“I’ll heal.”
“Not before people out in the world guess what you’ve been up to.”
“Regrets, Connor?” She levered herself off him and began to collect her garments that were strewn about.
He sat up. “I regret marking up your skin. If not for that and one other detail, I’d be happy to spend the rest of the day on this couch with you.”
She glanced up from a critical examination of her useless panties. “What’s the second detail?”
Swinging his legs off the couch, Connor slid into his jeans. “The fact that we still aren’t married.”
For an instant a look of panic crossed her face. Then she shrugged. “There’s no need to rush.”
“We have a child. Why not do what we should’ve done seven years ago? We’re compatible on all the levels that count. We both love Liddy Bea. Why not quietly tie the knot? Or if you want to make a big splash at a church wedding, that’s okay, too.”
Mallory wadded her undies in one hand and pulled her blouse together with the other. She seemed to want to speak, but no words were forthcoming.
Connor approached her hesitantly and lightly trailed his fingers down her cheek. “I love you, Mallory. I think I always have. I sense that you want something more from me than I’ve given up to this point. Tell me what. I’m trying my best not to blame your mother for stealing seven years of our lives. I’ve relocated to be near you and Liddy. Now she knows I’m her dad, and she’s comfortable with it. What more can I do?”
“I don’t know, Connor. It’s like I’m all wound up inside, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Maybe it’s because I’ve loved you forever. For me, there’s never been any doubt. But you did leave.”
“Yes, I did. I had a problem with who you were, compared to me. I was also set on fulfilling a promise I made when my mom died, to keep other people from needlessly losing their lives the way she did. I don’t care about the difference in our backgrounds anymore, and I’m close to realizing my promise. You and Liddy Bea are important to me, Mallory. Why can’t you see that?”
“How important?”
“Very. Very, very,” he added when her eyes reflected unmistakable cynicism.
“Maybe this is too soon for me, Connor. My life these past seven years has inched forward a day at a time. There were weeks I longed for you so much, I felt physically ill. And when I found out you’d come back to the States, I waited for you to phone. You didn’t. I grew to accept that. Then circumstances forced me to go to you. And…and I discovered you were engaged.”
“I’ve explained how my engagement to Claire came about. As for not contacting you when I reached Miami—” He raked a hand through hair that was already awry. “I honestly assumed you’d gotten on with your life. When I pictured you, which I tried not to do because it hurt, I saw you married to some political type with a mansion not unlike Forrest House.”
“You hurt. I hurt. Wounds take time to heal. Maybe that’s what I mean. I don’t know what more I need. I only know I can’t make any kind of commitment.”
“I’m sorry. I’d reach back and change our lives if I could. Since that’s not an option, I’ll just wait until you’re ready to marry me.”
“All right.” Turning, she walked toward the door that led to the hall. “And another thing,” she said over her shoulder. “This…today…just now…was a fluke. No matter how enjoyable, it can’t happen again until we do get our lives sorted out.”
Connor followed her, pressing so close, Mallory stumbled. “I’m glad you didn’t try to insinuate it was unpleasant. You may be sure of your control, Mal. Mine is rocky at best. And nonexistent when we’re in the same room. Oh, a word of warning. If I see Alec Robinson sniffing around you, I won’t be responsible for my actions.”
Eyes nearly navy in the dim hall light, Mallory blinked once, then turned and fled to her room.
Still too on edge to think of sleeping, Connor walked more slowly. Though their bathrooms were separated by Liddy Bea’s bedroom, he heard Mallory’s shower running when he stepped into his. His imagination ran wild. Connor wondered if she remembered the many times they’d taken a shower together, usually after they’d both come home from hard days at work. Bracing his hands on the tile wall, Connor gnashed his teeth and let the hot spray wash away taunting memories. He used all the hot water in the tank before he felt in control enough to shave with the blade he preferred over an electric razor.
It was a new man who reentered their shared living space. Hearing Mallory rummaging in the kitchen, he went to investigate.
She glanced up, surprised when his long shadow blocked the sun streaming into the breakfast nook. “Oh, I assumed you’d gone to bed. I tried lying down. I’m afraid I’m beyond tired.” Blushing faintly, she gestured to the teakettle on one of the stove burners. “At the risk of repeating the process during which we first went astray, I’m brewing a new pot of tea.”
He remained standing in the doorway. “I’d argue the point about going astray. But there are certain drawbacks to getting older. Power surges are fewer and farther between. If you’ll trust me on that, I wouldn’t mind sharing a cup. I may even have a piece of the banana bread Marta sent over with your dad on Wednesday.” As if underscoring his hunger, Connor’s stomach growled.
That broke whatever tension still lingered between them. Their combined laughter, however, was cut short by a ringing phone.
“Do you want to get it, or shall I?” he asked, cocking his head to one side.
“You. If it’s for me but not about Liddy, please fib. Say I’m asleep.”
“Okay.” Stepping to the wall phone, he snatched up the receiver before the voice mail kicked in. “O’Rourke, here. Oh, James, hi. What’s up?”
Mallory moved quietly about the kitchen, pouring tea and slicing generous slabs of Marta’s bread. She pursed her lips nervously as she watched the range of emotions that flickered across Connor’s handsome face.
“I’ll be there in ten minutes,” he said. “Fifteen, tops.” Hanging up, he started out of the room.
Mallory called his name twice before he glanced back. His eyes roamed over her for a moment without really seeing, and then he seemed to connect with her again. She wasn’t sure if he’d totally blanked her out, or if he was surprised to see she’d cut the bread and set two places at the table.
“I’ve gotta dash to the lab. Jim has odd feedback coming in from a unit I have in the deep water off Brazil. The tracking station in Venezuela reports calm.”
“Oh.” She shrugged. “You’re going back in with no sleep or food? Can’t your tech store the readouts?”
“I don’t know why there’s a discrepancy. And it is my system. My neck on the line. You go ahead and eat, and catch some Zs. If this blows over, I’ll meet you at the hospital in time to pick up Liddy Bea. Or I’ll be at the lab if you need me sooner.”
With that, he banged out the front door.
Mallory sank down in the chair across from Connor’s steaming cup of tea. It took a while to wade through all her fears and worries, all her memories, both sad and good. In the end, she had her answer as to why she’d hesitated about saying yes to Connor’s proposal. He’d told her she was important to him, and that Liddy Bea was, too. But the truth was obvious—they weren’t as important as his project. Maybe it was an unreasonable expectation, but dammit, she wanted to be the top priority to the man she married. Crossing her arms on the table, she put down her head and wept for all that might have been.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“I PROBABLY BOTHERED YOU for nothing.” Jim Kirkpatrick greeted Connor with a long face.
“Show me what you have.”
James picked up a stack of computer printouts. “These ran over three hours. The velocity readings are to the edge of the chart. Using the calibrations you set up, I thought we were in for a huge blow. So I called you. Almost immediately the activity stopped. Boom. Gone.”
Connor flipped through the stack, repeating Jim’s calculations. At the
end, he threw down his pen. “Weird. My formulas extend out exactly the same as yours. If the impulses hadn’t stopped, I would’ve said we were looking at two, three days at the most to batten down the hatches all along the coast.”
“Lucky for them the ocean earthquakes quit shaking.”
“Yes. But the question is, why? All the studies I performed in the South Pacific showed that if the underwater plate activity reached these levels, it always triggered a destructive tsunami or a stage-four hurricane.”
“Maybe we’re looking at the proverbial calm before the storm. Could these intermittent rumblings be a prelude to the big one?”
“Don’t even whisper that, Jim. It’s still early for big hurricanes.” Connor flipped pages on a desk calendar. “Maybe sharks or some curious fish batted my probes around. The inconsistency, though, has me baffled. That’s what I have to be able to explain to the powers that be.”
“Which reminds me. You had a phone call from the man himself.”
Connor raised an eyebrow as he waited for Kirkpatrick to produce the message he was looking for. “And who would that be? I’m the new guy in town, remember.”
“Don Jarvis is Tallahassee’s weather guru. He’s the director of Gulf atmospheric dynamics, appointed by the governor. He rules. Jarvis began the conversation by saying he’d spoken with Senator Forrest. And he went on to ask in his arrogant way if you’d been holding on to data he seems to think it’s his right to have.”
Connor groaned. “Brad Forrest mentioned Jarvis. Projects like mine threaten guys like Jarvis, who can’t imagine prediction possibilities beyond the tried-and-true methods of satellite-produced data.”
“Yeah. Jarvis lectured at a few of my advanced meteorology classes. The guy grew up on the cutting edge of satellite weather transmission. You’d think someone like that would embrace new possibilities for research.”
“If you’re okay here by yourself, I probably ought to pay him a visit. I’ve wanted to tour the new weather information center, anyway. In the seven years I’ve been away, the state’s pumped a lot of money into upgrading the site, or so Senator Forrest claims.”
“How did you get in so tight with a senator, if I may be so nosy as to ask?”
“Have you missed the rumors? Brad Forrest is my daughter’s grandfather.”
“Zowie. That would be Mallory Forrest’s kid? Ms. Forrest is hot. A real babe. Uh…jeez, sorry for thinking out loud.” James backed off. “I’ve never met her, only seen her on TV. On the news—at fund-raisers. But how come, if it’s your kid, her last name is still Forrest?”
“Long story, James. Someday, if we have time on our hands, I’ll tell you. Maybe by then I’ll be lucky enough to have rectified that oversight.” Hoisting himself out of his chair, Connor slid the data sheets together, folded and pocketed them. He left the office with a smile and a wave.
MALLORY HADN’T THOUGHT she’d fall asleep after Connor left. But she did. Awakening much later, she felt totally refreshed and relaxed for the first time in a long while. For the latter, she had to credit Connor. Good sex had a way of stripping away tension. And good sleep had a way of restoring perspective. Once again she experienced a sense of hope about her future with the man she loved.
As she prepared to go visit Liddy Bea, Mallory caught herself smiling foolishly. Busy though her life had become over the last few years, she decided it was a shame she had to be so discriminating about the lovers she chose. Well…lover. There’d been only one. Certainly, over the years, she’d had other offers. Unfortunately, none of them were from Connor O’Rourke. And after today, Mallory understood why she’d held out for him. With Connor, she wasn’t a prominent senator’s daughter, the social catch of the year or any of the other labels attached to having been born a Forrest. With Connor, she could be herself. And that was nice. Very, very nice.
Half an hour later, feeling as if a glow still surrounded her, Mallory slipped into Liddy Bea’s room.
“Hi, Mommy. You just missed Daddy.”
“Connor was here?” Mallory had expected him to phone sometime during the afternoon. She was disappointed he hadn’t, and she’d checked for messages again right before leaving the house. Only Alec had called.
“Guess what? Daddy talked to Dr. Fredric. If I get to go home tomorrow afternoon, Daddy said he’ll bring me a s’prise.” The child’s gray eyes sparkled like the sun filtering through rain-laden clouds.
“A surprise? What kind of a surprise?”
“Oh, Mommy! If he told me, it wouldn’t be a s’prise.”
Mallory didn’t know why the news annoyed her, but it did. “Well, you’re certainly looking more chipper. The hemodialysis must be doing its job, baby.”
“I’m a big girl, Mommy. Not a baby. I’m six, going on second grade.”
For no reason, tears sprang to Mallory’s eyes. She dragged a chair closer to Liddy’s raised bed, and sat, giving the lump in her throat time to go down. “I guess you will be in second grade come September.” Mallory linked hands with Liddy’s. Gently she stroked the angry black-and-blue marks where nurses had repeatedly drawn blood. In the years since Liddy Bea had been first diagnosed with kidney failure, Mallory had seen holes poked in nearly all of the child’s tiny veins and arteries. She’d found that so painful. Watching your child suffer and being unable to do anything about it was worse than being in pain yourself.
Where had Connor been, then? Off pursuing his dream career was where.
That was probably why Mallory harbored resentments over him waltzing in now, stealing Liddy Bea’s affections with blithe promises of surprises.
Sighing, Mallory kissed the dimples in the small hand. Her assessment was unfair to Connor, who’d said time and again that things would’ve been different if he’d had any idea he’d gotten her pregnant.
“What’s wrong, Mommy? Are you mad at Daddy?”
“No. It’s just different for me, having him around.”
Liddy squeezed Mallory’s fingers. “A nice different. I think Daddy’s been lonesome for a long time. He needs us, Mommy.”
“Really? What makes you say that?”
“The other day, him and me went and put flowers on Grandmama Lydia’s and Grandmama Beatrice’s special places. Daddy looked real sad.”
“You didn’t tell me you’d gone to the cemetery.” Mallory’s brow wrinkled. “I realize I’ve been lax about taking flowers since we moved, but…you’re saying Connor bought flowers for both grandmothers?”
Liddy Bea bobbed her head. “Pretty ones.”
“I had no idea he remembered where his mother was buried. And for him to remember my mom…well, that’s nice.” Mallory felt a chunk of ice fall away from her heart.
Even when they’d been in high school, Connor was thoughtful and sensitive, while other boys she’d dated were self-centered. Those qualities, coupled with Connor’s sense of humor, were what initially attracted her to him. Well, if you discounted the fact that her pheromones went wacko whenever he appeared.
“Mommy, I’m tired of watching TV. Will you read me a story? Nurse Susy let me bring two new books back to my room after dialysis. Daddy read one, but he said I should save the other for you. He said it’d take my mind off my s’prise.”
Mallory laughed. “He’s learning.”
“Learning what?”
“To be a parent.” Her voice sounded happy when she said it. And she retained warm thoughts toward Connor—until she got home several hours later and found he’d left a message informing her that he and Jim Kirkpatrick were flying to Jamaica to check on a probe off the coast of someplace called Pedro Cay. “I’ll do my best,” he said, “to be home by the time you check Liddy Bea out of the hospital tomorrow. Fredric said she’d be ready to leave sometime around five.”
“That’s great,” Mallory mumbled. “What do I tell her about that damned surprise if you don’t get back?”
NEXT DAY, AS LUCK WOULD have it, the apartment was dark and empty when Mallory and Liddy Bea swept in at six-ten.<
br />
They’d eaten, and Mallory’s nerves were stretched thin listening to Liddy Bea wonder aloud at the top of her voice what was keeping her daddy and thus her anticipated surprise.
Mallory was wiping down kitchen counters with angry swipes when she heard a key in the lock, followed by a thunk, a bump and scratching sounds as if a dozen mice had scampered across the entry tile. Before she could rinse her sponge and wipe her hands, Liddy Bea squealed delightedly and began to laugh.
Mallory hurried toward the hallway, rounded the corner—and fell back in shock. Her daughter’s promised surprise pounced on Mallory’s bare feet, licking them with a warm tongue.
“A puppy?” She hopped about to avoid the wet nose of the wiggling, squirming ball of white fur. “Connor, you bought Liddy a puppy without consulting me?”
“Surprise!” His cocky grin drove the indignation straight out of Mallory’s lungs. Striding across the hall, he caught her up in a bear hug and swung her feet clear off the ground. For a man who couldn’t have had an hour’s sleep in the last forty-eight, he seemed frightfully energetic to Mallory, whose own energy had waned.
“The pup’s name is Boo Boo. He’s an eight-week-old West Highland terrier that got dumped outside the humane society the day I went there just to have a look. The staff needed time to check him over and give him his shots. Mal, don’t look at me like that. Tell me honestly, can you resist that ball of fluff?”
Once Connor had set her back on her feet, Mallory managed to stave off the dog’s onslaught. “It’s not the shots, Connor, it’s the day-to-day care.”
“I told Liddy Bea he’s largely her responsibility. I bought a bed, puppy food and grooming tools. Oh, and a leash. She and I will walk him during the day.”
“But what about our carpets? Who’ll take him outside to pee at night? Not Liddy Bea. And you’ll be at work.”
Connor scratched his stubbed chin and looked sheepish. “Give him a chance, Mal. Kids and dogs go together. I never had a pet, nor did you. Remember how we used to wonder if we hadn’t missed something important?”
The Seven Year Secret Page 23