would love ice cream,” she admitted to Brittney, reaching for her purse.
The girl waved a hand. “It’s on Dr. Garrett—part of the service.”
Matt passed her a twenty-dollar bill without protest.
“Does my wheelchair driver still have his license?”
Quinn pulled the paper out of his pocket.
“Then let’s go get ice cream.”
“Thanks, Britt,” said Matt with a smile.
Georgia had mixed feelings as she watched her boys head out with the young nurse. They were growing up so fast, but they would always be her babies as much as the little one still in her arms.
“She’s been wonderful,” she said to Matt now. “I don’t know that I would have survived this ordeal without screaming if she hadn’t been able to engage the boys.”
“It can’t be easy, juggling three kids on your own on even a normal day.”
“What is a normal day?”
He smiled at that. “I’m not sure I would know, but I’m sure it’s not strapping three kids into car seats for a trip to the hospital.”
“Mrs. Dunford did offer to look after Pippa and Quinn so I didn’t have to bring them along but—” She knew there was no reason to feel embarrassed talking to a doctor about a perfectly natural biological function that women had been performing since the beginning of time, but that knowledge didn’t prevent a warm flush of color from rising in her cheeks again. “But the baby was almost due for a feeding and Quinn was absolutely terrified at the thought of his brother going to the hospital.”
“He has a phobia about hospitals?” he asked.
“They both do,” she admitted.
“Any particular reason?”
She nodded. “Because their father—my husband—was in the hospital when he died.”
“That would do it,” he agreed.
“It was a heart attack,” she explained. “He recognized the symptoms and called 9-1-1, but the damage was too severe. All the boys know is that he was alive when they put him in the ambulance and dead at the hospital.”
“Now they think anyone who goes to the hospital is going to die,” he guessed.
She nodded again. “I’ve tried to explain that it wasn’t the doctor’s fault—that it wasn’t anybody’s fault—but they don’t seem to believe me.”
“Which one is Mrs. Dunford?”
She smiled. “Across the street. Always outside at 7:00 a.m. in her housecoat, watering her flowers. She has a magic touch with geraniums.”
“And gingersnap cookies,” he said.
“She baked you cookies?”
“She wanted to welcome me to the neighborhood.”
“More likely she wanted to set you up with her granddaughter.”
“Then she should have gone for chocolate chip—they’re my absolute favorite.”
“I’ll be sure to let her know.”
He shook his head. “I’d prefer to get my own dates—although even Brittney thinks I need some help in that regard.”
“Brittney—the nurse who looks like she’s fifteen?”
“She’s seventeen.”
“Then she’s not a nurse?”
He laughed. “More like pre-pre-med. Actually, Brittney’s a high school co-op student who also happens to be my niece.”
“She’s been fabulous with the boys.”
“She plans to specialize in pediatric medicine.”
“That’s quite an ambition.”
“She’s very determined. And she’s one of the most sought-after babysitters in town.”
“I’ll keep that in mind if I ever find myself in need of one,” she promised, certain Brittney would have graduated from medical school before that would ever happen.
So she was more than a little surprised when Matt said, “How about Friday night so I can take you out to dinner?”
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