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CHAPTER ONE

DR HELENA TATE knehat aand after a major nor’easter but to experience it first hand was always a draining experience Not only was snow piled everywhere, the as howling and the tely cold

Injured people filled the chairs and any extra space in Manhattan Mercy’s eh the departht be the one of the most modern and efficient ERs in the world, it had still been all hands on deck for the last couple of days Inside it was at least war a week before Christether to decorate the depart around the unit desk, wreaths adorned doors, and there was even a Christ room

Despite the festive ti Thankfully the flow had started to ease SheGrace and Charles’s wedding on time A must, since she was the maid of honor

She and Grace had been friends and roo medical school and had stayed in touch When Grace had e from her overseas work, Helena had told Grace about a position beco available in the ER and had offered her a place to stay Grace had soon learned Charles Davenport would be her boss and had talked of cancelling the interview Helena had encouraged her to co between Grace and Charles during their medical school years

Helena s married She was thrilled for them

Finishing with her latest patient, Helena looked at her watch to check how e The locker room wasn’t the perfect place to dress for a formal event but unusual circu, she’d learned long ago as an unwed pregnant teen to adjust to what life threw at her and move on

The pain of finding out that her boyfriend had wanted nothing more to do with her, and especially the baby, had been horrible More devastating had been the loss of the child Seventeen was too young to beco the baby hat had stayed with her all these years

She had survived with the love and support of her family That’s what mattered now The part of her personality that ood fit professionally for her Days like the last few only proved it How she was holding her love close She wanted a ht think she was foolish to believe in happily ever after but she was still going to hold out for it Grace and Charles were proving it could happen and Helena had to believe Prince Char was somewhere out there for her as well

Drawing back Trau

ma Four’s curtain, she stepped out of the bay and was sideswiped by a blur of white “Ho”

Dr Elijah Davenport, Charles’s twin, glanced over his shoulder “Hey Helena, can you giveand the father’s having trouble breathing”

She hurried to keep up with hio Isn’t he the doctor relieving you this evening? Shouldn’t you be thinking about getting ready for the wedding? After all, you’re the best man”

“Yeah, but there’re also patients to see When Charles left e I promised not to let the place fall apart”

Like Elijah would ever do that He ht be the quintessential playboy doctor but Helena had never doubted he was a dedicated physician Truth be known, she thought him the best doctor in the department But no ould she tell hih where women were concerned It would only add to his already over-the-top ego

Still, he had earned it Elijah was beyond good looking Froly out of place most of the time, to his tall, buff beachboy physique and the “Davenport blues” that sparkled when he laughed, Helena easily understood oht be as well but she wasn’t interested in anyone orked their way through the nurses Or in the heartache he would cause if she lost her heart to hi but true love

Helena’s attention went to Elijah, who had paused at the door to an exam room “I’ll take the kid and you see the father”

“Okay”

She covered it well but no matter howpatients still got to her on occasion So in her that sent her e those ht explode The questions ca in What would she have looked like? Would her child be acting the saoodness it didn’t happen often But when it did

“Done” Elijah walked into the room

A boy of about eight lay on the exaht-lipped father holding his side paced beside him

“Mr” Elijah looked at the clipboard he held “Kakasides, I’m Dr Davenport and this” he nodded his head toward her “is Dr Tate Why don’t you have a seat and tell us what happened”

“I’d rather stand It hurts worse when I sit We were sledding in the park Like an idiot, I tried to catch Louis when he ca too fast I fell on hie of the sled and messed up my side”

Elijah glanced at her with an Are you believing this? look and then said to the father, “I’ to check out your son while Dr Tate does the same for you, okay?”

“Why don’t we step right over here?” Helena indicated an area off to the side

The father glanced at his son, nodded “Louis, I’ in there, buddy”

“Before I have a look at your side I need to listen to your heart and check a few s”

Again, the father dipped his head but his attention remained on his son

With vitals co to hurt but I need you to take a deep breath”

The father winced but did as she asked

“Now, Mr Kakasides, I have to look under your shirt Can you raise your arm?”

He hissed as he brought his ar the shirt away, Helena could see a dark blue he his left side The fall had definitely been hard