Poppy's Passions

by Stephanie Beck

  At times he waved to acquaintances, even spoke briefly to a few, and introduced her to business associates. She’d only seen the skuzzy office side of his work, but she realized he was working now even as he entertained her. The look he gave her each time he introduced her as his wife and mother of his babies made her feel like the most beautiful woman on the planet. If there was any doubt remaining about Trevor being like her father, it was gone before the second spin.

  Cody cut in after two songs, Trevor heading to the bar where Michael sat with a drink. She knew they watched, because she could feel their eyes on her as she swayed in Cody’s arms. He couldn’t seem to find the beat, but she didn’t mind because like with Trevor, she could find nothing wrong when hugging to music.

  “We should do this more.” She leaned back in his arms and smiled. “Dance, I mean, at home.”

  “Maybe with Trevor. Michael and I aren’t good at this. I have no rhythm, and Mike’s got two left feet.” His candor made her smile. “Big left feet that step on little toes according to his high school prom date.”

  “I can’t say that I care.” Content to shuffle along with the music, she laid her head back on his chest. “The band is great. I get to wrap myself around you, no matter the song, and I get to show you off. I can always stand on Michael’s big feet to avoid crushing if I need to.”

  He chuckled a little before draping her arms around his middle and wrapping his forearms around her shoulders, holding her as close as could be in public. “I am so damn proud of you, sweetheart. I know this has all been beyond what you thought you could handle, but I’m so glad you’re still with us.”

  “That means a lot, Cody. Thank you.” His simple words summed up what she felt but couldn’t find the words to say. She was proud of them too, just hadn’t recognized it in the abundant emotions surrounding her. “I was afraid I wouldn’t be enough for the three of you, or you three would be too much for me, but not anymore. Now I think I’m too happy to worry about being afraid.”

  “Good, then we’re doing something right.” He pressed his mouth to her ear, his breath warming her from outside in. “Tell me I can say it, darlin’.”

  “Oh, Cody, I–”

  “Poppy.” Trevor’s untimely interruption took her attention from Cody.

  Hating to lose the moment, she dug her fingers into Cody’s shirt before she turned to Trevor when he continued speaking. “Sorry, guys. Your purse was vibrating, babe, so I checked your phone. I didn’t open anything, but you’ve got thirty messages from someone. I thought they might be important.”

  “Did you see from who?” The moment with Cody had to wait, but as they followed Trevor toward the relative quiet of the bar, it was his hand she grasped.

  “Rose, maybe?” Trevor shrugged. “I’m not sure. I didn’t want to look too hard since it’s your phone, but I think they’re all from the same person.”

  “Rose is my oldest sister. If she texted that much it must be important. I should call her now.”

  She looked at her phone. Trevor was right about Rose’s messages, but her battery died before she could open any past the first one which only said “call now” in all capital letters.

  “Here, honey.” Trevor handed over his phone before she could ask. “Let’s go by the restrooms so you can have some privacy.”

  She couldn’t say she was close to any of her sisters, especially lately, but she was closest to Rose. As the oldest she’d taken over a few of the more maternal roles when she’d been around. It was Rose who potty trained her and walked her to the bus. As adults they didn’t have much in common but Poppy adored her nephews, Jonathan and Alexander. Even Rose’s husband Greg wasn’t hard to get along with.

  “Tallendaggo residence.” A young voice answered on the second ring and she couldn’t help but smile, despite the tension she felt.

  “Wow, that’s a lot of name for such a little guy.” She always teased because it made her nephews laugh, and their happiness was important to her.

  “Auntie Poppy! Mom couldn’t find you, and Grandpa said you ran away.” Recognizable by his lisp, Jonathan rushed everything he said. “Where have you been? You missed Thanksgiving. I got to do the wishbone with Alex and I won.”

  “That’s great, buddy, and I didn’t run away. I’m just staying with some friends. Is your mom close?” She would rather talk to the little boy for hours, listening to his stories and the crazy things his imagination came up with, but there had to be a reason Rose left so many urgent messages.

  “Yep, here she comes. Love you, Auntie.”

  She waited while a static shuffle ensued and gave Trevor a reassuring smile.

  “Poppy, where are you? You need to be in San Antonio.”

  “I’m in Los Angeles right now, but if it’s important I can be there tomorrow.” Her sudden concern overcame the bristling she felt at her sister’s command.

  “Is your nephew’s life important enough?” Rose snapped. “Alexander has leukemia. The doctor wants everyone in the family to have blood and marrow available for matching. Everyone’s done it except you, and you owe me. You know you do.”

  “Rose, this isn’t about owing anything. I’ll be there as soon as I’m able because I love my nephew.” She repeated her promise twice before Rose finally let her hang up.

  She stared at the phone, shocked. Her nephew’s illness was serious. Even after years of research and medical advancements in the best hospitals in the world, childhood cancer wasn’t always curable. Leukemia killed thousands of kids every year, and her nephew could be a statistic.

  Trevor waited a few feet away, his concern showing in the way he fiddled with his shirt buttons. She knew he wanted to ask, but he was willing to give her a moment and she was grateful for that.

  “My nephew, his name is Alexander. He has leukemia. His treatment is going pretty well, but they want blood and marrow from the family members. I have to go.”

  Trevor nodded and gently took his phone from her shaking hand to call for the car. Stuck with ugly possibilities running through her mind, she didn’t notice the ride to the hotel. They were back in record time, Cody holding her the whole time as Michael made calls to the airport and Trevor did rapid research online.

  Waiting was the hardest thing, but it didn’t make sense to fly out in the middle of the night as the tests couldn’t be done until the next morning anyway. They stayed the night in LA, and while she appreciated the brothers trying to help her relax and rest, they were all dragging the next morning when they made their way through the airports.

  Their plane landed at nine o’clock. Poppy, Michael, Trevor, and Cody piled into a rental car and were at San Antonio Children’s Hospital by ten. Another car followed them, security Trevor set up when he called and found the drag race shooter was out on bail. Michael was following the case closely and the racer, a Japanese native with an American work visa, had his lawyers working like mad to avoid jail time. They didn’t expect trouble, but weren’t taking any chances either.

  Poppy’s mind wasn’t on the two inconspicuous men following them as they entered the hospital. The Tallendaggo name went far in the hospital, because one of the great-grandfathers was a founding member decades earlier. The technician at the reception desk was friendly, prompt, and nauseatingly eager to please.

  Poppy tried to bite back her sarcasm and knee jerk rudeness at the kiss-ass tech, but it wasn’t easy when her nerves were shot, her feet hurt, and exhaustion was setting in.

  “Ms. Maguire, we received a fax from your doctor about your condition.” The lab coat clad, impossibly perky young woman led them to a private draw room. “We won’t do marrow samples at this time, and we’ll keep the blood to essential tests only.”

  “Duane?” Poppy asked Trevor, who nodded. “Listen, my doctor also happens to think he’s my father-in-law, so if he’s being overcautious—”

  “No, not at all. The request is very reasonable and our doctors agree. The procedure can be uncomfortable, and since Alexander is doing well
and we have other possible donors it’s not imperative we have a full work up on you.” Within minutes, the tech had Poppy prepped, blood drawn, and the draw spot covered with cotton balls. “That, of course, could change in the months to come, but for now we’ll do a partial work up. Dr. Paraby said there would be three more?”

  “We’re not blood family, but you can check.” To Poppy’s amazement Michael and the others began rolling up their sleeves. “We’ll do the marrow thing too.”

  “We’ll start with blood. Being a direct relative doesn’t always matter, but the blood and tissue compatibility test we run will let us know fairly soon if any of you are a good match. If he does need a transplant, we’ll see who is the closest and go from there.”

  Poppy accepted a juice box from Trevor as the tech readied three more draw trays.

  They each offered their arm, Cody last and dead white, but he toughed it out, concentrating on the wall in front of him. His intensity made her wonder if he was trying to hold it up or knock it down.

  “I’ll let you relax for a few minutes, so take your time and make sure he drinks his juice before standing. That’s a lot of man to pick up off the floor, and we don’t need the room for an hour.”

  Poppy didn’t appreciate the tech’s observation. Cody didn’t need his weakness pointed out any more than necessary.

  Near tears, Poppy had never been so touched. They offered so much, especially Cody who was physically ill just giving blood, and for a little boy they didn’t even know, because of her. They would lie on a table, be cut open, and have needles pushed into their backs if it was asked, because it was the right thing to do. Little beads of sweat remained on Cody’s forehead as she offered him a juice box. He barely looked at her, so she tore it open and nudged the straw to his lips.

  “Cody Paraby, I love you so much.” Holding his cheek to the side of her belly as he finally sipped, she reached down and kissed his head. “You are brave and wonderful, and I’m so proud of you. Thank you. Thank all of you so much.”

  “The little guy’s family,” Michael replied. She knew it was what Cody would have said if he hadn’t been dangerously close to losing his airplane breakfast. “If your sister needs anything for him, let us know. Trev’s richer than God, and Cody and I don’t do so badly either.”

  “That’s so generous.” She smiled because she had to or tears would fall and she’d had enough of those for a while. “Volunteering Trevor’s money for the cause.”

  They laughed as she’d hoped, but she knew every offer was genuine. Even if their money wasn’t accepted they would find other ways to help, because that’s the kind of people their parents raised them to be.

  “So, are we done here?” Cody took several more deep breaths, and she was happy to see color seeping back into his cheeks, albeit slowly.

  She kissed his sweat-damp brow. “I think so, Baby Boy. I’m so proud of you. So proud. Would you like a popsicle?”

  “I’m not six, Poppy.” Knowing he was cranky from blood loss and nausea, she let his grumpy response pass.

  “Sounds good though, doesn’t it?” She pressed the nurse’s call button before he replied.

  After a popsicle, Cody looked human enough for her to agree to leave the hospital. The tech, though snarky, was right, he was too big of a fella to scrape off the floor, and she was happy to see him back to himself after a little time and sugar. He was always so strong, and though he told her not to, she felt guilty for putting him through everything. He said it wasn’t her fault, but it felt like it was.

  She had every intention of making it up to him as soon as they were alone. They were staying in a hotel, one of the nicer ones but not the one from their first night together. Trevor tried to reserve the room when she mentioned wanting to see it again, but another racing convention was in town and the place was booked solid.

  Trevor drove on the way to the hotel, his ease on the crazy San Antonio highways more than she could ever claim even after living there her whole life. She didn’t miss the gridlock and exhaust or the hours she sometimes spent stuck in traffic when an accident blocked the way. It usually only happened when she forgot her book and she would end up staring at the car in front of her long into the night. When Michael helped her out of the car in the parking ramp she kept an eye on Cody, smiling compassionately when he took his time getting out of his side.

  “Hey, Big Guy.” Standing on her tiptoes so Cody couldn’t hear her whisper, she tugged Michael closer. “Do you think you and Trevor could give me and Baby Boy a few minutes in the room?”

  They looked at Cody, who was leaning against the roof of the rental car, obviously still lightheaded, but he glanced up and gave a weak smile. “I’m fine.” He added a wink for her benefit, but it lacked its usual sparkle.

  “No problem, beautiful,” Michael murmured very quietly, then rounded the car to support his brother. “Come on, Baby Boy. Let’s get you stretched out before you’re kissing concrete.”

  Five minutes later, good to his word, Michael took Trevor down to the gift shop and to her surprise, Trevor didn’t balk. He didn’t like being left out of anything and it was something the other brothers didn’t mind accommodating, but he wasn’t oblivious. Cody needed a little extra loving, he could see it and she was grateful he didn’t fuss.

  After using the bathroom, her new favorite activity as the twins grew, she headed to the bedroom. Sure enough, Cody remained exactly where his brothers helped him lie. She crossed the floor and sat near the end of the bed, carefully pulling off his boots. He lifted his feet one at a time so they weren’t heavy, and she soon had the confining shoes off.

  His socks were incredibly white, almost new. They probably were. He preferred new socks, he’d confessed late one night after she’d talked him into giving her a strip tease. The dance had been more adorable than sexy and he’d left his socks on, which was why she’d asked. He liked how new socks felt on his feet and never wore a single pair long enough to make holes in them. Michael foraged through his castoffs and hadn’t bought socks in years, while Cody bought a pack every month.

  She rubbed his feet and squeezed his ankles and toes until the tension eased from them. He didn’t move, didn’t make any sounds, and she wished she could help him. Seeing him laid up was breaking her heart.

  “What do you need, Baby Boy?” She gave his foot one more pat. “Can I bring you anything? Do anything to make you feel better?”

  He groaned and took his forearm away from his eyes. They were bloodshot with fatigue just like her own felt. “You have to ask me when I’m six inches from puking, don’t ya?” He held open his arms for her. “Come here, darlin’.”

  She was careful not to shake the bed when she moved beside him. He pulled her closer until she was nuzzled to the crook of his neck, touching from head to toe, though her toes touched his knees.

  “I’ve finally got you back where I always want you and I’m too sick to do anything about it.” He chuckled and she couldn’t help but press a kiss to his pulsing neck.

  “Like old times, huh?” she teased. “You and me in a hotel, cuddled up in bed, trying to get a few things done before your brothers get back.”

  “You knew they were coming that night?”

  Cody sounded so incredulous she had to bite back a laugh. He hadn’t admitted it, but she knew he felt guilty about their first night. There had been a level of deception in their first coupling, and he didn’t like that sort of smudging of lines between them.

  “Of course. Honey, every woman that’s ever met you knows what you three do. If they hadn’t shown up, I would have been shocked. Not disappointed, not when I would have spent the night loving you, but I would have been mighty surprised.”

  “Huh, so much for my super tricky deception.” There was relief in his voice which was sounding stronger as time passed. “So, the last time it was just the two of us, we were having a discussion.”

  “We were,” she agreed, remembering very well where the conversation had drifted on the dance
floor. “You told me how proud you are of me and asked if I was ready to listen to what you had to say. Then I got interrupted before I said you couldn’t possibly love me as much as I love you.”

  “Oh, yeah?” He tried for nonchalance, but she felt his pulse skyrocket. “All of that, huh?”

  “Yep.” His neck was closest so she kissed it again. “You’ve been waiting and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you wonder about how I felt, Baby Boy. I’ve loved you for a long time.”

  “Since when?” he asked, and then swore. “Damn, are guys even supposed to say crap like that?”

  “My guys can. They can say all the sweet crap in the world, and I won’t tell. It started in the hospital after I was shot. I just wasn’t ready yet. You didn’t love me, yet you never left. After that, I think I fell the rest of the way when you drove into town after working all day to buy pasteurized eggs from SaraJean. I was craving cookie dough and you thought it wouldn’t be safe with the regular ones.”

  “It wouldn’t have.” He instantly defended, like she knew he would. “Salmonella isn’t something you want, darlin’. You think you had it rough the last time we were in San An, tangling with salmonella will knock you on your ass.”

  “I know, and I love that you care so much.” She rubbed her hand across the soft, wash worn flannel of his shirt. “I love you, and loving you makes me happy.”

  “Good.” The solemn tone of his voice showed how her words affected him. Ever since he was born, people had loved him. That her affection and esteem mattered so much humbled her. “Damn, I wish I was feeling up to showing you how much I love you.”

  “It’s okay, Baby Boy.” She pushed to her elbows and softly kissed his mouth, careful not to move him too much. “How about a rain check?”

  “That would be great.” His face, drawn with discomfort, looked relieved.

  “But for now we’ll take a nap.” Retaking her spot, she sighed happily and closed her eyes. “You’ll feel better after you sleep. I promise.”

  Chapter 19