The Surgeon's Cinderella

“Michelle, take care of Mother,” Whitney clipped.

Her sister did as Whitney said, putting her arm around her mother and pulling her away a few steps. “Mom, back up and let Tanner see about Daddy.”

Tanner knew the answer to the question before he asked but he had to anyway. “Mr. Thomason, are you on any medication?”

“He is. The information is in my purse. I’ll get it,” Mrs. Thomason said. She pulled away from Michelle’s arm and headed for the house.

“Tanner, the EMTs are on the line,” Whitney said from close beside him.

“Good. Tell them the patient is responsive. Three eighty-one-milligram aspirin given.” He waited until Whitney had repeated his words. “Heart rate one hundred and sixty-seven. BP one-eight-four over ninety. Respirations forty-five.” He pressed Mr. Thomason’s index fingernail while she spoke. “Little discoloration of nail.”

Whitney repeated the information.

Her mother returned with the medication list and handed it to him. He reviewed it then passed it along to Whitney. “Let the EMTs know. If you can’t pronounce it, spell it out.”

Tanner did another round of vitals as Whitney read out the medicine names and dosages to the EMTs. Mr. Thomason appeared stable but Tanner still wouldn’t be comfortable until he was at the hospital and some tests were run.

The sound of the siren from the approaching ambulance soon filled the air. Tanner looked up and scanned the concerned family group around him. “I need everyone to move way back. Give the EMTs room to work.” Thankfully everyone did as he asked.

Minutes later he spoke to one of the EMTs then let them do what they were well trained to do. After they had Mr. Thomason in the ambulance, Tanner conferred with the ER doctor who would be accepting his patient at the hospital. Soon Mr. Thomason was on his way. Tanner put his supplies back in his bag and found Whitney with her mother.

“I’m going to drive Mother to the hospital,” Whitney said.

She really had been cool during an emergency. Many people would have fallen apart if a family member had been in trouble. Whitney had followed his directions to the letter without any questions. She was someone he could depend on during a crisis.

“Why don’t I drive you both? We can come back to get my car later,” Tanner offered.

Whitney gave him a grateful look that included something he wasn’t sure he was willing to put a name to.

“Thank you.”

* * *

Three hours later, Whitney was standing in the hospital at the foot of her father’s bed. He had an oxygen cannula under his nose and had an IV in his arm but otherwise looked no worse for the scare he had put his family through. A monitor on a pole nearby continually checked his heart rate.

“I knew you bringing home a doctor was going to be a benefit,” her father said with a wink.

Whitney was just glad Tanner had stepped out to speak to her father’s cardiologist and hadn’t heard that statement.

“I don’t like Tanner because he’s a doctor, Dad. He’s fun to be around, nice, caring and good to me.”

Her father looked at her for a moment. “Sounds like a woman in love to me.”

She was. Deeply. “There’s a lot to love about him.”

Her father grinned as he looked over her shoulder.

Whitney turned to find Tanner standing there. Had he heard what she had said? Would he run now, knowing how she felt? She tried to read Tanner’s face but there was no indication he had heard her. If she did tell him how she felt, would he even give them a chance?

She’d had no doubt that he was a thorough doctor and a compassionate one. With Mr. Wilcox she had seen some of those attributes but today with her father she’d seen firsthand how he could command a difficult situation. He had been magnificent. Someone she could lean on in a time of trouble.

Tanner came to stand beside her. “You’re all set, Mr. Thomason. I’ll be in to check on you in the morning. If you need anything, just ask.”

“Thanks for your help today. I don’t usually make such a scene when my daughter brings home a man for the first time.”

Tanner grinned. “I’m glad to know I’m special.” He looked at Whitney’s mother. “Delores, are you sure you’re going to be okay here tonight? Have everything you need?”

“I’ll be just fine. I wouldn’t sleep if I went home anyway,” her mother assured him, placing a hand on her husband’s arm and looking at him adoringly.

Tanner seemed unnaturally focused on her parents, as if he was watching every detail of their interaction. Did their obvious affection make him feel nervous?

“Then Whitney and I will see you first thing in the morning,” Tanner said.

He really was great. Tanner didn’t have to go with her. She kissed both of her parents. “Call if you need anything.”

As she and Tanner drove through the early evening toward her grandparents’ house Whitney reached over and rested her hand on his thigh. “Thank you for saving my father’s life today.”

“I don’t know that I did that but you’re welcome. I was pretty impressed by the cool head you kept. I’ve had nurses who showed less control in an emergency. If you ever want to give up matchmaking, I recommend you consider nursing or med school.”

Whitney chuckled. “I think you’re giving me too much credit but it’s nice to hear praise.”

Tanner pulled her parents’ car into her grandparents’ drive. He turned to look at her. “You should hear praise all the time. You’re wonderful.”

“You’re pretty wonderful yourself.” Her hand cupped his cheek and she gave him a kiss that held all the love she felt.

When they broke apart he wore a strange expression. Had Tanner sensed what she was offering him? They continued to look at each other. Had something subtly changed between them? Did she dare to hope he felt the love she did?

Tanner broke the spell of the moment with, “I guess we’d better go in and give your grandparents a report.”

An hour later, she was driving her parents’ car back to their house while Tanner followed her. She pulled it in the garage. Whitney had promised to pack her mother some clothes and her father a pair of pajamas and a few personal items. Tanner came inside to wait while she gathered things.

“So how long have your parents been married?” he asked from the living room.

“Thirty-one—no, thirty-two years.” She stuck her head out of her parents’ bedroom. “Why?”

“They just seem so happy together.”

“They are,” Whitney said from inside the bedroom.

“My parents fought all the time. I don’t remember them being able to stay in the same room together over half an hour. They certainly couldn’t stay in a hospital room together. Your parents must really love each other.”

Whitney’s heart filled with optimism. Tanner did recognize love. She stepped out of the room. “Yeah, they do.”

Tanner was standing in front of a picture of her entire family. “No wonder you didn’t understand why I didn’t list that as necessary in my match.”

“It was hard for me to understand at the time. Now that you have told me about your parents I sort of understand. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t have love in your life.” She looked directly at him. “I want what my parents have.”

It took a moment before he said, “I can’t promise that. I’m not even sure I know how to love like that.”

Whitney stepped closer. “Maybe I can help you learn.”

That night they walked hand and hand up the stairs to what was now their bedroom. When Whitney started to undress Tanner pushed her hands away. “Let me.” He slowly removed her clothes, kissing each piece of flesh he exposed. With all her clothes on the floor, he quickly removed his. Tanner took her hand and led her to the bed.

“You are so amaz

ing.” He gently caressed her lips.

Whitney cupped his face with both her hands and kissed him with all the love she felt.

Tanner lifted her to the bed and joined her without breaking the contact. When they broke apart, he lay on his side and looked down at her. As his eyes raked her body, Whitney trembled. Tanner’s look found hers, held.

“I don’t know what you’re doing to me, but I like who I am around you.”

Whitney smiled. She knew what it was. Love.

Tanner kissed her again. When it went deeper Whitney nudged him to his back. She brought her lips to his chest over his heart. He inhaled sharply. Whitney captured his hands and held them at his sides. She kissed the curve of his neck and slowly slid over him. He moaned his pleasure. She continued to work her way up him, enjoying her skin touching his. She placed a kiss on his ear, eyebrow and finally his lips. She released his hands. He brought them to her hips, caressing her. He gently lifted her then slowly lowered her, joining them.

Their movements were deliberate and calm, yet there was an intensity between them they’d not had before. There was nothing of the frenzied coupling Tanner normally preferred. This time it was as if he was marking her as his.

Afterward, they lay in each other’s arms for a long time without either of them speaking. Hope blossomed in Whitney.

* * *

The next few weeks passed much as the others had. For Tanner life was better than it had ever been yet there was something off he couldn’t name.

After their lovemaking the night Whitney’s father had gone into the hospital something had changed between them. The smiles Whitney gave him had an extra brightness to them. She touched him for no reason when she was walking by. She was waiting when he came home no matter what the time. The pleasure he found in bed was pure bliss and went beyond anything he’d ever experienced. Yet something nagged at him. As if he was missing something.