The Nurse Novel by Alice Brennan & Peggy Gaddis & Ruth MacLeod & Rosie M. Banks

Author:Alice Brennan & Peggy Gaddis & Ruth MacLeod & Rosie M. Banks
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, love, doctor, nurse, nursing
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Published: 2017-03-17T16:00:00+00:00

A NURSE FOR DR. STERLING, by Ruth MacLeod

Chapter 1

He sensed the change of speed and altitude before the signal, in words of green light, announced it was time to fasten seat belts and stop smoking.

We’re there already! The brevity of the jet flight from the east coast hadn’t surprised him, but on this two-motor job from International Airport, he’d hoped for a little more time to assemble his thoughts.

Seeing that his hand wasn’t quite steady as he stubbed out his cigarette, he forced the fingers to relax, willing the same limpness into the muscles of his arms, shoulders, neck and the jaw that had clenched persistently since the first disastrous day of the trial that had gone so surprisingly and appallingly against him.

Peering from his window in the tail section, he watched the miniature town ahead grow to full size. Spanish architecture predominated, the red tile roofs partially hidden by tall palms and a lush growth of trees and shrubbery that seemed remarkably leafed out for February.

So that was Las Lomas, where he might manage to pick up the pieces of his career.

A wry grin slanted his tense mouth. The friends he’d left in the snowbound east would probably call him lucky to be here. Then the mild feeling of descent was intensified to sharp pain as he yearned to be back at his burgeoning practice in the modern suite of offices his grandfather’s bequest had provided, the incredible damage suit just a nightmare from which he could awaken; the word, malpractice, something he couldn’t possibly believe would ever be charged against him.

Luxurious homes gave way to orange groves and patches of bare new housing projects as the plane glided into a last low circle before landing at the airport which was some distance from town. He waited until all the other passengers had filed down the aisle, then leisurely gathered his belongings. He couldn’t stifle a certain reluctance over this meeting with Graham Burns whom he hadn’t seen for nine years, and whose help he had never expected to require. Nine years ago it was Dr. Burns who had desperately needed help. And Grandfather Sterling had generously bestowed it. This meeting was no doubt considered the discharge of an old obligation—but it was still irksome to have to be on the receiving end.

He was the last passenger to descend the steps and pass the waiting stewardess. “Nice flight,” he told her perfunctorily, scarcely hearing her gay, professional, “Glad to have you aboard, Dr. Sterling!”

He searched the crowd beyond the fence as he walked slowly to the gate, a tall, slender young man whose slight stoop had been recently acquired during the grueling ordeal in court. His eyes were dark brown, and bitter under the bright attention he tried to blink into them as he picked out his friend in the crowd.

Nine years had done things to Graham Burns. He’d grown heavier, his head more leonine, the shaggy, curly hair almost pure white now—and he was still in his early fifties.

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