had taken over, and Eva had rushed to the little girl’s side. Looking back, she was thankful to know that her lousy childhood hadn’t disabled whatever internal button had kicked in at just the right moment.
Thank goodness her instincts were functioning properly, since she’d be having a set of twins of her own in six months or so.
And now here she was.
She stole another glance across the pickup at the handsome cowboy in the driver’s seat, wondering if she would have even given him the time of day on any other occasion. Not that he wasn’t attractive, but he was well over six feet tall and as buff and brawny as the good Lord made them. He was just the kind of man who could easily toss stacks of hundred-pound bales of hay to the left and right without breaking a sweat. Yet there was something about the soft brown color of his hair and bluebonnet shade of his eyes that spoke of a gentle side.
That, she suspected, along with the way his expression had crumpled around the crying child, had made Eva trust him well enough to get into his truck in the first place.
Her stepfather had been a brute of a man who’d mentally—and sometimes even physically—abused her, so she tended to avoid men who reminded her of him. She’d had a couple of boyfriends in college—each of them budding scientists who had been brainy and slightly built—but the relationships had never lasted very long.
So when, after much thought, she’d decided to create a family of her own, she’d opted for in vitro fertilization. It had been easier that way. She hadn’t needed to make any decisions about whether to have a man in her life or not.
She had to admit, though, that she was still a little apprehensive about being a mother and bringing home two newborns, which is why she’d come to the park today. She’d read about the Parents of Multiples event in the online newspaper and had decided to observe things from a distance.
It was a scientific approach to her problem, and it seemed to be the most logical way for her to proceed.
If she liked what she saw and the people she met at the park, she would take it a step further and attend one of the evening meetings, where she might connect with another mother of twins who could offer her advice—and maybe even friendship.
Of course, she hadn’t been at the park long enough to observe much of anything when little Kaylee was injured.
She glanced over her shoulder and into the small backseat at the rear of the cab, where the twins sat in matching car seats.
When Kaylee’s gaze met hers, the little girl smiled, but her bottom lip quivered a bit, as if she was trying to be brave. Eva’s heart went out to her for the second time in just minutes.
According to Kevin, their mother was in heaven, which was sad. But there hadn’t been any mention of their father or any indication of why the kids had come to live with their uncle. If Eva and Dan were alone, she might ask him, but she couldn’t bring it up in front of the kids. Not when the answer might be painful for them.
As Dan pulled into the driveway that led to the Brighton Valley Medical Center and turned left toward the entrance of the E.R., Kaylee peered out the passenger window.
“Is this where the princesses come to get their owies fixed?” the girl asked.
“It sure is. And if we’re lucky, my friend Dr. Nielson will be working. She’s the royal physician, and she takes care of all the queens and princesses.”
Kaylee settled back in her seat.
“You’re good with kids,” Dan said, sliding a grin her way. “I’m impressed.”
His praise nearly knocked her off balance, since she didn’t work with children in the lab. But she’d had to draw her share of blood when she’d been in training, and she’d learned a few tricks when working with frightened kids. Of course, once she’d graduated with her master’s degree in biology, she no longer worked directly with patients.
“It’s all in a day’s work,” she said, making light of what she’d just done.
“Then you deserve a raise,” he concluded.
She had the strongest urge to look his way, but kept her eyes fixed on the road—or rather on the parking space he was pulling into. She still found it hard to believe that she’d agreed to ride with him. She certainly wouldn’t have if his niece and nephew hadn’t been with him.
But earlier on the playground, when Kaylee had thrown her arms around Eva and held on tight, the most stunning sense of warmth and wonder had flooded her chest. And so had a sense of awe.
Eva liked the way her emotional side had kicked in, which didn’t happen all that often. But even more amazing was the realization that her own mother’s abandonment and her stepfather’s abusive nature hadn’t damaged her in a way that might hamper her ability to love and nurture her own children.
At least, it didn’t appear that way.
She reached up and fingered the side of her neck, where industrial-strength drain cleaner had splashed upon her skin, burning it all those years ago.
She kept the scar covered whenever she could by choosing turtlenecks and scarves to wear, but it wasn’t the ugliness she tried to hide. She’d learned to deal with her flaws a long time ago. It was just that people—particularly children—would sometimes ask what had happened to her, and she didn’t like to talk about it.
As an adolescent, she’d made up a wild story about an alien abduction, but who would believe a tale like that now? Certainly not the medical professionals with whom she worked.
Of course, she didn’t usually mix or mingle with many of her coworkers outside the medical facility. And it was fairly easy to keep to herself while bent over a microscope in the lab.
The irony struck her as odd, though. For someone who knew a lot of intimate details about people and their health, even before their doctors did, she kept her own secrets close to the vest. It was easier that way—and much safer.
“All right,” Dan said, as he shut off the ignition. “We’re here. Let’s hope we won’t have a long wait.”
It was Saturday afternoon, and Eva suspected the E.R. would be packed, but that wasn’t her main concern. She was more worried about what she’d say to Kaylee if Dr. Nielson, “the royal physician,” wasn’t working today and the little girl worried that she wasn’t getting the proper medical care.
So while Eva climbed from the vehicle and waited for Dan and the kids to get out, she tried to come up with a plan B, but wasn’t having much luck. After all, Betsy Nielson was great with children and would play along with the princess thing. Another doctor might, too, but Eva didn’t know the others as well.
As they headed toward the E.R. entrance, a breeze blew across Eva’s face and along her throat, causing the scar to tingle as if the years had rolled back and the wound was still in the healing stage, still pink and tender.
She knew it was just her imagination, but she turned up the collar of her blouse anyway, hoping to hide the scar, as well as the fear that she might not have healed completely—on the inside, where no one could see.
And that, in spite of how good she seemed to be doing with Kaylee this afternoon, that
