The Doctor's Bride. Patt Marr
red-nosed woman who literally falls at my feet.”
“You know, I hurt my knee on that move.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, switching from a smile to a look of genuine concern. “Knees are my orthopedic subspecialty. Does it still bother you?”
“No, but I’ll never do that particular fall again.”
“Good!” His grin was back. “Flower shouldn’t fall for just any guy.”
She knew he was teasing, but she felt a little zing of joy. “I never know what Flower will do next,” she said, trying to explain away her silliness.
“When she works the peds floor again, have her give me a call. I’ll be her straight man any day. It isn’t much, but I have it on good authority that anything we do for kids is better than nothing at all.”
Chloe felt a smile deep in her soul. “Thanks for remembering that.”
“I think everyone did. You could have heard a pin drop. You’re a very good speaker, Chloe.”
The sincerity in his sky-blue eyes had to be real. “Thank you. This was my first presentation, and I thought I would be sick.”
“When you walked on stage, you seemed a little nervous. I even asked the Lord to help you. But then you seemed so poised I thought I must have been wrong.”
“You didn’t consider that your prayer could have helped?” she teased.
“Not even once,” he admitted with a rueful smile.
“Well, it may have, along with the prayers of my coworkers. They all knew I felt as if I were going to the gallows.”
He shook his head and grinned. “Seriously, you were terrific up there. My mother thought so, too.”
“That was your mother beside you?”
He nodded. “This really made her day, her birthday, as a matter of fact.”
“ That’s why you’re here!” Chloe said, putting it together. “I did wonder.”
“You don’t see me as guy who’s interested in loving children, face-to-face?” he quipped.
“ Everyone can love children, face-to-face,” she said, teasing back. “But I know how busy surgeons are. I can’t see my dad or my sister taking time to attend a conference like this.”
“You’re right,” he said candidly. “I’m here for Mom. My dad died recently, and Mom’s looking for a new direction for her life. I think she’s found it.”
“I hope so! I want to meet her, but I’m due in the conference dining room. Each speaker hosts a table. Perhaps you and your mother could sit with me.”
“Mom would love that! I’m supposed to meet her outside the ladies’ room. Shall we surprise her?”
Walking out of this big room with Zack Hemingway she felt so different than she’d felt walking in. She’d been scared to death, but look at her now! She had the attention of the most sought-after bachelor in Beverly Hills.
He was quite a bit taller that she was, six feet two at least. She always noticed a man’s height because she was taller than average. Zack’s clean-shaven jaw angled before squaring off a bit at the chin, and his nose was less than perfect, which she liked a lot, considering the man lived in the plastic-surgery capital of the world.
His tan suit looked as expensive as the ones her father wore and probably was, the way it fit his wide shoulders so well. Usually she preferred the rugged look of a guy in a T-shirt and jeans, but Zack in a suit and tie looked…
Though she had an IQ of 170 and a vocabulary to match, yummy was the word that came to mind.
Zack put his hand on Chloe’s elbow and stopped their progress outside the restroom. “This is where I agreed to meet Mom,” he said.
The words were barely out of his mouth when a pretty blond woman in a pink suit and low-heeled pink pumps entered the hallway. She spotted Zack right away, but when she saw Chloe, her blue eyes lit up as if it were Christmas.
“Oh, Chloe! Zack said he would introduce us, and here you are!” She embraced Chloe in a light hug.
“Chloe, this is my mother, Bonnie Hemingway, a retired high school biology teacher from East Moline, Illinois—my hometown.”
“I’m happy to meet you, Mrs. Hemingway,” Chloe said, impressed with the joy of life this woman seemed to have.
“Please, call me Bonnie. Chloe, your presentation touched my heart more than I can say.”
“I’m so glad. I’ve never been more nervous in my life.”
“It didn’t get the best of you! You’re a natural-born speaker and teacher.”
“Thank you,” Chloe said from the bottom of her heart. “You don’t know how I appreciate the encouragement.”
“I couldn’t believe it when Zack said he knew your family.”
“And even when the moderator said your name, I couldn’t believe you were Sterling’s daughter,” Zack added.
“You didn’t recognize me?” Chloe asked with feigned dismay. “After all we’ve meant to each other?”
“I know! What can I say?” He hung his head in mock shame.
“Oh, I wish I’d been there to see your clown act!” Bonnie said. “I love clowns! I even collect them.”
“She does,” Zack affirmed with his great smile. “She has all kinds. Salt and pepper shakers, figurines, you name it. Is there any possibility that Flower could make a special appearance in honor of Mom’s birthday?”
For the opportunity to spend time with this guy, it was a done deal. “Flower loves birthday parties, but she’s pretty busy today.”
“I’m here until a week from Monday,” Bonnie said.
“Name the day, Chloe. This is Mom’s week. Not only is it her birthday, it’s her first visit to California. I took vacation time, so I’m available as a chauffeur, sock-puppet carrier or anything that doesn’t involve me in a clown suit.”
“Bonnie, would you like a clown lesson from Flower?” Chloe asked.
“Oh, my! Yes!”
“You’ll have to decide on your clown name and persona so we can design your makeup and costume.”
“I’ll have my own clown personality?” Bonnie’s blue eyes sparkled at the thought.
“Well, sure. Once you’re in costume, you’re not you anymore.”
“This will give me something to think about! Chloe, this has been such a pleasure. I wonder if you could join Zack and me for lunch? It would be so special to celebrate my birthday with you.”
“As a speaker, I’m hosting a table. I thought you and Zack might join me.”
“But of course we could. That would be marvelous!”
“I should be there now.”
“Then we shouldn’t dawdle. Those tables could be filling up fast.” Bonnie turned to walk ahead.
Zack fell into step beside Chloe. “That’s my mom, leading the way.”
“She’s wonderful,” Chloe said softly before turning to catch up. She would love to have a close relationship like that with her own mother.
“Mom, I need to call the hospital. You two go ahead and grab those seats. Okay?”
Bonnie waved him on, then took Chloe’s arm and set a pace that would get them there quickly.
“Chloe, are you seeing anyone?” she asked