by Cindy Kirk
“Exactly,” she said, relieved he finally seemed to get it.
“But we have a baby to consider.” He paused as if wanting the words to sink in. “I believe it’s time to get serious, to fully commit to making a relationship between us work.”
“What are you saying?”
“I want you to marry me.”
“Marry you?” Cassidy choked out the words. “That seems a bit drastic.”
“I want our child to have my name. I’m traditional enough that I want us to be married when he or she is born.”
“But marriage is a huge step.” Though Cassidy hardly considered herself a romantic, she wanted more than he was offering.
“We have a baby coming,” he reminded her. “Marriage is the responsible choice.”
Responsible. After the chaos of what she’d grown up in, she’d sworn she would do her best to live a responsible lifestyle. But she’d also been determined to only marry for love.
Where did that leave her now?
Right behind the eight ball.
Keenan appeared in the doorway. Apparently Mitzi had only been successful in keeping him at bay for so long. But the sight of the weeping woman behind him had them both jumping to their feet.
“Mom, what’s wrong?” Tim crossed the living room in several long strides, caught her arms and supported her as she swayed.
“It’s Esther,” she managed to choke out. “It was an accident. She fell from the tree—”
The woman broke into weeping sobs.
Cassidy froze at the despair in Suzanne’s eyes.
Tim shook her. “Tell me what happened. Where’s Esther now?”
“The ambulance came. She’s on her way to the hospital.” Suzanne lifted her tear-drenched eyes to meet his. “I’m so sorry. I tried to call you but—”
His mother never had a chance to finish what she was about to say. Tim shoved her into Keenan’s startled arms then raced out the door and sprinted toward the car with Cassidy on his heels.
* * *
Not until the hospital was in sight did it occur to Cassidy that they’d driven off without Suzanne. She kept the pleasant thought to herself. Right now Tim didn’t need any distractions.
With his foot heavy on the gas pedal and his hands clenching the steering wheel in a death grip, he was totally focused on getting to the hospital in record time.
“She’ll be fine.” Cassidy spoke confidently, hoping to stanch her own fear. “She’s a super-strong girl.”
He didn’t respond.
She wasn’t sure he even heard her.
He wheeled the SUV into a parking space adjacent to the ER. The vehicle had barely come to a stop when Tim slammed it into Park and jerked the keys from the ignition. He flung open the door and covered the distance to the sliding glass doors in ground-eating strides.
Cassidy trotted to keep up.
The gray-haired woman at the reception desk looked up when the doors slid open and they burst into the waiting area.
“Esther Duggan.” Tim snapped the name. “Where is she?”
“Tim.”
He whirled at the sound of his father’s voice. “How is she? Where is she?”
Steve rose from the seats where he and Ellyn had been sitting, her hand nestled in his. “She’s in radiology. They told me as soon as they were finished I could go back and be with her.”
“What’s wrong with her?”
Steve blinked, clearly flummoxed by the question.
“All Suzanne told us was that Esther had fallen and was on her way to the hospital.” Cassidy spoke quickly, knowing Tim was ready to tear the place apart to locate his daughter.
“She climbed the backyard tree and fell.” Though his eyes were filled with worry, his father’s tone gave no evidence of distress. “It appears her arm is broken. She was in a lot of pain. We’re not sure how hard she hit her head. We thought it best to call an ambulance.”
Cassidy could almost see Tim’s mind working, processing the information. He briefly glanced at his daughter. When he spoke again to his father, his tone was calmer. “Did the bone come through the skin? Did she lose consciousness?”
“No, the bone didn’t break the skin.” Steve shook his head for extra emphasis. “In terms of the second, we don’t think so. If she did, it was only for a short time. David said he’d check for signs of a concussion.”
“David?”
“David Wahl.” Steve’s lips lifted slightly. “I was happy to see he was on duty.”
Dr. David Wahl, head of the Emergency Medicine Department, had been a friend of Tim’s since childhood.
As if saying his name had conjured him up, David strolled into the waiting area. His gaze fixed on Tim. “I thought I heard your voice out here.”
Tim stepped forward. “How is she?”
“Mild concussion,” the other doctor said, suddenly all business. “X-rays show a nondisplaced fractured humerus.”
“The humerus is the bone that extends from the shoulder to the elbow,” Tim informed his dad and Cassidy, his gaze never leaving David’s face. “I’d like an ortho consult.”
“Already anticipated that one. I have a call in to Benedict Campbell.”
“No need. I’ll take a look.” Mitzi, also an orthopedic surgeon and in the same practice as Ben Campbell, announced as she, her husband and Tim’s mother came through the doors.
“That’s my woman,” Keenan said proudly. “One step inside a hospital and she takes over the place.”
“I’d appreciate it, Mitzi.” Tim slanted his gaze back to David. “Not to impugn your diagnostic—”
“No offense taken.” David gestured to Tim. “I’ll show you back to Esther now. Mitzi can examine her and review the X-rays. You can stay with her while she’s casted, unless Mitzi feels for some reason surgery is indicated.”
Surgery. A chill gripped Cassidy’s heart and every inch of her body turned to ice.
“When I heard she was in an ambulance...” Tim took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Cassidy closed her hand around his in a gesture of comfort and found his fingers ice-cold, just like hers.
David glanced at the tablet in his hand. “Does Esther have any medication allergies?”
Tim shook his head. “None. She’s a healthy girl.”
“Is she on any medications?”
Tim shook his head.
David nodded. “That’s what your father said, but I just wanted to be certain.”
“I’ll just wait—”
Cassidy started to step back but Tim’s grasp tightened on her hand.
“She’ll want to see you,” he said.
Suzanne, who’d remained silent, started forward, but Steven took her arm.
“Stay here, Suz. Give Esther time with her father and Cassidy. Keep Ellyn and me company.”
Cassidy saw Suzanne’s mouth open, but she shut it without even a murmur of protest.
David led them down a long corridor. The walls were a pristine white. The floors had been buffed to a shiny gray so glossy, Cassidy swore she could see her reflection.
“The nurse will have some insurance and treatment forms for you to sign.” David paused in front of room 112 and shifted his gaze from Tim to Mitzi. “Thanks for the assistance. I’ll call Dr. Campbell and let him know you have things under control.”
Mitzi winked. “Be sure and tell Ben he owes me.”
David only laughed.
Though Cassidy expected Mitzi to immediately examine Esther, the doctor moved to where the X-rays were displayed. Cassidy wondered if she did it in order to give Tim some time with his daughter first.
The redheaded nurse in the room looked up from her charting. Cassidy bit back a groan. Leila Daltry, the woman who’d bid o
n Tim at the bachelor auction, stood to greet them.
“Dr. Duggan.” Her smile dimmed when she saw Cassidy then her gaze snapped back to Tim. “Esther has been asking for you.”
Tim gave her a cursory nod, his entire attention riveted to the bed where his daughter lay. The normally high-spirited girl looked pale and oh-so-small against the crisp white sheets. Her hair had come loose from the clip and formed a light brown halo on the pillow. She brightened immediately when she saw them.
“Hey, Es.” Tim stepped close and caressed the side of her face with gentle fingers. “Cass and I came as soon as we heard. How are you feeling?”
Tears flooded her eyes. “Don’t be mad, Daddy.”
Confusion blanketed Tim’s face. “I’m not mad. Why would I be mad?”
Esther dropped her gaze and her bottom lip trembled. “I climbed the tree.”
“I’m not angry with you.” Tim’s voice grew thick with emotion. “I just want you better.”
Cassidy moved closer. “That’s what everyone wants.”
“My arm hurts and my head, too.” Tears slipped down Esther’s cheeks. “I’m scared.”
“Once you’re home, I’ll tell you all about the time I broke my arm.” Cassidy forced an exaggerated sigh. “I wanted a pink cast in the worst way but back then the colored ones cost more so I got stuck with boring white.”
“I want a pink cast.” Esther’s tears suddenly dried up and she cast a pleading glance at her father. “Can I have a pink cast?”
“I think that can be arranged.” Tim looked as if he was fighting hard not to smile.
“Dr. Duggan, I have forms for you to sign.” Leila smiled reassuringly at Esther. “Dr. McGregor has ordered some medicine to help with the pain in your arm.”
Once Mitzi finished reviewing the X-rays and did her exam, it wasn’t long before Esther sported a hot-pink cast on her left arm.
“I’m so jealous.” Cassidy let her gaze linger on Esther’s arm. “That is one cool color.”
Tim shot her an appreciative smile and Cassidy was embarrassed to admit her heart melted.
Then, suddenly, the whole family was in the room, crowded around the little girl they all loved. When Ellyn asked if she could have one just like it, Tim only laughed.
Chapter Sixteen
Normally Tuesdays rolled along at a comfortable pace. Though as a business owner Cassidy had a goal to fill all appointment slots all the time, she had to admit she was enjoying the breathing room today. It gave her the opportunity to order supplies and catch up on some bookkeeping.
Yet, despite the quiet of her “office” in the salon’s back storage room, she hadn’t been able to keep herself fully on task. Her mind kept circling back to Tim’s marriage proposal on Saturday.
Marriage was the responsible choice, he’d asserted. He wanted the baby to have his name. Much of what he’d said made sense. But there hadn’t been a single word about love anywhere in the mountain of words.
“Am I interrupting?”
Cassidy jerked her gaze to the doorway to discover Tim standing there. “How did you get back here?”
“Daffy pointed me in this direction.” He lifted a hand. “Don’t blame her. I told her you were expecting me.”
Cassidy pulled her brows together, thought for a moment. “Did we have plans for this afternoon?”
“No.” His smile flashed. “But I haven’t seen you since Saturday and I desperately needed my Cassidy-fix.”
That boyish smile combined with the knowledge that he’d missed her sent warmth rushing through her body. She rose to her feet and stretched. “I could use some exercise before my five o’clock arrives. Care to join me in a short walk?”
“Absolutely.” His gaze lingered on the wavy strands of blond she’d streaked with copper yesterday. “I like the hair.”
Though it pleased her that he’d noticed, she lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “It’ll be different the next time you see me.”
“Can’t wait.”
After speaking briefly with Daffodil, they left the shop and started down the sidewalk. Cassidy wasn’t aware where she was headed until she reached the small park, encircled by a black wrought-iron gate, two blocks from her shop.
“Let’s swing.” She reached out and grabbed his hand, tugging him along.
“You weren’t kidding when you told the twins you liked to swing.”
“I never joke about important things.” She glanced around the empty park. “It’s such a beautiful day I thought this might be standing room only. Instead, we’re the only ones here.”
“Probably because it’s a weekday and closing in on the supper hours.”
“That’s right.” Cassidy gave a little laugh. “My days are all mixed-up.”
Though she hadn’t seen Tim since he’d left the hospital with his family on Saturday, he’d called every night to give her updates on Esther’s condition. Last night, he’d put Esther on the phone and the girl had gushed how she loved, loved, loved her new pink cast.
“How are Esther and that smokin’-hot cast doing today?”
“Well, she went back to school this morning as planned,” Tim informed her. “I spoke with my mother just before I stopped by your salon. She said Esther had a good day. Apparently the cast was a hit.”
Cassidy smiled and wished she could hear all about Esther’s first day back at school directly from her. “Tell her I said to save a place on it for me to sign. A big spot.”
“You could do that this week.” Tim’s gaze shifted from a metal slide that glimmered in the late-afternoon sun back to Cassidy. “How ’bout we all go out for pizza?”
Though the thought was appealing, Cassidy hesitated. Since the proposal, she’d been rethinking the wisdom of spending all this time with Tim and his daughters. The last thing she wanted was to create false expectations.
“Maybe.” Deliberately she kept her tone noncommittal.
They swung in silence for almost a minute when Tim cleared his throat. “Have you, ah, thought of what doctor you’re going to see?”
Ah, yes, twelve weeks was right around the corner. A fact she hadn’t forgotten and apparently neither had he.
“I have,” Cassidy kept her tone casual. “I’ve got an appointment with Michelle Davis next Monday.”
Michelle Davis and two other OBs had founded the “other” practice in Jackson Hole. Though it hadn’t been easy to break the hold that Travis’s OB group had on the area, the all-women practice was slowing carving its own niche.
Tim’s swing stilled. “You weren’t interested in seeing one of the doctors in my group?”
“I considered several of them.” It was the truth. Cassidy had thought long and hard before making her decision. “I decided it might be awkward, with you and me involved. From everything I’ve heard, Michelle is a good doctor.”
“She is,” Tim admitted, albeit a trifle grudgingly. “I’ll send her the records, so she has them for your appointment.”
“Thanks.”
“Speaking of the baby, I’d like to revisit our conversation from Saturday.”
Cassidy had known this was coming. Tim was a focused kind of guy. When he’d shown up at her salon, she’d suspected he wasn’t simply there to say hello.
He wouldn’t be happy with the answer she would give him but these past few days she’d done a lot of thinking. She felt confident she was making the right decision. “Okay, let’s talk.”
“I had just broached the subject of marriage when we were interrupted,” he said in a conversational tone.
“That certainly wasn’t your fault.”
“Regardless.” He paused. “I wish we could have finished the discussion and arrived at a mutually agreeable resolution.”
She wondered if he was aware how this sounded.
Not like a marriage proposal, but like a business deal they were ready to negotiate and close.
Without waiting for her to respond, he continued, “The more I think about it, the more I realize that marriage is the answer. In fact, it’s the perfect solution.”
“Is it?” Cassidy kept her tone bland, her expression equally nonreactive.
Tim nodded, as if taking the comment for assent. “I’ve told you how I’ve worried that I wouldn’t have enough time for a wife. But I was looking at it all wrong.”
Cassidy merely lifted a brow.
His expression turned intense. “Think how convenient it would be for both of us to be under the same roof. We could split up the household and child-care duties fifty-fifty, which would take pressure off both of us. And please don’t doubt for a second that I won’t pull my weight.”
Something in his gaze told her this was an important point, so she nodded. “I believe you.”
He expelled a heavy breath and relief skittered across his face. “We would build a good life together. A happy life. What do you say?”
It was exactly what she didn’t want: a business arrangement with everything split fifty-fifty. The crazy thing was, for a second Cassidy was actually tempted to say yes. Not only to erase the tension on his face but because she wanted to be with Tim. She wanted to wake up next to him every morning. She wanted to feel his arms around her when she was sad. She wanted to go to bed every night and have him beside her.
But she kept her lips pressed together and reminded herself that being married to a man who loved her, who wanted to marry her because he couldn’t imagine living without her, wasn’t what he was offering.
She’d spent the first eighteen years of her life feeling like an unwanted obligation. She didn’t want to feel that way when she was with Tim. That would be worse than going on without him.
Stopping her slow-moving swing, Cassidy rose and reached out a hand. He stood and tugged her to him. When he wrapped his arms around her, just the comforting strength of those taut muscles beneath her fingers and the clean, fresh scent of him made her want to cry.
After a long moment, she stepped back and began to walk. He said nothing as she ignored an ornate iron bench to finally pause beneath the welcoming arms of a maple with flaming-red leaves.
