“I’m amazed the old goat didn’t have a heart attack ten years ago.”
“Sully, that isn’t nice,” Gemma couldn’t help protesting.
“Sorry, sis, but you know it’s true.”
She leaned against the wall. “Yeah, I know. He stresses over everything and nothing. Is there any way you could call Mom? Drake is in New Zealand right now and she can’t reach him, either. Hearing from you might reassure her.”
A long silence followed. Gemma hated asking Sully to contact their parents. She was close to him, but he went his own way and did his own thing.
“I’ll give her a call,” he said finally. “But I can’t come. Half my deputies are out with the flu and the rest of us are working double and triple shifts. I swear, next September we’re having a vaccination clinic at the station the day after Labor Day, even if the cost comes out of my own pocket.”
“Their family members should get them, too.”
“You bet. How are you, sis? Is Mom driving you crazy?”
Gemma gazed at a painting on the opposite wall, a peaceful scene of the Puget Sound. “I’m managing. By the way, I’m now a volunteer, recording books for the blind. The man who owns the sound studio is really amazing.”
Her admiration for Matt had increased even further after her first session with him. He’d been very patient, helping her to relax and be more effective. He was blind, yet she got the impression he saw better than most people.
“You’ll do a great job.”
“Thanks.” The affirming statement made her shoulders straighten. She understood why Sully had decided to live so far away, but she missed him and the way he could make her feel better about everything. “Since you’re so busy, I’ll mostly send texts when I get updates on Dad’s condition.”
“That would be a big help. We can talk after my deputies are better.”
“Don’t get sick yourself.”
“You know me, I’m never sick.”
It was annoyingly true. Sully had the constitution of an ox. They said goodbye and Gemma then phoned Rachel with an update. Rachel assured her that Livvie was having fun. They’d made cookies, eaten lunch and were reading.
Finally, Gemma steeled herself to call Mr. Kessler and leave another message. His plane wouldn’t land for a while, but the first thing he’d do was turn on his cell phone.
His brief greeting came through the speaker, followed by a beep.
“It’s Gemma again,” she said. “You probably haven’t heard my earlier message about me needing to go to the hospital because of my dad. Livvie is fine—she’s with Rachel.” Gemma added that part hastily, realizing she should have led with the news that Livvie was in good hands. “I hope you don’t mind me asking Rachel, but it seemed better than taking Livvie to the emergency room and getting her upset about the medical stuff. Right now I’m waiting with my mother to hear more about Dad’s condition. I’ll, um, call back in a minute with Rachel’s number in case you don’t have it with you. Bye.”
Gemma fumbled in her purse for the business card Rachel had given her before calling back and leaving yet another message with both the personal and business numbers. She should have thought to have the number available ahead of time, but instead she’d tucked it away.
Back in the waiting room it was clear her mom was talking to Sully on her phone. Gemma was grateful. Her brother was a great guy. He’d just chosen to deal with his childhood by distancing himself from their needy parents.
She couldn’t blame him.
CHAPTER NINE
RACHEL SAT ON the floor of Livvie’s bedroom, looking through the picture books Olivia Kessler had created for her daughter.
Livvie hugged one of them to her chest. “Every night Mommy would draw the story and tell it to me at the same time. She told me bunches of stories. They’re about us having adventures and wearing the pretty clothes she made. See? This is the first one. I can read it now.”
Rachel turned the heavy pages of the book. It started as a simple tale of a mother and daughter looking for their lost cat, only to encounter strange and wonderful things along the way. Each drawing was vivid, especially the clothes worn by the characters.
The memory of what Simon had said at Liv’ing Creations went through Rachel’s mind, that his wife had done extensive illustrations of her designs...from the fronts, backs and sides. The drawings in the books had each of the views and were highly detailed. Every couple of pages Livvie and her mommy would be in new outfits, each exhibiting the flair and verve that Olivia Kessler put into her fashion designs. The missing cat, when it finally appeared, was a Cheshire in brilliant rainbow tones.
“Me and mommy would talk about which color would be best for our clothes in the story. We talked about all kinds of stuff,” Livvie said.
“‘Me and Mommy’ might be a good name for a clothing line,” Rachel said, thinking out loud. “And there are enough designs here to last a year or two at least.”
“Ooh, that would be sp-splendid.” Livvie stuck her lip out. “Mommy said we’d make clothes together after I grow up. I don’t know why she had to get sick.”
“I don’t know, either, honey.” Rachel hugged Livvie close. “It doesn’t seem fair, does it?”
“Uh-uh. Is Gemma’s daddy going to die?”
Rachel tried to think of a way to explain. “The hospital is doing tests to find out the best way to help him get better. May I look at more of the books your mommy made for you?” she asked, partly as a distraction, partly because she was curious.
She listened as Livvie read the next story, revealing fresh sets of mother-and-daughter outfits on each page. Assuming the dress designs in Livvie’s books had never been included in a Liv’ing Creations collection, they could be used until someone was found who could better capture Olivia Kessler’s unique color sense and style. A complementary children’s clothing line would add a whole new dimension as well, provided Simon was interested in pursuing the idea.
“I want to bring one of my books to show my class,” Livvie said as she closed the cover, “but I don’t want it to get dirty. Luis Sanchez brought his baseball hat to school and spilled chocolate milk on it.”
“We could scan them on my computer,” Rachel suggested. “The books come apart. That way you could take a printout to class and keep the original at home.”
Livvie happily agreed. She wanted to copy all of the books, so it took several trips up and down the stairs to get them safely into Rachel’s home office. She was a patient child, watching in fascination as Rachel methodically scanned each page. The phone rang as they were finishing the second volume.
“Hello,” Rachel answered.
“It’s Simon. Is Livvie there?”
He’d been so uptight about her contact with Livvie that Rachel instinctively tensed. “Yes.”
“Is she okay?”
Her hackles went up. “Are you suggesting I can’t take care of a—”
“Not at all,” Simon said quickly. “I shouldn’t have put it that way. I’m just worried. This could be reminding Livvie of her mother’s illness.”
Rachel wrinkled her nose. “Sorry, I’m being too sensitive. Everything is fine. We’ve been copying some of Livvie’s books on my computer. Her homemade ones.”
“Homemade?”
“Yeah. You know, the hand-drawn books from her bedroom. The ones with the clamps that come apart.”
A long silence followed. “Olivia used to spend hours with Livvie, drawing and sketching and telling her stories. It was their special time together. Is that what you’re talking about?”
“Yes. And they’re giving me ideas related to our business discussions, if you know what I mean.”
* * *
SIMON RECOGNIZED THE careful tone in Rachel’s voice.
“I’m getting the impression we should discuss this another time, when my daughter
isn’t around.”
“Exactly. It can wait until you return. Do you want to talk to her?”
“Yes.”
There was a brief, muffled discussion and Livvie came on the line. “Hi, Daddy. I’m sorry Gemma’s dad’s sick, but me and Rachel are having fun.”
“That’s great.”
“For lunch she made me a toasted cheese sandwich with three different kinds of cheese! And a salad, but it didn’t taste yucky. Ooh, and she made cookies. Rachel’s cookies are the best. We ate them warm with big glasses of milk.”
His daughter’s enthusiasm bubbled through the phone and Simon grinned. “Did you help do the cookies?”
“Uh-huh. ’Cept I couldn’t with the oven. Rachel wouldn’t let me do that part.”
“I’m glad you’re having such a good time. May I speak to Rachel again?”
“Okay. Bye, Daddy. I miss you.”
“I miss you, too, sweetheart.”
The phone was exchanged again with the same sound of muffled voices in the background.
“Don’t tell me,” Rachel said when she came back on, “you think I have designs on your bachelorhood because I baked cookies with your daughter. Now you want to warn me away again.”
“Have I really warned you away and now you’re insulted?” he asked cautiously. “Or are you simply showing an interesting sense of humor?”
“A little of both, maybe.”
“Well...the only thing on my mind is my daughter. I’ve got a couple of messages from Gemma about her father, but have no idea how serious things are, or how long she’ll be tied up at the hospital. Naturally, she needs to stay for however long she wants, but the earliest return flight I can get won’t have me back in Seattle until after midnight. And that’s assuming the flight isn’t full.”
“No problem. I can put Livvie to bed and sleep on your couch. But don’t you want to stay there until you know how Mr. Paulsen is doing? You might not need to come home. For all we know, the situation isn’t serious and Gemma could be back any minute. If necessary I can take Livvie to school tomorrow and pick her up. We’ll consider it a perk of my consulting services. Livvie does own the design house, after all.”
The offer was both sensible and generous, a generosity that Simon was certain he didn’t deserve. It had proved disconcerting to see himself through Rachel’s eyes. He wasn’t exactly a Prince Charming. He wasn’t even an enchanted frog and she was well aware of his warts—he’d revealed them often enough over their brief acquaintance.
“Thanks. In that case, I’ll try to reach Gemma for another update before making a decision.” He stopped as an announcement came over the PA system, saying outgoing flights would be delayed for a few hours due to inclement weather, and incoming flights were being diverted to another airport.
After the announcement ended, he could hear Rachel laughing.
“I heard that loud and clear. Sounds as if you don’t have much choice,” she told him. “How long is this business trip supposed to last, anyhow?”
“Just until tomorrow. I’m scheduled for a flight back to Sea-Tac Airport that leaves in the afternoon.” Simon hesitated. “Technically it isn’t business. I told Gemma it was to keep things simple, but it’s actually about an endowment to a medical research center. They’re having some interesting results. I just don’t like publicizing my donation.”
He rolled his eyes in disgust, feeling like a kid, hoping to impress a pretty girl. He hadn’t told anyone about the money he’d donated, but he’d acted like a jerk with Rachel so many times, he didn’t want her to keep believing the worst of him.
“I understand,” she assured him briskly. “Just come back the way you originally planned, provided your flight isn’t canceled or postponed. Livvie’s needs are covered and Gemma will be even more stressed if you return early because of her family emergency. Besides, changing your plans could upset Livvie more.”
Disgruntled passengers were crowding the corridor, complaining about the connections they would be missing because of the weather.
Simon stepped closer to the wall. “You’re right about that. Are you sure you don’t mind?”
A low chuckle sounded. “I wouldn’t have offered if I minded. But I’ve been thinking... Gemma will be tired, even if she gets home today. Is it all right if Livvie stays with me?”
“That’s fine. I’ll call again this evening to say good-night. Contact me at any time if you need something or she gets upset. Or for any reason at all.”
“Okay. Bye for now.”
Simon put the phone in his pocket and rubbed the back of his neck. Adrenaline had charged through him after getting Gemma’s messages and the weight of being a single father had descended like a truckload of bricks.
Having someone to share the responsibility of child rearing wasn’t a good enough reason to consider marriage again, but maybe he shouldn’t have so deeply resented the people who’d suggested that Livvie needed a mother. They weren’t entirely wrong.
* * *
BY THE END of the afternoon, Gemma had trouble thinking straight.
She’d talked to Mr. Kessler, and he’d been so nice she could have cried. He didn’t seem to mind that she’d asked Rachel to babysit; he’d even told her it was the most sensible thing she could have done and that Rachel had offered to take care of Livvie until he got home so she could rest and concentrate on her family.
As for her oldest brother, there was a chance Drake would be unreachable for the better part of two weeks.
“He should have brought a satellite phone,” Helene said resentfully. “Why did he have to go hiking in the wilds of another country in the first place?”
Whoa. It was the first she’d ever said something remotely critical about her eldest son.
“Drake is a doctor, Mom. That’s stressful. He deserves a vacation. And he’d be just as unreachable if he was backpacking here at home in the Cascades or Sierras.”
“I know.” Helene looked apologetic and Gemma squeezed her hand.
They’d only been allowed two brief visits in urgent care and had moved to the nearest waiting room to be available for any updates. Gemma was considering whether she ought to order a pizza or some other take-out meal when Dr. Roth came to see them again. He appeared much wearier than he had that morning.
“Mrs. Paulsen, we’ve given your husband something to help him sleep,” he said. “He’s stable, so you should go home and get some rest. We’ll run more tests tomorrow, and I’ve scheduled an angiogram for later this week.”
“Why can’t it be done right away? Surely it’s better to do it sooner than to put it off.”
“I understand your concern, but we have to wait because of the blood thinner Mr. Paulsen has been taking.”
Gemma had forgotten her father was on a medication to prevent blood clots. “Will you do an angioplasty at the same time?” she asked. “If it’s needed, that is.”
Dr. Roth smiled. “Yes. Have you been looking up treatments for angina on your phone?”
Gemma shook her head. “I had a friend whose grandfather went through it when we were kids. He’s in his nineties now, and still very active.”
“Excellent. I hope you both get some rest tonight. Try not to worry. Mr. Paulsen is in safe hands.”
“Thank you,” Gemma and Helene said in unison.
When they were alone, Gemma turned to her mother. “I’ll drive you home. If you’d like, I can stay the night.”
“Don’t you have to get back?”
“Mr. Kessler told me to stay as long as needed. A neighbor is watching Livvie.”
Helene pursed her lips. “You’ve worked for that family since you were eighteen and you still call him Mr. Kessler?”
“It’s my choice, Mom. He’s okay with it, either way.”
Gemma urged her toward the exit, not wanting to hear what else she might say ab
out the Kesslers or her work situation. It was understandable that Helene wanted her children to make a success of their lives, but success wasn’t necessarily measured by professional status. What about personal success?
Being happy and contributing was important, no matter how many college degrees you got or the amount of money you earned. It was one of the reasons she was excited about being a volunteer reader for Matt Tupper’s recording studio. Maybe she wouldn’t change the world that way, but it was doing something for other people and a good way to spend her Saturday mornings.
Besides, getting to know Matt might be interesting.
* * *
SIMON’S WEEK WAS hectic after he returned to Washington. To make things easier on Gemma, he had insisted she take extended family time, which meant he needed to take Livvie to school and work from home after picking her up. His daughter loved the novelty of having her daddy around more, and he found it difficult to refuse when she wanted to take walks or do something else together.
Rachel’s help had been invaluable and he was trying to think of an appropriate thank-you gift. His biggest problem was deciding if she’d be insulted by the gesture. It was hard not to be embarrassed whenever he thought about the stupid things he’d said in the past, trying to warn her away from getting ideas about him.
Warn off a woman like Rachel Clarion?
Ha. She didn’t seem conscious of her appearance, but she had to be aware, on some level, that she was stunningly beautiful. She was also thoughtful and intelligent. He must have sounded ludicrous, suggesting she look elsewhere if she was husband hunting. The most likely scenario was that she had men lined up at her door and was warning them off.
Thinking about Rachel reminded him of what she’d said when he was on the East Coast, about having an idea for Liv’ing Creations. Midafternoon, he picked up the phone to dial Moonlight Ventures and heard her voice come over the line after a short wait.
“Hello, Simon.”
“Hi. We didn’t have time to discuss your idea for the design house after I got back. Should I make an appointment, or is now a good time?”
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