Timothy

by Katie Dowe

“I wonder what caused that?” he said casually as he put his shirt back on. “Thank you.”

  “A deal is a deal,” she told him. You didn't tell me about the spring festival happening on Sunday,” She told him as she followed him to the door.

  He turned to look at her. “I absolutely forgot about that. I would love if you would come.”

  “So you'll be there.”

  “If you promise to be there I will certainly make the effort.”

  “I've received dozens of invitations from my patients so of course I'll be there. And then there's our date on Saturday.”

  “Which I'm looking forward to.” He had his hand on the doorknob but didn't want to turn it. “I'll swing by and pick you up.”

  “Thanks. Goodnight, Timothy.”

  ***

  “Goodnight, doc.” With a smile on his handsome face, he was gone.

  Robyn locked the door behind him and wandered into the kitchen to clean up the mess they'd made during dinner. She'd read up on him and knew that he'd made a fortune through his sheer will and determination. She also knew that he'd restored most of the town’s original landmarks. He was highly respected and had donated to every cause there was in Fallen Oaks. He was the one who'd supplied most of the medical supplies to the facility when Doctor Herringbone was alive. He was a very influential man who took time out to spend with her and had held her in his arms when she'd fallen apart after listening to Sean’s message. She wondered why and wondered if he had a habit of doing that. She liked talking to him and also realized that the time she'd always thoroughly enjoyed the time she spent with him. Thinking about Sean and Brianna now, no longer felt like spikes were being driven inside her heart. She could think about them without falling to pieces and crying like she would never stop. The patients she saw on a day-to-day basis were people who genuinely liked her and wanted her to be a part of their town, of their lives. Gwen Pringles had lost her husband and son a few years ago and was suffering acute rheumatoid arthritis and when she came for her checkup would sit in a chair and regale Robyn with stories of her life and the wonderful love she'd shared with her husband. After the woman’s tragic losses she could still find time to be happy and smile in spite of her pain. Another woman, Angie Foster, was suffering from severe migraines but still managed to bring her apple pies when she came for her checkup and talked to Robyn about her days. They were regular people who had regular problems but still had smiles on their faces in spite of them. She liked the town even though she'd been there for a short time and she liked the friendliness and ready acceptance of the people. It was a great place to heal and she had the feeling that the healing process had already started.

  ***

  Timothy checked his pockets to make sure he had everything before heading out. He studied the hunter green dress pants and the thin white cashmere sweater he'd put on. His hair was brushed back from his face, the blonde highlights glinting from the muted lights of his bedroom ceiling. Outside he was the suave, confident self-made billionaire who had taken on challenges most men wouldn't even dream of, but inside he was a mass of nervous coil that no amount of deep breathing could get rid of. He was going on a first official date with a woman he'd met almost three weeks ago and he felt as if he was facing the firing squad.

  He didn't want to screw things up! He wanted to show her a good time! He wanted to impress her with his dating skills and he wanted the date to end with her coming back to his place and him making love to her until the sun came up. And that was the problem! She might laugh at his jokes and talk to him, share her experiences with him but she was still a woman who was recovering from a broken heart and acute betrayal, a woman who was probably still in love with the bastard who'd broken her heart and he was going to have to compete with that.

  He was going to have to march slowly and pace himself, trying his best not to make a wrong move in fear of losing her before he even had her. He wasn't used to that. He was used to seeing a woman and with one look having her in his arms and in his bed. For the first time in his life he was going to have to fight for someone and that someone was the petite and incredibly beautiful Dr. Robyn Faulkner, who had no idea what havoc she was creating in his life. He was willing to be there for her as a ‘friend’ but not for too long because he knew that if delayed, the friend thing would take precedence and he stood the chance of never making it to the next stage of the relationship. He couldn't afford for that to happen. He was willing to give her time to heal but he wanted during that time for her to realize that he was there and he was offering more than just friendship. Looking at his reflection for the final time he stepped back from the mirror and made his way out. He was a little early but he was eager to see her. He hadn't seen her on the path he usually did his jogging for the past three days and she hadn't called him either. It had been too long and he was eager to look at her and to touch her, even if just lightly!

  ***

  “You're quiet. Is everything okay?” Malik asked as he stared at his wife around the dinner table. The girls had already turned in for the night, claiming that they wanted to watch an animated movie on television. It was Saturday night so they were allowed to stay up well past their bedtime and they took advantage of it.

  “We never discussed having more children,” Hillary murmured as she sipped her wine. She was due to go back and visit the doctor on Tuesday but she feared that the outcome was already too obvious. She was still feeling nauseous and listless and she realized that her period wasn't coming.

  Malik looked at her sharply. “I naturally assumed that we were done.”

  “So you never wanted a son?”

  “I'm not the one who has to produce an heir, Hillary, and I'm quite comfortable with my two girls.”

  Hillary took a deep breath. “What if there's a third child?”

  He put his glass down onto the table and stared at her. “You don’t want a third child. You were very specific about that.”

  “But what if there is?” she persisted.

  “Hillary, stop hedging and tell me what’s going on.”

  “I might be pregnant.”

  He stared at her for a moment and didn't say anything. “Might be?”

  “I went to visit Robyn two weeks ago because I haven't been feeling myself lately and she did tests but couldn't verify. I'm due back on Tuesday.”

  “And you never said anything to me even though we sleep in the same bed every night.”

  “I wanted to be sure,” she told him lamely.

  “So you've been going through all this by yourself. That’s typical of you, Hillary.”

  “Well excuse me for not feeling the need to share with my husband the fact that I might be pregnant with a child I don’t—” She stopped abruptly, refusing to look at him.

  “A child you don't want,” he finished quietly. “So if you are pregnant what are you going to do? Get rid of it?”

  “Stop putting words in my mouth!”

  “I can't put words that are already there, darling,” Malik told her coolly. “You got pregnant right after we got married and you spent months resenting me until you came to accept it and learned to love the life inside of you and when you became pregnant for the second time you went through that again, telling me that you didn't want to spend your life being a stay-at-home mother. I offered to arrange for someone to come and take care of the kids and you refused. What do you want from me, Hillary?”

  “You're not the one who has to go through nine months of excruciating hormone changes! I was sick most of the time and the mood swings had me laughing at one point and crying the next. It's a lot for a woman to go through and men seem oblivious or you just don't care about that. It's our job to carry the child while you go out and provide for the family! You get the easy part, and yes I'm resentful that maybe once again I'm going to have to go through the madness, and I'm not as young as I used to be. So forgive me for not feeling as if blessings are raining down on top of my head!”

  “I'm sorry,” he told her quiet
ly in a defeated voice. He slid back his chair and got to his feet. “Do whatever you think is best.” With that he walked out of the room, leaving her feeling torn between regret and anger.

  ***

  He couldn't take his eyes off her! Ever since she'd opened the door to admit him he'd been having that trouble. She was wearing a simple back dress with sheer long sleeves and with just a hint of cleavage showing and she had on a little bit of makeup. Her hair was piled on top of her head and secured by pins, leaving her long neck bare. Dangling gold earrings were at her lobes and she had on a thin gold chain around her neck with a heart shaped pendant nestled between her breasts. Strappy heels gave her the advantage of height and brought her up to his shoulders.

  They were greeted by the manager of the quaint Italian restaurant and were personally taken to a table that ensured the utmost privacy. It was a small town and people turned to stare at them as they wove their way to their table. He stopped and chatted briefly to a few of them before continuing on his way with his hand on her arm. “What do you think?” he asked her after they'd partaken of the Italian baked chicken with pasta.

  “I think that this might be the most delicious meal I've ever had!” she enthused.

  “Have you ever been to Italy?” His tone was indulgent as he stared at her.

  “No.”

  “I have a business interest in Tuscany and it's especially lovely at this time of the year.” He wanted to tell her that he would be more than willing to take her but he was treading carefully.

  “I'm sure it is.” She sipped her wine and stared around the delightfully muted décor. “I went to Paris several times and to the UK and I took a Caribbean cruise that took me to several islands, including Jamaica and I'm afraid that I wanted to stay longer than the two days. All that tropical sunshine and island warmth of the people was pretty exhilarating!”

  He opened his mouth to tell her about his yacht and his island in the Mediterranean but he didn't do so. Very soon he was going to invite her to go sailing with him and then she would start to wonder about his motives. The constraint on him was chafing but he had no choice.

  “I'm sure you've been all over the world,” she said when he did not respond.

  “Pretty much,” he murmured, but he didn't want to talk about himself. He wanted to know her likes and dislikes and how soon she would be over that bastard who didn't deserve to even touch her hand. He wanted to know how long he would have to wait to take her into his arms and kiss those lips that had the desire stirring inside him even now.“Tell me about your childhood,” he forced himself to ask.

  She wrinkled her smooth brow as she thought about it. “My childhood was pretty much routine. I'm an only child and adored my dad, never realized that he was constantly cheating on my mom. She stayed with him in spite of it because she wanted to give me that stability and not having me become aware of the true character of a man whom I put on a pedestal. When I found out what he really was and what he'd put my mother through I was so mad that I stopped talking to him for several years before my mom sat me down and reminded me that he was my father and what he did to her was to her and not to me. She told me that he was the only father I was going to have and I should take the time to be with him and not allow my anger to drive a wedge between us. I thought about it for several days and decided that she was right. I did have some choice things to say to him though but now we're as close as ever.”

  “Your mother sounds pretty amazing,” Timothy commented.

  “She is,” Robyn told him with a laugh. “She was the one who told me to pick myself up and start over and not let anyone have the power to make me wallow in sadness and self-pity.”

  “I'd like to meet her one day.”

  Robyn looked at him, obviously startled, her eyes holding his for a moment. “I'm sure she'll come for a visit.”

  He nodded. “What about your dad?”

  “The surprising thing about it is he tells me he's still in love with my mom. He never remarried and neither has she so he's hoping that they'll one day be together.”

  “Is that what you're hoping as well?”

  “You are very intuitive, aren’t you?”

  “Pretty much,” he inclined his head with a smile on his lips. “I've had to be to become what I am today.”

  “A very successful business man who worked hard to achieve what you have.” She put her glass on the table. “How does it feel?’

  “How does what feel?”

  “How does it feel to know that you're living the American Dream?’

  His eyebrows lifted at that. “I wouldn't quite call it that. I made the decision that I didn't want to continue to be poor all my life and I did something about it.”

  “But it's never that simple,” she persisted. “A lot of people would like to shake off the shackles of poverty but never seem to get up the energy or have the wherewithal to do so. What makes you different?’

  “I wanted more, and I was absolutely hungry for it,” he told her softly. “I was determined to do whatever it took to make it happen and that's exactly what I did.”

  Chapter 7

  He took her home later that night and left her at the door without even a peck on the cheek. If he'd done that he wouldn't have been able to stop there so he'd politely made sure she got in safely and then left her to go back to his car and his apartment to think about her and remember their conversations. She had done most of the talking, mostly because he loved listening to her and because he was not really one to open up to people. He wasn't only fiercely attracted to her but he enjoyed talking to her. Usually in the past, talking wasn't much on his mind when he was with a woman. There was the sharp burst of lust and the sizzle of passion and soon after he just wanted to be on his way. With Robyn it was different and he knew it. He wanted to spend days with her and nights too, nights where he would make slow and thorough love to her and then hold her in his arms while they both slept. He wanted to bury his head in her abundance of dark curls and join his body with hers. He wouldn't allow her to sleep in any form of clothing because he would want to feel her body next to his without any encumbrances, any barriers dividing them. He wanted to right the wrongs done to her by first her father and then her fiancé and her best friend. She possessed a certain vulnerability and innocence about her that was pretty endearing and he would never allow anyone to ever hurt her. He would see to that! Timothy sat on the side of his king-sized bed and agonizingly wondered what she was doing. Was she in bed, thinking about their dinner date or was she thinking about him and how much she still missed him? How was he going to get her to forget him and give herself over to Timothy? What if she could never forget him? He shook his head as he refused to dwell on that. He was going to make her!

  ***

  “What’s with you?” Timothy asked his brother as he stopped at the house to pick up his nieces to take them to the festival. It was an all-day activity and he'd promised to stop and pick up Madison and Holly and their parents would join them during the afternoon. Timothy had promised to come and pick them up at nine but had overslept and had called to let his bother know that he would be an hour late. Malik had opened the door to admit him and had told him that Hillary was getting them ready.

  “Would you like a drink?” Malik led the way into his study without answering the question.

  “I'm afraid it's too early even for me,” he said sardonically as he watched his brother pour a generous amount of whiskey into a glass. “But apparently not for you. What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “You're entitled to be moody and irascible but I'm not?” Malik asked him mildly as he gulped the liquor.

  “I'm never irascible.” Timothy’s dark blue eyes raked his brother’s pale face. “Are you going to tell me what’s bugging you or should I hazard a guess?”

  “My wife might be pregnant.”

  “And that’s cause for getting drunk?”

  “She doesn't want more children.”

  “Then she should have thoug
ht of that before you actually did the deed.” Timothy said with a hard look on his handsome face. “She told you that she didn't want the baby?”

  “Not specifically. She only reminded me of the horrors of motherhood and being pregnant. Which, by the way, I'm not privy to because of my sex.”

  “Now I remember the reason I never saw the need to get married and start a family,” Timothy said dryly as he strode over to the cabinet to pour himself a measure of whiskey. He had his nieces to think about but this really called for a drink.

  “And yet you're actively pursuing the good doctor,” His brother said wryly.

  “What gave you that impression?”

  “Timothy, you're my brother and you're scary as hell but I haven't seen you look at a woman the way you looked at Robyn Faulkner.”

  “We're talking about your problem, remember?” Timothy reminded him dryly. “Let’s stick to that and use the opportunity while your daughters are out of the house to sort it out. They're pretty sensitive and very soon they're going to figure out that something is wrong.”

  ***

  He hung onto his nieces as he wandered through the crowd, seeing if he could catch a glimpse of her. He'd been at the festival for close to an hour now, stopping to buy Madison and Holly cotton candy and fries that he was sure their parents would be none too pleased about, but he figured what the heck, they lived only once. Meanwhile his eyes were all over the place wondering if she was there yet. The place was filled with people and the May day was perfect for the occasion with barely any cloud in the deep blue of the sky. Very soon he would have to indulge his nieces and let them go on rides but he wanted to see if he could spot her first.

  But Madison was the one who accomplished that. “Uncle Tim look! There is Robyn!”

  His heart slammed into his chest as he turned to look at the tiny woman dressed in cut off jeans and red and blue plaid shirt with her hair loose around her face, coming towards them. She had a candy apple in one hand and a balloon in the other and looked pretty much like a teenager out for a stroll or a woman intent on raising his blood pressure to new heights. Christ! He had to get her into his bed and fast. She waved at them and hurried over with both Holly and Madison running to meet her. He stood there and watched as she enfolded them in her arms and then walked with them to meet him.