Paging Dr. Daddy
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Teresa Southwick
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Chapter One
She would beg, borrow, lie, cheat or steal for her child.
Courtney Albright knew what she had to do was one notch down from all of the above, but for her it was worse in some ways. She needed a favor from a man she had no reason to trust. Dr. David Wilder, genius plastic surgeon, lousy family guy. She supposed it made sense that a man empty and hollow enough to ignore and neglect the people who loved him would dedicate himself to enhancing outer beauty.
The problem was sheâd just had an accident with her daughter in the car. Janieâs face was broken and the doctors here in Walnut River were saying they didnât have the specialized skills she needed. David Wilder did and heâd agreed to a consult. It was a favor and Courtney didnât trust favors. Especially from men.
But her little girl was lying in a hospital bed with half her face covered in gauze bandages and fallout from a favor was a small price to pay for her little girlâs health. So where was he? What was taking so long? Maybe he wouldnât show up.
With every ounce of willpower she possessed, Courtney held back the sob that pushed up from deep inside and lodged in her throat. Tears wouldnât helpâthey never had and never would. Especially not now. To get through this crisis, her six-year-old needed strength, not a mother who ran away. Hysterics would be like running away, and she couldnât give in to that. Her own mother had just taken off without a word. Courtney had had her father, such as he was. But Janieâs father was dead. Janie only had her and sheâd do her best not to let her baby down.
At least not again.
The accident was bad enough. And if she could, she would trade places with Janie in a heartbeat. Courtney had a bump on the head and a broken wrist, but that was nothing compared to what her little girl was suffering. Courtney had refused to let them admit her as a patient. Sheâd insisted they let her be with Janie. Hospitals were scary. She worked here, but not in patient care.
âMrs. Albright?â
At the sound of the deep voice, Courtney glanced over her shoulder. It was himâDavid Wilder. He was really here and, if possible, more handsome than the one and only time sheâd seen him. She shuddered with relief although it shamed her. She hated needing something from him or anyone else. But sheâd have hated it more if heâd blown her off.
âYouâre here. I didnât think youâdâŠâ She pressed her lips together, cutting off what sheâd been about to say. âThank you for coming, Dr. Wilder.â
âYou know me?â he asked.
âI saw you at your fatherâs funeral.â
James Wilder had died of a heart attack not quite two months ago and Courtney still missed him. He was the only man sheâd ever known who had been kind to others without expecting anything in return.
âThere were a lot of people there.â David frowned as if he was thinking back.
He was a famous Beverly Hills plastic surgeon to the stars so there had been a lot of talk about him that day. About him in the tabloids, linked to A-list movie actresses. About him featured on TV gossip shows in regard to cosmetic procedures on models. Him dating a bevy of beautiful, high-profile women for about a minute until he moved on.
The Dr. David Wilder could be in the movies himself. Dark hair meticulously mussed, vivid blue eyes. Square jaw with some serious scruff which was how the âinâ celebrity males accessorized these days, though he wore it better than most. A battered leather jacket fitted his broad shoulders and gave him a bad-boy-biker look along with worn jeans that hugged his lean hips and muscular thighs. He looked like the guy next doorâthe good-looking guy next door.
Even if he didnât live on the other side of the country, their paths would never cross because they didnât travel in the same social circles. He had no reason to remember the unremarkable nobody who ran the hospital gift shop. Sheâd lived in Walnut River for over six years and had never laid eyes on him until his fatherâs funeral.
âI wouldnât expect you to remember me,â she said.
âThen youâd be wrong, Mrs. Albright. About remembering you, I mean.â
His smile was friendly and attractive and she felt it go straight through her even as she wanted to ask how that bedside manner was working for him. But she had to give him points for showing up.
âThank you for coming,â she said again.
âYou sound surprised.â The smile disappeared.
âElla said you were at the airport in New York on your way back to California. I justâI was afraidâWalnut River is so far out of your way that I wasnât sure youâd come.â
Boy, was she wrong. But it didnât make sense in her frame of reference. On the spur of the moment a successful, busy plastic surgeon came all this way to see a patient he didnât know? And so fast. Although it felt like a lifetime, the accident was only a few hours ago.
âAs it happens, I was in New York for a plastics symposium when my sister called. I came as quickly as I could.â
âOut of character for youââ She couldnât believe sheâd said that out loud. The words popped out of her mouth before she could stop them. It had been the worst few hours of her life and she was taking it out on him. âScratch that. How incredibly ungrateful that sounds. I apologize. Iâm not at my best right now.â
âForget it,â he said, but shadows crept into his eyes. âI understand you work here at the hospital but canâtââ He stopped and didnât say whatever it was heâd been about to, but something suspiciously like pity crept into his eyes. âWalnut River isnât that far out of my way and Ella said your daughterâs facial injuries are pretty serious.â
Tears welled in her eyes again and she turned away, embarrassed by the show of weakness. When he put a comforting hand on her shoulder, the urge to give in to her fear and grief swamped her. With an effort, she pulled herself together and faced him again. She might be the nobody who ran the gift shop but if that connection was what got him here it was one more reason to be grateful for it.
She looked at the half of her daughterâs face that she could see and noted the pale skin on Janieâs normally healthy pink cheek. âSheâs been sleeping off and on since the accident.â
âThatâs a combination of shock and medication to keep her comfortable,â he explained.
âThey told me.â
The staff had done an excellent job of keeping her informed. They were her friends as well as coworkers and if not for them, she wasnât sure this wouldnât have broken her.
He walked around to the other side of the bed and very gently pulled away the strips of paper tape loosely holding the gauze over Janieâs cheek and ear. âI just got here and wanted to introduce myself and have a quick look at the patientââ
âJanie,â she said. âMy daughterâs name is Jane Josephine Albright. Everyone calls her Janie.â
âJanie.â He met her gaze, then looked down and continued his examination. âSheâs a beautiful child.â
âYes, she isââ Courtney stopped, choked up because she wanted to say was.
Sheâd known it was bad or he wouldnât be here.
Courtney remembered very little about the accident and nothing about the helicopter flight that airlifted her and Janie to Walnut River General Hospital. Sheâd come around and remembered being X-rayed and having her wrist immobilized. The E.R. doctor had ordered CT scans for Janie, then theyâd cleaned her up, covered her face and called in a specialist.
No one had pushed Courtney to look and she didnât really want to see. If that made her a coward, so be it. But she didnât think she could bear it, knowing what sheâd done to her own child. If she could have her choice of days to do over, today would be at the top of a very long list.
Sheâd been taking Janie out to an early breakfast before work and school. It was a rare treat because she couldnât afford meals out but Janie had been named student of the month and theyâd planned to celebrate. Courtneyâs gut had told her it wasnât a good idea. The weather was bad. What was that saying? March came in like a lion, out like a lamb? It was true. And sheâd worried about the roads being safe.
She should have listened to her gut. She could try and pin this on Mother Nature or God, but the fact was, there was no one else to blame for a single-car rollover accident.
She knew part of her was always trying to make up for the fact that Janie didnât have a dad. It didnât matter that if heâd lived, Joe wouldnât have been a very good parent. All Janie knew was that her father was gone forever.
Courtney was the mom and trying so very hard to be a good one. Trying not to be like her own mother. A powerful wave of guilt washed over her. Her mother had walked out, which was unforgivable, but Courtney had never ended up in a hospital intensive care unit. So which one of them was the worst mother ever? Janie was a beautiful child, but she might be scarred for lifeâand it was all Courtneyâs fault.
The doctor replaced the gauze and brushed Janieâs blond hair off her forehead in a surprising and unexpectedly tender gesture. He met her gaze. âIâm going to look at her chart.â
âIs she going to be all right?â
âHer condition is serious, but her injuries arenât life-threatening.â
âThey already told me that. I want to know if her face is going to be all right.â
âI need to evaluate all her test results.â
âWhat arenât you telling me, Dr. Wilder?â
âPlease call me David.â
Sheâd call him the devil himself if it would help Janie. Sheâd call him anything he wanted if he would simply tell her the truth. âDavid, what are you keeping from me?â
He glanced at Janie and sympathy slid into his vivid blue eyes. âThe injuries to her cheek, eye and nose are severe, but I can only see the soft tissue. I need information about muscles, nerves and bone involvement before I can evaluate the extent of the damage. Until I see everything, I canât tell you what kind of outcome you can expect.â
âOkay.â That made sense. If the little patient in the big bed were anyone other than her child, sheâd have realized that without him telling her. Itâs true what they said about losing objectivity when it concerned someone you loved. âBut when you have answers, I want you to tell me everything. The whole truth.â
âYou have my word, Mrs. Albright.â
âCall me Courtney.â
He nodded, then walked out. She felt inexplicably alone, which was weird since she hadnât expected him actually to show up at all. Why would he go out of his way? Unless there was something in it for him. She was probably the most ungrateful woman on the planet for thinking such thoughts. But not listening to her gut had cost her in the past and sheâd paid a high price today for another lesson.
She didnât have to like the situation, but in her circumstances she had very little choice but to go along with it. The old childrenâs rhyme Humpty Dumpty kept going through her mind.
All the kingâs horses and all the kingâs men couldnât put Humpty Dumpty back together againâbut none of them were a mom.
David would rather be anywhere but Walnut River, and the feeling wasnât about the CT films he was studying on the viewer. Although it would require a great deal of work, he could repair Janie Albrightâs face and she would grow up to be as beautiful as her mother. Courtney.
He hadnât known her name until today, but he remembered seeing her the day theyâd buried his father. Sheâd been the single bright spot in his dark void of what-ifs and self-reproach. With her blond hair blowing in the frigid wind, sheâd been like a beacon in the sea of pitch black. Her warm brown eyes had been full of sympathy and sadness and he had wondered why she looked that way.
What was her relationship with his father? Why did she mourn so deeply for the man David had disappointed so many years before? More than once since that day heâd recalled her all-American beauty that included a matching set of dimples. His patients who were searching for physical perfection would pay a lot of money to duplicate her looks.
From what Ella had said, Courtney didnât have a lot of money. That meant she needed him. And that made him wary. It wouldnât have if he hadnât been instantly and intensely attracted. But heâd learned a long time ago that intense feelings for a beautiful woman could make a man do stupid things. Life-altering things.
Still, she wasnât the reason he didnât want to be here. That was all about a past filled with mistakes and regrets. It was all about the things heâd done wrong and could never make right. His father was dead and he could never get back time with him or the relationship heâd lost.
At the airport when heâd talked to Ella, his initial reaction had been to plead schedule conflicts that prevented him from coming here. The truth was, he wasnât due back in his Beverly Hills office for several days. The other doctors in the practice would pick up the slack for him. When heâd intended to say no, the word yes came out of his mouth. Before sheâd hung up, Ella said since heâd be in town Peter would be expecting him at a cocktail party following the rededication of the hospital library in honor of their father. And so it beganâŠ
But there was a pressing problem. How was he going to tell a worried young mother that her daughterâs damaged face needed extensive work if she was ever going to look normal again?
David pulled Janieâs films from the viewer and clicked off the light. After looking through the chart, he walked down the hall and into ICU where he saw Courtney holding her daughterâs hand. The little girl was awake and when she saw him, she tensed.
âMommyââ
Courtney glanced over her shoulder. Like mother, like daughter. She tensed, too. But he had a feeling her fear wasnât all about what he had to tell her. On some level it was personal. Instinctive. He wasnât sure how he knew that, but heâd bet his favorite stethoscope it was true.
Her arm immobilized in a dark-blue sling, she looked back at her daughter. âSweetie, this is Dr. Wilder. Heâs come a long way to look at you and tell us what to do to make you better.â
David walked over to the bed and smiled down at his patient. âHi, beautiful.â
Janie studied him with her one good eye. It was blue. âHi.â
Underneath the bandage he knew her shattered cheekbone was dragging down her other eye and there was damage to the eyelid. The long gash on her chin and the injury to her ear were the least of the problems and the easiest to fix. There was a six-hour post-trauma window during which repair work could be done without debriding in surgery to avoid infection. It was simplest for the patient and the clock was ticking.
âIf I take your mom away for a few minutes will you be all right?â he asked her.
She glanced apprehensively at her mother, then back at him and her mouth trembled. âWhy does Mommy have to go with you? Are you gonna fix the bump on her head?â
David knew the injury didnât need his intervention and would heal nicely on its own. Courtneyâs face would be as flawless as the first time heâd seen her. The fact that sheâd refused anything besides basic medical attention in order to remain at her daughterâs side showed selflessness and character and a beauty on the inside where it counted most.
He smiled at Janie. âYour mom will be fine without my help. But I need to talk to her for just a couple of minutes.â
ââBout me?â
âYes,â he answered.
ââBout my face?â Janie asked, a tear sliding down her good cheek. âMommy said my arm is broken. Is my face broken too?â
Something shifted and stretched in his chest and the feeling made him acutely uncomfortable. A doctor wasnât supposed to become personally involved with a patient, but some had a way of sneaking through his defenses. Janie Albright could easily be one of them.
âDid your mom tell you that Dr. Ella fixed your arm and thatâs why itâs in a cast?â When she nodded, he said, âItâs going to be good as new.â He chose his words carefully. âThere are doctors who can make your face good as new.â
âReally?â Courtney asked, hope chasing the wariness from her eyes.
âReally.â He looked at the little girl. âAnd I need to tell your mom all about that, but itâs pretty boring. Is it okay with you if we go over there?â he asked, pointing to a spot just inside the door. âYou can still see her and weâll be right here if you need anything. How would that be?â
âOkay, I guess,â Janie said uncertainly.
âDo you hurt anywhere?â he asked.
âA little.â She glanced at the cast on her wrist. âMy arm.â
âThey gave her something for pain a few minutes ago,â Courtney told him.
He nodded. âGive it a few minutes, kiddo. Youâll feel better. I promise.â
âOkay,â Janie said.
David moved away from the bed and Courtney followed, cradling her injured arm.
âYou promised to tell me like it is,â she reminded him, as if she didnât believe he would keep his word.
âAnd I have every intention of doing that.â
She nodded and winced at the movement. âOkay. How bad is her face? Will she really be all right?â
âYes,â he said firmly. âBefore I get specific you need to know that she will look normal again.â
âThank God,â she said, breathing a sigh of relief.
âBut itâs going to take work.â
Instantly, worry snapped back into place. âPlease, explain.â
âThe damage needs to be repaired in two phases. Thereâs a long deep gash in her chin and her ear needs repair. Also a nick near her eye. With facial trauma we like to suture the damage within six hours of the initial injury or the repairs need to be done in surgery.â
Courtney glanced at the clock. âThen thereâs still time.â
âYes,â he agreed. âThe second part comes later. Her cheekbone is shattered and the right side of her face needs to be realigned.â
Her mouth trembled, and she caught her top lip between her teeth, composing herself as if by sheer force of will. âGo on.â
âInstead of trying to piece together the bone fragments, itâs my opinion that sheâll have a better outcome with an implant.â
Courtney considered that for a moment. âSheâs only six. Sheâs still growing. Will she need more surgery in the future?â
âPossibly. But letâs take it one step at a time. And the first step is repairing the superficial damage. Since Iâm here, Iâll take care of that.â
âI donât mean to sound mercenary, especially with my daughterâs welfare in question,â she said. Her chin lifted a notch as if fierce pride was in major conflict with her survival instincts. âAnd Iâm grateful that you were able to examine her, but it would be best for Janie to have a doctor whoâs covered under my insurance plan here at work.â
âThey can do it,â he agreed. âBut without a specialistâs training, the results wonât be as favorable. If you want the best possible outcome for Janie, a plastics guy is the way to go. My brother has extended me temporary privileges here at Walnut River General.â
âDoes that mean my health insurance would cover your services?â
âNo.â But he was here and this child needed his help now. âBut Iâm the best man for the job, and there wonât be a charge.â
She stiffened. âCharity?â
âYour independent streak is showing. I just want to help Janie.â
A range of expressions crossed her face, all the way from wariness to resignation. She sighed and said, âThank you.â
âDonât mention it.â
She looked fragile, vulnerable and more worried and desperate with every word that came out of his mouth. âHow long until phase two?â She took a deep breath. âThe implant?â
âAfter the swelling goes down. My best guess is about three to four weeks.â
âTell me itâs not more complicated than phase one,â she said.
He met her gaze head-on. âSheâs going to need surgery.â
âThatâs complicated.â
âAnd someone who specializes in reconstructive surgery,â he confirmed.
âOkay. Three to four weeks.â She nodded and glanced at her daughter, clearly trying to process the information as rationally as possible. âThen Iâll have time to check out my health-care coverage.â
David knew for a fact that there wasnât a doctor in Walnut River who could do the procedure. âIâd be happy to recommend someone good whoâs as close to Walnut River as possible.â
âSo there could be more out-of-pocket expenses,â she said absently, almost as if she were thinking out loud.
âItâs possible.â Ella had told him she was a single mother. That probably meant divorced. He wished he could be indifferent to the fact that she was unattached but there was a part of him that couldnât seem to work up a proper level of regret. Still, divorced parents came together for their children. âSurely Janieâs father will helpââ
âHardly.â Unexpected bitterness filled Courtneyâs gaze. âHer father was a soldier.â
Too late now to wish heâd paid more attention when his sister had told him about a single mom who had big trouble. âWas?â
âHe died in Iraq. Unfortunately he wasnât as conscientious about military dependentâs benefits as he should have been.â
âIâm sorry.â
About that and so much more. He was an idiot. An idiot who made assumptions. An idiot who felt himself being sucked in by big brown eyes and a pair of dimples that wouldnât quit. Courtney Albright desperately needed his help.
The last time heâd become involved with a desperate woman it had cost him everything.
