BEVERLY BARTON - Nine Months Part 3

Dora Summers emerged from her husband’s ER cubicle. Paige shot off the sofa and rushed to her mother’s side. Austen walked toward them, but stayed back several feet.

“Your daddy’s all right. He—he isn’t hurting anymore. They’ve given him something.” Tears gathered in Dora’s eyes. “They’re going to take him upstairs to ICU and monitor his condition overnight.”

Paige hugged her mother. “Daddy’s tough. He—he—”

“It’s all right, sweetheart,” Dora said. “You go ahead and cry if you want to. Don’t hold it in and make yourself sick. That wouldn’t be good for you and the baby.”

“I’m okay, Mama.”

“Your daddy is worried about you. He kept asking how you were doing. He said not to let you get all upset. He doesn’t want you staying here at the hospital all night.”

“But, Mama—”

“You know how Daddy is about us. He thinks he has to take care of us, even—” Dora’s voice cracked and tears streamed down her face. “Even when he’s lying flat on his back in a hospital.”

“Mama, I won’t get any sleep if I go back to my apartment. I’ll be all alone and worried sick.”

The automatic emergency room doors behind them opened. Dora glanced over Paige’s shoulder. Jared Montgomery marched into the waiting area.

“I don’t think you’ll have to go home alone.” Dora turned her daughter toward the ER entrance.

Jared! He dropped his cane to the floor and opened his arms to her. She flew across the room to him. Encompassing her in his embrace, he held her close, stroking her back with tender care.

“Oh, Jared. How did you know I needed you? Daddy—Daddy is—” The dam holding her emotions in check burst, flooding her eyes with tears and sending sobbing shivers through her body.

“It’s all right, honey. I’m here.” He continued his comforting caresses as he kissed her forehead and cheeks. “I’ll make sure that your father has whatever he needs. Only the best for Walt Summers. I can have doctors flown in from anywhere in the world.”

“Jared, Jared.” She fell apart in his arms, secure in the knowledge that he would hold her together and keep her safe.

“Come on, honey. You need to sit down.” When he draped his arm across her shoulders, she slipped her arm around his waist.

Austen picked up Jared’s cane and held it out to him.

“Thanks.”

“They think Dad’s going to be okay,” Austen said. “Dr. Howell is keeping him overnight in ICU to monitor him. They’ll run some tests tomorrow to determine if the diagnosis of a blocked artery is correct.”

Dora patted Jared’s hand that held his cane. “Thank you, dear, for offering your help. If Dr. Howell is right about Walt’s condition, they’ll send him to St. Joseph’s in Denver for some sort of surgical procedure.”

“What can I do to help, Mrs. Summers?” Jared asked.

“You can take Paige home with you and make sure she gets a good night’s rest. Her father is worried about her and the baby. He’ll do much better knowing that you’re taking care of his little girl.” Dora smiled at Jared and then at Paige, who leaned her head on Jared’s shoulder. “My Walt is so old-fashioned.”

“Dad just can’t get used to the idea that modern women can take care of themselves,” Austen said.

“Sometimes we all need a little taking care of, you know.” Dora sighed. “I’ve rather enjoyed having a strong man to lean on from time to time.”

Jared squeezed Paige’s shoulder. “Well, honey, will you let me take you home?”

Paige was torn between her desire to stay at her mother’s side, standing vigil over her father, and the certain knowledge that by going with Jared she would do her father more good than if she stayed here at the hospital and caused him to worry about her.

“Yes, I’ll let you take me home,” she said. “But you have to promise to bring me back to the hospital first thing in the morning.”

“I promise.”

“Go on,” Dora told them. “Austen will stay here with me, and if I need you, he’ll call.”

Paige hugged her mother and then her brother. “If there’s any change in Daddy’s condition—”

“I’ll call you immediately,” Austin assured her.

“Get your coat and wrap up good and tight. I know it’s freezing out there,” Dora told Paige, then turned to Jared. “Take care of her. For—for her daddy.”

* * *

The mantel clock in the living room struck eleven o’clock. Paige sat curled up on the larger of the two sofas that were arranged in front of the fireplace. Jared handed her a cup of warm milk, laced with a dash of cinnamon. Curling up her nose, she frowned when she accepted his offering.

“You did sprinkle cinnamon on it, didn’t you?” She glanced down at the cup she held.

“Just as you requested.” Jared knelt beside the sofa, lifted Paige’s feet, one at a time, and removed her shoes. “Drink it all and then I’ll put you to bed.”

Paige shivered. The cup trembled in her shaky hand.

“Are you cold?” he asked. Before she could reply, he removed the navy afghan from the back of the other sofa and draped it around Paige’s hips, covering her from waist to toes. “Is that better, honey?”

“Yes, fine, thank you.” She sipped the warm milk. Disgusting. Totally disgusting, even with the dash of cinnamon.

Jared eased down beside her, hooked the curved handle of his cane across the back of the sofa and stretched his arm around Paige’s shoulders.

She took another sip of the warm milk, then set it on the end table. “I’ll finish it later.” Laying her head on Jared’s shoulder, she cuddled against him. “Thank you. You’ve been very good to me tonight. I appreciate it.”

He cupped her chin in his hand. “Ah, honey, don’t you know how easy it is for me to be good to you? All I want is for you to let me take care of you and Angela.”

She cried softly, quietly, while Jared held her in his arms, soothing her with his gentle touch. He asked nothing more of her than to allow him to take care of her—her and their unborn child. And despite her own inner strength and independent nature, Paige was glad that she wasn’t alone. Glad that she had someone to lean on, someone to take care of her, if only for this one night.

But what about all the days and nights ahead? She had planned to raise her child alone with her parents’ help and support. And her mother had offered to baby-sit until the baby was old enough for play school. Paige hated the idea of leaving her baby with strangers, but to be honest, she hated the idea of leaving her baby with anyone.

Now she was five-and-a-half months pregnant and facing motherhood alone. No husband to love her. And no child-care assistance from her mother for quite some time, if her father’s health deteriorated. The last thing on earth she wanted was to be a burden to her parents.

Paige couldn’t let her pride stand in her way. Not now. She needed someone to be there for her, and Jared was more than willing. She’d be a fool not to accept his offer and move in with him.

Living with him didn’t mean she had to marry him, although marrying him would solve her immediate problems. But could she marry him without love and risk not only their future, but their child’s future, as well?

Her eyelids drooped. She yawned. Jared kissed her forehead.

“Come on, Mommy, let me put you to bed before you fall asleep here on the couch.” He retrieved his cane, stood and braced himself, putting most of his weight on his uninjured leg. Reaching down, he grasped her hand and pulled her off the sofa. The navy afghan fell to the floor. Stepping over it, she slipped her arm around Jared’s waist.

Before exiting the living room, Paige picked up her bag from the coffee table and draped it over her shoulder. When they reached the second-floor landing, she halted.