Trouble Don’t Last Always (19 page)

Not an easy lesson, but one she had learned as any wife of a doctor must learn. Illness was seldom convenient, to the patient, to the physician’s family, to the attending physician. But if the bond was strong enough, the love and the marriage would survive.

Adam needed someone. Eleanor just wished she knew who.

“Please leave.”

Lilly heard the words, saw the humiliation and defeat in Adam’s face, felt tears prick her eyes. She knew what it was to feel the same way. “You need to eat.”

“I need to be left alone.”

For the first time, something inside her didn’t go still and quiet at his raised voice. She’d seen him with Odette and now understood what a wonderful and caring doctor he must have been. “That ambulance attendant was wrong.”

Adam’s shoulders jerked. “He was right. How could I help someone when I can’t even help myself?”

Without thinking, she caught his arm when he would have moved away from her. “You did help. You calmed Odette, reassured her enough so she didn’t get hysterical about going to the hospital in the ambulance. That’s more than her husband or I could do.”

“You said it. She was hysterical. She’s probably fine.”

“You didn’t think that when you examined her.”

His laugh was bitter. “A blind doctor. No wonder the attendant was incredulous.” He pulled his arm free. “Go, Lilly. Please.”

She watched him feel his way across the room. “You have to eat.”

Finding the chair, Adam sat down and turned his head.

She was used to him shutting her out, but this time it was different. He had been defiant in the past, but this time there was defeat in the slump of his shoulders, the bowed head.

“You have to eat,” she repeated, barely getting the words past the lump in her throat. “I’ll go fix you a tray.”

Leaving the room, she started down the stairs and saw Mrs. Wakefield. The older woman met her halfway.

She searched Lilly’s face, then slapped the flat of her hand on the banister. “I wish I could get my hands on that ignorant man.”

“Me, too,” Lilly said, anger creeping into her voice. “He had no right to talk to Dr. Wakefield that way.”

For a long time Eleanor studied the usually quiet Lilly, who was now almost as angry as she was. The few occasions that Lilly had called or come to the cottage had been brief. Eleanor had gotten the distinct impression that at times Lilly was afraid of her own shadow. It didn’t take much thought on Eleanor’s part to figure out the reason, but now she was upset on Adam’s behalf.

“Thank you, Lilly, for caring.”

Lilly flushed and clasped her hands in front of her. “He was so gentle and caring with Odette. He calmed her down and made her relax. He must have been a wonderful doctor.”

“He was. That’s why this is so senseless and painful for all of us.”

“But he can still get better, can’t he?” Lilly questioned.

“I pray so, Lilly,” Eleanor said, her gaze going up the stairs. “I don’t suppose it would be a good idea to go up and talk to him.”

Lilly saw the heartache in the older woman’s face and felt helpless. “He doesn’t want to see anyone.”

Eleanor nodded and wrapped her arms around her waist. “Do you have any children, Lilly?”

The question caught her off guard. She had wanted Shayla and Rafe to be hers, but they never had been. “No.”

“It’s one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. You want them to be happy, to be loved. You’d give anything for that, pray for that to happen.” Once again she stared up the stairs. “A mother should be able to help her children.”

If there was one thing Lilly understood, it was the need to be needed, to know you made a difference in someone’s life. She also understood how it felt to fail. Acting on instinct, she tentatively touched Eleanor’s shoulder. “I was just going to fix Dr. Wakefield dinner. Would you like to help?”

“He used to love my stuffed pork chops.”

“Then stuffed pork chops it is.” Gently but firmly she led Eleanor to the kitchen.

The step stool was still overturned, the stainless-steel mixing bowls scattered over the tile floor. Quickly Lilly crossed the room to pick up the step stool and put it in the closet.

When Lilly turned, Eleanor had already picked up the bowls and placed them in the sink. Somehow Lilly wasn’t surprised. Eleanor Wakefield wasn’t a pampered woman or one who sat around waiting for others to do for her. “Do you think Dr. Delacroix could find out how Odette is doing?”

“I’ve already called,” Eleanor said, turning on the faucet in the sink to wash the bowls. “He’s going to check on her and come by later.”

Lilly opened the freezer door, took out a package of pork chops, and went to the microwave to defrost them. “Then we better fix extra.”

Uneasily Lilly stood outside Adam’s door. It had been two hours since Odette had been taken to the hospital. Lilly thought she’d have news of the housekeeper’s condition by now. She didn’t.

Dr. Delacroix had called to say there had been a pileup on the freeway and the emergency room was in chaos. Eleanor had returned to the cottage after extracting a promise from Lilly that she would call her after she left Adam’s room.

Propping the tray between her body and the door, she knocked. She didn’t expect an answer, and she didn’t get one. “Dr. Wakefield, I have your supper tray.” Opening the door, she stepped inside the dark room. The light from the hallway only penetrated a few feet. The room had never before been in complete darkness since she arrived.

She shivered and flicked on the light. She saw him immediately.

He sat in the wingback leather chair. His long legs sprawled in front of him, his wrists limply hanging over the arm of the chair, his dark head thrown back as if he were staring at the ceiling.

Closing the door, she set the tray on the table. “Stuffed pork chops. Your mother helped. She said they used to be one of your favorites.”

He didn’t move.

She swallowed. “We still haven’t heard how Odette is doing. Dr. Delacroix went to the hospital, but there was a pileup on the interstate and the emergency room is a madhouse.”

Silence.

She removed the silver dome from the tray. “Meat at twelve, steamed broccoli at six. Apple pie at nine in a dessert plate.”

“Take it back.”

“Dr.—”

“Just leave me alone. Please.”

Lilly replaced the lid, but she couldn’t make herself pick up the tray. Instead she pulled up another chair near his.

He straightened. “What are you doing?”

“Staying.” Crossing the room, she flicked off the light switch, then felt her way back to the chair and sat down. “I didn’t put Samuel up to talking to you today. I admit to doing it the first time, though. He wanted to show you he had faith you’d plan the garden together.”

“A blind doctor and gardener. How interesting.”

“You can’t let what that man said bother you. I know about people like him who try to make others feel small so they can feel superior. My husband was just like him.”

“Your husband?” He shifted toward her. “You never mentioned a husband.”

Shame and embarrassment swept through her as it always did when she thought of her marriage. “I filed for divorce.”

“Why?”

“He hit me,” she whispered. “I–I made excuses every time it happened. Mother Crawford wasn’t my mother; she was my mother-in-law and the kindest, sweetest person I ever knew. After—after she died I packed up and left while he was at work. I was on my way to New Orleans when my car broke down. That’s why I went back to town the day I got my car out of the shop. Myron is going to fight the divorce. I had to send my lawyer more money.” She felt Adam’s fingertips brush her arm, then slide down until his fingers entwined with hers. There was strength in his hand, a quiet gentleness. “I bet before you lost your sight you wouldn’t have let anyone question your judgment.”

His hand jerked. Afraid he’d pull away, her hand twisted and clasped his. “You lost your sight because of the greed and cruelty of others. Don’t let anyone else take more. Please.”

“Don’t waste your tears on me, Lilly.”

“I’m not,” she said, brushing the moisture away.

“I was an arrogant bastard. I thought I made my own destiny. I was a fool.” His thumb grazed the top of her hand. “My stupidity was just as much the cause of my losing my sight as their greed.”

“How can you say that? You don’t know they wouldn’t have attacked you anyway.”

“No, I don’t. But in my arrogance, I thought I was invincible. I had just finished a marathon surgery. Over seven hours. I was high on my own power.”

“That doesn’t excuse them,” she said. “Myron always said it was my fault that he yelled. He said he hit me because I questioned him. That was an excuse, not a reason. I realize that now.” Her hand tightened. “It took me years to realize I might not have control, but I had choices. That was the turning point for me.”

“You were right to leave.”

“I know that now.” She swallowed. “I’m never going back.”

“No, you won’t.”

The sound of the phone ringing startled both of them. Whoever called had dialed Dr. Wakefield’s private extension.

“Take a message. I don’t want to talk with anyone.”

“What if it’s your mother?”

“Tell her I’ll call her tomorrow.”

Realizing there wasn’t any point in arguing with him, Lilly rose and went to answer the phone. “Ouch.”

“What happened?”

“I walked into the foot of the bed.”

“Turn on the light before you break your neck!” Adam snapped.

“Yes, sir.” Lilly turned on the lamp on the nightstand, then snatched up the phone on the fifth ring. “Hello….

“Oh, my goodness. Wait a minute,” she said, her fingers clamped tight on the phone. “It’s Odette’s oldest son, Samuel Junior. Odette had a fracture and he wants to thank you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Come talk to him yourself,” Lilly said, experiencing a strange mixture of feelings, sadness that Odette was injured but relief that Dr. Wakefield had been right.

With smooth movements that were so different from hers, Dr. Wakefield walked to the bedside table and took the phone. “This is Dr. Wakefield. She’s resting comfortably?…I see. Put her on.

“Odette, stop fussing. Considering your diabetes and hypertension, I think spending the night in the hospital is a wise decision.” Adam’s lip twitched. “I don’t think your doctor needs to call and discuss the management of your care with me, but I appreciate the confidence. Let me speak with Samuel.

“Samuel, take as long as you need off with Odette. I can tell she’s going to be a difficult patient.…You’re welcome. Good night. Thanks for calling.” He hung up the phone, a smile growing on his face “I’m suddenly hungry.”

“It won’t take but a minute to heat up your dinner.”

“This time I don’t mind cold food, but you could do something else for me.”

“What?”

“Call Mother’s number and let her know.”

Eleanor was looking out the cottage window for Jonathan when he pulled up. Opening the door, she rushed out. By the time he had gotten out of the car, she was standing there, a broad smile on her face. “Odette and her family called Adam. He called me. Isn’t that wonderful?”

It was all he could do not to graze his knuckles down her cheek. “I was there when they called.”

She made a face. “I might have known.”

“They were hesitant to call since it was late, but I convinced them that Adam might like hearing he was right.”

She hooked her arm through his and led him back inside. “Thank you, Jonathan.”

“You might also be interested in knowing that even without a formal complaint filed by Samuel, the female attendant had already spoken to her superiors.”

Eleanor’s temper flared again. “Good for her, but it doesn’t end there.”

Jonathan palmed her cheeks. Immediately she stilled. “Let me take care of it. In the meantime, I smell something delicious.”

Eleanor laughed despite her accelerated heartbeat, her nervous stomach. “Jonathan, do you ever think of more than food?”

Brown eyes glowed. “Frequently.”

The smile froze on Eleanor’s face. Her nipples actually tingled.

Slowly Jonathan’s hands slid from her face, leaving in their wake heated flesh and a growing desire to feel his hands again. “But sometimes a man has to take what he can get.”

“Pork chops,” she managed.

“It’s a start,” Jonathan said.

Eleanor stared into his intent gaze and felt as if she were on a precipice and the dirt was crumbling beneath her feet. One wrong move and she’d go over the edge. “I’ll fix your plate.”

Jonathan watched Eleanor hurry away and almost smiled. Soon. Very soon she’d be rushing toward him and into his arms.

Hands in his pockets, he followed her into the kitchen.

A sound woke Lilly up. Lifting her head from the pillow, she listened. Music. A piano.

Reaching over, she turned on the light. She frowned, then threw back the covers and went into the hallway. It was definitely a piano, and the sound was coming from downstairs. It couldn’t be.

She turned the light on in the hall and swiftly ran down the steps, the volume of the music and her surety growing with each running step. She burst into the living room with her chest heaving.

Trembling fingers clicked on the light switch. Adam sat at the piano. His fingers danced over the keys with a precision that brought the bright sheen of tears to her eyes. She brushed them away and sat in the nearest chair.

Suddenly he stopped. His dark head twisted to one side. “Lilly?”

She swallowed the lump in her throat and found her voice: “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

He turned and Lilly’s breath caught. On his handsome face he wore a teasing smile she’d never seen before. “You didn’t.”

“You play beautifully.”

“Thanks. I haven’t played in years.”

“I always wanted to, but we never had the money,” she said wistfully, glad the old pain and anger were no longer there.

“Come here. I’ll teach you.”

Her shoulders snapped back. “What?”

“You don’t think I could do it?” He folded his arms across his chest in an obvious challenge.

“I didn’t say that,” she hastened to reassure him.