A Full House. Nadia Nichols

at this hospital, Mr. Edelstein. The ER doesn’t revolve around me.”

      “Grant’s the only one who comes close to your level of expertise, and he’s going to be lecturing at Stamford. I’m sorry, Dr. Crawford, but I really can’t let you go.”

      Annie nodded, her hands clenching inside her lab coat pockets. “I was afraid you’d say something like that,” she said. “I’ve come prepared with my resignation.” She stepped forward and laid the envelope on top of the mountain of paperwork. “I’m giving you four weeks’ notice. I’m sorry that things didn’t work out. I hope you’ll come to understand that this was something I really had to do.”

      Edelstein’s mouth dropped open. “I won’t allow you to resign,” he blustered. “I won’t accept it.”

      “You have no choice. I’ve given my best efforts to this hospital for over twelve years, but I have my own life to live and right now I need some time to think things through.”

      “Dr. Crawford, be reasonable. Sit down and let’s talk about this,” Edelstein said, but his plea was in vain. Annie turned on her heel and without another word departed Edelstein’s office, closing the door firmly and hoping she wasn’t making a huge mistake.

      “YOU’RE PULLING MY LEG, right?” Matt Brink’s face was as shocked as Edelstein’s had been. “This is some kind of sick joke, something you thought up just to get out of our camping trip.”

      “I assure you it’s quite real,” Annie said, still dazed by the sudden transformation from employed to unemployed. “I’ve been thinking about it a great deal lately, ever since Sally was arrested. I need some time off. I’ve also decided to spend the summer somewhere close to Sally, so we can still spend time together. I mean, three months is a long time not to see your daughter. But predictably, Edelstein wouldn’t grant me the unpaid leave, so I resigned.”

      “Why don’t you stay for a week or two and then come back? Sally’ll be perfectly safe with her father. Annie, think about what you’re doing,” Matt pleaded. “You’re throwing away years of work. You’re at the peak of your career, the top of the ladder.”

      “Not any more. I threw myself off and I’m starting all over again. And you know what? I feel great. Oh, Matt, I feel young again. I feel alive!”

      Matt Brink slumped against the ER’s concrete wall. “This can’t be happening.”

      Annie brandished the magazine she held rolled up in one hand. “I’m renting a house on a point of land overlooking the water in a place called Blue Harbor, which isn’t too far from Bangor, where Sally’s father lives. Listen to the description of this place.” She opened the magazine to the ads in the back of the well-thumbed magazine, but Matt turned away, raising his hands to his ears.

      “I don’t want to hear it. You can’t do this. Not only is it crazy, but you’re welshing on your promise to go camping.”

      “Oh, Matt, don’t be ridiculous. Take a week off and come up for a visit. You’ll have a great time.”

      He dropped his hands and looked at her. “You’re asking me to visit you for an entire week?”

      She smiled. “This house has four bedrooms, all with ocean views. It comes with a boathouse, a boat and its own private dock. Can you imagine such a luxury? I can hardly wait to see it.”

      THAT NIGHT she visited Macpherson’s room for the final time. It was late, but he was awake, reading a Clive Cussler novel. He laid it down when she came into the room and propped himself up on his elbows.

      “We’re kicking you out of here tomorrow,” she said with a rueful smile.

      “No offense intended, but I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “Though I’ll miss seeing you.”

      Annie walked to the foot of his bed. She’d come to like Lieutenant Macpherson very much during his short stay. She admired him greatly for not dying on her, and she enjoyed his laid-back, easygoing attitude and the long conversations they’d had. Since his admittance, he’d been shaving daily and, of his own volition, he’d had his long hair trimmed quite short. He looked virile and handsome. It was hospital policy for the staff to keep a professional distance from the patients, but there was no denying that had she met Jake in a context other than the hospital or the police precinct where Sally’d been arrested, their relationship might have been very different.

      “No offense taken,” she said. “I don’t blame you a bit for wanting to get out of here. I expect you’ll take some time off.”

      “I’m thinking of taking all the sick leave and vacation time I have coming to me, especially since I’ll have Amanda for the summer while Linda’s in Paris. Speaking of the summer, rumor has it you’ve resigned your post and rented a saltwater farm in a place called Blue Harbor.”

      “If there’s one thing this hospital never lacks for, it’s a lively rumor mill.”

      He grinned that brash, handsome grin she’d come to like very much. “Gotta love gossip. Keeps things interesting. When are you leaving?”

      Annie felt her cheeks warm and dropped her eyes, pretending to study his chart. “I’m bringing Sally to Bangor after school lets out. I’m hoping her court appearance will be scheduled before we leave, but if not, rest assured I’ll bring her back for it.”

      “Sally’s not being summoned,” he said in a puzzled voice. “Didn’t you get the letter?”

      Annie glanced up. “She doesn’t have to go to court?”

      Macpherson shook his head. “The judge decided that because it was Sarah’s first misdemeanor, ten hours of community service in addition to attending the Jump Start program was adequate punishment.” At Annie’s skeptical look, he hitched himself higher in the bed. “The judge likes me,” he explained. “I helped his daughter out once.”

      Annie’s breath left her in a soundless sigh. She stared at the man on the bed in astonished silence, then said in a dazed voice, very softly, “Thank you, Lieutenant. Thank you very much.” She paused at the door and turned back. “I won’t be here when you’re discharged tomorrow morning, so I’ll say goodbye to you now.”

      That brash grin returned. “Oh, there’s no need for goodbyes, Dr. Crawford,” he said. “I expect we’ll be seeing each other again sooner than you think.”

      “I certainly hope not,” Annie said. “I should think you’d want to avoid guns and bullets for a while.”

      “I fully intend to,” he replied, “but all those talks we had about Maine brought back good memories of my grandparents’ camp. Seemed like a good idea to find a cabin like the one they owned, and it just so happened that the only rental I could afford isn’t more than twenty miles from yours. Inland, of course. Quite a coincidence, wouldn’t you say?”

      Annie gathered her startled wits and laughed. “Actually, I doubt that it is, Lieutenant, but I hope you and Amanda have a good time there this summer. And, thanks. I owe you big-time for Sally.”

      Annie was halfway down the corridor, still smiling, when it occurred to her that she didn’t mind in the least the prospect of running into Lieutenant Macpherson somewhere along the rocky coast of Maine. In fact, she hoped she did. No doubt about it, a handsome good-natured man like Jake, a couple of steamed Maine lobsters and a nice bottle of wine suited her right down to the ground.

      CHAPER FOUR

      NEITHER ANNIE NOR SALLY had ever visited Maine before. Whenever Ryan wanted to spend time with his daughter, he simply flew to the city, using the opportunity to touch base with all his old friends and colleagues, as well. Although Sally had complained about having to leave the city and didn’t say an awful lot on the long ride up, preferring to keep her headphones on and listen to her CDs, Annie was sure the girl was excited. She felt the excitement herself when they crossed into Maine. It was as if they’d embarked