Heart's Reward

by Donna Hill

  She stepped back and really looked at him. “You scared me good this time, big bro.”

  “You know I’ll do anything for attention. I needed a rest anyway,” he said, trying to make light of what had almost taken him away from the people that he loved.

  She dragged the chair closer to the bed, picked up her purse and sat down. “How are you feeling?”

  “Like a pin cushion. And I’m starving. How do they expect a grown man to get his strength back on this?” He held up the wobbly red concoction.

  Melanie giggled. “They want you to take it slow. One hurdle at a time. I’m sure they intend to feed you.”

  “Hmm,” he grumbled.

  “Yep, you’re getting better.”

  He winked at her. “The doctor said I should be getting out of here by tomorrow.”

  “Yes, and I wanted to talk to you about that. You’re going to stay at my house until you’re strong enough and the doctor gives his okay. I won’t take no for an answer. So don’t think about giving me a hard time. I’ll arrange whatever you need,” she rambled on, intent on beating him into submission with a barrage of words.

  “Okay, okay, I give up.”

  Melanie stopped in mid sentence. She craned her neck and peered at him. “What?”

  “I said, okay. I think it’s a great idea.”

  She blinked several times to make sure she was looking at her brother and not some Stepford replacement. “I…well…that’s great. You mean I don’t have to spend the rest of the afternoon trying to convince you?”

  “Nope. I turn myself over to your very capable hands.”

  She leaned back and tried to figure out what was really going on. “Why is this so easy? I was sure that you would put up a fight.”

  He drew in a long breath and pushed the tray aside. “These past couple of days, being here, being this close to dying, it made me think about things. The things that are important. Sure I love my freedom, the travel, the excitement and the challenge. But at the end of the day there’s no one to share that with. I see my kids a couple of times a year, mostly just passing through. And I don’t want that anymore.

  “If it’s never been clear to me before, it’s clear to me now. Tomorrow is not promised. And you need to make each day count with the ones you love.” He reached out and touched her cheek. “I’ve been thinking about putting in for a permanent station in New York, so that I can be closer to you all…”

  As she listened to her brother remap his life, she was totally convinced in miracles.

  Curled in Claude’s strong arms that night, Melanie told him of her conversation with Alan.

  “It was amazing,” she said, caressing the smooth skin of his bare chest. “It’s as if he is a totally different person.”

  “I’m sure he is, Mel. Coming that close to death is a revelation for anyone.”

  “You’re right.” She sighed. “So much has changed so quickly that it’s hard to keep up. You and me, my brother.”

  “All good things,” he said turning on his side to face her. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”

  Her pulse quickened. “Sure.”

  “I’m going to have to stay in D.C. for a while. There’s a lot going on right now, especially with this being an election year for many of the senators.”

  Her spirits sunk. “Oh. Of course you have your job here.”

  “I’ll call you every day. I promise. And the next few weeks will fly by.” He brushed his thumb across her lips.

  “I know. And I’ll have plenty to keep me busy.” She tried to sound upbeat, but inside she felt like she was sinking. She’d just found her piece of happiness and she wasn’t ready to let it go so soon, even for a little while. She knew it was selfish. She had her work and Claude had his. But for the first time in her life she wanted something just for Melanie and she didn’t want to share it or part with it. She buried her face against his chest, seeking comfort from the steady beat of his heart.

  The following morning, the family spent an hour with the doctor, who explained the medication, diet and exercise program that Alan had to strictly follow. He put them in touch with the visiting nurse service and said that he planned to contact Alan’s private physician, as well.

  With all of the technicalities out of the way they wheeled Alan out of the hospital and into a waiting government vehicle that would take them to the airport.

  Claude had arranged for a nurse to fly with them, “just as a precaution,” he’d said. He rode with them to the private landing strip.

  “I’ll call you tonight,” he said, holding her close while the others boarded the plane. A light rain had begun to fall.

  She nodded against his chest. He tilted her chin upward. “You make sure you take it easy. Don’t let Alan run you ragged,” he said with a grin.

  “I won’t. Are you sure you’ll be down for the celebration?”

  “Without a doubt. Don’t worry about that. Don’t worry about us.”

  She pressed her lips together, then forced a smile. “I’ll try.”

  “They’re waiting for you.” He looked heavenward.

  “The weather is going to get worse before it gets better. You need to get going.”

  “I can’t thank you enough for everything.”

  “I’m sure you’ll figure out something.” He kissed her lightly, then physically turned her in the direction of the plane. “Go. Go. I’ll talk to you tonight.”

  “Okay,” she shouted above a sudden gust of wind. She ran across the tarmac and up the steps. She turned one final time and waved goodbye before stepping on board.

  Claude waited and watched until the plane disappeared among the clouds. He turned up his coat collar and strode toward the waiting vehicle.

  The flight was bumpy all the way as they flew into a thunderstorm that had already hit New York and was working its way south. The roller coaster effect was taking its toll on all of them as the hour and a half flight turned into three while they were continually detoured as the storm worsened.

  “We’re going to have to land in Philadelphia,” the pilot said over the intercom. “The storm is getting worse and we’re running low on fuel. I got the okay to land and I’m heading in. We should be on the ground in twenty minutes.”

  A collective groan echoed through the plane.

  “Are we going to have to stay overnight in Philly?” Jessica asked.

  “I hope not. I’ll ask the pilot.” Vincent got up from his seat and inched toward the cockpit as the plane swayed back and forth. Vincent returned shortly with a bit of good news.

  “The pilot says that the storm has passed through New York and should go by Philadelphia in an hour or two. So hopefully after refueling and a short layover we can be on our way.”

  “Thank goodness,” Veronica said.

  Vincent returned to his seat and leaned toward Melanie. “Are you okay? You don’t look too good.”

  Her stomach seesawed. “Don’t feel all that great. The turbulence must have gotten to me.” She willed her stomach to be calm as the plane rose and fell. She shut her eyes and breathed deeply through her mouth.

  “Try to rest. We should be landing soon.” He glanced over at his father, who had been sound asleep for most of the flight. “We’ll have to tell Dad all about it.”

  By the time they landed, Melanie’s head was pounding and her stomach was swirling. The captain walked into the passenger compartment.

  “We should be on the ground for about an hour. If you want to get off and hang out inside the terminal you can. But I need everyone back here in forty-five minutes. Once they give us the go-ahead we have a short window to take off. If we miss it, we may be stuck here overnight. They predict another front is coming this way.”

  “I’m going to get out,” Vincent announced. His sister and cousin joined him.

  Melanie rested her head back against the seat, thankful that they were on solid ground even if her stomach told her otherwise.

  “Are you all right, Ms. Hart
e? You don’t look well,” the nurse said, taking Vincent’s seat opposite her.

  “Just the bumpy ride,” she said from between clenched teeth.

  The nurse reached over and touched her damp forehead. “No fever. Do you have chills or aches?”

  She shook her head.

  “Do you normally get air sick?”

  “No. I’ve been on planes all my life.”

  “Hmm.”

  Melanie opened her eyes to see the nurse staring at her. “What do you think it is?”

  “If you’re not coming down with something and you’re accustomed to flying…maybe you should visit your doctor when you get home.” She gave her a knowing smile, patted her hand then returned to check on her dozing patient.

  Melanie frowned. Then her thoughts began to scramble as the nurse’s words replayed in her head and the look she had on her face when she suggested that she see her doctor. She tried to think, but the unthinkable began to dominate her thoughts. No.

  Her heart started to race and a line of perspiration ran around her forehead. No.

  She thought about that first night. That night with Claude. They hadn’t used protection. The thought had unnerved her afterward, but then she’d tossed it out of her head with so many other things crowding into her life. No. She tried to count but the numbers got all screwed up. She pulled her cell phone out of her purse and fumbled for the calendar application. Last Friday’s date was highlighted. That was a week ago. That’s when she should have gotten her period. But she didn’t.

  Her heart was thumping so loud she couldn’t hear herself think. Her fingers began to shake. It was probably all of the anxiety, the party, then Alan…That’s all that it was and as soon as she calmed down and got her life back on track everything would be fine.

  She drew in a long deep breath and put her phone back in her purse. She turned to stare out of the window. Everything was going to be fine. It had to be.

  Chapter 18

  Melanie was subdued for the rest of the flight to New York. In the car she barely uttered a word.

  Veronica tapped on Melanie’s bedroom door.

  “Come in.”

  “I was getting ready to head home. Vincent’s gone home. Dad’s asleep. His nurse is settled in the room across from him. I’m going to drop Jess off on my way, but I wanted to check on you first. Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”

  “Yeah, sweetie, I’m fine. I think everything is finally catching up with me, that’s all. Nothing for you to worry about.” She forced a reassuring smile across her face.

  “If you’re sure.”

  “Yes, I’m perfectly fine. Go home and get some sleep in your own bed.”

  “I like the sound of that. See you in the morning. You get some rest.”

  “I will, sweetheart. Good night. Set the alarm on your way out.”

  Melanie took a long shower then went to check on her brother, who was resting comfortably. Crawling under the covers she closed her eyes against the impossible. But of course it was possible, silly. You didn’t use protection. She groaned in concert with the ringing phone. It was Claude and as much as she wanted to hear his voice she didn’t want to talk to him now.

  “Hey, baby, you all get settled?”

  “Yes.” She told him about the delays they encountered and that she was really tired.

  “Sure. You get some rest. I’ll call you to morrow.”

  “Great. Good night.”

  She hung up the phone. Her heart was suddenly so heavy it felt as if it weighed a ton. She slid down under the covers and tried to sleep. First thing in the morning she was taking a trip to the pharmacy.

  Melanie was up before the sun. She’d barely slept through the night. As soon as she sat up, her stomach revolted and she darted to the bathroom. Trying to compose herself she splashed cold water on her face. Maybe it was a stomach virus, she told herself. Because thirty-six-year-old, successful, unmarried business women didn’t just pop up pregnant. Taking a deep breath, she slowly stood. The stores wouldn’t be open for a couple of hours. The waiting was agony.

  As soon as it was reasonable, Melanie advised the nurse that she had to run out for a little while but would be back within the hour.

  Driving into town seemed to take an eternity. A part of her wanted the road never to end and another part couldn’t get there fast enough. She found a parking space across the street from the pharmacy and suddenly wished she’d put on something to hide her appearance. Suppose someone she knew saw her? What would they think? What would she say? For a moment she hesitated, doubting her actions. It would be much more discreet if she simply went to her doctor. But she didn’t think she could endure the not knowing. This could all be a simple mistake. But her rolling stomach told her otherwise.

  As nonchalantly as she could she browsed the feminine products aisle until she found what she was looking for. She read the information on the back. Sounded simple enough. She looked around to see if anyone was watching. Only she and a woman she didn’t recognize were in the store. She hurried to the cashier, paid for her kit and rushed out.

  By the time she got behind the wheel of her car her heart was racing out of control. She felt as if she had just succeeded on some covert mission. Willing herself to calm down, she put the car in gear and headed back home.

  An hour later, her suspicions were confirmed. The little blue line was positive. What was she going to do now?

  Claude couldn’t seem to concentrate on the meeting he was sitting in on. The words blurred in his head, not making sense. All night he felt unsettled, as if something was wrong. He started feeling that way right after speaking with Melanie. She didn’t sound right. She sounded distant and detached, not like the woman he’d spent the past week with, who opened her heart and soul to him and he in return.

  He tried to pass it off that she was tired and that the strain of the past week had finally taken its toll. But his gut told him it was something else. What that something was he couldn’t tell.

  He checked his watch for the tenth time. The meeting was scheduled to wrap up in another twenty minutes. The time couldn’t go by fast enough. He needed to talk to Melanie. He needed to hear her voice and be reassured that everything was all right with her and with them.

  Was she having second thoughts about having plunged headfirst into a relationship with him? Did she think she did the right thing? He should have told her how he felt, what had been going through his head and his heart, but he didn’t want to scare her off. He didn’t want her to think that he was telling her that he was falling in love with her, simply because the sex was so incredible.

  It was more than that. It was everything. His thoughts were consumed with her and how he could make her happy. He felt as if he’d fallen from the moment that they met. He plunged headfirst into the depths of her eyes and she took over his soul. Everything he did from the time they met was with her in mind. Even when he got crazy about Rafe.

  He should have told her exactly how happy and complete she made him feel. Something he didn’t think he would ever experience again.

  “Your body is here but your head has been somewhere else all morning.”

  Claude looked up at Senator Lawson. He shook his head to clear it. “Sorry about that. Was it that obvious?” He closed his leather folder and stood, noticing that only he and the senator were in the room.

  “Only to the people that really know you, like everyone in the room.” He chuckled lightly and slapped him on the back. “Everything all right with you? You’re not coming down with something?”

  “No. I’m fine. Just a little tired.”

  “Well, you be sure to take care of yourself. We have a lot on our agenda and I’m going to need you to be in top form.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Senator Lawson gave a short nod and strode out.

  Once he spoke to Melanie he would be fine, he thought as he walked out. He just needed to hear that sparkle in her voice to know that everything was all right and then he could
loosen the knot that gripped his insides.

  By midday she was feeling like herself again. The nausea had passed and her head had cleared. Maybe the test was wrong, she tried to convince herself as she walked down the hall to her brother’s room. She peeked her head in and he beckoned her inside.

  “Hey, sweetie, how are you feeling today?” She crossed the room. He was sitting up in the chair by the window looking even better today than the day before.

  “Slept like a baby.” He grinned, and that old smile was back.

  She sat down on the window ledge and looked out onto the moss-covered bluffs, then back at her brother.

  “Seems like I should be asking you how you’re doing. What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” She forced a smile.

  Alan made a face. “Don’t lie to your big brother. What is it? Is it about Claude?”

  Her eyes widened in surprise. She sputtered something incoherent.

  “You think I didn’t know?” He smiled wickedly.

  “We fellas have to stick together.”

  She folded her arms defiantly. “Stick together about what?”

  “About women, of course.” He chuckled. “Don’t look so put out. The man is crazy about you.”

  Her heart pounded. “How do you know that?”

  “Because he told me. Besides a blind man can see the vibe between the two of you.”

  “He told you?” She didn’t know whether to be appalled or to laugh with relief.

  “Every chance he got that’s all he talked about. I had to kind of stop him before he got to the juicy parts,” he teased. “After all, you are my baby sister.”

  She jumped down from her perch on the window ledge and began to pace. She turned to her brother, her expression as bright as a Fourth of July fireworks display. “What did he say about me?”

  Alan tossed his head back and laughed. “Us men have to have some secrets,” he taunted her.

  “Grrrr. If you weren’t an invalid I would jump all over you!”