Newborn Needs a Dad / His Motherless Little Twins Read Online Free PDF

that came naturally and a laugh that bubbled through the air—handed Gabby a schedule with all of two afternoon patients for her to see. “That’s it? Just two?”
    “Walt Graham did help in the emergency department when he wasn’t busy, but I’m not so sure we should put you on that schedule, too. Neil…Dr Ranard…said he wants you on obstetrics only, and I can’t change that without his authorization. So, until I hear further, yes, that’s it, unless someone else schedules an appointment with you.”
    “But can I change the schedule if I want to? Or maybe wander down there and put myself to work?” Sitting around all afternoon, twiddling her thumbs, would make her feel useless, and since she was on a campaign to prove that pregnancy in the workplace still had a place, she decided she was going to have to change some minds here. Or, at least, one specific mind.
    Fallon laughed. “He warned me that you were a little headstrong. Told me to hold my ground with you.”
    “Not headstrong. I just like to work.” She patted her belly. “We like to work.”
    “Well, Neil wants me to do a physical on you before you start anything. I know you’re only a short-time, part-timer, but he’s pretty stringent about keeping his staff healthy. And since you’re so far along, I think it’s best.” She thrust out her hand to stop Gabby before she could protest. “I know you’re an obstetrician and you know better than any of us how you’re feeling and what you can handle, but rules are rules, and like I said…”
    “Neil is pretty stringent.” Translated to mean thorough. In her estimation, that made him a good doctor.
    “On the bright side, if I don’t find any problems, I’ll bet you can talk him into letting you take your turn in Emergency.”
    “So let’s do this check-up.” To be honest, she hadn’t had one in a few weeks, and she was due for one. “But can we do it after I see my first patient? It looks like her appointment was thirty minutes ago, and unless another one of your staff has already seen her, I don’t want to keep her waiting any longer.”
    Fallon waved her off when a mother wrestling four little ones came through the door. They were carrying balloons and painted drawings and a vase with flowers, on their way to visit daddy, who was resting comfortably in the orthopedics ward with his leg in traction. Happy, eager, smiling faces…When she’d been young, she’d always said she wanted lots of children when she grew up. Being the only child of a single father, she’d thought a large family would be nice. She still believed that, but she was contented with one child. Elated, actually.
    “So, how are you feeling today, Mrs Blanchard?” Angela Blanchard, who was sitting on the edge of theexam table, covered only in a blue paper exam gown, looked…frustrated. Not unhappy, but not happy, either.
    “Not as good as you, since you’re working and I’m not,” she snapped. “Sorry. I’m not having a good day.”
    “Understandable.”
    “Is there some way to get this thing delivered early? Induce labor, maybe?”
    A quick survey of Angela’s chart revealed she was due two weeks after Gabby. She was healthy and there was nothing of alarm going on except, perhaps, her attitude. “Would it make any difference if I said that you’re over two thirds of the way there and the rest is downhill from here?”
    A laugh broke through Angela’s mood. “The one thing I could always count on with Doc Graham was that he would be at least as grumpy as I was. And now I’ve got a doctor who smiles. Guess that means I have to smile, too, doesn’t it?”
    “It helps. You ought to try it.” Gabby sat the chart aside and extended her hand to Angela. “Hi, I’m Gabby Evans, and I’ll be smiling at you for the next few weeks. Five or six, if I’m lucky.”
    “So we’re due almost the same time,” Angela responded, taking Gabby’s hand. She was a small woman, with short-cropped brown hair and dark