"Why don't you mind your own business, M.A.? It might be good practice for you on your next job."
"You'd throw a single mother out on the street. What a rotten guy."
"You're too damn sure of yourself, that's your problem. Think you run this office."
"I know I run this office. Without me, you and Dave would drown in a sea of flea dip." She followed him back into his office/temporary home. "So how serious is it anyway?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"I know you too well for this dumb act, Gregory. You and Diana -- what's the scoop?"
"None of your business."
"Of course it's my business. I'm in favor of anything that keeps you in East Hampton a little longer."
"Don't get your hopes up. I'm still leaving right on schedule."
Mary Ann's smile curved down, tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Doesn't sound like true love to me."
That's where you're wrong, M.A. What he felt for Diana was most definitely true love, high romance, any pop term you cared to put to it. Waking beside her each morning was like being a kid again on Christmas Day; he hadn't believed his heart was capable of such powerful, all-encompassing love.
However the last thing he intended to do was give Mary Ann Marino any fuel for her fire; if he told his office administrator he was thinking of asking Diana to accompany him on his three months sail to the Caribbean, Mary Ann would have a field day. The news would probably end up on the front page of the Easthampton Star.
Besides, first he had to ask Diana if she would go with him; but, that was only a formality because he had no intention of taking no for an answer. Mary Ann grabbed his sleeve as he headed toward his office at the rear of the hospital. "I need a favor."
Gregory groaned and sat on the edge of her desk. "You took Daisy and her puppies of your own free will, M.A. No fair backing out on it now." Joey had pleaded with his mother that Daisy looked lonely at the hospital with her three week old pups and he'd convinced a reluctant Mary Ann to turn their house in Quogue into a canine nursery. "Which puppy are you going to keep?"
She didn't return his smile and his gut tightened. "I need a long lunch, Gregory."
"Joey?"
"Yeah." "Take as long as you need." He flashed her another smile. "Better pick out a puppy soon, M.A., or you're going to end up with all of them."
"I'm worrying about my son," she snapped, "not a puppy."
"Joey's going to be fine," Gregory said, turning away. "I know it."
"You're not God," Mary Ann said as he headed toward his office. "You can't know who gets well and who doesn't. There's no guarantee Joey'll be as lucky as you were."
Shut up, he thought violently as he closed his office door behind him. I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear about luck and the odds and the hand of the Almighty picking and choosing his favorite sons. He'd spent almost five years wondering why he'd been lucky -- and wondering how long that luck would last. The thought that his luck might have tipped the odds against Joey Marino was more than he could stand.
Joey had stopped spending his days at Gull Cottage with Diana. Sure they all used the girls' departure as a cover, but the real reason for his absence was painfully clear to anyone with eyes.
Gregory, however, was determined not to see any of it as he slipped into his lab coat and searched for his wayward stethoscope. The lure of the open sea grew more enticing with each day that passed and it occurred to him more than once that waiting for August 15th to come around wasn't necessary after all. This summer season had proved to be unusually slow. Except for Boris and his frequent cries for help, East Hampton's animal population was enjoying a state of enviable good health. Dave was back at work and Charlie was set to join the staff full-time in less than ten days. Mary Ann kept the business side running smoothly. They might not notice he was gone until he was halfway to Anguilla.
Which was all right with him as long as he had Diana Travis by his side.
#
"Oh, come on, Di!" Paula's amused laugh floated through the phone wires between East Hampton and Bernardsville, New Jersey. "Nobody's perfect. Not even Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Handsome."
"He is, Paulie. I'm telling you, this man is perfect." Diana stretched out on the chaise longue set up on the deck of Gull Cottage and lifted her face toward the morning sun. Amazing how quickly she'd grown accustomed to sun decks and solariums and having the Atlantic Ocean at her own back door.
"No bad habits?"
"None that I've noticed." Paula's disbelief was quite delightful. "He doesn't smoke; he drinks moderately; he doesn't chew his nails or snore or leave the toilet seat up. What more can a woman ask for?"
"Did you say snore?"
"You were paying attention."
"Have you -- "
"Draw your own conclusion."
"I can't believe it," said Paula. "You really did it."
Diana laughed at the shock in her sister's voice. "I'm thirty five years old, Paulie. It shouldn't be that much of a surprise."
"I'm talking about your plan. You did it, Di, just the way you said you would. You found the perfect man -- and ahead of schedule, at that."
"Slow down, big sister. I think you're getting ahead of yourself."
"Can you tell me it's not serious?"
Diana fell quiet. "No," she said after a moment. "I can't."
"What happens after July 31st when the lease on Gull Cottage is up?"
"We've talked about that."
"And?"
"And none of your business, Paulie," she said gently. She loved her sister dearly, but she wasn't about to tell Paula about Gregory's invitation to spend two weeks on his boat. Big sister advice wasn't what Diana needed at the moment.
"When are you coming home?"
"Home?" Diana laughed. "Where's home? I'm footloose and fancy-free and able to hang my hat anywhere I choose."
"Are you moving in with him?"
"You're pushing, Paula."
"Come on, Di, what's the scoop? Are there wedding bells in the air?"
"You'll be the first to know." She certainly couldn't tell Paula that she had the feeling Gregory would be asking her to sail to the Caribbean with him come mid-August because her sister would be on her way to the printer for engraved wedding invitations.
"There has to be a catch some place," said Paula. "Nobody gets everything they want in life -- not even you."
"Why is happiness so hard to understand?"
"I suppose next thing I know you'll tell me you're pregnant, right on schedule. 'Mother' becomes a mother."
Diana laughed delightedly at the thought of children with Gregory's beautiful blue-green eyes. "You know me, Paulie: I'm the General's daughter, through and through." How wonderful that this serendipitous detour to East Hampton had given her the man of her dreams. She would have to remember to send Paula and Art a magnum of champagne and her undying gratitude.
"Be careful, kiddo," said Paula. "Just remember, no one's perfect."
"I'll remember, Paula."
"But you won't believe it, will you?"
"No," said Diana, thinking about Gregory Stewart. "Not for a minute."
#
They went to see Joey at the hospital that evening after supper. It was obvious he wanted very much to talk to Gregory alone and twice Diana excused herself so they could have some privacy. Each time, however, Gregory made it a point to draw her into the conversation in a way that made it awkward -- if not impossible -- to get away.
Mary Ann's mother came in a little after seven to visit her grandson and Gregory eagerly snatched that opportunity for them to say their goodbyes, right in the middle of Mrs. Gallagher's plans for her grandson's birthday in late August.
"We'll come by tomorrow," Diana said, kissing the boy on the forehead and smiling as he turned bright red. "Maybe I'll even challenge you to a game of round-robin gin rummy, if you're up to it."
Joey mumbled his thanks and looked up at Gregory, his dark brown eyes questioning but the man merely gav
e him an awkward pat on the shoulder and said, "Later, pal." He was out of the room and down the corridor before Joey could even say goodbye.
The setting cast a violent reddish-orange glow across the asphalt parking lot. Gregory sprinted toward the Corvette and Diana found herself breaking into a run to keep up with him.
"Slow down," she called out. "My sandals aren't made for the hundred yard dash."
If he heard her, he gave no notice of it. By the time she reached the sports car, he had the passenger door unlocked and was on his way around to the driver's side while a feeling of foreboding settled across Diana's shoulders like a breeze off the Long Island Sound.
"Let's take the boat out," he said after he started the engine. "We'll shoot out to the marina and be there in no time."
"Isn't it a little late for a pleasure cruise?" she asked, trying to keep the anxiety from her voice.
"Moonlight on the Sound is a sight to behold."
She knew he meant it to be a seductive invitation but his words held a curiously flat tone and her apprehension escalated. "I don't exactly feel like a romantic evening. I'm worried about Joey."
"Don't be." Gregory gunned the Corvette's engine then shifted into reverse and backed out of the parking spot. "He's going to be fine."
They rode in silence, broken only by the sounds of low music from the car's stereo system. Not even Marvin Gaye -- or the beautiful scenery rolling past her window -- was enough to lift Diana's spirits. Her heart ached for Joey, for what he was going through in that hospital; neither she nor Gregory could do anything to help banish his disease. What they could do, however, was help keep his morale from flagging. Only problem was, that couldn't be done from the front seat of Gregory's Corvette as it sped on toward the marina. Paula had said, "Nobody's perfect." Maybe Gregory was hospital-phobic, one of the millions of Americans whose knees turned to Jell-o the moment they saw a gurney or an IV.
She glanced over at him and felt a rush of love race through her. One tiny flaw, and a curable one at that. Besides, even if Diana couldn't handle it, she was certain that Mother could.
99.9% perfect was still pretty darned impressive.
They made it to the marina in record time and before Diana knew it she was on the boat and Gregory had cast off toward the shoreline of Connecticut across the Sound. The only sound was that of the boat's engine. The night breezes were soft and gentle and cool, an odd counterpoint to the tension in the air between them. After they had put some distance between themselves and the marina she walked over to where he stood and placed her hand against his back.
"What is it?" she asked quietly. "Can I help you?"
He cut the engine and dropped anchor. "Yes," he said, sweeping her into his arms. "You're the only one who can."
He dipped his head toward her and in the next instant, found her mouth and possessed it. His tongue demanded entry and quickly drew her into a silent, sensual battle that made her blood run hot and quick. He stood with his legs spread wide, drawing her up against him until that part of him that was hard and male and hungry was the only reality in her rapidly shifting world. She felt weak with longing, burning from within, hollow and aching and yearning to be filled.
He slid her skirt up her thighs, then with one quick movement tore the lace panties away from her hips.
She moaned as he found her with his fingers and a dizzying wave of sensation threatened to destroy what was left of her equilibrium.
"Go with it," he murmured in her ear. "Give over, Diana."
His words were all she needed to send her crashing over the edge of the precipice and she moved shamelessly, wantonly against his hand as he held her tight against him.
"My knees are weak," she whispered as the last wave of sensation ebbed.
"I'll take care of that." She heard the metallic rasp of metal followed by the slither of cloth falling to the deck and in the next instant his hands were around her waist and she was lifted up as easily as if she were made of gossamer and silk.
"We're not finished yet," he said, his voice a low male growl. "I was hoping you'd say that," she managed as, to her amazement, desire coiled within her again.
Slowly, he lowered her inch by agonizing inch until he rested against the place where she was hot and moist and ready.
"Now?" he asked, throbbing against her.
"Oh, God, yes-s-s..."
It was a long time before they spoke again.
#
When Diana woke up in his cabin later on, Gregory was leaning back against the headboard, watching her. His chest was bare and his tanned skin was in sharp contrast to the stark whiteness of the sheets.
"Hi," she said, pushing her hair away from her eyes. "Can't sleep?"
He shook his head, still watching her. "I didn't try."
She scooted closer to his side, reveling in the male heat emanating from his skin and the hypnotic rocking of the boat. "I slept wonderfully."
He chuckled and drew her into an embrace so that her cheek rested against the hard muscle of his shoulder. "Dream of me, I hope?"
"I dreamed of you and the twins playing catch on the beach." She pressed a kiss to the spot where his shoulder joined his arm. "You would make a wonderful father. You -- " She sensed rather than felt him tense and pull away from her touch. "Is something wrong?"
"We need to talk."
Her heart hammered a deep and painful rhythm inside her chest. "Talk?" she asked, forcing lightness into her voice. "There are much better things to do than talk, Gregory." She let her fingers trail down his belly but he took her hand in his and held it tight.
"There's something I have to tell you," he continued, his tone dark as the night beyond the porthole. "I wasn't going to but it occurred to me that it isn't fair to either of us if I don't."
Tears stung behind her eyelids and she tried to pull away from him but his grip was unyielding. "I've waited long enough. I owe you this much."
Oh, dear God, she thought, wildly searching about for a way to escape. Don't tell me you're in love with someone else...not now when you've come to mean so much to me. One week ago she might have been able to pick up the pieces and move on; now she knew he would be part of her forever, no matter what happened. Summoning up every ounce of courage at her command, she met his eyes. "What is it?"
His gaze darted from the porthole to the narrow closet then finally settled reluctantly upon her. "I owe you an explanation."
"You don't owe me anything, Gregory. All you owe me is -- "
"Quiet," he said, pressing his hand against her mouth. "Don't make this any harder than it already is."
"You're scaring me, Gregory. What on earth is wrong?" Are you a spy? Are you a mad scientist? A movie actor's child or deposed potentate? Tell me, damn you, Gregory Stewart! Say something to rid her of the feeling that her entire life was about to be blown to kingdom come.
He took a long breath; his heart beat wildly beneath her icy hands. "Joey isn't the only one with cancer, Diana: I had it, too."
The words tumbled in her brain like vending machine ice cubes sliding into a paper cup and the sudden rush of cold that swept over her made it difficult to think with anything resembling clarity. "I -- I don't understand. You're the picture of health," she said, hoping to erase the words before they took permanent shape in her brain. I don't want to hear this, Gregory. Don't tell me I'm going to lose you...
"You should have seen me five years ago," he said. "It wasn't a pretty sight."
She looked at his body, at the beautiful plane of his flat belly, the swell of musculature and found it impossible to imagine anything but splendor. "I don't see any scars, Gregory. You look perfect to me."
He tossed the cover aside and stood up. "Here," he said, pointing to a pale thin line on his shoulder. "And here."
"I don't understand."
"Hodgkin's."
"Dear God, Gregory...I didn't know."
"That's the point. You weren't supposed to."
"Are you -- will you..." Her words trailed
off in an awkward mumble. What on earth would Mother recommend in a situation like this?
"It was rough," he said, his tone matter-of-fact, "but I hung in. September 1st I get the all-clear."
"And then you can be sure you're fine?" She was desperate for reassurance. "Then you can be positive?"
He took her face in his hands and looked into her eyes. "Even then I don't come with a guarantee. I want you to understand that."
"But the all-clear -- what does that mean?"
"It's a nominal goal. Five years with no visible signs of disease means you have a better-than-good chance of avoiding a recurrence."
Nobody comes with a guarantee, Diana. Nobody is perfect. Not you, not this man you love, not the nieces you adore or the sister who drives you crazy.
"Is this what happened with your fiancee?" she asked after a moment.
"Partly. Sick men weren't high on her list."
"You're better off," Diana said, anger heating her voice. "She was a fool."
"She was honest. She couldn't handle it and she walked. I can't fault her for that."
Diana's head pounded with a volatile mixture of outrage and fear; her heart ached with love and denial. "The words '...in sickness and in health...' mean something, Gregory. It's part of the deal."
"That's why she didn't marry me, Diana. She knew she couldn't keep her end of the bargain."
"Fool," she said, kissing his shoulder, the juncture between shoulder and arm, the hard wall of his chest. "Nothing will ever happen to you." I won't let it. I've waited too long to find you, to love you. "I can't imagine life without you."
No wonder he'd been reluctant to visit Joey in the hospital. Joey's experience only pointed out the fact that he had yet to reveal his own brush with illness to Diana. "You want children, don't you?"
She nodded, fear once again nipping at the edges of her mind. "Very much."
"I can't promise."
"But you used a condom, Gregory." She had been touched by his willingness to handle that aspect of birth control.
His voice was gentle as he said, "There are other reasons today."
"But there's still a possibility, isn't there? You might father a child." Please God, don't ask this of me. I want this man, his children...
Mother Knows Best Page 17
