Sherryl Woods - A Slice Of Heaven

Despite his frustration, Ronnie backed off at once. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I just want to know what’s going on.”

“We all do,” Helen told him.

“Well, maybe I can get some answers you haven’t been able to get,” he said.

Ignoring Helen’s skeptical look and Dana Sue’s shattered expression, he stalked over to the desk and demanded to speak to a doctor.

“He’ll be out as soon as he’s able,” the nurse told him, her expression so grim that another wave of panic washed over him.

“Isn’t there something you can tell me?” he pleaded. “That’s my daughter in there.”

“I’m sorry,” the nurse said. “If I knew anything, I’d tell you.”

“How long will it be before the doctor comes out?”

“That depends on how your daughter is responding to treatment. She’s his first priority right now.”

“Of course,” Ronnie said, backing down, but wanting to scream in frustration.

Maddie appeared beside him. “Why don’t we go get coffee for everyone?” she suggested. “It’s going to be a long night.”

He started to snap that he didn’t want coffee, he wanted answers, but stopped himself before he could utter the words. They all wanted answers.

“Sure,” he said at last, then cast one last look at his ex-wife. “Maybe I should stay with Dana Sue.”

“Give her a little time,” Maddie said. “She’s dealing with a lot of conflicting emotions right now.”

“And I’m not?” he retorted sharply, then winced. “Sorry.”

She smiled. “You don’t need to apologize to me,” she told him. “But you might want to work on a really, really good one for Dana Sue. Despite what happened a few minutes ago when she threw herself into your arms, she’s still not in a forgiving mood.”

Despite the tension and the serious nature of the situation, his lips quirked. “You think?”

Maddie tucked her arm through his and led him toward the cafeteria. “Can I ask you something?”

“Have I ever been able to stop you?”

“I know you came because of Annie, but what about Dana Sue?”

He paused in midstride and faced her. “What are you asking me, Maddie?”

“I suppose I’m asking if you still love her,” she said bluntly. “Do you?”

“Do you really think this is the time for that discussion?” he asked.

Her expression was grave as she met his eyes. “Yes.”

“Okay, then.” He met her gaze evenly. “I never stopped loving her, not for a minute.”

Maddie seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. “Thought so.”

They started to walk again, but before they’d taken half a dozen steps, she stopped and punched him in the arm. “Then why the heck did you walk away without a fight?”

“Stupidity?” he suggested.

“Was that a question or a statement? Because if you ask me, only an idiot would walk away from the woman he loves just because she tells him to go. And you, Ronnie Sullivan, were never an idiot. I couldn’t believe it when I found out you’d left. If I’d known where to find you, I would have hunted you down and tried to talk some sense into you.”

“Helen knew where I was,” he pointed out.

Maddie gave him a wry look. “Helen wasn’t in a forthcoming mood at the time. She’d have been happier if you’d disappeared off the face of the earth.”

“She made that clear,” Ronnie said. “As for me being an idiot, I surely was for one night. I guess that mistake was such a whopper that it convinced me I didn’t deserve another chance. It was like I said a minute ago—I thought if I went, Dana Sue would start to miss me. Took me by surprise that she didn’t.”

“And now?”

“Now I’m going to fight for another chance with both my girls.”

Maddie nodded in satisfaction. “About damn time.”

Ronnie grinned. Wasn’t that the truth?

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