Corpsman and the Nerd (20 page)

“
But I’m thousands of miles
away.”

“
So? A woman doesn’t think
with her gonads. She’s more interested in matters of the heart and
mind. And you’ve fulfilled all that for her in the past. Who does
she
always
run to
when something’s upset her?”

“
Me,” Max answered, and he
thought about that as he hugged Ryan. KC usually spilled all her
problems on him. Looking down at her son, he consoled himself with
that precious thought that she
had
trusted Ryan with him.

“
Exactly. I’ve seen her drop
what she’s doing and listen to you. You do the same for her. Do you
know how important that is in any relationship? Most married
couples don’t even have the strong foundation you’ve already built.
You two talk about everything.”

“
Yes, we do. But Lainy, the
call came through for wounded coming in and she abruptly
left.”

“
Of course she did. Ask
Mitch about that. Or Ben. Often the difference between a living and
a dead man is the time it took for him to receive medical care. KC
knows this, even if you don’t. She understands that when the
wounded arrive, the medical staff need to be ready to act
instantly. It’s quite literally the difference between life and
death.”

“
I guess I went overboard on
this one.”

“
No. You just got stuck in a
negative thinking loop. And you don’t know where your relationship
is, so that’s understandable. However, you’ve built an incredible
foundation already. Build on that.”

“
What do you
mean?”

“
You’re best friends. You
talk about everything. You work together, you play together. You
both love Ryan. KC isn’t going to get with any man who doesn’t love
her son. You’re a shoo-in.”

“
I’ve loved Ryan from the
moment I met him.”

“
I know. And so does
KC
. You moved any
obstacles in her way so she could work from home when she needed
to. You take care of Ryan whenever you can. You take him for entire
weekends without blinking.”

“
But he’s...” Max trailed
off, not certain what he wanted to say.

Lainy didn’t seem to have trouble
finding the words he sought. “He’s yours.”

“
Yeah. I love this
kid.”

“
I know. As does Ryan and
his mother. She sees how comfortable you are with him, and he with
you. And, he’s got Mom and Dad. His Granme and Granpy are two very
important aspects here too. He’s got the herd and all of us. As far
as he’s concerned, we’re family.”

“
We are.” Max smiled as he
thought of how well Ryan had integrated over a year ago. He’d been
shy for about a minute before he came out of his shell.

“
Don’t discount that fact
with KC, either.”

“
What fact?”

“
She’s as hungry for family
as he is. She’s a bit overwhelmed by us, I think. You’re offering
comfort, love, a solid relationship with her son, strength,
friendship, and family. That’s more than she’d ever ask
for.”

“
Why?”

“
What’s her chosen
profession?”

“
A surgeon, but she’s not
doing that, she’s running the company with me.”

“
Right. But she’s in the
military, probably because she can be a doctor there. She once told
me she loves the precision and order of the military. Being a
reserve is perfect for her.”

“
She’s told me that
too.”

“
Yes. As a doctor, she’s a
nurturer. She likes to take care of people. That’s the type of
person she is. But nurturers need to be taken care of too. That’s
why you’re perfect for each other.”

“
Lainy, you lost
me.”

“
That’s okay. Just trust me
on this one. I know what I’m talking about.”

“
Right.” Max did feel more
confident about his relationship with KC now.

“
She’s loyal to a fault,
Max. Remember that. Gilmore Products was sliding downhill fast,
right?”

“
Definitely.”

“
What did KC do?”

“
She left her new practice
and quietly took over the reins. I think she sank all of her money
into the company. Her father still doesn’t realize it was her who
pulled the company out of the trenches. He thinks he
did.”

“
Exactly. And why did she do
that?”

“
Because she’s known the
employees all her life. She’d never let the company die without a
fight. They would have all lost their jobs.”

“
So why would a woman like
that, one who left her chosen profession, a nurturer, reattach
herself to another man when the one with everything she needs and
loves is back home?” Lainy’s voice was so quiet he had to strain to
hear her, but Max received her message, loud and clear.

“
No. She’s loyal to a fault,
isn’t she?” He smiled. When most people would have left the company
to its downward spiral, she braved working every day with her
father and then watched as he sold his shares to a stranger, never
once acknowledging her efforts.

But KC hadn’t acted the like a spoiled
princess. She worked with him, showing him, the new owner, the
ropes with friendliness and goodwill. Never once had he heard her
complain. She stuck it out because she had been determined to
protect their employees at all costs. He realized from the start
that had he decided to start laying people off, KC would have been
in his face, fighting him every step of the way.

She still didn’t know he would have
probably done anything she asked, because he saw her fierce loyalty
and admirable nurturing qualities. A woman like that wouldn’t take
advantage of a man’s weaknesses. She’d cherish him.

Sighing, Max wanted her to cherish
him, for the rest of his life. That’s all he asked.

Chapter 25

To:
[email protected]

From:
[email protected]

Subject: Sorry I had to
leave...

but duty
called.

Dear Max,

I really wish we’d have
had more time to talk today. I’m glad (relieved) I could make
certain you’re feeling okay. I’ve never been so flustered and out
of sorts before. Not being able to contact you is one of my
nightmares!

We’re finally finished
now, and it’s too late to call you. (Everyone here is asleep, so I
won’t be able to use the phone!) You and Ryan are probably sleeping
anyway, and I’m ready for bed soon. I’ve showered and now I’m
sending you a quick e-mail before I go to sleep.

It was a long day today. I
worked in the lab in the morning, and then tended to patients all
afternoon. Thought we were finished, and then more wounded came in,
so a fourteen or fifteen hour day, in the heat. I’m dragging
now.

Just wanted to send a
quick email to let you know I wish we could have talked longer.
I’ll try to call tomorrow, but someone said they heard rumors of
another wave of wounded. I’m not surprised, but hoped for more
time. One of the other Field Units had some problems, so we’re
getting their patients. And no extra medical personnel to help with
them.

But, they’d do the same
for us. They’re closer to a nasty rebel faction, which probably
accounts for some of the trouble they’re having. Nonetheless, we’re
extra busy here. The lab is suddenly overflowing with work, plus as
a doctor, I’m already busy, without the responsibilities of the lab
too. I have asked for and will hopefully receive someone to help
with lab duties.

My eyes keep drooping, so
I need to go. Mornings come fast here, just like at home. Never
mind, it’s already morning. Dawn is around the corner.

I miss and love you
both,

KC

P.S. Has Rocky had the
puppies yet?

*****

Max read through her latest email,
thankful she’d been as reluctant to end the conversation as he,
apparently. That helped to shatter the remnants of the negative
thoughts Lainy accused him of. KC was just really busy and had
needed to go when the wounded came in. He was old enough to
understand her work came first out of necessity.

He didn’t have to like the situation
though. Max selfishly wanted all of her time, like he had before
she’d been called up. Now that he had to share KC, he wasn’t happy
about the circumstances. Other people had more demand on her time
than he did.

But she would only be gone for less
than seven months, hopefully. Heaven help him if she was there
longer.

To:
[email protected]

From:
[email protected]

Subject: Wish we could
have talked longer too.

But I understand your work
is important. That’s not saying I like it, but I
understand.

Hey KC,

I guess you wouldn’t mind
if I told you how much I’m missing you? Seems so strange to see
your office vacant and your room empty at the house. Definitely a
dearth here without you. I never imagined this separation would be
so hard. You’re such a large part of my life, and now you’re
thousands of miles away. I think the only thing that’s kept me sane
is that I have Ryan.

I’d definitely go crazy
without him and Spuds is funny. We’re having a good time together;
even sick, but the boys also miss you. You’re too far away, for too
long. Ryan is doing much better with you being gone than I am. How
is that?

He called me Dad last
night. Before he went to sleep, I asked him to have good dreams and
he said, “Okay, Dad.” I’ll be honest to say I had to wipe a few
tears away. I’ve always been Uncle Max, but hearing him call me
that...

Do you mind? If you do,
I’ll ask him to call me Max again, because he called me Dad this
morning too.

I’m supposed to be in a
meeting. Which, being sick is going to be problematic, but I think
they’re planning to conference call me. We’ve decided to go with
another needle supplier as Sara and I didn’t agree with the
previous company’s contract terms. I’ll send you the next contract
once we finish it. But, I need to take that meeting
call.

I miss you and love
you,

Max

P.S. No puppies yet. We’re
still waiting. Rocky’s as gentle and serene as Lainy. We’re all
nervous, but she’s fine.

*****

To:
[email protected]

From:
[email protected]

Subject:re: Wish we could
have talked longer too.

Max Michael
Morrison!

Don’t you dare tell Ryan
not to call you
DAD!
Don’t even think about it. You, of all men, deserve that
title. You’ve got all the responsibility, why shouldn’t you have
some of the glory too?

Right now, Ryan needs you
more than I think he needs me, and whenever I think of the male
equivalent of me, you come to mind. So, you’ve always had the
title, but never heard the words until now. I’m personally very
glad Ryan is calling you Dad, and all on his own.

He already calls your
parents Granme and Granpy, right? Therefore, you’ve been Honorary
Dad for as long as we’ve known you. Might as well enjoy the
status.

This is all I have time
for, but I needed you to know my thoughts. I have to get back to
work now, though. More wounded in, for both our site and the other
Field Site who is still having trouble. This means our work has
more than doubled. We’re staying extra busy! Everyone is exhausted,
and the heat index is really high and a sandstorm is
expected.

I probably won’t be able
to call. It’s too busy here and I’m afraid this phone frequency
might mess up our equipment. If we’re not full, calling shouldn’t
be a problem, but with so many to care for, and all the necessary
machines, I can’t risk using the phone.

Love,

KC

Max smiled when he read through KC’s
message. So, she pretty much demanded he remain Ryan’s dad. Having
this precious email from her helped to cement his thoughts about
her feelings. She hadn’t come out and told him, but she’d just made
him her partner in child rearing. That had to count,
right?

Chapter 26

To:
[email protected]

From:
[email protected]

Subject:
Leaf-Raking

Hello KC,

Saturday’s leaf raking was
a huge success. We’re feeling almost back to normal, although the
girls (about a hundred of them, I think) made Ryan and me stop and
take a nap. We didn’t argue. (Especially when they gave us cookies
to keep up our strength.)

Ryan did scatter more
leaves than he raked, but then he was running with the herd, so
that’s to be expected. He also had some trouble with a stump and
subsequently has a nice big gash on his forehead. But, Treeny was
there, and took care of the problem with ease. Thank
goodness!