Fall From Grace Read online

  Brian’s lips turned down into a frown. “You have no idea, Kev. Besides, I’ve always wanted to try that place out. I heard their prime rib is to die for.”

  “You know you have to make reservations at least a week in advance, don’t you?”

  “Don’t worry about that, I’ve got that covered. I treated the head chef last week for an accidental knife wound to his hand. He was so thankful, he told me I could eat there for any time with a day’s notice. All I have to do is give him a call the day before.”

  “You lucked out, buddy.”

  “I sure did. That’s one of the perks of being an ER doctor. Look, I promise you’ll have a great time. Lisa is a mortician, and she’s really nice. She just broke up with her boyfriend of seven years, and Terry offered to show her around town to keep her from becoming depressed.”

  “A mortician?” His face twisted with disbelief. While he had dated a nurse and a dietician from the hospital, his mind drew a blank about what they would have in common. “Wonderful. Not only do I get to look forward to a boring conversation about dead people, but I get to chaperone someone who’s on the rebound.” Kevin rolled his eyes upward. “God, is this all I deserve after trusting you with my dating life?”

  Brian punched him lightly on the arm. “Relax and stop being so uptight. Just go out and be yourself. Terry says Lisa is a sweet Christian girl, just what you’re looking for. Isn’t that what you’ve been looking for? A serious Christian woman? And besides, I’m sure she has other interests you two can talk about.

  “Well yeah, but a mortician?”

  Brian lowered his voice. “Hey, think of it this way, you’re both sort of dealing with the medical field. It’s just that her patients are dead.” He chuckled loudly.

  “Ha ha, very funny.”

  “Look, I know you haven’t dated anyone for a long time, but Lisa is going to be a lot better than—”

  The sound of a woman’s voice interrupted their conversation.

  Chapter 2

  “How do the two of you have time to talk? Don’t you have somewhere you need to be Turner?

  Both men turned around to see Dr. Rebecca Parker. The woman had shiny blonde hair pulled back into a bun and wore light blue scrubs under a white lab coat. She was the attending physician on duty and charged with supervising both residents.

  “Yes ma’am. I was just getting over there.”

  “Good. Ms. Evergreen needs labs and get a nurse to change the sheets on Mr. Johnson. Mr. Clevens needs a CT of the brain, and there is a little boy screaming in the waiting room from a nose bleed. Try and get it to stop and calm him, please.”

  “Yes ma’am.” The young man ran off to do her bidding as she turned her attention to Kevin.

  “Dr. Pierce, did you see Mr. Renfrew?”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  “How did it go?”

  “A few broken ribs, but he’ll be okay.” Kevin smiled inside, knowing that only he knew the secret reason for his patient’s visit.

  “Good, then come follow me.”

  “OK.” Kevin rose to follow the woman down the hallway. He felt a little awkward as he took long strides to keep up with her. It wasn’t because of the fact Dr. Parker or Becca to those who knew her on a personal level, had won three medical awards for outstanding excellence or because she was a phenomenal doctor on staff at the hospital. Kevin had already established his own reputation for being one of the best doctors on staff. It was because of the fact they had a passionate relationship that had happened prior to his move to Harbor Hospital, one he preferred to leave in the past.

  He could still remember the story of her life and the personal sacrifices it had cost her to establish her career at Harbor Hospital. She had shared the story with him when they first started dating. Dr. Parker and her husband had been high school sweethearts and had been together since they were 13. He was also a doctor who had been employed at the same hospital. After her second award, everything changed for Dr. Rebecca Parker. Her career had skyrocketed and her personal and love life had taken the hit for it. Her husband of three years had ultimately left and taken everything with him, including the dogs and her heart.

  That was when they had met. After her divorce, Becca had become a single woman again, and they had met at one of the galas the hospital had thrown. He was a senior med student at the time, and his uncle wanted to show him all there was to the life of being a doctor in a big time hospital. They had hit it off as soon as his uncle had introduced them. She had worn a dark blue dress that made her eyes sparkle, and he remembered thinking she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Their relationship took off like a whirlwind, and from that day forward, they spent almost every waking moment together.

  They had kept it a secret because she knew that people in the hospital wouldn’t understand. He was a few years younger than her, but it didn’t seem to bother either of them. They would meet up and spend the day together out of town or go somewhere where they could be alone. She would help him with his classes, and he would listen to her stories. They had a good relationship in the eyes of the world and worked well together. He had achieved success in med school, and his life was on top of the world, there was no need for God or any kind of religion in his life.

  But that was before the accident with Sarah.

  After that tragic night, his whole life had turned upside down, like a tornado from Kansas had swept through it. Things that once had meaning became empty, hopeless, and unfulfilling. He had it all, a good job, a great reputation, and a passionate relationship that would make even the most liberal Christians blush. But they did nothing to comfort the void in his soul.

  He had just started his internship at the hospital before Sarah’s accident and after the tragedy, their relationship began to unravel. The guilt and pain overwhelmed him, causing him to withdraw from those closest to him, including Becca. While therapy helped him cope with everyday life, it failed to take away the deep-seated guilt festering inside his soul.

  That was when his sister Crystal invited him to church with her. Skeptical at first, he finally agreed, desperate to find a cure for the emptiness inside. He went one Sunday with her to a local church to listen about God. As a child, he remembered church as being boring, and he would often fall asleep with his head propped against his mother’s shoulder. But that day with Crystal was different.

  If was as if God could see the hole in his heart and had used the pastor’s message to break through the walls of skepticism. As an adult, he finally realized how much he needed God and the church in his life. That day, the pastor’s message struck a chord in his heart and got him thinking about what the purpose of his life was and where it was headed. Kevin knew he was on a road to nowhere, strolling down a lane of selfish ambition without a plan to build a lasting legacy. A higher purpose that would make an eternal difference in the lives of those he came in contact with.

  On that day, he accepted Jesus into his life. He remembered bowing his head and repeating the sinner’s prayer after the pastor. When he had finished, a heavenly peace settled over his soul as if his damaged heart had been replaced with a new one. He was on the road to a new life, a more fulfilling and purpose driven one.

  That was when he and Becca hit a wall. She didn’t believe in God and told him she wasn’t about to start being a Christian. Although he respected her decision, he prayed fervently for her salvation, hoping she would see the same vision he had. But they began to grow apart, and their relationship never recovered since that time.

  He could still recall the beginning of the end of their relationship. He had gone over to Becca’s house to share the good news with her. He told her everything from how the pastor’s message had touched his heart to when he stood at the front reciting the sinner’s prayer. Then he asked if she would be willing go back with him the following week to see if she might find the same joy he had experienced. But she had declined and told him she didn’t believe in religion and an outdated book full of make-believe stories.
She believed in logic, science and man’s ability to change his own destiny. That was when the argument started.

  “Explain to me then how man was created if it’s all about science,” he questioned as they sat in the living room of her home.

  “Well, I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but it wasn’t miraculous. It was through evolution. And this nonsense about a woman being made from a bone out of a body.” She shook her head and laughed at him as if he had just told her he still believed in Santa Claus. “You took the classes in school, Kevin. You know how this works. Look, I’m glad you’re so happy about being saved. I’m happy you’re happy, but please don’t force the issue on me. I don’t believe in God, and I never will.”

  Her face softened into a warm smile as she clasped his hand between hers. “Look, so far things have been going great between us, and I enjoy spending all my time away with you, but this is not something you’re going to be able to change about me. This is who I am. I’m a doctor that functions on logic. You need to accept that. Now . . .” She pressed her body closer to his and ran her finger teasingly up his arm. “What do you say we go out and have some fun tonight? There’s a new lounge that just opened in downtown LA, and I hear the show is quite popular with the guys.” Her lips pressed against his, ripe and seductive.

  Kevin pulled his body back. A sigh escaped his lips as his head wagged in disappointment. “You see, Becca, that’s the problem, I can’t go back to living the old life that we used to. Those things don’t fulfill me anymore. And I can’t go on pretending everything is fine between us when my conscience convicts me I’m headed in the wrong direction. You don’t believe in the one thing that means the most to me in the world. How can I be with someone I can’t be spiritually one with? Someone to build a solid foundation with God at its center. I can’t look to science for an answer for everything when God has shown me his undying love and changed my life forever. Don’t you see?” His eyes pleaded for her understanding.

  There was a moment of silence before he heard her answer. “Kevin ...I really don’t know.”

  Kevin slid a hand under her chin and lifted her head. “As much as I love you, I can’t return to the old life I used to live. God has given me a new calling in life, and I need someone who can join me in that journey. I’m sorry, but I can’t do this anymore. I’ve changed into someone different. The Bible says I’m not supposed to be unequally yoked with another person, and that’s exactly what’s happening between us.” A feeling of guilt washed over Kevin as he saw the hurt in Becca’s eyes. “I can’t go around partying through life, pretending to be happy when my life fell apart after Sarah’s accident. God has given me hope for a better life, and the least I can do in return is live my life for Him, with or without you.”

  A tear rolled down Becca’s eyes as she pushed him away. “I can see you’re going to be bullheaded about this, and I can’t stop you from chasing this nonsense. But I’m can’t join this new life of yours. I’m sorry. I hope you find whatever it is that you’re looking for with your faith. I hope you find peace.” Becca brushed her hand across her eyes and rose off the leather sofa to her feet. “Look I gotta go, I’ve got a shift starting in about an hour. We can talk some other time.”

  Kevin reached out and clasped her hand between his. “Becca, I’ll be praying for you. I want you to be happy and experience the same joy I’ve found in the Lord.”

  “Don’t get sore knees. That may be one prayer your God may not be able to answer.” Becca jerked her hand back before escorting him to the front door.

  Kevin’s thoughts returned to the present, and he looked back over at Becca and realized she hadn’t changed over the last few years. She still looked to science for everything. It held all the answers for her, and it saddened him to think she would never know God and the love He gave her.

  “So how have you been Kev?” She smiled at him.

  “Good. How about you?”

  “Oh. You know me. I’m doing great.

  “That’s good.”

  “Hey, how about we go get something to eat after our shift? You know as friends. Kind of catch up a little. Like old times.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  His back ran into the wall as Becca thrust her toned body against his, pinning him against the wall. They were in a deserted corridor where no one could witness their quiet indiscretion. She pressed her body against his, and he watched her small finger touch his chest, running up and then down the expanse between his ribs.

  “Come on,” she purred. “It would be like old times. We could get better acquainted again.”

  The smell of her sugary perfume was tantalizing as it was poisonous, like a fresh chocolate truffle laced with cyanide. His heart began to pound, not because she stirred his desires, but because he knew Satan was tempting him with the past, a past that catered to his fleshly desires and would lead him astray. His muscles tightened to flee as he slid out from her arms and put some distance between them. “Sorry Becca, but I’m going to have to pass.”

  He automatically slipped back into using the nickname he had given her when they were together. Even though he had known she was one of the senior residents at Harbor, Kevin still accepted the job, assuming the odds of running into each other would be slim. But to his surprise, she ended up being his senior resident and now his boss, and that put a strain on their professional relationship. Even though Becca knew he had matured as a Christian, she still desired him and wasn’t ashamed to admit it.

  A loud commotion down the hall caught their attention, saving him from the awkward situation.

  Chapter 3

  “Sounds like something just came in. I’d better go check on it,” he said as he backpedaled away from her and scurried down the hall.

  The sound of Becca’s voice echoed after him. “Next time you won’t be so lucky, Dr. Pierce.”

  But Kevin never looked back. He breathed a sigh of relief; thankful God had delivered him from another uncomfortable situation. While he still cared about Becca, things would never be the same now that he was a Christian. He still loved her as one of God’s created beings, but he couldn’t love her as his future wife. There was too much evidence to ignore the existence of the Almighty, and he hoped that someday God would bring the right Christian woman along to complete his life.

  As he rounded the bend of the last turn in the hallway, the sound of the rear doors bursting open reached his ears. Two paramedics barreled past the double doors with a gurney held steady between them. From where he stood, Kevin could just see the outline of a body on the stretcher. As he moved swiftly down the hall to the ER, he realized that the victim was a young girl and that her neck and shoulders were drenched in blood. Excitement surged throughout his body when he realized this was the moment he had been waiting for since the beginning of his residency, the prime opportunity to put his surgical skills to the test.

  “What happened?” Kevin stopped over the gurney, looking down at his newest patient. Her face was like porcelain, half covered by an oxygen mask, her light brown hair streaked with red. He passed his hand over her face: nothing.

  “Car accident,” one of the paramedics said, glancing up from his charge. “She was a passenger. The driver tried to answer her phone at the wheel, swerved toward oncoming traffic, then jerked the wheel the other way and ran head-on into a tree.” He nodded at the girl. “Her name is Rachel Knight. She’s thirteen.”

  “Where are the other victims?” Kevin looked around, but no others were on their way in.

  The medic pressed his lips together. “DOA,” he said. “All three. The car ran off the road and rolled over down the hill. We think several hours had passed before a driver noticed the taillights. Rachel was barely breathing when we got there.”

  “All right.” Kevin snapped into autopilot, his years of medical training taking over. “I need her on the table, on the count of three.” He counted, and the paramedics transferred Rachel in one smooth, practiced motion. They began to fill
him in on more details as the team worked to get her vitals and stabilize her condition.

  “Nothing major broken. But there’s subdural hemorrhaging from the back of her head, probably trauma from the windshield,” the taller paramedic said.

  In the back of his mind, the grisliness of the circumstances registered in full, but Kevin couldn’t afford to feel anything except committed to saving this girl’s life. “We need to get control of that bleeding before she suffers a subdural hematoma,” he said to no one in particular. He knew the odds of death were extremely high and several hours had already elapsed since the time of the accident.

  From his right, someone handed him a gauze dressing, which he quickly and carefully applied. Then he checked her vitals while a nurse set up an IV and started a drip. Her pulse barely registered on the monitor. “Rachel!” he called. “Rachel, can you hear me?”

  The girl lay eerily still on the table. She gave no response, not even a flutter of the eyelashes. Kevin leaned over her and gently removed her mask so that he could check her pupils for dilation, and the minute the plastic came away, he felt like his own heart had stopped.

  All of the feelings he had been suppressing for what seemed like an eternity came crashing over him in a tidal wave of crushing despair. Swallowing hard, he lifted her left eyelid. The irises were pale blue ... just like Sarah’s. Everything seemed to stand still for what seemed like forever. He felt like he was in a soundproof room, alone, as everything drowned out around him. He heard no sound and saw nothing but the young girl who was laying on the table in front of him. His heart skipped a few beats, and his chest tightened. It was too real. Too shocking. And he didn’t know what to do next.

  At that moment, the emergency room had dissolved, and Kevin was looking into the face of his niece—Sarah, his sister’s only daughter. His eyelids felt like a small weight had been attached to them, and he recalled the sensation of nodding off, of slipping away toward sleep. Sarah’s eyes were open, but as he watched, they closed, softly as if she, too, was falling asleep.