I’ll think it’s bad?”
“You might not be happy about it. I know how particular you are about your team.”
That wasn’t a good start.
Ruby was particular about her team. Working in extreme weather under difficult circumstances and in difficult terrain took a very special kind of person and Ruby was picky about that.
She stiffened her spine and crossed her arms, bracing herself for the worst. “Okay...”
“As you must know, Aran has been honorably discharged from the Armed Forces after he suffered a leg injury.”
It was a dig at her and Ruby knew that. She deserved it. “Yes. I do know.”
“Aran is your husband,” Jessica reminded her gently.
“I know, Jessica, and I’m sorry I didn’t go down to see him. My work... I had a lot of rounds to finish and...”
Jessica raised her hand. “I get it. I respect it. And Aran understands too. It’s just...this whole fake marriage thing...”
“Has Aran found someone else?”
Ruby knew it was possible. Aran was handsome and charming. If she was a different person she might have fallen for him. Every time he walked into a room she could see the dreamy expressions cross women’s faces.
She was pretty sure she’d had the same wide-eyed look a few times when she’d used to see him, but she’d kept him at a distance. They’d been work friends—nothing more.
And, since she’d been the only female resident he hadn’t slept with during their residency, she had often been paired up with him.
She’d thought his proposal for a fake marriage before he’d left a bad idea, but he’d convinced her it would be fine...
“You’re insane.” Ruby shook her head and tried to walk away from him.
Aran jogged up beside her and flashed her that bright smile that always melted so many hearts. Including hers, sometimes, but she’d never let him know that.
“So you’ve told me before,” he said. “I’m not wrong about this, though.”
Ruby stopped and crossed her arms. “A marriage of convenience? That’s something that’s only done in the movies or romantic fiction. In real life it’s fraud!”
“It’s not fraud.”
Aran took her hands in his and she tried to control the tremble of excitement he caused in her by his touch.
“We’re friends.”
“Work friends.”
He sighed. “We like each other, at least.”
“I’ll give you that.” She smiled. “What do you get out of doing me this huge favor right before you ship out?”
“I’m doing this for you. I believe in you and you’ll owe me one.”
“Okay. As long as you’re sure.”
“Positive. Will you marry me, Ruby Cloutier?”
Ruby shook the thoughts away. She had been attracted to him, but she didn’t want any kind of relationship. Her “marriage” to Aran had stopped a lot of friends from trying to set her up. Which had been great. Still, if Aran found someone else she couldn’t blame him. She couldn’t give him what he wanted.
Can’t you?
“Does he want a divorce? If that’s what this is about it’s no problem. Honestly, I’ve thought about getting it done and over with, but I’ve been so busy...”
Jessica shook her head “It’s not that—and anyway you still don’t have a Green Card. Immigration will want to interview the both of you now that Aran has been honorably discharged.”
“Then what is this about?” Ruby asked, hoping she didn’t come off sounding too testy. But she was exhausted and just wanted to get to the point.
“Aran is coming here to work and I want him on your trauma team.”
Ruby blinked a couple of times. She wasn’t certain that she heard Jessica clearly. “What?”
“He has military training and he’s a perfect fit.”
Only he wasn’t. Aran was a fine surgeon, and military training was an asset, but she remembered how much he hated the north. How he’d complained bitterly during the winter and through the darkness. He wasn’t suited to living up here. He’d told her so enough times.
Maybe he’s changed.
Ruby bit her lip. “I vet my team very closely. We all have to work together seamlessly. Aran didn’t seem interested in what my team does when I first talked about it. He supported it, yes, but didn’t ever seem keen on being a part of it.”
It was a nice way of saying she’d thought Aran wouldn’t be able to hack it.
Jessica folded her hands across the desk. “It’s the only way I can get him to come home. He will be on your team. You have a spot...”
“No offense, Jessica, but I was going to interview someone else for that position.”
“Ruby, you can do this favor for me. I’ve been able to facilitate your stay in this country, and I’m the one who fights with the rest of the board about keeping your vital services. Like you, I think it’s important that your venture expands and that you’re able to teach your services across the north. Too many people die needlessly because there is no access to healthcare or mental healthcare.”
Ruby’s mind drifted for a second. Jessica was right. Too many people died because they couldn’t get help right away. Just like her father. Her father who had taught her everything about the north...
“Momma, what’s wrong?” Ruby asked, peering through the doorway from the kitchen to the front hall.
She could see her mother leaning against the door, her hand covering her face, her shoulders shaking. Beyond her stood two RCMP officers, their faces crestfallen.
“Momma?” Ruby asked again.
Lieutenant Alexander looked at her. He was her older brother’s best friend and his eyes were full of tears. He would tell her the truth. Ruby was a big girl of twelve.
“Ruby, it’s your papa. There was an accident at the mine...”
Ruby took a deep breath and tried to shake the memory away.
This was why she was
