“If you don’t want it…” Nick began.
“I didn’t say that.” She took a bigger forkful. “I just want to make sure I won’t get fat, like you.”
Nick didn’t have an extra ounce on him. He was a rock-solid six-foot basketball player. His muscular arms were testament to the amount of time he lifted weights.
He smirked at his sister and flexed his muscles. “You call this fat? What about you, Porker?”
“That will be enough.” Jenna gave them what she hoped was a stern look. “No name-calling in this house.”
“Why not? We do it all the time. Mom doesn’t care.”
“Your mom cares about everything you do.”
“No, she doesn’t.” He kicked at the chair. “If she cared so damn much she’d snap out of it and come home.”
“We wish it were that easy.”
Nick got up from the table, a look of fury on his face. “I don’t get it. Why doesn’t she wake up?”
Kelly’s eyes darted from Nick to Jenna and back again. “Have you been lying to us? Is Mom not getting better?”
Jenna felt a lump in her throat. They had visited their mother every day. Although the doctors were reassuring, there was no visible improvement.
Rob was considering a controversial treatment called hyperbaric therapy, but the doctors did not encourage it. His wife was young and her brain had so much potential for healing, he was willing to try anything to speed up her recovery. The unspoken question remained—if, and when, she did wake up, would she be the same as before, or incapacitated?
“We have to stay strong and pray that everything will turn out all right. That’s all we can do, kids. I’m sorry. I wish things were different.”
Kelly nodded, fighting back tears. “I can’t imagine Mom in a wheelchair. If she’s going to be like that, I think it would be better if she just died.”
“Don’t say that. Don’t ever say that,” Jenna said quietly.
Nick slammed his empty juice glass down on the wood table. “What I want to know is this. Was Mom still seeing that guy?”
“What guy?” Kelly asked.
Jenna’s face reflected the same shock as Kelly’s. “I’m sorry, but what exactly do you mean?”
“Before Amy was born, I heard Mom and Dad fighting. She was screwing around on Dad.”
Kelly’s face lost its color. “No way. No friggin’ way! She’d never do that. You’re lying.”
“Am I?”
Jenna was stunned. “I’m sure you misunderstood, Nick. Your parents love each other very much. Your dad hasn’t left her side since the accident.”
“I know what I know, okay?” Nick shrugged as if it were no big deal. “They fight all the time. Mom drinks too much and Dad’s always working.”
Kelly snapped at her brother, “Yeah, but that doesn’t mean Mom cheated on Dad. If she did, he’d want a divorce.”
“Think what you want.” With his car keys in his hand, Nick headed for the door. “Better make it quick, Kelly. Your chariot is leaving.”
“Don’t you leave without me!” she shouted, running up the stairs. “I’m not taking any damned bus. Just gotta brush my teeth. Two minutes.”
“Well, hurry up.”
Jenna cleared the dishes and scooped what was left of Kelly’s frittata into Beets’ bowl. He gobbled it up and kept lapping at the dish, moving it with his nose.
“Don’t forget your gym bag,” Jenna called out to Nick. “I washed your basketball clothes.”
“Thanks.” He shuffled his feet, looking down at the floor. While she was thinking of something reassuring to say, Kelly came tearing down the stairs.
Jenna shut the door after they rushed out, disappointed that they didn’t say good-bye.
* * *
What if Nick had been right? Jenna thought as she fed Amy some slushy fruit from a jar. Had Cindy been having an affair? If so, did that mean the baby wasn’t Rob’s, or had Amy been the result of make-up sex?
Hell, I don’t want to know. It was their business and she preferred to stay out of it.
Still, it bothered Jenna to think of her sister acting so irresponsibly, without regard for the people she might hurt. Rob deserved better, and so did their children.
Not wanting to dwell on matters over which she had no control, Jenna decided to work on the ones she did. She couldn’t get back to New York anytime soon, but she could call her office and offer to run things from West Palm. After all, she was indispensible, wasn’t she?
The phone rang just as she was about to make the call. “Good morning,” she answered.
“It’s Grant. I’m just checking up on you. Is Amy okay? You kept the vodka bottle away from her, didn’t you?”
She laughed, glad to hear his voice. “Yes, of course. Amy slept through the night and has been easy so far this morning.”
“That’s good. I’m on my way to the hospital and could stop by to see her if you’d like.”
“Really? You’d do that?”
“Sure.” He hesitated for half a second. “Besides, it gives me a chance to see you again.”
Jenna’s heart speeded up. He wanted to see her again, and she most certainly wanted to see him. Although, what was the point? Wouldn’t it be foolish to have a fling with Amy’s doctor when she’d be leaving soon?
“You don’t need to stop by,” she said quickly. “I already called your office and I have an appointment for tomorrow morning at ten. I’ll see you then.”
“Excellent. I look forward to it.” He added, “Call me if you have any trouble today.”
“I will. I really appreciate your availability. I don’t have anyone else to rely on here.”
She willed herself to calm down. It really made no sense to get involved with Grant. Her sister could wake up any second, and she’d be free to leave.
It was like talking to a deaf person. She knew that they were going to kiss again, and possibly even make love. It was going to happen. He wanted it and so did she.
After hanging up, Jenna called her office assistant, glad to be talking business instead of having completely inappropriate fantasies about her niece’s doctor.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The following morning, Jenna dressed with care for Amy’s appointment with Grant. She had few clothes with her, and should probably go shopping.
She put on a grey pair of slacks and a short sleeved cream top, then looked around for her sandals that had been in her closet yesterday. Now there was only one.
She got down on her hands and knees, sorting through the mess that belonged to Cindy. It was a guest room, but still the closet was packed with her sister’s personal belongings as her own walk-in closet was filled to over-flowing. Her sister’s hobby was shopping, and Rob spoiled her, indulging her whims.
Cindy must have had twenty pairs of shoes in this closet alone, but how had Jenna’s one shoe gotten lost amongst the others? If she didn’t find it soon, she’d be late for the appointment.
A second later, she spotted it—under the bed. She reached under the bed as far as she could, finally managing to get a finger on it. She wriggled it toward her. In triumph, she pulled it out, and then saw the teeth marks.
Beets stood in the hall, watching her with his big, sad eyes. He woofed at her, wagged his big, hairy tail, and made a hasty retreat.
“Damned dog!” she shouted after him. “Why my sandal? I only have two. Couldn’t you have chewed up one of Cindy’s?”
The wedge was ruined. Even if you weren’t a shoe person, it would be hard to miss the teeth marks and the stripped leather. Now she definitely had to go shopping.
For now, she would have to borrow a pair of her sister’s shoes. She wouldn’t mind. Come to think of it, there was no point in buying new clothes when the closets were full of beautiful outfits in Jenna’s size.
As Jenna searched for a pair of shoes, a gorgeous powder-blue skirt caught her eye. She took off her pants and tried it on. She checked it out in the mirror, and liked what she saw. A
minute later, she’d flung off her boring cream top, and put on a sheer white top with a little lacy thing underneath. She groped around for a pair of sandals that complemented the outfit and slipped them on.
Her hair was getting a little long. Noticing a stray gray hair, she yanked it out, while wondering when she would have time to visit a hair salon. In the city she normally went every three weeks to one of the finest stylists. It was important to keep up appearances, no matter what life threw your way.
Jenna felt pretty and feminine, less business-like, in Cindy’s clothes, but that didn’t mean she was any less capable. She had a list of questions to ask Grant about Amy’s health care.
She dressed Amy in a pink-flowered top and an adorable pair of overalls. With little pink socks and sneakers, and a floppy brimmed jean hat, the girls were dressed to kill.
Grant’s office was close to the Garden’s Mall, Jenna figured after the appointment, she could stop and shop. She couldn’t wear her sister’s undergarments, and she needed a swimsuit and a workout outfit. Then she could start doing laps every day and use Cindy’s home gym.
They were ten minutes early at the clinic, and Jenna sat down to wait. Amy was sleeping in her car carrier. After a few minutes, a nurse led them into an examining room, where they had to wait again.
When Grant walked in, his broad smiled loosed a flock of butterflies in her stomach.
“Hello, Grant. It’s nice to see you again.” Her voice sounded normal, thank God. What she was nervous about?
“Nice to see you, and Amy too.” A dimple flashed and his eyes crinkled up in a most appealing way when he smiled.
He was a sexy guy. Jenna felt a little like Beets, wanting to drool all over him.
After washing his hands, he lifted the still-sleeping Amy from her carrier and onto the table. Amy started to fuss. “I’ll do a cursory exam,” he said to Jenna, “and then you can ply me with what I imagine will be a long list of questions.” He cocked an eyebrow at her.
She made no apology. “Well, I like to be thorough, and I’ve never taken care of a baby before.” She removed Amy’s hat, and smoothed her silky hair. “I can’t have something happen to her on my watch. The family has enough to deal with right now.”
Nerves all under control now, Jenna liked her no-nonsense tone and words—even if her heart was hammering like a woodpecker’s on speed.
“Of course they do. How is Amy’s mother? Any change?”
“Cindy, and no, no change. It’s been a week since the accident and there’s been no improvement.”
“That’s not necessarily bad news.” He glanced at her. “It could happen anytime; she could just suddenly wake up.”
Once again she was aware of the kindness in his eyes. She knew a lot of attractive, smart, powerful men, but they were all very much Type A personalities. Words like kind and gentle didn’t necessarily apply. Still, she’d always been attracted to that type of guy before.
She cleared her throat, wondering why Grant flustered her so. “My brother-in-law, Rob, is considering hyperbaric therapy,” she said. “He knows of someone who had a brain aneurysm and stroke. The poor woman was totally paralyzed on the left side, had no memory, and couldn’t speak. After many sessions in a hyperbaric chamber, she can now use a walker and has regained her ability to talk.”
Grant answered, “It’s highly possible that Cindy will wake up on her own when her body’s ready.”
“Yes, I know, but we’re tired of waiting.” Patience was never one of her strong suits. She preferred action. “So, what I’m asking is—do you know anything about this treatment?”
“Not much. Hyperbaric chambers are used for people suffering from diving accidents—the bends. I’ve heard it’s also used to treat wounds.”
“Yes, but now a few places are using it for brain injuries.” Jenna drew in a deep breath and released it slowly. “Cindy’s doctor discouraged us, saying it was unproven and that their insurance wouldn’t cover it. Not that we care about that.”
“He probably knows what he’s talking about. I would heed his advice.”
“Well, Rob and I disagree.” She watched his face. “We think it’s worth a try. The treatment is noninvasive, and the oxygen and pressure from the chamber is supposed to aid the body’s natural healing process.” Jenna watched his face, then shrugged as if his opinion didn’t matter, when in fact it did. “It can’t hurt.”
“I really don’t know enough about it to say.”
Amy let out a sharp cry, as if she were tired of being ignored. Grant laughed.
After taking the baby’s vitals, checking inside both ears, and tracking her eye movements with a flashlight, he checked her mouth and saw the lower front teeth emerging. “Her gums are a little swollen and tender, as I had suspected. Did you find any teething rings lying around?”
He rubbed his pinky inside Amy’s mouth. Jenna was sure the baby was smiling and flirting with him. Not that she could blame her. He was certainly flirt-worthy. And she would bet her bottom diaper that he knew it too.
“Do all little girls coo over you?”
His smile widened, and he gave her a long look. “Most…and some big ones too.”
She smiled back, feeling totally ridiculous at the tug inside of her. Good grief! Her sister was in the hospital fighting for her life, and here Jenna was thinking about making out with this sexy doctor.
As she dressed Amy, Grant sat down to answer her questions.
Jenna had been reading the parenting magazines around the house, and had been particularly struck by the controversy over immunizations and the escalating number of babies developing autism and other disorders like SIDS. “How little”, she asked Grant, “is too little?”
“There’s no scientific evidence to support those claims. Amy will be much safer with the required vaccines than without.” He addressed her concerns, but reinforced all the many reasons why the vaccinations were not only good and safe for the child, but for the health of the community at large.
Jenna conceded, knowing he knew more about the subject than she. She turned the conversation to daily matters. “What should Amy be eating at this age? And how many bottles of formula?”
While he answered her questions, she wrote down his replies. She glanced at him and saw a smile firmly etched on his lips.
She smiled too. Maybe she was overdoing this a tad. “Okay, I suppose that’s all. Do we do this every month?”
“Yes. But I’d like to see you before then.”
“I’m sure that can be arranged. Amy likes you.”
“I like her too, but that wasn’t what I meant.”
“You meant me?” Her pulse raced.
He smiled. “Yes, you. Think your brother-in-law could handle the kids, so you and I could go out sometime?”
“They’re his kids. I’m sure he can cope. If not, it’s time he learned.”
“How about dinner tomorrow night?”
Grant took a step closer, and Jenna felt instant heat. Their mutual attraction was crazy under the circumstances, but she could use a little crazy.
“What time?” she asked, gazing up at him.
“Seven.” He gave her hand a light squeeze. “Dress up. I want to take you someplace nice.”
“I’ll look forward to it.” She took a step back, her eyes still on his.
“You can schedule your next appointment with the receptionist on your way out, but you have my numbers if something comes up tonight.”
The diaper bag was on the floor, and as she bent to retrieve it, excruciating pain shot across her lower back, from her left hip to her spine. Her knees buckled, and she grabbed the chair to keep from falling.
“Oh, my God.” The pain radiated across her back, worsening with each breath. “My back just went out.”
“Don’t move. Let me help you. Is this a recurring injury?”
Before he reached her, she made an attempt to sit. Any movement was agony. Then she felt his warm hands at her hips, supporting her and guiding her i
nto the chair.
She was dismayed by her sudden collapse, but touched by the concern she saw on his face. “What bad timing.” She bit her lip, wincing with every movement.
His fingers gently probed her back, and she flinched, stifling a cry of pain when he touched a sensitive spot. “It’s probably just a muscle strain. Would you like to rest here for ten, fifteen minutes? It might pass.”
“I’ll wait it out for a few minutes and see what happens.”
He dangled a toy for Amy, who was starting to fuss in her carrier. “When you’ve been picking Amy up, you’ve probably been bending over incorrectly. She’s quite heavy and if you’re not doing it right, your back is taking all the stress.”
“Uh. Like this is my fault?” She knew the pain was making her cranky, but she didn’t stop there. “Thanks. Now I really feel better.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to chew you out. It’s just that many new mothers do this and it’s a very painful experience. I wish it could have been avoided.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“Do you have anyone who could pick you up? How about Amy’s dad? Is he available?”
“No. He works afternoons, so he can visit Cindy morning and night. Rob and his brothers own three restaurants in town.”
Rob’s brothers were covering the restaurants at night, giving him the easier task of ordering and purchasing during the day.
“Would you be able to manage with a cab?”
“Sure. No problem.”
She tried to push out of the chair, but as soon as she moved the pain flared again. Tears filled her eyes, and she sat back once more.
Grant squeezed her hand in sympathy. “What happens when you get home? You’re going to have to lie down. You can’t take care of Amy.”
“The kids get home around four. It’s just a few hours.”
“You need help now.” He glanced at his watch. “I guess that only leaves one person, then.”
“Who?”
“Me.”
CHAPTER NINE
Grant slung Amy’s diaper bag and Jenna’s purse over one shoulder, picked up Amy in her carrier, and then bent to slide his other arm around Jenna’s waist. She held on to him as he assisted her to her feet.
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