mine when he pulls away. His nearness is almost suffocating.
The neckline of my top is low, allowing Dr. Archibald easy access. He visibly swallows before placing the metal against my skin. I jump as it’s cold. “Sorry,” he apologizes, peering down at me.
I nod, too afraid to speak.
His huge body shadows mine, his closeness a surprising comfort. He listens to my heart, which is nigh on exploding from my chest. He moves the drum around while listening, his face pensive. My breathing becomes staggered; my heart determined to win an imaginary race. I’m beyond embarrassed as this is the worst time for my body to betray my nerves.
When his fingers brush lightly over my skin, I chew the inside of my cheek to stop my unexpected response to him. I attempt to envision anything other than Dr. Archibald’s intoxicating smell. When he lifts the drum and removes the ear tips, I let out the trapped breath I didn’t even know I was holding.
“Your heart is fine,” he declares, looping the stethoscope around his neck. His comment shatters my blissful bubble.
“It’s not my heart that’s the problem,” I reply honestly.
He frowns, appearing repentant. “Regardless of our ailments, I think the heart is always affected.”
I wasn’t expecting such a response, but he’s right. The vital organ is our epicenter.
“Tamara said you ran out of class. One of the volunteers found you in the bathroom, passed out.” He pauses, and I know why. “I had to report it to June, of course, and she told me of your condition.”
I’m about ready to lecture him about the invasion of privacy, but I can understand why.
“I’ve read over your file.”
I explained my condition on the application. Dr. Carter gave me the green light to do this as I didn’t want management going in blind when they gave me the job.
Lowering my eyes, I tug at a loose thread on the cotton blanket. “Lucky you.”
He ignores my wisecrack. “Are you on any medication?”
“Whatever time I have left, I don’t wish to live as a comatose zombie, Dr. Archibald. I want to remember who I was and face death, not hide under a medicated blanket.”
I can see I’ve caught him off guard with my bluntness and am about to apologize but pause when a gravelly rumble sounds loudly within his chest. “Good for you, Ms.—Lola,” he hastily corrects. “You’re a brave young woman.”
“I’m far from brave, but thank you.”
His silence is heavy, speaking volumes. But I never expected him to express what he does next. “Never underestimate your impact on the world. You just may be someone’s reason for living.”
I wonder just whom Dr. Archibald’s reason is. I have no doubt he has a long line of admirers and may even be married or have a girlfriend.
“Everything is okay, so you’re good to leave whenever you’re ready,” he says, disturbing my thoughts.
His comment surprises me. “I can stay?”
“Of course. Why would you think otherwise?”
Scratching the back of my neck, I reveal, “I just thought that with passing out on my first day here, I’m not exactly ideal volunteer material.”
“June is happy to have you. She thinks you being here will be good for the kids. And so do I.”
“You do?” I can’t hide my surprise.
“Yes, I do. All anybody ever wants is to be treated normally. You will be able to connect with these kids in a way no one else will. They will confide in you, trust you, and that’s something truly priceless.”
I meet his eyes, an unreadable look swarming deep within. I don’t know what it is about him, but he makes me feel…special. I have had little experience with men, thanks to falling sick in my early twenties, so I blow it off as my hormones reacting to a good-looking, smart man. But a small voice inside me is screaming there’s more.
Afraid of that voice, I pull back the blanket and swing my legs. He swoops forward and attempts to help me, but I wave him off. “Thank you.”
He appears amused by my stubbornness. “No problem. Take care, Lola.”
I nod, holding my breath until he turns and leaves the room. As I exhale, a feeling surfaces that things are about to change. Though I can’t help but wonder if they already have.
The rest of the afternoon, I stick to the timetable and join Zoe down at the water, helping the kids canoeing. I decide not to tell her about what happened today because I don’t want her to worry.