The Doctor's Bride. Patt Marr

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      Before she changed out of her clown costume, Chloe looked at herself in the mirror and tried to imagine what Dr. Hemingway must have thought about Sandy’s comment that the two of them looked good together. That was just Sandy teasing, but when Zack had asked if he was her type, she’d been embarrassed.

      If she’d had to answer, it would have been a big no. He’d gone out with both of her sisters! They said he’d merely been a friend to hang out with, and she believed them. But anything they did, Chloe made a point of not doing. In any comparison, she came in last. Why set herself up for that?

      But there was something about Zack Hemingway. She’d liked tucking her hand in his arm, and he’d been great about the pretend Heimlich. And he could be a Christian. Gentleness and kindness spoke of a Christ-centered life.

      Her older sister, Carmen, stuck her head inside the door. “So, this is where you are! It took me a while to remember you used to change in this restroom.”

      “It’s still the hospital’s least-used restroom.” It meant a lot that Carmen had made the effort to find it. As girls, they hadn’t been close, but since Chloe had moved into Carmen’s house, they’d become best friends.

      Chloe turned to the mirror and picked up a hand towel to begin the makeup-removal process, but Carmen touched her arm. “Wait. Let me get a good look at Flower. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her.”

      Chloe struck one of the silly poses that came naturally to her as Flower. As herself, she was far more inhibited.

      “Adorable,” Carmen said softly. “Flower, you are so funny…and so very lovable.”

      Chloe swallowed hard, working around the lump in her throat. That was a sweet thing for Carmen to say. As usual when she didn’t know what to say, she went for the laugh. “Thank you, Carmen. Let me give you a hug.”

      She took a step forward and Carmen jumped back. “Don’t you dare get that makeup on me.” Carmen was perfection in her trendy outfit and very high heels.

      “Do you ever wear scrubs like a real surgeon?” Chloe teased, toweling off her makeup.

      “For surgery, I do. But I like pretty clothes. Tell me about Flower’s day. I heard she made a huge hit in the peds unit. I knew she would.”

      They’d always talked about Flower as a separate person. “It was fun being Flower again.”

      “I guess so! I heard she proposed to the most eligible bachelor in town.”

      Chloe had regretted that the moment her knee had hit the floor. “You know me. I’ll do anything to make the kids laugh.”

      “You made a big impression on Zack. He’s been asking around, trying to find out Flower’s real identity.”

      He was? Chloe felt a little zing of joy…which fizzled out too soon. She knew why he was asking. “His mother’s coming to town,” she said, “and she adores clowns. He probably wanted to set up a meeting.”

      “Then why didn’t he just say, ‘Hey! Anybody know how I can get in touch with the clown?’ Instead, he’s asking exactly the way a man does when he’s interested in a woman—as if he doesn’t really care if he gets the answer or not.”

      “Since when did you become an expert on men, Carmen?”

      “I’m not, but I know Zack Hemingway. He’s interested.”

      “Did he ask you?”

      “Of course.”

      “And you said?”

      “That Flower valued her privacy, and I had to respect that.”

      “You might as well have told him. Someone will.”

      “Maybe not. We have new staff who don’t know you’re Flower. The ones who do know won’t risk the chief of surgery’s wrath by revealing that Flower is his middle daughter.”

      “Dad still disapproves of Flower—of me—that much?” She shouldn’t be surprised, but it still hurt.

      “Dad doesn’t approve of anything,” Carmen said with a dismissing wave.

      “You’re his pride and joy,” Chloe said without envy. The price Carmen paid for that was too high in Chloe’s opinion.

      “Would you believe he’s still telling people that he fell in love with baby Carmen before he fell for Mom? Dad’s still Mom’s hero because he rescued her from early widowhood. But enough of that. Tell me. What did you think of Zack?”

      “What do I think?” Chloe repeated, giving herself a second to answer. “I think you should have officially dated and fallen for him. He’s great.”

      “He is! And we have everything in common, but I need a partner who’ll make me think about something other than surgery.”

      “Are you sure you gave it enough time?” Chloe switched from her costume to khaki pants and a T-shirt. “Sometimes it takes a while for love to develop.”

      “I’ve given it almost two years!” Carmen protested. “I want a man who’ll be crazy in love with me, not in like with me. Zack’s first love will always be surgery.”

      “You’re a surgeon, too. Aren’t you the same way?”

      “Not quite. I want a husband, a baby and my work.”

      “And Zack doesn’t?”

      “He’s pretty self-sufficient,” Carmen said regretfully. “I don’t think he needs anyone.”

      “Except a clown for his mother’s birthday party.”

      “There’s that. If he asks, will you say yes?”

      “I’ll give him the name of a really good clown he can hire. But I never know what Flower will say. She liked the doctor a lot.”

       Chapter Two

       Two weeks later

       C hloe could work anywhere in the world and feel at home. The filth and danger that followed catastrophic natural disasters were challenges, but she СКАЧАТЬ