Our Finest Hour (The Time #1)(15)

“It’s nice to see you again, Aubrey.” Isaac’s voice is deep, full of something. I don’t know what.

“You too, Isaac. Or should I call you…?”

“Dr. Cordova.”

I nod, biting down hard on my tongue. The pain from it helps me calm down.

Isaac takes another step into the small space, closer to me. His eyes sweep my body. “Can I take a look at the patient?”

I look down at myself and see what he probably sees. Standing beside Claire’s bed, my arms folded no less, I look like I’m trying to block access to her. And I am, I suppose. But right now, I can’t. I have to let him in. Claire’s arm is top priority.

I step aside, making it a point to look away from Isaac as I round the end of Claire’s bed. As I pass him I feel the heat from his chest, remember what he looked like beneath me.

Briefly I meet my dad’s eyes, ignoring the curiosity I see in them. Isaac steps up to Claire’s bedside, and I suck in a breath.

She’s yours, part of me wants to scream. Pictures of happy families flash through my head. But that could never be us. He’s probably married by now.

He looks at her, and then back up to me. “She’s your daughter?”

I nod, too afraid to speak.

“She’s beautiful.”

“Thanks.” I whisper. He hasn’t smiled since he stepped in and saw me, and that’s just one of many things that has my body tied up in knots right now.

“Dr. Cordova, I’m here. Traffic was awful, man.” A man’s loud voice fills the silence. We turn to it, and the man looks at Claire and winces. “Sorry. I didn’t know she was asleep.” He turns to me and sticks out a hand. “Dr. Main. I’m the anesthesiologist.”

I take his hand. “I’m Aubrey Reynolds.” My eyes flick to Isaac. He’s watching me, his eyes lighting up when he hears my last name for the first time.

“I’m John Reynolds.” My dad shakes hands with Dr. Main as Isaac walks around the end of the bed.

“Mr. Reynolds, I’m Dr. Cordova.” Isaac’s face is confused as his eyes move from me to my dad, like he’s trying to understand who we are to each other.

It’s not uncommon. My dad is young, very young to be a grandpa. We’ve been mistaken for a couple before, especially when Claire is with us, which is pretty much always.

They exchange pleasantries, and I wonder if Isaac is dying to ask if my dad is Claire’s father. I’m dying inside too, trying to decide which to have a meltdown over first—my daughter’s impending surgery or the fact that her surgeon is the man who fathered her and doesn’t know it?

Of course I have to tell him, but I can’t drop that bombshell on him right now. He’s about to go into surgery. With our daughter. He needs to be focused and calm.

Isaac turns all business, and so does Dr. Main. “Claire has a supracondylar fracture. We’re going to put two pins in her arm.” Isaac focuses on me and my dad as he talks, and, using two fingers to represent the pins, shows us on his arm where they will enter Claire’s. “We’ll put on a temporary cast. I want to see her in ten days in my office for more x-rays and a hard cast.”

“Mommy?”

I inhale sharply and turn to Claire. “Baby, you’re awake. What do you need?”

“Have I had surgery yet?” Her voice is still sleepy. I run my hands over her hair and down her cheeks. “Not yet, love.”

“Claire?” Isaac’s voice is right behind me. It’s smooth and strong and sends shivers down my back.

My hands shake so badly, I have to slip them into the back pockets of my jeans.

“Yes?” Claire turns her eyes on him.

“I’m Dr. Cordova. I’m going to fix your arm today. How does that sound?” His voice is soft, but not babyish. It’s just right.

“Good. I tripped and fell playin’ soccer.” She smiles at him, and I see him in her face. He looks at me, his eyes questioning, and fear twists my stomach. Is he seeing himself in her too?

“Soccer?” He looks back to Claire. “I bet you’re a great soccer player.”

“I am,” she says proudly.

He smiles at her. “Are you ready to get that arm fixed?”

“Yes.” Her voice is unsteady now. Her lower lip trembles. “Can Mommy come with me?”

“You know what? This is an extra special room that only doctors and their brave patients can go to.”

“I am pretty brave.” Claire nods and purses her lips, like she’s thinking. “OK, yeah, I can go. But not unless Mommy says OK. I’m not allowed to go places with people I don’t know.”

Isaac looks at me and smirks. “Safety first.”

I allow a small smile, knowing he’s thinking about the night we met and my open-drink policy.

Claire’s head smells like last night’s shampoo as I kiss it. “You can go, and I’ll be there when you wake up.”

Two nurses show up, and Dr. Main steps to the side of Claire’s bed. He releases the bed’s brake, and suddenly, it’s all very real.

My baby is going under anesthesia, and the person who helped me create her is also the person who’s going to fix her. It’s too much for me to bear.

Tears roll down my cheeks as soon as the wheels on her bed start moving. “I love you, Claire.” I’m trying to keep my voice under control, but it breaks anyway.