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in.

      “Are you threatening me?” she asked.

      “No, I’m just telling you that you can’t make cuts to this program.”

      “I have no intention of making cuts to the program, Dr. Valentino.” Then she sighed. “I’m making cuts to the pro bono program. That young boy, he’s the last pro bono case that you can take.”

      “What?” Alejandro was stunned. “You can’t.”

      “The board is cutting pro bono funding. They still want a world-class hospital, they’ll fund research programs and equipment. They’ll even fund staff, but pro bono cases must be referred to County.”

      “Cases like José’s can’t be referred to County. County doesn’t have the equipment to handle children like him. Sending them to County is a death sentence. County sends cases like José’s to us for a reason. We’re the best.”

      “My hands are tied. Only those who can afford to pay for the services at Buena Vista will be treated.” Then added, before she could stop herself, “You know all about what it’s like to cater to the wealthy, don’t you?”

      His eyes were like thunder as they narrowed dangerously. “You do remember me, then.”

      “And you remember me. Given your age and your standing here, you must’ve been, what, a resident when we met?”

      Alejandro cursed under his breath. “Yes.”

      “And does the board know what their precious Dr. Valentino did before becoming an attending at a prestigious hospital?”

      “Are you threatening me?” Alejandro asked, angry.

      “No.” Even though five years ago when she’d miscarried and had had no one to help her, no one to hold her hand, she would’ve gladly threatened Alejandro then. She’d wanted him to hurt, to know the pain she’d been feeling.

      “I danced to pay off student loans. That’s all. Once I’d earned enough money, I quit.”

      “I don’t care,” Kiri said. “What I care about is protecting the reputation of the hospital. What if word gets out that a surgeon was an exotic dancer?”

      “I haven’t danced in five years. My last show was in Vegas.”

      Kiri’s cheeks heated and he took her right back to that night so long ago. “Why did you pretend not to know me?”

      “Why did you?” he countered.

      “I was surprised to see a stripper as a surgeon.” And she regretted the hateful words the moment they’d slipped past her lips.

      “I’m not a stripper. I’m a surgeon. That’s all I am. Of course, it’s hard to practice as a surgeon when your program is being slashed.”

      “Your program is not being slashed. Only the pro bono fund. You can practice on patients who can pay.”

      Alejandro opened his mouth, but then a thin, long wail sounded from behind a Dumpster. It was weak, frightened.

      “Was that a baby?” Kiri asked.

      “Yes.” Alejandro turned and they listened, trying to drown out the sounds of traffic and thunder. Then they heard the small wail again.

      Weaker this time.

      Alejandro dashed over to the Dumpster and behind it saw a grease-stained box filled with newspapers. Kiri knelt down beside him and gasped as Alejandro peeled back the papers to uncover a small, blue-gray baby. Very small and obviously newly born, because the cord was still fresh and hastily cut off.

      “Oh, my God,” Kiri whispered. “It’s a baby.”

      A tiny infant that had been abandoned in an alleyway of a hospital. Alone and afraid.

      “Fools,” Alejandro cursed. “Who would do such a thing?”

      And Kiri couldn’t help but agree. Someone hadn’t wanted this poor mite, but to abandon the baby in the heat next to a Dumpster? That was dreadful.

      It was times like this that the loss hurt even more. It reminded Kiri again that life was cruel and dirty.

      Life was unfair.

      Alejandro whipped off his jacket and gently lifted the infant, wrapping the boy up. “Let’s get him inside. It’s sweltering out here and, with the storm coming, that’s the last thing he needs.”

      Kiri nodded as Alejandro gingerly picked up the baby. She opened the door and they ran inside. All she could do was keep up with Alejandro’s long strides as he called out for nurses, residents and equipment. They laid the baby down on a bed; he looked so small on the large gurney.

      Alejandro moved quickly, giving him oxygen, holding the mask over his nose while they waited for an incubator.

      “Who would do such a thing?” Kiri wondered out loud as she stared down at the small baby, new in this world and all alone.

      Alejandro shook his head. “I don’t know, but it’s a good thing we found him. He wouldn’t have lasted long out there. Look, his stats are very low—I’m surprised he’s lasted this long.”

      The incubator was brought in and a resident took over respirating the baby while they ran an umbilical line to get fluids into him. Kiri reached down and stroked his tiny hand between her finger and thumb. The hand was so small it made her heart skip a beat. It made her yearn for what she’d lost.

      And what she’d probably never have since her obstetrician had said she’d probably never again conceive or carry a pregnancy to term. Motherhood was not meant to be for her.

      “How old do you think he is?” Alejandro asked, invading her thoughts.

      “I think probably about thirty weeks. Maybe. More like twenty-eight,” she whispered as they intubated the baby and transferred him over to the incubator to take him up to the nursery. She’d lost her son at twenty-three weeks. He had only been slightly smaller than this boy.

      Alejandro nodded. “We probably just missed the mother. I’ll let the ER doctors know to be on the lookout for her.”

      Kiri nodded as the resident team wheeled the incubator and the baby up to the nursery. “Good call. I’ll take the little one up to the nursery and arrange for his transfer to County.”

      “County?” Alejandro asked, stunned.

      “Yes,” Kiri said. “I told you, the hospital has cut the pro bono cases.”

      Alejandro frowned and crossed his arms. “He won’t survive the trip to County and County doesn’t have the facilities of a level-one NICU.”

      “Then Seaside,” she offered. “He can’t stay here.”

      He shook his head. “We have the foremost neonatal intensive care unit here at Buena Vista. He needs to stay here.”

      Kiri didn’t want to send the baby to County either, but her hands were tied.

      “And who will pay for his medical expenses? He doesn’t have a family. He’s an abandoned baby.”

      A strange expression crossed Alejandro’s face. “I will pay for his medical expenses. I’ll take responsibility for him. I’ll act as his family.”

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