Healing Dr. Fortune by JUDY DUARTE Page A

tired of dealing with all the problems resulting from his bad decisions.
    For as long as she could remember, she’d been both mother and father to him, a role that was slowly wearing her down, especially since Max had such a bad attitude about anything she did or said to help him—unless it was handing him cash in silence.
    She would have to resort to tough love again, which had worked well in the past, but now there was the baby to consider.
    It was comforting to know that Max had taken on the responsibility of fatherhood, but that didn’t stop her from worrying.
    As much as she’d tried to convince herself that he was able to handle the baby on his own, she had to admit that she had her doubts.
    Â 
    At a quarter to noon the next day, Jeremy was reviewing an X-ray of an elderly patient. He tried to focus on the scans before him, but in the back of his mind, hecouldn’t help thinking about Kirsten and wondering if she’d like to have lunch with him.
    They had a date tomorrow night, something sure to surprise her, but he wanted to see her sooner than that. So he picked up his cell phone and gave her a call.
    She answered on the second ring, and when he told her what he had in mind for today, she said, “Lunch sounds great, but Max is out job hunting again, and I’ve got Anthony.”
    â€œThen why don’t I bring the food to you?” he asked.
    He could almost hear the smile in her voice. “I’d like that, Jeremy.”
    â€œHow about turkey sandwiches?”
    â€œThat’s perfect. I’ll have beverages to choose from, some fruit and…” She laughed. “Well, don’t bother picking up dessert, either. I’ve still got leftovers.”
    Twenty minutes later, Jeremy took a midday break from the clinic and showed up on Kirsten’s front stoop with the lunch he’d picked up from the deli.
    She’d been expecting him, so it was no wonder that she’d applied a coat of lipstick and had brushed her hair to a glossy shine. But it was her bright-eyed smile that did him in, reaching deep into his chest and turning him inside out.
    As she stepped aside to let him into the cozy living room, he spotted the baby in a stroller.
    â€œGoing somewhere?” he asked.
    â€œIf you’re up for a walk.” There it went again, that smile and that single dazzling dimple, and he realized he’d be up for just about anything with her.
    â€œThere’s a community park about a block down the street,” she explained. “And the sun’s out today. Why don’t we take a walk and have a picnic?”
    â€œSounds like fun.”
    And Jeremy hadn’t had fun in ages.
    â€œI’ve got some iced tea and goodies packed and ready to go.” She reached for a cooler that was on the floor, next to the sofa.
    â€œHere, let me carry that.” He took the handle from her. “You’ll have your hands full with the stroller.”
    As they left the house, and she locked the door behind them, he let her direct him to the park. February weather could always be a little iffy, but she’d been right. It was sunny today. And he could see why she’d want to get out of the house.
    â€œWhat would you have done if I didn’t want to picnic?” he asked.
    Her blue eyes glistened. “I figured a man who liked surprises wouldn’t mind eating in the park.”
    Once he’d reached adulthood, Jeremy had never really liked surprises, at least not until meeting Kirsten. For some reason, he found himself thinking about things that would be new, fun and exciting. But there was no need to let something like that out the bag. Besides, he didn’t care where they had lunch, as long as they were together.
    They walked several blocks to a small grassy area that wasn’t much more than a playground with a couple picnic tables, but it would do. And since it was a school day, they had the place to themselves.
    Kirsten parked