Meet Mr. Prince (11 page)

“No problem.”

“Really?”

“I called in a favor.”

“Oh.”

“A college buddy of mine is an orthopedic surgeon,” he explained. “He said he'd meet us at his office.”

“When did you talk to
him?
”

“While I was taking the kids up to Fanny.”

Georgie couldn't get over the way Zach was able to get things done. Alex was the same way. They weren't in anyone's face about it, but they accomplished wonders. For instance, Georgie couldn't imagine either Zach or Alex being obnoxious about it, but it was obvious they were used to quietly organizing things and giving orders and having them followed. And Georgie had to admit, but it was nice to be taken care in such a thoughtful, efficient way.

Zach's orthopedic surgeon friend didn't seem the least put out by having to come to his office on a Sunday. He
greeted Zach like they were best buddies, and he was happy to do him this favor.

A stocky blond with friendly hazel eyes, he shook Georgie's hand, saying, “Hi. Jim Douglas.”

“Georgie Fairchild.”

“Let's have a look at this ankle.” His hands were gentle as he felt the ankle, but Georgie couldn't help grimacing. “I'm pretty sure it's just a sprain, but let's X-ray it, anyway.”

Fifteen minutes later, reading the film, he said, “I was right, it's not broken.” He then gave her instructions. “I'm going to immobilize the ankle with a splint. That's to protect it while it's healing.” Turning to Zach, he said, “She needs to rest it as much as possible in the next few days, and she absolutely can't walk on it, so it's going to be crutches or the wheelchair.” He smiled at Georgie. “Your choice. Also for the first few days, you're going to need to ice it three times a day, to keep the swelling down.” Turning back to Zach, he said, “I'll give you some printed instructions to take home.”

Georgie wondered if he thought she were Zach's girlfriend or something. Maybe he thought she lived with Zach. “I live on my own,” she said, “and if I can't walk, it's going to be difficult.” She couldn't even imagine how she'd get to and from work.

“Don't worry, Georgie, I'll take care of everything,” Zach said.

But Georgie
was
worried. She bit her lip, her mind spinning furiously. Maybe her mother could come for a few days. Oh, why did this have to happen?

After they left the doctor's office and Zach had lifted her back into the car—if she hadn't been so upset over the ankle, she would have enjoyed being held in his
arms—he said, “We'll get you some crutches on the way home.”

He had Les drop him at a pharmacy, and while he went in to get the crutches and the other supplies she'd need, Les circled the block until Zach was again outside.

“Thank you for doing all this,” she said once he was back in the car.

“It's the least I could do, since your situation is Jeremy's fault.”

“Well, I appreciate it.”

Georgie had settled down. She still wasn't sure how she was going to manage on her own, but after some of the things she'd suffered in the past year or two (poison ivy, an infected mosquito bite, an encounter with a snake) during her travels afield, she'd become pretty resilient. She guessed she would figure this problem out, too.

They'd only driven a few blocks when Georgie realized they were going back to Zach's place. “Um, Zach,” she said, “I thought Les would drive me home.”

“You're not going home.”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“You heard what Jim said. You're not to walk on that foot until it heals.”

“But—”

“Look, I've got a huge apartment with an empty guest suite. I've also got Fanny, who can look after you.”

Georgie just stared at him. Did he mean what she thought he meant?

“You're going to stay with us until you can function on your own. And I won't take no for an answer.”

C
ornelia had been looking forward to a quiet Sunday for days. Harry had been keeping her so busy, she'd barely had time to read the daily newspaper, let alone relax with her knitting or keep up with her email correspondence.

Harry.

She smiled now anytime she thought of him. He was trying so hard to please her, to be the man she needed him to be. And knowing Harry, who was nothing if not goal oriented, a man who had never failed at anything he set his sights on, he would remake himself if that's what it took to get her to marry him. Because there was now no doubt in her mind that Harry had finally,
finally,
realized what he should have realized a long time ago: The two of them belonged together. He wasn't just saying it, he wasn't going to change his mind in a month, he really meant it.

He loves me
.

Last night, after a lovely dinner and an even lovelier snuggle in front of the warmth of a cozy fire in Cornelia's fireplace, she had almost told him she would marry him. But at the last moment, she had decided to wait one more day. This evening Harry was taking her to hear the Seattle Symphony Orchestra at Benaroya Hall. She would tell him she'd made her decision when he came to pick her up, and then she would wear that magnificent pink diamond ring, which would perfectly match the pale pink crepe dress she planned to wear. She knew he'd been carrying that ring in his pocket, ever since first showing it to her. He was like a Boy Scout, only in his case, he prepared only for success.

She hugged herself, laughing softly. The ring was ostentatious, she knew it, yet she had not been able to put it out of her mind. Why not? she thought now. Just once in her life, why not do something totally out of character and wear that enormous ring proudly?

It was in this joyful, expectant frame of mind that she walked unhurriedly to the house phone when it rang at five o'clock. She was already bathed and dressed for the evening, for Harry was coming at six. Caller ID identified Grayson Hunt, Harry's eldest son, on the other end. Without the slightest premonition of anything being wrong, Cornelia smiled as she answered.

“Gray! How lovely to hear from you. It's been too long. How are Amelia and the children?”

“They're all fine, Cornelia. But I'm afraid I'm calling with bad news.”

Cornelia's smile faded, and she went still.

“Dad's had another heart attack. I'm calling from the hospital.” Gray's normal take-charge, no-nonsense
voice faltered just a bit. “He…he's asking for you. I've sent Walter to come and get you.”

Nothing could have alerted Cornelia to the seriousness of what had happened more than that hitch in Grayson's voice. Tears filled her eyes even as she told herself she must remain strong. Tears would not help Harry, and that was all that mattered right now. “Thank you, Gray. Is—is he going to make it?” She could hardly force herself to ask the question.

“I don't know. We're still waiting to talk to Dr. Kedar.” Chander Kedar, probably the most renowned heart specialist in the Seattle area, had been Harry's cardiologist ever since his first heart scare three years earlier.

Cornelia's hands were shaking as she said goodbye. She allowed herself only a few moments of terror and regret before mentally shaking herself. She couldn't afford to fall apart. She had to be able to deal with whatever happened. Her behavior was the only thing she had any control over. Blinking back her tears, she reminded herself that Harry's health and their possible future together were in God's hands.

Why did I wait so long to say yes to Harry? Was my stupid pride that important? What was I trying to prove, anyway?

As she walked slowly upstairs to change into something more comfortable and sensible for what might be a long hospital vigil, she prayed that Harry would overcome this the way he'd overcome every other obstacle in his life.

Please God, let him live. If you do, I promise I'll never ask for anything else again.

 

Zach called ahead to ask Fanny to make sure the guest suite was ready for Georgie.

“It's always ready, Mr. Prince,” Fanny said.

“Is Katie home yet?”

“Not yet, but Mrs. Norlund called about an hour ago to say she'd have her back by six.”

Zach looked at his watch. It was just past 5:30 p.m. “If she gets there before we do, ask her to wait, would you? I need to see her.” He planned to ask Sabrina to go to Georgie's apartment and gather whatever items his houseguest wanted. He would do it himself, but he figured Georgie wouldn't like him—or any man—going through her personal things.

He looked over at Georgie. She was a trouper. No crying, no hysterics, no whining. He knew that ankle must have hurt like hell. He saw how she winced when Jim had examined her, yet she didn't complain. Now that he thought of it, she didn't complain about much, ever. If she really was lonely here in New York, she sure hadn't let on.

Nor did she complain about any of the people they worked with, even though some of them, like Jonathan Pierce, could be pills. He really liked that about her.

Who are you trying to kid? You like everything about her.

She certainly was easy on the eyes. He wondered if she had any idea how appealing she looked today. Or how she'd made him feel when he had his arms around her while she was trying to get her balance on skates. Or when he'd lifted her into the car.

He wished…

But he broke off the thought. Any kind of personal relationship with Georgie, other than friendship, was
out of the question, he'd already decided that. Now, if Katie liked her…

But Katie
didn't
like her.

“We're here, Mr. Prince,” Les said, breaking into Zach's thoughts. A few seconds later, the driver pulled up to the curb in front of Zach's building. Walter was on duty today, and he rushed right over to help them when he saw who it was.

Between the two men, they got the wheelchair set up and Georgie into it easily. Zach thanked Les, and with Walter toting the crutches, Zach wheeled Georgie into the building.

Fanny was waiting in the foyer when Zach opened the apartment doors and wheeled Georgie in. She gave Georgie a sympathetic smile. “Sorry about your ankle, Miss Fairchild.”

“Thank you, Fanny. And please call me Georgie.”

Fanny's eyes met Zach's, and in them he saw not just sympathy but a spark of something else. Something that made him a bit uncomfortable, because he knew she knew exactly what he'd been feeling—
was
feeling about Georgie—maybe from the first moment he'd met her, even if he hadn't been ready to admit it until now.

“Fanny,” he said, “I'll let you show Georgie the guest suite while I take care of some things.” He'd decided to call Deborah and ask her to go to Georgie's rather than have his sister do it. He figured Georgie at least knew Deborah, which might make it a bit less embarrassing for her. Taking out his cell phone, he was just about to key in Deborah's speed-dial number when the phone in the apartment rang. Since Fanny was busy, he headed for the extension in his office, but then Fanny called out.

“Mr. Price, it's Mrs. Barlowe on the phone.”

Zach smiled. He kept in close touch with Toni
Barlowe, Jenny's mother and the only living grandmother his children had. And he never minded a phone call from her; in fact, he initiated them fairly often himself. “Hi, Toni,” he said.

“Hi, Zach. I meant to call you earlier, but things got a little crazy here and I forgot.” Toni managed a senior complex in Fort Meyers, Florida. She'd done so for the past five years, ever since her husband (and the children's grandfather) had died of an unexpected and massive stroke. Poke Barlowe had been almost twenty years older than his wife, who was only in her late fifties now. Jenny had been their only child, and they had doted on her. Now all that love and devotion was concentrated on Zach and his children.

“How are you?” Zach asked. Almost the best thing about Toni, a trait he'd been thankful for since the first time he'd met her, was the fact that he could safely ask her a question like this. She would not keep him on the phone for an hour with whining complaints. Toni was like him; she didn't waste time bemoaning anything. If she had a problem, she dealt with it.

“I'm great, Zach. I called to tell you I unexpectedly got a few days off next week, and I'd love to come and see you guys. Would that be okay with you?”

“Of course it's okay. You know we always love having you.” And then, for some reason he couldn't explain, he added, “I'm glad it's not this week, though. I have someone staying in the guest suite.”

“That wouldn't have mattered to me. I can sleep on the sofa if I have to.”

He knew she wasn't kidding. She'd often told Jenny how she and her three older sisters all shared the same room when they were growing up. “We only had one closet. Imagine that. And one bathroom in the entire
house.” Then she'd laugh, saying, “But we were happy and we had no idea we were deprived.” This last was laced with gentle sarcasm because she constantly marveled at the fact that Zach's apartment contained eight bathrooms and six bedrooms.

They talked for a while more, with her asking about each of the children and ending by saying she'd let him know her flight and arrival time after she made her reservation. After they'd hung up, he wondered what he'd have said if she'd asked about his house guest. Had he wanted her to? Is that why he'd mentioned Georgie to begin with?

What did you think that would accomplish? That she'd give you her blessing if by some miracle you could work things out so that Georgie might someday be a part of your life? Do you
need
her blessing?

Still thinking about the conversation with Toni, he placed his call to Deborah.

“Of course I'll go get Georgie's things, Zach,” she said. “No problem. What does she want?”

“I'll take the phone in to her, Deb, and she can tell you. Oh, and take cabs. I'll reimburse you when you get here.”

Phone in hand, he walked out of his office just as sounds from the foyer alerted him to the fact Sabrina had brought Katie home.

Katie
.

For the first time since he'd told Georgie she was going to be staying with him, he thought about Katie. Filled with foreboding, he walked out to the foyer to greet her.

“Dad!” Katie called when she saw him. Her small face was alight with happiness. “It was so fun! Jinks was so happy to see me!”

Jinks was Sabrina's horse, a beautiful chestnut Arabian gelding, and Katie loved him.

“I got to ride him twice!” Katie beamed. “Aunt Sabrina said I was a natural. Dad, can I get a horse?”

“We'll talk about that, okay?”

“Well, can I at least take riding lessons?”

Zach hadn't seen Katie this excited about anything in a long time. “Let Aunt Sabrina and me talk about that, too, then we'll see.”

“But, Dad—”

The temptation to say yes to anything his daughter asked was strong, but Zach resisted doing so impulsively. Once you said yes, you couldn't change your mind. Not easily, anyway. “Katie, I'm not saying yes to anything this important without doing some research first. Okay?”

Katie sighed heavily. “Okay.”

Zach's gaze met his sister's.

She smiled. Her dark eyes, inherited from their father, echoed Katie's pleasure in the weekend. “We did have a wonderful weekend,” she said. “And Katie
is
a natural.”

Katie gave Sabrina a grateful and adoring smile.

“How was your weekend?” Sabrina asked.

“Interesting,” he said. He was just trying to figure out how to break the news of the accident and Georgie's presence at the apartment when Jeremy, followed closely by Emma, ran out to the foyer. “Aunt Sabrina! Katie! Wait'll I tell you what happened today.” He stopped when he saw the expression on Zach's face.

Zach kept his voice as neutral as he could. Maybe if he didn't make a fuss about the situation, Katie wouldn't, either. “What Jeremy was about to say is, we had an accident while skating today.”

Sabrina looked at his two youngest.

“No, not them,” Zach said. “Our guest.” Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Katie stiffen, almost as if she knew what was coming.

Then, before Zach could explain any further, the sound of wheels against hardwood flooring made all five of them turn.

When Georgie, holding the phone from Zach's office in her lap, came into sight, she smiled tentatively, looking first at Zach, then toward Sabrina and Katie.

Katie stared at her.

Zach hurriedly said, “Sabrina, this is Georgie Fairchild, my assistant. Georgie sprained her ankle today and she's going to be staying with us while she recuperates.”

Katie made a sound that was a cross between “no” and a gasp.

And then, shocking Zach, she fled past Georgie, down the hall and around the corner.

A second later, they heard the door of her bedroom slam shut.

 

Oh no,
Georgie thought. Katie's reaction was even worse than Georgie had imagined it might be. Her eyes met Zach's, and she saw he was stunned. For a few moments, no one said a word, and afterward Georgie thought how that was the first time since she'd met Zach that he'd seemed totally bewildered.

“Oh dear,” said Zach's sister. She looked at Zach, too.

He finally moved. “I need to go talk to her. Sabrina, why don't you and Georgie go into the family room and get acquainted?” His attention moved to Jeremy and Emma. “You two go with them, okay?”

Jeremy frowned. “Why's Katie mad?”

“'Cause she wanted to go skating, too,” Emma piped up. “Huh, Dad?”

“That's probably why,” Zach said.

Georgie of course knew that wasn't the reason Katie had acted the way she had. Georgie had seen the look on Katie's face when she realized Georgie was there and was going to be there for a while.
Oh, God. She hates me.
Georgie wished she could talk to Katie. Wished she could tell her she wasn't a threat. That she didn't have designs on Katie's father. That she wasn't trying to take the place of Katie's mother.