A Doctor's Vow. Christine Rimmer

That making a gracious home and providing tasty, nutritious meals for her family were very important, meaningful ways to spend her time.

      “And she was such a tremendous benefit to Ryan in his work. They entertained a lot, especially in that last year or two before she became so ill, when he had become chief administrator at Memorial and he had a certain image to maintain. There were a number of important people he needed to get to know socially, in order to help raise the money for the new wing…you’ve heard about the new wing?”

      Ronni made a noise in the affirmative.

      Lily chattered on. “And did you know that Ryan’s brother, Tanner, is the general contractor for the entire project? We’re very proud of Tanner. He’s done so well for himself with his construction company. And the wing is moving right along. Maybe you haven’t had a chance to see it. I imagine your patients go to Children’s Hospital?”

      Ronni nodded. “But I do drive by Memorial now and then. And every once in a while, I even drop in.”

      “Drop in?”

      “To do postnatal checkups of new patients. It looks very impressive—the new wing.”

      “Yes. The work on the interior is just getting under way now. One hundred million dollars, it’s taking. From the Pembroke Fund. That was Ryan’s doing, of course, the funding. He was a Pembroke scholar in college, and that connection was helpful. And he did play a lot of racquetball with Axel Pembroke, the president of the Pembroke Foundation—still does play racquetball with him, as a matter of fact. Have you ever met Axel Pembroke? What a strange little man.” Lily shrugged. “But the one who controls the purse strings, the one who had to be dealt with. And Ryan did deal with him, and so effectively, too.

      “And Patricia did her part, you can be certain. Such lovely dinner parties she gave, preparing everything herself, from the perfect food to the arrangement of the flowers. She just wouldn’t hire a caterer. But that was understandable. No one could put a party together the way Patricia could. And then, when everything was ready, she’d sweep her beautiful blond hair up into a simple twist, put on a little black dress and look as if she’d never lifted a finger to put the whole thing together. What a hostess she was. I actually believe Mr. Pembroke had something of a crush on her….”

      When Lily finally ducked out the back door with her two empty plates and a jaunty last wave, Ronni was only too glad to see her go.

      I can see it all now, she thought, as she pulled jeans and sweaters from the box on her bed. Every time I wave at Ryan in the driveway, Lily will come flying over armed with a pair of foil-covered lunches and an endless stream of stories about the irreplaceable Patricia, loving wife, doting mother and hostess extraordinaire.

      Not that Ronni had any intention of trying to supplant such a paragon. No. Ronni had very distinct plans for her life.

      Those plans did include a man, of course.

      But not for a while yet. Not for a year or two, at least.

      Right now, all her attention had to be strictly focused on establishing herself in her practice—and on her condo, her own home at last, to which she would be moving by the end of the month.

      Lily could have saved that roast beef sandwich. Ronni wasn’t after Ryan Malone. Yes, he was attractive. Incredibly so. And it had been disconcertingly easy to stay up talking with him all night.

      But it wasn’t going to go anywhere. The timing just wasn’t right.

      “You’re looking way too serious today, big brother,” Tanner said. They were sitting at one of the picnic-style tables at Pizza Pete’s. Across the crowded room, Griffin and Lisbeth jumped around in a netted pit full of plastic balls as Andrew stood a few feet away, watching them.

      Ryan grunted. “Just thinking. About Andrew—I mean, Drew. I’ve been instructed that it’s Drew from now on.”

      “Instructed. By who?” With his left hand, Tanner picked up his jumbo-size plastic cup of Dr. Pepper.

      Ryan watched his brother knock back a big gulp and then set the cup down. Tanner had the body of a linebacker, while Ryan was leaner and taller by a couple of inches. But they were both southpaws. And they both had the same blue eyes. Malone-blue, people who knew both brothers were always saying. Drew had the Malone eyes, too—and he was left-handed, as well.

      “Something about my hand?” Tanner asked.

      “What? No.”

      “They call you the miracle man,” Tanner razzed. “You can charm dollar bills out of the trees. Real big on social skills, that’s what they say about you. But look at you now. Staring. Oblivious.”

      “I said I’m just thinking.”

      “Right. Come on. Who’s giving instructions to call Andrew Drew?”

      Ryan drank, then set down his glass. “Drew himself. Several times, apparently. But I didn’t listen.”

      “I can see we’re headed on a long trip here.”

      “Trip?”

      “Yeah. A guilt trip.”

      “Very funny.”

      “So what’s going on?”

      Ryan glanced over at his children. The two younger ones were still rolling around in the ball pit and Drew remained on guard. It looked likely that Ryan and Tanner would have a few more minutes undisturbed.

      “Did I tell you that there’s a woman staying in the guest house?”

      Tanner leaned on the table and raised both eyebrows. “You’ve got my full attention. Go on.”

      Ryan told him what had happened last night—a slightly edited version. He didn’t mention the part about how he and Ronni had sat in his study for two full hours talking about nothing in particular, or how he’d walked her back to the little house and then stood there in the driving rain staring at her closed door after she’d gone inside. “So I guess I’m a little worried about Drew,” he concluded. “That he’s…taking too much on himself, that he thinks he has to—”

      Tanner didn’t let him finish. “Wait a minute.”

      “What?”

      “Give yourself a break here. The way it looks to me, his only problem is he’s just like his dad. He wants to take care of his family. There are a lot worse things in this world than that.”

      “Well, I know, but—”

      “What I want to know more about is the kindhearted, good-looking pediatrician with the red hair.”

      Ryan tried not to wince. “Did I say she was a redhead?”

      “Yep.”

      Ryan shifted on the picnic bench. Pizza Pete ought to think about getting some cushions for the damn things. “There’s nothing more to tell. I liked her. She was very…understanding about the whole episode.”

      Tanner wasn’t fooled. “Right. Understanding.”

      “Don’t look at me like that.”

      “You’re interested.”

      “All right. Maybe I am. But where can it go? I work a sixty-hour week, and I’m always thinking I should spend more time with the kids.”

      “It doesn’t have to go anywhere. You ask her out, that’s all. If you have a good time, you ask her out again.”

      “Right, but—”

      “I’ve got it. The Heart Ball.” The Heart Ball was a major annual fund-raiser put on by the Friends of Memorial. “It’s two weeks away. Have you got a date?”

      “No, but—”

      “You are going, aren’t you?”

      “Of course.” He was on the agenda, as a matter of fact, to give