Love After Hours Read online

  Gina shook her head. So she hadn’t gotten off to a good start, but heck, who could blame her for being a little PO’d? This was a major snafu. And worst of all, there wasn’t much she could do about it except urge the paper pushers to push the paper. At least on her end she’d have her sister Angie lighting a fire under whoever needed to be lit up. Thank God she had ended up on the right end of a hammer and not in the business office, but then, Angie’s experience as a quartermaster in the Army had prepared her well. There wasn’t anything she couldn’t find, beg, borrow, or steal—figuratively, of course—at a better price than anyone else around. And she’d come home sound in body and mind, and that counted for even more.

  Gina didn’t have any of those qualifications, not like everyone else in the family. The parking lot faded a little in her vision as she thought back to watching first Angie, then Joe, and finally her baby sister Sophie don uniforms and head out to serve. Just the way she’d been destined to do before everything went sideways. She still had the West Point acceptance letter crumpled up somewhere along with the rest of her dreams. As if any of that mattered now.

  “So what’s the word,” Arnie said, his raspy voice loud in her ear, chasing away the shadows and bringing the world back into hyperfocus.

  Gina cleared her expression of everything except the annoyance he’d expect to see. Her reality was right here, right now. “Somebody forgot to dot a few i’s and cross a few t’s. Paperwork’s not in order. I’ll have to call the front office and figure out where everybody’s going to report while we get ready to go here.”

  “Can’t say I’m surprised, but the situation stinks. Everybody’s been geared up for the start of this job since the beginning of summer.”

  “Them and me both.”

  Arnie pulled another length of jerky. “I’ll tell them all to take an early lunch. Call me with the new game plan and I’ll make sure they get the word.”

  “Right.”

  Chewing on the dried beef bit, Arnie sighed and glanced around at their idle machines, like prehistoric monsters grazing in the noonday sun. “It’s a shame.”

  “And then some.” Gina rejoined the crew. “That’s it, guys. No start here today.”

  The men straggled away amidst grumbles and curses, and Gina walked toward the far end of the lot where she’d left her pickup truck. Joe’s red Mustang was tucked into an out-of-the-way corner where it had a lower chance of getting dinged. She thought he would’ve been gone a couple hours ago. Fully admitting she was avoiding an unpleasant task, she turned on her heel and headed back toward the ER. Inside, the halls were bustling with patients and personnel, and the waiting room was half-full. When she peered into the clinical area, she counted six cubicles with curtains pulled from her vantage point.

  A small African American woman in blue jeans, white sneakers, and a light green polo shirt with a hospital ID clipped to her collar paused, gave her a long look as if she knew her but couldn’t quite place her, and changed course to head her way. “Can I help you?”

  “Sorry,” Gina said. “I was just looking for my brother. I don’t want to take up your time. I can see you’re busy.”

  The woman, five or ten years older than Gina, smiled, her brown eyes sparkling with amusement. “That’s why you look so familiar. Joe Antonelli, right?”

  “That’s right. I’m Gina. The—”

  “Good-looking one?”

  Gina flushed. “Uh, no. Well, yes.” The woman laughed. “But I was going to say contractor working on the new wing.”

  The woman held out her hand. “I’m Pam Wendel. I’m the charge nurse this shift. Joe is just finishing. If you wait a minute, I’ll tell him you’re out here.”

  “No, that’s okay, it’s not that important.”

  “We’ve got the flood under control now,” Pam said, her voice light and friendly.

  “Looks like you got a rush there a while ago.”

  “Typical Monday. Everyone puts off the aches and pains and nagging problems all weekend, because hey, who wants to ruin their time off, right? But come Monday morning, missing work or school doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.”

  Gina laughed. “I did notice the traffic in the ER lot picked up right around eight.”

  Pam nodded. “Regular as clockwork. And we’re tight on space down here in the best of circumstances. You’re going to be a very welcome sight around here.” She grinned. “For lots of reasons.”

  “I hope so,” Gina muttered. When Pam’s brow rose, she added quickly, “I’m looking forward to the project.”

  And boy, did that sound lame. Rusty did not begin to describe her nonexistent social skills. Mercifully, Joe turned the corner, spied her, and ambled toward them. On his way, he dropped a form into a plastic bin on the chest-high counter. “The guy with low back pain in three has a script for Naprosyn and a follow-up appointment with ortho, Pam. He’s the last one for me.”

  “Great. Thanks for staying, Joe.”

  “No problem.” He grinned at Gina. “I thought you’d be tearing up the parking lot by now. Too hot out there for you?”

  “No such luck,” Gina said. “Nice meeting you, Pam.”

  “Gina, right?” Pam asked.

  “That’s right.”

  “I hope I’ll see you around. Have a good one, Joe.”

  Joe waited until Pam reached the desk and murmured, “Pam’s single.”

  “Uh-huh. That’s nice.”

  “And, you know, likes variety.”

  Gina narrowed her eyes. “Variety?”

  “Yeah, you know. Guys and girls.” He leaned closer. “I could get you her number.”

  “You could mind your own business too.”

  “Yeah. True.” Unperturbed by her cranky tone, he shrugged. “Come on, I want to get out of here before we get hit with another rush.”

  “You were already done, right?”

  “Almost out the door when the place filled up.”

  “Nice of you to stay.”

  He lifted a shoulder. “It happens sometimes. The ER chief’s kid is having surgery, so everything’s a little sideways down here.”

  “That’s too bad.”

  “No, I think it’s probably one of the rare times when surgery is a good thing. He’s a trans kid having his first top surgery.”

  “Wow. That’s something. You know him?”

  “A little. He volunteers down here. He’s always willing to work. Really nice kid.”

  “I hope he does okay.”

  “I heard he’s on his way to the recovery room, so sounds like everything’s good.” He stopped at the door marked Staff and held it open. “Come on in while I get my stuff, and I’ll walk out with you.” Gina followed him in and waited while he opened his locker, pulled out a duffel, and packed clean scrubs he pulled from a nearby shelf. He looked right at home, and he’d only been in the clinical part of his PA training a few months. She envied him a little and instantly felt small for begrudging him his dreams come true. He’d put his life on the line, after all.

  “So, how’s it going with you?” Gina asked.

  He zipped up his duffel. “Great. This is a really good place to work.”

  “I’m glad,” she said, and she meant it. “Keep an eye on Dad for me, will you?”

  Joe hefted his duffel, studied her intently. “What’s wrong with him?”

  Gina shoved her hands in her pockets. “Nothing that I know of, but he’s been looking a little stressed out lately. And I think Ma’s worried about him.” She blew out a breath. Discussing things her father would never admit felt a little traitorous. “Business has been up and down the last year or so.”

  “Bad?”

  “Who can tell? You know he never talks about that kind of stuff. But I think more down than up.”

  “Damn,” Joe muttered. “I didn’t know that. Is there anything I can do?”

  “Hey, you’re doing it. You’re home, you’re making Ma and Dad happy as can be.” She shrugged. “You could get married and st
art a family. That would definitely help. Take some of the pressure off me.”

  “No way. Angie already gave them one grandkid. Besides, I think the girls should, you know, provide the kids.”

  “Soph is still active duty, and it’s not happening with me.”

  “Don’t know why not. My chief is a lesbian, and she’s got a kid. Lots do.”

  “Well, I’m not lots,” Gina said tightly.

  Joe shot her a look. “You know, Gina, if things had been different, you might—”

  “Things aren’t different,” she snapped. “They can’t be different. Emmy is dead. Remember?”

  He let out a breath. “Yeah, I remember. We all remember. But you’re not.” He poked her in the chest. “Even if you want to pretend you are.”

  She grabbed his finger and resisted the urge to twist it. He was her brother, the closest to her in age, in everything. They’d done everything together as kids. Learned to play ball, learned to play war, planned to be soldiers together. Only that hadn’t worked out for her. “I’m not pretending anything. I just like things the way they are, okay? It’s not about me.”

  “Why don’t I believe you?”

  “Because you’re thickheaded, and you think because you’ve got a dick you know everything.”

  He burst out laughing. “Oh yeah. Like you believe that makes any difference.”

  She grinned. “Okay, maybe not. Maybe it’s just that you’re a Marine.”

  “Oorah.” Giving up the argument, he threw his arm around her shoulders. “I’m telling you, Gina, one of these days, it’s going to happen whether you like it or not.”

  She saw no reason to argue with him. He was wrong, but what did it matter. He was still her brother. “You playing tonight?”

  “Of course. Four more days till the tourney,” he said as they walked through the hall toward the exit. “I’m looking forward to kicking some contractor ass then.”

  “Butt. That’s contractor butt to you,” Gina said, striding into the sunlight and blinking as if she’d just stepped into a different universe, “and I don’t think it’s our butts that are going to get kicked. We ought to be able to handle a bunch of soft hospital types without any problem at all.”

  “We’ll see come Friday night, babe,” he said heading for his muscle car.

  “I don’t have to wait to see,” she called after him. “I already know.”

  Her team had a comfortable lead at the top of their division, and although this was the first time the county had organized interdivision tourneys, she wasn’t worried. They’d kick butt in the best of five coming up. It probably wouldn’t hurt to check out the competition. Just to get her game plan ready. First, though, she had to make the call.

  She slid into her truck and pulled out her phone. She couldn’t put off the bad news any longer. She dialed and waited.

  “Hey, Dad. It’s Gina. Listen, we’ve got a bit of a problem.”

  *****

  Carrie almost bumped into Flann in the hall when she hurried out of the elevator. “Hey, you’re all done.”

  “Just finished.”

  Flann’s surgical mask still hung around her neck and she hadn’t bothered to put on a cover gown the way she usually did when she left the OR suite. She must’ve gone straight to the family waiting area to talk to Abby and the others. She looked relaxed and confident, though, and Carrie’s spirits soared. “Everything went good, huh?”

  “Everything went great. He’s awake and he looks terrific.” Flann’s voice held an unmistakable note of happiness.

  “Oh, that’s wonderful. Where is he now?”

  Flann tipped her chin toward the OR. “In recovery. As soon as he’s a little more awake, we’ll get his mother in there to sit with him.”

  “Do Presley and Harper know?”

  “Yeah, Harper came in when we were about half done and hung out until we finished. She let Presley know. I think Presley’s still with Abby.”

  “You’re okay, right?”

  Flann frowned. “Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. I thought maybe you might be a little stressed or anxious, considering, you know, it was Blake.”

  “I guess it may seem weird, but this is what I do. I wouldn’t do it, any of it, if I didn’t know I could.” Flann shook her head. “Anyone else wouldn’t hesitate to help their kid with a problem if they had the expertise to fix something. Mine just happens to be surgical, and that’s what he needed. Part of what he needed anyhow.”

  Carrie nodded. “I get that. I feel the same way. Does that seem weird?”

  “Not to me.” Flann smiled. “If you see Abby, tell her I’ll be down to check him again in a half hour. I need to see my next patient first.”

  “Sure. Hey, will you be at the game tonight?” Carrie didn’t want to push, but she hated to lose their star hitter.

  “You bet. I’m not even on call. As long as Blake is doing okay, I’ll be there.”

  “Good, because it’s Houlihan’s, remember.”

  Flann snorted. “They’re hanging on to second place by a thread. After tonight, they won’t be a problem.”

  “Well, just keep your batting arm ready.”

  Flann winked. “I’m always ready.”

  Carrie rolled her eyes. “Just forget it, Flann. Everybody knows you’re Abby’s toy now.”

  Flann threw back her head and laughed. “I don’t think she’s heard that one yet. I dare you to tell her.”

  Carrie grinned. “Not me.”

  “See you tonight, hotshot.”

  Hotshot. Carrie secretly liked the nickname, even though she was mostly just lucky to be blessed with good eye-hand coordination. Although she did have the fastest arm in the league. Four years of college softball had stuck with her. When she was on the mound and on her game, she felt like she imagined Flann did in the OR. Unbeatable. On top of the world. She couldn’t wait for the next game, the next chance to test herself and give her best for the team.

  All she had to do now was get through an afternoon of thrashing with various state and city bureaucracies over this whole construction thing. Because she’d be damned if she’d let Gina Antonelli get in the last word. She’d make it happen ahead of Antonelli’s prediction if she had to drive to Albany herself.

  Chapter Five

  Carrie ran into Abby and Margie just outside the family waiting area. The lines of tension around Abby’s eyes and mouth had disappeared, and her step was brisk and eager.

  “I just saw Flann,” Carrie said. “Everything came out great, huh?”

  “Surgery went without a hitch, and Flann said he woke up saying he was hungry.” Abby’s smile widened. “That means he’s pretty much normal. I’m just on my way in to post-op to see him now.”

  “Tell him I said hi.” Carrie glanced at Margie, who hovered by Abby’s side. Blake was important to her, maybe more so than to anyone other than Abby and Flann, and Blake clearly was emotionally connected to her. Whatever the exact nature of their relationship, they loved each other, and what else really mattered? “How are you doing, sweetie?”

  “I’m cool,” Margie said. “I’m going to go down to the ER and help out for a while.”

  “You don’t have to do that,” Abby said, squeezing Margie’s shoulder. “You’ve been here for hours already. You should go home.”

  Margie shrugged. “That was personal. This is work.”

  Abby regarded her fondly. “Your stint in the ER is not supposed to be work, actually. It’s called volunteering for a reason. You don’t have to put in forty hours a week, you know.”

  “Yeah, but if I go home, I’ll have chores. This is way more fun.”

  “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that,” Abby said. “And I promise, your mother will never know you’re escaping your duties by spending extra time here.”

  Margie rolled her eyes. “My mother always knows. I’m a Rivers, after all. We all end up here eventually.”

  Laughing, Abby surrendered. “I can’t
possibly argue the truth of that. All right, but don’t stay all afternoon. I’m going to call down and make sure you get out of there in a couple of hours.”

  “So,” Margie said, the playful note in her voice gone, “do you think he’ll be up and ready to leave soon? Because maybe I can see him before he goes home.”

  Realization dawned in Abby’s eyes. “Tell you what. If he’s feeling up to it, and I bet he will be, you can ride home with us.”

  “Really?”

  Abby hugged her. “Totally. He’ll like that.”

  “Thanks,” Margie said.

  “Talk to you soon, then,” Abby said and hurried off.

  Carrie walked with Margie to the stairs. “See you tonight at the game?”

  “Oh yeah,” Margie said. “I’ll be there. I can’t wait to see us kick Houlihan’s butt.”

  “I think Flann has the same idea.”

  “Don’t you?”

  Carrie grinned. “Totally.”

  “Later!” Margie called when they reached the first floor.

  “See you tonight.” Carrie headed the opposite way, thinking of the half day left to her and the dragons she still needed to slay. Presley was for sure already in the office, busy juggling budgets, soothing demanding department heads who always needed more personnel and more of pretty much everything, and wading through the reams of red tape that needed to be cut through for the new programs. Carrie could sort out one little tangle of antiquated documentation requirements to get the ER expansion under way. She didn’t need to get the CEO involved.

  Not yet, anyhow.

  And if handling the problem on her own just happened to show Gina Antonelli exactly how misguided her judgment of her had been, well, that was just a bonus.

  *****

  Waiting for her father to get back from his daily sweep of the job sites, Gina parked her truck behind the steps of the renovated trailer he used as an office in the corner of the chain-link-fenced lot where their equipment and building supplies were stored. He should be back at four thirty, just like every day for the last twenty-five years she’d been around, and probably a lot longer than that. She’d always liked hanging out around the lot when she was a kid. When she wasn’t kicking a soccer ball around the enclosure, she’d been climbing on the trucks and excavators, playing hide-and-seek with Joe and Angie and Sophie behind the piles of stone and pallets of rock and wood. Of course, then she’d been playing soldier. She hadn’t envisioned herself working here. Soccer was going to be her ticket to a scholarship, the key to her future. The lot hadn’t changed much in the last fifteen years, but she had.