The Christmas books on the table display were selling like hotcakes. Picking up the newest, she studied its cover. A romance. She sighed. It was hard to get in the holiday mood with Tucker absent. A single envelope had sure messed things up.
But then, it wasn’t the envelope—it was the baggage stuffed inside.
The bell over the door rang, and Desdemona walked in with Daisy.
“Hi, Mommy!” Daisy skipped over to her.
“Before you say anything,” Desdemona said quickly, “we dropped off the snacks. Daisy and I decided it might be fun to play hooky today.”
“You did, did you?”
“Yep.” Daisy sent her a big grin.
“It’s a day made for Christmas shopping. Maybe we’ll bake some cookies.”
“Desdemona, you don’t need to do that. She’s okay at school.”
“I agree. She is fine at school. But I love having a little one around, seeing the magic of the season through her eyes. Is it okay?”
“Of course, but I don’t want you to feel obligated.”
“Blessed is the word I’d use.”
“Don’t you have a reservation at the spa?” Elisa asked.
“I’ll go tomorrow. Did you talk to Tuck?”
“Sort of, but it didn’t go well.”
The door opened and Elisa startled.
Under her breath, Desdemona said, “Calm down, sweetie. You’re making me nervous.”
An older man walked in. “I’m looking for a book my wife wants. You have this?” He handed Elisa a slip of paper with the title and author.
While she located it for him, a pair of women wandered in. Friends of Desdemona, the three started chatting. Before long, the little store was bustling. Apparently, Elisa’s boss wasn’t the only one with holiday shopping on the brain.
No stranger to work, Desdemona rolled up the sleeves of her Armani sweater and pitched in, suggesting books, filling cups with mulled cider or coffee, and ringing up purchases. Daisy curled up in a corner with If You Gave a Mouse a Cookie, one of her favorite books.
Desdemona sidled up to her. “Good marketing, Elisa.”
“What?”
“I’ve heard you tell more than one customer that by giving a book, they’d be giving a gift that could be opened again and again.”
“It’s true. Look at Daisy. I’ve read that book to her so many times, she knows every single word. Still, she loves it.”
They ate peanut butter and honey sandwiches in the back room for lunch. Considering the rocky start, the day turned out to be fun, and Elisa was thankful Daisy and Desdemona had joined her.
“I hear you’ve started a new book club,” Desdemona commented.
“I have. It’s for diabetics and people with hypoglycemia.” Elisa shrugged. “I’m certainly no expert, but we’re reading books on the subject and talking about them. Besides the nonfiction, there are an amazing number of fiction books where one or the other plays a big role. It’s good not to feel alone when you’re dealing with something like this.”
“Kind of a support group under the guise of a social setting?” Desdemona asked.
“Exactly.”
“I heard you’re serving snacks and desserts.”
Elisa walked over to a shelf and pulled down several cookbooks. “I’m taking the recipes from these. We’re learning that you don’t have to do without. It’s simply taking control.”
“You’re a good person, Elisa.”
“Doc Hawkins is the good person. He saved my butt and wouldn’t take a penny. I swore I’d find a way to pay him back. Through this group, maybe, just maybe, I can help some of his patients. I’m simply repaying a kindness shown to me.”
“Like I said, you’re a good person. I don’t suppose you have any more of those cookies Eleanor said you served the group yesterday?”
“I do, and I think you’ll be surprised at how good they are.”
Later that afternoon, the door opened to Tansy and Gracie Bella.
“All of my customers are talking about Just Books,” Tansy said. “Since I’m closed for the day, Gracie and I thought we’d stop by and see what you’ve added.” She rubbed her growing baby bump and turned to take in the shop. “It looks and smells like Christmas. I love it.”
“Sit, and let me fix you some tea,” Elisa said.
When the door opened again, the ladies were in the middle of a nice chat, the girls coloring in front of the fireplace.
“Cozy,” Tucker said.
Elisa’s nerves went on full alert and, confused, she made to stand. She’d left him at his shop grumpier than a grizzly bear. Now he strolled in like nothing had happened?
“Nope, stay put,” he said. “I’m gonna check out the new car magazines. I’ll let you know if I need help.”
“You sure?”
“Oh yeah.” He met her eyes. “I’m good.”
Elisa kept a close eye on Tucker. Why had he come? The whole magazine thing was a fabricated excuse. Every time she glanced at him, he was watching her with an intensity that unnerved her.
Had he come to talk? Had the “I’m good” been his way of saying he’d cooled off, that he was willing to offer her a mulligan of her own?
Gracie Bella and Daisy joined the women and climbed onto the loveseat beside Tansy.
“Do you have a baby brother?” Gracie asked Daisy.
“No.” Daisy pulled a loose thread on her sleeve.
“I’m gonna have one, huh, Mama?”
“Yes, Gracie, you are.”
The girl patted her mother’s belly. “She’s keeping him in here right now, but pretty soon he’ll come out so we can play.”
Daisy studied Tansy’s belly solemnly, then put a hand on Elisa’s. “Do you have one, too?”
Feeling Tucker’s eyes on her, Elisa blushed. “No, sweetie, I don’t.”
Daisy’s face fell. “Why not? I want one.”
Tansy grimaced. “Sorry. Gracie’s—” She threw up an exasperated hand.
Elisa smiled. “It’s okay.”
“How do you get the baby out?” Daisy asked.
Behind her, Elisa heard Tucker’s half cough, half choke.
“Ah, you don’t have the magazine I wanted,” he said. “I’m gonna run.”
Elisa glared at him. “Coward.”
“You got that right, sweet cheeks. But you and me? We need to talk.”
With that, he was out the door.
Sweet cheeks. Elisa almost sighed.
“Why did Tut leave?”
Desdemona guffawed. “Because he’s a man.”
Chapter 25
A horn tooted outside the house the next morning.
“There’s my ride.” Desdemona checked her lipstick in the hallway mirror.
“Doc Hawkins is takin’ you?”
“You bet your silk stockings. The man’s crazy about me. Things have never worked out quite right for us before. Now? Well, we’ll see.”
Elisa’s brows rose.
“I requested a king bed in my spa suite.” She grinned. “That big of a bed can get lonely.”
“Any bed can get lonely.”
“Ain’t that the truth, darlin’. I left my keys on a hook in the laundry room. The cars are in the garage if you need either of them. Both were filled yesterday, so you’ll have plenty of gas.”
Elisa rolled her eyes. Like she’d use that expensive Land Rover or the sleek little Mercedes. She’d stick with her Ford Escort, thank you. Since Tucker and his brothers had worked on it, the thing ran like new.
She’d miss Desdemona the next few days. The woman had more life in her little finger than most had in their entire bodies. And she never, ever hesitated to say what she thought. Life in the Hamilton house was a whole lot quieter when Desdemona Rosebud wasn’t in residence.
After Tuck’s visit to the store, she’d hoped he’d stop by last night. He hadn’t, and she honestly couldn’t blame him.
Desdemona wrapped Daisy in a hug and covered her in kisses. “Be good for your mommy, sweetheart.”
“I will.”
Then she pulled Elisa close.
“Have a wonderful time, Desdemona!”
“Next time, you’ll go with me.”
“Yeah, sure. You need to get going. There’s a handsome guy out front waiting for you. And me? I have to go, too. I don’t dare open the store late. My boss—well…” Elisa leaned in and whispered, “Ever see The Devil Wears Prada?”
Her boss threw back her head and laughed. Leaving a trail of sultry French perfume in her wake, Desdemona Rosebud Hamilton sailed through the door.
* * *
At the end of the day, Elisa stood in the doorway of the day care and listened to the happy sounds of children at play.
Lucinda looked up from the table where she and some of the children were finger painting. “I hear your new bookstore is the bomb.”
“Thanks. It’s Desdemona’s, though,” Elisa said.
“Isn’t she a hoot? She might own the place, but you’ve put your stamp on it. Everybody says walking inside is like stepping into a friend’s house.”
“Really?” Elisa put a hand to her heart. “That’s exactly what I was hoping for. A place you can find a good book, have a coffee, and chat with friends. Just Books…and a little more.” Then she took a closer look at Lucinda. “Is everything okay?”
Lucinda stood. “Daisy was kind of listless today. I can’t put my finger on anything concrete, but she’s usually a ball of energy.”
“Desdemona’s gone for a few days. Maybe that’s bothering her more than I realized. I’ll keep an eye on her, though. Thanks for the heads-up, Lucinda.”
Just then, Daisy came around the corner from the other room.
“Mommy.”
Lucinda was right. Something was wrong. Her daughter’s eyes didn’t shine. Instead of running and throwing herself in Elisa’s arms, she trudged slowly to her.
Elisa knelt and raised a hand to her child’s forehead, brushing back her hair. No fever. Standing, she scooped her daughter into her arms.
“Are these your papers from today?”
Daisy nodded.
“Anything else?” Daisy shook her head, and Elisa met Lucinda’s gaze. “Thanks again.”
“You bet. See you tomorrow, Daisy.”
“’Kay, Miss Lucinda.”
By six o’clock, Daisy had turned whiny.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“No.”
Even after Elisa cut off the crust, Daisy barely ate any of the grilled cheese sandwich she’d wanted. Instead, she tore it into small pieces and pushed them around on her plate.
Recognizing defeat, Elisa asked, “How about a bubble bath in my big tub?”
“I’m tired, Mommy.”
“It’s pretty early for bed, honey.” Her heart did a little stutter. Her baby looked very wan and very, very tired.
Elisa slipped Daisy into pajamas, brushed her hair, and tucked her into bed. She’d let her sleep with her tonight so she could keep an eye on her. Even though it was only eight o’clock and there was a lot she could and should do, Elisa got ready for bed herself.
When she settled into bed with a new novel by one of her favorite authors, Daisy curled into her. Elisa gently brushed the fine, wispy hair from her little girl’s forehead and gave her a kiss. “Sleep well, Daisy Elizabeth.”
“I will, Mommy.”
But she didn’t.
As fifteen minutes turned into half an hour, Daisy’s breathing quickened and became shallow. Elisa fumbled for her phone. What to do? Doc Hawkins wasn’t in town. He had, indeed, stayed in Savannah with Desdemona.
No doctor, no hospital.
She hit 911. Frannie, the emergency operator, answered immediately.
“I need an ambulance, Frannie. My daughter has a heart problem…and oh, please hurry!”
“Help’s on its way, honey. You still at Desdemona’s?”
“Yes, yes, I am.”
“You want to stay on the line?”
“No.” Elisa’s panic increased with every breath Daisy struggled for. “I have another call I need to make.”
“Go downstairs first and turn on the porch light and unlock your door,” Frannie advised.
“Oh! Yes, of course. I’m doing that now.” Elisa leaned over and kissed Daisy. “Mommy will be right back.”
“Don’t go, Mommy.” Tears welled in her eyes.
“I have to, baby, so the people who will help us can get in.”
“’Kay.” Her dark lashes fluttered against ashen skin.
Praying as she sped down the stairs, Elisa unlatched the door and flipped on the light, then hurried back to her room. She stuffed pillows behind Daisy to prop her up. “Better?”
Her answer was several tears that streaked down her daughter’s face.
“Please, please hurry,” she prayed, straining to hear sirens.
Silence.
She tossed on jeans and a sweatshirt, then got back into bed. Snuggling her daughter against her, Elisa told Daisy a story about a princess who went for a ride in an ambulance with lights and sirens because she was so important and all the people in the kingdom loved her.
“Like me, Mommy?”
“Exactly like you, sweetie. I need to make one more phone call, okay?”
Daisy nodded.
Before she could talk herself out of it, she called Tuck.
He answered before the first ring ended. “Elisa?”
She started to cry.
“What’s wrong?”
She walked to the window, then turned to keep an eye on her daughter. “It’s Daisy,” she whispered. “Her heart. The ambulance is almost here. I have to go, but I needed to tell you. I needed to hear your voice.”
“You riding in the ambulance with her?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll follow,” he said.
“But—”
“They’ll need to stabilize her. I’ll be there in time.”
* * *
Tucker didn’t bother knocking. “You upstairs?”
“Yes. Come on up, Tucker.”
He took the stairs two at a time. His knees nearly buckled when he saw Daisy. They hadn’t put her on the stretcher yet, and the large bed practically swallowed her. Her skin held a bluish tint and fear danced in those baby-blue eyes. Even as young as she was, she knew she was in trouble.
“I don’t feel good, Tut.” She reached for him.
“Okay if I’m on this side?” he asked the pair of EMTs working on her. “I’ll stay out of your way.”
They nodded.
He crawled into the far side of the bed and lay down beside her, holding her soft little hand as they started an IV in the tiny vein.
“It hurts, Tut.” Her lips trembled.
“I know, honey, but they’ll put medicine in it to make you feel better.”
“’Kay.”
He felt more than heard Elisa’s sob. Patting the bed beside him, he reached for her. She curled into him and held on to his free hand for dear life.
“Mommy and I are right here, sweetheart.” He turned his head to look at her mama. She was every bit as pale as her daughter. “Everything will be all right, Lissie, and I’ll be right here with you. I’m not leavin’.”
Tuck followed the flashing red lights of the ambulance through the otherwise dark night. “Come on, Daisy. We’re nearly there. Hold on a little longer, sugar, and the doctors will make you all better.”
His fingers itched to hit Elisa’s cell number, to talk to her, to reassure Daisy.
He was half crazy with
worry and could only imagine Elisa’s anguish. Her daughter was her world. If anything happened— No. He wouldn’t let himself even go there.
The EMTs had called ahead and a medical team met them at Savannah’s pediatric hospital. An artificial Christmas tree had been shoehorned into one corner of the waiting room and looked as forlorn as the parents and children who huddled there.
After a quick stop for a consult, some blood work, and X-rays, they wheeled Daisy to surgery with Elisa on one side of the stretcher and Tucker on the other. The anesthesiologist had already given Daisy a mild sedative, so she was woozy but calm.
“Time to give your daughter a quick kiss before surgery, Mom and Dad. You’ll have plenty of time afterwards for lots more.”
Tucker didn’t refute the doctor’s words. Instead, he leaned down and bussed Daisy’s cheek. “You be good in there, short stuff.”
“I will, Tut.”
Elisa bent down and kissed her daughter. “I love you, sweetie.”
“Love you, too, Mommy.”
Elisa’s lower lip trembled. Once Daisy was inside those blue double doors she could let go, but not until then.
She made the mistake of glancing at Tucker and wished with all her heart this man was Daisy’s daddy. His face was strained, his jaw tight. He, too, was fighting back tears. This good man had become an important part of their lives…and she’d botched it.
With one last, tiny wave, Daisy disappeared through the operating theater doors. Elisa took several steps backwards, bumping up against the wall. Without a word, she simply slid down it until she sat on the floor, her forehead on her knees.
Tucker pulled her to her feet and wrapped her in his arms. “Bring it in, sweetheart, bring it in.” They stood in the middle of the hallway with him holding her, swaying and murmuring absolute nonsense while she sobbed.
Footsteps sounded in the hallway as Doc Hawkins practically ran to them. “Elisa! We just heard. Desdemona’s parking the car. She’ll be here in a minute.” He nodded toward Tucker. “Thanks for coming. She needs you.”
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
I've Got You, Babe Page 26