by Ann McMan
“Yes. He’s right here. Hang on.” Maddie could hear the phone being passed to someone.
“Maddie?” Henry’s small voice filled her ear. “Gramma’s sick. I told them to call you. I told them you could fix her.”
“Hey, buddy. It’s okay. Calm down, now.”
“Will you come and fix her? I know you can.”
“Your grandma already has doctors there, buddy. I’m sure they’re taking very good care of her.”
“But she needs you. I know you can fix her.” He hesitated. “She told me it was okay to call you.”
Maddie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Listen, buddy. I’ll come down and see you tomorrow, okay? And if your grandma’s doctors say it’s okay, I’ll visit her, too. How does that sound? Can you be a good boy for Mrs. Manning tonight? Be strong and help her?”
She could tell that Henry was nodding. “Yes. I’m scared. I don’t wanna be alone.”
She felt her throat constrict. “I know you’re scared, but you don’t have to worry. Mrs. Manning is there to help you, and I’ll come see you tomorrow. I’m proud of you. I know you want to help your grandma. The best way for you to do that right now is to be good for Mrs. Manning. I promise I’ll be there tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Can I talk with Mrs. Manning again?”
“Okay. Bye, Maddie.”
“Bye, Sport.”
She heard him pass the phone over.
“Hello?” Mrs. Manning sounded calmer.
“Mrs. Manning, I told Henry that I would come down tomorrow to see him. Could you get me the name of Ada’s attending physician in Concord? Obviously, I can’t see her as her doctor, but I can inquire about her condition and stop in to see her while I’m there.”
“That would be wonderful, Dr. Stevenson.” Mrs. Manning sounded relieved. “I can’t thank you enough.”
“Don’t thank me. I told them both to call me if they ever needed anything. I’m happy to help out, even in this small way.”
“I’ll call you back this evening with the information, and with directions to my house.”
“That would be perfect. Mrs. Manning?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for taking care of Henry. I know he’s in great hands.”
“He’s a sweet boy. He’s been through a lot. I’m glad he met you.”
Maddie smiled. “I am, too. Talk to you later on?”
“Sure thing. Thank you, Doctor.” She hung up.
Maddie sat quietly in the driver’s seat, with one foot inside her Jeep, and one foot resting on the running board. She sighed and held the cell phone against her forehead. Then she sat back and dialed another number. A man picked up on the fourth ring.
“Tri-County Airport.”
“Hey, Tommy. It’s Maddie Stevenson.”
“Howdy, Doc. You wanting to take advantage of this great weather and go out for a spin?”
She smiled. “Something like that. I need to hop down to Concord tomorrow—just for the day. Can you pull her up for me and have her gassed and ready to go by ten?”
“Sure, no problem.”
“Thanks, Tommy. I hate to bug you with this on a Sunday.”
“No sweat, Doc. I gotta be out here anyway. See you tomorrow.”
“Right.” Maddie hung up.
She sat for another moment before climbing fully into the Jeep and closing the door. They had dinner with Syd’s parents at the farm tonight. She had no idea what they had planned for tomorrow, but she’d do her best to be back in Jericho by dinnertime. She sighed and started the Jeep. I sure hope she doesn’t kill me.
SYD WAS INCREDULOUS when Maddie told her about the phone call from Elise Manning. She was in the kitchen, washing vegetables for a salad when Maddie got home. Her parents were due in another hour.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked, drying her hands on a cotton towel.
Maddie nodded. “I know it sounds insane, but I promised him. I promised him that I would come if he ever needed me.”
Syd looked at Maddie with a curious expression. “That’s not what I’m talking about. Of course you have to go. What I meant was—are you sure you want to wait until tomorrow?”
Maddie stared at her stupidly for a moment, before stepping forward and pulling her into her arms. “How did I get so damn lucky?”
Syd hugged her back. “Beats me.” She lifted her head and kissed Maddie on her collarbone. “You’re such an old softie. I love that about you.”
Maddie smiled. “I love everything about you.”
“Oh, really? Do you love me enough to take me with you tomorrow?”
Maddie held her at arm’s length. “Are you serious? What about your parents?”
Syd shrugged. “What about them? Dad’s dying to hit the river and go angling for his elusive bass, and Mom’s going to spend the better part of the day helping Michael cook.” She paused. “I think those two have formed some kind of Vulcan mind meld. It’s actually pretty creepy.”
Maddie laughed. “It’s a date then. I’d love to have you with me. You need to meet Henry, in any case, but just remember that I found him first.”
“I never thought my biggest rival for your affections would end up being a five-year-old boy.”
Maddie smiled sheepishly. Syd tugged her closer and kissed her on the chin. “Good thing you’re such a tall drink of water, and that I’ve got a generous nature.”
Maddie ran her hands up and down Syd’s back. “Generous? Now there’s a hypothesis I’d like to test.” She began to kiss along the side of Syd’s neck.
Syd stood there for a moment, enjoying the attention, before she reluctantly pushed herself away. “I said generous, not crazy. My mother will be here in less than an hour.” Maddie took another step toward her. She quickly laid a palm against her blue-clad chest. “You need to go and get changed. We’ll have lots of time later on to explore my generosity.”
Maddie sighed. “Promise?”
Syd chewed the inside of her cheek as she slowly looked up and down Maddie’s long body. “Oh, yeah.”
GEORGE AND JANET were completely captivated by Maddie’s farm. George insisted that Maddie walk him around outside for a tour. He was especially enamored of the pond and the small creek that fed it, and expressed chagrin that he didn’t have enough daylight left to explore more of it. Maddie was quick to suggest that he should come back out tomorrow and spend as much time as he wanted tromping around. They walked the perimeter behind the barn and outbuildings until they reached the point where the creek veered off and cut down through a pasture on its inevitable path toward the New River. Pete happily followed along behind them, as they made slow progress back toward the house.
“How many acres do you have here?” George asked, standing up and brushing off his hands. He had been sifting through some crushed rock near a fence post. He looked around in admiration—plainly in his element.
“About eighty, I think. To tell the truth, I’m not really sure. I think Dad bought a few more acres along the county road several years back, when the neighboring farm sold at auction.”
“That’s just incredible. This is an amazing piece of property. Who maintains all of these pastures?”
She smiled. “Well, that’s the best part. I let my neighbors use the land for grazing, and they get the hay in exchange for keeping up the fences. It’s a great deal for me. I get all the benefits of living on a functional farm with almost none of the work.”
He nodded. “It sounds like a great deal for them, too.”
She shrugged. “Dad always managed it this way. It was easy for me just to continue his arrangements. I do have responsibility for upkeep on the ten acres right around the house. But that’s about it.”
“I love it here.”
Maddie smiled at him. “I’m glad. You need to spend more time here with us—with me.”
He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “Are you suggesting that my daughter hasn’t quite taken up residen
ce with you here yet?”
She sighed. “I guess I’m pretty transparent. Sorry. The truth is, Syd still needs a bit more time before she makes a formal transition like that, and I support her.”
He gave her a measured look. “You do?”
“Of course.”
He regarded her silently for a moment. “With all due respect, Doctor, you’re more full of shit than this pasture.”
Maddie looked at him in surprise, before she lowered her head and chuckled. “I guess I am.”
George laughed. “Don’t despair. She isn’t going anyplace. She’s enough like her mother that it’s just going to have to be her idea. And trust me, she’ll make you wait for it.” He laughed. “But in the end, you’ll get what you want.”
Maddie looked at him with amusement. “That’s pretty much what she said.”
“See? The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.”
“Lucky for me.”
“I dunno about that. Those two can jerk a knot in your tail faster than you can shake a stick. I don’t walk with a limp for nothing.”
She smiled at him. “I feel your pain, George.”
“Not as much as you will . . . trust me.”
They continued meandering along the split rail fence that bordered the pasture.
“I can’t thank you enough for your understanding,” Maddie said.
He looked up at her. “About what?”
“Syd. Me.” She waved her hand. “Us. It’s a lot to take in, I know.”
“It’s not as hard as you might think. What father doesn’t want his daughter to find happiness? And I’ve never seen her as happy as she is when she’s with you. That goes a long way toward overcoming any concerns we might have had. We love her, Maddie. And we know that you do, too. That’s all that matters to us.”
Maddie was humbled by his comments. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me.” They walked on in silence for a moment. He looked at her again. “There is one thing that does concern me, however, and I guess this is as good a time as any to bring it up.”
Maddie felt a small surge of panic. “What is it?”
He sighed. “My son is simply too unfocused and too unreliable.” He met her level gaze. “That means it’s going to be up to you to provide us with grandchildren.” He narrowed his eyes. “At the risk of offending you—neither of you is getting any younger. Syd says you’re very creative. So, what ideas do you have about this proposition?”
Maddie was stunned. Then she shook her head and laughed. “Funny you should mention kids . . .”
They walked on toward the house in earnest conversation.
IN THE BIG farmhouse kitchen, Janet helped her daughter with final preparations for their meal. Syd was roasting an Italian flank steak that was stuffed with prosciutto and roasted red peppers. Her mother was helping her by spooning a big bowl of cheddar-mashed potatoes into a baking dish and sliding them into the second oven on the massive range.
“This is some kind of kitchen,” her mother said with obvious admiration. “Did you say that Maddie doesn’t cook much?”
Syd laughed. “Maddie doesn’t cook at all. She insists that her father was the gourmet in the family—all of this was his.”
“It’s certainly amazing.” She looked at her daughter. “This whole place is amazing. You must love being here.” She paused. “You certainly seem to know your way around.”
Syd tossed the salad. “I won’t deny that being here has its perks, and yes, it is amazing.” She met her mother’s eyes. “But you know that my reasons for wanting to be here have little to do with the accommodations.”
Her mother nodded. “I know. She’s . . . unique, Margaret.” She shook her head. “Exceptional. She loves you.”
Syd couldn’t suppress a smile. “I love her, too.”
“I believe you do.”
“Are you—are you okay with that? I mean, really okay?”
Janet nodded. “It surprises me just how okay with it I am. But seeing you as happy as you are, especially after all you’ve been through with Jeff—I couldn’t be otherwise.”
“Well, in fact, you could be, but I’m beyond grateful and relieved that you aren’t.”
Her mother smiled. “I am, too. And your father is pretty much beside himself, but I think you knew that already.”
“Yeah.” Syd shook her head in amazement. “At first, it was hard to tell which one of us had the bigger crush on her.”
“No kidding. And then your brother met her after Christmas, and it got even more complicated.”
Syd rolled her eyes. “I know. I thought I was going to have to turn a hose on him because his behavior was so obnoxious. What is it with the men in this family?”
“I wish I knew.” Her mother carried a stack of plates and silverware over to the big kitchen table. “Have you talked with Tom?”
“What about?”
“About you . . . and Maddie.”
Syd was startled. “No. I mean . . . I just thought that you . . .”
“Margaret, we aren’t going to tell Tom—or anyone—about this. Who gets told, and on what timetable, needs to be your decision.”
“Oh, great. So that means we all get to endure his testosterone-induced, prancing around after Maddie yet again tomorrow?”
“I think you possess a means for short-circuiting that behavior, if you choose to exercise it.”
She sighed. “You’re right. I’ll talk with him.”
“Good.”
Syd joined her mother at the table and placed the salad bowl on a ceramic trivet. “About tomorrow—are you really okay with me going along to Concord with Maddie?”
“Of course. It sounds important. And I know you’re dying to meet the young man who’s made such a strong impression on her.”
Syd smiled. “I am. She tries to deny that she likes kids, but she has such a sweet way with them. I’ve seen her with her younger patients, and it’s pretty amazing. They just seem to glom onto her.” She laughed. “Kind of like everyone else.”
“Children are pretty shrewd judges of character.”
“They are, aren’t they?” She snorted. “And goes a long way toward explaining Tom’s fascination with her, too.”
“Be nice.”
“Okay, okay.” The oven timer dinged. “Looks like we’re ready to eat. Let’s round up the other suspects.”
Her mother walked back to the stove. “Good luck convincing your father that he needs to eat his meal inside, and not out on the back forty.”
“I think I can manage.” Syd went to the back door just as Maddie and her father appeared outside on the porch. She pulled the door open. “Great timing. Dinner’s ready. Let’s see those hands.”
Her father gamely displayed his soiled hands, palms up, before kissing her on the forehead and pushing past her to head for the prep sink. Maddie followed close behind. Syd held up a hand to stop her.
“Okay, you. Get ’em up.”
Maddie raised an eyebrow. “You think I got dirty?”
“Were you out there with my father? Of course you got dirty.”
Maddie sighed. She held up her hands. The ends of her fingers were gray with dust.
“Uh huh. Thought so.” Syd grabbed her by the lapels and tugged her further into the room. “Hose ’em off, Stretch.”
“Oh, you’re so tough.” Maddie kissed her softly. Then she looked quickly over Syd’s shoulder with wide eyes.
Syd turned around and followed her gaze. Her parents stared back at them with amused expressions. She turned back to Maddie, who now was a bright shade of red. “Well, that’s one less thing we have to worry about. Think you can slip up again tomorrow night in front of Tom?”
George’s laughter mingled with the sound of running water.
MADDIE AND SYD landed at the Concord Regional Airport a little after eleven a.m. Maddie had arranged for the use of an airport courtesy car, and they drove the short distance to NorthEast Medical Center, where Ada Lawrence wa
s a patient in the coronary care unit. Elise Manning was meeting them there with Henry at eleven-thirty.
Maddie heard Henry before she saw him, when they stepped off the elevator on the second floor. He was sitting on a sofa near the nurse’s station, watching the elevator doors, waiting for their arrival. He jumped up when he saw her.
“Maddie!” He called out as he ran toward her. “You came.”
She dropped down on one knee and hugged him as he hurled himself at her. “Hello, buddy. Of course I came. I said I would.” She held him for a minute, noticing how small and warm his body was before releasing him. He wore the same denim jacket. She tousled his dark hair as he stepped back and looked up at Syd with a curious expression.
“Is this your girlfriend?” he asked.
Maddie bit the inside of her cheek as she shifted her gaze between Syd, the interested technician watching them from behind the nurse’s station, and the advancing, heavy-set woman who obviously was Elise Manning. “Yes, Henry. This is Syd.” She stood up. “Syd, this is my friend, Henry Lawrence.”
Smiling, Syd bent over and extended her hand. “Hello, Henry. I’m so happy to meet you. Maddie has told me a lot about you.”
He stared up at her as he shook her hand. “Hi. You’re pretty, too. But you’re not as tall as Maddie.”
Syd laughed. “No, I’m not. But not many people are.” She bent closer to him and whispered, “I kinda like being shorter. It’s easier to play with Pete.”
His eyes grew round. “Did you bring him?”
“No. We couldn’t bring him on this trip. We came on Maddie’s airplane.”
He looked up at Maddie with wide eyes. “You have an airplane? Is it like the one we rode on from California?”
“No, buddy. It’s a very small airplane. Maybe I can show it to you later on, if it’s okay with Mrs. Manning.”
Mrs. Manning had joined them and stood quietly, watching their interaction.
“Mrs. Manning? I’m Maddie Stevenson.” Maddie smiled wryly. “And this is my very good friend, Syd Murphy.”
They shook hands. Mrs. Manning was a short woman with curly brown hair. She appeared to be in her late thirties. She wore round, metal-framed glasses, and carried a large quilted bag that appeared to contain nightgowns, a bathrobe, and magazines. “Hello, Dr. Stevenson. It’s so kind of you to come down today.” She nodded to Syd. “I’m Elise. It’s good to meet you, too.”