Caleb saluted. “I’m on my way.” He handed her the extra key. “If I’m not back before you’re done, I’ll call with the time.”
As he rode the elevator, he decided to make rounds before heading to buy furniture. He strode across the street and went to Pediatrics. No problems awaited him. Now to Rehab.
As he entered Jon’s room, he saw the boy working on the laptop.
“Isn’t our lesson for tomorrow?” Jon asked. “Let me close down and I can get ready for the pool.”
Caleb held up a hand. “Just making rounds before I head to the Mall. What progress today?”
“Walked the length of the parallel bars. Took forever and I fell twice.”
“Why?”
Jon’s sheepish grin made Caleb smile. “Tried to do the last bit without holding on.”
“Did you learn a lesson?”
“Don’t be in a rush. Just before you arrived, I finished the Social Studies test. Suzanna will check what I’ve done, and we’ll send it off.”
“Does she help you?”
Jon shook his head. “Just makes sure I’ve answered all the questions I can.”
“I hear you’re going home the day before Christmas. Excited?”
“And scared about getting around. I still can’t walk without support and there’re no parallel bars at the house.”
“A way will be found. Be patient.”
“The swimming really strengthens my muscles. Some people Suz knows are coming to the house that day to help decorate the tree. I want you to come.”
Caleb felt as though a fist had restarted his heart. Could be a time and place to mend the past. “What will your sister think about my being there?”
“She won’t mind. Her friends and their families will come. I only know Cate and Dr. Rick. You’re my friend and coach. That’s why I want you there.”
“Then I’ll try to make the party.” He and Jon had their friendless lives in common. He liked the boy and during the past few weeks had begun to think of him as a younger brother. Would Suzanna accept his presence? Would she accuse him of using the boy to claim her? At first, that had been the plan but no longer. “See you tomorrow. We’ll do laps with the crawl and work on the backstroke.”
“I can’t wait.”
Caleb paused at the door and waved. He left Rehab and crossed the street to his car, At the Mall, he found a store with the furniture he liked. He spent an hour selecting all he needed to furnish the apartment.
“When can this be delivered?” he asked. “I have to have someone there to accept delivery.”
“Monday between ten am and six pm Depends on how many orders have to be delivered.”
“Someone will be there.”
His next stop was to the electronics’ store to buy a television. He found one and with help managed to have it fastened in the trunk of his car. One step down. He hoped his helpers remained to help him lug the huge screen upstairs. He arrived in time to see Pete and Cecelia unpacking what they could.
Cecelia shook her head. “You’re going to be living out of boxes for most of your clothes until the furniture arrives.”
“Monday between ten and six,” Caleb said. “Can you come?”
“No problem.” Cecelia laughed. “Will give me something to do. With no one at the house and the monthly cleaning service, I’m bored.” She waved to the alcove off the living room and kitchen. “We set up the card table and chairs. Fridge is stocked and there’s an assortment of coffee.”
“Tell Mabel thank you.”
“I will. I’ll come once a week to clean.”
“I’ll pay you for your time.” He shook his head. “Don’t argue. Let Mabel know I’ll pay her for the meals. Wouldn’t want my mother and father to accuse me of theft.”
Cecelia shook her head. “Never your father.”
Once the pair left, he set up the television. He heard pounding. When he opened the door a crack, he saw Regina. “What are you doing here?” How had she learned about the apartment?
She laughed. “Saw you at the Mall and followed you.” She dangled her car keys on one hand and held a magnum of champagne in the other. “It’s ice cold and ready to be enjoyed. I want to welcome you to your new home.”
He held his foot against the door, so she couldn’t get in. He snatched the keys from her hand. “Have you been drinking?”
“Not yet. Following you around and waiting for those people to leave kept me sober. But we have this.” She thrust the bottle against his chest. “Kiss me and uncork the champagne.”
“Not happening today or any other.” He dropped the keys in her hand and kept the champagne. “Go home.”
“You’ll be very, very sorry. Your father will stop your allowance.”
Caleb laughed. “He hasn’t given me a cent since I graduated from med school.” He shut the door.
For a time she banged on the door. Someone shouted. The banging stopped. He hoped an eviction notice wouldn’t arrive. He had no desire to move home where she had free access and a conspirator to aid and abet.
* * *
Suzanna spent Saturday morning shopping for gifts for the gang and their children. She found some small bears and decided to dress them as nurses for her friends. She also found stocking stuffers for her brother.
A moment of sadness flooded her. Tears neared the surface. Last year, she’d filled three stockings. Hastily, she wiped her eyes. What a useless waste. Silently, she cursed her mother and step-father. Why had they deliberately destroyed their family?
Twice she carried bags to the SUV. As she passed a furniture store, she thought she saw Caleb. What was he doing here? For all she knew, he lived in the family mansion.
Instead of going home, she drove to Rehab. Jon sat in the wheelchair. When she entered, he closed his laptop. “I was shopping.”
She laughed. “So was I. I bought a stand, lights and decorations for the tree.”
Excitement filled his eyes. “I can’t wait to see the house and the tree.” The light vanished. “I wish…wish…”
She placed a hand on his. “I know.” She removed her jacket and sat beside his wheelchair. “How was your therapy session?”
“Really good. The OT worked with me on putting on my shoes and socks. I stood for five minutes. In PT, I walked the length of the parallel bars. Mike said the swimming has strengthened my leg muscles.”
She studied his face and felt happy she’d been able to chase the sadness away. “We’ll have to thank Dr. Winstone.”
Jon nodded. “I bought him a Christmas present. Is that all right?”
“Of course.”
“He came this morning, just to make rounds. I thought that was odd.”
“Not at all. It’s what doctors do.”
“Tomorrow we’ll work on the backstroke. Will you come?”
Suzanna drew a deep breath. She wanted to be part of her brother’s success but seeing Caleb’s near nude muscular body made her want something she shouldn’t. She wished she had ignored him all those months ago and continued to refuse his invitations. She’d succumbed, and she’d fallen hard. Being around Caleb at the hospital brought no problems, except a yearning she could bury beneath her professional persona.
“Will you?” Jon asked,
“I’m not sure.” She sank onto one of the chairs. “How have you done with the tests?”
He rolled his eyes. “Math done. Social studies done. English, working on. They sent me a list of books I have to read and write book reports on. I haven’t started on Science.”
“Give me the book list. I may have some of them. If not, it’s a trip to the library.” He handed her a scribbled list of books.
They settled back to watch a bit of television. When the program ended, she rose. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Do you need anything?”
“No but could you make apple turnovers?”
“I can.” She waved and walked to the door.
At the house, she made three trips to unload the car. She chuckled. Now
she had to wrap them but not today. She went to the kitchen and made the apple turnovers for Jon and a chef’s salad for herself.
The next morning, Suzanna debated going to see Jon’s swimming lesson. He wanted to show off and he deserved her praise. She hated to let him down but watching Caleb work with her brother would set her up for another shattered heart. She entered the kitchen, glanced through the window of the kitchen door and stared at the yard. The brown grass was covered with snow.
After breakfast, she pulled on her jacket. In the garage, she found a broom and a shovel to begin cleaning the walk. Across the street, she saw Rick and Maddie working on their driveway. Cate joined them.
The snow handed Suzanna a reason to delay a pending decision. She swept the porch and steps. On the walk, she pushed the snow toward the street. The day would warm and melt the snow. Cleaning the walk would prevent the formation of black ice.
She’d just finished the sidewalk when Cate and Maddie arrived. “Hi, neighbor,” Cate said. ‘We’ll give you a hand.”
“There’s no need,” Suzanna said.
“The sooner we start, the sooner you can head to Rehab,” Cate said. “Rick’s going. You should be there.”
Maddie pouted. “I wanted to go but Dad said I could meet Jon another time.”
Cate grabbed Suzanna’s shovel. Maddie took the broom. “Go.”
Suzanna shook her head. “Running my life?”
“Trying.” Cate winked. “I’ll admit I would enjoy seeing Caleb Winstone in swimming trunks.”
Suzanna laughed. “He is a sight but…” Look but don’t touch. One touch and she would glow like a flaming torch.
“Your brother needs your support.”
“You win.” Had she given up so easily for another look at Caleb’s great body? She went inside for her keys. Moments later, she opened the garage door and backed out. The crunch of snow beneath the car’s wheels brought a thought. Would there be snow for Christmas?
At Rehab, she left her jacket in Jon’s room. Then she rode the elevator to the pool floor. The smell of chlorine and the moist warmth of the air greeted her. Rick stood near the edge of the pool. She moved to his side. “Did I miss anything?”
“Just the warm-up exercises. I asked to see them, so I could assess his progress. I’m pleased.”
She looked up and swallowed a wave of desire. Caleb crouched at the edge of the pool. His broad back and tight rear tempted. Thoughts of feeling his muscles flex and loosen beneath her touch caused her breasts to tighten. Why did he have to be so perfect, so desirable, and so wrong? Her hands tightened into fists. She knew his nature. He’d hurt her once. Never again.
He rose. “Go,” he shouted and looked at something in his hand.
With a flurry of arms and legs, Jon shot toward the other side of the pool. Suzanna tore her gaze from Caleb’s tempting body and focused on her brother. He reached the end, turned and swam back repeating the cycle. This time he halted.
“How’d I do?”
“Record time,” Caleb said. “When you catch your breath, do the backstroke. If you flounder, I can arrive in seconds.”
Rick stopped at the edge of the pool. ‘I’m impressed.” He nodded to Suzanna. “See you later. Cate will let you know when.”
Before she could ask what, he meant, he vanished into the stairwell. She looked up and saw Caleb walking toward her. Her breath caught. She stared at his pecs and his taut abdomen. She swallowed.
“Jon’s a natural,” he said.
She tore her eyes from the line of hair on his chest and focused on her brother. His strokes had become erratic. “Do something. He’s going to drown.”
Caleb turned toward the pool. “Jon, relax. This isn’t a race.” He touched Suzanna’s hand. “He’s fine. Just trying to find the rhythm.”
“But.” Then she noticed her brother’s strokes had become smoother. She relaxed and looked at Caleb. His blue eyes captured her. Her throat felt dry and her knees trembled. She couldn’t allow him to rob her of her ability to remain cool. “Why the other strokes?”
“For several reasons. To strengthen his muscles in different ways. I also think he’s going to excel at swimming.”
“What good will that do? He’s got to concentrate on academics. He’s so far behind.”
“There’s no reason he can’t do both. Being on a team can push him to have good grades. Swimming might even earn him a college scholarship and relieve you of that expense.”
“He won’t need a scholarship. I’m investing most of the money he receives from Social Security. Lauren’s investment broker is handling the money.”
“That’s great but scholarships can help.”
Jon reached the end of the pool and pulled himself onto the edge. Caleb handed him a towel and helped him into the transport chair.
Suzanna admired the play of Caleb’s muscles. Her body surged into an eagerness she must suppress. She reached for the wheelchair grips and pushed her brother toward the elevator.
“See you upstairs,” Caleb said.
The doors closed before she could ask why. His nearness rattled her. Avoidance outside the Pediatric Unit was a must. There they could maintain their professional personas. As she and Jon exited the elevator, she signaled the orderly and stood outside the room while her brother dressed.
When the orderly left, she entered. “How go the tests?”
“All done but the book reports. They’re sending a schedule for the classes and lessons to begin the first of the year.”
She studied the pages and gave him a high five. “Great. All you have to do is two semesters by the end of July and you can start at the high school in September.”
The door opened. Caleb entered. His dark blue sweatshirt enhanced his eyes. She gulped a breath.
“I would like you to come to lunch with me,” he said.
She shook her head. She couldn’t accept his invitation. “Why? I can’t think of a reason.”
“We need to talk about a swimming schedule at the Community Center when Jon goes home.”
Though she knew facing temptation in his presence would test her, what he said made sense. “I can meet you somewhere.”
“Frank’s Place.”
She nodded. “As soon as I finish here, I’ll meet you there, say in forty-five minutes.”
He turned away. “Sounds good. I need to make notes on Jon’s chart about his progress.”
When the door closed behind him, she wondered if she’d made the right decision. At least the restaurant was neutral ground. She looked up and saw Jon’s grin.
“I’m happy you’re going with him. He’s lonely. Why else would he spend time working with me?”
Suzanna thought she knew Caleb’s reason. She wasn’t about to open that subject with her brother. “Lunch is a business meeting. He works with you because he thinks you can be good enough to be on the high school team.”
“Maybe, but we were talking in the dining room and some old lady thinks he’s really nice for you.”
‘Enough nonsense.” She brushed hair from his forehead. “You need a haircut.”
“There’s someone who comes in a couple of times a week. You have to leave money.”
“I’ll do that. Oh, I brought two of those books they want you to read.”
He made a face. “I promise I’ll read them.”
* * *
After completing his progress note on Jon, Caleb left Rehab. He laughed. Though with reluctance, Suzanna had agreed to have lunch with him. Now to find a way not to remind her of their past. That was goal one. Goal two was to show her how much he’d changed. He’d hoped working with Jon would work. Patience. He vowed to wait patiently for an opening.
His hands clenched. Her wariness couldn’t be easily overcome but he must persist in trying.
He dashed across the street to his apartment and into the bedroom to change out of his sweats into jeans and a sweater. He looked at the California King-sized bed. A flash of a nude Suzanna holding her hands in
invitation filled his thoughts. Hadn’t happened but he prayed for the image to become real.
She so belonged here. The green bedspread would show her dark hair perfectly. The shade matched her brilliant eyes. As always happened, his cock reacted eagerly. He shook his head to dislodge the forming fantasy.
The futility of the fulfillment of his wishes sank his hope. He’d ruined what could have been. At the time he’d made his offer, he’d known the move had been wrong. Curses on the family tradition.
What about Warren? Did his brother keep a young woman in a love nest? Somehow, he sensed there was more between Warren and Nancy than a cold marriage for money. If he asked, would his brother admit he loved his wife?
Caleb pulled on his clothes. On the way to the door, he grabbed his fleece-lined leather jacket. He rode the elevator to the ground floor and stepped outside. Huge flakes of snow floated in the air.
As he drove to the restaurant, he reminded himself to remain cool. He decided to act somewhere between colleague and friend. He couldn’t drive her away again. He wanted Suzanna. Perhaps he even needed her.
He arrived first at Frank’s Place. He studied the few empty tables and chose the rear one. Plants in hangers hung in the many windows. Today, they were red and white poinsettias. He ran a hand over the buttery leather seat and touched the cool marble tabletop. A small artificial Christmas tree stood at the end of the counter. As he stared at the falling snow, a fantasy unfolded.
Suzanna dashed into the restaurant. Snow flakes dotted her dark hair. She hurried to him and didn’t protest when he kissed her.
The bell above the door jingled. The imagined vision vanished leaving him with a throbbing erection. Suzanna walked to the booth. She slid her jacket onto the seat of the curved bench creating a barrier. So much for fantasies.
The waitress took their orders. Suzanna didn’t open the menu. “I’ll have a bacon blue burger and onion rings.”
He doubled the order. They had food in common, especially since he knew she liked chili dogs, cheesy fries and seafood. There was also a common ground in their career choice and for their interest in Jon’s recovery. He tapped his fingers on the table. And he desired her and believed she was attracted to him.
The Leo-Aquarius Connection Page 7
