Sweet Talk Boxed Set (Ten NEW Contemporary Romances by Bestselling Authors to Benefit Diabetes Research plus BONUS Novel) (76 page)

“I thought Nina was your nurse?” Charlie was having a hard time following Diane’s train of thought. How could she confuse Nina’s role in her life?

“She is. But I don’t need a nurse anymore, do I? Nina refuses to leave me, though, and I feel bad having her stay when I’m okay, so I managed to get her to agree to be Grace’s nanny.”

“I see.” Charlie stirred her coffee, unable to look Diane in the eyes at the moment.

“It’s a good idea, right? I think Brian would approve.” There was a note of insecurity in Diane’s voice, as if she needed approval for keeping Nina with her.

“Of course it is. It’s a win-win, right? You and Nina seem to get along so well, and you’re not alone.” From the way Diane was talking, the past few months hadn’t even happened. Did Diane remember Charlie was getting married? Probably not.

“So, big sis, how are you doing?” It was hard knowing Brian was dead, and yet for Diane he was only away, working in London, opening up a new office for the legal firm Brian used to work for.

“Fine.” Diane shrugged. “It’s hard not having him here, raising Grace alone. But...” She glanced over at the doll. “Oh, sweetheart, it’s okay, shhh...” Diane’s voice was very quiet as she took Grace in her arms and gently rocked her. “Mommy’s here—no need to cry, sweet angel.”

Charlie had to look away and wipe her eyes. It took her a few moments to regain her composure, but Diane didn’t seem to notice, as she was so engrossed in her “baby.”

Charlie shivered and reached for her coffee cup.

Diane looked up and smiled. “Do you remember how Mags used to love holding a hot cup of water between her hands? She swore it was the fastest way to warm up a body.”

“I do.” Charlie nodded. “I feel so cold right now; the exhaustion from the jet lag is probably setting in.”

“Oh, you should go lie down! Get some rest and we can chat when you wake up.”

“I’m okay,” Charlie said.

Diane’s brows furrowed together. “Have you looked at yourself lately? Maybe I should be the one worrying. When was the last time you had a shower?”

“I was in the Congo, Diane. Not a spa. And you know I never sleep well on the plane.” No amount of makeup would cover the dark circles beneath her eyes.

“Then go upstairs, take a shower, and have a nap.”

Charlie forced her gaze to lower. It bothered her that Diane really believed she was at home.

“I need to put Grace down to sleep anyway. You’ll need to sleep in the loft, though; is that okay? Nina sleeps in the spare bedroom.”

Charlie gripped the edge of the table to stand, but hesitated. She glanced over at Nina, who now stood in the corner. Nina pointed to her wristwatch. Was she wanting her to go? Was it time for Diane to be somewhere? An appointment maybe? Or was it time for her medication?

“Go on up and have a shower and rest.” Diane stood and walked away, completely lost to the fact she walked by countless other patients and even Nina.

“Is this what happened to Mom?” Charlie said quietly, not meaning to say it out loud. She wondered whether Diane had heard, as she hesitated briefly at the door before continuing her slow walk down the hallway and to her room.

Charlie didn’t remember much of those years, and after extensive counselling she realized it was probably for the best. But now, today, she wished she did. What started her own mother’s downward spiral into depression and eventually to thinking death would be better than living?

Seeing Diane today, Charlie knew without a doubt that she could never have children. Ever. Not naturally, anyway. She didn’t know what that meant for her and Marcus, but hopefully after she explained everything to him, he would understand.

But what if he didn’t? With all their recent talk of starting a family, they’d never once mentioned adoption. Would he be okay with that? And what if...what if Diane didn’t get better? What if her two-week stay had to be extended? Would Marcus still be okay with their plans for moving back to Seattle and opening up their own clinic? She had so many questions...so many fears that she’d thought she’d vanquished.

She needed Marcus. She needed him to be here with her, dealing with all this. If she’d known, if she’d realized just how bad Diane was, she would have insisted he come.

Charlie slowly sat down in the chair she’d vacated. She just wanted Marcus here period. She needed his strength. His help. His wisdom.

By the time Nina came to join her at the table, the tears that she’d tried so hard to contain were spilling down her cheeks, and when Nina’s arms came around her in a hug, Charlie let it all go and quietly sobbed into the woman’s shoulder.

CHAPTER FIVE

Charlie struggled to keep herself together as she watched Nina coax Diane out of her room for another treatment where she’d be receiving electroshock therapy.

“How about we give Grace a bath? Sometimes that helps to calm a fussy baby.” Nina’s voice was low and gentle.

“I don’t like hearing her cry, Nina.” Diane was in tears.

“I know love, I know. Can I hold her?”

Charlie stood in the corner, in the tiny space between Diane’s bed and wall, completely ignored by her sister.

In fact, she’d just spent the past two hours sitting on Diane’s bed while her sister sat at her desk, writing in her journal, oblivious to Charlie’s presence.

Charlie was at her wits’ end and wasn’t sure how much more she could take, how much stronger she was supposed to be. Seeing her sister like this was tearing her up inside.

Diane released her baby into Nina’s arms and slowly followed her out the door to where other nurses waited.

“Here, why don’t you sit there and hold Grace while I get the bathwater ready?” Nina smiled at Diane, her face relaxed and her smile gentle, but Charlie knew this had to be bothering her as well. How could Nina be so patient and calm with Diane all the time?

Diane slowly sank down in the waiting wheelchair that another nurse held still for her, and after Nina placed Grace in her lap, they wheeled her down the hall, Nina walking at Diane’s side as they made their way toward the treatment room.

As soon as they were out of sight, Charlie slid down the wall, tears falling down her cheeks, and she let herself cry.

Every day that she remained in Seattle ate away at her dreams, her hopes, and her future. She didn’t see a time when she could leave, not if Diane remained like this. How could she? She would be abandoning the only family she had left. But would Diane even know? Would she realize? Charlie wasn’t sure.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket and she pulled it out. It was Marcus. She hesitated before declining his call. She hadn’t told him yet how bad Diane was, and every time he offered to fly there to be with her, she told him to wait.

She’d call him later, when she wasn’t so raw. She waited for his text, something he’d started to do whenever she didn’t answer.

Miss you.

Charlie smiled. Her fingers itched to text him back, but she stopped herself.

Sent you e-mail; read when you can. Call me tonight. Please?

When she’d first arrived, they made it a routine to talk every evening around eight o’clock her time, which was four in the morning for him, the time he normally got up to meditate, but little by little she’d made sure she wasn’t home when he Skyped her, and then made up an excuse with a text saying she was sorry.

She knew what she was doing. She was pulling away. But how could she not? If she came clean about Diane’s condition, she’d have to tell him about her past—all of it—as well. She wasn’t sure how they would handle that, let alone whether their relationship could survive it.

She was going to read his e-mail but decided to save it for later, when she was back at Diane’s house. Her emotions were so raw right now, she needed a little breather.

With Diane out of the room, Charlie made herself useful tidying it up, smoothing the blankets on the bed, getting rid of the cups of water in the room, and putting away the baby clothes in a basket close to where the bassinet lay.

“You’re still here?” Nina walked in. “You know she’ll be out for hours after the treatment.”

Charlie nodded. Diane was given a general anaesthetic before the treatment, which induced mini-seizures in her brain. The meds knocked her out, and while she slept for hours, she always woke up groggy with a headache, and generally unresponsive to anyone for a while. Charlie used to stay with her sister just so she wouldn’t be alone, but lately she’d taken back up running during these times.

“Just about to leave, but I wanted to talk with you first.”

“What’s the matter?” Nina asked.

“Do you think the shock therapy is helping her? I’m not seeing any improvements.”

“We need to give it time.”

“Nina, you’ve seen her. She hasn’t even known I’ve been here for the past week!” Charlie began to pace, a few steps to the right, a few steps to the left, suddenly anxious to be out of this room.

“Go back to Africa,” Nina said softly.

Startled, Charlie stopped. “I can’t leave her.” She wouldn’t think to do such a thing. Maybe later, if it seemed like Diane wasn’t getting any better, but not right now. There was still hope.

“I’m here,” Nina argued. “She won’t be alone.”

“It’s not the same.” No, she didn’t like the idea and wouldn’t even talk about it anymore. “I’m going to go for my run; call me if she wakes up. I can come back and sit with her.” She went to leave but Nina reached out.

“Charlie, eventually you need to get back to your own life. Marcus is waiting for you. Your sister wouldn’t want you to give it all up for her. Not like this. You know that.”

Charlie swallowed and wanted to disagree, but when Nina lowered her hand, she walked out of the room instead.

Ever since returning, she’d found it hard to make herself at home in her sister’s empty house, even though she knew she needed to. Every day was the same: Wake up, tidy up after herself, go for a run, shower, and then head to Swedish Medical, picking up coffee and fresh pastries along the way. Regardless of whether her sister knew she was there or not, Charlie knew. She’d spend the day, return home, make something light to eat, go for another run, and then attempt to relax.

Attempt
being the operative word.

Curled up on the couch with a blanket across her legs, Charlie opened the e-mail Marcus had sent on her laptop.

Charlie girl,

I miss you like crazy. It’s not the same here without you, and I made a decision. Whether you like it or not, I’m coming to Seattle. Don’t bother trying to change my mind, because it’s already made up—you’re not the only stubborn one you know.

I’m not sure why you’re pushing me away, but I won’t let it continue. I love you, Charlotte Hunter, and whatever you’re hiding from me won’t change that.

Call me tonight. I’ll be waiting.

Love you. Marcus.

As she read his e-mail, her heart skipped a few beats, then decided to do a dance. He was coming whether she wanted him to or not, and she wanted him to, but she was scared.

How would he feel knowing she’d lied to him about her past? Would he feel betrayed? Would he understand? How could she explain to him why she’d never fully told him the truth. He knew about Mags and her father leaving them, but whenever it came to her mother, she just said she died from complications during childbirth. Marcus had never questioned her, and why would he? But now, after seeing Diane, would he understand? Would he be able to accept that the future they’d once dreamed about, discussed and planned for, couldn’t happen?

She loved him. She would never
not
love him. But she could never have children, not naturally, anyway. Not after seeing Diane, being here with her as she held a doll she thought was her baby. Their mother committed suicide after killing their baby brother. Her sister lived in a fantasy world her mind had created to keep her from living in reality. What would happen to Charlie?

She never wanted to find out. 

Her phone buzzed on the table beside her.

I’m waiting. . . .

She had two options: open up Skype and talk to Marcus, or ignore him once again . . . but no matter what she did, she knew he would be coming to Seattle.

“Good morning, beautiful,” Marcus’s voice whispered love, tenderness, and heartache through the computer. “I’ve missed you.”

Charlie melted. “Good morning.” She stared at him, memorizing his face, noticing the bags beneath his eyes. “You look tired. Are you not sleeping?”

“Well, it is four in the morning.” He chuckled.

“I realize that. But normally at this time you’re jumping out of bed, ready to meet the day. What’s wrong?”

“I miss you.” There was a hesitation to his smile, and it worried her.

“Are you sure that’s all?” she prodded.

“I’ve got good news.”

Charlie held her breath. What could he say that was possibly better than that he was flying here to her? Was he leaving shortly? Within hours maybe?

When she heard the small cry of a newborn in the background, tears welled up and she knew. There was only one mother close enough to her due date to give birth.

“So that’s why you’re tired. Did you get any sleep?”

He shook his head. “Amara’s little guy couldn’t make up his mind whether he wanted to come out or not.” Marcus yawned.

“How is he? How is Amara?” Her voice choked up, and the harsh reality of her decision to leave the village she’d grown to love hit her hard for the first time. She was supposed to have been there for Amara. She’d made a promise and she’d broken it. The reasons didn’t matter. She hadn’t even gone to say goodbye.

“He’s lanky and long limbed, and despite being so early, I think he’ll make it just fine. I’ll keep them both here in the clinic for a little while longer.”

“You won’t be coming then.” Despite her earlier fears of what would happen once he arrived, she was looking forward to seeing him. She missed him—missed his touch, his laughter, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled. “That’s okay.” She swallowed hard and forced herself to smile, to pretend to be happy for him. “Send me pictures so I can see him. Tell Amara I’m sorry I wasn’t there, like I’d promised.”