Chapter 8

He was groggy. Surprisingly, he had slept the whole way home, having taken Jocelyne's threat seriously. Or maybe he had just been that tired. Seeing Frank had been more draining than he might have imagined. Jocelyne hadn't been willing to give reassurances he had no right to ask for, but still, he was holding on to hope. He gave Jocelyne a smile when she released the latch on his seatbelt. Then he watched as she rounded the hood. Opening his door, she stepped back, but didn't step away.

"I'm okay, Doc."

Even as he said the words, his knees felt a bit wobbly and she was there to steady him. He met her eyes. "How did you know?"

"Your colour," she said simply. "I would have suggested taking it slow, but I knew the odds of you actually listening to that advice, so I was just hopeful you wouldn't topple over."

"That was a hell of a gamble."

"Oh, let's be clear. If you went over, I wasn't going with you. If your obstinacy lands you in a heap at my feet, I'm not going to feel so much as a passing and fleeting moment of guilt."

Seth clapped his hand to his heart. "That's just cruel, Doc."

She rolled her eyes and then reached into the truck to retrieve the cold pack. "Once we're inside I want you to put your feet up and I'll get a cold compress. We'll alternate it with a hot water bottle."

"I guess that means you're cooking dinner."

She blinked. Three times.

Yep, he figured as much. "No culinary skills?"

"I cut people open for a living, Seth, cooking was never really a useful skill."

At least she was honest.

"Well, tonight, under my excellent tutelage, you're going to learn how to cook spaghetti and meatballs. I'll even take it easy on you and tell you that we have frozen meatballs."

She eyed him thoughtfully. "Okay...thanks."

She in no way sounded or looked grateful.

As she ate, Jocelyne had to admit that cooking was fun. No, she corrected herself, cooking with Seth was fun. He'd been patient and had even convinced her she had to throw a string of spaghetti against the wall to see if it stuck. She wasn't completely convinced about that one, but she'd gone along for the ride.

The pasta was pretty good and the garlic bread crispy.

"I thought we might watch a movie after dinner."

Jocelyne was about to say she needed to catch up on her reading, but then he would know she'd surreptitiously borrowed several old medical journals from the clinic. She had every intention of just reading them and then returning them. Just the thought of giving up all connection to medicine made her unbelievably sad. Owen and Marcus didn't have surgery journals, but Jocelyne saw no reason not to bring herself up to speed with general and family medicine. Just as long as it kept her abreast of her profession.

Eventually she would have to cut those ties completely, but she figured she would do it in stages. Eventually she should probably look for a job in another profession. That thought caused a stab to her heart.

"Doc? A movie?"

Focus, she told herself, she needed to stay in the present instead of slipping into the past. "Sure, a movie sounds great."

"Any preferences?"

She gave him a look of bafflement. "Um, why don't you pick?"

"I need a bit of help here. I mean I know alien invasion films aren't your first choice. I suspect action adventures are out and I would bet horror films would resemble too much your professional life." He gestured for her to sit on the couch and he took the seat opposite. "What was the last movie you saw?"

How was she supposed to answer that? She searched her memory banks, desperate for something, anything. "Probably Titanic."

He goggled. There was no other word for it.

"My sister had a thing for Leonard Di Caprio when we were growing up, so my mother, under great duress, took us to the movie."

"Doc?"

"Yes?"

"That was almost twenty years ago. You were still in high school."

She couldn't help it, she got her felt defensive. "I graduated from high school at fourteen and I had my undergrad science degree at sixteen and medical degree four years later. Then I started into surgery. All I ever wanted to be was a doctor and I spent my whole life working towards that goal. So what if I didn't do the things that normal kids did? I wasn't deprived. My parents didn't push me, I pushed myself. I made the choices and I don't regret them."

She took a deep breath. And then another. The silence was starting to get to her. "Say something," she snapped.

"All I was going to say was we have lots of choices and I think some of the movies in the past twenty years will blow your mind."

"So blow my mind," she said on a huff.

Seth reached over and took her hand. "Jocelyne, you have to consider facing your demons. Your whole life is medicine. How can you give that up?"

There was a burning behind her eyes. "Life is full of hard choices, Seth. I've made my bed and I have to lie in it. I have to find a way to carve out a new life."

"To whose detriment? There are people out there who need a good doctor. You could still be helping people."

"That's low," she whispered. "People were sick before me and they'll be sick after me. There will be a doctor to take my place."

"But they won't be as good as you."

"How the hell do you know that? You've never seen me practice."

Seth smiled. "I bet one of the hardest things you've ever done it walk away today without talking to a doctor."

Now she was the one who smiled. "I suggested to Greg that he mention Frank's colour the next time the doctor came around."

"When did you do that?"

"The first time I came into the room. You didn't hear me, but I took one look at Frank and suspected compromised liver function, so I casually mentioned it to Greg. He gave me an odd look, but promised to say something. I would have told Sheila but I suspect that would have sent her over the edge."

"Good call and you're right, I didn't hear you. But you're just making my point."

She shook her head. "There's a good chance Frank's doctor would have caught it anyway." She tried to pull her hand away, but he held tight.

"I know the movie I want to show you. It's the highest grossing animated film of all time."

"You want me to watch a cartoon?"

"Oh, trust me, this is so much more than a cartoon."

Jocelyne watched as he scrolled through a menu. "Just how many movies are there to pick from?"

He shrugged. "I've never counted. I can go online with my subscription service and get you a number. On top of that, there are television series as well as documentaries. I could watch continuously for the rest of my life and I still wouldn't get through all of it."

"That's amazing. I mean, really amazing." She tried to smile. "There's a whole world out there I know nothing about."

She felt him squeeze her hand. "There's also video games, television and music."

"You play video games?"

"Sometimes, when I come home and I need to unwind, I play first person shooter games."

"Wait a minute. You see violence at your work and then you come home and voluntarily engage in more violence? That's counterintuitive."

A quick grin crossed his face. "That's me. A bundle of contradictions. It goes even further than that. I try to keep Nancy from letting her kids play violent games, even though Dougie is already asking."

"He's six," Jocelyne sputtered.

"Yeah, well kids grow up fast. His friends are already doing it, so he's trying to apply pressure to his parents." He winked. "But let's leave the kids and parents until tomorrow, shall we? Now, Frozen."

"I'm not cold," she said.

He laughed. "No, that's the name of the movie."

"Oh, okay." She felt foolish and a little put out he had laughed at her, but she needed to develop a thicker skin because there was no way Seth had meant to hurt her. She was too sensitive when she wasn't in her element. Since she wasn't going to be in her element for the rest of her life, she had better get with the program. So she smiled. "Frozen it is." This time, when she tugged at her hand, Seth let it go.

Candy had asked Seth to watch the movie with her at least six times, so he knew it back and forth, including the famous song everyone knew. He had chosen the movie because he wanted to watch Jocelyne's reaction and, by the end of the film, he could see he'd made the right choice. She'd been enthralled, even leaning forward a couple of times, as if willing for something to happen.

When the end credits rolled, she turned to him. "Are there more?"

"About twenty five years' worth. In the early nineties the Disney studios began a new kind of animated feature. Tell you what, why don't we watch Beauty and the Beast tomorrow night?"

Her eyes lit with excitement. "That sounds great. If it's half as good as this one, then I know I'll love it."

"It was the first animated feature in modern history to win the Oscar."

"Oscar?"

"The Academy Award. They give out awards in different categories each year. Frozen's theme song won an award."

"Deserved," she said, glancing at her watch. "I know it's early, but you need to be going to bed."

He wanted to argue, but he knew better than to go toe-to-toe with the doctor in the house. He could always read in his room. Before he could move, Jocelyne was up and rounding the couch. She slipped the sling from around his neck and began to knead the muscles. "I think there's some improvement. A small increment to be sure, but it's there." When she released him, he missed the warmth of the magical fingers. Then she came back with his pills and a glass of water.

"I don't think-"

"Good," she said, "don't think, just swallow."

Bossy woman. Bossy woman who was probably right. He did sleep better if he took the narcotics because he was in less pain.

"I'm worried about becoming addicted."

She rounded the sofa and sat on the coffee table opposite him, waiting for him to elucidate.

"There was a guy on the force. He and his partner were handling a domestic dispute and they had separated the husband from wife. Without warning, the wife pulls a knife and drives it into my friend's arm. She sliced him down to the bone." Seth let out a breath. "I think he pushed to come back so fast because he was embarrassed, you know? I mean this woman was just a tiny little thing, but man did she move fast and strike deep. Anyway, he developed all those classic signs of addiction and Greg led an intervention. My friend was in rehab for thirty days. He hasn't used since, but that doesn't make it better because that pall of suspicion will always be there. I don't want to be that guy."

Jocelyne reached out to place her hand on his knee. "The key for now is to take the pills at regular intervals so you don't get in pain. Eventually Marco will wean you. What you want to avoid is fearing the pain. All your injuries will heal, Seth, and being aware of addiction will serve you well. I'm here and I'll help you through this."

For how long, he wanted to ask, but he refrained from doing so. He'd survived before she'd come to live here and he would survive when she chose to leave. He just hoped it wouldn't happen for a while. Instead of speaking, he placed his hand over hers, trapping it.

Her eyes looked down at their hands and then back up to him. There it was again, lurking in her irises. How could she be so unaware of her body's reaction to him? Sex began in the mind yet she seemed completely unaware of her body's longings. What had she said to him? That he made her uncomfortable. Had she never considered why that was? How could he show her without spooking her?

He couldn't, which was why he reluctantly relinquished his hold of her. Still, it took a moment for her to move her hand away. She stood and stepped between his thighs, reaching for his t-shirt. Expertly, she removed it and then she began her gentle exploration, as she did every time she saw his bare chest.

"I want to keep your ribs taped tonight. I'll take it off before you shower tomorrow and as much as I'll want to re-tape them, I suspect you will make some argument about your family and I'll relent."

Wow, sometimes she could be perceptive.

"Now stand up. I want to take your jeans off."

He blinked. "Excuse me?"

"I know that your hip is bruised and I want to check it out."

"There's a bruise on my thigh as well, but I promise you they're both fine, Doc." He ran his hand through his hair then rubbed it against his face. "Please leave me with some dignity."

Her brow furrowed. "I'm a-"

"Doctor, yeah, I got that." He sighed.

"Look, unless you're wearing your jeans to the party tomorrow then I'm going to see them anyway. I would prefer to get a good look instead of gawking tomorrow."

She didn't miss a thing. So Seth let her tug him up and let her undo the snap. He batted her hands away and slid down the zipper, grateful that his body wasn't reacting to her nearness.

When she poked, it didn't hurt nearly as much as his ribs had. She shifted his underwear to check his hip, but she let him keep some modicum of dignity.

"It looks pretty good."

Actually it looked black, blue and a sickish purple colour, but Seth figured she knew what she was talking about. She rose and gave him a smile. "No sense putting your pants back on, so step out of them."

He'd slipped off his shoes when he'd come into the house, so it took mere seconds to do as she bade him. She leaned down to scoop them up. "Where are your dirty clothes?"

"You don't have to do my laundry," he pointed out. Then his eyes narrowed. "Do you even know how to do laundry?"

"Of course," she said defensively, but he could see the evasiveness in her eyes.

"Why don't you get your dirty clothes, I'll get mine and I'll show you how the machine works. It's a little temperamental."

If she saw the lie, she didn't let on. Instead, she shrugged and climbed the ladder to retrieve her own dirty clothes.

Forcing himself to not watch her beautiful backside, Seth headed to his room to gather the dirty clothes and put on a pair of sweatpants. The doctor might be comfortable with him in his underwear, but Seth wasn't.

They reunited at the laundry room. "Okay, so we sort lights from darks." He began to sort his clothes into two piles, but she held her bundle close to her chest. He looked over and saw two points of colour high on her cheeks. Purposely, he pulled out his underwear and dropped them on the pile.

Slowly but surely, she began to sort her clothes. She was about to throw her lingerie on the pile when Seth stopped her. "Those can't go in the wash, they're too delicate. You need to wash them by hand in the sink and then hang them to dry."

"Oh, okay."

Seth rummaged until he came out with a laundry soap for delicates. He didn't even remember why he bought it, but he had to brush the dust off of it. "This'll do. Wash them in the bathroom sink, rinse thoroughly and hang them over the curtain rod. They should be dry by morning but that won't matter because you're just going to wear your bathing suit anyway. You'll need to be ready to go by about ten-thirty. I would suggest not eating too big of a breakfast because you're going to be well fed. I have some sunscreen in the bathroom if you need it."

"I'll have to help you put it on."

Seth chuckled. "I don't wear the stuff. I tan, not burn. Besides, Ray's place as lots of shade."

"But you could get skin cancer."

"Trust me, the kids are slathered in the stuff."

She looked like she was about to argue, so he waylaid her. "Okay, Doc, just for you I'll wear the stuff. But you're right, you'll have to put it on."

"No problem," she said. "Why don't you use the bathroom first? That way you're not waiting for me."

"Sure. Good planning." With a nod, he left. He was quick and found her waiting at the door for him. On impulse, he lay his hand on her arm. "Thanks for today, Jocelyne, I couldn't have done it without you."

"If I hear the words thank you one more time, I'm going to explode."

"I'll try to drop a hint with my family, but consider yourself warned."

She let out a groan of frustration. "You saved me, not the other way around."

"I know that, but Frank's like a member of the family. I can't tell you how often he was my date to family events. My family sees him as an honorary and slightly eccentric uncle."

"I didn't know that. I mean I know you're partners, but I didn't realize the bond existed beyond the job."

Seth shrugged. "He was lonely and I never felt comfortable bringing the woman I was dating. None of them were that serious and I didn't want to get my sisters' hopes up. Both of them want me married off and popping out kids."

Jocelyne laughed at the image. "I think you mean they want your wife popping out kids."

"Yeah, that's what I meant. It's just that they are all living in marital bliss and they want the same for me."

"You want that as well, don't you?"

Seth nodded. "Sure, but not enough to marry the first woman who wants the same thing. I want love. I want what my parents have. I want what Ray, Beverly and Nancy have found. I'm not willing to settle."

"You may have to wait a long time."

Shrugging, Seth gave her a shrug. "I have faith that the right woman will come along."

Jocelyne had a look of wariness, but Seth reached out to tap her on the nose. "You'll find the right person for yourself as well, Doc."

Her eyes widened. "I'll never get married."

"You will," he said quietly. "One day you'll stop running, you'll face your demons, and you'll get married. You'll do it because you're going to meet someone who will make you want those things. You'll meet someone who will convince you to recapture your life."

Her eyes, in the dim light of the hallway, were deep pools of shimmering blue. "I don't have your faith, Seth. I'm sorry, but you're wrong." With that, she slipped past him and into the bathroom.

Padding on bare feet, Seth went to his room. The make-shift pillow for under his arm was still there, in pretty good shape given the frequency of its use. Doc was a clever woman as the padding did keep him in place all night. He'd never been a back sleeper, but he was willing to yield to the demands his body was making.

How did Jocelyne sleep? On her stomach? Her side? Or on her back with her hair fanned out across the pillow? Did she relax into sleep or did she continue to carry the stress of the day? Did she ever sleep soundly or was she too accustomed to being wakened at all hours to perform some miracle? Because he would bet she was a miracle worker. She had an understanding of the human body with all its strengths and frailties.

He held himself still when he heard the creaking of the ladder. It might be old, but it was sturdy. It carried his weight twice a day, every day. When he'd first moved in, he'd toyed with the idea of sleeping in this bedroom, but the loft had held great appeal. He liked that little intimate spot.

Now he pictured Jocelyne slipping between the sheets and hoped that sleep would come more easily for her than it did for him.

Yet, surprisingly, it was only a few minutes before he gave up the fight and let himself float.

Jocelyne eyed the back yard with a mixture of trepidation and horror. Somehow, she was able to count seven children and six adults in a state of chaos. She recognized Seth's sister Beverly because she clearly took after Seth, with the same shade of light brown hair and hazel eyes. She was chasing after two little girls, a bottle of sunscreen in hand. The twins, she realized, with a sense of both dread and fascination. Twins wearing the exact same bathing suit. Cute, but not helpful for telling them apart.

Nancy was standing next to a man who had the same blonde hair and although his eyes were shaded, Jocelyne would bet they were a similar shade of blue. Sometimes siblings looked nothing alike, but sometimes the resemblances were striking.

"Hey son!"

Seth turned and was embraced by an older man. Jocelyne did a double take. So this was what Seth was going to look like in about thirty years. The man was spry and still had some blond hair streaked liberally with a dark grey. The woman next to him was petite like Nancy and all but shoved her husband aside so she could grab her son. Seth had to bend at the waist to fit into the embrace.

"Hi Mom."

"You're alright," she said, pulling back. "You're really okay."

"Bumps and bruises," he assured her. "Nothing that won't heal."

"Of course," she said, fighting back tears. Then she noticed Jocelyne. "I'm Irene."

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Jacobs."

Jocelyne barely had time to blink before she was being pulled into an embrace. What was it about these people and hugging?

"It's Irene, my dear. You're family now."

Jocelyne pulled back, panic encroaching. Seth was there to grab her hand. "What Mom means is that you became family when you worked on Frank. Don't worry, Rory, Sawyer, and Finn are family now as well."

Irene regarded her and Jocelyne fought not to squirm. What did Seth's mother see?

Then the moment passed and Irene linked her arm with Jocelyne's. "I'll get everyone to stand still so I can introduce you. No one expects you to remember names."

Except this morning she had forced Seth to sit at the kitchen table and show her photos. Pictures to go with the names. Then she'd had him quiz her. Just like anatomy class, she had assured him. The only hiccup was the twins. Even in photos, they were eerily identical.

"Everybody!"

For such a small woman, Irene Jacobs sure had a set of lungs in her.

And, amazingly, everyone stopped.

"This is Seth's friend Jocelyne." Then she proceeded to name every person from one side of the yard to the other. Each family member, in turn, waved back at her. A bit of panic ebbed away as Jocelyne realized that Lana's hair was in pig tails while Dana's was in a French braid. Still, she was grateful when Seth stepped forward and the attention focused on him. While he made his rounds, she slipped into a patio chair off to the side and slid on her sunglasses.

"Can I sit with you?" Candy was there, having materialized from somewhere.

Jocelyne did a quick look around to make sure that the toddler was actually talking to her. Finding no one else, she said, "sure."

"Great." She held up her arms and Jocelyne realized this was her cue. So she hefted the little one into her lap.

Soon, Nancy joined her. "I shouldn't have dumped the kids on you guys the other day."

"No worries," Jocelyne assured her. She looked at Candy who had settled against her and whose eyes were now shut. "Seth might have been a little tired after, but being with the kids was good for him."

"He loves those kids as if they were his own."

"Yes, he gave me that distinct impression. He showed me the family scrapbook and I was able to see his affection."

Nancy glanced over at her. "We were worried about him being alone up at the cabin, but he refused all offers of hospitality. Your moving in with him came at the perfect time."

"I didn't move in with him," Jocelyne was quick to point out. "I'm just a guest."

"I know that," Nancy assured her. "I know you'll probably be thinking you need to move on, but don't be in a hurry. He needs someone like you."

What did that mean? She was about to ask when Roxie came over. "I just got a text that all the kids are meeting up at The Junction. Gurjit just lives down the street and her dad is driving her, so it's no big deal for me to get a lift with them."

"Never going to happen," her mother assured her. "This is family time. We discussed it before we left the house."

"But Mom." Her whining tone made Jocelyne want to clench her teeth.

"Get an attitude adjustment or give me the phone. Your choice, Roxanne."

"I hate being here. I hate all these little kids." Since she was the oldest by more than five years, Jocelyne could appreciate that particular argument.

Nancy, however, was clearly not going to give an inch. "You see your uncle? I mean, really see him?"

"Yeah, he looks disgusting."

Seth had now removed his shirt.

"He looks disgusting because he was really hurt. Uncle Frank almost died. Maybe you can show just a bit of sympathy for them instead of always thinking about yourself."

Roxie looked like she was going to argue, but Nancy held up her hand. "Another word and you'll be grounded for a week and I'll take the phone away. Think very carefully before you make your decision."

After a very long moment, Roxie huffed and stomped away.

Jocelyne looked over at Nancy, expecting exasperation. Instead, she was grinning.

"Roxanne has a phone?"

Now, there was a contemplative sigh. "That was a huge debate. I was against it, but Blaine was firm that she needed it as an emergency back-up. She walks to and from school which is about a mile away and she often stays for different extracurricular events. For all her bluster, Roxie's really a good kid. It's the crowd she hangs out with which gives me cause for concern. That's another bone of contention between her father and me. He wants to forbid her from seeing her friends but I worry she'll just find a way to see them behind our backs. Better to be out in the open and honest about it than have her feel that she has to hide something from us."

"Being a parent sounds challenging."

Nancy chuckled. "From the day they're conceived to the day I die, I'll be their mother. Heck, I was six when Seth was born, so I feel a great affinity to him as well. When he announced, at age five, that he was going to be a police officer, no one believed him. And look at him now," she said, with a bit of reverence in her voice. "All grown up and making us proud. I worry about him like I worry about my own kids, but I know he would be miserable doing anything else. Do you know what I mean?"

Jocelyne nodded. "I do know." She wanted to confide in this woman. Tell her how much she understood and how much she desperately missed her work, but she held back. An admission would only lead to more questions she couldn't possibly answer.

Soon, Ray's wife Bettina joined them. She was a woman with a creamy complexion, wild red hair and green eyes. Those eyes were alight as she pulled up a chair. She was barely seated when Beverly also pulled up a chair for herself and one for her mother

"Okay," Bettina said, now that all the women were gathered. "I saw the doctor yesterday and it's twins."

All at once, there was an explosion of excitement. Jocelyne hadn't been paying attention, but now she could see the thickening of the woman's waist. Chances were, if she'd known Bettina better, she would also have noticed the enlarged breasts. As a doctor, Jocelyne had a knack for seeing pregnancies. She had seen it with Shannon the other night at the cinema. She'd been wrong once or twice, but it was rare. She couldn't explain it in any logical way, so she simply accepted.

When all the women were settled, Jocelyne ventured, "were there any complications with the twins?"

Every woman at the table had a huge grin on their faces. "The twins were delivered by C-section and were holding hands. If I can find my wallet, I can show you the picture. It was so cool."

Jocelyne had never heard of that, but it didn't mean it didn't happen. She could appreciate why all the women were a little misty eyed.

"So everything is going well with this pregnancy?"

Bettina smiled. "The gestational diabetes is back which worries me, but it isn't anything I can't handle. It went away after the last pregnancy, so I'm counting on it doing that again. I really hate needles."

Jocelyne smiled. "You must have loved giving birth."

Bettina smiled. "Oh, I didn't look at the epidural needle, just enjoyed the pleasant effects. I had known needles and pain were part of the process and that the result would be worth it." She glanced over at the twins who were swimming with Dougie under the watchful eye of their father, Miles.

Nancy looked over at Jocelyne and pointed to Candy. "Is she getting heavy?"

Actually, her leg had gone numb about ten minutes ago, so she only smiled. "Nothing I can't handle."

"Well let me know. Ray and Blaine are manning the barbeque so there should be food fairly soon."

Irene smiled. "Seth and Joe are in the house putting together the salad and the potato chips." Joe was Seth's dad.

"Should we go help them," Jocelyne asked and the women burst out laughing.

"The men in this family are the chefs," Irene confided. "We women do the clean-up."

Since servants did both in the world Jocelyne had come from, she merely nodded.

The women then began a conversation about how hot and dry the summer had been. Then they meandered through a discussion of summer activities the kids were partaking in. Next was Bettina talking about her work.

Words drifted over Jocelyne as she pressed her nose to Candy's hair. She had heard that babies had a particular smell, but did that mean only infants or toddlers as well? There was a smell which she could detect. Must be the shampoo, Jocelyne thought. Or something more ethereal than that.

The next thing she knew, she had drifted off to sleep. She started when Blaine lifted Candy from her lap. "She's had a bit of a cold," he said by way of explanation. "Normally she's as rambunctious as all the other kids."

Still, in her father's arms, the little girl stirred. She threw her arms around his neck. "I love you, Daddy." Blaine pressed a kiss to her temple. "I love you too honey. Now, how about a hot dog?" She let out a squeal of excitement and Jocelyne laughed.

She knew her father had never held her like that. John Baldwin was a pillar of the community who was respected and feared by those around him. He was a tough man, but he was also a fair man. Still, she had lived in fear of disappointing him. Her mother had also been decorous and a bit cold. She had been sure her daughters wanted for nothing, but she had left the child-rearing to a series of highly qualified nannies.

If Jocelyne ever had children, she would be involved in her children's lives. She would make sure they were loved like the love she was witnessing.

Her breath caught. Her children? She wasn't going to have children. The whole thought was absurd. So why had it flitted through her brain? Because she was surrounded by people who were so clearly happy with their lives. Part of her was longing for that happiness. Wanting more than the lonely and unfulfilling existence she was facing now that medicine had been ripped from her. Her heart had been taken from her and it was amazing she was still alive.

"Are you okay?"

It was Irene who was looking up at her. How that woman had birthed babies who had grown up to be big strapping men like Seth and Ray was one of those wonders. Of course her husband was tall, but he was lanky while Seth and Ray were all muscle.

"I'm okay," she assured Irene.

The older woman smiled. "We're a bit of a crazy bunch."

"Seth said Christmas is chaos."

Irene laughed. "Just wait until Seth marries and has kids. I'm sure the volume will go up yet another notch."

It wasn't lost on Jocelyne that Irene just assumed Seth was going to marry and produce grandchildren for her. She saw it as a done deal instead of some unknowable future event. Maybe her parents had felt that way about Jocelyne and medicine - that it had been preordained.

Still, she let Irene link arms with her again and consented to be dragged towards the table of food.

"She's smart," Miles said. "Do you know her IQ?"

Seth rolled his eyes, grateful for the sunglasses. His brother-in-law was a brilliant mathematician who saw everything in terms of numbers. He also sometimes lacked tact and social graces, but he loved his daughters. Delia was eight and Vanessa was six. With Ray and Bettina's twins being five, Candy being four and Dougie all of six, they were a compact group.

Roxie was the outlier in the family and she often let the adults know how she felt about that. She had been...an accident and there had been a shotgun wedding. Since the love between Nancy and Blaine had been clear for everyone to see, nothing more had ever been said. Nancy had been in her last year of college studying nursing, but she had never gone back to finish. Instead, she had embraced motherhood. Now she had three kids and worked part-time in a daycare which Candy attended.

"No," he said to Miles, "I don't know her IQ." He wanted to know how the man had pegged Jocelyne as borderline genius, but he suspected it was some kind of smart person radar. Vanessa, who was all of six, was already reading books at the grade seven level and doing math at the grade five level. So far so good, but Seth knew Beverly was worried what might happen if Vanessa eclipsed her older sister. Delia had a talent for physical activities so Beverly kept her busy with sports.

Would Vanessa turn out like Jocelyne? God, he hoped not. Jocelyne had apparently been so single-minded in her pursuit of medicine that it sounded like there had been no fun in her life. Beverly and Miles insisted Vanessa also participate in outside activities, but the girl had terrible co-ordination so sports were out, yet she could play the piano. That one baffled Seth, but after hearing his niece play, he saw that her genius was more than just academic. When they had their special day together, she always insisted that he take her to the aquarium where she gave him the guided tour. She could recite the exhibits almost word for word which both awed and scared him.

"You said she's doing medical billing at the clinic? Honestly, Seth, it's a bit of a waste. Why don't I see if we can use her at work?" Miles worked as a statistical analyst for a left-leaning think tank whose primary focus was an agenda of bringing social issues to the fore.

"I'm not sure," Seth said truthfully.

"There's an upcoming debate about doctor-assisted suicide and we're looking for someone to spearhead the campaign."

"I don't think Jocelyne would want something so public."

Miles waved off his objection. "We have our public relations people and our experts. We're looking for someone to do the coordination. Someone who can bridge the gap and sort through the jargon. You know, get the experts be more relatable and the publicity people to be more knowledgeable."

Intrigued, Seth looked over at Jocelyne. Dana and Lana were vying for her attention, showing off the matching dolls they had gotten for their fifth birthday a few weeks ago. The good doctor was looking pretty comfortable, despite her protestations she knew nothing about kids. She was adaptable, and with kids, that was crucial. When they moved away, Vanessa sat down next to her and began an earnest conversation.

Jocelyne shot him a panicked look, but he merely smiled. Let her handle the six-year-old genius. He turned back to Miles. "Make discreet inquires, but don't be disappointed if she says no. She seems happy where she is."

Miles made a sound which might have been disapproval, but said nothing.

Ray clapped him on the back. "Nothing wrong with being average, you know. Someone has to construct the houses you geniuses live in." He was being a bit humble, but that was his nature. Ray actually owned one of the biggest construction firms in Mission City, built from the ground up by his own wiles and will. He was looking at bidding for a huge new project which would mean ramping up his operations. Seth had no doubt his brother was more than capable.

His brother had repeatedly offered to build Seth's house, but he refused to take charity. He knew his brother would make it at or below cost. Plus, Seth wanted the satisfaction of building it himself. Of course at the rate he was going, he would be retired before the house was finished.

Miles glanced at his watch. "I'll let the kids know they can go back in the pool if they want."

"Try to convince Jocelyne to get in as well, she looks like she's sweating."

Even from the distance, he could see a fine sheen of sweat on her brow.

Miles shrugged. "I'll do my best." That was Miles, Seth thought. The man was easy-going about some things and obsessive about others. Seth had no doubt that Miles would do the follow-up about that job fairly soon.

He watched with great interest as his brother-in-law approached the good doctor. She practically leapt from her seat and began stripping down to her bathing suit. Interesting, he thought, how desperate she was to get away from Vanessa, who was looking completely nonplussed. Then his niece got down from her chair and joined the rest of the kids in the pool.

Ray let out a low whistle, meant only for Seth's and Blaine's ears. "That is one amazing looking woman."

"Watch it," Seth growled, "or I'll tell Bettina."

Ray laughed. "Actually, Bettina was the one who commented on Jocelyne's looks. It was more amazement than jealousy."

"And why should your wife be jealous? She's beautiful."

Laughing again, Ray punched Seth in his good shoulder. "See, nothing wrong with admiring a woman. Your woman is a stunner, though."

"She's not my woman," Seth growled.

"But you want her to be," Blaine observed casually. Then he looked over and spotted Nancy and Roxie arguing. "I'm going to have to go intervene or they're liable to start World War Three."

Seth waylaid him. "Let me go."

Blaine shrugged and looked only too happy to give up the job of mediator.

It took him a moment to stand, but Seth made his way over to his sister and niece. Their bodies were radiating tension. Still, Seth sauntered up as if he didn't have a care in the world.

"Problem?"

Both women spun on him. It was Roxie who was faster on the draw. "She wouldn't let me go to The Junction today and now she says I can't go out with my friends to watch a movie. It's not like it's a school night or something." She glared at her mother. "It is summer break, but she won't let me have any fun."

Seth could see that Nancy's jaw was clenched. His normally happy sister was about to lose it completely, something she did rarely. Slow to temper but something to behold when she got there.

"I told Roxanne she can't go out tonight because she has to baby-sit the kids tomorrow."

"Which is another thing that isn't fair. All my friends get the summer off and I'm stuck babysitting. It's embarrassing."

"You're being well-compensated," Nancy pointed out.

"Sure," Roxanne shot back, "for my university funds. I think if I work now then I should get the money now."

"You have a very generous allowance."

"Well I quit."

Nancy threw her hands up in the air in exasperation.

Roxie turned to leave, but Seth reached out to snag her arm. "You've had your say, now I get mine. You will not talk to your mother that way. You know very well that both your mother and your aunts are counting on you to be alert and awake tomorrow morning. You are responsible for five very important little people who idolize you. I know you think your life sucks, but it could be worse, so don't forget that." She was still sulking, but the pout was less pronounced. "Is it the early show or the late show?"

"Late show."

"Could you maybe convince your friends to see the early show?"

She was chaffing at his interference, but he held steady.

"Yeah, I probably could."

"The movie is two hours and starts at seven, so you'll be home by nine-fifteen. You have to promise to go straight to bed."

Her eyes brightened. "I will, Uncle Seth, I promise."

Now his eyes settled on Nancy.

"If she's a minute past curfew then she loses her phone for a week."

"Deal! I have to go call everyone."

Seth didn't let go. "First you need to apologize to your mother."

Her lower lip trembled a bit, but then Roxie straightened. "I'm sorry."

"You're forgiven," Nancy said and Seth released his grip. Roxie was out of his grip for all of five seconds before she began the text messages. Nancy turned to him. "I'm not sure I like you interfering."

"Mediating," Seth corrected. "Maybe I was out of line, but you both were making valid points." He reached out to put his arm around his much shorter sister's shoulder. "I had a talk with her the other night and I think we came to some kind of understanding. She's a good kid, Nance, and you've done a good job."

"Like I told your girlfriend, I'll worry about her until the day I take my last breath. Probably even after that."

Seth was about to point out that Jocelyne wasn't his girlfriend, but then he thought better of it. Go with the flow, he told himself. When she left him, everyone would be sympathetic like they had been today. Nothing wrong with a bit of coddling now and again. It wasn't the manly thing to do, but he knew his sisters, mother and sister-in-law liked to baby him sometimes. If he let them, it didn't diminish his standing. Just as long as the guys at the detachment didn't hear about it.