She considered his claim. Only her father had been more offensive than Finn Anderson. But unlike her father, Finn didn’t seem intent on bullying everyone around him just because he had money and fame. Finn’s remarks seemed to have the singular purpose of driving people away, rather than controlling them.
“Then we’ll butt heads,” she said. “A lot. We’ll have headaches.”
“I’m not going to change.”
“Ha! Me, neither.”
“A temporary truce?”
“More like a lull in the battle.”
Twin dimples flashed for an instant. It felt like a victory.
His response was so soft she couldn’t understand most of his words, but she picked up two… “bad idea.”
CHAPTER 4
“I was kind of hoping I might be able to get rid of this PICC line.” Finn gave Dr. Rheed his most devastating smile.
She showed no sign she’d heard him as she continued to listen to his lungs through her stethoscope. “Deep breath, please… Again… Again…”
“Did I mention how much I like your new hairstyle?”
“That won’t work with me, Finn.”
“What?” he asked, in an innocent tone.
“Other women may fall at your feet, but you’ll find I’m not swayed by your flirtations.”
“I know. That’s why you’re my doctor. But I really am doing well. Maybe it’s time to scale back the meds a bit.”
Her expression serious, she took the stethoscope out of her ears to hang it around her neck. “Finn, I agree, you’re doing well. Your weight is stable. Your lungs sound better than I hoped after that last bad infection. That’s why I’m recommending we keep everything the same for now. I’ll run some tests in three months, at your next appointment. We can move the line if it gets irritated.”
“Three months?” His stomach fell.
“I know it’s hard, Finn. But I don’t want to rock the boat when we have a routine that’s working.” She put a comforting hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” he said, glumly.
Finn hadn’t told anyone at work about his doctor’s visit. As was his custom, he made an excuse for being away from the office. He hated mentioning his disease, because of the inevitable pitying expressions and futile questions that followed. How was he supposed to respond when someone asked him how he was feeling? The truth was no one really expected or wanted him to answer that question honestly. If he talked about it, he’d soon be feeling sorry for himself.
“You need to remind yourself how lucky you are to be alive and as healthy as you are,” she mumbled, flipping through the screens on the computer and peering at a bunch of numbers, presumably his lab reports.
“That’s what my mother always says,” he responded.
“Maybe it’s time you gave her a call and got a pep talk,” said Dr. Rheed, with a wry grin. “I can’t imagine you could be depressed after talking to that woman. She’s something else.”
“You remember meeting my mother?”
“Who could possibly forget her?” Dr. Rheed typed on the keyboard, even as she spoke. “I met her a few years ago when you were in the hospital. She’s like a living, breathing whirlpool. Everything and everybody in hearing distance is drawn to her. And no one gets away without a bone-crushing hug.”
“Wow.” He chuckled. “You described her to a tee. My father was there, too, but he stays in the background. He’s the total opposite—quiet and introverted—but he has a big heart.”
“It’s funny. Your accent is stronger when you’re talking about her.”
“That’s how powerful her personality is.”
“Where do they live?”
“My folks are in central Michigan. I usually fly up to see them fairly often, but I’ve been avoiding Mum lately. You see, I’m the only kid who isn’t married, so she’s been pressuring me to get a girlfriend. I’ve tried to reason with her, but she won’t listen. I wish you’d explain it to her.”
“Explain what?” Dr. Rheed looked up from the computer.
“Explain why I can’t get married and have kids.”
She typed something into the computer and closed it. “Why can’t you?”
“You know why,” he said, with a little more force than needed. “I only have a few years to live. And it’ll be bad at the end.”
With a heavy sigh, she shook her head. “You don’t know how long you’ll live. For someone with CF, you’re in excellent health right now.”
“Right now, I am. But that could change any moment. All it takes is one bad lung infection.”
“Finn, if you loved someone and she loved you back, she wouldn’t let that stop her. She’d want to be with you for however much time you have and make the most of it.”
Finn knew better. He’d only had one serious girlfriend, and that experience taught him all he needed to know. Frustrated that even the doctor was arguing with him, he pushed his point. “If I really loved a woman, I’d want what’s best for her. If she married me, she’d be stuck with a man who, sooner or later, is going to get really sick and die. Not to mention putting up with the inconvenience of hours of CF treatments every day. The coughing alone would be enough to drive most people crazy. How could that ever be what’s best for someone I love?”
