Grumpy Doctor’s Holiday Twins (Forbidden Doctors #17)

34. Ethan

34

ETHAN

M om's fingers worked the thick silver paper I had her gift wrapped in. The woman at the store did a fantastic job with the gift-wrapping service I added to my order, and the look on Mom's face was priceless.

It was Christmas Eve, the night our family traditionally exchanged gifts. My brothers and their children were all at home exchanging their own gifts, so it was just me, Mom, and Dad. The house would be full first thing in the morning with children and laughter and even a bit of chaos. I didn't know what I'd be doing, but I did hope Melody would squeeze in just a little time for me tomorrow afternoon so I could give her the gift I'd purchased.

"Oh, my goodness." Mom's eyes widened and filled with emotion as she took the lid off the box and looked up at me. While I had seen the example necklace in the display case, I hadn't taken the time to ensure the shop had everything correct, but judging by the look on Mom's face, they'd done well. "It's so beautiful."

I smiled at her as she lifted the necklace with its jewel-framed diamond pendant. It dangled from her nimble fingers and spun back and forth, glittering in the light from the tree. She had such a priceless look of joy and happiness and it warmed my heart.

"Look, dear, it's the kids' birthstones." She fingered the pendant as she showed it to Dad who was knee deep in reading the instructions for the new leaf-blower she had purchased for him. His gift from me—a box of Cuban cigars I brought back with me on one of my travels—sat next to him on the arm of his chair where he protected it with his life.

I chuckled at their interaction and hoped one day, Melody and I would be so close that we shared silent exchanges like that of love and affection.

"I'm so glad you like it. When I saw it, I knew you had to have it." I sighed contentedly and accepted a package from her. It was wrapped in blue paper with green stripes and had my name scrawled on the gift tag.

"I love it, baby. It's so perfect. I'll wear it tomorrow." Mom delicately put the necklace back into the box and nodded. "Well, go on. Open it."

I pulled at the corners of the paper and peeled back the layers, then wadded the paper up before opening the box. It was a small box, no bigger than wallet-sized, and I wondered what they'd gotten me. I hadn't gotten a Christmas gift other than a deposit to my bank account with a note attached since my first jaunt overseas four years ago. This was special to me, even without the gifts. I forgot how much I loved the joy on someone's face when they opened a gift I'd purchased for them.

I glanced up at Mom whose eyes were wide with expectation. She swatted at Dad and he glanced up, and when he saw me lifting the lid of the box, he sat a little straighter and paid attention.

Mom seemed restless, like she was too anxious for me to open the box, so I put her out of her misery. I set the lid aside and folded back the white tissue paper to reveal a name tag. It read Dr. Ethan Sinclair, MD. Head of Pediatrics in what appeared to be onyx lettering. The twenty-four-carat gold plate was weighty too, and it had two pins to hold it in place. It brought tears to my eyes thinking how I'd be giving up that job and this special, precious token of my parents' affection would go to waste.

"Well, do you like it?" Mom asked, leaning forward. Her hands cupped her knees and she had such a smile on her face.

"I absolutely love it, Mom." I took it out of the box and pinned it to my gray sweater.

"Oh, dear, it looks so nice." She clapped her hands, then brought them to her lips, and I got up and hugged her. I felt like a million burnt bridges between us were being rebuilt, and I planned to wear this even if I did give up that job. I'd just have to wear it when I visited them.

"Oh, my phone," I told her, feeling my pocket vibrate. I pulled away from the hug and noticed not only was my phone ringing with a call from Doctors Without Borders, but I had missed a text from John at some point too.

I stepped out of the room as I answered and Mom and Dad continued to exchange gifts they bought for each other. With the phone pressed to my ear, I said, "Dr. Sinclair, how can I help you?"

"Hi, Dr. Sinclair. This is Patty Kinstle with Doctors Without Borders, I hope I’m not interrupting any holiday festivities." The cheerful voice of the woman who was in charge of hiring me almost made me sad, but after the past forty-eight hours, I knew where I belonged. Even if it hurt.

"Hi, Dr. Kinstle. I've been expecting a call from you." My dreams were about to be over, and while I felt a strange bittersweet feeling, I also felt determined. I had two children and I loved them with my whole heart already. Not to mention the woman of my dreams, whom I knew I couldn't take with me.

"Yes, well, we're returning your call. We're expecting you on the twenty-seventh as scheduled, unless something on your end came up." Patty sounded so happy and excited, and I would have to be the bearer of bad news.

"Well, I'm going to give it to you straight, Dr. Kinstle. Something has definitely come up. I'm not going to make it." I took a deep breath and blew away my sadness. "I've fallen in love and I can't leave home. This is just where I belong now. I do hope you can find another qualified candidate." The weight began to lift off my shoulders, and while I knew there would always be parts of the job I missed, Mistletoe Springs really was my home.

"Wow, I'm shocked to hear that, but congratulations. I assume this means you won't be taking your next tour as our pediatric attending?"

"You are correct. I have things here that I can't leave, though I'm sure Dr. Swaggart will do fine filling in for where I left off. I hope everyone understands I never meant to leave anyone hanging. I never expected this to happen." I knew there was a gap where I used to be that would need filled along with someone to take the position I had been offered, but they would adjust. It was a large organization full of highly skilled professionals.

By the time I got done talking with Patty, I had strengthened my resolve to the point I didn't even feel sad anymore. And it only got better when I checked the missed text from John.

John 5:38 PM: Ethan, before you make a decision to stay or leave, I thought I'd toss this at you. Stay. Be my pediatric chair. No one is as qualified as you, and you'll have Melody and the kids. LMK

My heart felt so full I thought it would burst open, and I stared at that message from my best friend and tears really did well up. It's true what they say—when God closes one door, He opens a window… I was feeling those blessings from above so heavily right now.

I collected myself and dried my face, then started for the living room again, but the doorbell rang. So I diverted to the entryway and opened the door to see Melody standing there shivering. She wore a long gray peacoat with a plaid Christmas scarf. Her head was uncovered, and her hands had no gloves. Her car sat in the driveway running, headlights beaming up at me.

"Hey, Ethan, I can't stay. I have the kids, and we're headed to John’s… I just…" She bit her lip, and I cocked my head. Standing in the open doorway with the cold air rushing in, I got the sense that something was wrong.

"Are you alright?" I asked, stepping toward her. I took her frigid hand in my warm one and held it.

"Not really…" She sighed and looked down. "I can't let you turn that job down. It's your dream, Ethan. It's not right for me to hold you back." She brought my hand to her lips and kissed my knuckles. "Please accept the job. I'd never forgive myself." I wasn't able to get a word in.

She rose up on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek softly, then whispered, "I love you." When she turned and dashed across the snow, all I could do was stand there staring after her. I couldn't believe she was doing this, sending me away when I had already made the very hard choice to stay and not follow my dream of taking that job.

I thought of the message from John too. I wondered if he knew she was here, if he offered me this job to assuage my bitter heart's pain.

The car drove away, but I still stood there staring until I felt my mom wrap her arms around me from behind. She squeezed for a second as I shut the door and then turned me around and patted my cheek.

"Any woman who loves you enough to get out of the way so you can be happy is a woman worth keeping," she said, and I saw the way she looked at me, like finally, she was happy and content with any choice I made. "Don't be a fool."

With a nod, she walked away, and I already had my phone in my hand to call John. If anyone would talk sense into Melody, it would be him. She was headed there, and she had no idea how much had changed for me now. I couldn’t wait to tell her.