Mary Lynn - Lightning Strikes

But no wonder, considering that his mother, Melissa, had great expectations for Randi, who was marrying “up,” as Melissa was fond of bragging. Hal Stuart, the groom, was a city councilman and his mother was the mayor.

No big deal, Noah thought, as far as he was concerned, anyway. City official or not, Hal put his pants on one leg at a time like any other man. Noah smiled, again with no warmth. Too bad his mother didn’t see Hal as an ordinary man. Hell, when he came around, she thought the waters should part.

Noah winced inwardly as another clap of thunder seemed to shake the entire building. If the intensity of the storm continued, the lodge would lose its power. He had best not even think like that—fearing he might jinx the place and the evening.

He frowned at his cell phone. Why hadn’t Vanderbilt Memorial called him? After all, he was the surgeon on call. But he was glad, he quickly assured himself without enthusiasm, only then to berate himself for his sour attitude. Just because weddings weren’t his thing—having been there, done that—didn’t mean he wanted to throw a kink in his sister’s big night.

Thinking of Randi deepened the frown on Noah’s face. He peered at his watch. Hell, where was she? In five minutes they would parade down that carpeted walkway, making a spectacle of themselves. But again, his mother would be basking in her glory.

Maybe his sister had decided not to go through with the ceremony, he thought, first as a joke. Suddenly he paused to give the notion serious consideration.

Just last week, he had been summoned to Melissa’s house to take care of an insignificant problem that certainly could have waited. But he’d gone, anyway, feeling responsible, that feeling having burgeoned since his father’s death a year ago.

Randi happened to have been there, as well. While their mother was on the phone talking to a friend, he had bluntly commented on the pinched look on his sister’s face.

“You sick or something?” he asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, come on, you know what I mean. More than sick, you look like a whipped pup.”

Her body stiffened. “That’s not nice to say.”

“Whoever said I was nice?” Noah quipped with a careless shrug.

“Me.”

“Thanks,” he said, “but you’re prejudiced.”

“Probably, but you’ve been here for us.” She paused. “When Dad passed away—” Her voice cracked as she seemed to struggle for control. Seconds later, she continued, “You took charge.”

He had, though it hadn’t been easy. His mother thought she was better than others, despite the fact that his folks hadn’t had much monetarily. Noah never figured out where she’d gotten that idea. His daddy had been a common laborer, and had barely earned enough to scrape by. Melissa, on the other hand, had no skills at all and had never worked.

What Noah had accomplished had been through gut-hard work and scholarships. He was damn proud of having made it on his own. And he didn’t mind helping his mother, but she could test his patience. How many times had he told her to climb down off her social ladder? He might as well have been talking to a wall.

When he’d realized his thoughts had wandered, he said, “I wasn’t making fun, sis. I was serious. Is there something going on I should know about? If not with your intended, then with Mother?” He lowered his voice so Melissa wouldn’t hear him, although she was laughing out loud.

Randi sighed, her fingers tunneling through her wild black curls. “While Mother’s definitely driving me up a wall, I’m afraid my problem’s more serious.”

“So you need big brother’s ear, huh?”

“It’s something I should work out for myself.”

Noah’s dark brows came together. “Which means it has something to do with Hal.”

She flushed. “Is it that obvious?”

“Only to me.” Noah paused. “Are you sure you’re not just getting the proverbial last-minute jitters?”

“I don’t know,” she said, her eyes darting to her mother, who was still laughing into her cell phone.

“Look, if you don’t know, then who does?”

Randi pursed her lips. “Things are not always black or white. Besides, if I upset the applecart, Mother would have a conniption fit.”

“So?”

“So, she’d make my life unbearable.” When he would’ve interrupted, she shook her head. “I know. But then, you don’t let her push your buttons.”

“And it’s time you stopped letting her push yours. Stand up for yourself.”

“Like I said, it’s not just Mother.”

“Hell, if you don’t want to marry Hal, then by God, call off the wedding.”

Randi blew out her breath. “It’s not that easy.” Pausing, she tilted her head. “You should know that.”

“Yeah,” he said, “but I don’t claim to be a role model.”

Randi had leaned over then and kissed him on the cheek at the same time she gave him a wan but grateful smile. “Thanks for listening, but it’s too late to back out now. I’m too big a chicken.”

“Nah, you’re just too good for your own good.”

She was, but there wasn’t anything he could do about that. Randi would do what she had to. He couldn’t make decisions for her. Besides, he had more on his own plate than he could digest. And like she’d pointed out, he wasn’t someone who could give advice. Hadn’t he messed up his own life?

Returning to the present, Noah looked up and watched his future brother-in-law walk out of one of the rooms off the adjacent hall.

Hal Stuart was tall with dishwater blond hair and brown eyes. He was handsome and personable, without being charismatic, something Noah thought would’ve been a prerequisite for a public official. But again, what did he know? Nothing, except he didn’t like Hal, which was too bad, since he would soon be a bona fide member of the family.

“Can you believe this weather?” Hal asked.

“Nope.”

“Water’s everywhere. We’ll be damn lucky if we don’t wash away.”

“That’s why we need to get this show on the road.” Noah didn’t bother to hide the impatience in his voice.

“I’m ready.” Hal’s eyes circled the area. “Where’s Randi? And my mother?”

“Beats the hell out of me.”

Hal’s lips thinned. “I’ll be back shortly.”

“Where—” Noah swallowed the remainder of his sentence as Hal disappeared down the hall. “Swell,” he muttered.

“That’s a bad sign, you know.”

At the sound of the whiskey voice, Noah swung around and watched as Pitser Bowman, a banker and president of the hospital board, strode toward him, looking like a drowned rat. Despite his rain gear, his large frame was wet.

Noah was surprised to see him in spite of Hal having friends in high places. Apparently, Pitser was one of those friends.

Noah’s lips twisted. “Are you referring to my talking to myself?”

“It happens in the best of families,” Pitser replied, the spare tire around his waist shaking with his laughter.

“You’re a brave soul to be out in this weather.”

“Crazy’s more like it.” Pitser glanced at his watch. “Since I was running late, I figured I’d sneak in unnoticed.”

“Everyone’s late,” Noah said tightly. “In fact, I’m beginning to—” He broke off, batting the air with his hand, unable to curb his frustration, yet not wanting to bad-mouth his sister for her tardiness.

“Of course, you’re frothing at the mouth to get back to the hospital.”

“Actually, I can’t believe I haven’t been paged.”

“Just give it time.”

Noah nodded. “Glad you came.”

“By the way, the committee’s narrowed the choice of chief of surgery to two.” Pitser leveled his gaze on him.