Free Christmas Babies by Mona Risk Page B

here?”
    “Waiting for you. We need to
talk. You didn’t show up for a scheduled surgery.”
    A deep sigh betrayed her
weariness. “I asked Kathy to sub for me.”
    “Why didn’t you notify me, Dr.
Ramsay?” When would she trust him enough to reveal her secret? Damn it, she’d
confided in Sandra.
    She lowered her head and rubbed
her forehead. “You’re right. We have to talk. But first, Dr. Preston, I have to
give you my resignation.”

 
     
     
    Chapter Six
    “Your resignation? No way.” Of
all the things he’d imagined Madelyn would say, Nick hadn’t seen this one
coming. “You’re too good of a doctor. One of the best neonatologists in
Florida.”
    “Thank you, Nick. But there’s
something you should know.” She bit her lips, and shook her head.
    He decided to help her and
extracted the bottle from his pocket. “This.” He turned his palm up, showing
her the medicine.
    “You found it. So you know.” Her
eyes shone with tears she tried to suppress—tears that undid him.
    He drew her into his arms.
“Darling, why didn’t you tell me? We could have worked it out together.” With
gentle hands, he stroked her hair, hating to see the independent Madelyn
defeated.
    She sobbed against his shoulder.
“I couldn’t. I had trouble accepting it myself. And now, even this dose is not
enough. How can I function in the delivery room or the NICU? How can I hold a
baby?” The despair in her voice speared him. He pulled a tissue from the box on
her desk and wiped her eyes.
    “Sit down. Let’s talk about it. I
saw on the prescription bottle Shawn Lu is your neurologist. He’s good but too
far from here.”
    “I didn’t want anyone to know.”
    “I understand. How about Carl
Graddy from Broward General? You can see him in his office. He can work with
Lu. Not many people know you in that hospital.”
    “I don’t care anymore since I’ll
stop practicing.”
    “You won’t stop. Let’s not jump to
conclusions yet.” He held her hand and squeezed it, hoping she’d let him help
her. “You discovered it recently according to the date on this bottle. How did
it start?”
    “I had tingles in my hands and my
feet several times for weeks. I tried to ignore them, thinking it was stress.
Then one morning, I got up of bed, felt dizzy, lay down, and stared into space.
I had an absence seizure. That’s when I made an appointment with Shawn and had
tests.”
    “What did he say today?”
    “He said I was under too much
stress and he adjusted the dose. Actually same dose but four times a day. And
he insists I have to relax.” She sighed and raised her chin. “Nick, you’re the
director. I can’t impose on you. If your patients hear about my case, they can
sue you.”
    “Don’t worry about my patients.” He
smiled to reassure her. How like Madelyn to decide and try to control, even
when she was the one in need of help. “First we’ll cut your schedule by half to
decrease the stress.”
    “You mean I’ll work part-time?”
Her tone showed her interest and her eyes sparkled with hope.
    “Yes, part-time in OR. We’ll call
you only for the difficult cases where we need your expertise. Sandra will
closely assist you as she did the last ten days. You’ll also train our three
new residents and help them acquire your expert skills. I want you to have more
time to sleep and relax. You’ll keep your rounds in the nursery and the NICU.
There you can examine the babies without carrying them.”
     Tears moistened her lashes. She
blinked several times. “You sure you want to take a chance on me? It’s a risk.”
    “I’ll take a chance on you
anytime, Madelyn.” He brushed his lips over her cheek. “For my patients’ sake,
and yours, you’ll keep me informed of any improvement or relapse of your condition.
On a daily basis,” he insisted.
    “Yes, of course. And you’ll let
me know if you change your mind and prefer to have me stop coming to the OR.”
     “Agreed. I have one more
question.” He