by Summers, MJ
“No, Mom, he’s fine. Really. Don’t feel bad. It’s not like you did anything to cause this. We all get sick sometimes.”
“I don’t want to be sick. Makes me feel old and I’m not old. I’m young.”
“You are young. From what the doctor said, it sounds like you’re going to be back to your normal self in a couple of weeks anyway.” Megan flopped down onto the chair beside her mom’s bed and let her tears flow.
“I was so scared that you had had a stroke. I couldn’t believe that this was happening and I couldn’t get to you. It was just awful. I never should have gone.” Megan slipped her hand under her mom’s.
“Oh, sweet girl, don’t say that. You should go and have fun. Who could have guessed that something like this would happen?”
“I know, but my job is to be here for you and Elliott, not gallivanting around the country with exotic men,” Megan replied firmly.
“It was just bad timing for this to hit me now. You didn’t do anything wrong. Where is your man, by the way? Did he stay in San Francisco?” Helen squeezed Megan’s hand as she spoke.
“He’s in the waiting room. His assistant managed to charter a jet for us to get back here.”
Helen’s eyes grew wide. “He came back with you? On a private jet? You might want to hang on to him, my girl. A guy like that doesn’t come around every day.”
“He’s pretty wonderful, actually, but we’re just enjoying some time together. It’s not going to be a long-term thing. It wouldn’t work.”
Her mom’s eyes closed slowly and then she reopened them, trying to stay awake.
“You get some rest, Mom. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
Helen spoke again without opening her eyes. “You look beautiful, Megan. Just like a princess.”
Megan held her mom’s hand as she slept. She suddenly wished she was dressed in a big sweater and a pair of jeans. She needed to get her car from her house and figure out how to pick up Elliott, but she didn’t have her keys. Thinking about her house keys made her worry that her house might very well be sitting unlocked. She walked over to a small closet and found her mom’s coat hung up on a hook and her purse on the shelf. Looking through the purse, she found her mom’s keys, which included a key to Megan’s house. She tiptoed out of the room and down the hall to find Luc.
Luc stood up when he saw her. “How is your mom?”
“She’s good, considering. She looks really pale but at least she’s asleep for now.”
“Good. What can I do to help you?” Luc asked, reaching out to hold her hands in his.
Megan gave him a weak smile. “I’m not sure . . . I need to get my car and maybe some clothes from my house. I have to figure out what to do with Elliott for tomorrow.” She paused, trying to think of what else needed to be done. “Oh crap, I’ll have to clean out our spare room as well. She’ll need to stay with us for a while, and it’s full of boxes right now.”
“If you’re comfortable with me going to your house, I’ll take a cab and bring back some clothes and your car for you. As far as Elliott goes, I know you want to keep things totally separate, but if it makes sense for you, I would be happy to spend the day with him. I don’t know a lot about kids, but I think we could muddle through.”
Megan stared at him for a moment before answering. She was completely exhausted from the emotional roller coaster of the evening and she had no idea what to think. Her mind was clouded with confusion and worry. If she allowed Luc into her personal life, she would be going against everything she had tried to do for so long to protect Elliott. But what harm could really come from him spending some time with Luc? She needed help and here was someone she had grown to trust offering just that.
Luc watched her, patiently waiting for an answer before he spoke up again. “I know it’s a scary thought for you to let me into your family life, and I don’t want to overstep any boundaries. But I’m here and I want to help however I can. We can tell Elliott that we are friends, which is true, and the rest we can figure out later. For now, let’s just get through today.”
“You read me like a book. I’m just so worn out right now, and I honestly don’t know what to think. But you’re right. I need help. The only other person I have that I can count on is lying in a hospital bed down the hall. For now, if you can go get my car and something for me to change into, I would be really grateful.”
“Alright. For now, that’s what I’ll do, and you take your time figuring out the rest.” He took his cellphone out and opened the navigation app. “Can you put your address in for me?”
Megan punched in her address and handed him his phone along with the keys to her house. “Thank you, Luc. I don’t know how I’m going to repay you for all of this.”
“There is no need. I’m just glad I can help,” he said, giving her a kiss on the forehead. “Try to get some rest if you can. I’ll come find you when I get back.”
“Thank you.”
* * *
Megan sat in the chair beside her mom’s bed, hoping she could doze a little. She had leaned the chair against the wall and had her head propped up behind her, but it was terribly uncomfortable. Even if she had somewhere to lie down right now, she doubted she would sleep. Her stomach was twisting in knots as she thought about Luc going to her house. She was almost embarrassed for him to see where she lived. It would be his first real taste of her reality. Compared to his immaculate luxury penthouse, her slightly messy, modest home would feel cramped. Compared to his Mercedes, her little Toyota would run rough and feel junky to him. Megan suddenly felt scared that he wouldn’t be interested in her anymore after this. He would see how different she was from the woman with the beautiful clothes he had met in Paris. She had tried to explain to him more than once how different their lives were, but she knew he would never fully comprehend it.
Sighing restlessly, she got up and wandered over to the window. The sky showed no sign of morning coming any time soon. The moon shone brightly on the parking lot outside the hospital. It was a cold night and she knew Luc would be chilly in his tuxedo and dress shoes, getting a cab to collect her things and then driving back here in the middle of the night. The thought of it made her heart ache.
What am I doing with this man? she thought. We have nothing in common other than the fact neither of us wants to ever be tied down, and yet here I am, asking him to take care of me as though we were together.
Looking back at her mom, Megan felt suddenly terrified. She had been relying on her mother since her divorce, but now she was all too aware that Helen could be taken from her in an instant. What would she do without her? How would she manage? She and Elliott would have no family left here. Megan pushed the thoughts aside. It wasn’t going to happen any time soon. Her mom was going to be fine. For now, Megan just needed to get through the coming day. The rest would take care of itself in due time.
TWENTY
Luc opened the front door to Megan’s house and flipped on the light to find himself standing in an entryway that led to a small living room. The house had a cozy feeling and was decorated in a way that seemed to invite guests to make themselves comfortable. Toys and children’s books were strewn around the living room. He took his snow-covered shoes off and made his way slowly through the room, looking at the photos on the wall as he went. Several shots of Elliott at various stages of life adorned the walls. This was Luc’s first real look at the boy. He had white-blond hair and looked a lot like Megan. Luc couldn’t help but smile at a photo of Elliott laughing as he sat on a red tricycle. He appeared to be about two in the picture, and there was something about the expression on his face that reminded Luc a lot of Megan when something took her by surprise and made her laugh loudly.
He turned on the light to the stairwell and jogged up to the second floor, finding Megan’s room. It was not big and he was surprised at how messy it was. Some clothes were slung over an armchair as though they had been tossed there. A pile of folded laundry sat in a basket on the floor, waiting to be put away, an
d stacks of books covered the nightstands on both sides of the bed. Luc reminded himself that instead of having a housekeeper as he did, Megan had a little boy as well as a business to look after. Of course she didn’t have time to keep everything perfect. Feeling a little bit like an intruder, he walked over to her closet and opened it. He picked out a white long-sleeved T-shirt, a cozy-looking black V-neck sweater and some jeans. An overnight bag sat tucked into the corner. Luc grabbed it and put her things in it. Opening her dresser drawers, he found some warm socks and underwear. He went to the bathroom and grabbed a toothbrush and toothpaste for her as well, before heading back downstairs to find her some warm boots and a coat.
Locking the front door, he carried his shoes and the bag across the kitchen to the door leading to the garage. Shutting the door behind him, he wondered if he would ever be back in Megan’s home again. He hoped so.
As he drove back to the hospital, Luc struggled to keep his eyes open. It was mid-morning already back in France and he still hadn’t been to bed. He thought about Megan and what she was going to have to manage in the coming weeks, looking after her mother on top of all her other responsibilities. He wanted to find a way to be useful to her during this ordeal, and he had a feeling he would have to be very persistent in getting her to allow it.
What was it about this woman that he couldn’t resist? What had made him offer to watch her son? He had never wanted to look after a child in his life, but as the words had come out of his mouth, he knew that he really did want to meet Elliott and he really did want to spend the day with him if that was what Megan needed. He realized he would do anything for her, and he couldn’t imagine ever wanting to stop being there for her. The thought both terrified him and gave him a new energy.
* * *
Luc found Megan in Helen’s hospital room, staring out the window. He stood quietly in the doorway, taking in the sight of her in her gown, lit by the moon outside. She was the loveliest thing he had ever seen. His heart stirred at the sight of her. She turned and saw him, giving him a tired smile as she crossed the room.
“There you are,” she whispered, giving him an appreciative smile. “How did it go?”
They walked out into the bright light of the hallway and gently closed the door behind them.
“It was fine. I just hope I brought what you wanted,” Luc replied, holding the bag up to her.
Megan looked into it. “You picked just the right things; I need to be comfy right now. I just feel so bad for you. You must have been so cold, and you must be exhausted. I just remembered how late it is for you.”
“I’m fine, really. Don’t worry about me.” Luc gave her a long hug. “How are you holding up?”
“Good. Sleepy, but I’m just so happy that she’s going to be alright.” Megan rested her head on Luc’s shoulder for a moment as he held her.
“Me too. I’m so glad for you both,” he replied, kissing the top of her head. “You know, you have a surprising amount of candy bar wrappers shoved in the door pocket of your car. Is that all you eat?”
Megan blushed a deep red. “Pretty much. Chocolate is my secret addiction.”
“Maybe I could become your new secret addiction?” Luc asked, giving her a hopeful look.
“I really don’t think so. I wouldn’t be able to fit you into that little pocket in the car door so. . . .” She shook her head, curling up her nose a little.
Luc laughed at the image. “I love your sense of humour.”
There was that word again. Megan gave him a little smile. “I’m going to go find a washroom to get changed. Can you sit in the room with her in case she wakes up? I told her I’d be there. She knows you’re here so I don’t think she’ll be startled.”
“Of course.”
A few minutes later, Megan folded her dress carefully, tucking it into the bag as best she could. Luc’s words came into her mind. Twice that night he had used the word love, and this last time, it had made her heart jump. She had thought he was going to say “I love you,” but he hadn’t. She was surprised at her pang of disappointment. She knew it wasn’t part of the deal, but she now realized it was becoming part of what her heart wanted. Walking slowly back down the hall, she let herself back into the room and found Luc fast asleep in the chair by the window. Tilting her head, she watched him with what could only be described as a look of total adoration for a few moments. She hadn’t seen him asleep since their first night together, and now he looked so handsome in his tuxedo. Megan put her things down on the floor and sat back in the chair by the bed. This time, she fell immediately to sleep.
Two hours later, they were awoken by the light being turned on. A nurse stood in the doorway, startled to see two extra people in the room. “I’m here to check on our patient,” she said in a singsong voice. “How are you, Helen?”
Helen lifted her head off the pillow a little and then let it flop back down. “Dizzy.”
The nurse asked Megan and Luc to give them some privacy. The pair quietly got up and went into the hall.
“Did you get some rest?” Luc asked, yawning and scratching his head with his fingers sleepily.
“I did. How about you?”
“I did.” He answered. “I suspect that will be it for now. Shall I see if I can find us some coffee?”
“That would be amazing. I need to leave to get Elliott in about an hour.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back.”
Megan walked back into the room just as the nurse was leaving. “Your husband is a little overdressed for the occasion.”
“Oh, he’s not my husband,” Megan replied.
“No? You should lock that down, honey. He’s hot even at this hour in the morning.”
After the door closed, Helen spoke up. “Yeah, lock that down, Megan.”
“I see you got your sense of humour back, so that must be a good sign.” Megan slumped down in the chair again with a sigh.
“You must be exhausted. Sorry about all of this. I feel silly about all this fuss.”
“Stop it. Of course I should fuss over you.”
There was a gentle knock at the door.
“Come in,” Megan called.
Luc poked his head in tentatively. “Is it alright if I come in? I’m bearing coffee.”
“Come in, come in,” Helen said. “I want to take a look at you.”
Luc walked in with a small smile as his eyes met Helen’s. “Hello, Mrs. Foster. It’s good to meet you, even under such circumstances.”
Megan smiled up at him as he crossed the room and handed her a cup. “Mmm, you’re a lifesaver, Luc. Thank you.”
She looked over at her mom, trying to gage her reaction.
Helen gave him a weak smile. “I’m very dizzy right now, but I can already see what Meg likes about you. Thank you for getting her here so fast.”
“No, please don’t thank me. It was my responsibility. I’m the reason she was away in the first place.” Luc’s eyes fell back on Meg as though he had no control over them.
Megan spoke up. “Mom, I need to go pick up Elliott at Jase’s in a bit. I’ll bring him back here.”
“Oh, I’ll be fine. You go home with him and get some rest. I’m going to sleep anyway. The nurse gave me another dose of Gravol just now.” Helen’s eyelids moved slowly down and back up as she struggled to stay awake.
“Well, I’m not going to leave you here alone all day. I want to be here when the next set of test results come in so I can ask questions.”
Helen turned her head slowly in Luc’s direction. “She’s very stubborn. I’m not sure if you noticed that yet.”
Luc grinned from mother to daughter and nodded. “I think she said she prefers it to be called ‘persistence.’”
Megan raised one eyebrow. “Ganging up on me already? I knew I shouldn’t introduce you two.” A hint of a smile escaped her lips.
Helen’s eyes were closed now and her breathing was growing more rhythmic. Megan walked over and gently touched her mom’s cheek with the back of her fi
ngers, whispering, “We’re going to go get Elliott. I’ll see you in a little bit, okay?”
Helen nodded without opening her eyes. “Nice to meet you, Luc.”
* * *
Megan paced back and forth a few times in the waiting room, chewing on her thumb while Luc stood patiently waiting for her to make a decision about how to proceed. Finally, she turned to him. “What do you know about kids?”
Luc looked up at the ceiling, trying to think. “Never let them play with matches. Or lighters. Or anything else that can start a fire.”
Megan gave him a hard stare. “What else?”
“They are like adults, except with less life experience. You need to show them respect but guide them in matters they don’t know about.”
“That’s pretty good,” Megan responded, feeling surprised. “You’re a very insightful man.”
“I know.”
“Shit. This is a terrible idea.” Megan went back to pacing.
Luc reached out and stopped her, gently turning her to him and lifting his hands to her face. “You’re scared. I understand that. This takes a lot of trust and I promise I won’t let you down, Megan. But only you can decide what to do.”
Megan sighed. “Okay. Let’s do this. I’ll go get Elliott. We’ll tell him that you and I are friends.”
“It’s going to be alright, Megan. We’re not doing anything that will hurt your little boy. I promise.”
* * *
Megan gulped down her coffee as she sat in the driver’s seat of her car, waiting for a light to change. She was alone, having asked Luc to wait at the hospital. The night’s events would be enough for Elliott to deal with, and she wanted a chance to talk to him alone and find out how he was doing. Draining the coffee, she realized she would need several more of those to get her through what was going to be another long day.
Twenty minutes later, Megan had Elliott settled into the back seat of the now-warm car as they headed in the direction of the hospital.
“You doing okay, buddy? I bet last night was pretty rough for you.”