“They used a surrogate, but their egg and sperm?”
“HIPAA, Betsy. I can’t divulge the specifics of the pregnancy.”
She play-smacked my arm. “Well, lucky you, in deep with the Conways. Let me know what other freebies you get. I’m down for the get-down, you know!”
“I’m not sure that’s what that means.” Knowing I wasn’t the hippest or coolest guy around, I did know what the get-down was and it wasn’t attending free movies.
“Whatever,” Betsy said, waving my words away with her hand swishing through the air.
Not in the mood for a long interaction, I nodded, and said, “Shit, I’m exhausted. I’m on my way out.”
“See you soon,” she said with a wink and kept moving before I could ask what that was all about.
Except I should have gone right toward the exit, but when Betsy turned the corner behind me I veered left toward the Conway Wing. Telling myself I would only check in on everyone, I knew it was to see if she was there…already knowing she was in the building.
Foolishly, I’d asked about Billy when I arrived at the delivery room. It was more wishful thinking than anything else. I’d only seen her during one appointment since our interrupted night at her hotel, and she’d been in and out that day, needing to head back and shoot a magazine spread.That’s what all the ladies say, right?
We’d not talked or texted as much—she’d certainly tried to put distance between us. Sometimes I wondered if she’d faked the orgasm, but then I knew she didn’t. It was the most visceral reaction I’d ever seen a woman have. But then Billy’s guard went up and hadn’t come back down.
It was all on me. I had one night with Billy Conway, and my career got in the way. Many women wanted to land a doctor, but not Billy. That was apparent with all her brush-offs following the incident. This was a woman who received attention all the time, but it wasn’t really because the other person cared. They used her, and for a moment I’d thought she’d felt cared for by me. Until she didn’t.
Well, I was a doctor and took an oath to watch over my patients. But I had a big heart and could look after many people…like today. Delivering the Conway baby filled my heart. Yeah, I could be a softie when a birth hit me.
What I was most touched by throughout the appointments was Billy’s excitement being almost equal to Jamie’s. She thought this was her only chance at loving a child. I assumed this was another reason why she pulled back—being unsure if life would hold a family for her was too much to bear.
I’d thought about telling her differently, but I was too much of a dreamer.
Still deep in my thoughts, I gave a soft knock on the door while I told myself to run away. Then I heard “Come in,” and there was no escaping.
I wasn’t prepared for the sight when I stepped inside the luxury hospital room. Ford was seated in a chair, plugging away on his phone with one eye focused on the view in front of him. Jamie and Billy were lying side by side on the narrow bed. Billy was holding tiny Laurel Conway, nestled in the crook of her arm, while feeding her a bottle. Jamie was watching with misty eyes. The small baby sucked hard on the bottle’s nipple as Jamie rubbed her miniature bare foot, keeping her awake.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt.” My words were a whisper as I drank in the sight.
“No way.” Ford stood and slapped me on the back. “You’re the man of the hour. The month. The year. Forever. Brought my baby girl into this world with all ten toes and fingers.”
“Okay, okay. The women did all the hard work.” I didn’t want to say Laura did all the heavy lifting, even though she’d been the one to carry and deliver the baby. I knew from experience that Jamie deserved and craved attention too.
Laura was resting comfortably down the hall, until she went home tomorrow. I’d rounded on her earlier and all looked good, waiting on her milk to fully come in.
I didn’t have time to dwell on Laura though because Billy spoke. “Hey, Doc. Look what I’m doing.” Her words were zero parts erotic but hit me equally in the gut and the crotch. My body heated twenty degrees seeing Billy Conway feed a baby.
“Look at you.” I found that silly response and then turned toward Jamie. “Already pawning off the baby?”
She laughed like I knew she would, otherwise I wouldn’t have made the joke.
I rounded out my humor with sincerity and compliments. “You both look like naturals. Best mom/aunt duo around.”
“She’s perfect,” Billy mumbled about Laurel, bringing her to her shoulder for a burp.
Like an ambulance shooting through the darkened streets, I remembered our one night together, running my mouth over the bare skin on the same shoulder, her rocking against my face, calling my name.
“Thanks again for everything.” Ford brought me out of my memory, with the natural thing to say when this should’ve been the end of our relationship. But I wanted it to be the beginning with his sister.
Jamie addressed me, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. “Hey, Doc, we’re having a small gathering before we go home…you should come!” I was certain she was the only one who suspected something being up with Billy and me.
“Oh? That’s too much.” I said the appropriate response but wanted to go more than I knew. I eyed Billy to see if she was giving a reaction, but she was too busy rubbing the baby’s back.
Ford chimed in. “You have to.”
