Chapter 13 #2
David stared at her, mesmerized. She had come straight from the function and was still wearing the shimmering emerald green dress. Her thick lustrous sable brown hair was loose around her shoulders and swung against her cheeks when she moved.
"You look like a fairy princess," he murmured in awe.
Laughing in delight, Gloria took his hand in hers. "I think we're going to get on very well indeed." Moving to her son, she placed her free hand on his cheek. "Take care, darling, and keep me posted."
"Thanks again, Mother."
"Of course. Ready?"
David nodded. Turning to look at the man standing there, he smiled slightly. "I don't hate your guts anymore."
Rodney's brows lifted in startled amusement, a smile tugging at his lips as his mother burst out laughing.
"Good to know. I'll call."
"Come on, young David. I want to hear all about you."
*****
"She's coming along and will probably sleep for the rest of the night," Sylvia told him. "The fetus is healthy and thriving."
"Thank you."
"I'll ask them to bring in a cot--"
"No," he shook his head. "I'll bunk right here." He pulled up a chair next to the bed.
"I'll be checking in on her," she assured him. Touching his arm briefly, she left and closed the door behind her.
He brushed back a tendril of hair from her forehead, his fingers gentle. "I really think you've cast a spell on me," he whispered hoarsely. "How else am I to explain that even when I hated you, I still loved you?"
They had changed her clothing for a hospital gown that somehow magnified her thinness. Putting his hand over hers, he gently linked their fingers.
"I want to rail at you, but that will have to wait. I was careless. I never am. But for the first time in my life, I never cared and as a result, you're now suffering." He drew in a deep breath and released it shakily.
"I promised your son that I'm going to take care of you and a Lancashire always keeps their promises." He lifted their joined hands and kissed her knuckles. "I just want you to get better, sweetheart. So that I can get to say my piece. So that I can tell you how much I love you."
Settling back, he kept her hand in his and continued to watch her sleeping.
*****
"Mom was puking and Rodney, he said I could call him that," he hurried on, before she could reprimand him for being fresh. "Rodney lifted her up and carried her to the car. He was so mad and he said the 'h' word, twice. Grams, can I have some milk and cookies?"
Shaking her head, Eloise gestured towards the kitchen. "Go, help yourself and bear in mind that I know the amount of cookies that are in the jar. Three is enough."
"Oh man." He started to rush ahead and then turned back as if remembering his manners.
"It was nice to meet you, Ms. Gloria," he said politely. "And to drive in that cool car," he added before rushing off.
"He's always in motion. Would you care to come into the kitchen and have a spot of tea? I was about to help myself before I received the call."
"I would love to."
"This way." Eloise did not show by a flicker of an eye, the disparity in their situation or the circumstances that brought her and this very rich and fancy woman together.
The son had called and given her details, and he sounded human and very worried over the phone. Hearing the way he talked had reassured her that her granddaughter was in good hands.
David had already left the kitchen with his snack and was headed towards the living room when they got there.
"Just sit anywhere."
"This is a cozy setup." Eloise settled on a stool at the small counter and looked around at the small kitchen that was warm and smelled of baking.
"I spend most of my time here." Eloise poured tea into two cups and reached behind her to retrieve a cookie tin. "I made sugar cookies for the women's league at our church and have some left over."
She found two plates and put the cookies on them, handing one to the elegantly beautiful woman across from her.
"This is incredible," Gloria's eyes widened as she bit into the pastry. "Amazing. My housekeeper Martha would be offended that I'm saying this, but it's true." She smiled at the older woman. "You have quite the talent."
Eloise gave her a pleased smile as she sat down. "Thank you. I love to bake and cook and am always experimenting. Now," she picked up her cup and took a sip, eyeing the woman over the rim. "This is quite something we find ourselves part of. Your son and my granddaughter."
Gloria nodded and quickly took another bite of the cookie. "It seems I am going to be getting a grandchild." Her eyes tracked towards the doorway where the sound of cars racing could be heard coming from the living room.
"And an adopted one as well. I saw the look on my son's face and suspected for a while that he had met someone he could not forget."
"They met in unusual circumstances. I don't want to have to defend my granddaughter to you, but she's not after him for his money." Eloise shook her head. "That girl is all heart. She did something foolish and frivolous, but it backfired on her. She fell in love."
A smile touched her lips. "She never counted on that happening. Now she's carrying a young one." Her eyes strayed towards the living room. "That boy in there is a treasure and I am not just saying it because he's my blood. She brought him up well under difficult circumstances."
"She had just lost her parents." A sad look came over her face. "My son and his wife, two of the most wonderful people and very much in love. Melanie lost them to a car crash and then if that wasn't enough, she found out that she was pregnant."
"The worthless trash left as soon as she told him, but she stood up and did everything for her son."
Gloria smiled and sipped. "It sounds like she's going to be an excellent wife to my son and a wonderful mother to my grandchild."
"I have to ask and I hope you don't mind."
"Go right ahead."
"You've seen my place. We're not poverty stricken to say the least. The good Lord has always been a great provider. But you come from money and so does your son. And yet you're here inside my tiny kitchen sipping tea and eating my cookies."
"The tea is well steeped, and the cookies are the best I ever had," Gloria told her, eyes twinkling. "I'm still waiting on the question."
"You don't seem to be at all put out by how this came about. Why?"
Putting the cup down, Gloria folded her elegant hands on the counter and smiled softly. "I fell in love with Rodney's dad the moment I laid eyes on him. I was twenty and he was this sophisticated boy with a dimple in his chin and a sparkle to his eyes."
"The money was there of course, but what stood out in our relationship was the fact that we were in love. I've always wanted the same for my son. He got involved before with a woman who tried to use him."
"But hearing him talk about your granddaughter and seeing his face when I got to the clinic made me realize that my prayers have been answered. He's in love with her. That is the most important thing in the world to me."
Eloise nodded in approval, a pleased look on her lined face. "I do believe we're going to become friends despite the difference in our ages and status. More tea?"
"And cookies please," Gloria said with a laugh.
*****
She felt like she had swallowed several cotton balls. Her throat was dry and she had lost the feeling in her left hand. Her eyes flickered open slowly.
Turning her head, she felt a blip in her heart as she took in the man slumped sideways in the chair. The reason why her hand was numb was evident. It was being held by his.
So, she wasn't dreaming. He was here and he had spent the night. Turning only her head, to avoid disturbing him, she studied his face.
The last time she had seen him, it had been hard and taut with anger. A slice of fear shivered through her as she continued to study his face.
In repose, he was so handsome, she thought with a pang. Not beautiful, but a face filled with character and stamped with determination.
His chin was square, the indentation noticeable. His lips, she suppressed a delicious shiver as she recalled what those lips had done to her.
She must have moved, because he shifted upright, eyes flickering open.
"Hi." His voice was rusty from sleep.
"Hi." She moved her hand in his restlessly. Suddenly realizing that he had a death grip on her, he let go instantly. "How do you feel?"
"Like I ran a marathon. Where's David?"
"With your grandmother."
"You spent the night. Wait, is it morning?"
He glanced at his watch and to his surprise, discovered that it was almost four. The doctors had come to check at intervals. "Yes."
"I suppose you have to go." The wistful tone had him smiling.
"Not a chance."
Her eyes sought his and clung. "You were very upset--"
"I had a right to be," he shook his head. "I said some pretty damaging things to you and for that I apologize." He took her hand and brought it to his lips. "I understand why you didn't want to communicate with me but were you ever going to tell me about the pregnancy?"
She managed a smile. "Eventually, after I had worked up the courage."
"We need to talk in detail, but right now, the focus is on getting you better and stronger." He rose. "I need to get the doctor." He turned to walk out, hesitating at the door.
Facing her, he studied her face. "I'm not going anywhere, is that clear?"
She nodded, tears glinting.
"Good."