by Eve Gaddy
“You can’t drive my truck. It’s a stick shift.”
“I’ve already driven it, remember?”
“I forgot.” He picked up his keys. “It doesn’t matter. I can drive, Delilah. I’m upset, not incompetent.”
Maybe he needed to drive, needed to feel in control. “All right. Do you want me to come with you?”
He hesitated. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I don’t mind.” She was prepared to argue with him about that, all night if necessary. No matter what he said, she didn’t think he should be alone. She knew from personal experience how it felt to be all alone when one of your loved ones was desperately ill. Once he got to the hospital and his brother and sisters were there, he’d be all right, but until then she was sticking to him like white on rice.
“Thanks.”
They got in the truck and pulled out. Delilah was glad to see it had stopped raining. After the first couple of miles of silence, Cam said, “My mother’s always been so healthy. I can’t believe she has heart problems and we didn’t even know it. She’s never had any symptoms before.”
“Maybe she doesn’t. Maybe it’s a false alarm.”
“I guess it could be.” He didn’t sound too sure of that. “My dad didn’t know, but then, he never went to the doctor if he could help it. He was alone, out on his boat when it happened. When he never showed up, my mother sent the coast guard after him. He was gone by the time they got there. He never had a chance.”
“But your mother is getting help. Wasn’t it a good sign that she was talking to you? It couldn’t be too severe, could it?” She didn’t know, but there was no point in him torturing himself all the way to the hospital when there wasn’t a thing he could do.
“I don’t know. I don’t know much about it. She said her chest hurt and she was afraid it was a heart attack.” His hands tightened on the steering wheel. “This is the first time I’ve wished I had a cell phone. I could ask Jay some of these questions if I did.”
She had met Jay, his brother-in-law who was a doctor, when he came into the restaurant with Gail and their kids. “Will he be at the hospital?”
“Yes, I told Gail to ask him to come. They’ll probably leave all the kids with Mark so Cat and Gail can both come to the hospital.”
“Your family is very close. That must be nice.” She couldn’t imagine what that was like, having a family to depend on.
“Not always,” he said, laughing a little. “They tend to butt into my business more than I’d like.”
Like Gabe, she thought, but she didn’t think she needed to bring that up. “I used to wish I had a brother or sister. I pestered my mother about it for a long time, but she said I was enough for her. I don’t know how I expected it to happen, anyway. She didn’t date much, much less have a serious relationship.”
“What happened to your dad?”
She laughed humorlessly. “Oh, he was a winner. He abandoned my mother when she found out she was pregnant. She was sixteen. Her parents threw her out of the house. It’s a miracle she managed to have me and support us. She never talked much about that time, but I know it was rough.”
He glanced at her. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up sad subjects.”
“It’s not, really. It all happened before I was born. And I had my mom, and she was enough.”
“What did she—” He broke off and swore. “Never mind.”
“Cancer. That’s what you were going to ask, isn’t it?” Such a simple word for such a world of hurt. And it still hurt, would always hurt, she knew. Just as she would always miss her. But she had learned to deal with her mother’s death. She’d had no other choice but to accept it, and go on.
“Yeah. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She knew he was grasping at anything to take his mind off his own mother. And she also knew that nothing would relieve his mind until he found out his mother was all right.
“Thanks for coming with me.” He reached for her hand and held it resting on his thigh.
“You’re welcome,” she said and her throat felt tight. “She’ll be all right, Cam.”
“I hope so.”
He held her hand the rest of the way to the hospital.
THEY WERE THE FIRST ONES to arrive at the hospital. His mother arrived a short time after them, before Cam had managed to wear a hole in the floor pacing.
Meredith Randolph was a pretty blond woman who looked at least ten years younger than Delilah knew she had to be. She burst into tears when she saw her son. It was clear from her demeanor that she depended a great deal on her oldest son. It was equally clear that Cam was crazy about her.
Delilah watched as the familiar Cam slid back into place, the one who took care of everyone else, the one they all depended on. She didn’t think anyone realized, least of all Cam, that no one returned the favor. Unless you counted Gabe trying to protect Cam from her. But that was another story.
The fact was, Cam didn’t think he needed help, and he’d have been the first to reject it.
A few minutes later a nurse wheeled Mrs. Randolph away and Cam left his mother long enough to talk to Delilah. “They’re putting her in an exam room and I’m going with her. Her doctor is on the way, but tell Jay to come back and find us when he gets here, okay?”
“All right.” She wanted to say something comforting but nothing came to mind. The only things she thought of were stupid, useless things, like try not to worry. As she watched him walk away, she tried her best not to think about another hospital. Another mother.
She didn’t have long to wait before the others got there. Jay, Gail and Cat all came in at once. Jay left them to go to the desk, and Gail and Cat spotted her and came over to where she had been sitting in an uncomfortable hard plastic waiting-room chair.
“Delilah, are you here with Cam?” Gail asked. Delilah started to answer but Gail rushed on. “Never mind, of course you are.”
“Where are they?” Cat asked. “Do you know what happened? What’s going on?”
Delilah shook her head. “I don’t know any more than you do. They took your mother back a few minutes ago, right after she got here. Cam went with her. He asked if Jay would come back there.” She pointed to the double doors that led to the examining rooms.
Gail turned as her husband approached. “Delilah says Cam and Mom are in the exam room.”
“I know,” Jay said. “Why don’t you two wait here and I’ll see what I can find out. Then—”
“Forget it, Jay,” Cat interrupted heatedly. “We’re going to see our mother. Now.”
Gail rubbed his arm and looked at him, but didn’t say anything.
He shrugged, apparently not much surprised. “All right. Let’s go.”
Delilah barely had time to sit down again before Gabe came striding through the emergency room entrance. She cursed under her breath, wishing one of his sisters was there to deal with him. She was the last person he’d want to see right now.
He hadn’t noticed her yet and she had time to observe him without the distraction of listening to him or feeling that glacial demeanor that came over him when he looked at her. He was a good-looking guy, she had to admit. Dark, like his sister Cat, but tall, like his brother. What her mother had always called go-to-hell looks. He was probably even nice. To some people. People whose guts he didn’t hate.
He spotted her and his expression changed from worried to angry. He was at her side in a few hasty strides. He towered over her, disapproval radiating from him.
“I should have known you’d be here. Where’s Cam? And where’s my mother?”
She simply pointed to the double doors.
“Why are you here? Never mind,” he said when she started to answer. “I don’t want to hear it.” He turned his back and strode toward the doors.
“I came here with Cam because I was worried about him.” Although why she bothered trying to tell Gabe anything, she didn’t know. He’d made up his mind about her the first time they met and she didn’t be
lieve anything short of a baseball bat to the head would change it.
He turned around, giving her a cynical look. “Worried? Right. Save it for somebody more gullible.”
Just then Gail and Cat came back through the doors and Gabe went to meet them. Delilah watched them together, feeling more uncomfortable and out of place by the minute. Cam was with his mother, he didn’t need her here. The rest of the Randolphs sure as heck didn’t need her either.
She was debating whether to leave when Cat motioned for her to come over. Unlike Gabe, Cam’s sisters seemed to like her.
“How’s your mother doing? Have they found anything out yet?” she asked Cat, who kept glancing worriedly at the double doors.
“No, but she’s feeling a little better.” She frowned and looked at Gail. “I wish she’d let us stay with her, but she threw us all out. Except Cam.”
“You know Cam will calm her down better than anyone,” Gail said. “Besides, she doesn’t want us, she wants him.”
“I know. She always says she doesn’t have a favorite of her children, but she does. Especially—” Cat’s voice cracked and she tried again. “When something bad happens.”
Gail twisted her hands together nervously. “Jay says the emergency room doctor who’s treating her is very good.”
Gabe stuck his hands in his pockets and stared at the door. “Seems like she should have a heart specialist if it’s her heart,” he said.
“They don’t know what’s wrong yet,” Cat said. “It might be nothing. We’ll get her a specialist if we need to.” She patted Gabe’s arm. “Don’t think about it, Gabe.”
“I’m not thinking about anything,” Gabe snapped, jerking away from her.
“Of course you are,” Cat said. “We’re all thinking about Dad. How can we help thinking about him?”
“I’d been doing fine until you brought it up. Can’t you ever just not talk?”
Cat looked as upset and angry as her brother. She opened her mouth to answer him, but Gail stopped her with a gesture. “Gabe.” Gail put herself between the two and tried to make peace. “We’re all upset, yelling at each other isn’t going to help.”
Gabe just shrugged and didn’t say anything while Cat and Gail went to sit down. Delilah hesitated, unsure what to do, but wanting to make Gabe feel better. She didn’t think he meant to be a jerk to his sister. It was clear he was upset about their mother.
“It’s hard waiting,” she said to him. “I know how hard it is.”
He glanced at her. “Thanks, but keep your sympathy. Do me a favor and leave me alone,” he added. “While you’re at it, leave Cam alone, too.”
Hurt, she sucked in a breath. “Tell me something, Gabe. Why do you hate me?”
He rolled his eyes. “Spare me the drama queen act. I don’t hate you. I wouldn’t care what you did if you weren’t playing my brother.”
“I’m not playing him. Do you really think I’d take advantage of him after what he’s done for me?”
He smiled. It wasn’t a nice smile. “Oh, yeah, baby. In a heartbeat.”
“Why do you think he needs you to look out for him? He seems pretty self-sufficient to me. Don’t you think he’s smart enough to take care of himself?”
“Usually. But women have a way of messing with the best of us.”
“And that would be you?”
“No, that would be my brother.”
“I’m not looking to hurt him.”
“Right. That’s what they all say. And then they walk away and leave you bleeding.”
“Is that what happened to you?” she asked him, light suddenly dawning. Gabe was worried about Cam all right, but she didn’t believe it was because of Cam’s failed engagement. No, it was more personal than that. She wondered just what had made Gabe so cynical. And so distrustful of women.
“We’re talking about Cam, not me.”
“Are we?”
“Gabe, what’s the matter with you? Why are you being so rude to Delilah?” Gail had come over in time to catch at least some of the conversation. She turned to Delilah. “Ignore him, he gets like this when he’s upset. I’m glad Cam had someone to drive over here with.”
Gabe muttered something and stalked away. Thankfully, Delilah hadn’t understood it, but she could guess the meaning and it wasn’t particularly conciliatory.
She blew out a breath. “Well, this is awkward.”
“I know. I’m sorry. Come sit with me,” Gail said. “Cat’s gone to call Mark.” They sat for a bit, watching people come and go before Gail spoke again. “I’m not sure what Gabe’s problem is where you’re concerned, but I’m sorry he’s being such a pain in the behind.”
“He thinks I’m a man-eater out to get your brother.” Problem was, she couldn’t totally blame him. She probably did appear to be an opportunist, at the least. But the last thing she wanted to do was hurt Cam.
“Are you?”
Delilah looked at her, unsure what to say.
“Out to get him, I mean.”
“No.” If she’d been free…but she wasn’t. “We’re not sleeping together,” she said after a moment.
But, oh, God, she wanted to.
“I’m sorry, I know I’m prying. I realize this is none of my business, but he’s my brother and I love him.”
They all did. That was obvious. “Cam isn’t interested in me that way.” Which wasn’t exactly true, but he didn’t want to be interested in her and was fighting it for all he was worth. Just as she was.
Tonight had been close. Closer than they’d yet come to giving in to what they were feeling. Part of her hadn’t wanted him to listen. Hadn’t wanted him to stop. If he’d kissed her, she wouldn’t have stopped him. And she knew, without a doubt, they’d have made love.
Gail laughed. “Oh, honey, you’re wrong about that. Why else would Gabe be so bent out of shape?”
She looked at Gail and saw concern, but not condemnation in her face. “Gabe’s wrong. There’s nothing going on.”
“It’s not a crime if there is, you know.”
She didn’t think Gail would be so sympathetic if she knew Delilah’s secrets. Gail patted her hand. “Cam’s a grown man. I think he’s old enough and wise enough to know what he’s doing. So if he trusts you, why shouldn’t I?”
“Gabe doesn’t.”
She looked at her brother with a worried frown. “I know. Like I said, I’m not sure what that’s about.” She got up and rubbed her neck, glancing at the doors worriedly. “I wonder why someone doesn’t come tell us something? I’d kill for a cup of coffee.”
“Let me get it,” Delilah said, glad for something useful to do. “I’ll bring some for everyone.”
After asking at the information desk, she went downstairs to the cafeteria to the coffee machine. She filled one cup and turned around to look for a container to hold several more. There was a man with his back to her at one of the machines on the opposite wall. A man with brown hair with a glint of silver. Wearing an overcoat just like Avery Freeman’s.
She choked on a scream and dropped the coffee, hardly noticing the hot liquid splashing on her jeans and tennis shoes. How had he found her?
The man turned around, the annoyance on his face fading when he saw her. “Are you all right?”
She stared at him, unable to speak. Not Avery, was all she could think. Dizzy, she sucked in a deep breath. It wasn’t him. Thank God, it wasn’t him.
“Miss, are you all right?” he repeated, and handed her some paper napkins.
“Fine. Sorry. I’m—clumsy.” She felt as if her tongue were sticking to the roof of her mouth. She knew she sounded and looked like an idiot, but her hands were trembling so badly from her fright, she couldn’t do anything about that.
He looked doubtful but left after she reassured him she was fine. Delilah sank down near the machine, hanging her head and fighting to gain control. She had to get out of there. Go somewhere Avery wouldn’t find her. Somewhere safe.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
C
AM WALKED INTO THE APARTMENT and threw his keys down on the table by the door. In the muted light thrown by the television, he could barely make out Delilah, huddled on the sofa with a blanket wrapped around her.
“What the hell happened to you? Gail said you went to get coffee and never came back.”
“I’m sorry. I had to leave.” Her voice was flat and emotionless. Hesitant, as if she were having a hard time speaking.
Baffled, he looked at her. Wasn’t she even going to ask him about his mother? She didn’t, so he sat on the couch and said, “They sent my mother home. It was indigestion, not a heart attack. She was embarrassed to make such a big deal of it, but Jay said that happens all the time.”
For a long moment she still didn’t speak. Finally, she said, “I’m glad she’s all right.”
Something was off. She was acting like she was in shock. “Did Gabe say something to upset you? Gail said he’d been giving you a hard time. Is that why you left?”
Her laugh held no humor. “It wasn’t Gabe.”
He started to get annoyed again. “So you just ran out for no reason. Didn’t it occur to you that I—that Gail might be worried when you disappeared like you did?”
“I had a reason.” She shuddered and pulled the blanket tighter around her. “I was scared.”
The annoyance faded, replaced by concern. She sounded like she was fighting tears. He hated when women cried, especially when they were trying not to. You’d think he’d be used to it, and he was, but he didn’t like it. He put his arm around her and pulled her close, rubbing his hand up and down her arm where the blanket had slipped down. Her skin felt chilled. She really was upset.
“It’s okay. What are you scared of? Tell me what happened.”
Her body tensed, her back went rigid. “I thought I saw Avery.”
Avery. She’d finally said his name. Not because she trusted him, though. Because she was too upset to realize she’d let it slip. “The guy you’ve been running from.”
She nodded. “It wasn’t him, but I thought it was. I panicked. I had to get out of there.”
“You’ve made him into some kind of superhuman bogeyman. What do you think he’s going to do? Come snatch you without anyone knowing? Without anyone lifting a finger to help you? Without you stopping him?”