The Back-Up Plan

by Debra Webb

  His cell rang and Hank dragged it out of his pocket. “Bradley.”

  “Hank, my man, it’s Jim Fedderman,” came the familiar voice from the other end.

  Fedderman. Hank went on alert. “Jim, what’s up?” Hank had a peculiar feeling in his gut, one he immediately recognized as the pregame rush.

  “I hear you’ve been working that Bradley magic in Tennessee,” he said in that slick tone he had perfected to a science.

  “Yeah, well, you know how it is. When you’re good, you’re good.” Hank stroked his forehead and resisted the urge to jump to any conclusions.

  Donna led Melissa into the living room, but stopped abruptly when she noticed he was on the phone. Hank motioned for her to come on in.

  “And we all know how good you are,” Fedderman added. “That’s why I’m calling. Bob Colley at ESPN contacted me. He and the boys over there are very interested in talking to you about a commentator’s spot they’ve got coming open.”

  All the air rushed out of Hank’s lungs. How long had he waited, hoped, and dreamed of this second chance? When it never came, he had finally given up and made due with teaching and coaching. Though he loved working with the kids, this opportunity had always been his dream. When he’d been drafted into the NFL, his long range plan was to play as long as he could and then take a commentator position. Teaching had been his safety net. A back-up plan.

  Now that dream seemed to have materialized. His gut clenched when his gaze settled on Donna and Melissa. The promise he had made Donna only a few hours ago echoed through him. He blinked and averted his gaze.

  “They’d like to see you on Wednesday at three their time if that’s good for you.”

  “I’ll be there,” Hank told him, his insides twisted with doubt. The bitter taste of betrayal rose in his throat, but he couldn’t turn down this opportunity...no way.

  ~*~

  Donna watched Hank’s solemn profile as he drove them home after the picnic. Exhausted, Melissa slept in the back seat. The afternoon had been gorgeous. The temperature was just right. The food was wonderful. And Hank had played the part of daddy to the hilt. He had bag raced, hunted for clues in the scavenger hunt, and played piggy back tirelessly. He had joked and been his entertaining self the entire time, but something wasn’t quite right. Donna could sense his tension.

  At first she’d considered that maybe the interruption this morning had bothered him far worse than he had let on, but he’d put his arm around her and stolen a kiss every chance he got. That didn’t appear to be the problem. But something was definitely wrong.

  When they got home, Hank carried Melissa inside and up the stairs. Donna followed still feeling uneasy. Maybe they could talk once Melissa was down for a nap.

  Donna watched from the doorway as Hank knelt next to Melissa’s bed and tucked the top sheet around her. Her little eyes drifted open and she smiled up at Hank. He brushed a light kiss on her forehead.

  “Go back to sleep, squirt,” he said softly.

  “You were the best daddy of all,” she told him. “I wish you could be my daddy forever.”

  Donna swiped at the tears trickling past her lashes. She wondered if Hank had any idea how much her child loved him.

  Hank sat very still for several seconds before he brushed a kiss across her cheek. “Sweet dreams,” he whispered hoarsely. He stood and hurried out of the room.

  When he brushed past her, Donna’s heart dropped to her stomach. She managed a smile and blew her baby a kiss before turning the light off. She trudged down the stairs, fear of what was about to happen haunting her every step of the way. Whatever was about to happen, Donna didn’t know if her heart could take it. It quivered and pounded painfully behind her sternum.

  Prepared for the worst, Donna walked into the living room. Hank stared out the big bay window, his arms crossed over his chest, one shoulder propped against the wall.

  “Thanks for today.” Donna crossed the room and stood next to him. Like him, she stared out the window at nothing at all.

  He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “It was no big deal,” he said without looking at her.

  “It was a very big deal to Melissa.” Donna bit down on her lower lip to stop it from trembling.

  He dropped his head. “I know. I didn’t mean it that way.”

  “Why don’t you just go ahead and get it over with, Hank,” Donna told him. “No point in making whatever it is any more difficult than necessary. Just spill it.”

  He looked at her then. The regret in his blue eyes confirmed her worst fears.

  “That phone call I got today was from my former agent.” Hank scrubbed a hand over his face. “I have to fly to Atlanta on Wednesday for an interview with ESPN. They’re planning to offer me a commentator’s spot.”

  “Oh.” Of all the things she had expected him to say, that wasn’t one of them. “I thought you were through with that life,” she managed to say past the knot of emotion lodged in her throat.

  “I was—I mean I didn’t think there was any chance I’d ever get an opportunity like this.” He straightened, clearly ready to bolt. “At one time I hoped, but it never worked out so I moved on.”

  “You came here to teach and coach,” Donna finished for him.

  “Right,” he said, averting his gaze once more.

  Anger and betrayal smoldered inside her. “So all the talk about making the best of things and loving the kids was...just talk.”

  Hank looked at her then, his eyes pleading for the one thing she couldn’t give him—understanding. “I do love the kids. But Donna, this is the opportunity of a lifetime. I threw the chance away once. I won’t do that again.”

  “You don’t have to explain your motives to me, Hank. You certainly don’t owe me anything.”

  He reached for her but she sidestepped the move. “You talk like we’ll never see each other again,” he argued. “I’m not going to forget about you or Melissa.”

  Donna leveled a steady gaze on him. “Will you continue to teach and coach here at Huntley?”

  He held out five full seconds before he answered. “No.”

  “Will you continue to live here?”

  Hank dropped his gaze and shook his head. “Probably not.”

  “So you couldn’t possibly be a part of our lives on a regular basis.” She blinked back the hot burn of tears. Steeled herself for what she had to do. Let’s not make this any more complicated than it has to be,” she suggested. “Nothing really happened between us.”

  He grabbed her upper arms and yanked her closer. “What do you mean nothing happened?” He glared at her with those stunning blue eyes.

  “You didn’t make any real promises, Hank. I’m not expecting anything from you, so let’s just call it like it is.” Pain ricocheted through Donna. “It’s over. There’s nothing holding you here. Go to Atlanta and take that job. It’s what you want.”

  Hank’s gaze locked on her mouth. “It’s not over until I say it’s over.” He took her mouth with his, his fingers dug into her arms, pulling her against him.

  Donna’s senses filled with the taste of him...the feel of him. Despite the desperation in his touch, he moved with aching slowness, allowing his lips to play over hers as if this one kiss could last forever. God help her she loved Hank Bradley. Loved him with all her heart.

  How would she ever learn to live without this man?

  And she would have to live without him. Reality slammed through the cloak of desire. Donna pushed him away. “Go.”

  “We can make this work.”

  Donna met his gaze, recognized the desperation. “Maybe for a little while it would work,” she acquiesced. “But I won’t take that chance. Melissa already loves you too much. Don’t ask me to take that kind of chance with my little girl’s heart.”

  “I would never hurt you or Melissa,” he said harshly, his eyes awash in pain.

  “You already have.” Donna stepped out of his reach. “I’m sure you can see yourself out.” She allowed her gaze to meet
his one last time before she turned and walked away. “Good bye, Hank.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Just before lunch on Monday, Hank sat in the middle of the floor with the kids spread out around him. Melissa snuggled up to his side as he read The Berenstain Bears’ Spooky Old Tree. “Do they dare,” he read, “go over great sleeping bear?”

  Twenty sets of eyes went wide. Little heads moved from side to side in a resounding no. Hank kept one arm wrapped possessively around Melissa. He didn’t think he could love her more if she were his own child. But would Donna let him see her again if—

  “Mr. Hank,” Teresa, the aide, interrupted from the door. Hank stopped reading and looked up. “Could I see you for a moment, please?”

  Hank smiled. “Sure.” He looked back to the kids. “I’ll be right back guys.” He got to his feet and stepped over the circle of munchkins and made his way to the door. “What’s up,” he asked as he stepped into the hall.

  Patty stood next to Teresa, her face pale, her eyes worried. “Hank, something has happened to Donna.”

  “What do you mean?” he demanded. Dread and fear rose swiftly inside him.

  “She left early this morning for Nashville to pick up a special order for the clinic. I just got a telephone call from the Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murphysboro. Apparently there was a major pile up on Interstate 24. A school bus and a dozen or so cars collided.” Patty swiped at the tears streaming down her cheeks. “They couldn’t tell me anything except that Donna’s purse and car were found at the crash site.”

  “I’m on my way,” Hank told her, ice coiling inside him. “Teresa, can you watch my class?” Panic pounded in his ears.

  “Yes, sir,” Teresa assured him. “Do what you gotta do, Coach.” She glanced toward the closed door across the hall. “I’ll keep things on the down low.”

  Hank and Teresa had decided that one of the other teachers had been keeping Masters informed of his every move and visitor. He didn’t really blame the teacher. Masters was an expert in the art of manipulation.

  Right now he didn’t care about any of that. He had to get to Donna.

  “I don’t know what to do,” Patty fretted. “I can’t reach Sam and there’s no one to pick up the kids after school, but I want to go with you.”

  Hank hugged Patty fiercely. “Listen to me.” He drew back and leveled his gaze on hers. “You stay here and take care of the kids. I’ll call you as soon as I find out what’s going on.”

  “I don’t know,” Patty said hesitantly. “I need to go. She’ll need me.”

  “We don’t have time to argue. Keep your cell close, and I’ll call you the instant I know anything.”

  Patty nodded absently.

  “I’m outta here,” Hank said to Teresa.

  “Hank.” Patty touched his arm.

  He turned back to her. “Yeah?”

  “You should know that my sister is in love with you,” Patty said quietly. Her eyes were glazed with worry.

  Hank wasn’t completely surprised. “She never told me.”

  “She...it was Brick, Melissa’s father.” Patty shook her head, her attempts to hold back her tears unsuccessful. “He was a professional ball player and he chose his career over Donna and Melissa.” She squeezed her eyes shut for a shuddering moment. “He didn’t even want Melissa. Fame and glory were too important to him. Donna hasn’t really trusted anyone since . . .” Patty settled her anguished gaze on his. “Until you.”

  Guilt, anger and self-disgust all rushed in to crush him with their collective weight. He was a fool. “Thank you for telling me, Patty,” he managed. “I’ll call when I know something.” He grabbed his keys off his desk and ran out of the building and to his car. Donna had to be okay. He wouldn’t believe anything else.

  He’d let her down but somehow he would make this up to her. No matter what it took, he would never hurt Donna again.

  “Just where do you think you’re going, Bradley?”

  Hank looked up to find Masters coming around to his car door. Jacket on and purse in hand. She’d obviously just gotten out of her own car.

  “I have an emergency,” he snapped as he opened the Camaro door.

  “What kind of emergency would that be?” she purred as she leaned against his car door.

  “I don’t have time to explain.”

  “Take the time,” she instructed. “That is if you intend to keep your job.”

  His control shredded. “Go ahead, Masters, fire me. That’s what you want to do anyway. So just do it.” He wanted to shake the hell out of her. Before she could say anything else, he got into his car, backed out of the parking slot and sped away. He didn’t care what Masters said or did. He didn’t take the time to analyze the sense of relief he felt.

  He had to get to that hospital--to Donna.

  ~*~

  “Surely you can tell me something,” Hank said, frustrated.

  The heavyset woman in charge of the ER desk glowered at him from behind thick glasses. “I’ve already told you three times, Mr. Bradley, I don’t know anything to tell yet. We’re still trying to ID some of the injured at this point. My, God, man we’ve got fifty or so injured back there. Many are kids who are hysterical. Give me a break. You’ll know something as soon as we know something. Now, kindly wait in the lobby like everyone else.”

  Hank plowed his hand through his hair and expelled a disgusted breath. “Fine,” he conceded.

  He trudged back to the crowded lobby. It was standing room only. Dozens of other people waited for word on loved ones who had been a part of this unbelievable accident. Hank paced the hall that ran parallel to the lobby.

  “Hey, buddy, did you find out anything?” A short, balding man asked. He, too, had been waiting for news.

  Hank shook his head and jammed his hands into his pockets. He felt damned helpless.

  “Look,” the man eased closer “while I was outside smoking, one of the paramedics told me they had one fatality on the scene, a couple more were critical and a bunch of minor stuff. I showed him a picture of my boy and he told me not to worry about my boy, the fatality was female. Did you have a kid involved?”

  Hank felt sick. “I can’t talk right now.” He hurried down the hall and into the men’s room. He braced his hands against the wall and pressed his forehead to the cool painted surface.

  Every moment he had spent with Donna played through his mind. The first time he kissed her. The homecoming dance. Making out in the locker room. Father-daughter day with Melissa.

  I’m afraid you’ll break my heart. Never happen, Doc. Never. I wish you could be my daddy forever. The words echoed deafeningly in his head.

  Hank closed his eyes and banged his forehead against the wall. Tears pricked the back of his lids. He couldn’t lose her, he’d only just found her. He didn’t care about ESPN. He didn’t care about being in the limelight. He only wanted to hold Donna in his arms and make love to her every day for the rest of his life. And to be Melissa’s daddy . . . forever.

  It took a minute to pull it together. He shoved the door open and darted a glance in both directions. The corridor was empty. He moved silently down the hall until he found what he needed—the staff lounge. He pushed the door open and took a look. Empty. He stepped inside and let the door close behind him. One by one he checked the lockers until he found one open. He pulled out a green uniform shirt and assessed its size. Should fit. Hank pulled the shirt on over his tee and slipped back into the corridor. He walked down the hall and right past the ER desk without being stopped.

  He passed through the “authorized personnel only” doors and into the hectic ER. White-coated personnel rushed from one gurney to the next, from one exam room to the other. Gurneys lined the long corridor two rows deep. His heart thumped at the number of kids. Jesus Christ.

  The stench of blood and the wail of fear and pain tied Hank’s stomach in knots. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he scanned face after face for the one he wanted to see. He smiled and tried to reassure tho
se who needed it.

  Please, God, don’t let her be seriously injured. He hoped he hadn’t been such a self-centered son of a bitch that God wouldn’t grant him this one request.

  Fear and relief tore at him in equal measures as he moved down the hall. Relief that the last face hadn’t been Donna’s, fear of what it would mean if the next one wasn’t. He wouldn’t even consider the other alternative.

  Hank rubbed a hand over his face and surveyed the corridor again. Donna wasn’t on any of the gurneys in the hall. She had to be in one of the rooms. He refused to believe anything else. He monitored the comings and goings of the frenzied hospital personnel for a minute or two before starting back the way he had come. One by one he checked the exam rooms. By the time he got to the last one, he had seen more than he wanted to see, but not what he needed to see.

  “You’re going to be fine, Wesley. Just a mild concussion.”

  That voice. Hope detonated in his chest as Hank pushed the door to the last exam room open a bit further. Donna.

  Donna flicked a small hand-held light into each of the boy’s eyes. “We’ll send you up for a cat-scan just to be sure. But I’ll bet you’ll be on your way home by this time tomorrow.”

  “Thanks,” the teenage boy said in a rusty voice.

  Hank stood stock still watching her sure movements. He thanked God for answering his request. As if she’d heard his prayer, Donna turned abruptly.

  “Hank, what are you doing here?”

  “You’re okay?” It was all he could manage and then he pulled her into his arms.

  “Of course, I’m okay.” She drew back from him, realization dawned in her eyes. “You thought I’d been in the accident?”

  He stroked her cheek. “Someone called Patty and said your car and purse had been found at the scene.”

  “God,” she breathed. “I was right behind the accident. I didn’t have time to consider what anyone would think. They needed me and…” She shook her head. “I have to call Patty.” She started for the door, but the door flew open before she reached it.

  “You, orderly,” a nurse, who looked for all the world like a drill sergeant, shouted at Hank. “We got a puker in four.”