The Child Who Changed Them (Parent Portal 5)

“So, then what are you going to do?”

“Last I heard they hadn’t found anyone for the permanent ED position at Oceanfront. If it’s still open, I’ll take it.” He didn’t sound all that concerned about it, though. And figured he probably didn’t need to be. Assuming that...

“If the position has been filled, you may have to go back to internal medicine...” If he stayed. Emergency medicine had become a calling for him. That was something she did know.

They’d talked about work all the time.

That golden glint in his green eyes seemed to become luminescent as he met her gaze. “I’m a doctor,” he told her. “Medicine completes me. Yes, I fit emergency medicine well. But I was a good internist. I enjoyed the work. And I’d sweep floors if that’s what I have to do to be a part of my child’s life.”

So there was that.

And even more compellingly, she understood. Those years she’d been doing medical technician work while Peter was in medical school, the years she’d put off her own aspirations, she’d still been happy. Peter had spoiled her rotten. And she’d soaked up his adoration.

Delaying her own career goals hadn’t become a problem until Peter had wanted to delay them more permanently... That was when he’d quit serving her needs. Had quit spoiling her. And she’d no longer felt adored...

“Where did you go just now?” Greg’s odd, softly caring tone brought her back to him. His “bedside manner” was definitely well honed.

With a quick shake of her head, she grabbed her glass of water. Took a sip.

“What about your apartment?” She got them quickly back on track. “You said you gave notice.”

“I did.”

“You think you can take it back?”

“I know I can’t. I’ve already made arrangements to be out so the next occupant can get in before she starts a new job.”

“Do you think she’d be willing to find someplace else? Since she hasn’t moved in yet?”

“I’ve never met the woman, but I don’t think so. Her daughter lives in my complex, too, and they want to be close. My unit was the only one available. The leasing agent set it all up.” He sounded as though he was only then coming into awareness of the problem. It wasn’t as though luxury places were a dime a dozen in Marie Cove.

There were other local places to rent, maybe a beach cottage or something. He could look for a place to buy. But he should have his career situation figured out before making such a big investment. What if he ended up with an ED position in Mission Viejo? That would be close enough for them to work out some kind of commute for school and day care...

None of which was her concern right now.

But...she was supposed to be thinking about his needs. Making them an equal in her equation. Not because they were a couple, or even parents, but because that was the course for every relationship she had—work, personal, family...all of them. She’d spent too long in an insular world of coping with her own needs and they’d somehow superseded her awareness of others. Especially those closest to her.

Wood.

Her heart ached every time she thought about the years her brother-in-law had spent tending to her, when he should have been living his own life. The years she’d convinced herself that Wood was happy just living in the same house with her. Because they were family and needed each other.

And...she stared at Greg.

“Wood’s suite...it’s empty,” she said. She and Wood had shared space, details of physical life that would definitely include pregnancy, without any intimate relationship. Elaina had been sleeping with Greg for months and Wood hadn’t even known he existed. “Maybe...while we both adjust to a pregnancy neither of us expected or planned for...while you figure out the next steps in your career life...you could...stay there. It’s not furnished, though. Wood made all of his furniture and took it with him...”

Was she insane?

Or worse, falling back into her old ways and crafting a way to have Greg step into Wood’s shoes? Giving her someone to lean on, to use, while she faced the scary steps of finding her future once again?

“It would give us time to figure out how we coexist in the real world, rather than in bed or at work. To figure out co-parenting plans. And give you the prenatal time with the baby that you need.”

The plan was logical. Practical.

But she didn’t have to like the idea quite so much.

“On one hand, it sounds perfect,” Greg said, clearly hesitant, even while he didn’t immediately negate the option she’d given him.

“And on the other?”