That should have made her happy. After all, a man didn't ask to meet your mother unless he was pretty darn interested.
But she wasn't happy.
"Lee?"
She studied his face. Lord. He was so incredibly good-looking and he carried himself as if he had the world at his feet. A man with success written all over him. She thought of Ina, who wasn't attractive and didn't dress well. Who complained every time she opened her mouth. Who had somehow ended up old way before her time.
And then Lee felt small. Small and petty and not understanding at all of her poor mother.
"Lee, come on. I really want to meet her."
"Derek, I don't think—"
"Call her back right now and invite her to my place. For dinner. Seven-thirty this Friday night." He picked up the phone again and held it out to her.
Ina said she'd come. "If you're sure you want me."
Lee reassured her that they did. She suggested that her mother come to her house first, at six-thirty or so. They could drive over to Derek's together. And then, afterward, Ina could go back to Lee's for the night. "How does that sound?"
Ina said, "Well, it's hard for me. I'm so tired after work. But I'll make it somehow."
"Good."
"After all, this must be important. You hardly ever date. This Derek must be someone very special."
"Well, I—"
"What does he do, anyway?"
"He's a doctor. Family Practice. We work together, at the clinic."
"A doctor. You, Lee? Dating a doctor? You always swore you would never—"
Lee had no desire to hear any more in that vein—especially not right at that moment, with Derek sitting next to her, seeming to drink in her every word. "Mom, I really have to go now."
"Oh, well, of course you do. I'm so sorry to keep you."
Lee stifled the urge to shout, "Mother, I'm the one who called you!" and instead told her mother that she loved her. With a sigh of relief, she punched the Off button again.
Derek took the phone from her. "That wasn't so hard, was it?" He set it back on the table again.
"No," she lied brightly. "That wasn't hard at all."
Wednesday night, they went to the gym together. It was Derek's first time back there, after his run-in with the raccoon. He had to modify his workout, with his wrist still in a cast, but he said it still felt good to start getting back into his old routine.
After they finished at the gym, Derek took her out to dinner at a little Greek place he liked. They had salads with goat cheese sprinkled on them and stuffed grape leaves with the main course.
They also ran into one of his old girlfriends, a woman striking enough that the people at the other tables stopped to stare as she walked by. The woman lit up like a thousand-watt bulb when she caught sight of Derek. She stood by their table and sighed and laughed and told him he really should give her a call soon.
He only smiled. "Andrea, this is Lee Murphy."
The woman barely glanced Lee's way. "Hi." Her big violet eyes zeroed in on Derek again. "I am serious." She shook a slender, red-tipped finger at him. "You had better call me."
He shook his head. "As a matter of fact, I'm pretty much spoken for."
"Spoken for?" She cast a swift glance at Lee. Lee read the look. It said, "What in the world is he doing with someone like you when he could have me?"
Lee wanted to mutter, "He's with me because I'm funny and smart and darn good in bed." However, somewhere deep in her heart, Lee couldn't help wondering right along with Andrea.
Once Andrea was gone, Derek said softly, "Lee. You do know I'm not going to call her, don't you? I told you once that there wouldn't be anyone else. And I meant what I said."
Lee tried to make light of it. "Derek, it's no big thing. Really." She knew that it shouldn't be. That, at least for now, Derek really would prefer to be with her than the beautiful Andrea. But the sight of the woman—and the stubborn insecurities the woman aroused—still depressed her.
He leaned a little closer across the table, "You don't look as if it's no big thing."
"Can we just drop it, please?"
"I don't think we should drop it, if it's bothering you."
"It isn't," she lied—a lie he saw for exactly what it was.
He set down his fork. "Lee. What did you expect me to say to her? Would you have been happier if I'd told her, 'No, Andrea. I'm not going to call you, so would you please get lost?"
"Of course not. You did nothing wrong."
"Then why do you look so damn bleak?"
"I don't mean to look bleak."
He shook his head and swore under his breath—and then, thank goodness, he picked up his fork again. "Eat your stuffed grape leaves."
She did as he instructed. They endured a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, and then he looked up and asked her a question—something innocuous, about the workday just past. She answered. They shared a smile. And the beautiful Andrea was forgotten.
They were walking out to the Suburban when Derek's beeper went off. It was the hospital. He dropped her off at the health club where she'd left her own car, and went to deal with the emergency.
He showed up on her doorstep at eleven-thirty, looking tired and frustrated. "We lost old Mr. Carthage."
The eighty-five-year-old had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer—far advanced when the problem was detected.
Lee took Derek's hand and pulled him over the threshold.
He said, "The prognosis was poor. We knew this was coming."
She said, "But you still feel like hell about it. I know."
His hand slid up her arm.
With a sigh, she stepped up close and rested her head against his broad chest. He slipped his arm around her, rather awkwardly. For some reason, he was keeping his right hand, the one with the cast on it, behind his back. He kissed her hair. "I shouldn't have shown up here. I should have let you sleep."
She looked up at him and smiled. She felt sad, about Mr. Carthage. And at the same time, she felt a little better about herself and Derek. Yes, they might be having a torrid affair—something straight out of her fantasies that wasn't going to last. But they did share more than just sex. They really were friends. And he felt he could come to her in the middle of the night like this, after losing a patient. He knew that she would understand.
She stepped back and snared his left hand again. "You look so tired. Let's go to bed."
He hung back. "Wait."
She gave him a puzzled smile. "What?"
"Come here." He pulled her over to the couch. "Sit down."
She dropped to the cushions. "Derek. What is it?"
He cleared his throat. "I … well, I've been trying to do this all evening. But we ran into Andrea in the restaurant, and that kind of put a damper on the mood. And then I got the call from the hospital…"
She was starting to get worried. "What? Tell me. Whatever it is, it's all right."
He blew out a long breath. "God. I'm nervous as hell."
Alarm skittered through her. "Derek. What is the matter?"
He stuck out his right hand. She saw then that he was holding a tiny blue velvet box.
And she knew. She couldn't believe it, but she knew.
She whispered, "Derek. You're not…?" and ran out of words.
He nodded. "I am. I'm proposing. Will you marry me, Lee?"
* * *
Chapter Sixteen
« ^ »
Katie held Lee's hand and admired the small diamond shining there. "It's really lovely."
Lee sighed. "I just can't believe it. Derek's ring. On my finger."
Dana, who sat in the chair across Lee's coffee table from the other two, spoke up then. "So. He asked you last night?"
Lee nodded.
"I told you that this was going to happen." Dana made a show of smoothing her hair. "And was I right?"
"You were," Lee conceded.
"It's all anyone talked about at Memorial today," Katie said.
Le
e groaned. "I know. Terry Brandt has the eyes of an eagle. She spotted the ring when I walked in the door. And she knew it was Derek, without me saying a word. She went nuts. She said she just couldn't believe it. First you and Mike. Then Dana and Trevor. And now me and Derek. She thinks it's not fair. She insists that we got all the good ones."
"And we did," Dana said cheerfully.
"I'm with Terry," Katie said. "I mean, in that it's hard to believe. Here we are, each of us thirty years old. Confirmed single women. Or so everyone thought. And then, in the space of a few months, we all end up engaged."
Dana laughed. "To doctors. Which just goes to prove that it really is true. Never say never."
Katie still held Lee's hand. She gave it a squeeze. "When's the big date?"
"Come on, we haven't gotten that far yet. He just asked me."
Katie turned to Dana. The two shared a look. "Well?" Katie asked. "What do you think?"
Dana shrugged. "Fine with me."
They both grinned at Lee. "Get married with us," Katie said.
Lee wasn't prepared for that suggestion. She pulled her hand free of Katie's and let out a weak laugh. "Oh, come on."
"What does that mean?" Dana put on a wounded expression. "You don't want to get married in the same ceremony with your two dearest female friends in the whole wide world?"
Lee knew that Dana was teasing. Still, she hastened to reassure her. "It's not that. Not at all."
"Then what is it?"
"Well, you two are getting married on September 6. That's hardly a month away."
"So?"
"It's too late to add another bride."
"We can swing it."
"Oh, come on. I know you two have it all planned, just the way you want it."
Dana said, "Yes, we do. And we'd like it even better if you went in with us."
"You've already sent out the invitations."
"So we'll send out announcements letting everyone know that instead of two brides, they get three."
"But … what will you do for a bridesmaid, if I'm one of the brides?"
"Oh, come on. With three brides, who needs a bridesmaid?"
"I've already bought my bridesmaid's dress."
Katie and Dana exchanged another look. Then Katie joined the argument in that calm, reasonable tone of hers. "You haven't worn that dress yet. The boutique will take it back, and happily—especially considering you'll tell them that you want a wedding gown instead."
"But I—"
"Wait a minute," Dana said.
And Katie nodded. "Yes. I think we're going to have to slow down here."
"Please," Lee muttered gratefully. "Let's."
"Do you want your own wedding?" Dana asked. "Is that it?"
"No. That's not the problem at all."
Katie said, "Lee. If you do want your own wedding, it's okay. There's nothing wrong with that."
"No. I mean it. It's not that. I can't think of a nicer way to get married than with the two of you. But I just…" She glanced from one dear face to the other. "A month is a little too soon for me."
Katie made a sympathetic sound and patted Lee's shoulder. "Are you trying to tell us that you're feeling overwhelmed right now?"
"I just … I can hardly believe he asked me. I certainly didn't expect him to. We only really got together last weekend. And I have to admit, until last night, I've been telling myself to enjoy it while it lasts, you know?"
Katie asked, very gently, "Do you love him?"
Dana made a humphing sound. "Of course she does."
Katie frowned. "Come on, Dana. Let her say it for herself."
"Sorry." Dana actually looked sheepish. "You're right." She turned to Lee. "Well? Do you love him?"
Lee gulped. "I do."
Dana made a face. "You don't exactly sound thrilled about it."
Lee straggled to explain. "I'm scared. It only really hit me last night, after he popped the question. I was sitting right here, on the edge of the couch, and he was standing over me, looking down at me through those Paul Newman eyes of his and I thought, 'Oh, my Lord. I'm in love with him. He's everything I swore I'd never let myself get close to—he's domineering, he's always sure he's right. He's ten times better looking than I've ever dreamed of being, and other women will not leave him alone. And worst of all, he's got M.D. after his na—"
"Wait a minute." Katie cut in. "Let's go back a little bit here. You make it sound as if you're not good-looking. And that is not true."
"I said that he's ten times better looking than I am. And it is true."
"But—"
Lee stopped Katie with a look. "Your loyalty is a beautiful thing. May I continue?"
Katie waved a hand. "Oh, all right. Go on."
"Thank you. What was I saying?"
Dana prompted, "You realized you loved him…"
"That's right. And I also realized I was going to say yes. And I did. I said yes. But I still don't believe it. And I need a little time, to get used to the idea. Please understand."
Katie made a sympathetic, tongue-clucking sound. "Of course we do."
"But if you change your mind—"
Both Lee and Katie swung quelling glances at Dana. Katie even shook her head.
Dana put up both hands. "I know, I know. It's your life. Live it your own way."
Friday was the dinner with Ina.
Lee's mother arrived right on time, at six-thirty. Just like Terry Brandt, she spotted Lee's engagement ring immediately. Her eyes went wide. "An engagement ring? From the doctor?"
"His name is Derek, Mom," Lee said, trying not to be hurt that her mother found the idea of someone wanting to marry her so difficult to accept. "And yes. We're going to get married."
"My goodness," said Ina. "You. Getting married. And to a doctor. I would never in a thousand years have imagined that happening."
"Well, imagine it. Because it's true."
Lee gave her mother a few minutes to settle into the spare room. Then Lee asked if perhaps Ina would like a cup of coffee or something before they went on to Derek's.
Ina looked doubtful, though she'd always been a big coffee drinker in the past. "I've started to think the caffeine is what brings on my migraines."
"Well, how about herb tea then?" Lee suggested brightly. "That can't hurt you."
"That doctor of yours probably wouldn't appreciate us showing up late."
"We won't be late, I promise you."
"No. I think we'd better just go on, I really do."
Ina was silent at first during the drive. She sat there so stoically in her flowered polyester shirtwaist and off-white cardigan sweater. It seemed to Lee that her mother always wore that sweater, at all times of the year, in every kind of weather. She wore it when it was snowing, and she wore it now, in mid-summer, when it was eighty-five degrees outside.
Out of nowhere, Ina asked, "Hon, now that you're going to be the wife of a doctor, don't you think you ought to at least do something about your hair?"
Lee's hands tightened on the wheel as she held back a snappish reply. She shot a glance at her mother, who was staring straight out the windshield, gripping her cheap plastic purse in her lap as if someone was going to grab it if she relaxed her guard for so much as a nanosecond.
"What exactly do you think I should do with my hair, Mom?"
Ina sighed, a weary sound—though she continued to stare straight ahead and clutch her purse as if it were trying to get away from her. "Oh, you know. Fix it up a little. Go to a good beauty shop and see what they can do. Sometimes I think that's where I went wrong with your father. I just didn't take enough pride in my appearance. Of course, I don't know what he ever saw in me, anyway. He came from such a good family and I was—"
"Mother. Let's not get started about him. Please?"
Ina hunched her shoulders and clutched her purse even tighter. "All right. That's fine. I just thought … a visit to the hairdresser, you know. It can't hurt."
Lee tried to lighten the moment by making a show
of blowing her bangs out of her eyes. "You're probably right. I could use a haircut."
"Of course, it's none of my business."
"It's all right. Really. As I said, you've got a point."
"I shouldn't have said anything."
"Mother. It's all right."
Ina subsided into silence after that, staring straight ahead, holding on to her purse for dear life. Lee silently prayed that she'd heard the last "helpful hint" of the evening.
When they got to the condo, Derek treated Ina like a queen. He helped her off with her sweater and even managed to convince her to let him take her purse. He served them a predinner glass of red wine. As they sat in the living room, sipping, he asked Ina if Lee had told her the good news.
"Yes," said Ina stiffly. "Lee told me that the two of you are planning to get married. I hope you'll be very happy."
Derek sent Lee a warm look, a look that went a long way toward easing her anxiousness. "I know that we will."
Ina asked, "What happened to your hand?"
Briefly, Derek explained about the ill-fated visit to Blue Moon Lake a few weeks before. Then he inquired after Ina's health.
Lee shot him a you'll be sorry glance, but he only smiled.
And Ina was off and running about her sore back and her fallen arches, her irregular heartbeat and her killer migraines. Derek listened patiently to the bad-health litany, and then asked her if she felt she had a good doctor.
"I love my doctor. I've been seeing him since I moved up to Salem five years ago. He's a G.P. I like to see one man for everything. And if he thinks I need a specialist, then, well, he lets me know. His name is Stover. Dr. L. V. Stover." Ina peered hard at Derek, as if expecting him to tell her he knew all about Dr. Stover and considered him one of the best.
Lee came to his rescue. "I doubt if Derek's met your Dr. Stover, Mom. He's never lived in Salem and he's been in Honeygrove for less than a year."
Ina arched a brow. "Oh? And where are you from, then?"
"Sacramento. I was raised there, went to school at UC Davis and did my internship and residency at American River General."
"Oh, really? I suppose your family is hoping you'll come back home to stay soon."
"I have no family left, except for an older brother. And he doesn't live in Sacramento anymore."
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