Chapter 14
He looked up from the document he was scrolling through to see that she was awake. It had been two days since he brought her to the clinic. He had to admit that she looked much better. She was still feeding through a tube, but her vitals were stronger.
"How are you?"
"Antsy." She admitted. "I want to go home."
He had made it possible for her grandmother and David to come and visit, for which she was grateful. She had also met his mother who had been kind to her regardless of the situation.
"I want to go home."
"The doctors recommend another couple of days to keep an eye on you." He looked around the room. "It's not all that bad."
"I need my own bed." She was sounding petulant but could not help it. "I feel much better."
"I do not have a medical degree, so I have to bow to the ones who're experts in the matter." He glanced at his screen and ignored the call.
"I'm keeping you from your work." She pointed out.
"One of the benefits of being the boss means I can work anywhere." He made a notation on his iPad, before focusing on her. "We should get married. I'm having the personal things you need brought to my place. I was thinking December."
He took a look at the calendar on the device. "More to the end of the month, which will give you ample time to recover and to plan. We won't have anything big, just a few friends and family of course."
She gaped at him, eyes wide. "I'm sorry, what?"
He had spoken casually without any pomp or ceremony as if he was saying they should order pizza.
"I'm sure I did not stutter."
"You want to get married."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Isn't it obvious."
"Not to me."
"You're carrying my child and there is the matter of your son."
Her eyes glittered and she had to fight to keep the disappointment from her voice. "I don't need you feeling sorry for me and his name is David."
A muscle ticked at the corner of his jaw, the only indication that he was not so calm after all.
"Sorry for you?" He surged to his feet and sent the folders on his lap tumbling to the floor. She reared back against the pillows when he bore down on her, eyes molten. "Sorry for you?"
His hands were clenched into fists. "I've spent the past two days watching you lie in that bed, looking like a goddamned stick! You were pregnant and did not see the need to share that vital piece of information with me."
He eased out a breath and made a visible effort to tamp down the anger. "So, forgive me if I'm not in a charitable place right now. You did things your way, now it's my turn. We're getting married as soon as you're strong enough and both you and David are moving in with me."
"I've made arrangements to have a suite tailored to his taste. He told me he's a dinosaur and a football fan. I've asked the decorator to bear that in mind."
He turned to retrieve the documents and his iPad.
Turning to look at her, he resisted the urge to go and haul her against him. He was aching for her but seeing her like this was making him so angry, he could not stand it. "I'll send the doctors in. I'll be in the waiting room as I have some calls to make."
He almost mowed down her grandmother who was making her way into the room, with a stuffed bear.
"Ms. Eloise." Giving her a curt nod, he continued out.
She gave her granddaughter a curious look, before going to the table which was already filled with flowers and stuffed toys to put hers down.
"It seems as if I was interrupting." Taking the chair he had abandoned, Eloise stared at her granddaughter and felt a pang. She was looking much better than death warmed over, but the girl was still very thin and looked tired.
"We had an argument." Melanie plucked at the sheets restlessly, avoiding her eyes. "He said we should get married."
Her grandmother's eyes brightened. "That's wonderful news." Her eyes narrowed as she noticed the lack of enthusiasm on her face. "Or isn't it? I thought you were in love with him and it makes sense to have a wedding before the baby comes."
She shook her head. "He's angry with me. Oh, damn these tears!" She lifted a hand to wipe them away. "I'm not sure what is hormones or just plain anger and fear. I'm afraid he still has not forgiven me for what I did, and I don't want him to feel as if he has to marry me, because I'm pregnant."
"And David." She shook her head. "I certainly do not want him to feel obligated to bring up another man's child." She sank wearily back against the pillows and closed her eyes.
"Oh grams! Why does everything have to be so messed up? It would have been great if he said he loved me, but he hasn't. When I first woke up, he held my hand, held it long enough for me to feel the numbness. Since then, he hasn't touched me."
"He's here all the time." Her grandmother pointed out gently. "And he strikes me as the kind of man who wouldn't be if he didn't want to. You have to give him time honey. You did break his heart and his trust."
"And he told you originally that he loved you, I'm sure that hasn't changed. And this is a good thing."
"Is it?" She asked wearily, feeling the tears burning the back of her eyes. "He sits here and focuses on work, but to me he seems so far away. I can't marry him if all he feels is an obligation."
"Honey, the man is here. Has been here for two days. I don't know much about high finance and corporate companies, but I imagine he has obligations, places he could be right now, but he chose to be here. He hasn't left."
"The nurses are all aflutter over having someone like him here, but he has not given them a second look. I came here that first time before you woke up and saw the look on his face. He suffered."
Waving a hand in the air, Eloise gave her an impatient look. "As far as I know, this is the second time he proposed. The first time you blew him off according to you. Just give him some time."
"He could have anyone he wants." She said dismally. "What if he's regretting ever meeting me?"
"You worry too much." Pushing to her feet, Eloise walked over to kiss her cheeks. "I had my doubts about him before, but he's proven himself and David cannot stop talking about him."
Melanie smiled. "He thinks Rodney is cooler than his favorite football hero." Her smile faded. "I don't want him to think that I'm after his money."
Eloise squeezed her arm. "Like I said before, the man is not a fool."
*****
"Do you have a minute?" Eloise had been on her way out but changed directions when she saw him through the open doorway of the waiting room. He was alone in the room, and she supposed that a man of his caliber would be given all the privileges associated with his status.
"I'm just finishing up a conference call." Rodney gestured her to a chair, before turning his attention back to the conversation. "The shipment has been delayed twice in two weeks. I don't want any more excuses. Sort it out or we look for another shipper. Am I clear? Good."
Hanging up the phone, he put it away as well as the documents he had brought with him and gave his attention to the elderly woman seated across from him.
"Is everything all right? Melanie..."
"Is as fine as can be in the circumstances." Adjusting her well worn black coat, Eloise soothed a hand over the length of it. "I've had this for the past twenty years now and it's getting worn."
Rodney flickered a glance over the garment, a tiny frown on his brow. "What size are you? I'll call Romano's..."
Her laughter cut him off.
"That wasn't a hint to gouge a coat out of you son. I have more jackets and am quite comfortable. I was just making conversation, talking off the top of my head."
"I see."
"You proposed to my granddaughter."
"I suppose I should have asked for your blessings." His expression gave nothing away and had her wondering for a brief second if he really was in love with her girl.
"Seemed more like a business proposal, the way she spoke about it."
A flicker in his eyes had her staring. Not so unaffected after all.
"I assure you, it's not." Stretching his legs out, he tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair. "I proposed once before."
"She mentioned it. Are you marrying her because she's carrying your seed, the heir to the throne?"
His thick brows lifted. "I can also assure you that there's no throne. And this is between me and Melanie."
"I've been there for that girl since she lost both her parents and again when that piece of garbage ran out on her. I'd say I'm entitled."
"You think I'm like that creep?"
"Not at all." She said smoothly. "I never liked him at all and certainly never liked him for her. But she had stars in her eyes, and she was young and foolish. He was too much of a smooth talker for me and much too old for her."
She shrugged. "But out of bad came forth good. David was the result of that disaster, and the good Lord always comes through for his people."
She eyed him thoughtfully. "If you're still in love with her and I suspect that you are, it's time to put away the past and forgive. She needs it. And if history proves right, she's in for a difficult pregnancy."
Fear lodged inside his heart. "How difficult?"
"In and out of debilitating sickness, enough to have her in bed for several days. Like I said, she had a difficult time with David, and it seems she's going to have a difficult one again."
She rose a little shakily and he rose with her. "David likes you a lot."
"I happen to have a fondness for him as well."
Eloise nodded. "That's good, because it takes a certain type of man to want to raise another man's child."
"That's not going to be a problem. I'm thinking of giving him my name."
Surprised delight flooded her face and left her speechless. "That's... that's... Oh thank Jesus!"
She was startled and taken off guard when she rushed over to embrace him.
"I've wished that my baby girl would find someone worthy of her, and my prayers have been answered." Stepping back, she went on her toes and kissed his cheek. "You're a good man, Rodney Lancashire. A very good man. Oh!"