Chapter one
“Thanks for fitting me in so soon.” Blake Wentworth shook hands with the head of audiology as they left his office and proceeded into the waiting room. How fortunate that he worked at Boston General, one of the best hospitals in the country, with the doctor who was going to give his nephew back his life. Okay, a bit of an exaggeration, but he would certainly provide little Parker with a better quality of life. “I’ll make sure my brother gets in touch to make those appointments. In the meantime, I’ll check out the websites you mentioned. I appreciate the information.”
“Happy to do it, Blake,” Dr. Steven Virani responded. “I’ve heard good things about you up in pediatrics.” The older physician glanced around the room, smiling as he saw the occupants.
Blake checked out the room, too. Dr. Virani had mentioned setting him up with an advocate to help answer questions while he did his research on cochlear implants, but the only people in the room were two women and a small child. They were both sitting on the floor, waving their hands in front of the toddler.
One was maybe mid-thirties, dark hair pulled into a ponytail, wearing jeans and a t-shirt. The child was sitting in her lap. The other one he could only see from the back, her shoulder length, strawberry blonde hair hanging in loose curls around her head. Her dress slacks and blouse were more business casual, though she seemed too young to be the advocate.
Dr. Virani walked over to the women, tapping the blonde on the shoulder. As she looked up, Blake paused in his step. Her eyes. They were a deep emerald green. However, it wasn’t only the color that held his attention. There was something else about them. They were intense and focused, as if the person she was speaking with was more important than anything else. He’d love to be gazed upon by those eyes.
“Carli,” Dr. Virani greeted her. “I’m glad you’re here. I have a new customer for you.”
Those green eyes turned Blake’s way, and he found himself grinning like a teenager.Get a hold of yourself. They’re just eyes for Pete’s sake.But now that her gaze was focused his way, he’d better not make a fool of himself.
“This is Dr. Blake Wentworth. Remember I told you there was a newly diagnosed male infant, possible moderate to severe hearing loss?”
“Yes, I got the e-mail this afternoon. It’s one of the reasons I came over. Well, that and I heard Rosie would be here today.” She glanced down at the little girl now playing with some blocks the center provided.
“Blake, this is Carline Jameson. She’s one of our volunteer advocates. If you need to know anything about cochlear implants, except maybe how to surgically install them, she’s your woman.”
Carline looked embarrassed, and Blake cringed at the obvious exaggeration. She didn’t seem much over twenty. How much could she know? And most of it likely book learning. Someone with real experience was what he needed. His nephew was counting on him.
“I’ll leave you two to talk while I get on with my next appointment.” He looked down at the woman on the floor. “Mrs. Waters, you can bring Rosie in now.”
The woman stood, scooping the child in her arms. She gave Carline a hug as she passed, then disappeared with Dr. Virani.
“It’s nice to meet you, Dr. Wentworth.” Carline held out her hand.
Blake took it cautiously.
“It’s nice to meet you, too, Ms. Jameson.” The handshake was pleasant. Firm and strong, yet her hand was still femininely delicate. The rose-tinted skin was soft and felt very good against his.
“Please, call me Carli. I’m not very formal, especially when working with families. We get to know each other pretty well during the process.”
Dropping her hand, he nodded. “Then, you should call me Blake. I have a million questions for you. You wouldn’t happen to have any time right now, would you?”
“Absolutely, Blake. I’ll try and answer whatever I can. That’s what I’m here for.”
As he scanned the empty waiting room, he tried to ignore the hunger pangs that had been rumbling since before he’d missed lunch. “Have you eaten? I’m starving. We could grab a bite in the cafeteria, if it’s okay with you. I can’t go very far. I’m on call tonight.”
“You work here at Boston General?”
“Yeah, been in pediatrics for almost a year now, but I’m still low man in the department, so I get night duty more often than I’d like.”
When Carli smiled at him, his grin returned. Really, how old was he? Turning toward the door, she looked back when he continued to stand in place. “The cafeteria?”
“Yeah, sorry. Must be my blood sugar playing havoc on me. Better get something to eat soon.”
“How old is your son?” Carli asked as they strolled down the hallway to the elevator.
He squinted in confusion. “My son? You mean the infant. Actually, he’s my nephew, my brother’s boy. He’s six months old. Still can’t believe they didn’t pick this up on the newborn screening. I’m kicking myself that I didn’t figure it out before now.”
“Don’t be too hard on yourself,” Carli replied softly. Where was she from? Her voice had a lilting tone to it, and her speech was slightly different. An accent of some sort maybe, but he couldn’t place it.
“The newborn screening can certainly miss it. If the baby twitches at just the right time, they count it as hearing the sound. At least you figured it out now. I’ve known children who haven’t been diagnosed until they were closer to two. It’s rare in this day and age with the technology we have, but it does happen.”
She had the most incredible way of focusing on a person when they spoke. Was it something she did on purpose to show respect and attention or simply the way she was?
