Yancy slapped him on the back. “I’m goin’ in to scrub up. This isn’t my specialty, but I’ll keep an eye on things.”
“Thank you.” Elisa could barely speak through her tight throat.
The good doctor disappeared, and Elisa felt her legs give way.
“Oh no you don’t.” Tucker grabbed her and forced her onto a hard vinyl chair, pushing her head between her knees. “Breathe, baby, breathe deep and slow. That’s my girl. Come on.”
“Oh, Tucker, what if Daisy—” She sobbed. “What if she—”
When she began crying inconsolably, he put an arm beneath her knees and around her shoulders, picking her up. With her clinging to him, her face turned into his chest, he made his way to the surgical ward waiting room. Settling on one of the miserably uncomfortable loveseats, he cradled her.
Neither spoke, and every sweep of the clock’s hand felt like an hour.
“I’m sorry, Lissie.” He buried his face in her hair. “I’m so damned sorry.”
“Why hasn’t anyone come out?” Even to herself, her voice sounded rough and ragged.
“Because they’re busy fixing her. That no one’s had to speak to us is a good sign, a sign that everything’s proceeding the way it should.” He thumbed the tears from her cheeks.
Dark circles rimmed her tear-reddened eyes, and yet, even now, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
The door opened and Desdemona flew into the room like a force of nature. One look at Elisa and Tuck and she started to cry. “Oh damn!” She dabbed at her eyes. “I came to help, and look at me. Blubbering like a baby.”
Elisa hugged her friend. “Yancy’s with her.”
“He’ll take good care of her.”
“How did you know?”
“Any time one of the ambulances goes out, he’s notified. We didn’t get the message right away or we’d have been here sooner.”
When Elisa slipped into the restroom, Desdemona swung around to Tucker. “How’s Daisy really doing?”
“I don’t know. God, she looked so tiny, so scared.” Tears spilled over and ran down his cheeks. “Sorry. I—”
“You’re staying strong for Elisa, and it’s taking a hell of a toll. Come here.” She held him, patting his back, and rocking back and forth.
When the door opened, she handed him a handkerchief and he turned his back for a moment.
“Have you heard anything?” Elisa asked, looking from Desdemona to Tucker.
“Not yet,” Tucker said, his voice husky.
* * *
Elisa’s phone rang and she jumped. Forgetting it was on speaker, she answered it. “Hello?”
“Annabelle from the inn, here. I’ve got a scanner and heard you had some trouble. You got anybody there with you?”
“Tucker’s here.”
“Now, there’s a good man. All those Wylder boys are.”
Tears flowing, she nodded wordlessly. “Desdemona and Doc Hawkins are here, too.”
Tucker took her phone and, turning off the speaker, spoke quietly to Annabelle.
“’Bout time for Gaven to come draggin’ a baby home, isn’t it?” the innkeeper asked.
“Gaven?”
“For all your yammering and belly-achin’ about it, you Wylder boys seem to be baby magnets. First Brant with that darling little Jax, now you with Daisy. Seems to me it’s Gaven’s turn.”
He had no answer for her.
“Take care of that baby and her mama,” she said.
“I’ll get back to you when we know more. Thanks for calling, Annabelle.”
The door flew open again, and Tansy’s aunt Coralee hurried in, wearing another of her I-love-Lucy dresses with a pair of yellow cowboy boots. Her red hair curled wildly around her head as though she hadn’t taken time to comb it.
Elisa stared at her. “What are you doing here?”
“I got a call from Tansy, who got a call from Annabelle.” Coralee sat down beside Elisa and reached for her hand. “I made a few calls of my own on the way here. The only thing you need to be concerned about, honey, is your child. The finances are taken care of. Consider the hospital and doctor bills paid in full. All that’s off your plate.”
Elisa’s eyes went round. “What?”
“This right here is the reason I painted that mural on the side of my house.”
“Your charity?”
Coralee nodded. “The one I help support. They take care of children like Daisy.”
Elisa couldn’t stop the tears. A seemingly endless supply of them spilled down her cheeks. “How can I ever thank you?”
“By bringing that baby of yours to visit me once in a while. I’ve got a yard that’s crying out for kids to play in it. Gracie Bella loves it, and I’m sure she’d enjoy some company.” A tear streaked down Coralee’s weathered cheek and splattered on her hand. She didn’t bother to wipe it away.
“I’m overwhelmed. For so long, it’s been just Daisy and me. No help and no support. Now you all are here for us.” Her lower lip trembled again.
Tucker put an arm around her.
“That you all came here tonight…” Elisa continued.
Desdemona scooted her chair closer. “Why do you think I keep coming home to Misty Bottoms? There’s no better place in the world.”
Blinking back more of the unrelenting tears, Elisa dropped her eyes. Her mouth fell open. “Desdemona?”
“Yes, sweetie?”
“Is that what I think it is?” She caught Desdemona’s hand to look at it more closely. “Did you and Yancy—”
“We did. That’s why we didn’t get your call right away. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry! I’m so happy for you!” Elisa threw her arms around her friend.
“What’s goin’ on? What am I missin’?” Coralee stared at them, then looked toward Tucker, who shrugged.
“Show her.” Elisa nudged Desdemona.
“This isn’t the time—” she protested.
“Sure it is. Good news is exactly what we need,” Elisa insisted.
Desdemona held up her left hand and wiggled her ring finger. A shiny new gold band, embellished with a row of diamonds, encircled it.
“You and Yancy?” Coralee asked.
Desdemona nodded.
“’Bout damned time,” Coralee said.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Desdemona said.
Tucker gave her a squeeze. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you. And,” Desdemona added in a whisper, “thank you for taking care of my girls.”
Silence settled in again.
“I’ll go rustle up some coffee.” Desdemona got to her feet. “Why don’t you come with me, Coralee?”
“Think I’ll stay here if you don’t mind.”
“I do mind. I need you to help me carry.”
Elisa caught the little head jerk toward Tucker and her.
“Oh! Oh sure, that’s a good idea.” Coralee practically sprang from her chair, and the pair disappeared down the hall, chatting a mile a minute.
“You okay?” Tucker asked quietly when they left.
“No. It shouldn’t take this long, should it?”
“They want to get it right, Lissie. One and done. When they bring Daisy back to you, you can quit worrying about her. She’ll be able to run and play like all the other kids without growing breathless.” He rubbed her back. “Why don’t you close your eyes? The minute the doctor even casts a shadow on that door, I’ll wake you.”
“I can’t sleep. I’m afraid if I close my eyes, I’ll lose her.”
His hands moved to grip her shoulders, to turn her to face him fully. His voice hard and no-nonsense, he said, “Listen to me, Elisa Danvers. We are not going to lose Daisy. I won’t allow it, understood?”
His voice broke, and he dragged
her roughly to him. His tears wet her hair; hers stained the front of his shirt.
“We’re a mess, aren’t we?” Tucker asked.
Silently, she nodded.
When Desdemona and Coralee came down the hall with steaming cups of coffee, both swiped at their eyes. Tucker gave Elisa a quick, hard kiss, then took the cups from the women.
The second hand made its slow, grueling trip, minute after minute after minute.
Finally, the waiting room door opened, and Doc Hawkins stepped in. Even though he looked exhausted, a big grin lit his face.
All four leapt from their seats, talking at once.
Yancy held up a hand. “Hush, now. Daisy is out of surgery.” He reached for Elisa’s hand. “She did better than fine, Mama. That little girl is a fighter.”
“She’s had to be from the second she was born.”
“Well, it’s paid off. She’s in recovery. The surgeon will be out in a few minutes to fill you in, but things went perfectly. Your little girl won’t even have another scar. They did what’s called a cardiac catheterization and inserted a device into the opening in Daisy’s heart to plug it. Doctor Menendez is a genius.”
“One and done,” Tucker said. “What did I tell you?”
Elisa broke free of Yancy and threw herself, laughing and crying, into Tucker’s arms.
“Now if y’all will excuse us, Desdemona and I have a honeymoon to get back to.”
The room buzzed with congratulations.
“Goes to show what pigheadedness will do. I finally won the heart of the prettiest girl at the prom,” Yancy said.
“The shop—” Elisa began.
“Will be there when you get back,” Desdemona said. “People in town will understand if we’re closed for a few days. I’d run back and put a sign on the door, but that won’t be necessary. Come noon tomorrow, everyone will have heard.”
Elisa nodded.
Tucker shook hands with Yancy and thanked him again, while Elisa hugged and kissed Coralee, Desdemona, and the doctor.
Yancy held out a hand to his new wife, extending his other toward Coralee. “Why don’t you walk out with us? These two will be busy in a bit visiting one brave little girl.”
* * *
Daisy’s eyes fluttered open. “Hi, Mommy.”
Elisa blinked back happy tears. “Hi, sweetie.”
“Tut!”
He moved to the bed. “Hey, sugar. You sure did sleep a long time.”
“I was tired.” She yawned.
“I know.”
“I’m in the hospital. I ’member. Did the doctors make me all better?”
Elisa’s chin quivered. “They did.”
“Can I go home now? I wanna play with Lug Nut.”
“Ah, the miracle of modern-day pain killers,” Tuck mumbled. “You’re gonna have to stay here a couple of days so they can keep an eye on you, but Mama’s gonna stay with you. She has a bed right here by yours.”
“We can have a pajama party,” Elisa said.
“With ice cream?”
“You bet!” she said.
“Can I have somethin’ else?”
“If it’s at all possible, honey,” Elisa said.
Her little fingers reached out to touch Tucker’s. “I want Tut to be my daddy.”
“Oh, sweetheart—”
“It’s okay, Lissie.” He crouched beside her bed so he and the child were face-to-face. “How about I be your honorary daddy?”
“Honor one?”
“Close enough. ’Cause I’ll tell you what, sugar, it would be an honor of the highest level to be your daddy.” He heard a sniffle behind him and turned to Elisa. “Of course, if that’s okay with your mama.”
“Is it okay, Mommy?”
“It’s totally okay. You’re sure you’re up for this, Tuck?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The nurse stuck her head in the door. “It’s time for her meds and a bandage check where they inserted the heart catheter. If you don’t mind stepping out for a few minutes?”
The nurse adjusted the IV drip, and Daisy’s eyes drooped.
“I gave her a little extra so she doesn’t feel anything,” the nurse explained. “We’ll keep her comfortable. No need for this sweet thing to hurt.”
“No, ma’am,” Tuck answered. “There sure isn’t.”
Alone, Elisa and Tucker stood in the middle of the waiting room.
Hands jammed in his jeans pockets, Tucker broke the silence. “Marry me, Elisa. Let me help.”
Shock ricocheted through her. “What?”
He wetted his lips. “I said—”
“I heard you.” Marry me. Words that should have been magical, should have made her heart soar. Instead, regret nearly drowned her. She stared at him, realizing she’d waited too late to tell him the truth. Then it hit her. “You’re offering because of Daisy?”
She registered the slight hesitation and loved him all the more for it.
“I know the worst is over, but you shouldn’t have to handle all this alone.”
She laid a hand on his cheek and felt the stubble that had shadowed the lower half of his face over the long night. “Tuck, that’s the most wonderful, the most perfect offer anyone has ever made me. Thank you.”
“Then you’ll marry me?”
Heart breaking, knowing the secret she carried would destroy any feelings he had for her, she said, “No, Tuck, I can’t.”
His eyes darkened and he frowned. Hurt and confusion raced across his handsome face. “I was an ass. I know that, and I’m sorrier than I can say.”
“You had every right. Neither of us handled that very well. But it’s not that.”
“Then I don’t understand.”
“I know,” she said softly. “And that’s why I can’t marry you.” Rising to her tiptoes, she kissed him gently. “I need to get back to Daisy.”
“Tell her I love her.”
“I will.”
She left him standing there, felt his gaze on her and refused to look back.
She didn’t think she was strong enough to walk away twice.
Chapter 26
She’d turned him down. For the first time in his life, Tucker had offered marriage willingly and been shot down.
Carrying a cup of coffee and his phone to the back patio, he slumped into a chair and rested his feet on the hassock. After thinking it through, he realized it was totally his fault. If he’d deliberately set out to sabotage himself, he couldn’t have done a better job of it. What woman would have said yes to that proposal?
He’d asked Elisa to marry him…and had somehow managed to make it sound like he was doing her a favor. For the love of Mike! A fish jumped in the little stream at the edge of his property and Tucker wondered idly who the heck Mike was and why everyone wanted him to love them.
Argh. Keep your head in the game, Wylder.
Had he told Elisa he loved her?
No.
That he wanted to spend his life with her?
No.
Instead, he’d appealed to the mother in her rather than the woman. But that was only in his approach, because while he’d held her, the scent of her, the silkiness of her hair, the warmth of her had all touched him and made him weak with desire. For her.
He loved Daisy and wanted to make her his daughter. He wanted to watch her grow and flourish. He needed to put the fear of God in her future dates, and when she managed to fall in love despite that, he wanted to walk her down the aisle.
But Elisa touched a part of him he’d lost. A part he’d put away and thought never to take back out. He wanted her. More, he needed her in his life—forever.
He’d bungled things badly almost from the beginning. He generally thought things out, devised a plan, and stayed the course. With Elisa? He’d been Ricoc
het Rabbit.
She might have been the one on the floor, literally, the first time they’d met, but she’d had him off-center from the word go. When he’d peeked from beneath that Vette and watched those legs walking toward him, his pulse had kicked into fourth gear—and it hadn’t slowed down since.
He’d laughed with her and cried with her. He’d cuddled her after they’d made crazy love and hugged her while she cried for her sick child.
He’d had the nerve to ask her to trust him after he’d gone alpha male on her and all but accused her of lying about being divorced. Why Elisa hadn’t simply told him to get lost was beyond him. Unless she loved him, too. Time would tell, because he refused to give up. Doc thought he was pigheaded. Hah, that’s because he hadn’t seen a Wylder dead-set on something.
Once Tucker had himself together, he’d strike again—and he’d do better this time. He’d prove to Elisa that he wanted more than to offer help. That he needed her and Daisy in his life. That he wouldn’t be whole again until they were a family—not out of obligation or a sense of duty, but because he loved them.
The sun sat low in the sky when he finally woke from a nap.
He needed food and his brothers.
On his way to the Wylder Rides shop, he took care of the first at the Dairy Queen, where he fielded questions about Daisy from what seemed like half the town.
When he walked into the shop, Gaven looked up from the computer, surprised. “I didn’t expect you today. We thought you’d still be in Savannah.”
“No, I’ve got a couple of things to take care of, then I’ll drive down again tomorrow.”
“I sure am glad Daisy’s doing well.”
“Me, too. That was a nightmare.”
He considered a chat with Gaven about all the stuff banging around in his brain, then thought better of it. Since Gaven’s marriage had fallen apart almost before it began, he might not be the best advisor.
“You got plans for tonight, Gav?”
“I’m having dinner with Quinlyn.”
“You two are spending a lot of time together,” Tucker said.
“The woman’s beautiful, isn’t she?”
Tucker nodded and rubbed his red eyes.
Gaven pushed away from the computer. “The thing is, she feels like my sister or my best friend. It’s sad. I had such high hopes.”
I've Got You, Babe Page 27
