He saw the bundle of clothing wedged between the brick building and the evergreen, and his heart seemed to flipflop in his chest. He knelt down and recognized the red baseball cap through his suddenly blurred vision.
He’d been given a second chance. He didn’t deserve it, but fate had been kind. He wouldn’t let this miracle go to waste, no matter what he might have to do.
His hand trembled as he touched Corey’s coat. For a long moment, he simply drank in the sight of his sleeping child as he breathed silent thanks over and over again.
“Is he OK?” Lori peered over his shoulder.
“I think so.” Not wanting to scare him, he called his name. “Corey. Corey, it’s me. Time to wake up.”
Corey raised his head, his face streaked with dirt and dried tears. “Dad?” he asked, blinking owlishly in the glare of the headlights. “Lori?”
Mac cleared his throat. “Yeah, son. We’re here. We’ve been looking for you for hours.”
“I’m going to Aunt Liz’s,” he said defiantly.
“That’s what she told me when I called her,” Mac said. “Before you go, maybe we should talk.”
“I don’t know about you,” Lori said as her teeth began chattering, “but I’m cold. Would you mind if we talked about your trip in your dad’s car where it’s warm?”
Mac had wondered how they’d win Corey’s cooperation, but Lori had obtained it with ease. Corey crawled out from behind the bush, dragging his backpack. As soon as he was free, Mac couldn’t contain himself. He hugged him until Corey protested.
“Dad, you’re squeezing the stuffing out of me.”
“I can’t help it.” Mac loosened his hold. “I was so worried about you. So was Lori.”
“I was fine, Dad.”
Mac opened his mouth to argue, but Lori forestalled him with a hand on his arm and a small frown. “My toes are frozen,” she announced cheerfully, although Mac knew that fifty-degree weather wouldn’t have affected her as quickly as she’d claimed.
“Then let’s get warm,” Mac said.
A few minutes later he’d installed Corey in the back seat of his car, where Lori also chose to sit. “Much better,” she said in her familiar lilt as she tucked him under her arm.
“Am I in trouble?” Corey asked.
Mac twisted his body to reassure himself that they’d actually found him. Worry made his voice sound harsh, although he didn’t intend to sound angry. “What do you think?”
“If you want my opinion,” Lori inserted cheerfully, “I think we need a cup of hot chocolate before we get into a big discussion. Would you like to go to my house?”
Corey nodded.
“Home, James,” Lori teased, as if Mac were the chauffeur.
A small smile tugged on Corey’s mouth, and for that Mac would have driven him anywhere. “OK. Lori’s house it is.”
As he drove off, he dialed the police station on his cell-phone and alerted the dispatcher to call off the search. By the time he’d finished explaining, he felt utterly drained, although he knew his problems hadn’t ended. They wouldn’t, until he straightened out everything with his son.
Ten minutes later, Mac carried an exhausted Corey inside.
“You found him,” Rob exclaimed in a whisper.
“At the bus station.”
“Corey and I are going to have some hot chocolate,” Lori announced. “Thanks for coming over, Rob, Gail.”
“We were glad to help,” he answered.
Mac watched Lori usher Corey toward the kitchen, hardly believing the night had ended so well when it could have turned out far differently.
Rob slapped Mac on the back. “Get some rest,” he advised. “If I were you, I’d take tomorrow off.”
“I think I will.” His absence would put a strain on the rest of the team, but what choice did he have?
Gail hugged him. “Good night, Mac.”
“Thanks again,” he said, before quietly closing the door behind them. He drew a deep breath and followed the sound of voices. Corey was sitting at the table, eating scrambled eggs and toast and drinking a cup of hot chocolate.
The sight of his son digging into his food as if he were starved made him want to fire Mrs Partridge all over again.
He sat beside Corey, gratefully accepting the mug Lori pushed in front of him. The plea in her eyes reminded him to treat Corey gently when his relief made him want to lash out instead. He nodded once to signal he understood her message and her smile instantly returned.
“I talked to your aunt Liz,” Mac began. “She told me that you want to live with her.”
“I don’t like Mrs Partridge.” Corey’s lower lip quivered as he brandished his fork. “She threw out my special cake. There were still three pieces left. I hate her and I won’t go back!”
“Mrs Partridge is gone,” Mac said. “I fired her.”
Corey stared at him as he wiped his nose with the back of his hand. “You did?”
Mac nodded. “Yes, I did.”
Corey glanced at Lori as if he couldn’t believe this news and she smiled. “I was there,” she said to reassure him. “She’s already moved out.”
His eyes closed and he wilted before Mac’s eyes. Obviously, his resolve to reach Liz had held him together when nothing else would.
“I know you were unhappy,” Mac continued, “and I’m really sorry that you were. It’s my fault because I didn’t listen to you in the first place, but running away wasn’t the answer.”
Corey’s eyes flew open. “But, Dad, I had to do something. When you didn’t come home, I didn’t know if you’d ever do anything. I was afraid nothing would change and I just couldn’t take it any more.”
“I understand. I didn’t handle this whole thing very well. I’d expected Mrs Partridge to be another Martha when she wasn’t. For that, I’m sorry. I should have delegated more things at the hospital than I did and I’m sorry for that, too. The question is, are you willing to give me another chance or not? I know I don’t deserve one, but it’s up to you.”
Mac’s question hung in the air like a wisp of smoke on a calm day. He gripped his mug with both hands and hoped that he wouldn’t snap off the handle while he waited for Corey’s reply.
“You’ll let me choose?” Corey asked, sounding suspicious. “Really and truly?”
Mac didn’t want to, but Corey’s happiness came first. “Yes.”
Lori interrupted. “This sounds like too big a decision to make at two-thirty in the morning. We’re all tired and having a hard time thinking clearly. Now that Corey knows about Mrs Partridge and your plans, Mac, why don’t we let him sleep on it?”
“All right.” Not eager to hear bad news, Mac readily agreed. “Is that OK with you, Corey?”
Corey nodded.
“Then we’ll go home—”
“Can we stay here?” Corey asked in a small voice.
“An excellent idea,” Lori answered. “It’s late and the sooner you get to bed, the better.” She smiled at him. “You can have my room.”
“Is it OK, Dad?” He glanced at Mac, his expression unsure.
Mac gave him a half-smile. “Sure.”
Lori rose. “While you freshen up, I’ll find a shirt for you to wear. Mac, maybe you could help Corey find the towels and such?”
Corey probably knew his way around Lori’s bathroom better than he did, but Lori obviously understood how difficult it was for him to let Corey out of his sight. Suddenly, Mac couldn’t hold back. As soon as Corey slid off his chair, Mac grabbed him.
He closed his eyes as once again he hugged him close and breathed in his little-boy scent. “Hell, Corey, if I’d lost you, I don’t know what I’d have done.” His voice choked and his eyes burned. “I love you, son.”
“I love you, too, Dad,” Corey answered.
Slowly, Mac released his hold and held Corey at arm’s length. “No matter what happens, don’t ever forget it.”
Corey touched the corner of his father’s eye. “You’re crying, Dad.” H
e glanced at Lori. “You are, too,” he said in obvious surprise.
“These are happy tears,” she said with a sniffle as she brushed the moisture off her cheeks.
Mac nodded. “So are mine.”
Lori stepped forward. “Sorry, Mac, but I can’t wait. I need a hug, too.” She wrapped one arm around Corey and ran her free hand over his hair, his face and his back, as if assessing whether he was in one piece. “You really are OK? Nothing’s hurt or scraped or—”
“I’m fine,” Corey told her.
She cleared her throat and smiled through her tears. “I’m glad. I don’t mind telling you, I’ve never been so worried in my life. You’re not supposed to give me gray hair until you’re a teenager.”
Corey peered at Lori’s tresses through narrowed eyes. “You’re fooling me. There’s no gray.”
“What a relief,” she exclaimed. “I was lucky this time.”
Corey’s smile and giggle sent a fresh surge of relief through Mac. He’d come so close to losing someone else he held dear. The thought was enough to make him want to grab Corey and hug him again.
Lori slowly turned Corey loose. “It’s late for you, young man, and I’m missing out on my beauty rest. You two guys can use the bathroom first and then it’s time to call it a night.”
After helping Corey wash his face and tug on the old T-shirt Lori had supplied, Mac helped his son crawl under Lori’s blankets. Lucky kid, he thought as he eyed her mattress.
It didn’t help matters when she bent over the bed to hug Corey and he had an excellent view of her curves. “Pleasant dreams, sweet prince,” she said softly.
As he kissed Corey’s cheek, it occurred to him that this could be a nightly event if they were a family. His plan to convince her to accept his proposal had been derailed, but now, more than ever, he was determined to make it happen.
“Goodnight, son.” He followed Lori to the door and left it slightly ajar behind him.
Mac’s physical and mental exhaustion hit him hard. It was time to drive home, but as he picked up his coat from the sofa where he’d flung it he discovered that he couldn’t slip it on. “I should let you rest, but it seems as if I can’t bear to leave him, even though I know he’s safe.”
“Then don’t,” she said kindly. “Stay the night. My bed is big enough for the both of you.”
He should go. If he slept in his own bed, he wouldn’t breathe in Lori’s scent or picture her snuggled against him.
On the other hand, the thought of staying in his house all alone held zero appeal. He hesitated. “You don’t mind?”
“Not at all. You’re too tired to be on the road anyway.”
He was, even if there wasn’t much traffic this time of night. “I can’t thank you enough for everything. I hated to bother you when it was so late, but I just couldn’t face this alone.”
“I wouldn’t have forgiven you if you had,” she told him. “He’s as important to me as Ronnie is.” Without giving him an opportunity to reply, she said, “You mentioned something about delegating more of your work at the hospital. What did you mean?”
“I’ll give more responsibility to Josh. The hospital will scream about their budget, but I’ll insist on locum coverage until we hire and train at least two more people. Somehow we’ll make something work.”
“And what about Corey? Are you going to look for another housekeeper?”
“It will depend on whether or not he wants to live with me.” He doubted if he’d ever fully trust a housekeeper again. That left begging Martha to return, if only for a few weeks, or swallowing his pride and depending on Lori. He wanted to propose again but, as she’d said earlier, they were too tired and their emotions too close to the surface to make any decisions now.
“He wants you.”
Mac shrugged, wanting to believe her but not completely able to do so. “I’m afraid I’m not as confident as you are.”
“I know you’re giving Corey a choice, but what do you want?”
He frowned. “For him to stay with me, of course.”
“Then how will you manage?”
He ran his hands through his hair. “Right now, I have no idea. All I know is that I can’t go through another night like tonight.”
“Neither can I. I’m just so very thankful that it ended well.”
“That makes two of us.”
“I’ve been thinking…” she said slowly.
Mac watched her hand flutter to her throat, as if whatever she intended to say was difficult. He waited.
“I’ve been thinking,” she repeated. “Not just these last few hours, but ever since you hired Mrs Partridge. Does your proposal still stand?”
It was as if she’d read his mind. Or he’d read hers. Hope surged, but he tried to hold it to a manageable level.
“Yes, Lori. It does.”
Her smile seemed uncertain. “Then I accept.”
CHAPTER NINE
LORI had never seen Mac at a complete loss before, but she’d obviously thrown him off his stride. She should have waited until he’d recovered from the stresses of the evening before she hit him with something else to consider, but she could only chalk up her impulsive statement to her own exhaustion. Before she could backpedal with a suggestion to discuss it tomorrow, a small smile of satisfaction softened the weariness on his face.
“Are you serious?” he asked, as if afraid to believe what he’d heard. “What changed your mind?”
Her laugh sounded forced to her own ears. “Of course I’m serious. As for changing my mind, do my reasons matter?”
How could she admit that his love for Corey had made the difference in her mind? If he could love his son—and admit it—then she had hopes of hearing him profess the same thing to her. What better way to ensure that a deep, abiding devotion sprouted than to be responsible for planting the seeds and watering them with a daily measure of her own affection?
Of all the people he knew in town, of all the friends he could have called to help him deal with Corey’s disappearance, the fact that he’d sought out her implied a special bond between the two of them. He might not proclaim everlasting love, but she was obviously more than a mere friend and companion.
“No, but you can’t blame me for being curious. After all, you said you wanted a grand passion.”
Lori smiled. She did have a grand passion, but sharing that tidbit would probably make him ill at ease and she didn’t want their relationship, such as it was, strained in any way. It was best if she didn’t answer directly.
“As you said,” she began, “a marriage based on mutual respect and friendship isn’t a bad thing. And we have the added bonus of a powerful chemistry between us, so at least we’ll be able to stand looking at each other over the breakfast table.”
“Will that be enough for you?” He sounded cautious, which was understandable. After hearing her go on and on about heart-throbbing passion, he was bound to wonder if she’d be satisfied with anything less.
How kind and considerate for Mac to be concerned about her lost dreams. If she hadn’t realized how much she loved him before now, that alone would have convinced her. In any case, if he occasionally had trouble sorting out his priorities, at least he admitted his mistakes and took responsibility for them to the point where he was willing to do the right thing, even at great personal cost.
Even if it meant accepting another woman in his beloved Elsa’s role.
He might consider their marriage one of convenience, a mutually beneficial business arrangement, but to her it would be more than that. It would be real. When she said her vows…to love and cherish…she would mean them from the bottom of her heart.
His eyebrows drew together as he frowned. “Lori?”
“Oh, sorry,” she said, leaving her thoughts for the moment. “I was just thinking. What did you ask?”
“If you would be willing to settle for less than you wanted. Less than you deserve.”
“I know what I’m doing,” she said, without hesitation. She�
��d turned him down before because she’d been afraid that she’d look back and regret not holding out for the big prize, but as she’d agonized during those hours when Corey had been missing, she’d thought of how she’d feel if Mac disappeared from her life. It hadn’t taken but a moment to realize that she’d suffer far greater regret if she lost the family and husband she could have had. If the situation wasn’t completely the way she envisioned it, it was up to her to turn those dreams into reality.
“I hate to sound selfish,” he said with a grin, “but I’m thrilled about your decision. And I’m not saying that because I expect you to be a live-in housekeeper.”
“That’s comforting,” she said dryly.
“I’ll do my best to be a good father to Ronnie.”
She nodded. “I know, but I should warn you. She’s taken all the things her friends have told her about their fathers and built this composite image of what that role entails. I’m afraid she has rather high expectations.”
“We’ll work it out.”
Lori hoped so. “If you don’t mind, though, I’d rather not tell the children until Corey decides if he wants to live with you or with his aunt.”
Mac’s dimple appeared in spite of the stubble lining his face. “Are you trying to wiggle out of our engagement already?”
She chuckled. “No, but if Corey insists on living with his aunt, then we should look at the situation in a different light. However, that wasn’t why I suggested waiting.”
“Oh?”
“I don’t want to influence his decision,” she said simply. “If he knows we’re getting married, or that we’re considering it, he’ll vote to stay. His feelings for you are the issue here, otherwise you’ll always wonder what route he might have chosen if I hadn’t been a factor.”
“I’m willing to pull out whatever magic rabbit it takes for him to stay with me.”
“I’d want to do the same for Ronnie,” she admitted, “but you can’t manipulate him. One day he’ll wake up and figure out what happened, and then what?”
“OK. We’ll do it your way.” Mac reached out and pulled her close. “How did you get to be so wise?”
“Experience,” she said promptly, aware of how her heart rate had doubled.
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