Perfect Timing Read online

  Perfect Timing

  Synopsis

  Lynn Monroe is finally living life on her terms. The niece she raised as her own has finished medical school and started an internship, and she’s healing from a painful divorce that was long overdue. But when she runs into a ghost from her past, the stable life she’s worked so hard to build begins to crumble.

  Dr. Maggie Randall is focused, driven, and in love with her best friend’s aunt. When she unexpectedly bumps into Lynn it’s like no time has passed. She’s sure it’s a sign they’re meant to be. But all Maggie ever wanted in life is to raise children, and Lynn’s not ready to start a second family.

  The choice between love and family has never been so difficult, and different visions of the future may end their romance before it’s begun.

  Praise for Dena Blake

  Just One Moment

  “One of the things I liked is that the story is set after the glorious days of falling in love, after the time when everything is exciting. It shows how sometimes, trying to make life better really makes it more complicated…It’s also, and mainly, a reminder of how important communication is between partners, and that as solid as trust seems between two lovers, misunderstandings happen very easily.”—Jude in the Stars

  “Blake does angst particularly well and she’s wrung every possible ounce out of this one…I found myself getting sucked right into the story—I do love a good bit of angst and enjoy the copious amounts of drama on occasion.”—C-Spot Reviews

  Friends Without Benefits

  “This is the book when the Friends to Lovers trope doesn’t work out. When you tell your best friend you are in love with her and she doesn’t return your feelings. This book is real life and I think I loved it more for that.”—Les Rêveur

  A Country Girl’s Heart

  “Dena Blake just goes from strength to strength.”—Les Reveur

  Unchained Memories

  “There is a lot of angst and the book covers some difficult topics but it does that well. The writing is gripping and the plot flows.”—Melina Bickard, Librarian, Waterloo Library (UK)

  “This story had me cycling between lovely romantic scenes to white-knuckle gripping, on the edge of the seat (or in my case, the bed) scenarios. This story had me rooting for a sequel and I can certainly place my stamp of approval on this novel as a must read book.”—The Lesbian Review

  “The pace and character development was perfect for such an involved story line, I couldn’t help but turn each page. This book has so many wonderful plot twists that you will be in suspense with every chapter that follows.”—Les Reveur

  Where the Light Glows

  “From first time author Dena Blake, Where the Light Glows is a sure winner.”—A Bookworm’s Loft

  “[T]he vivid descriptions of the Pacific Northwest will make readers hungry for food and travel. The chemistry between Mel and Izzy is palpable.”—RT Book Reviews

  “I’m still shocked this was Dena Blake’s first novel…It was fantastic…It was written extremely well and more than once I wondered if this was a true account of someone close to the author because it was really raw and realistic. It seemed to flow very naturally and I am truly surprised that this is the author’s first novel as it reads like a seasoned writer.”—Les Reveur

  Perfect Timing

  Brought to you by

  eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com

  eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

  Please respect the rights of the author and do not file share.

  Perfect Timing

  © 2020 By Dena Blake. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13: 978-1-63555-467-0

  This Electronic Original Is Published By

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  P.O. Box 249

  Valley Falls, NY 12185

  First Edition: March 2020

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editor: Shelley Thrasher

  Production Design: Stacia Seaman

  Cover Design by Tammy Seidick

  By the Author

  Where the Light Glows

  Unchained Memories

  A Country Girl’s Heart

  Racing Hearts

  Friends Without Benefits

  Just One Moment

  Perfect Timing

  Acknowledgments

  Thanks to Radclyffe, Sandy Lowe, and the rest of the Bold Strokes Books team. You let me do what I love, and I am forever thankful for that.

  Shelley Thrasher, you are my grammar guru aka my editor extraordinaire. You tirelessly correct my grammar and make my words come to life in the best way possible.

  My writing family, I am truly grateful for your friendship and love. The support you all provide is something of which I am still in awe.

  Kate, Wes, Haley, and my family, you are my rocks. I love you so much and don’t know what I would do without you.

  Thanks to all you readers who have taken time out of your lives to join me in my adventures. Your notes and comments always make my days brighter.

  To those who have dared to step into the unknown and start over. There is strength in solidarity.

  Chapter One

  Five a.m. felt like four a.m. this morning. Maggie had been up well past midnight and hadn’t slept easily once she’d actually made it into bed. Fumbling in the dark, she was surprised she could find her way around the bedroom, let alone locate her socks and shoes. After throwing on her clothes, she grabbed a travel mug of coffee and a granola bar to eat on the five-minute walk to the hospital.

  The sun was just beginning to show some light when she got outside. It was going to be a glorious day—one she wouldn’t get to experience, but glorious all the same. She stood just outside the main entrance staring at the massive structure in front of her. All her dreams had come true. She was a doctor. Well, technically, an intern, but still a doctor. Only a few more hurdles to jump until she was well seated in the career she’d known she’d wanted to be in since she was a child. She walked through the main entrance and breathed in the familiar antiseptic hospital scent she adored. The rush that came over her made her almost giddy. During the next few years she’d spend more time here than at her actual apartment. This would be her home.

  Once she’d swiped in for the day, she went to the locker room, changed into a pair of scrubs, and put on her coat. Then she headed to the pediatrics-floor nurses’ station to report for rounds. Maggie and three other interns, two guys and another girl, were assigned to a third-year resident, Phillip Baird, M.D., to manage his workload. Dr. Baird would manage four first-year interns, each of whom might carry a caseload of up to twelve patients, and two Johns Hopkins University Medical School students. He in turn would be supervised by Ben Cozzi, M.D., an attending physician, whom they would meet later in the day. Dr. Baird had two prime directives. First, he wanted to reduce the caseload of the interns. Twelve patients were far too many to handle. Half would be better. Second, he would like to expose both the interns and medical students to as many different experiences as possible as they followed him throughout his day. As expected, he was all business.

  Maggie was prepared to fight for every case that came in. She was at the top of her game and wasn’t about to drop in the standings. Her confidence was bolstered even further when Dr. Baird said, “Just remember. You are the ones w
ho keep the hospital and the doctors who train you on the cutting edge of medicine, and you will remind every physician why they got into this business in the first place.” Apparently, he expected to learn from them as well, and she respected him for that attitude, impressed that he’d actually told them directly. He ended his speech by saying, “Make sure you rest when you can. You are the doctors who lend energy and enthusiasm to a profession overflowing with long hours and endless paperwork. Don’t ever lose sight of that fact.”

  Maggie first had to check in with the doctors on the night shift and receive sign-out on the patients. She hoped they’d had a decent number of admissions overnight, or she’d have to spend her first day trying to outpace the other interns.

  “Okay, folks. It’s been a busy night,” Dr. Baird said. “Apparently a stomach bug’s going around.” He motioned to the stack of tablets on the counter. “So grab a tablet and start reviewing.”

  Ugh. This wasn’t how Maggie had envisioned her first day, but at least she’d stay busy. The first patient they saw had been brought in about an hour ago and didn’t seem in distress. It was Maggie’s turn to do the exam and look for potential causes for the patient’s symptoms, and wouldn’t you know, the patient took that opportunity to spew her breakfast all over her. “Oh my God” came out of her own mouth, and she instinctively backed up, grabbed an emesis bag from the container on the wall, and held it in front of the patient. The girl heaved another time or two, but she’d already emptied most of her stomach contents onto Maggie. Not until then did the smell get to her. She had to force herself to breathe through her mouth and ignore it, or else she’d do the same thing all over the patient.

  “Henderson, take the bag from Randall,” Dr. Baird said to the medical student and then pointed to Maggie. “You go clean up and get back here ASAP.”

  Maggie rushed to the locker room, grabbed a new set of scrubs, and found her spare coat in her locker, the place that would house everything from clothes to toothpaste for the next four years. Thank God she’d brought the coat with her this morning. She quickly changed, put the dirty one in a plastic bag, and stuffed it into her locker. She’d have to take care of it later.

  After catching up with the group and finishing the rest of morning rounds without further event, they ended up at Balducci’s, an Italian deli in the hospital, for lunch. The distraction this morning had unsettled her, and the whole morning had been a blur.

  “This is where I’ll leave you for lunch. Be in the auditorium in an hour,” Dr. Baird said before he went to the stand-up cooler and picked out a sandwich, an apple, and a few other items to take with him. At Balducci’s you could order something from the deli or grab something from the cooler to take with you. The menu included a variety of tasty sandwiches and huge salads. This little nugget would be Maggie’s savior on days when she was swamped and forgot to eat.

  They all stood for a moment before they went various ways to get what they wanted to eat. After she’d picked out a chef salad and water, she went to the cashier and reached for her badge, which wasn’t hanging on her collar. Shit. She’d left it on her other coat when she’d switched out earlier.

  “Change your mind?” A voice came from behind her in line. She turned to see a woman with dark hair and vibrant blue eyes, dressed in scrubs, staring at her.

  “I don’t have my badge.” Maggie picked up her food and started toward the cooler to put it back.

  “Hang on. I’ll get it,” the woman said.

  “Thanks, but that isn’t necessary.”

  “I know that.” She glanced at the name on Maggie’s coat and grinned like she knew just how hellacious her day had been so far. “Maggie.” She handed her badge to the cashier to scan. “First day?”

  Maggie’s cheeks warmed as she nodded. “A patient vomited on me this morning, and I had to change.” Smooth line, Maggie.

  The woman leaned in and whispered, “I was wondering what scent you’re wearing. Sounds like you got the full welcome, then.” The woman took her badge from the cashier. “Good luck.” She winked and headed across the room and out of the eating area.

  Maggie sighed as she watched her walk away. Way to impress the first beautiful woman you meet, Randall. She took a seat at one of the long high-top tables centering the room, soon surrounded by not only the three people she’d come in with but several others who she assumed were also interns and medical students.

  She tried to read their names on their coats but didn’t want to end up looking like a weirdo-stalker. So she finished chewing the forkful of lettuce in her mouth, then said, “My name’s Maggie. I’m from Boston University.”

  The guy sitting across from her set down the first half of his twelve-inch sub sandwich and wiped his hands before he spoke. “Russell, from Stanford.” He reached across the table and shook her hand.

  The woman to her right did the same. “Stacy, from Baylor.”

  The guy on her left didn’t look up, just said, “Jonathan, from Columbia.”

  The rest of the people at the table went in sequence announcing their names and where they were from. She’d never remember them all. They were from all over, including NYU, Duke, and Vanderbilt. Suddenly, she didn’t feel so alone anymore.

  After a few solid minutes of eating, Stacy, to her right, said, “Anyone living close by and need a roommate? I have limited funds and don’t have a car.”

  “I’m in a studio but always have room in my bed.” Jonathan bounced his eyebrows.

  Ugh. Maggie rolled her eyes. Was this really how this discussion would go down?

  NYU girl spoke up and said, “Sorry. I need my space.”

  Russell answered next. “I’m in a one-bedroom, but I have a couch you can use until you find a place.” It seemed Russell was the sweet one of the bunch, and considering his chiseled chin and sculpted, model-like looks, that comment was unexpected, but nice. Maggie would remember that fact about him.

  Stacy looked directly at Maggie, the last one to make eye contact.

  The small apartment Maggie had found located at Jefferson Square at Washington Hill on Wolfe Street was only a short distance from the hospital. Far enough to get away from the hospital and close enough to get here quickly when necessary. She’d wanted a studio because she wouldn’t be spending much time there, but none were available. She’d been able to find only a thousand-square-feet two-bedroom, two-bathroom, with an open kitchen and living room, plus a balcony that overlooked the pool. Not that she’d use the pool much, but it was nice to know she could sit outside or swim if she wanted. She’d specifically not wanted a two-bedroom apartment to avoid any possibility of having a roommate, but the waiting list was ridiculously long.

  The rent was more than she’d wanted to spend, but the place was nice and convenient, and would do for the time being. It wasn’t the smallest and was, by far, not the largest. The complex contained many nice amenities, including a parking garage, gym, and bar area with a pool table, as well as community space downstairs to study and hang out with other people if she felt the need to socialize. However, when she got home she usually wasn’t up for socializing. She’d spent her first Saturday night in her apartment completely alone, binge-watching something on Netflix.

  Maggie had hoped to at least get to know a few people before she opened the roommate door, but it seemed the door was being kicked open for her. At least the refrigerator would be fuller.

  “Where are you living now?” she asked.

  “Anywhere I can find a soft surface to crash.”

  “So, you’ve been essentially homeless since you arrived?”

  “Pretty much.”

  “Jesus.” She sighed. She couldn’t turn Stacy away now. “Where’s your stuff?”

  “Storage locker,” Stacy said between bites of her sandwich.

  “I have a spare bedroom.” She shoveled a bite of salad into her mouth, avoiding the huge smile breaking on Stacy’s face. “We can talk about it after lunch.”

  She really didn’t want to give ev
eryone at the table the details about her apartment, especially not Jonathan, who seemed to be looking for a different kind of roommate. Even after knowing him a short time, she could tell he thought he was the most beautiful man in the world, and he might be to any heterosexual woman. But any woman with brains would walk away as soon as he opened his mouth.

  Stacy was right behind her when she turned around after dropping her empty container in the trash. They headed down the hallway and took the stairs back up. “I’m at Jefferson Square, two blocks south. Second floor, apartment nineteen. Meet me in the locker room after shift, and we can walk over together. Then we can figure out how to get your stuff moved.” That was the extent of the conversation. She wouldn’t share her private life with Stacy. She wasn’t up to doing that with anyone yet. Who knew if it would even work out? The only good aspect of having a roommate was that money wouldn’t be so tight anymore.

  “Thanks for being so awesome.” Stacy giggled and clapped. She seemed to already be planning to be her bestie for life.

  She nodded and pushed open the door to the floor where the auditorium was located, where Grand Rounds would be held. Thankfully, she’d paid attention at orientation and found the entrance easily. Grand Rounds was a weekly ritual where interns and residents presented medical problems and treatment of a particular patient to an audience consisting of doctors, residents, medical students, and nurses. Usually an attending physician was in charge who would quiz the audience on diagnosis and give actual results. A number of interns and residents were already seated, and the two of them took seats midway up and in the middle. Most of the seats around them remained empty, no doubt due to her ripe aroma of vomit, but soon Russell inched down the row and squeezed into a chair next to her. Another point for him.