The doctors bride, p.14
The Doctor's Bride, page 14
He studied her face, and his eyes softened. “No, I haven’t. You know, one of the things I like best about you is how you can find the positive side of the worst situation, and you have a great sense of humor.”
“That’s two things.” Compliments always threw her. “But who’s counting?”
His smile was so approving, she might melt to the floor. She’d waited all of her life for this feeling.
“I ordered the same thing you did because it makes me feel like we’re a couple—a couple who’ve sat at the same table year after year, eating meals that one of us cooked.”
Tears stung at the back of her eyes. He saw them together forever? A man who professed to love his life just as it was?
But today Zack wasn’t himself. She would love to sit at that table with him, but she should keep this light. “Do you cook, Zack, or should one of us learn?”
“Maybe,” he said, smiling as she hoped, “though I doubt that we have the time right now. My vacation ends tonight, and you’ll be working on your dissertation soon.”
“Tomorrow I have an appointment with my research adviser. I did the course work for my Ph.D. before I was twenty. I’ve gone beyond the time limit to complete it, but I applied for extensions along the way. I dread doing the work, but I can’t wait to put the finished product in Dad’s hands.”
He nodded and there was a glint in his eyes. “I’d like to be there for that.”
“You will be,” she promised.
Their food came. They agreed that the salads were awesome and Chloe could order for them both from now on.
The sun was setting when they strolled along the beach looking for a spot where the sounds of others wouldn’t reach them. A storm might be approaching because the wind was up and the waves crashed ashore.
They spread their blanket and sat arm in arm, their heads together, watching the orange-gold sky fade to the pastels of dusk. Sometimes they talked. Sometimes long minutes passed before they spoke again.
She let Zack take the lead in what they discussed. Occasionally he talked about the same thing, retracing what had already been said. That was how unsettled he was.
The situation bothered him in so many ways, but the thing that seemed to bother him most was the length of time Albert and J. T. Brennan had known about him. “Chloe, how could they hold a secret that big and for so long? Mom says my grandfather—it doesn’t feel right to call the chief that—is eager to establish a family relationship with me. She reminds me that he’s elderly and hints of his limited time on this earth, but he’s known he was my grandfather eleven years! We’ve worked under the same roof the last two! What’s the hurry now?”
“He is getting older.”
“I know, but then what’s Albert’s excuse? He let me think he was my friend and mentor. Now he wants to be my uncle? I don’t shift gears this fast.”
She was holding a big secret herself. That she couldn’t have biological children might not be as big to him as it was to her, but she’d have to tell him if they were going to be a couple. Tonight he had enough to think about. “Zack, don’t you think their delay in telling you had more to do with your mother’s feelings than anything else? She’d made a life for herself. They wouldn’t have wanted to make her life harder than Charlie had done.”
He released a deep, pent-up sigh. “I know.”
“They could have sealed that can of worms and tried to forget about you. Who would have known the difference? But what did they do? Albert and his wife took it upon themselves to watch over you and treat you like their own.”
“I know.” He nodded. “It’s irrational, but I feel trapped. I owe them so much, I couldn’t walk away if I wanted to.”
“Think about Collin. He’s just as trapped, only he’s had to deal with Charlie all these years.”
The corner of his mouth lifted in a small smile, but almost immediately shut down. “Chloe, I don’t want anyone to know I’m Charlie Brennan’s son.”
“Of course you don’t, but it won’t be as bad as you may think. Collin’s survived it. You will, too.”
He kissed her forehead. “That’s what I love about you. You see the good when I can’t see anything but bad.”
There was still an edge of bitterness in his voice, but he’d had enough Brennan-talk for one day. It was enough to sit beside him and let him feel she was there for him. The awesome power of the ocean was a reminder that no matter what happened, they were not alone. The great Creator still had them in mind.
Chapter Sixteen
Zack changed into his scrubs and got ready for his first surgery since his vacation. Usually he felt a thrill of anticipation, knowing he was about to change someone’s life for the better, but not today. It was inevitable that he would see some of the Brennans. He wasn’t ready to be outed as one of them, but how much of a strain would it be to continue the lie?
And then there was Chloe. She was on his mind all the time. He could almost smell the strawberry scent of her long dark hair and see her expressive dark eyes.
Collin strolled into the lounge and took a step back. “Whoa! I thought you’d look rested, but when have you slept, man?”
In the last forty-eight hours, not much. “You know how it is with vacations,” he said, making up a plausible explanation. “You get used to staying up at night. Your sleep cycle is off.”
It was the first time Zack had seen Collin since he’d found out they were brothers. How could he keep it from Collin? The guy was his best friend.
Collin leaned against a locker with his arms folded. “I hear you have quite a dilemma.”
Zack sucked in his breath. Who’d told Collin?
“Don’t look as if you don’t know what I’m talking about,” Collin teased.
How could Collin joke about discovering they were brothers?
“It’s all over the hospital how you stood up for Chloe at her parents’ house. You may have had Sterling’s favor before, but not now!”
On an ordinary weekend, the blowup at the Kilgannons would have been on Zack’s mind, but the discovery that he was Charlie Brennan’s son was so much bigger that Zack had almost forgotten he’d had a problem with Sterling.
He thought they were alone in the lounge, but Zack lowered his voice anyway. “Have you seen how Sterling treats Chloe? It’s awful.”
Collin looked around for extra listeners before he spoke as Zack had. “You know how Sterling likes things his way. He had expectations for his genius daughter, but she had goals of her own. He’s tried to bully her in the past, and when she stood up for herself, he called her selfish and stubborn. I’m surprised he hasn’t realized he won’t win. Chloe’s got a soft heart, but when she digs in her heels, she won’t let anyone push her around.”
“I haven’t seen that.” He liked the idea of her being strong. If they were going to have a life together—and he thought they were heading that way—she’d be on her own a lot.
“Chloe’s a loner—not your typical loner since she gravitates toward kids, but she has this way of keeping to herself, probably to avoid conflict and keep her cool.”
That, he would believe.
“So, what are you going to do with a woman like Chloe?” Collin asked with a grin.
“You mean, other than fall for her?”
Collin’s eyes lit up. “So the rumor’s true. If you were willing to go up against Sterling, I thought Chloe must have gotten to you.”
Zack grinned. “She did.”
“Seriously, that’s great!”
They walked to the OR with Collin giving him advice on how to handle women. Zack pretended to listen, but he couldn’t stop thinking that Collin was his brother, and somebody had to tell him soon.
Hours later, Zack backed away from the surgery table and smiled behind his mask. Already the elation that followed every successful surgery was working through his mind. So keen a feeling, as addictive as any drug, it swept over him, a rejuvenating force. Was it any wonder that surgery was his life?
“Nice work, Zack,” Collin said from his position as anesthesiologist.
“Good job, everyone,” Zack fired back.
They headed for the cafeteria to grab a bite before the next surgery. They’d just found their table when Collin said, “Don’t look now, but here comes Sterling.”
Sterling wore a gray shirt and pants under his white lab coat. He carried a specialty-label coffee container and looked like the important man he was.
“Gentlemen,” he said affably, sitting at their table as if there had been no ugly words two days ago. “Did your mother get home all right, Zack?”
Zack took a bite of his sandwich and nodded. Having a mouth full of food would keep him out of the conversation.
“We missed you Sunday night, Collin,” Sterling said, laying on guilt.
“Sorry about that. We had a family birthday. I called Ava and told her.”
“Then we’ll see you next week,” Sterling said firmly. “And you, too, Zack.”
Zack finished chewing, swallowed and took a sip of water, stalling to give himself time to think. He wouldn’t go without Chloe. “Will your daughters be there?”
“Carmen won’t disappoint her dad. Cate won’t let her mother down. I can’t speak for Chloe.” Sterling’s lip curled while speaking her name.
Zack’s contempt for the man had his stomach in knots. “I’m afraid I don’t understand your animosity towards Chloe. I would think any man would be proud to claim her as a daughter.”
“You don’t know her as well as you think you do,” Sterling said, rising from the table.
Zack rose, too. “I know her well enough to know she’s a terrific woman.”
“Of course she’s terrific. She is my daughter, but wait until you’re counting on her, and she decides to do what she wants, regardless of how it affects you. Come talk to me then.” He took a few steps from the table, then retraced his steps. “Zack, I don’t believe we’ll look for you at the house this Sunday.”
Zack nodded. He hadn’t planned to attend anyway.
“But you’ll be back,” Sterling said with a knowing look.
He walked out of earshot, and Collin let out a deep sigh. “Where do you get the guts to talk to Sterling Kilgannon like that?”
Zack sat back down and ate more of his sandwich. “I’ll move out of L.A. before I worry about his favor. Nothing’s holding me here except Chloe.”
Collin cleared his throat extra loud.
“Okay, and you,” Zack amended. It was true. He would miss Collin. Even more, he would miss the chance to find out what it was like to have a brother.
Two and a half hours later, Zack parked his Mercedes in the physicians’ lot and stared at Brennan Medical Clinic. It felt like home, and he loved everything about it—the tall palms overhead, the Spanish design of the building, the interior layout that made it so convenient to practice good medicine…and the friends. He’d made a lot of good friends here, including most of the Brennans.
Sure, he could leave his problems behind and head out of town, but it would take more than unexpected Brennan DNA and a spat with Sterling Kilgannon to rattle his cage. He wasn’t leaving this place.
On the way to his office, he didn’t run into any of the Brennans, though he knew that Albert was working in the suite they shared. Zack had just changed his suit jacket for a lab coat when his nurse, Marsha, peeked her head into his office.
“Doctor, the chief called and asked if he could have an hour of your time. I put him at the end of the day. I hope that’s okay. The chief said he would be coming here for the appointment.”
“That’s fine. Thank you, Marsha.” Zack could pretend there was no earth-shattering news he and the chief needed to discuss. Marsha had worked at the clinic long before Zack. If the rumor mill had sniffed out his Brennan connection, she would know it. “What’s hot on the grapevine today, Marsha?”
There was a twinkle in her blue eyes. “Do you really want to know? I’m afraid it’s all about you.”
Zack’s heart seemed to stop. Everyone knew?
“The word is you’ve made your choice of the Kilgannon sisters, and your mother put her stamp of approval on Chloe. Good job, Doctor!”
Zack hid his relief with a grin. Marsha would take that as acknowledgment of his feelings for Chloe, but he didn’t mind that. Chloe was his girlfriend and he didn’t care who knew it.
J. T. Brennan sat alone in Zack’s office, praying for words to atone for Charlie’s sin. He didn’t expect this meeting to be easy, but now that Zack’s mother had given him the go-ahead, it was time…so far past time…to acknowledge his grandchild.
At the sound of Zack at the door, J.T. used the chair arms to push himself to his feet. He should be standing when he came face-to-face with his grandson.
“Chief, it’s good to see you,” Zack said, extending his hand as if this were just any meeting.
J.T. wanted to go past the handshake and take the boy into his arms, but if his grandchild needed to maintain the pretense of a professional relationship, he understood. Wasn’t that what he himself had done these past two years? He took Zack’s hand and held on. This was a moment to prolong. He looked into Zack’s blue eyes, and it was like looking back in time. “Do people say you have your mother’s eyes?”
The comment seemed to surprise Zack, but he nodded.
“That’s because they don’t know Charlie. You have his eyes, Zack, and his are like mine—or they were when mine weren’t watery with age.” The strength in his legs was almost gone, and he leaned heavily on his cane.
Zack may have noticed because he took his arm and said, “Why don’t we sit down?”
He would, but not before he’d had a chance to embrace this good boy, this exceptional man. “Zack, I hope you’ll—”
Tears clogged his throat and all he could do was open his arms to the grandchild who’d been denied his birthright too long. Would Zack forgive the past? He wouldn’t blame Zack if he couldn’t.
Zack saw the worry in his grandfather’s age-worn face. Mom’s parents and Roland’s had wanted no part of the child she’d carried, but this grandparent did. Why question the timing? Why not accept love when it was offered?
He took his grandfather into his arms. His grandfather. The very word…it was overwhelming to him. He could love this giant of a man, so frail in his arms. He could choose to accept this new family as his own. Love didn’t have to be a random act over which he had no control. It would take guts to be a Brennan at this stage of his life, but when it came to love, he would take all he could get.
Seconds later, maybe minutes, his grandfather patted him on the back and broke their embrace to reach for his chair. Zack sat beside him, so moved by this experience he couldn’t speak.
“I’m sorry about many things, Zack,” his grandfather said in a voice gruff with emotion. “One of the things I regret is that your grandma missed getting to know you. She would have loved you. You may have trouble believing it, but I have loved you since I knew of you, and I’ve thanked God every day that He allowed me to work with you and get to know you.”
Zack didn’t know what to say. He nodded, though it wasn’t enough.
“You are a good man, Zack, full of integrity and wise beyond your years.”
“Thank you.”
“I expect you realize my health’s not good.”
Zack nodded again. His grandfather’s poor health was general knowledge.
“It eases the heart of an old man to know he’s left something good behind. In my case, it’s the clinic and my family. For so long I was concerned about who my successor should be. Then you came into our lives, and I knew it was you. Zack, one of these days, I want to see you lead the clinic.”
So the rumor about that was true. How could he protest that he was a surgeon, not an administrator, without sounding ungrateful? “Chief, I appreciate your faith—”
“Call me Grandpa, Zack. That’s what your brother and your cousins do. And I know what you’re going to say. You’re young, and you love being a surgeon, but I’m not asking you to give up anything but time to serve on the board. You’ll continue your practice as I did before I retired.”
That didn’t sound impossible, but he couldn’t believe the man would bypass the family whom he’d known so much longer. “But what about your sons and your other grandchildren?”
“James and Albert don’t have the skill set needed nor the interest. Neither do James’s children—Trey, Ry and Beth. Charlie’s son, Collin, isn’t a leader. Charlie’s bad judgment and lack of conscience make him unsuitable. No, you’re the one, Zack. You will lead by example, and you’ll make sure that Brennan Medical Clinic retains its reputation for the highest quality of care and the highest caliber of physicians on the West Coast.”
His grandfather had thought this through—probably for years. “Does your family know that you want this, Chief?”
“Grandpa, Zack, not Chief.”
Zack had to smile. “It’s a new word in my vocabulary.”
“Yes, but you’re quick. You’ll get it in no time.”
His grandfather smiled back with such affection that Zack’s heart seemed to turn over. He hoped he could live up to the faith of this man.
“The family knows my wishes. I discussed my choice with my boys when Albert and I were the only ones who knew about you.”
“Do you know how surreal this all sounds?”
“I expect it does. I don’t want the rest of the family to learn about all this through the grapevine, so I’ve taken a bit of a chance and invited them here. They should be arriving at my office within the hour.”
“And you’re going to tell them…?”
“That you belong to us, if that’s all right with you. We’ve waited many years for your mother’s permission to let you know we’re your family. We can wait longer.”
“I felt terrible this morning keeping the secret from Collin. I was nervous about everyone knowing, but I’m ready now.”
“Albert and Amy are waiting in his office across the hall. Why don’t you go over and break their suspense? They hoped you were ready to be a Brennan, but none of us were sure.”
