“He doesn’t know?” Claire reassessed the man, beginning to feel a little sorry for him. The news would come as a shock.
With soft swipes of tissue, she removed the goop on Mel’s face, then cleaned with a moistened cloth and applied a toner. What if this Tee person didn’t want the boy?
None of your business. Keep working and don’t get involved.
“I told him I couldn’t be pregnant, just before I broke it off with him. He begged me to stay until I was sure. Even offered his place as shelter after I fought with my mom—no strings attached. But I was young and convinced I was invincible.” Mel paused and shrugged. “I was wrong. But by the time I knew differently, I’d reached California and had a job. I should have called him then.”
Claire remained silent, busying herself with the task of applying camouflaging makeup and filling in Mel’s eyebrows. Hair was next on the agenda and was always a source of sorrow and embarrassment for the female patients. Claire dreaded it and the awkwardness it invoked.
“Got something pretty in there to cover my Q-ball?” Mel’s brave smile trembled. “Cody loves blue.”
“Sure. I’ll hook you up with something stunning.” Pink. Plum. Green. At least Claire had hair to color these days.
“You think I’m terrible don’t you? Not telling Tee he had a son.” Mel lowered her lashes.
“Your decisions are none of my business. I’m sure you had your reasons.”
“I’m not sure they were good ones anymore. He and I were just . . . having fun. We weren’t in love. He would have insisted on getting married, and back then I wasn’t strong enough to stand my ground against him. I didn’t want us to end up hating each other.”
“If he’s as nice as you remember, I’m sure he’ll do the right thing.” Claire couldn’t comment on the wisdom of Mel’s decision, so she stuck with something positive. All this personal talk made her uncomfortable.
After selecting a vibrant headscarf in blues and greens, she wrapped, twisted and tucked. “Is it too tight? I don’t want it to slip off, but I don’t want to give you a headache either.”
“It feels fine. Can I see it?”
“Oh, sure.” She dug in her bag for the mirror she never produced unless asked.
“Not bad. You might get those wings after all.” Mel lowered the hand mirror with a thump, as if it was too heavy.
Recognizing the sign of fatigue, Claire turned off the music and began repacking her things. “I’ll leave so you have time to rest before Cody comes to visit.”
“I’m having a hard time with that. Sleeping, I mean. I worry about Cody’s future. If it weren’t for my stubborn streak . . .” Mel turned a watery gaze to the window, her chin trembling.
Usually ready with a snappy comeback, Claire had nothing but a cowardly urge to flee this room, this situation, this patient. She wrestled her strong inclination to offer help into submission before delivering her standard parting line. “Have one of the nurses get in touch with me when you feel like being pampered again.”
“Thanks, Claire. Could you have someone bring me the white pages for Greater Little Rock?”
“Sure. Good luck finding Tee.” She waved from the doorway, left Mel’s request with Rita and headed to her car, feeling lower than dirt.
In the parking lot, she kicked at a crumpled can before picking it up and tossing it in a nearby trash bin. “Don’t people know they’re not supposed to litter?” she grumbled aloud.
Usually her work on the oncology ward left her with a good feeling overall, but today’s experience had been more frustrating than most. Must be the kid involved and the thoughts of such a young child in the system.
He’d be chewed up and spit out.
Dang it, Mel’s problems were none of her business.
On her next trip in, she’d check with Rita—for the child’s sake—but that’s all. She would not get involved. The situation with Mel, her son and Tee, who had no clue how badly his life was about to derail, all added up to a great big emotional train wreck.
Her Unexpected Family coming late February, 2014
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Carol Burnside is an award-winning author traditionally published in books and magazines. Five of her novel length manuscripts have placed in numerous RWA chapter contests and won five, including the prestigious Maggie Award for Excellence.
Writing as Annie Rayburn, Carol produces speculative fiction, erotic romances.
While Carol/Annie enjoys the adoration she receives from her furbabies, what she really loves is hearing from her readers. Browse around her website for blog posts, excerpts, review snippits, and more about her sexy characters. Subscribe to her (free!) newsletter for all the lastest happenings and read her blogs with a group of great authors at www.PetitFoursAndHotTamales.com.
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A Suitable Wife: A Sweetwater Springs Novel Page 24
