Nyc Angels: The Wallflower's Secret. Susan Carlisle

      His body stiffened and he gave her a questioning look. “The parents of my patients need to hear the truth.”

      “I don’t disagree with that. I just question the delivery.”

      “I thought that was why you were here?”

      “It is, but parents like Brian’s like to hear reassurances from the doctor.”

      She met his direct gaze for the first time for longer than a second. He stood. “Point taken.”

      “What time’s your first case in the morning?”

      “Seven. Why?”

      “I like to be here when the child leaves the parents to go into surgery. It’s when they need the most support. Many want to talk. They’re scared. I’ll walk them down to the waiting room.”

      He’d never given any thought to how difficult it was for parents to watch their child go into surgery. Didn’t want to think about it. He opened the door.

      “It’s hard to let go,” she said with wistfulness in her voice.

      Did she know that from personal experience? Her eyes glazed over. Where had her thoughts gone? Thankfully she recovered, the hopeless expression disappearing, to be replaced by that of a trained professional again. That he was more than capable of dealing with.

      “I guess it is.” He closed the door between them. What was the woman with the sad, serious eyes hiding?