Lean On Me

by Tori Scott

  "Here, let me carry you back."

  "No. I can walk."

  Hunter studied her thoughtfully for a moment, then shrugged. "Okay, let's go."

  They returned to the cabin in silence. Sandy went straight to the loft and lay down, leaving Hunter feeling chilled by her hasty departure. Now what have I done? The question buzzed around in his brain like a firefly caught in a Mason jar. Unable to come up with an answer, he busied himself cleaning up the kitchen. The roast in the pan of water was still warm, so he decided to turn the fire back on and finish cooking it.

  The vegetables that had been cut were brown and wilted, and there were spatters of blood across the counter, so he scooped them into the trash and scrubbed the surface with disinfectant.

  The cutting board went into the trash. He washed the uncut ingredients, chopped them, and dropped them into the pot.

  Hunter checked the clock and saw that Sandy had two more hours before she could take another dose of painkiller. He felt responsible for her pain. He shouldn't have made love to her, knowing she was hurting. All that activity had probably made things much worse.

  While the stew cooked, he cleaned the table and put away the first aid supplies. He checked the pantry and found a cake mix. He blended the ingredients and poured the batter into a pan he found under the stove. He put it on to bake, set the timer, and left the kitchen.

  Frustrated, he paced the living room for a moment before climbing the stairs to the loft to check on Sandy. He stopped in the doorway of her room and felt a twinge of disappointment when he saw she was asleep. Tears streaked her cheeks, increasing his feelings of guilt.

  He moved silently to the side of the bed and eased down onto the edge. She didn't stir, so he reached out and brushed her hair back from her face, searching for signs of pain as he ran his gaze over her features. She seemed to be fairly comfortable, so he eased off the bed and quietly made his way downstairs.

  Sandy slept for most of the afternoon, leaving Hunter at loose ends. By the time she awoke, he had dinner waiting, complete with a strawberry cake for dessert. He seated her at the table and placed a glass of iced tea in front of her, with a pain pill beside it.

  "Don't take that until you've had something to eat," he said.

  "I know. I'm sorry you had to finish cooking dinner. I can't believe I did something so stupid."

  "It wasn't stupid, just careless. I would imagine you'll be much more cautious around knives for a while."

  Sandy grimaced. "I don't think I'll ever take a sharp blade for granted again."

  "But you'll still use one when you need to, right?"

  "Hunter, I already told you I know I was wrong." she said more sharply than she intended. "I'm sorry. The pain is making me cranky. Let's change the subject, all right?"

  "Sure. What do you want to talk about?"

  "How about your business venture? How's that coming along?"

  Hunter took a bite of cornbread dripping with butter, then washed it down with a swallow of tea before he answered. "Actually, it's going better than we had hoped. Bob and I have fifteen commercial contracts lined up, which should see us through the first year. And we're still getting inquiries on the web site. Jason did an amazing job putting that together. It looks very professional."

  Sandy heard the pride in his voice and smiled. "He's a great kid, isn't he? Of course, I'm sure the credentials of the founding partners had nothing to do with the clients' decisions, did they?"

  "Well, it hasn't hurt us, that's for sure. But still, I have to give Bob and Jason most of the credit. Between Bob's contacts and Jason's computer work, we're off to a good start. In order to build from there, Bob and I will have to prove ourselves with hard work."

  "When do you actually start doing installations or surveys or whatever?" She still wasn't exactly sure what he would be doing, but she was interested all the same.

  "In about two months. Bob's resignation takes effect October first. That gives us time to get an office set up and hire a secretary, plus a million other little details I would never have thought of on my own. Bob's a whiz at business. I think he was really wasted at the police department."

  Sandy pushed her bowl away and picked up her medicine, washing it down with a drink of tea. "I think I'll go back to bed. I feel really drained. Thank you for dinner." She stood up and pushed her chair back. Hunter jumped up from his seat and pulled the chair out of her way, taking her arm in his firm grip.

  "I'll help you up the stairs."

  "That isn't necessary. I can make it just fine on my own."

  Hunter blew out an exasperated breath. "Are we back to that? I just want to make sure you don't get dizzy and fall. You lost a lot of blood, which is why you're so tired. That and the trauma you went through. Just humor me, okay?"

  "Fine," she said. "Let's go."

  Upstairs, he insisted on helping her into her sleep shirt, then tucked her into bed. He dropped a kiss on her forehead then left the room, turning her light off as he departed. Sandy lay in the darkness, her heart heavy as she wondered why Hunter hadn't said anything more about their future. She was confused. Did he plan on a lifelong affair? Had his marriage to Liz soured him on the idea of making a permanent commitment? But he had talked about children, their children.

  The thought of children reminded her she might even now be carrying his child. She wasn't taking any birth control measures, hadn't needed to until Hunter came along. She placed a hand protectively over her stomach and fell asleep thinking of raven-haired toddlers.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Hunter lay in his bed, tossing and turning, unable to settle down to sleep. He was worried about Sandy and the way she'd withdrawn from him down in the meadow. He thought it was more than just the pain in her hand causing her to act as she had this afternoon. Maybe she was starting to run a fever.

  He tossed the covers back and pulled on a pair of gym shorts before taking the stairs two at a time. He entered her room without knocking in case she was asleep. There was enough light coming through the window to light his way to the bed, and he leaned down to look at her face.

  "What are you doing here, Hunter?" Sandy asked.

  Hunter took a step back in surprise. "I didn't mean to wake you up. I just wanted to see if you were running a temperature. What are you doing awake?"

  "I don't know. I just can't sleep. I guess I must have slept too much this afternoon."

  Hunter laid the back of his hand against her forehead. "Your skin's cool. No fever. How's the hand?"

  "It's not too bad. It throbs a little. I was thinking about getting up and going downstairs. Want some tea or coffee?"

  "Sure. That sounds good. Need some help down the stairs?" Hunter asked.

  "If you insist."

  "Hey, I'll take any excuse to put my hands on you."

  Sandy laughed, the first true laugh he'd heard from her since they'd made love. Relief flooded through him. Maybe it had just been pain causing her to look so forlorn. Maybe if he could keep things light until Sunday night, his plans might not collapse, after all.

  They sat at the kitchen table and talked for an hour about the kids and what Jason had done by leaving them stranded together. They talked about their families and what their lives had been like growing up. By the time Sandy started yawning, he felt like they knew each other even better than they had before. Hunter was more sure than ever that he had made the right decision.

  ***

  They spent Sunday doing leisurely activities that wouldn't put additional strain on Sandy's thumb. They played the board games Jason had brought, and she beat Hunter at both Monopoly and Yahtzee. He suggested they take a walk, so they spent an hour strolling along the river, watching bluebirds and cardinals gather food for their young. He helped her over tree roots and around marshy patches. In fact, he spent most of the time with his hand on her for one reason or another. Sandy tried to maintain a light-hearted attitude, but at times found it difficult. She was so confused about Hunter's lack of commitment to their
future.

  They should be spending this time making plans. They could have planned the wedding and honeymoon during this solitary weekend, and made decisions about where they would live. But, instead, he had remained silent, and she was depressed. Maybe she had read more into his words and actions than he had intended.

  "There's dust rising from the road,” Hunter said. I'll bet it's your parents and the kids. Let's head back to the cabin."

  The Castlemans and Melanie and Jason were waiting in the cabin when they finally made their way through the brush to reach the clearing. Anxious faces peered out the back windows and doors. When they spotted Sandy and Hunter, Lillian rushed out the back door.

  "Where have you two been? We were so worried when we didn't find you here," Lillian exclaimed.

  "You should have been worried. That was a really dirty trick, Mom," Sandy admonished, knowing she sounded childish and churlish. "I could have bled to death out here in the woods with no way to get help. I can't believe you did this to me." A lone tear streaked down Sandy's cheek as Lillian glanced helplessly at Hunter.

  He shook his head behind Sandy's back, but she saw it anyway when she turned unexpectedly. He grinned, which only added fuel to her pique. "Come on, Sandy. It wasn't all that bad. I did do some fine surgery, if I may say so. And we had a great time, right?"

  "Speak for yourself, Hunter. I'm going to pack my things." She stormed out of the room, Lillian following in her wake.

  "Dad," Jason asked, "can't you do anything right?"

  "Hang on, son. I've figured out what her problem is, but I need some help to take care of it. This is what I want you to do…" He gathered Jack, Melanie and Jason close and whispered his plan. "Can you guys take care of that?"

  "You bet," Jason crowed, a wide grin creasing his face.

  "Yes-s-th-!" Melanie lisped around a new gap in her front teeth.

  Jack studied Hunter for a long moment, then apparently satisfied, extended his hand. "Don't make me regret this. I was wrong about a man once, and I don't want to find I've made another mistake."

  "No, sir. You haven't made a mistake this time, I promise."

  "Ok, then. Let's get a move on, kids."

  The older man and children had just climbed into Jack's car and started it when Sandy and her mother came out of the bedroom. Sandy ran to the window in time to watch them drive away. She turned to Hunter, visibly upset.

  "Where are they going? I'm ready to leave." She turned to Lillian. "Mom? What's going on?"

  Lillian looked as mystified as her daughter. "I have no idea. Hunter?" she asked, looking to him for an explanation.

  "We're going to straighten up and lock the cabin, then meet your dad and the kids in Tyler," Hunter said to Sandy. "Jason brought the Tahoe back, and Jack has invited us out to dinner. I accepted for all of us."

  "How dare you? I can accept or decline my own invitations, thank you. It's not like we're…married… or anything." Sandy stumbled over the last sentence and shut up.

  "This time I thought it was in your best interest to go. And I couldn't disappoint the kids. He's taking us to his favorite steak house. You know how Jason loves steak. So come on, let's get this done and get out of here. I'm starved."

  Sandy stormed out of the room and went out the back door to shut off the breakers. While she was gone, Hunter filled Lillian in on what was going on. Lillian wrapped her arms around Hunter's neck and kissed his cheek. Then she hurried down the hall, dabbing at her eyes with the ever-present handkerchief.

  ***

  Hunter parked near the front of the restaurant and walked around the truck to help Sandy and Lillian out. He took Sandy's right arm and Lillian's left as he escorted them into the dimly lit building.

  The hostess led them to a large table in a back room, where Jack and the children were seated. A white tapered candle set in a brass bowl cast a romantic glow, and red roses adorned the three plates set on one side of the table. Hunter seated Lillian and Sandy on either side of Melanie, then rounded the table to sit directly across from Sandy.

  Sandy looked at her father. "What's going on, Dad? Why do we have candlelight and roses?"

  "Because we have something to celebrate," Jack told her, exchanging a loving glance with Lillian.

  Relieved that this celebration was for her parents, Sandy relaxed, prepared to enjoy the outing. She took a sip of tea from the glass beside her plate, then picked up the rose and brought it to her nose to enjoy its light fragrance.

  Jack said to the group, "I've already ordered prime rib and baked potatoes for everyone. I hope that's all right, but if it isn't, we need to change it now. The salad bar comes first, though. Shall we?"

  When they returned to the table, they found the waiter had delivered fresh bread and butter. The kids chattered about their adventures at a flea market the previous day. Both Melanie and Jason had picked up treasures that they were eager to share with their parents.

  Melanie had a new Pooh book and a Pooh backpack, which she pulled from under the table so Sandy could see them.

  Jason reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out a patch, which he handed to Hunter. "It's an Air Force Special Operations patch, Dad. I'm going to sew it on my jacket as a reminder of everything you lost while you were serving our country. And I don't just mean Mom. You gave up a lot to protect us, and I'm proud of you."

  Hunter's eyes misted as he hooked an arm around Jason's shoulders and pulled him close. Sandy's eyes were watery, too, and she lowered her gaze to her plate so the others wouldn't see.

  The waiter delivered plates full of red, juicy prime rib with horseradish sauce on the side and conversation lapsed while hungry appetites were satisfied. Hunter had just cleaned his plate and leaned back in his chair when the waiter arrived with strawberry cheesecake for dessert. He groaned out loud. He was full after that big meal, and he was anxious to get this show on the road.

  He gave Jason his slice of cake and excused himself from the table. He hunted down their waiter and ordered a bottle of wine and a small glass of grape juice, then requested they not be disturbed after the drinks were delivered. A twenty dollar bill stuffed into the waiter's pocket assured his cooperation.

  The wine was delivered, uncorked, tested, and poured. Melanie had her glass of grape juice. Sandy looked expectantly at her father, waiting for him to spill his news and propose a toast. Her father shook his head and inclined it toward Melanie.

  Sandy turned to look and her heart skittered at the sight of Hunter kneeling next to Melanie's chair.

  She caught his eye and he smiled, the love in his gaze bare for all to see. A lump formed in her throat the size of the baked potato she'd had with dinner. Hunter took Melanie's hand in his.

  "Melanie," he asked, his voice formal and just a bit husky, "I'm going to ask you something that I want you to think about very carefully before you answer, okay? And we have to see if you mommy agrees before we make it official."

  Melanie said, "Okay," her expression equally serious.

  "What I want to know is, would you be my daughter and Jason's sister? Would you live with us, laugh with us, and love us forever?"

  "Yes!" Melanie squealed, one fist in the air, drawing laughs from everyone at the table. Then she threw her arms around Hunter's neck and squeezed so tightly his voice was almost a whisper when he turned to Sandy.

  "Sandy, I love you, and I have for a long time. I'm sorry I waited so long to tell you, but I promise to tell you every day for the rest of my life if you say you'll marry me, and make a family with me, Jason, and Melanie, and any future Thurmans that might come along. Will you, please?"

  The tears she'd held in check fell freely as she answered, "Yes. Oh, yes, yes, yes! I love you, too." She hugged him, with Melanie's body between them, then felt Jason's thin arms wrap around her waist.

  When they came up for air, Sandy turned to her parents, who stood arm in arm watching them with wide smiles. She went to them and gave them each a hug, then asked her father, "Can you give me away and perf
orm the ceremony at the same time?"

  Jack blew his nose on his handkerchief and said, "You just watch me. And I'll make sure the knot is tied good and tight for you sweetheart. This is one man you don't want to let get away."

  "Oh, you don't have to worry about that, Jack," Hunter assured him. This man isn't going anywhere except home to his wife and kids every night, for as long as I live."

  ***

  "Hunter?" Sandy asked as he stood at the door, ready to leave after taking Sandy and Melanie home.

  "Yeah?" he answered, his gaze intent on the lips he intended to cover with his whenever she quit talking.

  "Are you sure? You won't change your mind?"

  "No. I wish I could, but we have to think of the kids. We hav an example to set. Anyway, it's only for two weeks. I sleep in my bed, you sleep in yours. We'll dream of each other, okay?"

  Sandy sighed and leaned her head against Hunter's chest.

  "Two weeks suddenly seems like a very, very long time."

  He gathered her close and kissed her with all the love he felt, shocking them both with his intensity. "It will be worth the wait, I promise. Now, go to bed and think about me, about us. If you need me, all you have to do is call." He kissed her once more and left without looking back.

  An hour later he looked in on Jason and found him sleeping soundly. He picked up his cell phone and eased the front door open, closing it silently behind him. He crossed the yard to Sandy's house and stood outside her window, tossing pebbles against the glass.

  When she looked outside and saw him standing there, cell phone in hand, she went to her phone and picked it up, then dialed his cell phone number. When he answered, she said, "Hunter?"

  "Yeah?" he answered in his deep, strong voice.

  "I need you."

  Epilogue

  "Mom! Can you help me with these two? They're driving me crazy," Melanie complained as two raven-haired six-year-olds dressed in feathers and buckskin did a war dance around her legs.