Devil Moon (26 page)

"Look, I realize I've offended you in some way, but I assure you it's been entirely unintentional."

Phil stood and paced the small room. "Offended me? You've completely pissed me off! First, you leave me itching like a son of a bitch in that damn cabin without a word of explanation. Then the next thing I know you've upped and married another guy. A gay guy at that! Yeah, that's done a lot for my 'self-esteem,' as you put it." He walked to the window and stared out over the blinking skyline. "The thing is, I thought there was something happening between us. Something special. Something real. But you weren't honest with me. You didn't trust me enough to tell me the truth."

He turned and looked at her, his eyes boring into her soul. She sat against the pillows, chewing her quivering lip. Her eyes pooled with fresh tears.

Her voice was barely audible as she helplessly shook her head and wrung her hands. "I'm…I'm…sorry. What do you want me to say? I'm
sorry
, okay? These past few weeks haven't been easy for me, either. In fact…they've been dreadful!"

She gave in to the dammed tears, turned on her stomach and sunk into the pillows. Feminine weepy noises filled the room.

Phil watched her shoulders contract and jerk.
Total female waterworks. How can a guy cope with that?

He ran his fingers through his hair, sighed deeply and groaned, "Oh, shit."

* * *

Five hours later they were back at Randy's bedside, now in a private room. Maddie had urged Brent to go home, freshen up and get something to eat. Brent had given Randy a shave and his color looked much better. She'd been terrified by his deathly pale countenance and bluish lips the night before.

She settled into a chair noting the comfort of the sweats Phil had bought her at Wal-Mart. Maybe the man was onto something. She glanced up at Phil, who looked as out-of-place as a cowboy at a coronation.

"Phil, isn't there something you need to do? Gas up the car? Buy a newspaper? I'd love a decaf latte with extra cream."

Phil raised an eyebrow at Randy. "I think she's trying to get rid of me."

Randy's eyes regained a glimmer of their usual twinkle. "It looks that way."

Phil shrugged. "All right, I'll get lost for a while. Anything else you'd like?"

"A breakfast yogurt with blueberries would be lovely."

He rolled his eyes. "Figures. I'll be back."

Maddie turned to Randy after watching Phil's broad back exit the room. "So, how are you, really?"

"Sore, but mostly glad to be alive. I'll tell you, dear heart, lying in a cave as you bleed to death really causes you to examine your life." His expression turned uncharacteristically serious. "It made me realize I've been a coward in certain areas."

Maddie lifted an eyebrow. "Brent, for instance?"

As they'd been airlifted from the mountain, Randy had been urgent about reaching Brent. In his weakened state, he'd repeated Brent's cell number until Maddie memorized it and promised she'd call when they touched ground. He lost consciousness as soon as she satisfied his request.

Randy nodded and took her hand. "I may be taking a stick of dynamite to my life, but it's something I have to do. I've been running away from who I am for a long time. Keeping so busy, always putting on a clown's face. I'm sick of it."

Maddie smiled in commiseration. "Keeping up a façade can be so tiring, can't it?" She suddenly saw an image of herself decked out in an assistant principal power outfit and realized she and Randy had both been playing out public roles while their true inner selves had been choking. No wonder she occasionally flipped out and he disappeared for days at a time.

Maddie knew that Randy coming completely out of the closet and taking Brent as his partner would seriously jeopardize his teaching position. And she shuddered to think the hell Mother Bailey would raise.

Squeezing his hand, she said, "Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith and follow your heart."

"Such a wise woman. I'm wondering if you follow your own advice?"

Maddie stared down at their joined hands. "Some things are easier said than done." Her emotions regarding Phil remained a confusing Mulligan stew.

Randy asked, "Have you got a mirror and comb on you? I feel a disheveled mess."

Maddie searched her purse and found the necessary items. She held up the mirror, as Randy could only move one arm.

"Oh, God," Randy said. "Getting shot really plays hell with your complexion. I'm absolutely ashen."

"You're absolutely alive. Brent obviously thought you looked better or he would never have left your side for even a little while. I was quite impressed with him last night. He took charge while I was a blithering idiot."

"Have I told you what he does for a living?" Randy asked, as he neatly parted his hair and combed it into place.

"No. Let me guess. Financial advisor? Undertaker?"

"Close. He's a lawyer."

"Ah."

He dropped the comb in his lap and leaned back again onto the raised bed. "You know, honey bunch, I'm afraid I'm not really husband material after all and it appears you've found your Dream Man. The Coach seemed exceedingly interested in the true paternity of your bambino. In light of all that, I've asked Brent to arrange for an annulment." He lifted a hand and went into a soap opera character. "Now, now, no tears. You know it's for the best. You'll get over me. In time."

Maddie smiled. "Never."

Putting on his Ronald Coleman voice, he said
"Tis a far, far better thing I do now than I have ever done before."

"That's too easy.
A Tale of Two Cities
."

"Well, I've been shot. What do you expect? You come up with one."

And so the soon-to-be
former
Mr. and Mrs. Randall Bailey played Name That Line until Mr. Bailey's Significant Other returned.

* * *

A clear azure sky domed above them as Phil and Maddie drove back to Beaver Cove. Their conversation had been perfunctory since they'd gotten up. Fatigue still muddled her brain. Phil's bloodshot eyes revealed his exhaustion. They needed to talk—but later. She ate her yogurt and thanked God the morning sickness seemed to be over.

"How are you feeling?" Phil asked, as if he could read her mind.

"Fine."

"Because if you're going to throw up or anything, I wanna know about it. And there's the last rest stop with bathrooms coming up for twenty-five miles. Should I pull over?"

Maddie blinked in amazement. His concern for her comfort surprised her, even delivered in his left-handed fashion. "I'm fine."

"I've been around expectant women before."

"I'm sure you have."

A few miles of road sped under their tires before Phil spoke again. "So, how do you feel about it–the baby, I mean?"

Maddie swallowed. The baby still remained largely her secret. Once the initial excitement had worn off for Randy, he'd gone back to business-as-usual. And even though Phil had guessed, she hadn't gone public with the news. Now, after weeks of wishing for someone to share her private miracle, she didn't know where to begin.

"I'm fine with it."

"Dammit, woman, talk to me!" He flashed her an exasperated glance. "Most women won't shut up and you're sitting there like a by God clam."

"Don't yell at me unless you want me crying like a leaky faucet again. I seem to have an interminable supply of tears these days." She took a deep breath and looked at the scenery whizzing by. "How do I feel about the baby? Thrilled, okay? Thrilled, terrified, and overwhelmed. When I think about being a mother, being completely responsible for another human being, I'm scared. But when I go to the mall and see women with their babies, I tingle with excitement to think I'll have my own child in a few months. I guess you could say I have mixed emotions."

He grunted. "I'm beginning to think that's the story of your life."

She crossed her arms. "All right, Mr. Know-It-All. How do you feel about impending fatherhood? You've had less than twenty-four hours to mull it over. Are you just jumping for joy?"

He took his eyes off the road for a moment and nailed Maddie with a full grin. "Actually, yeah. I can't think of anything that could make me happier."

His warm smile shook Maddie to her core. He did it again, tore away another layer of her protective facade. She'd been building an image of stalwart single parenthood in her mind. Randy's token attempt at fatherhood wouldn't have amounted to much. But taking in Phil's easy acceptance of paternal responsibility threw her for a loop.

She leaned toward him as if conducting a cross-examination. "So, you have no problem with twenty years of financial responsibility? No problem making unknown sacrifices on behalf of a child that you unwittingly fathered with a…uh–"

"If you say 'sex-starved spinster' again I'm going to wash your mouth out with soap at the next Stuckey Stop."

"Well, I find it hard to believe it's so easy, so simple for you to accept."

"But I know something you don't know."

"Oh, do tell."

"I've already got one kid. I know how much I missed. How badly I screwed up." A small smile tugged at his lips. "Maddie, my little moon goddess, you've given me a second chance to do it right."

She turned away, watching the scenery buzz by. "Now you're making me feel like a regular brood mare."

"Jeez, there's no pleasing you today, is there?" He pulled the car over to the side of the road.

She frowned and felt a bit panicky. "What are you doing?"

He shoved the car into park, turned and grabbed the sides of her arms. "Let's get something straight. I want this baby. I won't be robbed of another child. I've had to fight Pam for Melissa every step of the way. I don't want to fight you, but I will if I have to."

A lump in Maddie's throat made it difficult for her to reply. "I'm not another Pam. I'd never rob my child of a fine father like you. I'm sure we can work out an acceptable custody arrangement."

His jaw tensed. "Is that the best you can see for us, Maddie? An amiable custody arrangement?" His hands eased their grip and began gently caressing the top of her arms. The serious, searching look on his face seared her soul.

She closed her eyes in defense. "I don't know. You scare me, Phil. The feelings you stir up in me are frightening."

"I know what you mean. I've never known anyone before who throws me so off balance. Being with you is kind of like kicking back a shot of Jack Daniels. You make me hot and befuddle my mind. Ah hell, maybe it's just lust."

His lips were on hers before she had time to consider the wisdom of kissing him. And then she didn't think at all because he felt so good. After weeks of feeling lost and alone, his kiss was like coming home. Her arms furled around his neck as he engulfed her into his broad embrace. He devoured her lips as his hands traveled into her hair. Then he made love to her mouth, sweeping in and taking her breath away. Oh, God, he was like a force of nature. An avalanche, a tornado tearing across the landscape of her emotions.

She lowered her hands and slid them on his chest, pushing back. "Wait. I can't breathe. I can't think. I can't handle this right now."

Phil settled back behind the steering wheel with a smug alpha male expression, satisfied that his me-Tarzan-you-Jane move had overwhelmed her. "Okay. I'd say I'm sorry, but I'm not. We've got unfinished business between us. And it's not just about the kid. Something started that night under the moon and it's not over yet."

The course of true love never did run smooth.

They were almost to Maddie's house when she thought to ask about Phil's car. "Do we need to go pick it up somewhere?"

Phil shrugged. "Nah. I think my car is toast. I'll have to arrange to get it towed into town tomorrow."

"Oh, I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault."

"Well, I feel somewhat responsible."

"Listen when somebody kidnaps you, whatever else happens, it's not your fault. Get it?"

He was mildly chastising her for taking on too much responsibility, but old habits die hard. She wanted to fix the situation. "I have a vehicle you can use. Grammy's old pickup truck is in the garage. It's very useful once in a while. I've kept it maintained."

A grin tugged at his lips. "I'm sure you have. Okay. That sounds like a good idea. I was going to have one of the team come and get me, but I think driving around in Grammy's truck sounds like a kick. The old gal won a special place in my heart."

They pulled into Maddie's long drive and stopped before her postcard-perfect cabin. Phil jogged around to her side and opened her door as she gathered her belongings.

He followed her up the porch steps as she said, "Come in and I'll get you the key to the truck."

Phil checked out the cabin with interest. It reflected Maddie's personality, a mixture of femininity and practicality. Muted colors and tasteful decorations gave the place a feeling of warmth and peace, so different from the cheap glitzy clutter that filled Pam's house. And it smelled so good. Flowers and soap and sunshine. After a full day of smelling sweat and grass-stained uniforms, coming to a home that smelled like this would be real good.