Maitland said, “Hunter, you coming?”
“I need a word with my new administrator,” he said. A hazel-eyed gaze collided with his.
Abby stepped forward once again. “I’d rather Bri not deal with much right now. In fact, though she said she was going to deal with problems, I’m ordering her back on the couch to rest.” She smiled at Bri, and Hunter was filled with jealousy when Bri smiled back. Bri hadn’t smiled at him that way.
“I just wanted to set up a time for a meeting with her,” Hunter explained.
“Oh, Lisa? Does Bri have a time cleared to meet with Dr. Callaghan?” R.J. asked.
“She set aside some time tomorrow morning. She thought he might be too busy with the welcome until then.”
“I knew Bri would have,” R.J. said with a sigh. “She’s so damned efficient it wears you out just thinking about it.”
“Fine. I’ll see you then, Ms. McCallum.” Hunter said, trying to sound impersonal. But it wasn’t easy. His mind was all ajumble. She could be carrying his child—children! He could go from bachelor to father of three in the space of a few weeks—if her babies were his.
He walked out of the office with R.J. “So she’s having three girls? Fraternal?” He hoped R.J. would believe the huskiness of his voice was excitement about the new job.
“No, identical.”
“Is her husband pleased?” He held his breath for Maitland’s response. “She’s not married.”
“But surely the babies’ father is participating in the pregnancy,” he pressed.
“She’s never named anyone as father. Refuses to do so. Says these are her babies.” R.J. changed the subject to the medical equipment available, and Hunter could do nothing but go along with him. Otherwise, it would’ve appeared odd.
But he hadn’t seen the last of Briana McCallum today. And he suspected she knew it, too.
ONCE THE DOOR had closed behind her visitors, Briana slid back down to sit on the sofa before she fell on her face. Her knees were so wobbly, she knew she couldn’t walk.
“Bri?” her assistant demanded, alarm in her voice. “Are you really sick? Do you need the hospital bed Dr. Abby asked for?”
“No, Lisa. But I could use a bottle of apple juice.” She kept juice and nutrition bars in the small kitchen area beside her office. Lisa scurried away at once and returned with the apple juice.
“Are the girls all right?” she asked as she handed the juice to Briana.
“The girls are fine. Where is the file on Dr. Callaghan? I meant to read it before he arrived, and his early arrival has thrown me off.” She hoped that excuse made sense to Lisa. “Could you bring it to me so I can review it while I’m catching my breath?”
Lisa scurried off to Bri’s office to find the file on her desk and bring it back to her. Then, clutching the file and her juice, Bri stood. “I’m going to get into my rocker and study the file.”
Lisa escorted her to the rocker in her office overlooking a spectacular view of Austin, and saw her settled. Then she asked if Bri needed anything else and assured her she should just call if she didn’t feel well.
Gently, Bri smiled. “I know, Lisa. Thanks for taking such good care of me, but I’m fine.” Now that I’ve recovered from seeing the girls’ daddy come through the door. What a shock.
She’d actually thought she’d never see Hunter again. Some nights she’d prayed she’d never see him again. Others she’d prayed the opposite. The memory of their one time together still promised it would be heaven to be with him again. The anger and pain of his dismissal of her contradicted that thought.
What did he think? With any luck, he wouldn’t realize he was the father. But Abby had been pretty specific about the length of her pregnancy. Maybe she could convince Hunter she’d gotten off the plane and been met by an old lover who’d begged her forgiveness. She examined that thought from several angles. How could he dispute it?
That’s what she’d tell him. As long as she denied his involvement, he’d leave her alone. And that’s what she wanted, she assured herself staunchly. To be left alone.
In the seven months since she’d left the hotel in New York, she’d adjusted to the changes in her life. She was prepared for the birth of her children, three precious little girls. Her family was supportive, though Caleb still wanted to go beat up the father, whoever he was.
Her friends, too, at the hospital, never mentioned the fact that she was to be a single mother. They were happy for her. Everything was perfect.
Most of all, she was happy about her babies. Thrilled, in fact. She had enough money to eliminate a lot of the problems most single parents had. And she knew what her babies needed that money couldn’t buy: love. Her babies would know she loved them. They’d know how special they were to her. Like she would have if her mother had lived. A shiver ran over her body. Yes, her girls would be loved.
And then along came Hunter Callaghan. What was he doing here? Obviously, he hadn’t known who she was, that she was here, or he wouldn’t have come. Or maybe he figured he shouldn’t let his personal life interfere with his career. And being head of the McCallum Wing was a definite feather in his cap. There were only two or three comparative situations in the country.
Well, she could be professional. She’d deny his involvement with her pregnancy and continue as before.
Her mind drifted back to picture Hunter, standing there in his expensive suit, looking fit and handsome. Probably all the nurses had been drooling over him already. They’d certainly talked about the fact that he wasn’t married.
Which reminded her of the file in her hands. She opened the folder and read through Hunter’s impressive credentials. He was certainly qualified.
But she didn’t want him to have anything to do with her babies’ birth. Not even as an observer. He was to keep away. He’d walked out on her, left her alone in that hotel room without even asking her if she was okay. He’d broken her heart. She wasn’t going to do the same thing to the girls.
“Is she all right?” Bri heard someone ask. Before she could react, Lisa opened the door to escort in one of Bri’s best friends, Annabelle Reardon, a delivery nurse at Maitland.
“Of course I’m all right,” Bri answered as they came in, but she didn’t rise from her chair. Her friends didn’t expect that these days.
“But gossip said you fainted,” Annabelle said, alarm in her voice.
“Annabelle, you’re being way too dramatic. I’m fine. See for yourself,” Bri said, spreading her arms wide.
Taking her at her word, Annabelle pulled a chair over to the rocker and sat down to take Bri’s pulse. Bri dismissed Lisa with a nod over Annabelle’s shoulder.
“You know, you’re acting like my mother, and I’m ten years older than you,” Bri pointed out with a grin. “Not ten years, Bri. You’re exaggerating. Your pulse is normal,” she said as she put Bri’s wrist back on the chair.
“Of
