things here?”

Tim nodded. “I’m fine. I’ll clean up and then lock up.”

“Send Janet and Edna home too. It’s been a long day and night. I’m sure they want to get home to check on their families.”

Tim nodded. “Of course. Get some rest.”

“You too.”

Evelyn grabbed her coat and headed outside. There were a few fallen branches and some garbage littering the street. The damage wasn’t bad. there was some flooding near the sea wall, and it might take some time to clear that, only she wouldn’t be here to see it.

She couldn’t stay here anymore.

Why not?

Evelyn cursed under her breath, annoyed at herself.

Being with Derek had been amazing, but what would he think of her if he knew the truth about her.

She’d ruined so many lives and now she was too hardened. Her grandmother had taught her well.

What if she ruined his life too? Or Mo’s?

Derek and Mo deserved more than her. It had been a mistake coming here. She should’ve just turned down her friend’s plea for help. Coming to Alaska had been a bad idea.

Had it, though?

* * *

Derek had dozed off with Mo. She’d been terrified of being separated from him, and when he’d got her settled down he hadn’t been able to help drifting off.

He didn’t sleep long before he woke with a start and remembered in crystal clarity everything that had happened. He reached over for Mo, worried that he’d lost her, but she was there.

Where was Evelyn?

And then he remembered Jennifer Yazzie.

He scrubbed his hands over his face, feeling emotionally drained because what had happened with Jennifer had reminded him of what he’d gone through with Vivian. Only for a moment, though. Jennifer was here still. The baby was stable. Strong. This was not a tragedy all because of Evelyn. She had brought light to the darkness.

Derek groaned and got up. He was angry at himself for sleeping with Evelyn, for giving in to the desire that he knew was wrong, but it had been worth it.

And, though he should feel worse than he did, he had loved being with Evelyn that way. He’d loved taking her in his arms. It had felt so natural to be with her and it had been so long since a woman had made him feel that way.

Evelyn made him feel again.

He wasn’t Dr. Taylor and he wasn’t Mo’s dad when he was in her arms.

He was a hot-blooded man again.

What about Vivian?

Derek was confused about his feelings. All he knew right now, in this moment, was that one night with Evelyn would never be enough.

Maybe, just maybe, he could give this a shot?

He’d never thought he’d find anyone again after Vivian had died. He’d never thought he’d see hope in hopeless situations. He’d never thought he’d feel alive again, but Evelyn had changed that.

He was in love with Evelyn. He’d fallen in love with her.

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