“I’m so sorry that happened to you, Catherine.” She liked how he called her Catherine, rather than Cat. “You certainly didn’t deserve it, any of it.”
He sat back but remained with his hand holding hers, facing her. “And I know how you feel.”
Her eyes flew to his. “Wh-what?”
“Yes, I do. Well, I wasn’t left at the altar. But my college sweetheart, with whom I was together for four years, decided my best friend was better in bed than I was. Or so she told me when I caught her with him in our condo. In our own bed.” He shook his head in disgust. “Do you have any idea how emasculating it is to be told someone else is a better lover than you are? In fact, I can’t believe I’m admitting that to you now. Must be the champagne.”
The pain on his face was obvious, despite his nonchalant tone. “I’m sorry, William. She sounds awful.”
He squeezed her hand. “It was a long time ago. I’ve had years and lots of practice since then.” He wiggled his eyebrows in a lascivious manner.
Cat broke out laughing. The lightened mood was just what she needed.
“You seem pretty fantastic to me, Mr. Dawes.” She gestured around the room. “I feel downright spoiled tonight.”
“I like that about you, Ms. Schreiber, that a simple meal in a low-key restaurant can make you feel that way. It’s a nice change from the women with whom I’m normally surrounded.”
“Don’t forget the limo,” she added mischievously.
“Ah, yes, well, who could forget a limo? Speaking of limos, it’s about time for us to go. We’ve got a plane to catch.”
“What, no Broadway show?” she teased. “It is my first time in New York, after all.”
“Annie was sold out,” he shot back.
At her puzzled glance, he said, “You know, the little orphan girl. Daddy Warbucks?”
Cat laughed. “I do hope you know I was kidding about the show, William. I don’t want you to think I’m anything less than thrilled with this date. It’s been fabulous. An absolute dream. In fact, I keep waiting for the clock to strike midnight.”
“No dream. But it is past eleven. We should go—I know you need to work in the morning.”
“It’s how late? I can’t believe we’ve been here so long. It’s felt like five minutes.”
William stood, offering his hand to help Cat out of the booth. “I hope that means you’ve been enjoying yourself as much as I have.”
She grabbed his hand and smiled as he pulled her up close to him. For a moment, she was sure he was going to kiss her. He stepped back, however, saying, “Don’t forget your bag.”
Disappointment flooded her veins. As she picked up her purse, she could hear her cell phone ringing. Ignoring it, she gathered her coat and walked with Will to the front door, pausing on the way out to thank Joey for a wonderful meal. He shook hands with them both, letting them know they were welcome back anytime.
At that moment her phone rang again. I should have put it on silent.
“It’s all right if you want to check it,” William prompted. “I don’t mind.”
“Well, I do. But I guess I’ll see who it is.”
She pulled out her phone. Both calls had been from her sister. Why would Marie call so late at night? Not only that, but she had called a number of times before. The noise in the restaurant must have kept her from hearing the ring. Worry crept in across her brow.
“It’s my sister. Would you mind if I called her back? She’s been trying to reach me, so I feel as if I should check in. I’m sorry.”
“Of course, go ahead,” he answered.
“Thanks,” she said as she started dialing.
Her sister answered on the first ring. “Cat? Where the hell are you? I called you at home, but Eliza said you were out. I’ve been calling your cell for several hours, but you didn’t answer. Why didn’t you answer?”
“I’m sorry. I’ve, um, been on a date. What’s wrong?”
“It’s Mom. She’s been in a horrible car accident.”
Chapter 15
Cat nearly dropped the phone. Panic rushed through her. “Mom? Mom’s been hurt?”
“Yes! A pickup truck sm-smashed into her as she was leaving the Target parking lot. She’s broken some bones and they’re worried about her brain.”
Her sister was crying.
“You need to come to Ohio right away. She’s in surgery right now, but they’re not sure she’s going to ma-make it. She’s at OSU, at the We-Wexner Center. How soon can you get here?”
Closing her eyes, Cat clutched the phone to her ear. Mom. Oh, my God, Mom. “I’ll be there as soon as I can, but I don’t know how long it will take, Marie.”
“Just h-hurry, please. She needs you here. I need you here.”
William’s face radiated concern as she hung up.
She stuffed the phone back in her purse, a million thoughts racing through her head. “My mom’s been in a car accident. I’ve got to figure out how to get to Ohio. I need to get to Ohio.”
“Not a problem. We’ll fly there directly. Tell me where you need to go,” William said as the limo pulled up.
“Really? You’ll take me there tonight? You’d do that?” Her eyes filled with tears of gratitude.
“For what else is having a private jet any good than being able to rescue damsels in distress?” he quipped as the driver opened the doors for them.
With the mention of damsels, Cat’s mind jumped to Ben Cooper. What’s wrong with me? My mom’s fighting for her life. I’m with someone who seems to be absolutely wonderful in every way, and I’m thinking about a guy back home? She groaned.
“I’m sorry to hear about your mother,” William said as they settled themselves in the limo. He pulled her in to lean on him, fixing his arm around her shoulders. “We’ll get there as quickly as we can. I pray that everything turns out all right.”
“We need to go to Columbus. I need to go to Columbus. Mom’s at the Wexner Center, Marie said.”
“That’s an excellent hospital. I’m sure she’s in great hands there.”
Cat grew silent, tears streaming down her face. William rubbed her knuckles, but she hardly noticed. What if this is it? What if I lose my mom, too? I can’t lose my mom. Please, God, don’t take my mom.
She closed her eyes as the miles passed by.
“Holy shit, you’re here. You’re here! How did you get here so fast?” Marie shouted, leaping up off the hospital bench as Catherine raced into the waiting room.
“How’s Mom? Is she okay?” Cat fought to catch her breath.
“She’s out of surgery now. The surgeons said everything went well—better than expected, actually—and they were able to release the pressure on her brain.” Marie rocked back and forth on her feet. “She’s sedated and they’ll keep her that way for a while, but they’re much more positive about her situation.”
Cat exhaled loudly, sinking into the seat beside her. “Oh, thank God.”
William strode into the room to Cat. “I parked the car. How’s your mother?”
“She’s out of surgery. Doing well so far,” Cat answered, turning toward him. “Thank you so much for bringing me here. I will never be able to repay you. Never.”
Marie inspected him, open curiosity on her face.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Marie, this is William Dawes. William, my sister, Marie.”
Marie gave him a brief nod before looking back at her sister. “How did you get here so fast?” she asked again, her forehead wrinkling in confusion. “Charlottesville is at least six hours by car. Flying takes at least a few hours. You got here in one. How is that possible?”
She turned to William. “And no offense, but why are you here?”
Cat had to laugh at her sister. “You and your numbers obsession. Yes, I got a great flight. A really great flight: William flew me here in his private jet. That’s why he’s here.”
“Private jet?” Marie gasped, her jaw dropping open. “Are you serious?”
“Yes, ma’am,” William
answered. “I’m happy to have been able to help at a time such as this.”
“Yes, thank you, thank you,” Marie stammered. She turned back to Cat. “Have you known each other long?”
“Not exactly. We were on our first date.”
Marie eyed them up and down, taking in the stunning dress and William’s suit. “Must have been some date.”
A nurse came out into the waiting room and addressed Marie. “Mrs. Bachman? Your mother is out of the recovery room and resting in her own room now. She’s sedated, but you may see her if you’d like.”
Marie and Cat turned to follow the nurse. As Marie walked through the doors to the patient rooms, Cat paused, looking back at William.
“It’s all right, Cat. Go be with your mother.” He took a step toward her. “Do you want me to stay? I’ll wait here if that is what you need.”
Cat gave him a wan smile. “No, William, you’ve done enough. More than enough. Go ahead and head home. I’m sure I’ll be here for at least a few days. Thank you so much for a lovely date, but especially for getting me to my mother. I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”
“Glad to be able to help,” he replied. “And I look forward to a second date. If you’re interested, and after your mother is better, of course.”
“Thank you. I’d like that.”
“Shall I call Eliza for you?”
Oh, God. Eliza. The bookstore. “The store. Eliza can’t run it on her own. Crap.” She chewed on her lip, trying to figure out what to do.
“Let me take care of it, Catherine,” William replied. “I’ll hire temporary staff to help out.”
“I can pay them. I’ll pay. The store can afford it for a little while.”
“Don’t worry about that. You stay here for as long as you need and trust that things back home will be fine.”
She eyed him. “Why are you doing this all for me? You hardly know me.”
“True,” he answered. “But what I know, I like. A lot. And what good is having wealth if you can’t help others? It’s more meaningful to me to know I’m helping you in a real crisis than it is to drive you around in fancy cars or buy you dresses. No matter how sexy you look in them.”
At his words, she crossed her arms across her torso. She wasn’t used to men calling her sexy; it had been so long since she’d felt that way. “Well, thank you, Mr. Dawes. You certainly are playing the role of Prince Charming tonight. A woman could hardly ask for anything more.”
He gave her a courtly bow. “At your service, ma’am. Now go see your mother. You’ve got my cell number. Let me know if there is anything else I can do.”
She nodded, her eyes moistening with tears.
Stepping forward, he kissed her lightly on the lips. “Until we meet again, my Cinderella.” Then he turned and walked out the door.
Cat gasped at her mother lying against the hospital bed. Her left eye was swollen grotesquely shut and was a livid black and blue, her head bandaged on the left side over her ear. Her left arm was wrapped in a cast from her wrist up past her elbow. Although blankets covered her lower torso, Cat could see the edge of a cast on her lower leg, as well. It was eerie to see her mom lying so still and lifeless, her skin, with the exception of the area around her eye, alarmingly pale.
“She’s really going to be okay?” Cat whispered to Marie, who stood holding her mom’s right hand. “She looks awful.”
“Yeah, she does.” Marie’s voice caught. “And hell, I hope so.”
Cat walked around and hugged her sister. “She’ll get better, Marie. She has to. And we’ll help her. We’ll help.”
Marie nodded, her red-rimmed eyes meeting Cat’s. “How long can you stay? I need you here, Cat. I need you. Roger’s working long hours and the girls have some gacky, snotty thing they picked up from school. That’s why they’re not here now.”
“I’ll stay as long as I can.” Cat thought briefly of the store, and Eliza, and everything back home. I have to trust it will all work out. Somehow it will. “In fact, why don’t you go home and get some rest? I’ll call you when Mom wakes up. Promise.”
Marie sniffed and nodded wearily. “OK, sistuh,” she said, using their term of endearment for each other. “Thank you.”
“Ca-Ca-Catherine?”
The small voice roused Cat from her fitful sleep on the hospital room chair. She glanced at the clock: 6:10 a.m.
“Mom? Mom!” She jumped up, crossing to her mother’s side.
Her mom tried to smile but winced instead.
“It’s fine, Mom, just relax. You’re in the hospital. You were in an accident.”
The older woman raised her right hand to the left side of her head, touching the bandage there. Tears filled her one open eye. Cat squeezed her left hand lightly in reassurance, mindful of the cast. “You’re going to be fine, Mom. Everything’s going to be fine.”
With a quick knock at the door, a man with salt-and-pepper gray hair and a gentle face strode into the room. Given his white coat and stethoscope, Cat presumed he was the doctor. “Good morning, Mrs. Schreiber. I’m glad to find you awake.”
He turned to Cat. “You must be her daughter? I see the resemblance.” When Cat eyed her mother’s bruised and battered face, he added with a grin, “I don’t mean in her current condition.”
“How’s she doing, Doctor ...?”
“Lancet. George Lancet. Remarkably well, all things considered. She sustained a broken elbow and fractured her wrist. We thought at first her ankle was broken, but X-rays show it’s merely badly sprained, so it’s in a restraining boot for now. As far as her eye, although it looks as if she was in a nasty bar fight, it should heal just fine. The eye itself wasn’t damaged, just the area right below it. And we’ve seen no further swelling in the brain, which is the best sign of all.”
Grace Schreiber glanced back and forth from the doctor to her daughter with her one good eye.
“We’ll keep her here for a few days, of course, to ensure no complications and keep her pain under control, but hopefully all will be smoother sailing from here on out.”
Cat breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank God.”
“I’ll check back in an hour or so.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Cat replied.
After he left, she turned back to her mom, who’d already drifted back to sleep. Cat rubbed her mother’s hand. “I love you, Mom. Thank you for not leaving me.”
Marie shuffled into the room a short while later, a Diet Coke in hand. She looked exhausted. “How’s Mom?”
“Sleeping, thank goodness. Dr. Lancet says she’s going to be fine, though. Eventually.”
“Thank God.” Marie plopped down in a chair next to her sister. She blew her bangs out of her eyes then sipped her soda. After a moment, she poked Cat in the side. “So. Tell me about this William. He seems like a prime catch.”
Cat rolled her eyes. Marie had always been far more into dating and had had more boyfriends than she had. It didn’t surprise her that her sister would want to know all the details. Immediately. “Maybe,” she said. “But let’s not count chickens— or husbands—before they’ve hatched. We’ve been on one date. A grand date, I concede, but just one.”
“That’s more dates than I’ve heard you had in six years, sis. I’ll take it.”
Cat chuckled. “I know.” She paused. “Although I’ve had dates with two other guys in the past month.”
Marie nearly dropped her soda can. “What? Spill the beans!”
Cat told Marie about Derrick and Grayson, casting glances at her mom every once in a while. These were stories she didn’t want Grace overhearing.
Marie’s eyebrows went up at Catherine’s careful retelling of Poetry Night. “Sounds like you got to act out a scene from one of Eliza’s trashy novels right in your own living room.”
“Sure, if you don’t count missing out on the happily-ever-after part. Believe me, it was great, but that kind of great seems like the only thing Gray’s interested in. Or talking about poetry. But mostly
combining sex and poetry.”
“I can think of a few women who’d like that combination. Myself included.” Marie pumped her eyebrows up and down, making Cat laugh out loud. “Not that I’d cheat on Roger, but as good a husband as he is, he doesn’t spout poetry at me. Ever.”
“You’re telling me accountants aren’t hopeless romantics? I’m shocked. I could totally see Roger as the next Lord Byron.”
“Lord who?” Marie said. “Kidding. Of course, I know who Byron is. Mom would kill me if I didn’t.”
Cat chewed on her lip. Telling Marie about Derrick and Grayson had been fun, but she knew she’d only revealed half the story. Should she tell her of the medieval manuscript, and her own stories? Her hands suddenly felt clammy. Marie will think I’m nuts.
“Do you, um...” She hesitated. “Do you remember those stories I wrote?”
“What stories?”
Cat bit her lip. Doubt crept back in. Maybe she shouldn’t mention anything to Marie. No need to give her sister fodder for years of future ridicule.
She was almost grateful when a moan wafted from the hospital bed, and Marie jumped to their mother’s side. Thank God. Maybe she’ll forget I ever said anything.
Chapter 16
“Isn’t it great to be home?” Marie exclaimed as she wheeled their mother through the front door of her modest home a few days later.
Grace winced as the wheelchair bounced over the doorframe into the living room. “It’s going to take me a while to get used to this chair,” she said. “You know I like my independence.”
Marie and Cat grinned at each other, rolling their eyes. If there was one thing they knew about their mother, it was that.
“It won’t be for long,” Marie reassured her. “Just until your ankle heals a bit more.”
Grace held up her casted arm with a rueful expression. “This one’s going to take a lot longer, though.”
“Maybe,” said Cat, “but at least it’s your left side. You can still write. And the physical therapist you’re seeing at the hospital is kind of cute. What was his name? Luke?”
The Magic of Love Series Page 14