The Princess Who Stole His Heart
Auteur
Julie Danvers
Lezers
17,6K
Hoofdstukken
11
CHAPTER ONE
A MILLION DISTRACTIONS vied for Dani’s attention in the busy ER. She fought to tune out the chatter of nurses, snippets of conversation from patients and the pounding from the construction work that had gone on all summer and never seemed to end.
Dani let the noise fade into the background as she reviewed the chart in front of her, hastily jotting notes into a pad. It was the last day of her residency in internal medicine, and she was determined to arrive prepared for rounds. She was scheduled to present on a patient, and Dr. Benson, the senior training physician, had a reputation for challenging residents with difficult questions. Dani had seen trainees leave rounds in tears because of his gruff, intimidating manner.
But Dr. Benson hadn’t made Dani cry yet, and she was determined that he never would. She had every intention of finishing her residency with her reputation for withstanding Dr. Benson’s intense gaze—known as the Benson Glare—intact.
Despite Dani’s focus, one sound rose above the general hubbub and penetrated her concentration. A sharp cough, followed by a gasp, as though someone couldn’t get enough air. It was the gasp that made her look up sharply and scan the ER.
Boston General Hospital was an extremely old building, which meant construction was constantly taking place somewhere. As Dani looked for the source of the gasping cough, she saw that a construction worker had dropped his hammer and was hunched over, catching his breath. When he noticed Dani watching him, he gave a quick, reassuring nod and wiped his forehead, then retrieved his hammer and returned to work.
Dani hesitated to return to her notes. Something about the man’s cough hadn’t sounded right to her. But he seemed to be returning to work without any trouble. And none of the other doctors and nurses in the ER seemed to notice anything amiss. She looked back at the chart in front of her.
Only to have it slammed shut by her best friend, Kim, who bounced up to the nurses’ station with her usual exuberance.
“Hey!” Dani protested. “I was reading that!”
“Of course you were.” Kim’s dark eyes sparkled with mischief. “Only you would be studiously brushing up on patients on the last day of residency. Don’t you think there are more important things to do?”
Dani pulled at the locks of her chestnut ponytail, as she always did when she felt fretful. “What’s more important than preparing for rounds?”
“Hmm...” Kim pretended to think. “How about taking some time to say good-bye to dear old Boston General? Saying thanks to the senior doctors who’ve mentored us, the nurses who’ve kept us from screwing up...and, most importantly, planning all the drinks and get-togethers that need to happen before our residency cohort scatters across the country to begin the next phase of their careers?”
For a moment, Dani almost felt tears prick at her eyelids, but she tried to hide them with a forced smile. Kim was too perceptive not to notice.
“Oof, sorry, Dani. I didn’t mean to bring that up. I just meant to say...don’t work so hard that you forget to say good-bye to everyone.”
“It’s okay. You don’t need to be afraid to mention it—it’s no secret that I’m not taking a position anywhere. I’ve accepted it. I’m just sad that everyone’s leaving Boston in a few weeks.”
“I still can’t believe you don’t have a job or a fellowship lined up. You’re one of the best residents in our program.”
Dani tried to appreciate her friend’s compliment, but her feelings were bittersweet. After three years of residency in internal medicine, the rest of her cohort was about to leave Boston. Most would begin fellowships in their chosen specialty areas, while others had found positions in hospitals and private practices around the country. Kim would be in Miami for an oncology fellowship. All of Dani’s friends were about to take the next major step forward in their medical careers.
But not Dani Martin. Or rather, not Princess Danielle-Genevieve Matthieu DuMaria, twelfth in line to the throne of Lorovia. Dani’s home was a tiny country on the north coast of the Mediterranean Sea, nestled between France, Monaco and Italy. What Lorovia lacked in size, it made up for in wealth, as the third-richest country in the world. The chances of Dani ever ruling were miniscule—she was the youngest daughter of a youngest son—but her royal duties were still significant enough to interfere with her medical career.
Dani had told her friends and supervisors that family obligations prevented her from continuing to practice as a physician, but no one knew just how extensive those obligations were. When she’d announced her intention to enter medical school, a pitched battle had ensued amongst her family members. No one in the royal family had ever had a profession before, and most of her family members were convinced that Dani’s royal duties would keep her far too busy to allow her time for a career in medicine. Studying medicine would be tantamount to turning her back on her family and her country.
Dani loved her family, and it hurt when her uncle accused her of abandoning her responsibilities. But becoming a doctor had been Dani’s dream since she was fourteen, when a bad fall from a horse had resulted in numerous injuries, including a compound fracture in her leg that required two surgeries. She’d been inspired by the physicians who cared for her and she formed the dream of one day helping others in the same way her own doctors had helped her. During her university years, she decided she wanted to be a cardiologist—after all, the heart powered everything.
Dani’s parents supported her dream, even though many of her older family members had reservations. After a week of arguing, the family agreed on a compromise: Dani would be allowed to attend medical school in the United States, where there was less emphasis on European politics and therefore less of a chance that Dani would be recognized as a member of the Lorovian royal family. Her family insisted she keep her status as a princess a strict secret, for security purposes, and that she use the family pseudonym of ‘Martin’ as her surname. In return, they allowed her to complete her three-year residency in internal medicine immediately after medical school, so that she could have the chance to practice as a full-fledged physician and give back to the medical community. But when Dani finished her residency, she was expected to return home. She would set medicine aside and focus on responsibilities more relevant to her royal status.
Dani hated that her medical career had an expiration date. Quitting after residency meant that she would never be able to pursue a specialty like cardiology, because of the years of extra training that were required. But that was part of the sacrifice of royal birth. If she couldn’t have her whole dream, she would have to settle for having part of it.
Her family’s status impacted everything from her friendships to her love life. She’d only made a few forays into romance, but she’d had enough experiences to learn that trying to date as a royal was fraught with problems. If she dated someone who knew she was a princess, she could never be certain they liked her for herself and not for her family’s power and influence.
Several years ago, at university, she’d come close to giving her heart to someone entirely. Peter. He hadn’t known at first that she was a princess. But she’d had to tell him eventually, and when he found out, everything had changed. His family, once extremely wealthy, was facing troubles on public and financial fronts. Peter seemed to view her royal status as the solution to his family’s problems. Dani would have supported Peter wholeheartedly, but no matter what she offered, it was never enough. When he went so far as to sell pictures he’d taken of her to a salacious tabloid—pictures he’d promised no one would see but him—Dani knew it was over.
Her heart still stung at his betrayal, even though so much time had passed. After that, she’d made the decision not to reveal her status as a princess unless someone had earned her absolute trust. Only a few of the medical staff at Boston General and Kim knew the truth.
Keeping her princess status a secret for the past several years had been a welcome change. She’d made friends who she knew were true friends, not people who attached themselves to her simply because she was a royal. It was still easier to avoid dating entirely, even though she still couldn’t let go of the hope that she might someday meet someone who made her feel special and maybe even fall in love. It was a nice dream, even though it was incredibly unlikely. Even aside from the complications of dating as a royal, Peter’s betrayal had hurt her deeply, and she couldn’t imagine ever trusting someone with her heart again.
Now, with the time to honor her promise to her family fast approaching, she’d have to stop indulging in dreams. No matter whether she dreamed of falling in love or having a career she loved, the result was the same: as a princess, her life was not her own. In a few weeks, she’d be back to the life of a princess, and her medical career would dissolve into a distant memory.
Dani hated good-byes and preparing for rounds was a welcome distraction. She wanted to make this last presentation her best. After all, it would probably be the last time she ever had a chance to discuss a patient with a group of colleagues.
The sharp cough she’d heard a moment ago echoed across the waiting room again, followed by a longer gasp this time. Dani and Kim both looked up. The construction worker in the corner was half standing, hunched over his bent legs.
“Think he’s okay?” asked Dani.
Kim looked uncertain. “None of the nurses seem to be alarmed. And he’s still breathing.”
The man took another labored draw for breath.
“That’s not breathing. That’s gasping,” Dani said as the man toppled to the ground.
Dani dashed across the waiting room. The man was pale and rapidly losing consciousness. She couldn’t feel a pulse.
“He’s in cardiac arrest,” she told Kim. “Get help.”
Kim ran off to call the code.
Instinct took over and Dani acted. She placed her hands on the man’s chest, her elbows locked, and began compressions. The alarm she’d felt seconds ago began to melt away as a combination of training and adrenaline took over her body. She ran through proper procedure in her head as she worked, which always helped her to feel more grounded in a crisis. Push at a depth of two inches. Interlock your fingers. Make sure they don’t touch the ribs. Start with thirty chest compressions.
Relief flooded through her as an emergency team arrived. They’d probably only taken seconds to get there, though it had seemed much longer.
The team consisted of several nurses and a doctor she didn’t recognize. He was younger than most of the other doctors, with sun-streaked hair and a stubbled beard. Dani wondered if he might be a new staff member. If so, this was hardly the time for introductions. He merely nodded at her and said, “You’re doing great. Keep going until we get to the cath lab.”
The team lifted the patient onto the gurney. Dani straddled the man and continued compressions while a nurse delivered oxygen through a bag ventilator. The gurney sped through the ER doors and down the hall to the cardiac catheterization lab as Dani fought to keep her balance and give compressions at the same time.
Dani’s arms were shaking by the time they reached the cath lab, though the journey couldn’t have taken long. She was so focused on counting compressions that she barely heard the sandy-haired doctor. He had to shake her arm, gently, to get her attention.
“You can stop now,” he said. “We’re getting him hooked up to an AED.”
He held out one hand to help her from the gurney, and for a quick moment Dani was in his arms as he lifted her bodily down to the floor. Doctor Whoever-He-Was had some serious muscles underneath those scrubs.
But she barely had time to consider those muscles or to be shocked at herself for having such a thought at such a moment. Because by the time her feet hit the floor, he was already saying, “We’ve got it from here. Can someone take her outside?”
Dani felt herself guided from the room by a nurse. She stood outside the cath lab, the patient lost to view as the emergency team crowded around him.
After three years of residency, Dani had learned to expect the unexpected. But it was still a shock to see how quickly the situation had gone from normal to critical. One minute the construction worker had been hammering away at the floor. The next, he’d been in cardiac arrest. His life had changed in an instant. Assuming, of course, that he was going to live. She’d only have been in the way if she’d stayed in the cath lab, but she wished she’d gotten the handsome mystery doctor’s name. It would have given her some way to follow up with the patient.
As if on cue, the cath lab doors swung open and the unknown doctor stepped out. “Good, you’re still here,” he said. Now that she could see him outside of a scene of complete chaos, Dani grew more certain that he wasn’t from anywhere in Boston. His hair wasn’t just light, but bleached in places, as though he spent a lot of time in the sun. His arms were tanned as well—and all signs indicated that she’d been right about those muscles.
“That was pretty heroic for your last day of residency, doc.”
How did he know she was a resident? Dani had assumed he was a new staff member, unfamiliar with the hospital. “I don’t think we’ve met,” she said.
He smiled, and when he did, one eye closed ever so slightly, as though he were winking at her. “I’m Dr. Logan. Cade Logan.” He stuck a hand out for her to shake.
Something was making it a little hard for Dani to get her words out, and if she hadn’t had adrenaline coursing through her veins a moment ago, she might have suspected that it had a lot to do with Cade Logan’s wink and the warmth of his hand as he shook hers. As it was, she felt as though she could barely force the words out of her throat as she replied, “Dani Martin.”
“Well, Dr. Martin, I’m pleased to let you know that thanks to your quick thinking, your patient is on the road to recovery. He’s very lucky you happened to be nearby when he went into cardiac arrest—and that you recognized what was happening.”
“He’s going to be all right?”
“We’ve done a catheterization to stabilize him for now. He’s first on the schedule for a triple bypass tomorrow. It could have been much, much worse if his heart problems had continued to go undetected. It probably saved his life that he happened to go into arrest while working on a construction project in an ER. Seconds counted in a case like this. The fact that you took action immediately gave us valuable extra time.”
Dani breathed out, relieved.
“You’ve managed to do two things today that don’t happen often—help to save a life and impress me.”
“I’m just glad I was in the right place at the right time,” she said.
“Come on, give yourself credit where it’s due. CPR, performed competently, at just the right time can make the difference between giving a patient a lifesaving operation, or sending him straight to the morgue. You jumped in when needed, and you had the skills to back up your confidence.”
She nodded, letting herself appreciate his words as the familiar bittersweet feeling washed over her. She should appreciate that she’d done well today, even though it would be her last chance to jump into action during a medical emergency.
As though he had a knack for guessing the subject she least wanted to talk about, Cade pressed onward. “Boston General seems about to lose one of their best. May I ask which fellowship you’re headed off to, now that your residency is over?”
She hesitated. Even with years to get used to the idea that her career had an expiration date, it was still difficult to talk about. “I’m not going on to a fellowship.”
The surprise in his eyes was the same surprise she’d seen in the eyes of her supervisors when they learned she had no plans to specialize as a physician.
“Will you be working as a generalist, then?”
“No. I won’t be working at all. Today isn’t just my last day of residency. It’s my last day as a physician, full stop. I have family obligations that will make it far too difficult to continue.”
The concern in his eyes seemed genuine. “I’m so sorry. Is everyone in your family all right?”
“It’s nothing like that. My family is... Being in my family means being committed to the family...business. It takes up a lot of time.”
“It must be a large business. Are you some kind of pharmaceutical heiress?” His voice was half-teasing, but she saw genuine curiosity in his eyes.
“Something like that.” She hated to outright lie to anyone, but misleading Cade Logan wouldn’t hurt anyone; she’d probably never see him again after today.
“That’s a shame,” he said. “The world needs good doctors. Frankly, more than it needs pharmaceutical heiresses.”
He was joking, but she could also hear the truth in his voice, behind his smile. Perhaps she could hear it because part of her agreed with him. If she could make her own choices, she’d decide to stick with medicine in a heartbeat.
But her family needed her, and her choices weren’t her own.
And who was he to judge her situation before he even knew anything about it?
“Unfortunately, my decision’s already been made,” she said curtly, hoping that he’d take the hint that she no longer wished to discuss the matter.
“I understand, but...”
“There’s no but. I need to be there for my family. End of story.” She hadn’t meant for her words to come out with so much heat, but she was surprised that Cade was pushing her for answers. Usually, people backed off when she explained that family responsibilities kept her from maintaining a medical career. Only Kim had pried further, and that was after she’d become a trusted friend.
He held up a hand. “Okay. Family first. I get it. But answer me this—why put so much work into becoming a doctor, only to have to walk away after such a short time... What was the point if you were only going to quit?”
She didn’t owe Cade any explanations—she’d only just met him, after all. But she found she wanted to answer his question as much for herself as for him. In the toughest times during medical school and residency, she’d found herself wondering why she was putting herself through the sleepless nights, the endless stress of worrying over patients, if she didn’t plan to commit to medicine for the rest of her life. But the answer she came back to was always the same.
“Because medicine is a miracle,” she said. “It’s full of miracles—birth, recovery from illness, overcoming impossible odds. It’s science, of course...but there’s no other field where you get to see something miraculous every day. Even if I only get to see those miracles for a short time in my life, it’s better than never getting to experience them at all. No matter what happens in the future, I’ll always look at life differently because I was a doctor. Even if I’m not practicing, I’ll know what a miracle it is for a human body to exist, especially one that’s suffered through illness or injury. Medicine has showed me that people go on living even under the most extraordinary circumstances, and I’ll never forget that.”
He was looking at her with an odd expression, as though she’d said something completely unexpected. Suddenly she felt foolish for rambling on about miracles. He probably thought she was hopelessly naive. Nevertheless, it was what she believed.
“And is that enough for you?” he asked. “To have just a few years’ worth of memories of all these miracles you’ve witnessed?”
No. Of course not. She loved medicine. Practicing for just a few years would never be enough. But a princess had a duty to make the best out of the situation she was in. She tilted her chin up and looked straight into his eyes. Blue with flecks of green, giving the effect of an aqua hue. His expression was thoughtful, penetrating. Challenging. She’d met with enough of those expressions during her training that this one didn’t faze her.
“It’ll have to be,” she replied.
She waited for him to tell her that she was utterly ridiculous but, instead, he said, “You’re very passionate about medicine for someone who’s about to leave it.”
“I care about a lot of things. Unfortunately, sometimes those things get in the way of one another.”
“For example, your family and your career.”
She nodded, glad that he understood.
“Do you know why I’m here in Boston?”
“I assumed you were a visiting physician.”
“Not exactly. I’m a fellow in my last year of a unique cardiology fellowship program at the Coral Bay Medical Center on St. Camille—it’s an island in the Caribbean.”
“I’ve heard of St. Camille.” The island had a reputation for aquamarine waters and white sand beaches. And cardiology was the specialty she’d dreamed of pursuing in her wildest moments—but cardiology had never been an option, with its requirement of an additional three years of training beyond residency.
“There’s a need for experienced doctors in St. Camille, but recruiting the right people is a challenge. Lots of students attend medical school in the Caribbean and then want to move back to their home countries once they finish their studies. Not many want to do it the other way around. It’s difficult to convince top-talent trainees that it’s worth it to move to a small island with limited opportunities.”
She nodded. “So you’re here on a recruiting mission.”
“Exactly. I’m looking for qualified residents, but qualifications aren’t enough. The program needs residents who have passion for their work. Residents like you, for example.”
“Me?” she was stunned. For one wild moment, she tried to imagine her uncles’ reactions if she told them she was planning to spend the next several years in the Caribbean. They’d complained often enough that Boston was too far from Lorovia. St. Camille would be out of the question. “I couldn’t. I’m sorry, but...it just isn’t possible. My family needs me.”
“Of course,” he said. “I knew it was a long shot. But if you change your mind, give me a call. There would be an interview, of course, and you’d need strong recommendations from your supervisors. But I have a feeling you’d be a shoo-in.”
He smiled again and she felt a pang inside. The way those blue eyes of his almost seemed to sparkle when he smiled... It reminded her of the last time she’d seen the light from the sun hit ocean waves.
His eyes reminded her of home, of all places. She wasn’t able to visit as often as she wanted to, but she made sure to return at least once a year during the holidays. It had been several months since she’d walked along the Lorovian coastline, but she could see the water shimmer in her memory as clearly as though she’d been there yesterday.
How odd, she thought, that she could be here in Boston, listening to Cade speak of the Caribbean, and be reminded of home.
Those eyes of his didn’t seem to miss much. They might sparkle, but they were penetrating, too. Dani had a small, nearly imperceptible scar just above her upper lip—a remnant from a riding accident when she was young. Most people didn’t notice it. But she could feel his eyes on her, tracing the shape of her lips, noticing that something wasn’t right.
Why was he looking at her lips that way? It was just a scar. It was imperceptible in photos. Most people didn’t notice it unless she pointed it out first—which she rarely did, because she was a little self-conscious about it.
In fact, maybe her self-consciousness was the reason she assumed he was looking at her lips at all. Perhaps he was simply trying to find some feature of hers that stood out, the same way she sometimes tried to make note of a mustache or a pair of glasses when she met someone new and thought she might not remember their name later.
Still, she wasn’t used to having her lips stared at with such intensity. She groped for something to say that could end the pause in their conversation, which felt as though it was growing by the second. “What’s it like? Living on a tiny island in the Caribbean?”
He raised his eyebrows. “Don’t tell me I actually have a shot of reeling you in.”
“No, no. I’m just curious.”
“In my extremely biased opinion—the word ‘paradise’ doesn’t do it justice.”
“But you must live far from your family, unless they’re from the island. Isn’t that difficult?”
She was surprised by the shadow that passed over his face at the word “family.”
“The program is very flexible. There are lots of options to travel home for those who want to. And for some of us, the island’s remote location is one of its biggest perks.”
Biggest perks? How could that be possible? Dani couldn’t imagine living on an island without regularly scheduled trips to see her brothers and cousins. “And what about for you?” she couldn’t help asking. “Do you consider the distance a ‘perk’?”
“This is the first time I’ve left the island in six years. Let’s just say the distance from family is an asset rather than a liability.”
“You haven’t left in six years?” Dani tried to imagine it. She’d spent so much of her life ruled by family obligations, family history, family traditions. Every decision she’d ever made was influenced by how it would affect her family. And even though she often felt confined by tradition, her family meant everything to her. She couldn’t imagine what life would be like without them.
Was family not a priority for Cade? “There must be someone you miss. Family members or...someone important.”
“I have everything I need on St. Camille. But the program is very supportive of those who want to visit home.” His voice was firm, and Dani had the distinct feeling the subject was closed. Her curiosity burned. Cade had seemed so warm, so relaxed just a moment ago. Right up until the subject of family had arisen.
Of course, family could be a touchy subject for many. Dani of all people could understand that. But to think of Cade going for six years without seeing his family? It was...it was...
It was none of her business. “I didn’t mean to pry,” she said.
“It’s normal to be curious. But...from what you’ve said about your family obligations, I’m guessing your curiosity isn’t strong enough to get you to seriously consider applying.”
She gave him a rueful smile. “It sounds like a great program.” That was an understatement. It sounded like the perfect program. The kind of adventure she’d jump right into if her life were her own.
But a princess didn’t go back on her word. Even if she was presented with one last chance to become the doctor she’d always wanted to be. Even if that chance was presented by someone with light, wavy hair, bleached blond by the sun.
“It’s just...with my family situation, it’s out of the question.”
He shrugged. “Well, I had to try.” He shook her hand. “Maybe our paths will cross again sometime.”
“I hope so,” she said, although she knew he was just saying it to be nice. What were the chances of ever seeing him again when he lived on St. Camille? Especially when he seemed to have little to no interest in leaving the island.
He turned and headed back into the OR, leaving her standing in the hallway.
A princess always did her duty. She’d done the right thing by turning him down. She’d fulfilled her obligations and kept her promise.
So why did she feel as though she’d made a terrible mistake?
One week later, Dani stood outside a bar across the street from Boston General. She and her friends had shared many drinks there over the years, and they’d planned one last gathering before everyone left Boston.
She could already see a few of her friends inside, but she couldn’t bring herself to go in. She didn’t feel the least bit celebratory. The end of her residency felt like the end of one of the most meaningful periods of her life. She’d only had a few shining years where she’d really felt like herself.
But of course, Dr. Dani Martin wasn’t who she really was at all. Tomorrow, she’d have to go back to her real life as Princess Danielle-Genevieve in Lorovia. She already had a plane ticket in her purse.
There were too many emotions at war within her, and this was supposed to be an evening of joy. She didn’t want her feelings to cloud her classmates’ celebration. She stood outside the door, longing to go in, but dreading the inevitable good-byes.
As she stood, an older man stepped out of a taxi and moved beside her. She reeled in surprise.
“Dr. Benson?”
Despite his gruff manner, Dr. Benson had never intimidated Dani as he had her colleagues. Perhaps it was because she was used to dealing with her older relatives, who could be demanding and overbearing. Working with Dr. Benson had sparked Dani’s competitive spirit, and she’d been determined to live up to his exact and demanding standards.
His expression was markedly different from its usual scowl. In fact, he looked positively pleased to see her. “I never miss the good-bye party for a residency cohort,” he said. “And I had a feeling that if I dropped by, I might see you. I would have hated to miss the chance to say good-bye to one of our brightest residents.”
Dani couldn’t help flushing with pleasure. It was a compliment she’d worked years to earn. “Sorry I missed rounds last week.”
“No need to apologize. I understand that a more urgent matter arose. And that you performed admirably under pressure. No less than I would expect of you, of course.”
“Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
“But I didn’t come over here just to throw compliments at you. I wanted to talk to you about something even more important. Your future.”
As a senior attending physician, Dr. Benson was one of the few people at Boston General who knew the truth of Dani’s situation.
“Dr. Benson...my future involves going home to Lorovia tomorrow. I was only allowed to pursue a medical education on the condition that I return home to resume my duties immediately afterward.”
He nodded. “I know your situation is complicated. But as I’ve gotten to know you, I’ve realized that like all the best physicians, helping people is truly your calling. And there are so many different ways to help. Not everyone needs to be a doctor. Certainly, one could argue that being a princess offers one a wide scope for helping others. But you, Dr. Martin... I believe that you may be called to this profession. You have what it takes to be a cardiologist, if you wanted to continue in that direction. Are you sure that abandoning your career now is the best path forward?”
She held out her hands. “Even if I wanted to continue, how could I? All the fellowships are assigned for this year.”
“Not all of them. There are spots at small programs with unusual circumstances. For example, yesterday, Dr. Logan and I were discussing the Coral Bay Medical Center’s fellowship program in cardiology. And he seemed particularly interested in you.”
Cade had asked about her? Even after she’d told him that it would be impossible for her to move to the Caribbean?
“Dr. Logan left for St. Camille yesterday. But he asked me to speak with you one more time, to let you know that it’s a door that’s open to you if you’re interested. There’s no guarantee on how long that door will stay open. But it’s open for now. He asked me to give you his number, just in case.” He handed Dani a business card.
Even as she took the card, she started to protest once more that she couldn’t possibly continue her career in medicine, but he stopped her. “Just take a little while to think about it. And while you’re thinking, I want you to have this.”
He handed her a pastel-covered envelope, about the size of a greeting card. She opened it, to see a card that looked as though it came from a hospital gift shop.
She read the note scrawled inside.
Dear Dr. Martin,
I can’t thank you and all the other doctors enough for being there for me. My own father passed from a heart attack when I was young, but thanks to you, I’ll be around to see my own boys grow up. This card is small thanks for what you’ve done, but I hope you keep it and know that I’m forever grateful.
Thank you for saving my life.
Charlie.
“The man you saved last week is named Charles Brownlow, and he has a wife and two children,” said Dr. Benson. “I know that your responsibilities at home are quite serious. But opportunities like the Coral Bay program don’t come along often. Frankly, neither do clinicians with the gifts and skill to succeed in such a program. There are lots of ways of helping, Dani. I think being a doctor might be yours.”
Dammit. Dani had spent three years maintaining her stoicism under the Benson Glare. But now she felt the tears begin to flow. Dr. Benson had finally made her cry.
“Think about it,” he said, giving her a quick pat on the shoulder before he entered the bar.
Dani wiped the tears from her eyes and put both the letter and Cade’s business card into her purse. As she did, her fingers touched the plane ticket to Lorovia. She pulled Cade’s business card and the plane ticket out and stared at them. She felt as though she held two very different futures in her hands.
Thank you for saving my life.
What could be more important than those words?
She’d made a promise to her family. A princess wasn’t supposed to go back on her word. She had obligations to meet and a duty to fulfill.
But wasn’t a princess’s highest obligation to care for her people?
And as a doctor, she had the skills to care for everyone—not just the Lorovian people, but anyone who needed her help.
What was the point of being a member of the royal family if she couldn’t help people?
Thank you for saving my life. She’d thought her future was a settled thing, but those six words placed her on the verge of a decision.
Cade had already left for St. Camille yesterday.
The news left an unexpected emptiness in her heart. He was gone.
Gone, but not entirely out of reach. She had his number.
If she let herself think, she’d never go through with it. She couldn’t stop to imagine what her family would say or how they’d react. Don’t think, just do. She felt the same rush of adrenaline that she’d felt in the ER when she’d jumped into action and started CPR. She pulled her phone from her purse and dialed.
She’d expected it to go straight to voice mail, but to her surprise, he picked up. His “hello” came out deep and resonant, despite the crackling connection.
“Dr. Logan? It’s Dani Martin. I’d love to speak more with you about the Coral Bay fellowship program.”
