Amy Ruttan - The Surgeon's Convenient Husband

“I know and I always forget. In Canada, iced tea is sweet tea.” Ruby stirred her drink and took a sip. “Better.”

The waiter returned then, with their food, and he was eyeing Ruby with interest and fear. “Is everything okay, miss?”

“Fine,” Aran said. “She just wanted sweet tea. Canadians—what can you do?”

Ruby’s eyes narrowed and Aran tried not to laugh. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d really laughed and enjoyed himself. There had never been much time when he was at the front. There had been too many broken soldiers to mend. Wounded civilians too. It had all been just a big mess.

The waiter left.

“I don’t think he’s coming back to this table in a hurry,” Ruby teased as she cracked open a crab leg.

“I agree. We’ve scared him off.”

Ruby nodded.

“Do you know when Immigration will be wanting to interview us?” Aran asked in a hushed tone.

“No. I assume, though, now that you’re back in Alaska and honorably discharged, it will be sooner rather than later.”

Aran nodded. “I’m willing to make this work you know.”

“Our marriage?” she asked.

“Right. So that you can get your citizenship, I mean. I still believe in your work like I did five years ago.”

She blushed again. “Thank you. I appreciate that. It means a lot to me. I have a lot of big plans, and Seward Memorial is the first step in making them a reality. I really do appreciate the favor. The sacrifice you made.”

“Thank you,” he said. “And I really do admire the work you’ve done and the team you’ve set up.”

“You don’t need to patronize me,” she muttered.

“I’m not. It’s true. What you’re doing for people who are out there, away from a hospital... It’s important. You’re out there saving lives.”

She nodded, but didn’t say anything further, and he couldn’t help but wonder what had changed. Had he said something wrong?

Aran thought it best not to press it.

They ate in silence.

When they were finishing up Ruby’s pager went off. She wiped her hands and looked at it, frowning when she saw the message.

“Shoot,” she mumbled.

“What’s wrong?”

“My bear attack patient—he needs surgery. It’s just what I thought. I have to get back to the hospital.” Ruby motioned to the waiter.

“Can I help you, miss?” the waiter asked.

“The bill, please.”

“Separate or...?”

“Together,” Aran said.

The waiter nodded and disappeared.

“Aran, you don’t...”

“I asked you out to dinner. This is my treat. You go back to the hospital and I’ll meet you there. I’d like to help. I’d like to learn how you do things.”

Ruby’s expression softened. “Thank you—and, yes. Of course. Come to the operating floor and we’ll get you scrubbed in.”

“Okay. I’ll see you there.”

Ruby slid out of her chair and moved quickly through the busy restaurant.

It was not a long walk to the hospital, he thought. But his leg was a bit stiff. Yeah, it helped to move it, but he had been doing too much today to be able to show her that he could keep up. So he was going to take a cab back to the hospital.

Hopefully the pain would subside a bit so that he could be in the operating room with her, because that was the last thing he needed anyone to see.

He didn’t need anyone to see his pain.

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