White Wedding for a Southern Belle

“I’ll see if I have time.” He headed down the stairs.

* * *

Ashley was waiting for the TV crew when they arrived. In the last year, since she’d been on the council, she’d learned to court the media but to always be wary of them as well. She needed good press to help move her ideas forward in the neighborhood revitalization. Shining a good light on what she was trying to accomplish in Southriver would hopefully not only get the city council behind the project but set a precedent for what could be done in other areas of the city and other cities in general.

It was just after lunch and she’d only seen Kiefer a couple of times that morning. No matter what they were doing their kiss seemed to pop into her mind. The more she tried to shove it away the stronger it became. She’d almost reached the point that she wanted to kiss him again so she could put it behind her and move on.

Ashley had come down early just to check in and see how things were going at the clinic. Kiefer was busy with a patient and Maria was overseeing a full waiting room. At least there shouldn’t be an empty room when the news crew arrived. She’d gone downtown for a meeting and had returned in time to grab a bite to eat before she was due to meet the TV crew. Sitting at her table in the kitchen, having a sandwich, she looked at the chair Kiefer had filled the night before.

He was a big person but had seemed relaxed in her small kitchen. It had been too long since she’d shared even a simple meal with a man. Most of the men she had dated hadn’t been happy with the prospect of living in Southriver, and she wasn’t interested in moving elsewhere. Her world was here and she needed a partner who understood that, who supported that part of her life.

Her one truly serious relationship had ended when she’d decided to run for the city council. He’d wanted her support to further his business but hadn’t been willing to do the same with her desire to become an alderman. She had been crushed by his attitude. This was a man who was supposed to love her. It hadn’t taken long for them to part ways. Ashley wanted her relationship with a man to be a partnership. She refused to settle for anything less.

Since then she’d made her views and plans clear in the beginning and they had turned off any other men she’d dated. She was starting to miss male companionship. Someone to just have fun with.

Could she and Kiefer become friends? Based on their kiss there might be some benefit sexually as well. She’d enjoyed her conversation with him over pizza. One other good thing about him was that he wouldn’t be staying in Southriver long. No outsider ever did. Kiefer wasn’t her type anyway. They could part ways without hurt feelings, she was sure.

But what if her radar was off? What if she was misjudging him? It had happened before.

Thirty minutes later Kiefer walked up the hall in her direction as she made her way toward the waiting room.

“So, how’s the alderman today?”

She smiled. “Busy.”

“Are you ever not busy?”

Ashley thought about that for a moment. “Not really.”

“That would have been my guess. You know if you don’t slow down occasionally you will burn out and not have enough energy to save the world.”

“Save the world? I’m not trying to save the world.”

“Sure you are. What you’re trying to do in Southriver is to save a part of the world.”

She’d never thought of it that way. “I’m just trying to help families in this neighborhood live better lives. That’s all.”

“If you say so.”

Ashley stepped closer to him so that no one could accidentally overhear them. That was a mistake. She came to an abrupt stop. His aftershave smelled like citrus with a hint of spice. She forced herself not to inhale deeply. He didn’t move away but instead he looked down at her. Her gaze flickered down and returned. They were uncomfortably close but she wasn’t going to back away. “Dr. Bradford, your job isn’t to evaluate me or concern yourself with what I do, but to run this clinic.”

“Why, yes, ma’am, Alderman Marsh.” He glanced behind him then leaned down as if he was going to kiss her and mumbled, “I believe your dog and pony show have arrived.” He stepped around her and headed down the hall.

What was his problem?

She had one as well. He left her tingling all over.

* * *

Kiefer tried to stay out of the way of Ashley and the reporter followed by the TV cameraman. Maybe if he remained busy, which wasn’t a problem because he was, he wouldn’t have to be involved. He’d stopped by the office to make a quick note on a patient when Ashley stuck her head in the door.

“Hey, do you mind coming in to see Mrs. McGuire? She’s agreed to let us film her. We’d like to get you doing the examination.” She turned to leave.

Kiefer wasn’t interested in being part of her publicity. He was a doctor and a professional. There were patients to see. He didn’t have time for her PR show. “I don’t think so.”

Her head popped back around the door. “What?”

“I’d rather not.”

She studied him for a second. “It’ll just be for a few minutes. No big deal.”

Kiefer shook his head. “I don’t think an examination of a patient is a place for a TV show.”

Ashley stepped farther into the room. “Why’re you being so difficult about this? I need this publicity for the clinic. To raise funds that are needed desperately.”

“I understand that but I don’t think putting a patient on TV is the way to go.”

The reporter came to the doorway. Ashley glanced back then returned her attention to Kiefer. Her face held a beseeching expression. “Please. I won’t ask you to do it again.”

Something about her look had Kiefer reconsidering. What would be so bad about doing his job and trying not to pay any attention to the camera? He did understand the need to shine a light on what was going on in Southriver. He said tightly, “Okay, but you’ll owe me.”

“Thank you,” she said, then turned to the man behind her. “Russell, we’ll go to the exam room now and meet Mrs. McGuire.”

Kiefer followed the party up the hallway to one of the two functioning exam rooms. The camera crew stopped outside the door and allowed him to enter first. Mrs. McGuire was a forty-something woman neatly dressed in a casual shirt and jeans. When he entered she looked up from where she sat in a chair in the corner.

“Hi, I’m Dr. Bradford. I understand you’re Mrs. McGuire.”

Ashley, along with the reporter and cameraman, squeezed into the room.

Mrs. McGuire looked at the group with interest. “I am.”

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” Kiefer nodded toward the people behind him. “I’ll tell them to leave if you’re not.”

“Mrs. McGuire—” Ashley started.

“Is my patient.”

Ashley said nothing more.

The patient nodded her assent. “Now, Mrs. McGuire, what seems to be the problem?” Kiefer asked.

“I’ve been having trouble with one of my toes.” She lifted her right foot. It was covered by a sock and she was wearing a house shoe.

“Would you please remove your sock? I’d like to take a look.” As she did so Kiefer pulled the other metal chair in the room closer.

A sweet smell of infection filled the room. He reached down and cupped her calf, lifting it so that her heel rested on his thigh. Mrs. McGuire’s large toe was a deep purple color that was extending to the next one.

The cameraman took a step closer.

“How long has this toe looked like this?” Kiefer asked, trying not to let his concern show in his voice. He didn’t want the reporter to get the idea that this might be more than an ordinary hurt toe.

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe a few months.”

Kiefer nodded. She should have been seen long ago. “M

rs. McGuire, have you ever been told you were a diabetic?”

“It’s been so long since I’ve been to the doctor I don’t remember.”

Kiefer took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. Why had she let this go on for so long? Did she realize how bad it was? He turned to the reporter. “I need you to leave now. I would like to talk to my patient in private.”

“But we really didn’t get anything,” the reporter complained.

“Dr. Bradford, could I speak to you outside?” Ashley followed the reporter and cameraman out.

“Mrs. McGuire, I’ll be right back,” Kiefer said.

Ashley waited in the hall. He closed the exam room door behind him. The reporter and cameraman were walking toward the waiting area.

“Why’re you making this so difficult?” she demanded, before he could say anything.

“Because that woman in there needs to be in the hospital. She’s going to lose that toe. If she waits much longer she could lose her entire foot. I don’t think that’s something that should be said in front of a camera.”

Ashley’s mouth formed an O of comprehension.

“That’s right, oh. Now, if we’re done here I’ll see about making arrangements to have her admitted.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I’ll see that she gets there. I know she lives alone and will need a ride. That’s probably why she hasn’t been seeing a doctor regularly.”

Kiefer had to admit Ashley’s focus turned quickly to compassion and willingness to help. Despite her appearance of having a one-track mind, only concerned about her agenda, she genuinely seemed to have the woman’s best interests at heart.

She headed down the hall toward the reporter and Kiefer returned to Mrs. McGuire.

He took the chair again and explained the situation to his patient.