Time for Raine

by C. Barry Denham

  Doctor Victor continued for a few minutes, relating the details of the tests. Her soft, feminine voice and demeanor were mesmerizing. Her subtle and unassuming nature made her so very…interesting. There was no other way to put it. And that perfume. But as much as he enjoyed being in her presence, Sean couldn’t shake an underlying uneasiness. Was the room getting warm?

  “Sean, you don’t have to make a decision today regarding the direction I’m suggesting for Raine.” She stood and produced a manila envelope from the corner of her desk. “Here are a few brochures and collaterals concerning the tests, along with the costs involved. Most health insurance providers will cover at least a portion of the costs. There are also references, if you and Mom care to check them out. So, if it’s okay with you, I’ll ask Connie to set up a follow-up appointment we can use as the first testing session, or if you want, to set another plan of action in evaluating your lovely daughter. And she is very lovely. And it’s plain to see she adores her father.”

  “Thank you.”

  What? That was the sum total of his response after all his concerns? His face felt hot, but if the good doctor noticed, she didn’t bring attention to it. Did she notice how he was perspiring?

  “Now let’s see how Raine is doing, shall we?”

  He stood and followed her toward the door, like a little lost puppy.

  ****

  The last patient was gone, and the front door to the office suite was locked. It had been a long day.

  Noelle couldn’t stop thinking about him. What a nice dad this man is, and not to mention a hunk. The strong silent type. His wife is very lucky.

  “Well, I must say…” Connie dropped a few files on Noelle’s desk. Noelle flinched, caught thinking about things she shouldn’t be thinking about. “Things are looking up, wouldn’t you say?”

  “What do you mean?” Noelle straightened the files on her desk and hoped Connie wasn’t somehow tapping into her thought.

  “Uh-huh. Noelle, my dear, you don’t fool me. You know exactly what I’m saying. I mean, if you didn’t notice Mr. Major-Hunk-What’s-His-Name-Sampson-Man, well then honey, you better check your pulse.”

  She agreed, but wasn’t going to let Connie know how she felt. Sean Sampson was a good-looking man—the entire package—at least from what she had witnessed. But that meant nothing to her, did it? For heaven’s sakes if there were any man who was off limits and out of her league, it was this one, right? Not to mention the fact he was married!

  “Did you see those biceps? And that six-pack? Why, you could see those flat tummy ripples straight through the fabric of that thin shirt.”

  Connie was milking it for all it was worth. Noelle didn’t know if she was trying to get a rise out of her, or if Connie was expressing interest in him.

  “And the dark hair and those piercing brown eyes?” Connie was relentless, like a dog on a bone.

  “Okay, Connie.” Noelle flipped hair from her face. “I get it. And yes, he is quite an attractive man.” It’s getting hot in here, right?

  Connie laughed. “Honey, the UPS man is attractive. This Sampson man is drop-dead hot!”

  Noelle couldn’t hold back a laugh. It had been a long day, and she was giddy. If Connie only knew how much she had thought about him since the moment he and Raine walked into her office. And if she were honest with herself, thinking about him made her very uneasy. It was far too soon to be thinking about any man, especially one like Sean Sampson. It would take more than a few months before she could trust anyone of the opposite sex. She wanted to kick Connie for suggesting she might be attracted to someone married. No way. Not when she had generally cursed all men since the day she caught Scott cheating.

  “You know, honey,” Connie said, “all men aren’t pigs. There are still some good ones out there. And there’s a good one out there for you, too.”

  “Well.” Noelle shuffled the files on her desk. Had Connie jumped inside her mind? Her friend had an uncanny ability to read her. “I have to tell you, I’m not interested in finding that man right now.”

  “Too bad, lady. I think this could be one of those rare ones.” Connie’s expression turned solemn. “Umm, umm. Well then, if you’re not interested, would you mind if I took a shot at him?”

  “You can’t be serious.” Noelle was shocked. Wait a minute! Jealousy? Who was she kidding? She couldn’t be jealous, not of a married man. Could she? She shook her head, as if trying to rid herself of the thought.

  Connie broke into a smile. “I’m just messing with you, honey. I’ve got my hands full right now with the UPS man.”

  Noelle frowned.

  “No, really.” Connie lost her smile. “He asked me out this weekend.” Connie studied Noelle closely. “Wait a minute! You were jealous, weren’t you? When I said I might be interested in this Sampson guy, you were jealous. I can see it all over your face.”

  “I was not,” she said, louder than she had planned. “I told you. I’m really not interested.”

  “Not interested, or not ready?”

  Noelle sighed. “Well, maybe you’re right. Maybe I’m not ready. But really, I think it would be better if I concentrated on my work. After all, Sean’s little girl is a very interesting and unusual case.”

  “Sean’s little girl?” Her friend’s eyebrows lifted. “It’s Sean, now. Y’all are on a first name basis, I take it?”

  “I’ll have you know he insisted I call him Sean.”

  “And did you tell him he could call you Noelle? No, wait. Let me guess. You also told him he could call you for a date, right?”

  “Very funny. That’ll never happen. His little girl let me know right off the bat her daddy was taken. She told me her mother’s name is also Patricia. Let’s not kid ourselves. Neither one of us goes for married men.”

  “Married? Uh-uh.” Connie shook a finger at Noelle. “Not this time, honey. I checked his file. There is no Patricia Sampson listed in the ‘name of spouse’ section of the forms. Under mother’s name, it had an N slash A, not applicable.”

  “I don’t understand.” Noelle mentally replayed the conversations she had with both Sean and his daughter.

  Connie looked confused. “I’m sorry, maybe it’s me who doesn’t understand. I thought you knew he wasn’t married. Didn’t you notice he wasn’t wearing a ring?”

  “Lots of men don’t wear their wedding bands.”

  “So you noticed?”

  “Yes. I mean, no, I didn’t.” Maybe Connie was right. Maybe all men weren’t pigs. Sean Sampson seemed to have it all—good looks, kindness, gentleness, admiration for his child, courtesy. She looked up, but her friend was no longer there. Maybe she should leave well enough alone. It had been a long day.

  A long, but very interesting—and confusing—day. The appointments with Raine were strung out over the next weeks, and she couldn’t help but wonder if time around him would bring clarity…or more confusion.

  Chapter Three

  All though dinner and bath time, a myriad of questions buzzed around in Sean’s head. Through the constant banter of his sweet daughter, he replayed the conversation with Raine on the beach and the visit to the doctor over and over in his mind. The test results would surely yield some answers, but he couldn’t wait. They settled into his favorite chair for bedtime stories, and he took matters into his own hands.

  She snuggled against his chest, and he breathed in the clean, sweet smell of her bubble-gum shampoo. She was a little doll, clad in her red and blue Dora the Explorer pajamas. Although she asked for one of her favorites, he pulled out a new, more advanced book and convinced her he should read to her from that one. He read slowly and was on the second page when she giggled and made a comment concerning a line he had not yet read aloud. He paused and searched the page for any illustration that might have clued her to the humor but found none. He cleared his throat.

  “Now, my little sweet-smelling picadee, how did you know the pig was going to say something funny?” He wrinkled his forehead and raised an eyebro
w.

  She wrinkled the corner of her mouth. “Uh, Daddy, I read it.”

  “You can read this book?”

  “Uh, yeah.”

  “Okay, Miss Smarty Dora Pajama Pants, read it to me.”

  And she did. At a pace he could barely follow.

  As proud and as surprised as he was, his heart pounded. This might not necessarily be a good thing. He pushed the envelope and suggested she read to him from an old physics textbook. Surprisingly, she nimbly navigated her way through several chapters of the book. In the process, she asked questions regarding the concepts and theories of the subject that were astounding.

  “Daddy? Why are you looking at me like that?”

  Sean stammered for an answer and smiled. “Well, I was…Daddy was thinking of how proud I am at how well you can read.”

  Clearly, he had to take this issue further. Remembering the promises he made to Patty, he was torn between wanting what was best for Raine and taking the best course of action to protect her. Would Patty approve of the doctor’s plan to test their little girl? The first two years without Patty were difficult, but he had always been up to the task. However, nothing like this situation had arisen. He had to hold it together, and not fold with the first adversity that happened along. He would do whatever he needed to do to ensure that did not happen.

  Later, in bed, he was unable to turn off his mind. How had he missed the clues to her ability to read so well? How long had she been reading like that? For most of the night he continued to struggle with the right course of action—stick to the testing appointments, or find a reason to cancel. Before falling asleep he knew there was but one thing he needed to do.

  He needed to get a second opinion. Not from another doctor, but from a source close to the subject.

  ****

  When he woke, the sun shone through his blinds, confirming ideal conditions for step one of the day’s plan. He had slept later than usual, courtesy of the absence of his normally early-rising daughter. He slipped shorts on and made his way to her room. She was awake, lying in her bed, deep in a conversation with Belle, her stuffed nighttime sleeping partner.

  “Hey, sweetie,” he whispered.

  She looked up at him with the smile that always made his day. “Hey, Daddy.” She sat up and tucked Belle back under the covers.

  “What say we take a trip to the beach today?”

  “Yippee!” Sean moved closer, and she jumped into his arms.

  Step two was complete.

  Soon they finished breakfast, dressed for the beach, and were out the door. On to the final step of the plan.

  As a widowed dad, Sean often found it challenging to wedge himself into a group of mothers at the beach or at a playground, at least not without an open romance novel in his lap or flipping through People magazine or Southern Homes and Gardens. He’d learned to improvise, however, and managed to find ways to get within hearing distance. Through strategic positioning, he could inconspicuously cash in on tidbits from their conversations. Such an informal gaggle of ladies was often a wealth of information concerning any number of pediatric subjects. The plan today was to find out if any of the ladies had taken a child to a psychologist. If he got lucky, he might even garner some opinions of Dr. Victor and her battery of tests.

  He strategically claimed a spot a safe distance away yet near a cluster of moms, and watched his sweet child mold wet sand into an unknown object, one he suspected only she could identify. He didn’t have a clue what to do next, but resolved to find some way to eavesdrop on some answers.

  “You know, you are welcome to join us if you like.”

  The statement came as a shock, and he hoped it didn’t show as he looked up, shielding his eyes from the sun. A half dozen ladies, positioned a few feet behind him on the sugar-white sands, giggled in unison. A tall, slender woman had materialized next to his folding chair.

  “We won’t bite, you know. Especially big handsome dads like you.”

  She offered her hand, to the oohs and aahs of her friends. Sean’s face flushed. He took her hand and stood. She removed her shades and gave him the once-over. Clad only in his swimsuit and baseball cap, he felt naked.

  “What are you, anyway, six-one, six-two, and let’s see—one-eighty-five, one-ninety?” She glanced to her friends for validation. “We’d all like to know the secret behind those arms, legs, and abs, and that hint of cologne I’m getting. It’s very subtle but quite delicious. Oh, really, there’s no need to blush. Although I’m told my bite is much worse than my bark.”

  This brought laughter from the group. It was quite the icebreaker, and in spite of his discomfort, Sean smiled. Despite the publicity his book signings and personal appearances had given him, he was never quite comfortable in the limelight.

  This voluptuous, bikinied beauty led him to a spot next to her chair and in the middle of the coconut-scented covey. The circle of bikinis, blankets, and lounge chairs was a kaleidoscope of color. From the edge of her sandcastle a few feet away, Raine giggled. He turned to find his daughter watching the entire scene. After a few moments of silent appraisal from the group, he removed his favorite, albeit sweaty, cap and took the initiative.

  “Good morning, ladies, my name is—”

  “Oh, we all know who you are, Sean Sampson,” interrupted one of the women. She lowered the book she had been reading and looked around the circle of ladies. “I think all of us have read at least one of your books. Just because we read romance doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy a good action-adventure story once in a while.”

  “Action adventure?” argued a woman who looked no older than eighteen. Her bright yellow two-piece left little to the imagination. “I think, Mr. Sampson, we all agree there are enough hot love scenes in your books to seriously consider a new genre for your stories.”

  “Like the scene with Matt and Ginger in the cockpit of the boat in Down Island?” added a blonde woman in a pale green cover-up.

  “Or that sizzling love scene under those Maui waterfalls in Above Suspicion?” purred another dark-complexioned and dark-eyed beauty.

  “I think our author friend is blushing again,” said the ringleader. She extended her hand once more. “I’m Elaine. The only unattached one in the group, incidentally. Well, currently, at any rate, and if you don’t count past divorces.”

  She faced the circle, holding firmly to Sean’s hand. “This is Brenda, Alice, Rene, Tammy, and Susan.”

  Sean nodded. Consistent with his newly acquired writer’s block, words were elusive.

  “Well, it’s nice to see you again, Sean,” said Rene, her book still in hand. “Although I am disappointed you don’t remember me.”

  He searched his memory. After a few moments, he folded his arms and rubbed his chin. “I’m sorry. We’ve met?”

  “Well, yes. But that’s okay.” She poked her lip out. “I guess I’ll forgive you, considering there were a lot of other ladies lurking around when I met you.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “At the signing for your first book South Winds a few years back?”

  “Ahh,” he acknowledged, although he didn’t remember. He ventured a guess. “At the Barnes and Noble in Mobile?”

  “Close enough.”

  “So, Sean,” asked baby blue bikini. “When can we expect another one of your stories? I haven’t seen a new release in quite a while.”

  He wasn’t prepared for the question. Not from a stranger. He had gotten the question quite often from Derek—his best friend and agent—and from his publisher. And he had asked himself that question.

  One of the ladies seemed to sense his frustration and broke the silence. “Well, you can believe that when the next one comes out, Sean, we’ll all be there in line for a copy. And as for myself, I want a steamy, very personalized autograph.”

  Sean smiled, happy she had bailed him out. “It would be my pleasure.”

  This brought more oohs and aahs and seemed to render her silent. After an awkward moment, he glanced around
to check on Raine.

  “She is so adorable,” Elaine said, recovering from her sudden shyness. “You and your wife must be so proud of her.”

  Sean looked at the expectant expressions around the group and became aware he must have kept his personal life more private than he realized. Never had he spoken of his daughter or her mother at events, nor written of them on the flaps and inside covers of his books. If he had his way, there would be no bio or photo of him. Building strong characters in his stories for his readers was one thing, but keeping his private life from the public was another. He had never quite understood why some found it so difficult to separate the author from his creations.

  “My wife passed away, soon after she and I got home from China with Raine.”

  After a long silence, Elaine replied, “I’m sorry.” She seemed near tears.

  The uneasiness hung in the air like a fog, and it was his turn to break the silence. He turned toward Raine, who was intently examining a cache of multi-colored shells. A few other children had joined her.

  “Don’t let her size fool you.” He laughed. “That little girl is an eating machine. She can surely pack away the groceries.”

  Several ladies laughed.

  “Such a beautiful name. How old is she?” a woman asked.

  “Thirty-two months.”

  “No!” another argued. “I would have guessed she is closer to four years old, even considering her petite size.”

  “Four?” Sean asked.

  “I would agree,” said the woman at the end of the line of chaises. “From hearing her talk to my son, I thought she was at least that age. She seems so mature and—”

  “Smart,” Elaine interrupted. “There’s no other word for it. Sean, your daughter’s vocabulary and reasoning are very advanced for being—did you say thirty-two months?”

  “Are you sure?” asked one of the ladies. “I’ve read there may be some confusion in determining the age of adopted Chinese children.” She covered her mouth. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

  “It’s okay,” Sean added quickly. He smiled and lowered his voice. “I’ve read the same reports. But we adopted her when she was seven months old. If there is an error in her birth date, it can’t be more than a few weeks.”