Winter Nights with the Single Dad
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Allie Kincheloe
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18,2K
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CHAPTER ONE
NERVES FLUTTERED IN Stella’s stomach. Getting called to the boss’s office was never easy, even when she was quite certain she’d done nothing wrong. She’d run through a litany of possibilities, but still she had no clue what else she could have been called in to discuss other than a potential promotion.
“Dr. Allen, you must’ve caught wind of some changes happening.” The chair squeaked as Chris Taylor leaned back. The chief executive steepled his fingers and gazed at her with a serious expression lining his face. “And I’m sure you’ve questioned how these changes might affect your own role here at the hospital.”
Whispers in the hallowed halls of the Royal Kensington Hospital said that the head of orthopedics could be replaced soon. Rumors floated rampant through the antiseptic-scented corridors since a nurse had caught sight of an employment ad for an orthopedic surgeon. No one had mentioned retirement and none seemed on the verge of a big move, but Stella had sought out the advertisement and read it with her own eyes only an hour before she’d been pulled into Dr. Taylor’s office. Her confidence flagged a bit and she barely resisted the urge to cross her fingers or pray that she wasn’t about to be fired.
Stella nodded, waiting for Dr. Taylor to get on with it. The man was known for his long-winded explanations of any and every topic of conversation. Stella herself preferred to get to the point quickly and her foot shook as her impatience got the best of her.
“I realize this is your first year with us, so you may not be aware of the particulars. You have heard of The Kensington Project?”
Thinking carefully, Stella nodded slowly. “I have, but only in the broadest of terms. Last year’s participants had already returned from their assignments before I came on board here.”
“Then you must know it’s a medical exchange program of sorts. Four of our own, from various departments, will be traveling to other hospitals across the world to share our groundbreaking advancements. And you’ve been chosen to share your orthopedic techniques.”
“Me?” Stella savored the moment of recognition. Out of all the doctors and surgeons in the elite programs at the Royal Kensington Hospital, she’d been chosen. What an honor! The validation of her surgical skills filled her with pride.
“Yes.” Dr. Taylor passed her a file. “If you are agreeable, you would travel to Toronto. While you are there, you will work with the team at St. Matthew’s Hospital until Christmas.”
“Canada?” Stella gasped. “I’ve never been to Canada.” Stella opened the folder in her lap. Scanning quickly, she tried to absorb as many of the details as possible. The particular that stood out most was that her departure date was within the week and the return date not until Christmas. “I’d be leaving almost immediately?”
“Afraid so. It’s rather short notice, but I believe you to be up for the task.” His face took on a more solemn demeanor. “There’s one more thing.”
Her breath caught as she waited for the bad news that was sure to come with the concern lining his face. Good news always comes with bad, after all.
“In addition to sharing your surgical procedures, we’ve also secured permission for you to film that television special you’ve been angling for since your arrival here.”
Stella’s eyes widened at the news. “I’ll be able to film there at St. Matthew’s?”
Dr. Taylor nodded. “The producer will have a camera crew film here beginning next week and another to join you in Toronto. I don’t seem to have an exact timeline on that. There are a few caveats as noted in the file, mostly legal minutiae that will apply. I’m sure you’re familiar with most everything, but do review it for any differences applicable specifically to Toronto. Your contact there is going to be Dr. Aiden Cook. His information is also in the file.”
Having grown up on camera, Stella knew the power film had on the general public and its opinion. She’d been trying to secure permission to document just how hard the people in a hospital worked and to bring attention to the sacrifices made to provide healthcare for the masses. Those sacrifices were amplified at the holidays, so she’d pitched the upcoming Christmas holiday as the perfect time for filming. She’d managed to get the support of a network, but getting permission from the hospital had been far more difficult as she’d been refused at every turn.
So, why now?
“Dr. Allen?”
“Hmm...” Stella fought back a blush at being caught woolgathering. “I’m afraid my mind was wandering.”
“Are you agreeing to participate then?”
Momentarily, Stella wondered if she ought to decline. Had she only been chosen for the program due to her television background? No, she was quite confident in her surgical skills and the Royal Kensington Hospital would never send her out to represent their good name if they didn’t believe in her. Plus, the topic of the show was one near and dear to her heart.
After the briefest of hesitations, Stella said yes.
She walked away from Dr. Taylor’s office deep in thought. Excitement filled her at all the prospects The Kensington Project offered. Her motivations for agreeing were threefold.
First of all, it was a wonderful career opportunity. She’d get to share her new techniques in another country and meet a whole new team of colleagues. Expanding her network could potentially open a lot of doors going forward.
Second, and most excitingly, it would put an ocean between Stella and her mother for two entire months. That alone would be reason enough for Stella to say yes. For years, Debra Allen had pushed and pushed to get Stella into television and keep her there. Stella had heard a million times how much her mum had wanted to be an actress, but she simply hadn’t had the talent. She’d shoved all those dreams on to her daughter. Being in the spotlight, holding that hint of celebrity status, had often been all that mattered. Occasionally, Stella had wondered if it was her or what she could do for her mum that Debra loved more. She loved her mum, but a vast expanse of water separating them could only improve their relationship.
The third and final reason was that this television program meant everything to her. She’d been keen on getting this program produced for ages. The idea of filming had never been more exciting.
The feeling that her whole life was about to change filled Stella with energy. Mentally, she began listing all the tasks she needed to complete before she left London. There were a lot, so she really should make a written to-do list. She had packing to do before her first ever trip to Canada. Thankfully, she’d kept her passport up to date. She needed to sort her current patient load and arrange for someone to care for her houseplants.
Stella wasn’t the sentimental type, but this felt right. It was going to be the best Christmas yet.
She couldn’t wait.
Aiden groaned as he opened yet another email from Dr. Stella Allen, the surgeon from the Royal Kensington Hospital that he’d agreed to babysit—liaise with—while she was in Toronto. The things he’d do for his kid...
Emergency medicine at one of the busiest hospitals in Toronto wasn’t meshing well with single fatherhood. He kept running late, having to rely on his parents to pick up the slack when his job kept him past the scheduled pickup time. The trade-off of coordinating with Dr. Allen on filming her television special and planning the staff Christmas party had seemed worth it in exchange for only working day shifts and no weekends through all of November and December. Now he was second-guessing that thought because she was already grating on his last nerve and they weren’t even in the same country.
Dr. Allen had sent him no fewer than a dozen emails over the last twenty-four hours. And the questions? She asked more questions than anyone he’d ever met. And he hadn’t even met her yet!
Something in this particular email caught his attention though. Dr. Allen wrote that she’d need to scout the hospital for places to film that would have enough lighting, yet not be too distracting on film. That wasn’t the intriguing bit though. Helping her coordinate filming had been part of the deal he’d made with Dr. Stone, after all. It was the next line that sent him off on a research tangent.
She wrote that with several shows behind her, she could evaluate the locations with a glance.
Several shows?
Wasn’t this a special one-time deal designed to highlight the struggles of those who worked in hospitals during the holidays? But her words implied she’d done more than this documentary.
He typed her name into the search bar and was not disappointed. Pages of results showed up for her. He settled back and began to work his way through a few of the links. It didn’t take long for him to learn everything he needed to know about St. Matthew’s newest star.
Dr. Allen had grown up in the spotlight. After an appearance on a show called Britain’s Brightest at age ten, she had been given her own show—Stay Smart with Stella. After that, she had another show while she was in college and medical school.
She had taken time away from her studies to futz about with a television program during medical school and he was supposed to believe that she was one of the brightest pioneers the Royal Kensington Hospital had to offer? Was there a time when she had ever focused all her attention on medicine? Could she really perform orthopedic surgery?
Aiden snorted. More likely, she was the one with the most star power to draw attention to their program.
And the most photogenic.
“Oh, she’s pretty. Is she the one you’re going to be showing around?”
“It’s a bit more than showing her around, Mom,” Aiden said as his mother leaned over his shoulder to look at the screen in his hand.
“Well, she’s quite lovely. Is she single?”
“I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. She’s a colleague only.”
His mom made a noise of disbelief. “You cannot be alone forever, Aiden. You know, if you found someone new, maybe she could help you shoulder some of the responsibilities.”
“Jamie needs stability more than I need a love life, Mom.” He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He didn’t have the time or the interest for romance. Where would he find the time? He’d had to bargain for extra duties to get regular hours for the next two months.
“Don’t reject the idea before you’ve even met her.” His mom smiled softly as she walked away. “And don’t stay up too late.”
He sighed. Soon, he and Jamie would need to find a place of their own, but for now, living with his parents was the most stability that Aiden could provide. His son had been through so much upheaval in the short duration of his life and the last thing Aiden wanted to do was add to that.
The low-battery message popped up and it dawned on him that he’d just lost over an hour educating himself about an actress masquerading as a doctor. Dr. Stella Allen was very beautiful and she had an on-air presence that made her seem as if she were talking directly to the viewer. The spark of intelligence in her green eyes lit so brightly that it was visible even on camera. The camera might add ten pounds, but if it did, they’d landed in just the right places on the curvy, dark-haired beauty. Something about her had drawn him in, even in a video. He ran a hand through his hair.
What was he doing?
Surely, he had learned his lesson about getting tangled up with actresses. The last thing he needed was another woman in his life more concerned about the camera than the people around her. Been there, done that, got the two-year-old to prove it.
Stepping across the hall, he watched from the doorway as Jamie slept. Even after months in Aiden’s care, Jamie slept with his back to the wall curled up into a tight ball. Aiden still wasn’t sure what his son had been through in the two years before Aiden had learned of his existence. Some days, just the thought of what it might have been was too much.
But that was in the past and Aiden was determined to give his son a better future. Jamie’s appearance may have turned Aiden’s life upside down, but being a dad was the best thing that had ever happened to him. These last nine months had meant a lot of changes for Aiden, including moving back in with his parents and trying to juggle Jamie’s therapies and work and a massive custody battle. He had no regrets about stepping up when his son came into his life though. In fact, that little boy was the sole reason Aiden had gotten himself saddled with being a personal concierge for the next two months.
And he was also the reason that Aiden needed to keep Dr. Stella Allen at arm’s length.
