He turned from the door. “Art said they were good kids and their parents were good people. Beyond that I know nothing.”
“And this coach?”
“He was captain of the swim team during my sophomore year.”
“Please,” Jon said.
“Let me think about this.” She hated to tell him no, but she needed to find a way to allow the boys here and not to worry.
Caleb opened the door. “I have to go. Today was awful. I haven’t eaten a thing since a slice of pizza at noon.”
“We can feed you.” Suzanna said. “Cate sent over enough leftovers for three meals.” She started toward the kitchen. “Come on.”
Jon settled in the living room. He reached for the remote. “Can they come, please?”
“I’ll let Clint know about them and see if he can check them out. You know the rules.” They had talked about letting people into the house when she wasn’t home, but she’d never thought about teenage boys.
“Sure. No rowdy stuff. No smoking. No drinking. No going upstairs and looking into drawers. Anything else?”
“One more thing. Call me when they arrive.”
“Okay. Mr. Clint promised to bring some albums of pictures he took all over the world. My friends might like to look at pictures taken by a famous photographer.”
“Ask him.” She entered the kitchen. Caleb followed. She pulled storage containers from the fridge. “Turkey sandwich, mac and cheese, candied yams.”
“Sounds great.”
She added them to the plate and heated them in the microwave. When she turned, she saw Caleb eating the remainder of the cranberry sauce.
“You were hungry.” She prepared a mug of coffee. “Sit.”
Caleb ate a few bites of the sandwich. “Good show with Dr. Dunn this morning. Are you really going to ask him to lecture?”
“Yes, and all the other pediatricians on staff. Nurses need to learn more. Hopefully, more knowledge will give them confidence and stop the panicked calls.”
He nodded. “Good idea.” He finally finished eating and leaned back. “Did you learn anything about Regina?”
She sat across from him. “Had lunch with Liz and learned a few things. Unless her father pulls strings, she’s headed to jail because of the deaths.”
“I’m sure he’ll get her off.”
“She is pregnant. At least three months.”
Caleb clasped her hand. “Then I’m free. Bishop can’t threaten me again and if he tries I’ll go to court and force paternity testing.”
“I’m glad the news is good.” She felt an urge to kiss him. The impulse faded when Jon entered the room.
“There’s pie,” he said. “Can I have a piece?”
“Yes.”
“Me, too,” Caleb said.
Suzanna cut pieces of pumpkin pie for all and pulled whipped cream from the fridge. She settled back.
Jon opened one of the cookbooks she’d bought. “This is what I want to make for dinner tomorrow.”
Suzanna looked at the recipe. “I think I have everything. I’ll hit the basement for the ingredients.”
Caleb rose. “I’ll help you.” He followed her downstairs. When she opened the freezer, he whistled. “How are you going to eat all this food?”
“Bite by bite. I’m not responsible for the freezer of plenty. Lauren stocked this as a welcome present.” She pulled a package of chicken breasts and one of thighs into his arms. "Hold these.” To this assortment, she added a bag of potatoes, a box of chicken stock and a bag of peas and carrots. “Grab an onion.”
“With which hand?” Caleb asked.
She laughed. “I’ll get one. There’s celery upstairs and a revolving shelf of every spice a chef would want.” She kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”
“And me with my hands full. Have you no mercy?” He grinned. “Not what I expected to find in a basement.”
They returned upstairs. Jon examined what they’d brought. “Making this will be exciting.” With the recipe books on the tray of his walker, he left.
Caleb followed. He paused at the door and tugged Suzanna into his arms. The kiss was hard and fast leaving her wanting more. She groaned. Not what should be. They were just friends.
Chapter 10
As Caleb drove from Suzanna’s house, his spirits lightened. What she’d learned about Regina would make clear he couldn’t be the father. He’d spent the three months before he returned to Eastlake in London engaged in learning new treatments for childhood respiratory illness. There’d been no time or the opportunity to indulge in sex with a woman who’d never been on his radar.
Where had she been during that time? Could he learn? If so, he would have another nail to pound into the coffin of her lies. A chill rolled down his spine. The involvement of his mother presented a potential problem. How long had she been planning this marriage? She would have told Regina where he was. He prayed there’d been no communication of his whereabouts.
A thought surfaced. Until Thanksgiving, his family hadn’t known about his plans to return to Eastlake. Dr. Joe had known but he had no reason to spread the news.
Caleb pulled into his parking space in the complex’s lot. He rode the elevator to his floor. When the door opened, he held his hand against the censor. A man paced the hall in front of his apartment. He stepped out. The man turned. “Mr. Bishop, what are you doing here?”
“To tell you what you’re going to do.” His voice boomed. “You will cross the street and tell Regina you will marry her the day she’s discharged.”
Caleb opened his door. “Don’t make a scene out here.” Hopefully inside, everyone in the building wouldn’t hear the unfounded accusations.
Bishop pushed past him. “I’ll make a scene anywhere I choose. You will marry my daughter.”
Caleb’s hands fisted. He closed the door with his foot. “I told you I won’t marry her. Regina is at least three months pregnant. At the time she conceived, I was out of the country. Perhaps she was in some spa drying out.”
“Liar. She said this happened on the night you returned home.” Bishop glared. “She took her coat from the maid and followed you to her car.”
“Unbelievable and untrue. I suggest you speak to her doctor about the pregnancy. The child is not mine.”
Bishop’s fleshy face reddened. “I don’t care what you say. If I have to shove you to the altar with a gun to your back, you will marry her.” His raspy voice acted like an abrasive.
“Don’t threaten me. I have no intention of raising another man’s child. If she won’t have amniocentesis, I’ll wait until the child is born and demand a paternity test.”
Bishop raised his fist. “You’ll be sorry.”
He swung, and Caleb avoided the blow. He grabbed Bishop’s arm. “I won’t fight you. If you persist, I’ll call the police.”
The older man glared. “Your parents will hear about this. They will insist you shoulder your responsibilities. You will marry Regina.” He left and slammed the door.
The noise vibrated through Caleb. He sank on the couch. What a mess his life had become. Unless Regina told the truth or her doctor informed Bishop of the stage of her pregnancy, the threat and scenes would continue for months.
He walked to the bedroom and stripped. After a long, hot shower, he crawled into bed. Sleep became a wish he couldn’t fulfill. All that could go wrong wound in an endless coil.
He had finally drifted to sleep when the shrill ring of the house phone woke him. The hospital. The answering service. He groped on the bedside stand and answered. “Winstone here.”
“Caleb Winstone, you will honor your responsibilities.”
His mother’s sharp tone erased his need for sleep. “What are you talking about?”
“Jim Bishop called. The man is furious over your continued refusal to marry Regina. He said you have impregnated her.”
The shrill edge of her voice cut like a razor slicing into his skin. For what seemed like hours, she whipped him verbally.
&
nbsp; Finally, he snapped. “Mother listen to me. I heard from someone who knows the facts. Regina is at least three months pregnant. Without a miracle, there’s no way I fathered that child.”
“But…But…Jim…”
“I don’t care what he said. I’ve never had sex with her and I never will. Put marriage for me out of your mind.”
“You are ungrateful. You must think about the money she’d bringing with her and how this will be ours. You have no feelings for your family. I warned your father this would happen, but he insisted. You should never have been born.”
“Explain yourself,” he shouted. He felt like he’s been stabbed in the chest. Though he’d always felt she’d thought of him as her least favorite child, he’d never heard this depth of rancor. Her words hurt more than he could believe. He and Warren were just ten months apart. Had her second pregnancy sent her into postpartum depression? Was that why she resented him?
“Mother, what do you mean?”
“Forget it.”
“How can I?”
“I never should have let that slip. I’m just disappointed in you. Your father will feel the same. You’ve gone your own way all your life. Swimming. Medicine. Refusing to marry a woman who will bring a fortune and prestige to the family. You refuse to live like a Winstone male.”
Caleb clenched his teeth. If she had been here instead of in Europe, he might have let his temper free. “Is Father there?”
“He’s handling a business matter. When he learns what you’ve done, you’ll hear from him. Be sure, I will let him know,”
“Let him know this as well. While driving on Christmas Eve a drunken Regina killed three people. She’ll go to jail for vehicular manslaughter. Won’t that be a great addition to the family?”
The phone slammed in his ear. He ran his hands through his hair. His stomach churned. Hopefully by the time they returned, he could face his mother without exploding. Anger at a distance had no effect on the woman.
He glanced at the clock. Four AM. No sense trying to sleep. He stumbled to the kitchen and filled a mug with coffee. He drained the beverage and prepared a second cup. He carried the mug to his study and opened the computer.
With a wry smile, he began a search for the woman whose name had appeared in his father’s monthly log every month for years. An hour later, he learned very little other than she lived across the country, her age and a bit about her death.
Who was she? When his parents returned, he would learn. He wondered if she’d been a former nanny, a servant or a mistress. Did she know something his mother had done?
* * *
Suzanna felt edgy. Though she’d called Clint once and received a report on her brother’s visitors, she couldn’t stop worrying. She didn’t know his new friends. He said they were nice but how many friends had he had in his life? Caleb trusted what the swim coach had said. She pulled her phone from her pocket and considered calling Jon for the third time. She shoved it away. She had to trust her brother and the assessment of other people.
Her eyes strayed to the clock on the wall. The slow march of the hands increased her urge to head home. Finally, she grabbed her jacket and headed for the elevator. She slipped past the desk and prayed none of the nurses called her name. The elevator doors closed. As she headed for the outer door, the speaker crackled. Her shoulders tensed and relaxed when the call was for another unit.
Ten minutes later, she parked in the driveway and entered the house. She heard three young voices shouting and peered into the living room. They were involved in a video game.
Jon looked around and waved. “Suz, come meet the guys.”
His grin heartened her. He looked and sounded like the boy he’d never had a chance to be. She stepped inside. “Hi.”
“Suz, this is Chuck, and this is Brian.” He pointed from one boy to the other. “We’ve had a great time. They even helped me check dinner.”
“So glad to meet you.” Suzanna studied the boys. Chuck had flyaway blond hair that reminded her of feathers. Brian’s carrot colored hair had been cut short.
Chuck grinned. “The broth tasted good. Wish we could stay for dinner but my mom will be here soon.”
Brian bounced to his feet. “She wants to ask you something. You need to say yes.”
“Sounds mysterious,” Suzanna said.
“Not really.” The three burst into laughter.
The doorbell rang. Suzanna opened the door and smiled at the woman with the same blond hair as Chuck. “You must be Chuck’s mother.”
“Grace Price.”
“Your son said you wanted to ask me something. Do you have time for coffee?”
“I do.” Mrs. Price peered into the living room. “Wrap up the game, boys. Fifteen or twenty minutes and we’re off to home.”
“You gonna ask her?” Chuck stared at his mother.
“I said I would.” She followed Suzanna into the kitchen. “What a great space. Are you a gourmet cook?”
Suzanna laughed. “Don’t blame me. The house is rented. The owner is a nurse and a friend. She doesn’t cook much either.”
“You’re fortunate.”
“Your choice of coffee.” Suzanna pointed to the tower of flavors.
Grace selected one and popped it into the single cup machine. Suzanna slid a mug to receive the brew. She prepared her own and carried it to the table. “Ask away.”
“Chuck likes your brother.” She chuckled. “Says he’s a brother from another mother just like Brian. He told me about the swimming and the scars. The accident must have been horrible. Does he have nightmares?”
“So far, he doesn’t. Though he experienced multiple fractures, Jon was thrown from the car when the rear door flew open. He’d felt sick and removed the seatbelt. He’d slid to the floor and the car tilted. Out he came. The car crashed and exploded. He does have a few burns scars from molten metal.”
“I’m glad he survived.” Grace raised her mug. “How long ago did this happen?”
“Over three months ago.” Suzanna sipped her mocha. “What did you want to ask?”
“Chuck wants Jon to come to a sleepover at our house on New Year’s Eve. I know we don’t know each other but my husband is an attorney and I’m a retired nurse.”
Suzanna wasn’t sure what to say. Was her brother ready for such an adventure? “I…I’m not sure. He only left Rehab a few days ago. He still has to come to grips with his losses. His parents and younger siblings died in the crash.”
Grace nodded. “He doesn’t seem to be other than a normal child.”
Her visitor was right about his spirit. She wanted nothing to change that. “Another problem. He can’t do stairs yet and he uses a walker to get around. When he’s really tired he needs a wheelchair.”
Grace smiled. “We live in a ranch house. No steps. As I said, I’m a nurse so I can handle any problems. He’ll be fine.”
Suzanna looked up and sat three boys framed by the doorway. “Can I?” Jon asked.
The hope in his expression made her decision. “You can.” She hoped she wouldn’t regret the decision. The look of joy on his face made her think letting him go was the right thing to do.
“Thank you.” The boys whooped.
“We’re gonna have a grand time,” Brian said. “Video games.”
“A movie and watch the fireworks,” Chuck said. “Our family room has a great view of them.”
Grace leaned forward. She passed a piece of paper to Suzanna. “Our phone numbers, address and directions to the house.” She rose. “Boys, time to go.”
“Will we see you at the pool tonight?” Brian asked.
Jon shook his head. “Caleb and I go on Tuesday and Thursday and Sundays.”
“Then we’ll see you tomorrow.” Chuck paused. “I hope Coach finds a way to get you on the team before summer.”
“Me, too.”
When the boys left, Suzanna opened the slow cooker and inhaled the aroma. “Smells great. There’s enough for dinner tonight and tomorrow.”
“That was because he had a busy day.” She nodded. “Let me dish this out. There’ll be enough if we make a salad tomorrow and have dessert.”
“Good. I’ll call him.”
“After we eat.” She joined him at the table and tasted the chicken. “Kudos to the chef.”
He grinned. “It is good. Think I’m going to try chili next. Either with beans or just meat. I’m not sure.”
“I’ll be sure to buy hot dogs.”
After the meal, Jon left the kitchen. Suzanna stored the food and loaded the dishwasher. She checked the salad drawer and saw they had enough for tomorrow.
Jon appeared in the doorway. “Caleb said he would come.”
“Go read for a bit. You have two books to finish and reports to write. They’ll be sending your class schedule soon.”
While he settled, she ran upstairs and turned on her computer. Happiness made her feel lighter. Jon had friends. The boys had seemed nice as did Chuck’s mother. Had she made the right choice by agreeing to his spending New Year’s Eve with them? She would be alone. Were her friends planning something? She supposed they were.
She could join them. They always welcomed her, but she would feel left out. While she hadn’t felt that way at Christmas, that day had been for family. New Year’s Eve was for couples.
With a shrug, she pulled up her staff continuing ed program. Her thoughts turned to Caleb. Could he solve his problem with Regina like he hoped he would? When he came to dinner, she would learn more.
* * *
Caleb sat at the table in the dining area of his apartment and finished one of the frozen dinners his parents’ cook had delivered. Today had been less hectic than yesterday but he looked forward to Joe’s return.
His cell phone chirped. Before answering, he looked at the number. He wanted no calls from his mother or Jim Bishop.
Jon’s excited voice sounded. “Can you come to dinner with us tomorrow evening before swimming? I cooked.”
The Leo-Aquarius Connection Page 13
