Romance Me (Boxed Set)

by Susan Hatler

  He eyed her blood pressure monitor, which had remained steady since she’d gone to sleep. “She’s resting peacefully for now.”

  “I’m so proud of you, son. I know how difficult this is for you. The look on your face when Lisa went down, it broke my heart. I’m sorry you’re reliving this. I’m sorry I got you involved. I never meant—”

  “It’s okay,” he said, laying a hand on his mother’s shoulder. “I know your heart’s in the right place. But I have to admit, I’m not ready to take on a woman with a baby right now. I just can’t.” Eric hugged his mother. “Does that make me a horrible person?”

  “No. It makes you human.” She stepped back and rubbed his arms.

  “Besides, there’s a father out there. He’s just in shock. I’m sure he’ll come around. Despite what you say, if a man with that much money made a trip down here, without sending his lawyer, then he must care, right?” He patted her shoulder again and stepped around her. “I’ll talk to him.”

  His mother tightened her grip on his arm. “Eric, you don’t know why he’s here. You’re jumping to conclusions. That man didn’t send his lawyer because he probably didn’t want anyone to know his real intentions. He wanted Lisa to terminate her babies and wouldn’t take no for an answer. She had no choice but to flee New York to escape him. He had her fired from her job, threatened to kill the baby himself if she didn’t have an abortion.”

  Eric’s fists tightened at his side, his mother’s words clawing at his soul, ripping his insides to pieces. “What?” He looked back at Lisa’s sleeping face. “That Son-of-a-bitch. I’d like to take a swing at him, but that won’t help Lisa.”

  “No, it won’t, or I would’ve done it myself already.” A blaze of hatred shone in his mother’s eyes, like he’d never seen before. Well, once, when some older kid had threatened Eric in fourth grade. He thought she was going to punch the kid’s mother.

  “Listen, I know you’re close to Lisa,” he said, “but you can’t get in the way. If Mark and her work things out, you have to let her go.” His throat tightened with his own words.

  “Can you let her go?” his mother asked.

  He didn’t answer, just released her grip on his arm and headed for the door. “I’m going to find Mark. We’re going to have a little chat. Then I’m sure everything will be how it should. No man would abandon his child, even if he doesn’t have feelings for Lisa.” He glanced back at the beautiful sleeping angel in the hospital bed behind him and couldn’t imagine anyone not loving her kind spirit, strong will, and intelligent mind. She was perfect.

  With a deep breath, he opened the door and went in search of Mark who, he was told, had been escorted down to the main floor lobby.

  Mark stood at the registration desk, pointing a finger at the poor woman behind the counter. “I’ll sue this hospital,” he shouted, “the police department and all medical staff. That baby’s deformed and not meant to be born. I’m the father and have the right to make that choice.”

  “Actually, you don’t.” Eric broke through the crowd that had congregated to watch the show. Sheriff Mason stood by, radioing for backup. This was about to get ugly.

  “Mr. Brenson, I’m an attorney of family law and I can assure you the mother has the ultimate decision on the pregnancy.” Eric moved closer and continued in a harsh whisper, “And I’d caution you, sir, to be careful what you shout in the waiting room of a small town hospital. They’re not too open-minded about abortion around here.” Eric nudged him from the registration desk. “Let’s speak somewhere a little more private.”

  “I can say what I want, where I want.” Mark’s eyes darted to the crowd then back at Eric.

  “Mr. Brenson, you might want to reconsider, or I’ll be forced to take you into custody for disturbing the peace.” Sheriff Mason pointed at the front sliding doors where three more police officers stood waiting for orders.

  “I’m sure you’d prefer not to have anything unpleasant reach the newspapers. Even our small local paper might get noticed by someone in New York. You wouldn’t want your business associates seeing you on the front page, now would you?” Eric cautioned him, knowing that image was everything in New York.

  Mark straightened his suit coat. “You’ll be hearing from my attorney,” he snapped before marching from the hospital, unwilling to speak to any of them.

  Sheriff Mason shrugged. “That man isn’t who I’d picture Ms. Mortan with.”

  Eric had to agree. He retrieved his phone and scrolled through his list of contacts, selecting the one man he trusted from his life in New York. His thumb pressed call and he listened to the phone ring, keeping his eyes on Mark through the hospital’s glass doors.

  “Hey, Eric! How are you?” The deep voice of his former colleague, turned partner, reached from his old life into his current one, something he thought he’d never allow.

  “I’m good, Ferris. How are things at the office?” Eric asked.

  “Good. It’s great seeing Ferris Walker on the door. Yep, I made full partner,” he announced before Eric could even ask. “I would’ve never beat you out, so thanks for leaving, man. I owe you one.”

  “Well, if you mean that, I’d like to collect.”

  “Oh, sounds serious. You in some kind of legal trouble?”

  Eric chuckled. “No, man. I’m looking for information on someone from New York City. A Mark Brenson. I want to know everything you can dig up on him. He’s causing some waves down here, and I want to know what his intensions truly are.”

  “Mark Brenson? Sure, man. I’ll have Betty get right on it.”

  “Good, she’s one of the best. Get back to me as soon as you can. It’s kind of time sensitive,” Eric nudged.

  “Okay, you got it. I’ll get back to you soon.” Ferris terminated the call and Eric lowered to a chair in the waiting room, rubbing his head.

  “You okay, darling?” Cathy asked, settling into the chair next to him.

  “Yeah, I’m good,” Eric lied.

  “Sure ya are,” she said sarcastically. “It’s off the record, you know. Gossip’s on vacation at the moment, so why don’t you tell me what’s going on?”

  Eric sighed. “Well, I got a buddy of mine in New York checking out Mr. Brenson.

  “Good. That’s fantastic. I don’t like that smug son of a gun. He’s hurt our Lisa, and we don’t take kindly to strangers hurting our friends and neighbors.”

  “Is she, though? Is she part of our town? Or does she belong with Mr. Brenson?

  “Do you think that sweet girl in there deserves that monster?” Cathy shrieked.

  “It’s not my place to decide that,” Eric mumbled.

  “Then what do you hope to find out from your friend in New York?” Cathy quirked her head, daring him to lie to her again.

  Eric sighed. “That’s the problem. I don’t know. If he turns out to be some rich guy who just got scared then they can work things out.”

  “Yes, but that’s not what you’re hoping for,” she accused.

  “It’s what would be easiest.” Eric clasped his hands together and lowered his head.

  “Sometimes greatness doesn’t come from easy. It comes from the heart, and I’ve seen the way you look at Lisa. That’s greatness.”

  His chest tightened and he rubbed it to relieve the constricting turmoil of his heart.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Lisa’s eyes fluttered opened. Golden light filtered in through the blinds, a few scattered rays falling on Eric’s face as he slouched in the reclining chair, sleeping, his neck cocked awkwardly to the side. Poor man looked uncomfortable.

  She clucked her tongue against the thick film coating the roof of her mouth, but found no relief. It was as if she’d been eating cotton balls mixed with peanut butter in the middle of a desert. Scooting into a sitting position, she reached for the pitcher of water resting on the tray beside her bed.

  Eric shot up. “What do you need? I can get it.” The poor man was standing before he’d fully woken up, causing him to
stumble. Dark circles lined his eyes and his once immaculate suit was wrinkled, but he still looked amazing with a just-rolled-out-of-bed look.

  “I’m fine. I just needed water,” she said, the dryness on her tongue making it challenging to speak.

  He poured water into a plastic cup and slipped a hand behind her neck to help her sit up. “Here. It should still be cool. I refreshed it an hour or so ago.”

  She sipped the icy liquid heaven, quenching her thirst. “Thank you.”

  Leaning her back, he returned the cup to the tray, an awkward silence filling the room.

  “You stayed here all night?” she asked.

  He nodded.

  “I…I don’t know what to say.” Her mind swirled, trying to think of the last time someone stayed by her side all night, or even an hour for that matter. All she could come up with was a memory from when she was five and had the chicken pox, before her mom had run off.

  “Are you up to talk, or are you too tired?” Eric rubbed his forehead and she knew something troubled him. He was a good man, probably wanted to let her down easy. She believed he’d always be kind, but this was too much for any man.

  “Yes, but you don’t need to say anything. I appreciate your support, but you can go. You didn’t ask for this, and it’s my problem to deal with.” Her voice quivered, betraying her desire to sound strong.

  “You misunderstand.” Eric spun on the heel of his shiny dress shoes and ran his hand through his hair as he walked around the bed. “I know your secret, but you don’t know mine.”

  She longed to take his hand and tell him there was nothing he could have possibly done that would ever cause her to see him differently, but it was obvious he needed to share. “I’m listening,” she said.

  “Where to begin…” He returned to the recliner in the corner of the room and leaned his elbows on his legs. “I grew up in an amazing home, but for some reason it wasn’t enough for me. My father and I used to argue all the time about my dreams for the future and what he wanted for me. He’d been a small town man and I wanted a big city life.” He shook his head. “If I would’ve realized back then how much I had and how little money truly meant.”

  He ran his palm down his stubbly face. “He only wanted me to be happy, I know that now. But when other kids were out playing sport, I stayed home studying. I worked so hard I ended up at the top of my graduating class. I thought that would make him proud. But the day of my graduation, we had our worst argument ever.”

  Lisa turned on her side to face him, ignoring the IV cords straining around the bed rail. “Any parent would be proud of a child who’d achieved so much,” she said.

  “Not when it was at the expense of everything else.” Eric shoved from the chair and began pacing the room.

  Lisa searched for the right words, to say what he needed to hear, but she didn’t understand what he was so upset about so she stayed silent.

  “You see,” he continued, “I wanted to leave Sweetwater County more than anything. I felt suffocated in this small town and I managed to gain entrance into an Ivy League school. But my father couldn’t afford it, and wanted to pay to send me to a college closer to home. He said taking out all those student loans would be a huge mistake. I didn’t listen, and when I graduated and my loans came due, I had to work to pay them off.”

  “I had a ton of student loans, too,” Lisa offered, unsure of what else to say.

  Eric nodded and continued pacing. “Well, that meant there was no small town practice in my future, which broke a few promises I had made.” He stopped and put his hands on his hips, sucking in a long deep breath. “There was a girl, Mary Lynn. We had it bad for each other all through high school, and she supported my decision to go away to college. Even when I told her about not returning to Sweetwater after I finished school she stood by my side.”

  “She sounds like an amazing girl.” A twinge of jealousy pinched Lisa’s chest, but she wanted to be happy for him. This was the type of girl he deserved.

  “Yes. She was.”

  “Was?” Lisa whispered. Eric paced around her bed once more, but she snatched his hand and tugged him down next to her. “It’s okay. You can tell me.”

  He took another long breath. “I was so wrapped up with work in New York City. The job was demanding and the hours were long. I’d go home on Christmas and other holidays to see her and the family, but for the most part, I just worked. I wanted to wait until I made partner at the firm before we married, but I knew she wanted to be with me, so I told her to pack her things and move in with me. But I was never home.” He paused, rubbing his thumb over Lisa’s hand. “I worked so much that I didn’t notice how unhappy she’d become. Depressed. That was the word she used. One night, I returned home from an exceptionally long day. I’d lost a big client.” He shook his head.

  Lisa held tight to his hand with both of hers, hoping to provide comfort.

  “We had words,” Eric continued. “She packed up and headed back to Sweetwater.” His voice cracked and he took a stuttered breath. “She didn’t tell me.” His jaw tightened.

  Lisa stroked his arm, fearing the worst. “What didn’t she tell you?”

  His eyes glazed over, as though he’d traveled back to a time of darkness. “She…” He cleared his throat and tried again. “She never made it back to Sweetwater. A drunk driver ran a red light and struck her car.” His hands shook. “I made it to the scene of the accident just before she passed. She died in my arms, right after she told me she was pregnant with our child.”

  Tears flowed down his cheeks and she brushed them away, but he let go of her hands and stood. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

  “The baby died, too. My child. The doctors confirmed she was three months pregnant.” He rubbed his forehead. “Three months and I didn’t know. She’d tried to give me a Christmas present that night, a baby rattle, but I was too busy. She never gave it to me. Instead I opened it days after her death.”

  “It wasn’t your fault. It was an accident.”

  “Perhaps, but I still missed my chance, my chance to do the right thing.” He turned and looked at her, his eyes still brimming with unshed tears. “Lisa, you and that man are having a child. Right now he is at his worst, but give him time. He’s mourning the loss of one baby and doesn’t know what to do about the other. He’ll come around.”

  She stared at him, dumbfounded.

  “I know I told you that I wouldn’t leave no matter what you told me, but I’m not the father. I can’t get in the way of a man and his child. I’ll always be around if you need me, but you need to work things out with the father.”

  “No, it’s not like—”

  Eric held up his hand. “Trust me, I work these types of cases every day. Men freak out when they first realize they’re going to be a father and then they get their heads on straight. He’ll be back. Don’t worry. No man could ever abandon their child.” He scooped his coat off the back of the recliner and turned toward the door. “It’s time for me to leave. This baby isn’t mine and I don’t deserve another chance.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “Hey, Betty. What did you find out?” Eric spoke into the speaker of his Blue-tooth headset as he drove back to his office.

  “The man had a rough beginning,” Betty said. “The documents state he was put in foster care because of abandonment. Never really found a home, but ended up fighting his way up the social and economic food chain. He started out in real estate in his hometown, bought some homes near where he grew up, which he sold on loan to friends and neighbors. Based on the article I read, he foreclosed on all of them, putting them out on the street, and sold the land for profit to a septic business. Put quite a few companies in town out of business, too.”

  “No one is that evil.” He turned the corner and headed up a side street. “Why would he do something like that?”

  “It was his mother’s home town,” Betty said. “Apparently, his mother was a small town woman who, according to his father, trapped him int
o marriage with a baby. The scandal ruined the man’s reputation. Back then, you didn’t get busted with a baby like that. Based on police records, Mark’s father killed himself when he was only ten. The father left a suicide note, stating that Mark’s mother ruined his life by trapping him into marrying her. Mark ran away from home, and his mother ended up dying of a drug overdose. After that, he bounced from one foster home to another for the rest of his youth.”

  “Geesh, that man has to have issues.” Eric rolled into the parking lot outside his office and killed the engine.

  Betty cleared her throat. “Listen, there’s some other stuff I ran across in his background check, which isn’t business related.”

  “What’s that?” Eric wrapped his fingers around the leather handle of his briefcase and opened his car door.

  “Well, I stumbled upon a few custody suits. He’s been accused on a number of occasions of getting women pregnant then leaving them, though most of the women recanted their statements later on. Some appeared to have gotten a lump sum of money while others just disappeared. None of them had children, though. Not that I found.”

  A sting shot over Eric’s flesh. He slammed the car door and marched to his office. “What do you mean, disappeared?”

  “I’m not sure. It doesn’t look like foul play or anything like that. There were no missing person reports or charges filed. Their credit history and job history just ended. I’m thinking they relocated, took on an alias, probably with the help of Mr. Brenson.”

  “I see. So, the man bullies the girls into either giving the baby up or having an abortion then relocates them away from his prestigious life.” Eric entered the office, passed Connie without a word and tossed his briefcase on his desk. “Thanks, Betty. I appreciate your efforts.”

  “I don’t mind at all. I still owed you for the promotion you put me in for before you left. But don’t you have a law practice in your home town?” Betty asked.