Nimbly, Gabe unzipped a side pocket and removed a stethoscope. “What’s his name?”
“Marty.”
“Marty—that’s a good name for a dog. Did you give it to him?”
Zoe shifted closer to the mother. Placing her fingers on the pulse of the boy’s wrist, Zoe checked his heart rate.
“One-ten,” she told Gabe. Thankfully it wasn’t very high.
Zoe looked up to see a security guard hurrying in their direction. When he arrived she said, “I’m a nurse and he’s a doctor.” She nodded in the direction of Gabe. “Call 911. This boy needs to be seen at a hospital.”
Thankfully the man didn’t waste time arguing and spoke into his radio.
Meanwhile Bobby was saying, “No, my mom did. I wanted to name him Purple.”
Gabe grinned. “Purple. That’s an interesting name. Is he a purple dog?” While he spoke to the boy in a low tone, Gabe listened to his heart, checking his pulse and looking into his eyes.
“There’s no such thing as a purple dog,” the boy stated. “It’s my favorite color.”
Gabe chuckled and patted Bobby on the shoulder. “I’m sure you’ll be playing with Marty soon.” He spoke to the mother. “I think he’ll be fine, but he may have a concussion and need to stay in the hospital overnight for observation.”
Blinking, she swiped away the wetness on one cheek.
“I’ll see that you’re taken care of. Don’t worry,” Gabe assured her.
Seconds later the emergency medical techs arrived. They relieved Zoe and she stood. Her hands were a mess and one of the techs handed her a wet towel to clean them.
Gabe had been tender with Bobby, even able to distract him, which was a talent in itself. He showed promise at being a good father. Caring concern was every bit as evident in his interaction with the boy and mother as it had been during the night they had shared. Maybe it wouldn’t be so hard to accept him as part of her and the baby’s life. If he was truly serious about it. Her fear was that when reality set in he might change his mind. Right now, he was just being noble.
Gabe was busy giving the EMTs a report about what had happened when Zoe found her bag and headed to the nearest restroom to wash her hands. When she came out, Gabe stood nearby.
She checked her watch and shook her head. “I have to go. It’s almost time for my plane. I have to get home.”
He didn’t look pleased with her putting him off once again. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Okay.” She pulled a card from her purse and handed it to him. “My phone number is on it. ’Bye, Gabe.”
TWO DAYS LATER Gabe was on his way out of surgery when his phone rang. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hey yourself. I’ve not heard from you in weeks.” His mother sounded eager to talk.
“I’ve been busy.”
“Too busy to check in with your mother?” Her tone held a teasing note but there was also some scolding as well.
“I’ve been trying to wrap up things here. Planning a move at the same time has kept me tied up.” Along with finding out he would soon be a father...
“I’m so proud of you and pleased you’ll be moving closer. I don’t see enough of you.”
With his schedule, he couldn’t promise it would be much different, but he did need to tell her about the baby. At least that would make her happy. “Mom, I’m glad you called. I’ve got some news.”
“I hope it’s good?”
“It is. I’m going to be a father.” Even though he’d had a couple of days to adjust to the idea, the words still sounded strange.
“You are! I didn’t even know you were seeing anyone!”
Gabe chuckled. His mother was as excited to hear the news as he had expected she would be. “I’m not really.” He didn’t want to get into it.
“Okay... Well, when is she due?”
“Sometime after the first of the year.”
His mother shot back, “You don’t know the exact date? Is it a boy or a girl?”
He really didn’t know much. He and Zoe were going to have to really talk. Today. “I’ll have to ask Zoe.”
“I’m guessing she’s the mother?” Curiosity filled her voice.
“Yes, her name is Zoe Avery.”
“Where did you meet her?”
“At a professional meeting.” He wasn’t surprised his mother was full of questions.
“Gabe, I’m guessing this wasn’t planned?” It sounded more like a question than a statement.
“It wasn’t, but we’re working all that out.” His pager went off. He was needed in ICU. “Mom, I’ve got to go. I’ll call you soon. I promise.”
“Okay. I love you, son.”
His mother might not have been around much, but he had known he was loved. His child would at least know Gabe cared, even if he couldn’t be there for him all the time. He’d learned early from his mother that sacrifices were necessary to survive and succeed in a profession. That focus was important to get what you wanted. For him, that was to build a renowned liver-transplant program.
He checked on his patient in ICU the nurse had paged him about and increased the dosage of pain medicine, before giving instructions to his physician’s assistant to notify him if there were additional issues. Then he headed to his office for some privacy. It was time he and Zoe had that overdue conversation. He just hoped she wouldn’t try to evade it. They needed to discuss things whether she liked it or not.
She answered on the second ring.
“Zoe. It’s Gabe. Please don’t hang up.”
“I wasn’t going to.” The soft voice that he’d know anywhere as Zoe’s sounded distracted.
“Uh... How’re you doing?” He felt like a teen calling a girl for the first time. It mattered too much.
“I’m fine.”
His chest tightened. She didn’t sound like it. “Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m fine and so is the baby.”
He was relieved to hear that. It amazed him how quickly she and his unborn child had become so important to him. “Uh, what’s the baby’s due date?” He’d been so shocked to learn she was pregnant he’d not thought to ask earlier.
“January twenty-second.”
“My father was born in January.” He shook his head. That was an odd statement. He’d not thought of that in a long time. “Do you know what it is yet?”
“No. I’ll find out soon.”
“You’ll let me know as soon as you do?” Why should he want to hear so badly? How much time would he spend being a father anyway? More than Zoe apparently thought he should. Fatherhood wasn’t what he’d planned for his life but now he had to adjust and adapt. He was determined to be the best father he could be.
“I will if you want me to.”
He would like to tell his mother the sex. She would be so excited. Would start buying clothes. “Zoe, how did this happen?”
She tittered. “Why, Doctor,