The Doctor's Recovery

Reaching for the laptop, he settled it on his lap, pressed the power button and prayed Mia had finally adopted the habit of password protection. The desktop filled the screen, the movie program already launched and no request for a password. Some things hadn’t changed.

Wyatt hit the mute button on the TV sound, checked on Mia and pressed Play. Twenty too-long minutes later, he closed the laptop and tried to smother the queasiness rolling through his stomach. Resting his elbows on his knees, he inhaled, forcing air deep into his lungs to crowd the panic out of his body. Nothing in the ER or in a medical tent in Africa ever left him this raw, exposed and twitchy. All that from watching a video.

He glanced over at Mia’s bandaged arm resting on top of the covers and winced at the reminder of a disoriented Mia hacking through her wet suit into her flesh with her dive blade as she thrashed around to untangle herself from the kelp and fishing line. All while running out of air. He rubbed his chest, drew another breath. Then another because he needed the reminder: he wasn’t drowning. He wasn’t trapped under the ocean, out of oxygen and time.

He leaned toward the bed and held Mia’s good hand between both of his. The contact satisfied nothing. He wanted a reaction. He wanted her to wake up, squeeze his fingers and reassure him that she really was alive. How pathetic had he become?

Mia Fiore needed a keeper. She needed someone to watch out for her and keep her from putting her life at risk again. She needed someone to show her that she was worth more alive than dead. She needed someone to love her beyond all reason.

Fortunately, that someone wasn’t Wyatt. He lived only within reason. Clearly when he was with Mia, he lost his common sense. He’d suffered a panic attack from simply watching the video of her accident. If he actually witnessed another one of her near-death incidents, he’d probably lose his mind altogether. That was an unacceptable flaw. He’d been trained to be a doctor, not a lovesick fool.

He held on to her hand, reluctant to let go. He’d forgotten how well her hand fit inside his.

Another few minutes wouldn’t matter. It wasn’t as if he needed to touch her to feel better. He just wanted some time to remind his body that his feet were planted on the ground, not the deck of a dive boat.

Besides, he’d be leaving soon to return to Africa. And he had every intention of boarding that plane with a sound mind and his heart intact.

CHAPTER FIVE

MIA TIPPED HER head toward the door, and delight spiraled through her stomach, making her smile fill her from the inside out. Wyatt stood inside her room as if she’d wished him there. A young girl and boy anchored him on each side, and all wore matching grins as if they’d raided the dessert bar in the cafeteria and escaped undetected. She would’ve joined them if they’d only asked. And that was proof of just how restorative last night’s sleep had been. She’d never done silly things as a child, but the trio in her doorway tempted her now.

“Mia, I’d like to introduce you to my friends.” Wyatt’s mouth seemed to be late in catching up with the smile flaring from inside him. Happiness surged through his cool gaze. His movements were relaxed and easy. Clearly Mia and he needed to watch more marathon sessions of Ruined and Renewed, as Wyatt looked as refreshed as Mia felt. Wyatt shifted, allowing the blonde curly-haired girl gripping his elbow with one hand and a white cane in her other to move into the room. “This is Ella Callahan.”

“My mom brings the therapy dogs to visit everyone here.” Ella folded her cane and pushed her lavender glasses up on her nose. “I’m too young to get a guide dog, but Mom promised me when I turn sixteen, we can apply. But Mom says she’ll be a working dog, so she can’t come visit sick people.”

Mia took a deep breath for Ella. The precious little girl spoke fast, as if she was in the final round of a timed debate. “Nice to meet you, Ella. The therapy dogs are wonderful, but something tells me I’m going to enjoy this surprise visit even more.”

Ella grinned and tugged her purple sweatshirt stamped with the words Power to the Dreamer down over her bold-striped leggings.

Wyatt set his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “This is Ben Sawyer.”

Not releasing his hold on the stack of board games in his arms, Ben jerked his head and flicked his copper bangs off his forehead, revealing deep green eyes. “My dad drives the ambulance here.”

Wyatt guided the pair toward Mia’s bedside. “Guys, this is my friend Mia Fiore. She’s the one I was telling you about who makes films.”

“Cool.” Ben shifted his weight and leaned forward, his gaze fixed on Mia’s open wound. “What happened to your leg?” Fascination, not horror, widened the boy’s eyes, as if he happily imagined every sort of grotesque reason for her cut.

“I was in a diving accident,” Mia said.

“Did a shark bite you?” That wonder spilled into Ben’s breathless voice.

“Not exactly. I cut myself with a dive knife.” Ben’s shoulders drooped, and his long sigh filled the room, making Mia want to take back the truth and confess she’d fought off a great white shark.

“Amelia got cut with a knife, too.” Ella leaned into Wyatt. “Except Dr. Wyatt says the doctor had to cut her. Amelia’s appendix made her sick. Ben and I have stayed in hospitals because my eyes don’t work like they’re supposed to and neither does Ben’s pancreas. So we came to visit Amelia.”

“And Dad wanted my port checked, even though Aunty Ava told him the port was fine.” Ben shook his head and adjusted the board games in his arms.

“Ms. Ava would know. She was in the war.” Ella tipped her chin down as if daring anyone to argue with her statement. “And she rides in the ambulance with Ben’s dad.”

“Dr. Wyatt told us Aunty Ava saved you on the dock.” Ben eyed Mia.

The children’s adoration of Ava was more than clear. Mia admitted she wanted to meet the real-world superwoman who captured this pair’s love and support. “I need to meet your aunt, so I can thank her.”

“I get to call her Aunty Ava even though we don’t share blood or anything like that.” Pride made Ben’s thin shoulders straighten. “But Dad says you don’t have to have the same blood to be family.”

“My dad is like your aunty Ava,” Ella said. ‘We don’t share blood either, but he’s my real dad. Dr. Wyatt, do you have family that isn’t family like us?”

Wyatt wrapped an arm around each child and pulled them close into his sides. His gaze locked on Mia, causing her to feel more than happiness at his visit.

He made her want to change her perspective. He made her want...

Wyatt added, “I’m starting to think it’s time that I expand my family.”

Right now, Mia wanted to wrap the trio in her embrace, hold on tight and demand that they tell her what it would take for her to reach Aunty status. “What are you three up to?” And can I join in? Please.

“Our board game tournament was halted thanks to the nurses having to do blood draws, vitals checks and other nurse things.” Wyatt shuddered as if all those tests terrified him. “We were afraid they might test us, too, so we ran away and decided to hide here in your room.”

Ella and Ben giggled.

“I see,” Mia said. “What’s your plan now?”

Wyatt checked the wall clock. “We’ve got a good hour before their parents come to get them.”

“We have games.” Ben lifted the boxes.

Ella patted the front pocket on her sweatshirt. “If you don’t like those games, I have two decks of cards in here.”

“I’m not sure I should play.” The list of final edits and sound bites waited on her laptop.

Both kids stretched out the word please in unison.

Wyatt tipped his chin toward the children as if he’d dropped a challenge in the form of two adorable ten-year-old kids. As if he dared her to turn them down.

Mia swept her hair up into a bun and would’ve rolled up her sleeves if she had any on her hospital gown. “It’s just that I really like to win, and I don’t want to make Dr. Wyatt cry when I beat him.” Challenge accepted.

Ella covered her mouth with her hand, but her giggle slipped around her fingers. Ben dropped his forehead toward the game boxes and tipped his head to peek at Wyatt. The quiver in the boy’s thin shoulders gave away his laughter.

Wyatt straightened and set his hands on his hips. “I’m undefeated in chess and cards today.”

“Not for much longer,” Mia said. “Ella, should we team up? Girls against boys for a chess tournament.”

“Yes.” Ben edged into Wyatt’s side.

Ella grinned. “The losers have to buy whatever dessert the winners want, even if they hate it.”

“Deal.” Ben leaned around Wyatt to look at Ella. “Get ready to eat moldy cheese jelly beans, Ella.”

“You have to win first.” Ella turned her head toward her friend and frowned. “But you’ll be eating beet ice cream when we win.”

Ben grimaced and turned to consider Mia’s leg. “Can you get out of bed, Ms. Mia?”

“I need to get out of this bed, Ben. Thanks for giving me an excuse.” A quick round of finger flexes proved the numbness had lessened in her right hand. Wiggling her toes didn’t grant the same results. Yesterday Robyn had steadied her more than once during her bed-to-chair transfers. She’d need help now, too, but she was playing in this tournament despite any discomfort. “Dr. Wyatt, you take the kids and set up in the visitors lounge. I’ll have Roslyn take me down there.”

“When the boys win, you might wish you stayed in bed.” Wyatt bumped his fist against Ben’s knuckles, as the boy wouldn’t relinquish his grip on the games.

“When the girls win, you’ll wish you’d stayed on the other ward and let the nurses run tests on you,” Mia countered.

Ella cheered.

Mia waved toward the door. “Now go while you boys still have a few minutes to strategize.”

“What about us?” Worry pinched Ella’s eyebrows together behind her glasses.

“We’re girls,” Mia said. “We were born to win.”

Ella brightened and set her hand on Wyatt’s elbow. “I’ll make sure everything is set up correctly, Ms. Mia.”

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