The doctor bit his lip, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at how Ana stared at him.
“It would be best to take a day or two off. The nurse has some paperwork for you, but after that you all are free to go.”
We thanked Dr. Feelgood, and he turned to leave. It was no surprise to see Ana follow him out. Even though she’d
29
been dating riverboat security guard S. Larue—we still didn’t know his first name—off and on for a solid month now, she was always on the prowl.
“I can’t miss work,” Riley said to Kevin.
“They’ll understand.”
Riley scowled. He was a good scowler. “Ebenezer won’t.”
“Ebenezer?” I asked.
Mr. Cabrera said, “Russ Grabinsky.” At my confused look, he added, “Riley’s boss.”
I stared. I didn’t even want to know how Mr. Cabrera knew the man’s name when I didn’t.
“He’ll fire me now for sure,” Riley said. “He doesn’t like me.”
“Your uncle Bill won’t let that happen,” Kevin said, clapping Riley on the back. “I’ll call him tonight.”
It amazed me how the two of them looked so much alike.
Both tall, dark, and brooding.
“I can call him,” Riley said.
It still shocked me when Riley showed signs of maturity.
One of these days I was going to have to get used to it.
“No hard feelings?” Boom-Boom asked Riley.
“Nah,” he said. “Come into Growl sometime. Dinner is on me.”
Boom-Boom beamed and patted his cheek.
Hmmph. He never let
Megan Little, RN, poked her head in again. “Nina Quinn?” she asked.
“That’s me,” I said, slightly confused.
“Tam Oliver is asking to see you. If you could follow me?”
“I’ll be right back,” I told Riley.
Kevin’s brows creased in worry. “Is Tam okay?”
30
Heather Webber
I thought about her Oscarworthy performance in the car.
“She’s fine.”
I followed the nurse down the red-lined hallway and stopped in my tracks when I stepped into Tam’s room. She was hooked up to all sorts of monitors, including one tortuous looking belt-thingy wrapped around her stomach.
The nurse said to Tam, “I contacted Mr. Phillips. He’s on his way.” She closed the door behind her.
“Ian? Ian’s coming here?” I asked.
The father of Tam’s baby was her first husband, a marriage that had been declared null and void after she discovered he already had a wife. He’d been in jail when Tam found out she was pregnant, and I didn’t know if he knew about the baby. Knowing Tam, probably not. And since he’d be serving time for a few more years, I wondered if he’d
But if Ian was coming, something serious must be wrong.
He and Tam had been dating hot and heavy for about a month now. Were head over heels despite the fact that Ian was an FBI agent and Tam had a thing against people who wore badges. I rushed over to the bed. “Tam, what’s wrong?”
She sniffled. “How’s Riley?”
“Fine. Just fine.”
A grin spread across her face. “I told you so.”
I smiled in spite of the knot of worry twisting my stomach. “What’s wrong?”
“I have to stay here.”
“What! Why?”
