Just One Thing

by M. Malone

  “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Dad.”

  Mark frowned. “You've never disappointed me. But I worry about you.”

  “Why? I'm doing so well. That's what everyone tells me.” Bennett could hear the bitterness in his own voice.

  Apparently Mark could hear it too because he put his coffee mug down and clapped a hand on Bennett’s shoulder. “I'm not concerned about your brain. I'm concerned about your heart. The greatest fear of every parent is their child not being happy. I can't teach you that.”

  “You taught me everything that matters.”

  Mark nodded and clapped Bennett on the shoulder again, noticeably moved by the words. “I hope so. I’m certainly not perfect.”

  Being the oldest, Bennett had always felt that he’d been the most in tune with his father over the years. He’d watched as his dad had grown and changed into the man his brothers knew but he remembered a time when his father had been a little more hot-tempered than he was now. He’d like to think that his father could confide in him also if he needed a shoulder to lean on.

  “Is everything okay, Dad?”

  Mark coughed. “I worry that you haven’t always seen a good example in me. I’ve made so many mistakes with my family. Your mother and I have worked so hard to correct them but there are so many things I’d do differently if I had them to do over again.”

  This was news to Bennett, who’d expected to hear about some health concerns or about some problem with the farm.

  “Such as?”

  His father let out a heavy sigh. “This feud with your Uncle Stewart for starters.”

  Bennett didn’t speak, hoping his father would continue. Over the years, they’d all had their own theories as to why the brothers no longer spoke to each other. But he’d never heard it from his father’s perspective.

  Mark glanced at him sheepishly before continuing. “We’ve always been competitive. When you’re young, you do things impulsively that hurt others. All the guys wanted Julia and she chose me. I didn’t care that Stew had carried a torch for her for years. Didn’t think about how that made Stew feel.”

  Bennett had never heard any of this before. All the theories he’d heard floated around before never mentioned a possible romance between his mother and his … uncle?

  “So what happened?” Bennett prodded. “They didn’t …” He couldn’t even finish the sentence. He grimaced a little at the thought. It was childish but he couldn’t imagine his mother with anyone else.

  Mark shook his head. “No but he tried to kiss your mother years later and she had to slap him. Your brother Eli walked in on that and it messed him up something terrible. But part of the situation was fueled by how badly I handled it in the beginning.”

  Bennett could relate. If he could go back, he’d change how he’d handled a lot of things. “It’s not too late, Dad. You can still fix it.”

  Mark’s eyes swung to his. “So can you. Don’t make the mistakes that I did by waiting over a decade to fix it, either. Family is more important than pride. Family is everything.”

  A burst of determination fired through Bennett’s blood. He would go find Katie and talk to her. She’d been upset the last they spoke. He’d hurt her by refusing to cancel his evening with Olivia, he saw that now. So he’d start with an apology. Hopefully she’d be willing to listen. If she still chose her ex, it would hurt like hell but at least he’d know he gave it everything he had.

  Alexanders weren’t quitters.

  “You’re right. I shouldn’t have just taken his word for it. I was hurt by what he said but that’s probably why he said it. I have to talk to her.”

  Mark smiled. “Now that’s the man I raised. The fearless one who has always lived life on his own terms.”

  It was strange to see himself through his father’s eyes when he’d never seen himself as a trailblazer.

  “And what about you?” he asked his father. “What are you going to do?”

  Mark’s eyes softened and he looked up to the ceiling for a moment. “I suppose it’s time I take my own advice. I’m going to do what I should have done years ago. I’m going to go call my brother.”

  Just then Mark jumped before he pulled his phone out of his pocket. “This dang thing. I’m still not used to something buzzing in my britches.”

  Bennett smothered a laugh at the disgruntled look on his father’s face. He hated the sound of all the ringtones so his mother had put his phone on vibrate.

  After listening to whoever was on the other end, Mark’s frown deepened.

  “I’m on my way, honey. Bennett’s with me; we’ll be there right away. Hang in there.”

  Bennett moved closer as he hung up. “Who was that? What’s happened?”

  Mark motioned for him to follow. “That was your mother. We have to get to the hospital. Ridley’s been admitted.”

  Bennett’s feet started moving even as he did some quick mental calculations. “But wait? Isn’t it too early?”

  Mark’s face was grave as they walked out. “Yes. It is.”

  ♥

  When Katie emerged into the waiting room of New Haven General Hospital, she was instantly surrounded by a crowd of Alexanders.

  “How is she?”

  “What’s going on?

  “Is the baby okay?”

  The questions flew fast and furious and Katie tried to answer them all. Yes, Ridley is fine, just exhausted. Her blood pressure was dangerously high and the doctors had to induce labor. The baby is fine so far.

  By the time she was done giving her update, Jackson came out of the room and his family surrounded him with hugs. She was glad to allow him the opportunity to tell the family more.

  “It’s a boy!” Jackson exclaimed to a chorus of cheers. “His name is Zane Michael Alexander. We let the boys help choose his name.”

  Katie moved to the side, happy to be out of the limelight. She leaned against the wall, trying to get her emotions under control. It had been difficult to keep a brave face while her friend had been in labor.

  The ambulance had arrived about eight minutes after her call. She’d ridden alongside Ridley, trying desperately not to cry while answering all the EMT’s questions as best as she could. She knew most of the answers but not Ri’s blood type or what medications she was on. Luckily, Ridley woke up right before they got to the hospital so she’d been able to give them the information they needed.

  Then once they’d arrived, she’d spent what felt like ages calling Nick, Julia and anyone else she could to let them know what was going on, since Jackson wasn’t answering his phone. Jackson arrived at the hospital about fifteen minutes after they did. He hadn’t heard his phone ringing over the noise in the ice cream parlor. He’d taken her place at Ridley’s side while Katie supervised the kids who fortunately hadn’t realized that something was wrong.

  Julia had arrived not long after that. After checking on Ridley, Julia had taken the children home with her, promising to be back as soon as the babysitter she’d contacted arrived at her house. She’d also thanked Katie profusely for being there for Ri, which had only made her feel worse.

  Why hadn’t she listened to her instincts? She’d thought something was off with Ridley but she’d just chalked it up to her friend being cranky, not sick. All she could do was send up a thankful prayer that it had all turned out well.

  “Katie?”

  She whirled around at the sound of Bennett’s voice. Katie tried to squelch the irrational surge of excitement at the sight of him. His brother had just become a father again. Of course he was here.

  “Hey. Congratulations on being an uncle again.”

  “Thank you. And thank you for being here for Ridley. Jackson says you coached her like a champ.”

  Katie slumped against the wall, the hours of exhaustion catching up with her all at once. Going through childbirth for the first time was a scary thing and Katie knew from firsthand experience how hard it was to do it alone. Don had been in surgery when she’d gone into labor and she had ask
ed them not to tell him. She’d known even then that he would be annoyed at the interruption instead of happy to be by her side.

  Katie had been determined not to let Ridley feel alone. With no mother to support her and her sister out of town, Ri had been terrified. But her friend had hung in there despite things not going according to plan. Katie felt honored to have been there to hold her hand through it. They’d done the Lamaze breathing Ridley had learned in her birthing class together.

  She had coached her like a champ, Katie realized. It had been scary and intense but she’d kept it together. It was a good feeling. An accomplished feeling.

  Over the years, she’d allowed others to get inside her head and make her feel that she wasn’t as accomplished just because she didn’t have a university degree or high salary. But maybe her mother had been right all along. Katie took care of people. She was a nurturer and she always had been. She had spent her time cultivating the most important things in the world—her relationships with her friends and family—and in return, they viewed her as someone they could count on.

  That might not come with a diploma on the wall but it was an achievement all the same.

  Katie was proud of herself.

  “I’m glad I was there. She looked so gray when I found her. It scared me.”

  Bennett grabbed her hand and Katie soaked up all the warmth and acceptance that she’d missed so much. Then all at once she remembered how she’d wanted to find him before everything happened.

  “Don told me that he met you. Whatever he said to you was bullshit. He’s such a jerk sometimes.”

  Bennett squeezed her hand. “I shouldn’t have listened to him anyway. And I definitely shouldn’t have avoided talking to you. I was just hurt. I thought you’d gone back to him.”

  Katie grimaced at the thought. “Not a chance. There were so many times I wanted to call you but I figured you were probably getting ready for your date with Olivia.”

  “It wasn’t—”

  She held up a hand. “I know it wasn’t a date. I was just being jealous before. You’ve never given me any reason not to trust you and I know you’d never jump from one woman to the next like that, anyway.”

  “No, I wouldn’t. I’m awkward but I’ve never been stupid. I’m smart enough to know that our relationship is special. I don’t want anyone else.”

  Katie couldn’t stop smiling. Maybe under any other circumstances she could play it cool but all her emotions were at the surface after watching her friend just bring new life into the world. Suddenly it felt like anything was possible.

  “I don’t want anyone else, either. I should have just trusted you more. You’re perfectly capable of spending an evening with a female friend without anything happening.”

  Bennett bit his lip. His fingers tightened around hers.

  After working so closely with Bennett for more than a month, she could read his facial expressions like a map. His face often telegraphed his thoughts even when he didn’t realize it. Which was why his expression was so alarming.

  Katie narrowed her eyes. “Bennett? Nothing happened with Olivia, right?”

  “Um … It was nothing. But she did kiss me. Once.” Seeing her expression, he quickly stammered, “but it’s okay! Olivia is in love with someone else. She doesn’t even want me.”

  The door opened behind her and Jackson stuck his head out. “Oh hey, Bennett. I didn’t know you were still here.”

  “Yeah. I’m still here.” Bennett tried to keep hold on her hand but Katie yanked it away.

  Jackson looked between them awkwardly. “Okay so … Ridley’s asking for you, Katie.”

  “I’m coming right now.”

  Bennett reached out for her. “Katie, wait. It’s not what you think. I swear.”

  Katie felt a flush of embarrassment that Jackson was overhearing all of this. “This really isn’t the best time to talk. Ri needs me right now.”

  He looked frustrated but let her go. “Okay.”

  Jackson stepped back so Katie could get in the room.

  “Hey bro, why don’t you come with me? I’m heading down to the NICU to check on Zane.”

  Bennett glanced over at her again and she could read the longing on his face. She was upset at the thought of him kissing another woman but they’d already lost time due to misunderstanding and not trusting each other enough. She wasn’t going to make the same mistake again.

  “We’ll talk later, I promise. Okay?”

  He gave her a quick nod and then held out an arm to his brother. “Come on, little brother. I can’t wait to meet the newest Alexander troublemaker.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  ♥

  Bennett looked down at the tiny baby in the incubator on the other side of the glass. Zane Michael Alexander might have been born a little early but he’d still weighed in at a little over six pounds and had a smattering of dark hair on his head already. Jackson stood next to him radiating pride.

  “Look at him, Ben. Even though he’s early, they said he’s doing great. We can probably take him home after a few days of observation. My boys are fighters, huh?”

  “That they are. Kind of like you were.”

  Bennett remembered vividly the day his youngest brother had been born. He’d been five years old and more than a little tired of being presented with a new brother every year or so. But Jackson had been such a funny looking baby that Bennett had decided one more was okay after all. Now he couldn’t imagine life without the baby of the family.

  “I was scared in there, Bennett. Really scared. I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to her.” Jackson didn’t take his eyes off the baby as he spoke. But the tension in his shoulders told the story of just how harrowing the last few hours had been for him.

  “You’re never going to have to find out. Because she seems pretty determined to be here with you.”

  Jackson huffed out a breath. “So I noticed things seemed pretty tense with Katie earlier. I hope things work out for you guys. She brings out a different side of you, one I haven’t seen in a long time.”

  “She makes me happy,” Bennett admitted.

  “Good. Well, I need to get back to Ridley and let her know how the baby is doing. Since she lost so much blood they don’t want her on her feet just yet so she’s sending me for updates on the baby. If I take too long, I wouldn’t put it past her to try to come down here on her own.”

  Bennett was about to answer when he heard his name being called from the other end of the hallway. They both looked over to see Grant walking down the hall. He was obviously on duty because he was wearing his white coat and carrying a patient’s chart.

  “What’s this I hear about a new Alexander man in the family?” Grant put out his hand and pulled Jackson into an exuberant hug. “Happy for you, Jack.”

  Jackson beamed. “There he is. Look at my boy.”

  Grant peered through the glass. “That’s a beautiful thing.” He glanced over at Bennett. “Glad to see you here. I’ve been meaning to come by and check on those stitches.”

  Jackson frowned. “Stitches? When did you get stitches?”

  Bennett waved away the concern. “Long story. Go report back to Ridley. And kiss the new mom for me.”

  Jackson waved as he went. Grant held out his hand to motion toward one of the empty exam rooms.

  “Let me just take a quick look. I wasn’t exactly working under ideal conditions so I’ve been a little concerned.”

  Bennett followed him into the exam room, trying not to breathe too deeply. He didn’t want to stay any longer than necessary but if he didn’t appease Grant, his cousin would just annoy the hell out of him later. He might as well let him check the wound and reassure himself that it was healing properly.

  Oblivious to his distress, Grant set the chart he was holding down and washed his hands in the small sink against the wall.

  “So I saw your girl here earlier. I was surprised you weren’t with her then.”

  Bennett had already rolled up hi
s sleeve so Grant could access the wound that he’d been keeping clean and dry. His cousin carefully pried off the three large bandages covering the cut.

  “Yeah, I would have been here earlier but … Well, that doesn’t matter anymore. Things are fine now.”

  Grant was quick but thorough as he checked the tender skin around the cut. He shook his head in dismay. “Disgraceful. I can’t believe you waited so long. If I’d been able to close this right away there wouldn’t even be a scar,” he muttered.

  Bennett rolled his eyes. Grant was one of the East Coast’s top plastic surgeons so he was sure it was torture to his professional pride to see a wound leave a scar unnecessarily.

  “Anyway, I hope you aren’t having girl troubles already with the fiery Katherine. I liked her. She’s the type that doesn’t let you get away with any shit.”

  Bennett glared at his troublemaking and all-together too handsome cousin. It hadn’t escaped his notice that Grant had really seemed to like Katie. It probably wasn’t often that he met a woman willing to tell him off.

  “Whatever. Is my arm going to fall off or what?”

  “It’s fine. It’s not perfect, which is what it would have been if you weren’t so stubborn but there’s no sign of infection and it’s healing well.”

  Grant smeared something that Bennett hoped was antibiotic ointment over the scar, then added fresh bandages and covered the wound lightly.

  “Anyway, I hope things work out with Katie. Because if you let a woman like that get away, you deserve to lose her. Maybe even to your younger and better-looking cousin.” Grant grinned, flashing perfect white teeth. “Women like that don’t come around all that often.”

  Bennett was still more than a little annoyed at how much attention his cousin was paying to Katie. “I’m surprised to hear you say that. I figured you’d be the more the merrier type.”