That sad voice tore at Grace’s heart. “What’s her name?”
“Molly.”
Molly’s head was completely bandaged and Grace stared at the cherub face. “She’s so pretty.”
“Yes. She’s my baby. I have three boys at home.”
“Who takes care of them?” Grace realized that was none of her business, but the words had slipped out.
“My mom is helping my husband. It’s been a rough time.”
Grace looked at the tired lines on Barbara’s face, the worry in her eyes. But she also saw the selfless, unconditional love. Her clothes were rumpled, her hair uncombed but her heart was solid gold.
Grace felt she had to do something to help Barbara. That feeling came out of nowhere and it surprised her. It didn’t stop her, though.
“Why don’t you go to the cafeteria for a good meal and I’ll sit with Molly.”
“Oh, no, I don’t leave her. I only go to the bathroom and the nurses let me use the one in this room. I have to be here when she wakes up. I don’t want her to be afraid.”
“Then I’ll go down and get you something.”
“I don’t want your charity,” Barbara snapped, her face slightly flushed. “I’m sorry…I…”
“It’s okay.” Grace immediately knew the problem. Barbara didn’t have any money to go to the cafeteria. Molly’s medical bills had probably drained them financially.
“If my husband has time, he’ll bring something. If not, the nurses always bring snacks. Don’t worry about it.”
“Oh, but I do.” Surprising herself even more, Grace held up a foot encased in a Manolo high heel. “I paid six hundred dollars for these shoes. So, you see, I’m a little crazy. And at the moment I’m feeling selfish, self-centered and out of touch with what’s really important in this world.”
Barbara looked back at her, shocked.
“I’m going downstairs to buy your dinner.” She held up a hand as Barbara began to protest. “It’s not charity. It’s a token for women like you who have their goals and priorities straight. If you feel the need to repay me, maybe you can keep an eye on Brady and help Lisa as she tries to become his mother. Because I have a feeling you’ve written the book on motherhood.”
“Oh, I’d be happy to.”
Grace nodded and headed for the door. The cafeteria was serving chicken spaghetti with green beans, garlic bread and a salad. Grace bought the works and topped it off with chocolate pie and iced tea.
Carrying the food down the hall, she met Jennifer. “You can’t carry food into the ward.”
“How does Barbara eat?”
“She eats mostly sandwiches. We allow her to do that.”
She could see Jennifer was going to be hard-nosed about this. “Is there a room with a table where she can eat a decent meal?”
“It’s at the end of the hall on the other wing and I can tell you she’s not going that far.”
“There has to be a table somewhere.”
Jennifer hesitated for a second. “There’s one for the nurses behind the nurses’ station.”
“Perfect.”
“But it’s only for nurses.”
Grace looked her in the eye. “Barbara hasn’t had a decent meal in days. Are you going to deprive her of that?”
“It’s against hospital policy.”
Grace wasn’t listening. She walked around Jennifer and into a lounge with a refrigerator, microwave, small sofa, four chairs and a table. “Perfect,” she said, and placed the food on the table.
Jennifer watched from the doorway. “You know, you’re very pushy.”
“Actually, I’m known for it.” She threw the plastic bag into the garbage. “I’m pushy and bossy, but I get results. Remember that.”
Grace walked past her to the ward without another word.
Barbara was straightening Molly’s sheets, though they were already perfectly straight.
“Your dinner is in the nurses’ lounge,” Grace told her.
“Oh, thank you, but I can’t leave Molly.”
“The lounge is across the hall in a small room, within shouting distance. I’ll watch Molly. If she moves a muscle, I will shout for you. I promise I’ll watch her closely.”
“It’s across the hall?”
“Yes. Now go. Your food is getting cold.”
“I…”
“Tell you what—I’ll leave this door open.” She took Barbara’s magazine and stuffed it beneath the door. “Now, even if I say your name, you’ll have no problem hearing me.”
“You’re a very unusual person,” Barbara said.
Grace knew she didn’t mean that in a bad way because she was smiling. Actually smiling. She gently pushed Barbara out the door and sat in her chair, staring at Molly.
“You can’t keep this door open.” Jennifer stood in the doorway. “It will disturb the other children.”
Grace took a deep breath and glanced around the room. Brady stood at his railing, watching everything. The other baby lay quietly, hooked to machines. “What’s wrong with that baby?”
“His father threw him against a wall. He’s brain-dead. The hospital is waiting for orders to pull his feeding tube.”
“Oh my God.” Grace felt a tremor run through her. Oh my God!
“We try to maintain quiet and order, Ms. Whitten, for everyone’s benefit, even if you don’t see that.”
“I’m sorry I disregarded your rules, but Barbara Wilcott needs a break. Ten minutes, Jennifer, that’s all I’m asking.”
Something changed in Jennifer’s expression. “That’s nice what you did for Barbara, but in ten minutes this door will be closed.”
“Thank you.”
Grace settled into her chair. Brady watched her. She waved at him but he didn’t respond. Her gaze kept going to the little baby, so still, so alone. How could someone do that?
Molly slept so peacefully, like an angel. Suddenly tears stung the backs of her eyes—the emotional overload had finally hit her. But she knew this moment, sitting in this room with these children, was very meaningful. Everything else paled into insignificance.
And that was probably the most real feeling she’d ever had.
GRACE SLID INTO HER CAR and glanced at her watch. Seven o’clock! She’d completely lost track of time. She needed to call Tuck. It seemed she’d been waiting her whole life for this date and she couldn’t miss it. Damn. She fished her phone out of her purse. What was Tuck’s cell number? Think. Think. She didn’t know it. Double damn.
Wait. He’d called her this morning so it would be on her caller ID. She flipped open her phone and searched her calls. Yes. There it was. She quickly punched in the number.
She started her car and drove out of the parking lot. “Hi, Tuck,” she said when he answered. “I haven’t stood you up if that’s what you’re thinking. I’m just running late.”
“Where are you? I can meet you.”
“I’m headed toward I-35. Oh, no.”
“What is it?”
“A highway patrolman is following me.”
“Is he stopping you?”
“I don’t…no, he’s passing me. Whew, that was close.”
“Where are you?”
She gave him her location.
“You can meet me at The Broken Spoke.” He gave her directions. “It’s a country dance hall—best dancing in Austin. Wait for me in the parking lot.”
“Okay.” She followed his directions and soon pulled into the graveled parking lot of The Broken Spoke—a big red barn with a large oak tree out front. And, of course, there was a wagon wheel with a broken spoke resting against the tree. Wagon wheels also adorned the long front porch and each side of the sign at the top of the building.
There was a very old broken-down bus with a Lone Star Beer sign painted on the side. Next to the bus was an ancient oil rig. She’d never been here and she had no idea what the bus and rig were about.
The marquee advertised the name of a band playing tonight. The place looked rustic and c
ouples were going in, arm in arm. They were all dressed in jeans and boots. She had on a dress. Oh, well, she’d make the best of it. She wasn’t missing this date. She grabbed her purse, searching for her makeup.
Flipping on the light, she studied herself in the mirror. She looked tired, worried and a little excited. Her face was flushed and her hair resembled a bush, the wind doing a number on it at the lake. No one seemed to notice this at the hospital.
A car swung into the spot beside her. Charley, the firm’s P.I., got out. He’d found her. She pushed a button to roll down her window.
“Good evening, Ms. Whitten.” Charley bent to speak to her. In his early sixties, Charley was balding and about twenty pounds overweight. “Your father would like to speak to you.”
“Charley.” She heaved a deep sigh. “We’re not going to play games. I’ve spoken to my father and he knows how I feel. If he wants to continue the conversation, then I’ll be at my apartment in the morning. But tonight that conversation is not happening.” She touched the button and the window went up.
Charley saluted and went back to his vehicle. Her nerves were frayed. The emotional roller coaster she’d been on was about to slam into a solid wall and she felt powerless to stop it.
Grace saw Tuck drive into a parking spot and she quickly brushed her hair and applied lipstick. On a night when she wanted to be beautiful, she was a mess.
She watched as Tuck swung out his long legs and locked his car. Pocketing the keys, he strolled toward her. He moved in a sexy, loose-limbed sort of way. His shirt stretched across wide shoulders and his Stetson fit perfectly on his dark head, giving him a mysterious appeal. Her stomach tightened.
As he slid into the passenger seat, a tangy male scent filled the car. She swallowed.
“You okay?” he asked.
“I could really use a glass of wine.”
NEON BEER SIGNS, country music and laughter greeted them. Grace realized she was in a real Texas honky-tonk, another new experience. Pictures of celebrities from baseball player Bob Gill to singer Dolly Parton and patrons covered the walls.
Straight ahead was a dining room with a bar. She could see pool tables there, too. They sat at a table close together so they could hear each other above the chatter. It was a packed house tonight. She ordered a glass of Merlot and Tuck ordered a longneck. After a couple of sips, she relaxed. Looking into Tuck’s dark eyes she relaxed even more.
Tuck ordered chicken-fried steak and she selected a grilled chicken breast. During the meal they talked. She told him about her father and he understood her decision to resign. Then she told him about Brady and he was surprised.
“I think Jennifer is going to have me barred from the hospital.”
“I doubt it.”
She wondered about his relationship with Jennifer, but she didn’t ask. It didn’t matter.
She took a sip of wine. “I keep thinking there should be sofas in the ward or recliners so mothers could get some rest. If Caroline was there with Jesse, it would be totally unacceptable that she’d get no rest.”
“Grace, it’s an indigent hospital. There aren’t any luxuries. And if, God forbid, Jesse needed medical care, he would be in a state-of-the-art hospital with all the amenities because Caroline and Eli have insurance and they could afford it.”
“I know, but I feel something should be done.” She straightened her napkin in her lap. “I might look into it. I’m going to have a lot of time on my hands.”
“Do you have any idea what you’re going to do?”
“No. Right now I’m just feeling my way through.” She wiped her mouth and laid her napkin on the table. “The dinner was delicious but now I just want to dance.” They went through a door by the bar into a long dance hall with a stage at the back of the room. The band was playing “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere” and the crowd was singing along and shouting the punchline.
They took a table on the side of the dance floor and Grace slipped off her jacket and laid it on the back of her chair.
Tuck set their drinks on the table and took her hand, grinning. “Let’s dance.” His feet were already moving to the beat of the music.
As they reached the floor, the band eased into a slow George Strait two-step. “I won’t tell you what my shoes cost,” she said above the noise.
“Good idea.”
“And I don’t care if you step all over them.”
“I think you have a shoe fetish.”
She giggled and went into his arms as if she belonged there. One hand rested on his neck, the other was held firmly in his. Her body molded to his perfectly, sensuously. She felt every muscle, every sinew of his hard body. Her frayed nerves eased and she slid into the most wonderful feeling of her life—that feeling of knowing she’d found the man for her.
Tuck kissed the side of her face. “Feeling better?”
“Yes. Much.” The other couples on the floor seemed to fade away.
“You smell wonderful.”
“So do you.” She moved her head to smile at him.
“Sam didn’t like it. He ran into the other room.”
Her smile broadened. “What does a dog know?”
She locked her hands around his neck and he tightened his around her waist.
“We’re talking too much,” he whispered into her ear.
“Definitely.” She moved against him to the beat of the music. As she turned her head, their lips met in a slow, aching kiss. The music played on, but Grace didn’t hear it. All she heard was the beat of her heart against his, a magical sound that bound them together for this moment in time.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
THE NEXT MORNING Grace had coffee ready when her doorbell rang. She took a deep breath and opened the door. Her parents stood there. And to her surprise, so did Caroline. She didn’t think her sister would leave Jesse this early in the morning, but then she remembered it was Saturday and Eli was at home.
It was hard to keep her mind on business because she was floating about three feet off the ground. Last night had been wonderful. They’d shared a long kiss before she got into her car and drove home, alone. It was tempting to ask Tuck to her apartment, but they both knew it was too soon.
Her family walked into her living room without saying a word. She poured coffee and passed it around, not caring they were drinking coffee in her spotless white living room. Well, that wasn’t completely true, but she was forcing herself to be okay with it. She was still taking tiny steps. Each one was getting easier and easier, though.
Stephen sipped from a china cup, his eyes on Grace. Like a dutiful daughter, she waited for him to speak.
“I think you owe me an apology for running out yesterday. Byron had to handle the interview with Mann.”
She ran her thumb and forefinger over the handle of her cup, feeling the dutiful daughter suddenly disappear. “If you came here for an apology, you’re not going to get one.”
Her father frowned. “What’s wrong with you, Grace? You don’t seem to care about your family anymore.”
She carefully placed her cup on the silver tray, trying to maintain control without losing her temper. “Family has nothing to do with this. Your political career does.”
“That’s my life, Grace, and I expected my daughter to step up to the plate and do what she had to in a difficult situation.”
“You expected wrong, then.” She met his eyes squarely. “When you had your heart attack, you said the only thing that mattered was seeing your girls’ faces one more time. You said that in the scheme of your life, we were all that mattered. Was that a lie?”
“Of course not. And I resent…”
Joanna placed a hand on her husband’s arm. “You promised not to get upset.”
Stephen shrugged off her hand, his eyes on Grace. “You’ve had this dream career handed to you on a silver platter and this is the thanks I get. I feel like you’ve stabbed me in the back.”
Grace stood, some of her control slipping. “Maybe that’s it. The job was give
n to me—for a reason. I didn’t earn it. And lately I’ve felt the pressure of that. Please understand I’m not happy doing your bidding anymore. Byron can easily take over. I need some space and time to do my own thing.” She took a long breath. “I will not be coming back to the firm. That’s my final decision.”
Stephen got to his feet. “I expect this kind of behavior from Caroline, but not from you, Grace.”
“I’m sitting right here, Dad!” Caroline had been silent up until now.
“You know what I mean.”
“Sadly, yes, I do.” Caroline rose. “And for what it’s worth, I wouldn’t hire this guy, either.”
Stephen’s eyes bulged. “I can’t believe my ears. What type of daughters have I raised?”
“Daughters with integrity, pride and ethics,” Grace replied. “We got those qualities from our father, but he’s forgotten those essential, important characteristics.”
“How dare you…”
Joanna stood by her husband, rubbing his arm. “Stephen…”
He shook off her hand. “Stop mollycoddling me, Joanna. Sometimes you treat me like a child.”
“Maybe because sometimes you act like one,” Joanna shot back. “Have you ever thought that we raised intelligent, discerning women and that they’re right about Mann? He’s vile, and I’m telling you for about the hundredth time we can win this election without Cavanaugh’s money.”
“You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” Stephen shouted.
“Fine.” Joanna reached for her purse. “I’m going home. I’ll call a cab from the street.” She glanced at Caroline’s and Grace’s stunned faces. “I’m sure my daughters can take care of themselves because that’s the way I raised them—independent and strong, able to stand up for the things they believe in.” With those words, she headed to the door.
“Joanna, don’t you dare walk out that door.”
Joanna kept walking; the door snapped shut behind her.
“Joanna!” When Stephen realized she wasn’t coming back, he quickly went after her.
Grace and Caroline stared at each other in shock. Their mother never stood up to their father. She was the quintessential politician’s wife, and always acquiesced to Stephen’s wishes.
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