Kitabı oxu: «Cinderella Story Part 2»

Chapter Five

Nina Lindstrom sat beside her son’s hospital bed, holding his hand while he slept. Just checking in had been traumatic for the six-year-old.

Standing on the other side of the bed, Alex Bennett looked down at the boy’s pale face. “I wish there had been some way I could have eased his fear when they took the sample of his blood.”

Nina had noticed Alex’s discomfort but had thought he simply didn’t like needles. Now she realized that he was honestly concerned about Tommy.

“No matter how much we want to, we can’t protect children from all of life’s pains,” she said, repeating what she told herself every time one of her kids suffered from a cut or bruise or an unkind comment from a playmate.

Alex shrugged. “Maybe it’s just as well. It’s the struggles that make us strong.”

“And discover who we are,” she added, more to herself than to him.

Alex studied her with interest. “You sound as if you only recently made that discovery.”

Nina leaned back in her chair and met his gaze. “I didn’t realize it until after Tom’s death. Before that, I was like a shadow of a person. Growing up, I was my father’s little girl. Both my mother and I allowed him to make our decisions for us…we made little ones, but he always made the important ones. After he died, I turned to Tom and let him take care of me.” She frowned introspectively. “I’m not being critical of my father or Tom. The truth is, I liked being taken care of. But it kept me from maturing. Then suddenly, overnight, I had to become an adult, responsible for three other lives.”

“I’d say you’ve done a very good job.”

Her gaze returned to Tommy and her chin trembled. “Sometimes I get really scared that I will fail them.”

“As long as you do your best, you can’t fault yourself.”

“That’s easier said than done.” The tears she’d been holding back welled in her eyes. “I see him lying here like this and wonder if I couldn’t have gotten him help sooner. I took him to the doctor, but maybe I should have insisted he run more tests.”

Alex disliked seeing her suffer. “From what I gather, both you and the doctor acted prudently.”

“I know.” Nina sighed shakily. “But self-doubt can be an insidious thing. I wish I could be more rocklike. Tommy needs me to be strong.”

A surge of protectiveness washed through Alex. “Sometimes even a rock needs a friend to lean on.”

Nina’s gaze rested on his broad shoulders. “Is that an offer?”

“Yes.”

She was tempted. But she reminded herself that as soon as their arrangement was completed, he would be gone like a sand castle at high tide. She was just pretending to be his fiancée for his dying grandfather. It wasn’t real. But it was real that in exchange for the deception, Alex was paying for Tommy’s hospital costs. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

He scowled with impatience at her stubborn independence. “I’m only offering friendship. I’m not trying to take your late husband’s place.”

She scowled back with equal impatience. “I didn’t think you were. But friends are people who, even if you don’t see them for years, are always at the back of your mind. They’re people you think about and wonder how they’re doing. You can pick up the phone and call them just to chat and they’re happy to hear your voice. That doesn’t describe our arrangement. You hired me to do a job. When it’s done we’ll go our separate ways. I doubt you’ll be popping in for dinner or be pleased to have an evening interrupted by a call from me. So I figure it wouldn’t be smart for me to begin to think of you as a friend.”

“You have a point,” he conceded.

Nina again leaned back and closed her eyes.

Alex frowned at the exhaustion etched into her features. “This is a private room. I had them wheel in a spare bed so that you could rest comfortably. Why don’t you lie down for a while. I’ll keep an eye on Tommy.”

Surprised that he intended to remain, she opened her eyes and looked up at him. “I don’t expect you to baby-sit me and my son.”

Alex hadn’t intended to do that, either. He’d planned to get them settled, then go back to his grandfather’s home and make a few business calls. Instead, he was reluctant to leave them on their own. “My grandfather would expect me to remain with you and Tommy.”

The whirlwind of packing for this trip, in addition to nights of restless sleep, were taking their toll. The bed, like an oasis in the desert, was beckoning to Nina. But as her gaze returned to her son, she shoved the temptation from her mind. “Tommy is my responsibility.” Easing her chair even closer to his bed, she took his hand in hers, then again sat back and closed her eyes.

“I’ve never encountered a more stubborn human being either male or female,” Alex muttered. Nina Lindstrom was as opposite from his own mother as any woman could get. The hint of a cynical smile played at one corner of his mouth. But she could still be bought.

Going into the hall so as not to wake Tommy, he placed a business call he’d put off until now. When he hung up a few minutes later, he returned to the room and found Nina sleeping also. Rounding the bed, he began to ease her out of the chair.

“No,” she protested groggily.

“You’re going to lie down. You’re not going to be any good to Tommy if you’re exhausted and have a stiff neck to boot.”

Nina was too tired to fight him. When he raised her to her feet, she leaned heavily against him like a limp rag doll, her mind in the world between wakefulness and sleep, unable to guide her movements with rational thought. As Alex lifted her into his arms, she snuggled her face into his neck. “You smell good,” she murmured, inhaling the light scent of his after-shave.

Her soft breath and the feel of her body against his were arousing Alex. This is not the right place, time or woman, he admonished himself. Quickly, he lay her on the bed.

Nina, now more asleep than awake, felt suddenly deserted. In this dreamlike state, her mind returned to Tom’s grave site. “You weren’t supposed to leave me.” Tears began to run down her cheeks. “I shouldn’t have to be facing this alone.”

Alex gently brushed a tear from her cheek. “You’re not alone,” he said gruffly.

“Tom?” Nina’s hand captured his and pulled it to her lips. Opening her eyes, she looked up, hoping against hope that Tom was standing there and the past three years had been nothing more than a horrible nightmare.

A sharp jab of displeasure pierced Alex. Male ego, he told himself. No man liked being mistaken for another man. “No, it’s Alex Bennett.”

Meeting his cool green gaze, she abruptly released him. “I’m sorry. I was dreaming.”

“It’s all right.” He stepped back, the arousal she’d wakened in him completely gone. The woman was devoted to a ghost. He pitied any man who got emotionally involved with her. No living male could compete against an idolized memory. “Now, get some sleep. As I said before, you won’t do Tommy any good if you’re so exhausted you can’t stay awake when he really needs you.”

A flush reddened her cheeks. “I sounded like a whiny wimp. It won’t happen again.”

“You sounded like a woman who has worried herself into a state of exhaustion,” he replied. “Now, sleep.”

This time she didn’t argue.

Returning to his chair, Alex sat staring at Nina and her son for a long moment, then, reaching for the phone, he placed two short calls.

* * *

Nina awoke to the sound of her son’s voice.

“Wow,” he was saying with an enthusiasm she hadn’t heard in a long time.

As she shifted into a sitting position and faced him with her legs over the side of the bed, she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. When she could focus, she saw her son, his bed in a partial upright position, surrounded by toy versions of his favorite cartoon characters.

Alex Bennett was leaning on one of the metal guard rails on the side of Tommy’s bed, grinning down at him. A pretty blond nurse stood beside him, smiling also. Nina looked out the window and saw it had grown dark outside. She glanced at the clock and realized she’d slept several hours.

A thick strand of hair that had escaped from her French braid fell forward and tickled her cheek. Tucking it behind her ear, she slipped off the bed and joined the others at Tommy’s bedside. She bit back an admonition that Alex shouldn’t have been so extravagant. She’d speak to him later. Right now, she couldn’t make herself do anything that would take the delight out of her son’s eyes.

“This is Bernadette,” Alex said, introducing the young woman in white. “I’ve hired a private nursing service so that Tommy will have around-the-clock care. Bernadette will be on the night shift tonight.”

“You have a charming son.” Bernadette winked at Tommy, and Nina saw him flush with pleasure. Clearly, he’d made a new friend.

Alex started around the bed. “And now you and I are going to get some dinner and leave Tommy to teach Bernadette all about these super heroes.”

“I don’t think I should leave,” she said, ignoring the gnawing hunger in her stomach.

Alex had reached her. “You have to keep up your energy.”

“Run along, Mrs. Lindstrom. I assure you I won’t leave Tommy’s side,” Bernadette encouraged. She grinned at the boy. “We’re buddies. Right, Tommy?”

“I’ll be okay, Mom,” Tommy assured her, then quickly began explaining to Bernadette about the figure he was holding.

Nina’s gaze shifted to the telephone. “I should call Helen and find out how Elizabeth and Pete are doing.”

With the expression of a man who knew he’d be fighting a losing battle if he refused, Alex picked up the phone and dialed his grandfather’s number.

Hanging up a few minutes later, Nina regarded him with a frown. She definitely needed to have a talk in private with Mr. Alex Bennett. Leaning over the rail of Tommy’s bed, she kissed her son lightly. “I’ll be back very soon,” she promised.

He nodded, then continued to relate the history of the figure he was holding to Bernadette.

Realizing he was happy to have a fresh audience, Nina kissed his cheek once more and then preceded Alex out of the room.

“You’re angry with me,” he said as they headed down the hall.

“You’re spoiling my children. Helen said Matilda got a call from you. The next thing she knew, she and the children were being driven in the limousine to a huge toy store and the children were given orders to choose some toys for themselves and some for Tommy. She said she tried to keep their purchases to a minimum, but John said his orders were that they choose several items each and he insisted that they do just that.”

“I’m simply playing my part.” Silently, Alex confessed that he’d enjoyed hearing how much fun the children had had at the toy store. He’d felt a little like Santa Claus. Aloud, he continued in coolly impersonal tones, “My grandfather would expect me to spoil them as a way of making you and them happy. Besides, Tommy has a long day of tests ahead of him tomorrow. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to take his mind off of them for a while. And Pete and Elizabeth needed a few things to keep them occupied. There aren’t any children’s toys in my grandfather’s house.”

“They brought a few things with them,” Nina reminded him curtly.

“It won’t harm them to have a few things more. Busy hands don’t get into things they should stay out of.”

Nina regarded him dryly. “You don’t know much about children do you? Bribery only lasts a short time, and even the most well-behaved children have a curiosity that will get them into trouble at one time or another. At least, that has been my experience.”

“I’m sure Matilda and Helen can deal with any problems that arise. In the meanwhile, my conscience is clear. I’ve done what I could to help.”

Nina shook her head and continued to the cafeteria in silence. Nerves had caused her to eat very little today, and the smell of food reminded her stomach of how long it had been since it had received anything substantial. Hunger taking control, she concentrated on fulfilling this need.

But halfway through her entrée, she found herself covertly studying Alex Bennett. Why did his grandfather feel the need to resort to trickery to get his grandson down the aisle? She told herself that his life was none of her business. Still, her curiosity was too strong to control. “In a way, I can understand your grandfather’s concern about you getting married and producing children. If you don’t, what good is your wealth? You’ll be comfortable during your lifetime, but why worry about increasing it? You won’t have anyone you care about to leave it to.”

Alex paused with a bite of dessert halfway to his mouth. “Oh, I fully intend to have heirs.”

The thought that he looked like a very healthy specimen for mating crossed her mind. In the next instant, she was visualizing him in the nude and a heat kindled within her. Quickly she lowered her gaze to her plate. Having lascivious thoughts wasn’t like her. She recalled that he’d had a similar effect on her before. After Tom had died, she’d thought that she’d never be attracted to another man. Obviously her hormones were becoming active again. Bad timing. Wrong man, she chided herself. “Your grandfather will be relieved.”

“Maybe.”

Nina looked at him questioningly.

“He probably won’t approve of my method. In spite of both his and my father’s failures at marriage, he still believes in the old-fashioned family concept.”

“And you don’t?”

“It revolves around love, and that is a very iffy emotion where a man and a woman are concerned. A couple meets. If the chemistry is right, primal urges are aroused. They call it romantic love, but it’s nothing more than a primitive hormonal attraction. After a while, the passion dies down. If the couple is actually well suited to each other and they meet each other’s needs, they may have learned to care for each other enough to overlook their mate’s faults. In which case you have a successful marriage. Or they might stay together because of financial reasons, religious reasons or their children. In which case you have two unhappy people caught in a trap of their own making. Marriage is a shot in the dark, a crapshoot, a wager on a long shot. I’m not willing to take that chance.”

“That’s a very dour outlook on love and marriage.”

“But realistic.”

She shrugged, uncertain of what to say. As cynical as his description of marriage was, there was a lot of truth in it. “So if you don’t believe in love and marriage, how do you plan to get your heirs?”

“I’ll hire a wife for a period of time. She’ll produce my heirs, then leave me to raise them. I’ll see that she’s well-compensated for her time.”

He planned to purchase his children! Nina tried to hide her shock. “An interesting solution,” she said levelly.

He raised an eyebrow. “You don’t approve.”

“In spite of the risks, I still think children need two loving parents.”

“Your children seem to be doing quite well with only you,” he countered.

“It’s not easy to be both a mother and father to them.” She frowned at him. “Besides, what makes you think you can find a woman who’ll be willing to bear a child and then walk away?”

He gave her a dry look. “And what makes you think that would be so hard? Not all mothers are as nurturing as you. There’s that preemie back in the hospital at Grand Springs, if you need an example of the other side of the coin.”

“Maybe the mother realized she couldn’t take care of him or was scared by the prospect of being a single mother,” she argued. “It might have been difficult for her to leave her child. You can’t know for certain.”

He shook his head at her naiveté. “Do you always give people the benefit of the doubt?”

“I try.”

“You’re an innocent.”

“And you’re a cynic.”

He shrugged. “So I’ve been told.”

That he thought he could buy whatever he wanted caused a bitter taste in her mouth. Making it worse, she was forced to acknowledge that she was added proof that he could. Her reasons had been selfless. She’d done it for Tommy’s sake. Still, she’d allowed him to buy her cooperation. “I should be getting back to Tommy,” she said stiffly.

The disapproval he read in her eyes irritated him. “I’m not an ogre. I don’t use or coerce people against their will. I hire them for a job, and I give them a fair price for their time.”

“I know,” she conceded. “I’m angry with myself for proving that you’re right…that people can be bought.” Without giving him a chance to respond, she rose, picked up her tray and headed to the door.

* * *

By midafternoon the next day, Nina was totally drained. She hadn’t left the hospital since Tommy’s arrival there. During the night, she’d slept restlessly, woken several times by unfamiliar noises. Today she’d used all of her energy to reassure Tommy as he was being put through a battery of tests.

Now he was sleeping. The day nurse, Claudia, like Bernadette, was young. In her early twenties, Nina guessed. She had brown hair and eyes and a lively personality. She’d even managed to get Tommy to laugh a couple of times.

Nina heard the door open and saw the feminine appreciation on Claudia’s face. Without even looking, she knew that Alex had arrived. He’d called several times during the morning to check on her and Tommy, but she hadn’t expected him to actually stop by the hospital.

“I’ve come to take Mrs. Lindstrom home,” he informed Claudia.

Nina remained firmly seated. “I can’t leave. If Tommy wakes up, he’ll expect me to be here.”

Alex had approached her chair. Now he leaned forward, his hands on the arms. “Claudia will reassure him. That’s her job. You need to take some time for yourself. Freshen up. Shower. Change clothes.”

“I suppose I should before I begin to smell rank,” Nina admitted reluctantly.

“And you need to say hello to your other children so they won’t think they’ve been forgotten,” he added.

The nagging worry about Elizabeth and Pete that had persisted at the back of her mind all morning came to the forefront. Helen had sworn that all was going well; still, Nina wanted to see for herself. “You’re right.” She turned to Claudia. “If he wakes and wants me, you will call the house immediately?”

“Immediately,” the nurse promised. “Now, you run along and don’t worry.”

Nina nodded and left the room with Alex.

“I spoke to the doctor,” he said as they continued down the hall. “He’s made a preliminary examination of the tests. This afternoon, he’ll take another, closer look. For now, he’s scheduled the surgery for seven tomorrow morning.”

Nina’s legs threatened to weaken. “How long will it last?”

“Eight to sixteen hours, maybe more if there are complications.” Alex saw her pale and slipped his arm around her waist. “He needs to proceed slowly so that he doesn’t do any damage.”

All she could do was nod her understanding.

During the ride back to his grandfather’s estate, Alex asked her about the tests that had been conducted on Tommy. From a couple of comments he let slip, she was fairly certain he’d already covered all this material with the doctor and that he was merely making conversation to keep her from dwelling on what tomorrow would bring. But she didn’t care about his motives. Talking helped, and by the time they reached the mansion, she felt in control once again.

Elizabeth and Pete came running to greet her as she entered. Kneeling on the floor, she hugged them tightly.

“Alex says that Tommy can’t come home for a while, but that he’s going to be just fine,” Elizabeth said as her mother released her. Her intonation made this a question.

“He does have to stay at the hospital for a while, but he is going to be just fine,” she replied, determined to only think positive thoughts.

“You look exhausted,” Helen commented worriedly as Nina straightened and rose. Giving her daughter-in-law a hug, she asked in hushed tones, “How is Tommy, really?”

“He’s doing well,” Nina assured her. “Alex has hired private nurses to watch him around the clock. He couldn’t have better care.”

Helen smiled gratefully at Alex. “Thank you.”

Recalling the conversation in the hospital cafeteria the day before, Nina was tempted to remind her mother-on-law that he was merely living up to his part of the bargain, but now wasn’t the time or place.

“Come see.” Pete grabbed her hand and began pulling her down the hall.

“He’s learning to build an oil rig,” Elizabeth explained, falling into step beside her mother. “He and Alex spent the entire morning constructing it.”

Surprised, Nina glanced over her shoulder. “I thought you’d gone into your office.”

“As long as I have access to a computer and a telephone, I can run my business from wherever I choose. Right now, your family comes first.”

He sounded so genuine, she would have believed he really meant that if she hadn’t known he was only saying that for the servants’ ears.

“Look!” Pete demanded as they entered a room with a huge wide-screen television at one end and a pool table at the other. Down at the end where the television was housed, in front of the couch and chair grouping, were a variety of toys. To one side was an authentic looking oil rig, nearly as tall as Pete.

“My grandfather had miniature replicas created of all the equipment he used in the field for drilling and pumping oil so that he could teach me how to build them. He believes in a person knowing their business from top to bottom,” Alex explained. “This is a drilling rig. We’re going to work on one of the pumps next.”

Pete beamed as he pointed to the replica. “Drill oil.”

“Looks like my grandson is already teaching your son how to be an oil man,” an elderly male voice said from behind them.

Nina turned to discover William Bennett. He was in his pajamas and robe and leaning heavily on a cane.

“Grandfather. I thought you weren’t supposed to be out of bed,” Alex admonished, continuing to play the part of the grandson concerned his grandfather would die at any moment.

“Matilda told me about the young’un building on the rig and I had to see for myself. Nothing like having a bit of youthful blood in the house to give the place life. Must’ve rubbed off on me. I’m feeling a lot better.”

“So it appears,” Alex noted, fighting to keep a dry edge out of his voice.

“‘Course, I ain’t saying I’m ready to be doin’ cartwheels,” William added hurriedly. He made his way to a chair and sat down. “But I ain’t in no mood to lie up there waitin’ for Death to come knocking on my door.”

Fear spread over both Elizabeth and Pete’s faces, and Nina realized they’d taken the elderly man’s words literally.

“Death is coming here?” Elizabeth asked in horror.

“No. No, he’s not,” Nina said firmly.

She’d expected the children to accept her word. Instead, both Elizabeth and Pete looked to Alex for confirmation. How much they’d learned to trust the man shook her, and she hoped they weren’t getting too attached to him.

“No, he’s not,” Alex assured them. “You’re safe here.”

Both children visibly relaxed but kept their distance from the old man, as if not totally sure he wasn’t a friend of Death’s and hadn’t invited the specter for a visit.

“Can you show me how the rig works?” William asked Pete, clearly trying to take the children’s minds off of the fright he’d given them.

Making a wide circle to avoid getting too near William, the four-year-old went to the structure and sat down in front of it. He looked up at Alex and, after getting a nod of approval, began to turn one of the gears.

William laughed. “Right smart little fellow.”

Pride spread over Pete’s face and he grinned happily.

Nina saw Elizabeth look at Alex, the hurt expression of one who felt left out on her face. She was about to place a comforting arm around the girl’s shoulders when Alex turned to the child.

“I believe I heard Charles instructing you on the proper etiquette for serving tea earlier today,” he said.

A smile spread over Elizabeth’s face. “Yes. He told me that he thought every young lady should know how to serve a proper tea.”

Alex gave her a comradely wink, then turned to Matilda who had just entered the room. “Would you see that a tea tray is prepared? While Nina freshens up, Elizabeth will practice what Charles has taught her and preside over an afternoon tea.”

“Really? Could I really?” Elizabeth asked.

“I’ll see what pastries Rosemary has in the kitchen and have her start some water brewing,” Matilda said, already on her way to the door.

Elizabeth looked excitedly at Nina. “Will you hurry so you can join us?”

“Yes, of course,” Nina replied.

As she left the room, Helen accompanied her, asking questions about Tommy. Once satisfied that her grandson was getting the best of care, Helen said, “Alex Bennett really surprised me today. He played with Pete for quite a while this morning and actually seemed to be enjoying himself. And just now when he saw Elizabeth looking left out, he made her feel important. He’s good father material. Who would have thought?”

“Yes, who would have thought?” Nina muttered, not convinced that Alex’s behavior wasn’t all an act.

“I’d better get back,” Helen said. “Alex seems to be able to control the children well, but I like to keep an eye on them, as well.”

Continuing into her bedroom, Nina frowned. Tom used to play with the kids just like Alex was doing now. But Alex Bennett wasn’t anything like her Tom. Alex Bennett was a cynic. “And he’s only putting on a good show for his grandfather,” she told herself as she shed her clothes and climbed into the shower.