Cox, Suzanne - Unexpected Daughter Read online

  “We can’t do this.”

  He scrambled to the edge of the sofa, each breath audible as he raked his hands through his hair. He followed her gaze to the fallen picture.

  “Maybe you’re right. We should take things slowly.” He kissed each of her palms, rubbing one against his cheek, the soft stubble prickling her skin. With her eyes locked on his mossy green ones, he continued, “This will happen, Brijette. You know it as well as I do. We belong together.”

  She squeezed his fingers. “I thought you hated the things I’d done in the past.”

  He let his hands drop to his lap, still holding hers. “I may not like everything about your past, but I’m not real pleased with a big chunk of my own. I’m trying to make better decisions now.”

  “And you think this is one of them?”

  “I know it is,” he said with a smile.

  She eased away from him. “You need to leave now. You’re only making me confused. Making my life confused.”

  He got to his feet, his smile widening. “A certain amount of confusion can occasionally be beneficial. But I’ll go. I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”

  She followed him to the door, thankful he didn’t try to kiss her again. Giving in to a relationship with Cade would be easy, but eventually she’d have to come clean with him about Dylan. She needed to, even if it would be the hardest thing she ever did.

  Of course, when she told him, whatever this was between them would simply come apart. This was one lie he’d never forgive her for, and it was one lie she couldn’t risk telling him. Not yet. She needed to see that he really wasn’t going to be ruled by the guilt of what he thought he owed his parents, or by the money.

  Shutting the door, she leaned against it, her eyelids closing reflexively. The Wheelers would dominate Dylan’s life. They had money and Mrs. Wheeler was used to getting what she wanted. She might not think Dylan worthy of their family, but if she did want the child, there’d be no stopping her. Cade wouldn’t be very interested in taking Brijette’s side when he found out she’d lied to him and had continued to lie, even when she realized he hadn’t known his mother had offered her money to have an abortion.

  She pressed her fingertips to her forehead, beginning to feel a bit Scarlett O’Hara-ish in her need to think about it tomorrow. Sleep. She needed to sleep on it and everything would be better.

  She opened her eyes and went cold from head to toe. Dylan stood in the hall, her face wrinkled into an angry mask. She’d obviously been there for more than a few minutes.

  “I hate you.”

  The words cut into Brijette like barbed wire. Words Dylan had never said to her before.

  “You knew I liked Cade and you went and let him kiss you. Why do you want him to like you again? You aren’t even trying to get him to stay here. What’s wrong with you?”

  She spun around, racing to her bedroom and slamming the door.

  Brijette followed and sagged against Dylan’s door, but didn’t try to go inside. She didn’t know how to explain it to herself, much less to her daughter.

  “Dylan, please remember that Cade and I are adults. He’s even older than me. You’re still a young girl. I’m not doing this to hurt you.”

  “I don’t care.”

  No more words came from Dylan’s room. Brijette tried to talk to her a little while longer, but didn’t enter. It wasn’t because she wanted to give the child privacy. It was pure cowardice. She was in uncharted territory and definitely too tired to deal with it tonight.

  BRIJETTE LOADED the last box of supplies into her SUV with Cade’s help. In the passenger seat, Dylan stoically refused to get out.

  “You sure you’ll be okay without Alicia?”

  Brijette nodded. He hadn’t mentioned last night and she was loath to broach the problem with Dylan, though she needed to. The girl still wouldn’t speak to her this morning, but she’d made her come with her. Maybe if they were stuck together most of the day they could eventually get past this.

  “Dylan.” She didn’t respond. Brijette wanted to yell at her but didn’t. “Dylan, get the small box with the papers to sign the patients in. It’s at Emma’s desk.”

  Brijette slammed the rear door of the SUV. When Dylan didn’t move, Cade gave her a questioning look.

  “We have a problem.”

  He rested his shoulder against the car with a wicked grin that had always been able to melt her heart. Today was no different. “I figured you’d think that, but you’ll find I’ve become quite adept at problem-solving.”

  It was her turn to grin. She led him away from the vehicle where Dylan was now fiddling with the radio. The thump, thump of music reached them even through the closed windows. “Well, here’s a problem for you. My daughter seems to have seen what went on in my living room between the two of us and now she’s furious with me.”

  Cade tilted his head, his brows drawing together. “But why? I thought she’d be glad. I thought she liked me.”

  She laughed at that and it made her heart feel lighter; what she faced with Dylan wasn’t much to laugh at. “You really are dense. Of course she likes you. She really likes you.” Cade remained perplexed and Brijette gave him a half frown. “Are you truly this blind? Dylan has a crush on you.”

  Cade’s mouth rounded in astonishment and she couldn’t believe he hadn’t noticed. “Don’t worry, I don’t think you’re a lecherous man. You showed her attention and she’s not used to having a man around. She fell for you. I’m sure she knows she can’t be your girlfriend.”

  “But other men you’ve dated, how did she treat them?”

  She turned her head so she didn’t have to see him. “I haven’t brought anyone to my house, Cade. I haven’t dated since you.”

  “Except Dylan’s dad.”

  “Well, yes, of course, but I meant since that.”

  She hurried into the building, wanting to whack herself in the head. What a major mistake. Being around Cade was driving her nuts, and if she wasn’t careful she’d make a huge mess of things.

  “If you want, I’ll talk to her.”

  She jumped at the sound of his voice, not realizing he’d followed her.

  “Um…sure, if you have any idea what to say. Right now, I’m at a total loss as to how to handle the situation.”

  “Why don’t you go get the paperwork you need from Emma and wait here until I come back.”

  Stunned, she watched him leave. She could definitely get used to having help with Dylan, especially as the boyfriend years approached. As she walked to Emma’s desk, she tried not to think about what it would take to have Cade helping her with Dylan. It would require her to be completely honest with him. Suddenly she wanted to tell him the whole story, but she couldn’t. Fear strangled her every time she contemplated it.

  Ten minutes later, when Cade entered the hallway, the thought still paralyzed her brain.

  “I don’t know how it went, but I talked to her. She didn’t say a word to me, though.”

  “It’ll be all right.”

  Taking her keys out of her pocket, Brijette raced to the door, ignoring Cade’s questioning glance. Needing to tell him the truth had incited a panic attack every time she was near him. “I’d better go. It will take me a while to get the boxes on the boat.”

  “I could come help you. We’ve only got a couple of patients scheduled. I could start late.”

  “No, you’ve got enough to do here. Dylan will help.”

  She shut the car door quickly, before her mouth could let loose the words that would start a whole new kind of trouble for her.

  ANOTHER LONG DAY had finally ended. A day that had Brijette wondering, once again, where all these patients were coming from. She tilted her bottled water for another drink, then pressed the cool plastic against her damp forehead. She’d never expected to be this busy when she came to Willow Point. The need was much greater than she’d anticipated, and she wasn’t sure how she could keep up with all the work. The steps on the front of the store creaked as A.G.
sat down next to her.

  “Stairs finally call it quits?” Brijette pointed her bottle in the direction of the new wooden braces, not bothering to ask why he hadn’t ripped apart the whole set and started over. You didn’t do things like that around here.

  “Yep. ’Bout fell through myself the other day.”

  She sighed and rested against the tread behind her. A teenage boy who worked part-time with A.G. at the store was helping Dylan load the boat. The sweat and dust from working in the heat had dried on Brijette’s skin, and she imagined she’d made mud on her forehead with the damp bottle, not that she cared.

  “How’s things up your way?”

  “Fine, same as always. One of the docs in town moved and we’ve taken on most of his patients, so we’re swamped at the clinic.”

  A.G. didn’t acknowledge her answer, but continued to survey the dirt-and-gravel parking area. “Ain’t had no trouble, have you?”

  The unusual question caused her head to swivel toward him, almost unconsciously. “What kind of trouble?”

  “Any kind, bad kinds.”

  She tried to get a read on him, but he still hadn’t looked at her and likely wouldn’t. “No, not really.”

  “No drug problems ’round Cypress Landing?” He shifted on the hard wood step, squinting in the afternoon sun.

  “Well, yeah, that’s everywhere, but nothing unusual.”

  “You sure?”

  She reached across and hit him on the arm with the water bottle. “Okay, enough, A.G. If you need to tell me something, lay it out there.”

  “I got nothing to tell, but I hear things, and your name got mentioned in passing by some folks in my store one evening. I didn’t know ’em but they weren’t the sorta folks I’m tryin’ to be friendly with.”

  She squinted at him. “What did they say?”

  “Didn’t hear, only got your name. But you watch yourself. I’m thinking there’s folks here doing things they ought not, and I don’t want you to get caught in the middle of it.”

  The man cut a piece of tobacco from a small block and stuck it in his mouth. He’d said his piece on the subject and more questioning would get her nowhere. She couldn’t imagine why a customer that A.G. didn’t know would mention her, but the thought of the prescriptions appearing in the local pharmacies immediately came to mind.

  “Saw the new doc the other day. Sunday afternoon, as a matter of fact.”

  Brijette leaned forward so she could see the old man’s face better. “What new doc?”

  “The one that works at the clinic with you, that Wheeler boy. He was here seein’ to ole Ms. Fourchon, the widow down the road. She was too sick to go to the doctor and I reckon her daughter asked him to come check on her.”

  “You must be mistaken.” No way Cade Wheeler had come here to see a patient, on a Sunday no less.

  A.G. stared at her, then spat tobacco in the dirt close enough that she had to move her feet to keep from getting splattered.

  “I ain’t been mistaken in years. Took that truck of his across the ferry and drove here. He missed the road to her house and stopped by for directions. I rode there with him to make sure he found the place. I guess I know what I’m talkin’ ’bout.”

  She took another swig of her water. “I’ve got to go.” A.G. didn’t speak as she strode toward the dock, jumping on the boat, where Dylan waited. Easing toward the river, she racked her brain wondering what Cade could be doing visiting a patient at home. He hadn’t mentioned making a house call, but she’d never have believed him if he’d told her. The Wheelers did not lower themselves to venture to this part of the world. Even Doc Arthur had kept his house calls confined to in and around Cypress Landing.

  Entering the river, she throttled up the boat, the wind and water droplets spraying her face. Truth was, she didn’t want to imagine Cade fitting in or becoming a part of this area. It was easier to consider him an interloper, a rich kid doing his uncle a favor, a man who’d never understand this place or her and her way of life. If he became anything else, everything she’d struggled to build would fall apart. Keeping Dylan from him hadn’t bothered her when she believed he was as callous and calculating as his mother. But what if she’d been wrong?

  Shaking her head to get rid of that thought, she steered the boat toward Cypress Landing. Being wrong about Cade could lead to giving in to those feelings of wanting and need she had every time he came around, or even every time she thought of him. She should’ve started dating a long time ago, but she never did. Had she been waiting to see if Cade would come back and prove her opinions of him were wrong?

  THE TREES on the bank passed in a blur as Dylan staunchly refused to look at her mother and fought desperately to stay awake. She was tired after spending the day at Willow Point and having to load the boat.

  Her mother and Cade were ganging up on her. After he’d kissed her mother it was as if Cade had decided to not be friends with her anymore. She liked Cade and she knew he couldn’t be like a boyfriend, but she wanted him around and wanted him to be her friend. Now he was being like…like a stupid parent. She wiggled in her seat. That was something worth considering. She’d imagined it once but her mom and Cade didn’t always get along so well, especially at first. Lately, though, they’d been much better together.

  She glanced at her mom, capably maneuvering the boat. Would Cade be a good dad? Would her mother ever quit acting like she wanted him to leave as soon as possible and go back to Texas? Maybe she could do something about it. The least her mother could do was marry Cade and keep him in the family. Her mom said Cade wasn’t like them because he was rich and had grown up with lots of money. Was that a bad thing? Cade didn’t act rich, not that she knew any really rich people, except maybe Mr. Robert who let her ride his horses whenever she wanted. But Cade wasn’t anything like Mr. Robert, who was always distracted, worrying about his business, usually with a cell phone glued to his ear. She had to start making plans to get the three of them—okay, the two of them—together. She nodded slowly. This could work.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  BRIJETTE STEERED her SUV into the clinic parking lot. She was a bit late since Dylan had decided not to get up. The situation with the drugs and the prescription pads had her worried. Sometimes she felt as if she was just waiting for the next catastrophe. Twice, she’d phoned Jackson to see if there were any new leads in the case, but each time he’d had nothing to tell her.

  Shoving open the back door, she hoped they didn’t have a waiting room full of patients. A body in a white jacket suddenly stepped from one of the rooms. She hadn’t even been paying attention, and she was already at her top speed. The chart the man was holding went flying across the floor as she slammed into him.

  “What the—” He spun around, grabbing her by the shoulder. “You wanna slow down there, sweetheart.”

  Brijette stumbled backward. A swath of brown hair swept across the man’s forehead, and ocean-blue eyes watched her. Okay, who’d let the movie star into the clinic? He adjusted the stethoscope around his neck, and she noticed again the white coat with embroidered letters on the chest. “Who are you?”

  He smiled and held out his hand. “Andrew Scott Fitzgerald the Third. I’m the new doctor.”

  She shook his hand, then glanced up and down the hall. “Are you serious?”

  “I’M GIVING YOU samples of this new medication for your blood pressure. That way you can try it for a few days and we’ll see how it works before you have to buy any.”

  The woman nodded, stuffing the medication packets in her purse along with the piece of paper on which Cade had written the instructions for taking them. He knew she didn’t have insurance, but she needed the medicine.

  She started toward the door but stopped. “I might not be able to pay the whole bill for today.”

  “Don’t worry. Do what you can. Emma will take care of you.”

  He’d have gotten a reprimand if he’d ever told a patient in his former clinic that they didn’t have to pay the full bill. B
ut here he only had to keep it from Brijette, who would likely decide he had an ulterior motive for doing it, which of course he did. It felt great. It felt right. But she’d never believe that. It was better if she didn’t know.

  The woman smiled at him as he walked her to the door.

  In the hall, Brijette stood next to Andy, looking every bit as stunned as he’d hoped.

  “I see you’ve met our new doctor.”

  “Cade Wheeler, what are you talking about?”

  “This is Andy. He used to work with me in Dallas. He’s come to help at the clinic. And don’t let his ridiculously long name put you off. Even he doesn’t know what his parents were thinking.”

  Andy laughed and Brijette grinned, too. “How long are you staying?”

  Andy’s brows furrowed and he glanced at Cade. “I’m…um…I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be staying on after Cade leaves.”

  She gave Cade a questioning look. “How did you get your uncle to agree to this?”

  Cade laughed. “I didn’t really give him a lot of choice.”

  “I can’t believe you didn’t tell her I was coming,” Andy said.

  “Yeah,” Brijette joined in. “Why didn’t you tell me he was coming?”

  “It slipped my mind.”

  “Slipped your mind?” Both of them spoke in the same breath.

  “See, you two are working together already.”

  He strolled up the hall where he had a patient waiting in the exam room. “Let’s get to work. With Andy here, we might even get finished early.”

  Brijette and Andy were still standing in the hall when he went into the next patient room. Of course he hadn’t forgotten to tell Brijette that Andy was coming. He’d wanted to surprise her, to prove to her he had the best interest of the clinic at heart and that he could get this done without her intervening to help convince his uncle. Not to mention he’d been a bit afraid she’d protest having another man in the office who had the same background as himself, that she’d think he couldn’t understand the patients. Andy might struggle a bit at first but he wanted to be here more than he wanted to throw money around