Melting Into You (Due South Book 2) (34 page)

Shaye raised an eyebrow at her whispered explan
ation that Nick was having a personal crisis, but when Kezia had hissed, “You really expect me to spend hours in
that woman’s
company?” her friend quickly backed down.

Kezia collected the tray of cupcakes and left her house, walking toward Ben’s with her heart lodged firmly in her throat, a pounding, aching drumbeat. She nudged open his gate, the three purple balloons tied to it swaying in the breeze. From the rear of the house came boisterous shouts and frantic yapping. Clutching the tray with one hand, she twisted the door handle and used her hip to nudge it open. In and out like a ninja. She’d shove the baking at Piper or Shaye, then run. Cupcakes slid precariously toward the tray’s edge—

“Here, I’ll get it.” Two tanned forearms steadied the tray before tugging it out of her numb fingers.

Ben’s deep voice scraped over her skin like fine sandpaper. No
pe, she couldn’t catch a break.

Fixing her gaze on a spot beyond Ben’s shoulder, she said, “Thanks. You might’ve saved a riot since I only made enough for two cupcakes each—plus a co
uple of spares for the adults because, you know, everyone loves cupcakes!”

Babbling like an
idiota
.

Ben turned, pointing the tray down
the hallway. “Come on through.”

The Pied Piper effect of his voice had her take three steps after him before her brain engaged and she jerked to a halt. “I’m not staying.”

He glanced over his shoulder, then spun around. “What?”

“I’m flying up to see my brother, Nick. I’ll be home tomorrow afternoon.” That much was true, at least.

“Kezia—” The way he said her name felt like sinking into a bubble bath.

“I was going to wish Jade a happy birthday, but I’ll leave it since the kids sound like they’re having fun.” Escape was the only sensible option since pride pr
evented her from throwing herself at his feet and sobbing.

She was really doing this.

Kezia backed up, legs wobbling as if she wore nine inch heels instead of flat ankle boots. Falling on her butt would be one more nail in the coffin of her humiliation.

“Wait—” Ben slid the tray onto a small hallway t
able.

“Oh, there you are!” Marci said fr
om the family room doorway.

Her kohl-lined glance zipped to Kezia as she walked to Ben’s side. “
Mrs
. Murphy—how sweet of you to stop by.”

Kezia didn’t correct Marci’s subtle dig of her un
availability. A title of Mrs. was fine, because as it stood between her and Ben now? She
was
unavailable. “Just dropping off the cupcakes, I’m not staying.”

“That’s a pity. Guess it’ll just be me and Ben cha
peroning the sleepover tonight.” Marci giggled, curling her fingers around Ben’s biceps.

Ben shot Marci a look which would’ve flash frozen an elephant, but Kezia’s stomach plummeted when he didn’t pull away. Of course he didn’t pull away—he couldn’t afford to offend her.

“I guess it will.” The muscles around Kezia’s mouth felt like razor wire as she peeled her lips into a smile and directed it at them both. “Ben, if Zoe needs anything tonight, call Shaye. I’ll be out of range until morning.”

His brow carved into a deep “V.”
Maledizione
. Now he was suspicious—because she was never out of range for Zoe. But tonight she would be.

After the meeting with her old boss, she planned to pick up a pregnancy test—since the package still hadn’t arrived—switch off her phone, and spend the night alone in a hotel room getting sloppy drunk on house-wine, and ugly crying. If she wasn’t pregnant. If she
was
pregnant, the plan changed to gobbling chocolate bars, and ugly-crying. She’d packed an extra box of tissues in her overnight bag.

Ben stepped forward and Marci’s hand slipped off his arm. “Can we talk—please.”

Kezia pressed her lips together to stop them quivering. Talk about how she might be carrying his child? No. She had some pride. She wouldn’t use the possibility of pregnancy to guilt him into choosing her over another woman. “I don’t think so.”

Marci’s gaze zipped between Kezia and Ben,
creases wrinkling her forehead.

“Please wish Jade a happy birthday from me, Marci. She’s a special girl and a credit to you.” The woode
nness of her delivery didn’t negate the truth. Marci mightn’t be the reason Jade was so wonderful, but having her as a daughter should be the equivalent of a lottery win. She only hoped the woman realized what a treasure she held in her hands.

“Oh. Well, thank you. She’ll be sad to miss you since we’re leaving tomorrow.”

Ben cleared his throat, but if she met his gaze now, she’d break.

Kezia’s eyes burned liked she’d touched raw chili to the lids. “We’ve already said our goodbyes. I’ll make sure her files are forwarded to the right person if you’ll contact the school office once you’re settled.”

Then she snatched at the door handle and stepped outside, pulling it closed behind her.

She’d done it.
She’d severed the first of the ties binding her to him so securely.

Sunlight speared out from between puffy clouds and a brisk breeze licked at her cheeks as she hurried down the road to collect her suitcase. Distant white-capped waves promised a rough crossing. Out on her uncle’s fishing boat since she was tiny, seasickness didn’t co
ncern her. In fact, if she hadn’t already booked flights she would’ve welcomed the splash of sea spray as the ferry plowed through the swell, because any locals would mistake her tears for the salty kiss of the ocean.

***

Ben had flopped onto his bed after the last giggle from the family room faded over an hour ago. Bugger, he thought now. He’d forgotten to turn off the light, but screw it—he’d no energy to get up again. Every time he thought his emotions remained locked down, something reminded him of the one person missing from Jade’s party. The one person he couldn’t stop thinking about.

Kezia’s absence was an unending solar eclipse. Not that he blamed her for taking off. Having Marci here took awkward to a whole new level.

A soft tap sounded at his door.

The hairs on Ben’s arms rippled to attention.
Please don’t be Marci wanting to convert me to her idea of becoming a full-time house husband
.

“Dad? Dad! Are you awake?”

A reprieve. He rolled off the bed and opened the door, the why-are-you-up-it’s-past-midnight speech drying up at Jade’s wild eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

“Zoe’s crying. She says her tummy hurts real bad.”

Hell
. Shouldn’t have let the kids eat another helping of ice cream while they watched the last DVD. “Let’s go see.”

He followed Jade down the hallway, the bright beam from her new Maglite flashlight—a gift from Piper, who said Jade needed a real flashlight, not a wussy
Hello, Kitty
pink one—leading the way. The other four shapes hunched on air beds didn’t stir as they crept between them to the double that the girls were sharing.

Zoe, curled in a fetal ball, blinked up at them, her big brown eyes filled with tears. “It hurts.”

A sour taste oozed into the back of Ben’s mouth. This was not good. Not good at all. “Did you have too much ice cream?”

The girl shook her head weakly.

“She gave hers to George,” Jade whispered.

Ben crouched beside Zoe and placed his hand on her forehead. Warm—very warm—though he didn’t know what the hell a fever meant. “How long have you had an upset stomach, Zoe?”

“All afternoon. Didn’t want to ruin Jade’s party.” Her lower lip trembled and she curled even tighter. “My tummy really, really hurts.”

“Like you’re going to hurl?”

Zoe nodded.

“Kiddo, go and grab a mixing bowl from the kitc
hen.”

“
Eww,” said Jade.

Ben waved his hand. “All right—an empty ice-cream container from the recycling bin.”

When Jade returned with the plastic tub, he said, “Can you sit with Zoe for a minute? I’m going to call Dr. Whelan.”

A total over-reaction for a tummy bug, but this was Zoe. And he didn’t give a shit if he roused Joe from his beauty sleep—he’d be getting his ass here pronto.

One by one, the kids awoke as Zoe’s cries grew louder and a few of the younger girls even cried in sympathy. Ben sent Jade to her room where Marci was sleeping to wake her, then rang Shaye. Someone needed to call the other parents to come collect their kids. Sleepover cancelled.

Ben cradled Zoe in his arms and carried her to his bed after she threw up all over her sleeping bag. Co
nfronted by weeping kids and her near hysterical daughter, Marci vanished back into Jade’s room. He could’ve kissed his youngest sister as she burst into his house and assumed command of the chaos.

Joe arrived five minutes later, and Ben practically grabbed him by the shirt collar and hauled him inside.

“She’s worse then?” Joe followed Ben down the hallway into his room.

“Yeah.”

Shaye sat on the other side of the bed, twisting a damp facecloth she’d used to blot Zoe’s brow. Joe knelt beside the bed and spoke softly to the girl, who rolled onto her back with a harsh groan.

“There now. You’re a good girl, Zoe.” Joe set his big hands on her stomach. “I’m going to press on your tummy over here to the left.”

His fingers flexed, and Zoe wailed.

Ben’s fists clenched. Goddammit, he’d rather take a kick to the nuts than see Zoe in pain. “Jesus, what’re you doing to her?”

Joe glanced over his shoulder, his mouth a straight, grim slash. “Rosving’s sign.”

“What’s that?” Shaye said.

Joe shook his head and turned to his patient. “Hurts bad over here, doesn’t it, pet?” He gently touched Zoe’s right side.

“
Yessss. I want my mamma.”

“Course you do. But first we’ll get you sorted for a little trip.”

Ben and Shaye looked at each other, then at Joe.

“Trip?” Ben said.

Joe stood and gestured to the hallway. “Zoe, I’m going to talk to Ben, and then I’ll give you something to make you feel a little better.”

Out of the bedroom, Joe lowered his voice. “I’m fairly certain it’s her appendix. I need to get her to I
nvercargill.”

“Appendicitis?” Ben’s gut twisted in sympathy.

“Aye. I’ll contact the hospital and get the chopper on its way.” Joe paused, fingers hovering over the screen of his phone. “You’ve reached Kezia?”

Ben dug his phone out of his jeans. “I rang and left a message. Sent her a text. I haven’t checked to see if she’s rung back, she must be frantic—” He powered up the screen, unease crawling over his skin. “She hasn’t replied, hasn’t called.” Ben hit re-dial but
it went straight to voice mail.

Shaye poked her head out of the bedroom. “Are you trying
Kez again?”

“She’s turned off her phone. Or it’s gone flat.”

“I couldn’t get through either, and I left five messages. Did you say chopper?” Shaye directed her question to Joe.

Joe nodded and tapped on his phone. “One of you can fly with us to the hospital to keep her calm—” He held up a finger. “This is Doctor Whelan from Stewart Island—” He strode down the hallway, ducking around a pale-faced Marci
emerging from the family room.

Zoe gro
aned again and Shaye retreated.

“What’s going on?” Marci latched onto his arm. “Jade’s crying so hard she’ll make herself sick!”

Ben stared at her. “Then deal with it. She’s worried about her friend.”

Marci huffed and tugged her silky black robe tighter. “A lot of fuss over a kid who’s eaten too many
lollies.”

Ben’s teeth clicked together, and he squeezed the bridge of his nose. “The doctor suspects appendicitis, Marci. He’s bringing a chopper in from Invercargill hospital.”

“Oh. I didn’t realize it was
that
serious.”

“It is, and I’m going with her.”

“You can’t leave when Jade’s like this! What am I supposed to do with her?” Marci’s voice rose to a high-pitched whine.

“Be her mother, Marci. Isn’t that why you’re here?”

Her mouth snapped shut, and her eyes narrowed. “Why can’t your sister go with the girl?”

“Because she’s my responsibility.”

“
Jade
is your responsibility.”

“Which is why I have a network of family and friends who’ll look after her while I’m gone.”

She fisted her hands on her hips. “I should take Jade and leave on the first flight this morning. You know I could, don’t you?”

“Yeah.” That he could lose Jade on this woman’s whim was a granite slab across his shoulder blades. “But it won’t change the fact I need to be there for Zoe—she’s scared, and alone, and depending on
me
.”