by Kay Stockham
It wasn’t so much a question as an accusation.
“I was passing through and…thought I’d stop by.”
Megan brushed her hair away from her cheek, her hand trembling visibly. When she caught him watching her, she lowered her hand and tucked it under her leg.
“That’s it? All these years and now you’re stopping by?”
Ethan shifted uncomfortably. He knew something of family dynamics, and experience told him he needed to get out of there while the getting was good, but—As he stared into Megan’s face, his feet refused to budge. Something about her spirit, her spunk, the naked vulnerability she tried so hard to hide, kept him rooted.
“I know me showing up here is a surprise.”
“You think?”
“Jenn.” Megan said her sister’s name in a way that both pleaded and coaxed. “Can we do this later?”
“Good idea,” he said. “Megan needs to rest. While you get her settled, Simon and I will go get some antibiotics for her.” He pulled a prescription pad out of his bag, almost missing the way Jenn blanched. He did a double take at Jenn’s horrified expression. “What?”
“She can’t stay here.”
Ethan looked from Jenn to Megan and back to Jenn. “She’s sick. Surely whatever this is between you two can’t be that bad?”
Jenn opened her mouth but no words emerged. The look on her face said it all, however.
“It’s fine,” Megan whispered.
He split his attention between the two sisters, incredulous. “No, it’s not fine. Whatever fight you two had doesn’t matter right now. You’re sick, and according to your tags, you came all the way from California to see Jenn. Everything else can wait.”
Jenn lifted her chin. “I thought you were in Texas.”
She didn’t even know where her sister lived?
“I’ve moved several times since Sean and I divorced. You probably didn’t know about that.”
“Mom told me. He finally came to his senses?”
Megan’s cheeks pinkened. “I left him two years ago.”
“Well, you’ve obviously blown through the alimony in the meantime, judging by that heap of junk you’re driving. Is that why you’re here? You want money?”
“Jenn,” he murmured, instilling a little more force into his tone. Maybe it was none of his business, but as a doctor, he had to step in. “Not now.”
“I didn’t take any of Sean’s money in the divorce,” Megan said softly. “I didn’t want any ties to him.”
Jenn shook her head as though she thought her sister’s statement was a total lie.
Silence filled the room and Ethan continued to watch them. “Jenn, she’s obviously not feeling well. Are you seriously going to stand there and kick her while she’s down?”
Jennifer’s face flushed at his rebuke. Having had more than enough drama, Ethan tucked the prescription pad into his bag and the slip of paper into his pocket but knew he couldn’t leave until Megan was behind a door she could shut if things between her and Jenn got too bad. “You two can sort things out later. For now let me help you get her up to the spare bedroom so she can lie down.”
“No. I mean…” Jenn huffed out a strained laugh, her hands fisting at her sides. “Megan, you can’t just show up like this. You really want to stay here?”
Ethan noticed Megan had a hard time making eye contact, but she set her jaw at the raw emotion in Jenn’s voice.
“Unless you don’t want me to.”
Jenn’s face turned even redder when the challenge was thrown back at her. Obviously the two sisters didn’t get along, but what did that matter when Megan was so weak she could barely stand? Megan couldn’t travel like this, couldn’t take care of herself. Couldn’t Jenn see that?
Jenn remained silent, her mouth open as she took in shallow breaths, her expression making it clear she searched her mind for a viable excuse and battled tears while she did it.
Ethan stared at his peace-loving and typically agreeable sister-in-law, the one who taught classrooms of children and helped out at the hospital, the one who’d brought peace to his family by bringing Nick back into the fold, and knew he’d never understand women. Jenn was a total sweetheart but she’d help total strangers before taking in her own sister? What could’ve happened between them to cause such a rift? “What the hell is going on with you two?”
“It’s just—It’s complicated.” Jenn’s gaze pleaded for understanding. “Megan and I haven’t spoken in years and…and it would be best if she stayed at a hotel.”
Ethan purposefully didn’t respond, giving Jenn time to ramble on.
“Megan did—She did horrible things and then disappeared. We haven’t spoken since, but sometimes Mom and Dad wouldn’t hear from her for years. Why is she here? Why now?”
“Why are you asking me?” He inclined his head toward Megan. “When she’s sitting right there? This is your chance to talk it all out—after she’s well.”
“She can get well in a hotel.”
Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose. Sweet Jenn wasn’t budging, and even though he needed to go get Megan antibiotics, he was leery about leaving them alone. He didn’t want Jenn ordering Megan out of the house and Megan attempting to leave, not as weak as she was.
Megan’s chin lifted. “I won’t stay long. I have a job. In Chicago. I thought I’d spend a few days here because—” she glanced at him and quickly looked away to where her hands gripped a pillow “—I just wanted to talk to you, okay? To apologize.”
“Even if you apologize, you’re not staying here. Megan, I don’t trust you in my living room. Why on earth would you think I’d let you stay under the same roof as my husband?”
CHAPTER FOUR
THE TWO WOMEN glared at each other. Megan in sadness and extreme exhaustion, Jenn with disbelief. And fear? That crack about husbands…what did that mean?
An awkward silence filled the room and with every second that passed, Ethan became more convinced that he was surrounded by land mines. He should have left when he had the chance.
Jenn inhaled a shaky breath. “Megan, I’m sorry you’re sick. I hope you feel better very soon and—and talking is fine. We’ll meet up in a few days when you’re feeling better.”
He supposed under the circumstances that Jenn’s offer was a concession on her part, but the sight of Megan lowering her head and swallowing hard struck a chord deep inside him. The sweep of her shoulder-length hair hid her face from Jenn but, sitting on the arm of the couch, he saw Megan struggle for composure. He couldn’t stand seeing the expressions flicker over her face. Hurt, pain, disappointment. Defeat? He was treading water and drowning fast, but he couldn’t let Jenn do this. This was how his own family had been with Nick so many years ago. Didn’t Jenn see that? Realize she was treating Megan the same way? People screwed up. And since Nick wasn’t a two-timing kind of guy, Jenn had nothing to worry about.
“I’m sorry.” Megan tucked her hair behind her ear, her gaze low. “I should’ve said it sooner, years ago, but…”
“But according to you, you never did anything wrong. Everyone else had the problem, not you—which is why I’m questioning this sudden reappearance and change of heart.”
He waited, wanting Megan to speak up, Jenn to back off, or else one of them to say something more specific.
“Hey,” Nick murmured from just outside the open glass door.
His brother stepped into the house and assessed the scene with one of his all-knowing glances, seemingly measuring Jenn’s agitation and Megan’s state of ill health in a matter of seconds.
Ethan had always envied Nick that ability. Some members of the family thought Luke was the sensitive one, the most observant, but Ethan knew it was Nick. After spending so many years as the outcast looking in, Nick knew how to read people better than anyone Ethan had ever known. And the fact that Nick hadn’t barged in and immediately ordered Megan out said something.
Ethan released a breath he didn’t know he was holding, relieved his br
other had arrived. Getting involved in their sisterly squabble was the last thing he wanted or needed to deal with at the moment. Nick would calm Jenn down and help her see the right move to make, and he didn’t have to feel guilty about leaving with Nick there to referee.
Nick walked over and greeted his wife with a brief kiss. Megan remained seated on the couch but, given her slow, precise movements, Ethan suspected she stayed put because she was still dizzy and perhaps even too weak to stand. Yet another reason for Jenn to cut her some slack until they were on equal footing.
Movement caught his attention and his gaze shifted to check on Simon’s whereabouts. The boy’s face was pressed up against the window, his chin sticky where it met the glass, eyes wide and fierce as he took in the scene. Simon looked ready to barge in to Megan’s rescue.
Ethan wanted to tell Simon not to dirty the window but stopped himself in time. At least the kid was staying put. For now, anyway.
Turning to speak to Nick, Ethan paused when he saw Megan’s lips curl at the corners in a brief smile when she saw Simon’s face squished flat. She might not be Jenn’s favorite person, but Megan had already conquered the toughest critic of all.
Nick stepped forward, hand extended. “I’m Nick, Jenn’s husband.”
Megan avoided Jenn’s gaze. “Megan Rose. Nice to meet you, Nick.”
Due to her illness, Megan’s voice was throaty and deep and sexy as all get-out. Yet something else Ethan shouldn’t be noticing, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. Since coming home from Niger four weeks ago with Simon in tow, he hadn’t had any female companionship. And he hadn’t had the time or the interest to notice the lack until he’d glimpsed Megan’s sexy little belly ring. Now it was all he could think about. Something about Megan brought out his own protective instincts—and his baser ones, too.
Nick ignored the tension and played it cool, and Ethan tried for that attitude, as well.
“You’re not feeling well?” Nick asked.
“She’s ill,” Ethan heard himself say before either of the women could say Megan was fine and should be on her way. If Megan had the strength to walk out the door, he didn’t doubt she’d do it. “Look, I’m going to get her the medication she needs so she can start on antibiotics before this turns into pneumonia.”
“I’m not that sick. Really, it’s just a bad cold.”
Ethan shot Nick a grave stare. “She’s this close—” he lifted his hand, his finger and thumb about an inch apart “—to needing hospitalization.” Why wasn’t she taking this more seriously? People died of pneumonia. “Megan needs meds, fluids and rest, and lots of it.” He indicated the women with a nod of his head. “Good luck with that.”
A DEAFENING SILENCE followed in the wake of Ethan’s departure. Megan stayed where she was, lowering her head to rest on the cushions behind her because she didn’t have the strength to hold it up any longer. She’d had the flu before, but she didn’t remember ever feeling this bad. It was way distracting and scary stuff considering she’d driven to Tennessee like this. Thank God she hadn’t hurt someone.
Megan forced her lashes up when she realized she’d closed them and found Nick whispering to Jenn. When Jenn simply glared back, Nick sighed and walked over to a rocking chair nearby. He grabbed the throw off the back and carried it to Megan. “Here. You want some tea? Jenn, why don’t you fix—”
“No. Thanks, but I’m fine.” She didn’t want Nick ordering Jenn to fix her anything. If she read Jenn’s expression right, her sister was waiting for Megan to jump up and climb Nick like a tree.
Which would be funny if it wasn’t so sad. Sean had been her one attempt at doing the right thing, at protecting her little sister. Then her attempt at nobility had bit her in the butt.
She sank deeper into the cushions and pulled the throw over her lap and arms, aware that Nick had moved closer to Jenn to continue the quiet conversation she wasn’t meant to hear.
“It’s one night. Maybe two.”
“No. Don’t look at me like that. You know why, Nick. I can’t believe you’re taking her side.”
“I’m not taking sides, but are you really going to send her to a hotel? Then what? Look at her, she’s dead on her feet. How would she take care of herself?”
Their conversation ebbed and flowed, and Megan tried to open her mouth and argue that she’d taken care of herself so far and didn’t need their help, but the words didn’t come. The couch was soft and much more comfortable than her backseat, the throw nice and warm, even if she was still cold.
Her mind floated, back to one winter when it had snowed so much her recital had been canceled and her parents had taken her and Jenn to a cabin in the woods. She and Jenn had gone out to build a snowman to escape their parents’ bickering and it had been freezing. She shivered just thinking about it.
That memory faded into another, this one darker, more frightening. Another snowy night, a party with too much alcohol. Loud music, the hot press of too many people in too little space and her determined to do the right thing for Jenn’s sake. She’d known what Sean had planned to do with Jenn, known why the popular jock was dating her nerdy sister. She’d heard Sean bragging to his friends about how he was going to keep Jenn on the hook.
So Megan had set him up, wanting Jenn to see what a loser Sean really was because telling Jenn hadn’t been enough. Jenn had called her a liar, refused to listen. But when it was over and Jenn had walked out, Sean had been furious. So furious he’d grabbed Megan and shoved her down. Held her down.
A whimper escaped her when she felt those large male hands on her now. They gripped her shoulders and shifted her sideways, pressing. Panic surged through her and when one of the hands moved to her legs—
Megan woke up with a shriek, kicking, punching, fighting with all her might. “No. No!”
“Dammit, ow, Megan, stop. Hey, it’s okay. Megan, wake up.”
The growled words pried the fog loose from her brain and she blinked, realizing too late where she was. Her heart pounded so fast it felt like it was going to burst out of her chest, and Nick now stood beside the couch, his hands palms up as he regarded her with eyes that saw too much.
“It’s okay. Sweetheart, nothing’s wrong.”
“I’m not your sweetheart.” She spat out the words, half sitting, half lying on the couch. What was he doing calling his wife’s sister sweetheart? Touching her?
“I was just trying to make you more comfortable. You fell asleep sitting up.”
The sore muscles in her neck said his words were true, but she still wondered if he’d used it as an excuse.
Not everyone is Sean. “You startled me.” Hugging her arms around her stomach, she realized her teeth chattered and the chills were back.
“Yeah, I saw that. I brought you another throw. You said you were cold.”
She had?
“I’m sorry I startled you.”
Jenn came running into the room carrying a pillow. “What happened?”
Megan couldn’t look at them. When the time was right she’d tell Jenn everything that had really happened in the past but not now. Megan glanced at Nick and found his gaze still locked on her, much too astute. Jenn’s husband looked as though he may have been around the block a few times. Crap.
Stupid, stupid, stupid. “Nothing. I’m just really tired and your husband startled me. Maybe you’re right. I need to sleep and you’ve got too many people around here. Maybe it would be best if I went to a hotel.”
Jenn looked relieved and didn’t that hurt?
“No.”
“Nick, she said she wants—”
“She’s not going anywhere.”
AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER Ethan sighed as he settled himself into one of the reclining chairs in the living room beside Nick. The moment he’d returned with Megan’s medicine he could feel the tension between Nick and his wife. Ethan wanted no part of it, but here he was still at the house and hesitant to leave. The last thing he needed was to take on responsibility for someone else, but ho
w could he leave Megan behind with such an indifferent and antagonistic nursemaid as Jenn? “What the hell happened while I was gone?”
Nick sprawled in the soft leather chair, leaning an elbow on the arm and rubbing his hand over his mouth as he stared across the floor to the kitchen where his wife stood chopping up fruit like a chainsaw. “I informed them both that Megan was staying. She’s family.”
A reasonable dictate—if the circumstances were normal, which they apparently weren’t.
Nick scowled. “How long until Megan’s on her feet? I told Jenn it would only be a day or two.”
Ethan winced.
“More?” Nick swore.
“At least until her fever breaks. Several days would be better, a week to ten days or until she’s fully recovered would be best.”
Nick muttered yet another curse, and Ethan echoed the sentiment, feeling his brother’s frustration at being stuck between a rock and a hard place in doing the right thing and doing what would please his wife.
No one wanted to be hospitalized and, in Megan’s case, she shouldn’t have to be provided she had a place to stay and could keep the pneumonia at bay. But with Jenn upset over Megan’s appearance, much less her presence, Megan was going to cause a heap of problems. Just stay out of it. They’re not your problems. “Do I want to know what happened between them?”
Across the room, Jenn muttered to herself and went at a cantaloupe like a pissed-off chef. Every now and again, Nick’s wife would lift her head and glare at Megan, even though Megan dozed on the couch, her face barely visible from beneath two blankets.
If she was out of it before, Megan was really woozy now that she had the prescription cold medication in her helping to alleviate her cough. Would Jenn make her sleep on the couch?
“They have issues.”
“And you always were the master of understatement. I’d leave, but I’m afraid Jenn might use that knife on you the moment Simon and I are out the door.”
Simon played with a ball on the floor. He sat with his legs spread in a wide V as he rolled a ball gently across the floor where it hit the door and bounced back. Ethan knew enough to know any other kid would’ve been bored by the simple game but Simon’s life made the kid easy to please.