Rescue Me (a quirky romance novel about secrets, forgiveness and falling in love)

by Allan, Sydney

  "I added some time, just to be on the safe side. You'll be in recovery by this time Thursday, and Heidi'll receive your stem cells by the following morning at the latest."

  "And then I can go home?"

  "And then you can go home. Unless..."

  He didn't have to say more. She knew what that word meant. At least, she assumed she knew what it meant: unless there were complications.

  "Of course, after we celebrate, I'll be bringing you back here to talk to Heidi. She's awake. This is your prime opportunity to take care of what we discussed."

  "Yeah." The thought of eating held even less appeal. "Maybe we should do that first?" the thought leapt from her mouth. Why had she suggested that?

  "Great idea! See you in a few."

  She pushed the talk button before she said something else stupid, dragged her aching frame to the bathroom, climbed into the shower, pelted her miserable head with scalding hot water, and started feeling somewhat human. She quickly dressed, fixed her hair and applied a little make-up.

  Her stomach did a funny little dance when she heard the front door open downstairs. Ignoring the flutters, she sat on the bed to tie on her tennis shoes, then gathered her phone and purse.

  He looked much too happy to see her as she half walked, half stumbled down the staircase. Poor guy. He didn't deserve to be abused.

  "Morning," she mumbled.

  "Afternoon," he responded. "Hungry?" He opened the front door.

  "Not really." The bright sunlight drove blades of pain through her eyes to the back of her head. She squinted. Michigan had so few clear, sunny days. Why did today have to be one of them?

  "Well, we'll go take care of our business at the hospital first. Maybe by then, you'll be feeling better." He said, running to the passenger side of the car and opening the door.

  She sat, immediately nauseated from the car's stuffy interior. In miserable silence, she rode, staring at the cornfields and trees. The hour dragged on, even though Rainer chattered like a squirrel, once stopping at a traffic light and asking her if she was okay before continuing.

  Pretending wasn't easy with him. Especially after last night, and especially the way he was treating her. So kind, so considerate, too nice. If only he'd do something mean or annoying. But no! He had to be the epitome of the perfect gentleman today--just to make things harder.

  Didn't he know what a bitch she was? Hadn't she made it clear she was cruel to the people she loved, even her own sister? Why wasn't that stopping him? Why wasn't that scaring him away?

  They walked up to Heidi's room and donned masks and gloves in silence.

  "I hope..." he paused and smiled, giving Hailey's shoulder a squeeze. "Good luck."

  She nodded and stepped into the room, not surprised to see her mother sitting in an armchair in the corner.

  "She's sleeping," Margaret said, her voice hushed but stern.

  "I'll wait."

  "She doesn't want to see you."

  "Well, I'll let her tell me that."

  "Haven't you done enough damage?" Margaret stood and walked toward her. "Your sister's sick, for God's sake. Leave her alone."

  "She's sick. Yes, I'm painfully aware of that, which is why I'm here. If you don't want to see me, leave the room." She stepped aside, welcoming her mother to pass. "This is between Heidi and I, mother. It's about time you learned to stay out of our business."

  "That's no way to talk to me. I've done nothing to you."

  "Nothing but treat me like a criminal and a second-class citizen since I was a child."

  "You didn't need me like Heidi did."

  "Of course I did. I was a little girl. All children need their mother's love."

  "I loved you."

  Those words were so hollow. Hailey shook her head. "Just leave."

  "Mother," Heidi's weak voice cut through the tension in the room.

  Hailey spun around, silently dismissing Margaret without a second thought. "Heidi," she stepped closer to the bed, hesitant but hopeful.

  "Hailey?" Heidi said, her gaze fixed. "What are you doing here?"

  "I came to see you."

  "I must be worse off than the doctors are telling me. They sent you in here to make last minute amends, I suppose." Heidi hit the button on the bed, raising the head. "You look like hell."

  "You don't." And she didn't, considering how sick she was. The weight she'd lost emphasized the pretty lines of her face and made her eyes look childlike, round and wide.

  "You've always been a bad liar." Heidi raised a shaky hand to her head and tucked a strand of hair under her scarf. "You've never spoken your mind."

  "And you've never minced words."

  Heidi smiled and shrugged. "So you won't be surprised when I tell you you're wasting your time, right?"

  "No."

  "Good. Have a nice life, Hailey. Let me die in peace."

  "You're not dying."

  "If you're here, I must be. It's been five years. I haven't heard a word from you, and now all of a sudden you're playing loving sister."

  "My timing has always stunk."

  "You can say that again."

  Hailey could see she wasn't getting anywhere. But she had tried. If her sister wanted to face death hating her, then evidently she wasn't going to stop her. "Well, I guess I'll leave, then."

  "Yeah, run back to your pretty little life in California. Pretty ocean, pretty house, pretty hair, pretty face, pretty business..."

  "I didn't mean for things to turn out like this."

  "You didn't have to. It's just life."

  "I'm sorry."

  "No, you're not." Heidi said, hatred in her eyes.

  "I wish I could prove it to you--prove how sorry I am."

  "You can't, because I know you. Flying out here, making nice, giving me an empty apology, none of it means a thing. If I die--and I have no intention of doing that--I'll never give you the benefit of my forgiveness. You destroyed my life the day you ran out on me. Oh, and one more thing before you make another hasty exit...leave Rainer out of this. Leave him alone."

  "What are you telling me that for?"

  "Because I see it in his eyes. He's got it for you. Bad. And I know how you treat men. He doesn't deserve that. Leave him alone."

  "I am," she said, suddenly wondering exactly how difficult it would be to leave him alone. She stepped backward, anxious to leave the hospital, the state. There were too many complications here.

  "Seriously, Hailey. He's a good man."

  That's when she saw the depth of Heidi's feelings for Rainer. Damn it, she was a fool. Heidi cared for him. If she hurt him, it would only make things worse.

  "Yeah, Heidi," she said, taking one last step and gripping the doorknob in her hand. "I promise I'll leave him alone."

  "Thanks."

  That final word rung in her ear as she walked into the hallway and ripped at the surgical mask covering her face. When the gloves were duly shed, she tossed them into the nearest garbage can, and, ignoring Rainer as he strode toward her, she hurried in the opposite direction.

  His legs were too long, his stride too fast. He caught her by the elbow before she reached the stairs. "What happened?"

  "Nothing."

  "Bull." His gaze searched her face.

  Feigning nonchalance, she shrugged. "Believe what you want."

  "She won't forgive you?"

  "I can't make her stop hating me."

  "I'm sorry." His grip loosened, becoming more of a touch than a hold.

  She stepped out of his reach. "Don't be. I'm the one who created this mess. I apologized. My guilt has been appeased. The rest is up to her."

  "You don't really believe that do you?"

  No. "Yes."

  He shook his head. "I thought I'd gotten to know you. I guess I don't know you at all."

  "You're right. You don't know a thing about me. I'm not Heidi in hippie clothes. I'm Hailey, a ruthless, coldhearted bitch who pretends nice, acts like everything is great and then stabs you in the back when she
gets frustrated and tired of bending to your whim."

  Rainer stepped away, aghast.

  That was all Hailey needed. She turned and fled, not caring about the people she bumped into as she charged down the corridor, tripped down four flights of stairs and strode through the lobby.

  The scorching air outside slapped her in the face as she broke into a run. Her lungs burned and she couldn't breathe.

  Moments later, her heart pounding, her lungs screaming in protest, she slowed to a walk, looking at the flowerbeds and green grass of the hospital's broad yard. When she reached the main road, she stopped. What would she do next?

  Rainer's horn honked as she stood on the street corner, ruminating her miserable situation. He pulled up to her, rolled down the window, and yelled her name, but she ignored him. If she showed him her true colors, he had to run.

  "Go away," she shouted.

  "Where are you going?" His voice held an edge of amusement, which raked her nerves.

  She realized she looked ridiculous walking down the street. And running through the hospital like a two-year-old in the midst of a tantrum probably hadn't been the maturest thing she'd ever done. She rolled her eyes at her own behavior. "I'm going to check myself into the psych ward."

  "The hospital's back that way."

  "I definitely need to spend some time on major tranquilizers."

  "Come on. It's over ninety degrees out here. You're going to get heat stroke. We can't afford for you to get sick now. Get in the car. We can talk about what happened later."

  He sounded like he was pleading with a patient, holding a giant needle behind his back. This won't hurt a bit.

  Yet, she knew she had to do what he said. Where else did she have to go? She could get a hotel room, but it was only forty-eight hours. She could behave for forty-eight hours--if she stayed away from wine.

  She turned toward the car. "Fine." As she slid into the seat, he looked at her, his expression unreadable. "I did what I could."

  "I know."

  "She's stubborn."

  "Yes. That's clearly a family trait." He dealt that stinger with a voice void of emotion. Then, he pulled the car away from the curb and hit the air conditioning button. Cool air blasted from the vents, and only then did she realize how hot she'd been.

  "I know what we agreed to, making peace between Heidi and I, but I don't think I can do it."

  "Are you backing out on me?"

  "I apologized. What else can I do?"

  "Show her how sorry you are."

  "I'm letting you drill a hole in my hip, for God's sake. Doesn't that show her anything?"

  "She doesn't know that."

  She nodded and sighed. "Then what are you suggesting I do next? I need to get back home. My business is falling apart, my friends are going to forget who I am, and my plants are going to wither and die from lack of water."

  "You mean you don't have cacti?"

  "Ha ha. Funny," she said, purposefully keeping her voice dull. "Seriously, what can I do? Plus, she made me promise to leave you out of this."

  "Me? Why did she say that?"

  "Isn't it obvious?" She shook her head. "Men are so blind to this stuff. Why is that? Does a woman have to throw herself at you to get your attention? If I hurt you--which is inevitable, by the way--I'll hurt Heidi more. She cares for you."

  Chapter 11

  Rainer pulled into the nearest parking lot and turned off the car. Today had been one heck of a day. He'd experienced more confusion in the past twelve hours than he had in years.

  Last night's episode had been the source of many of them--a horde of conflicting emotions he'd struggled to hide all day. And Hailey's angry outburst after visiting with Heidi was giving rise to worry for both sisters. But none of that compared to what he was feeling at this moment as he waited for Hailey to explain what that last comment meant.

  He was terrified.

  "Please. Tell me the truth," he said, hoping she was capable of honesty without the benefit of half a bottle of wine.

  "I think she's in love with you."

  "No." His heart slid to his toes.

  "Oh, yes she is."

  "But we talked about our friendship. I asked her."

  "And she denied it?"

  "Yes."

  Hailey's brows huddled together, and she screwed her face into a pretty picture of bafflement. "I don't understand. She's always been a straight shooter."

  "She told me we were friends."

  "Maybe she doesn't realize it herself," Hailey suggested with a shrug. "Those things happen."

  "Your sister has always known her mind."

  "But maybe not her heart. It's different."

  Their gazes locked, and Rainer felt a deep connection with Hailey. A connection of spirit and soul, shared sadness and frustration. And he realized with sudden clarity how much he longed to explore that connection. To explore the woman she was, the woman he knew she could become. Yet, they also shared something else. A respect for Heidi's feelings.

  "I'm leaving in thirty-six hours."

  He nodded, not feeling any better after that declaration.

  "You can work it out with her after I've left. I won't get between you. I can't. Especially after...after everything."

  Was she reading his mind? "You're right." How would he explain his feelings about Hailey to Heidi? He couldn't. Heidi was sick. She needed him. No matter what he wanted.

  "I promise, I'll stay away from the wine tonight."

  "You have to, anyway. You can't eat or drink anything after midnight."

  "Good." She turned from him, seeming to study her hands as she played with the hem of her shirt.

  He put the car into gear and turned onto the road. "Well, time for our celebration, before I drop you off and go back to work." He didn’t feel like celebrating.

  "Yeah. Sure. Celebration."

  It was clear, from the lack of enthusiasm in her voice, she wasn't in the mood either.

  He drove to his favorite restaurant, which wasn't far from home, parked and, with Hailey at his side, went inside. The smell of food, spicy seafood dishes, steak and fresh baked bread tickled his nose and made his mouth water. He took off his sunglasses, momentarily blind in the dim and cozy interior, and greeted the hostess standing at the podium in front of the entry. "Table for two, please. A booth if you have one."

  The young woman, a blonde with a bright smile, led them to the back of the restaurant. Rainer followed Hailey and tried to ignore the sway of her hips as she walked, the sexy curve of her neck where it met her shoulders. The swish and gleam of her ponytail. Did she have any idea how provocative she was?

  When he sat across from her, he noticed immediately how she avoided looking at him, and he burned with the need to talk to her. But he wouldn't. Deep in his gut, he knew they both felt that magic. He saw it in her eyes.

  But he also saw something else, and realized it was folly to pursue her. Hailey had a life to return to--in California.

  He ordered his favorite dish, seafood Alfredo, and wasn't surprised when it didn't taste as good as it usually did. He watched Hailey pick at her food--a spicy jambalaya--not surprised she wasn't eating either. "You really should eat. You'll be starving later," he warned.

  "I'm still recovering from last night..." She looked at him and blushed.

  "Yeah," he said, avoiding that subject, even though he guessed she might like to talk about it. She'd mentioned it twice now. "Wine can give you a heck of a hangover."

  "I've never had one--a hangover."

  "I've had more than my share."

  "Really? I assumed you don't drink. You didn't drink much last night."

  "There was a reason for that." He felt his face heat as he watched her eyes widen with understanding.

  Their gazes dropped simultaneously to their plates. Rainer poked at a noodle, smothered in garlicky sauce, and shoved it under a piece of shrimp. Only thirty-six hours longer. A little more than one day, and Hailey would be safe and sound in Sequoia Valley. />
  He felt sick to his stomach.

  When he glanced up, his gaze met hers again. This was crazy. They were both obviously battling something--some chemistry.

  But there was a boatload of reasons why pursuing anything with Hailey Jensen was a bad idea. He tore his gaze from her and began listing them, using the noodles as counters.

  First, she lived across the country.

  Second, she was the opposite of his ideal woman.

  Third, she swore like a sailor.

  Forth, she dressed like a hippie.

  Fifth, she was moody and unpredictable.

  Sixth, she was sarcastic and annoying.

  Seventh, she was the sister of a woman who might be in love with him.

  Did he have to go any further? The pile of noodles was already pretty intimidating. And that last noodle was a whopper.

  He glanced up. Hailey poked at her full plate, looking so pained, she might as well be on The Rack. Not sure what else to do, he went back to counting noodles.

  Now the good side. If there was one. And if he dared even consider it. He was putting himself in a miserable position for even considering it. He loved Heidi. He wouldn't be the cause of more suffering for her. No way.

  But he could still count the good stuff.

  First, Hailey was sexy, so sexy just the thought of her rose his core body temp.

  Second, she was smart.

  Third, she was fun to talk to.

  Forth, she was sexy.

  Fifth, she kept him on his toes.

  Sixth, his whole life was different when she was in it.

  Seventh, she was sexy.

  Eighth, he felt like he'd known her his whole life.

  Ninth, he liked the man he was when he was with her.

  He stopped. Look at that, the good pile of noodles was bigger than the bad.

  It still didn't matter. He wouldn't do anything to risk hurting Heidi. Especially something so obviously tied to hormones. Yes, he was a man. And as a man, he could be ruled by his baser needs. But he was a civilized, responsible man.

  He jabbed the bad noodles. Stabbed and stabbed until they were nothing more than cream-laden mush.

  "What are you doing?" Hailey asked.

  He looked up, suddenly feeling foolish. "Mutilating bad noodles?"

  "If they're bad, why don't you send them back?" Her expression was a charming mixture of curiosity and disgust. Her full lips curled up into a grimace that didn’t fit them well. That mouth was definitely more suited to smiling.