A Prescription for Love (27 page)

Heidi clutched her skirts and raced up the stairs, tears flooding her face. How could she endure the rest of her life with him? She fumbled with the doorknob of her bedroom, her hands shaking. Once inside, she flung herself on the bed and sobbed, pounding her fists on the pillow.

She would demand a separate house. In another town. Even another state. She rolled onto her back, her arms crossed over her chest, and studied the ceiling. Deep shuddering breaths did nothing to calm her.

Two days. In forty-eight hours her life would be over, no less so than if she were dead. She actually preferred death. Turning onto her side, she resisted the temptation to suck her thumb, a habit she’d given up years ago.

She closed her eyes and Michael’s beloved face drifted before her. Tears leaked from under her eyelids and dropped onto the bedspread. How she loved him, and desperately missed him. His smile, his touches, his love. The feel of his strong arms as he embraced her, the heat from his body as he kissed her.

Making love with him had changed her forever. Thank God Clarence didn’t intend to have her as a real wife. After being with Michael, she shivered to imagine Clarence putting his hands on her and doing the things she and Michael had done together.

Michael had been so gentle and caring, making sure he didn’t hurt her, loving her with his eyes, hands, mouth, and body. Oh how she wished they’d had more time together.

Her eyes popped open and she sat up abruptly, clutching her middle. Her lips curved in a tenuous smile as she sucked in a shuddering breath. She’d not had her monthlies since they’d made love. The bleeding should have arrived two weeks ago.

Could she be carrying Michael’s child?

Heidi slid off the bed and paced, unable to stop her heart from pounding. Maybe the emotional turmoil since she’d left Guthrie had put her courses off. She shook her head.
No
. Now that the fog of her misery lifted a bit, her early morning nausea the past week took on a different meaning. Her hands moved up to her breasts. Yes, definitely tender. Oh God, how could she marry Clarence while she carried Michael’s child?

She paced again, eying the large roses in a pattern on the rug covering the worn wooden floor. This discovery would remain her secret. She giggled. It couldn’t remain a secret for long. A burst of joy shot through her. Michael’s child! She’d have someone to love, someone who loved her back.

Her smile faded as a dark cloud moved over the sun of her happiness. If Clarence didn’t intend to take her as his true wife, how she could pass the child off as his? Or worse, how could she not tell Michael about his child?

Oh, Michael, what have I done to you?

Heidi held her hair back as her stomach heaved over the chamber pot. Once finished, she poured a glass of cool water, swished the welcoming liquid around her mouth, and spit it out. Her gaze swung to the door at the knock. She shoved the chamber pot under the bed. “Come in.”

Mother entered, closed the door, and leaned against it, her eyes wide. “You’re having a baby.”

Heidi drew herself up. “What do you mean?”

Her mother crossed the room, and took her ice-cold hands into her warm ones. “I think you know what I mean.”

Heidi tugged her hands free and moved to the window, staring at the early spring flowers in her mother’s prized garden. The burst of color brought a smile to her lips. She leaned against the glass to catch a glimpse of the new leaves on her favorite oak tree. New life—in the garden, and in her belly. “In case you’re wondering, I’m happy about it.” Her warm breath left a perfect circle of moisture on the window.

She didn’t realize her mother approached until her soft voice came from directly behind her. “The only thing, apparently, that you’re happy about these days.”

Heidi leaned against the windowsill and crossed her arms.

“Michael’s, I assume?” her mother asked.

Heidi nodded.

“And tomorrow you’re marrying Clarence.”

She nodded again.

Mother shook her head. “Don’t you think you owe it to Michael to tell him he’s going to be a father?”

Heidi lifted her chin. “Michael’s not going to be a father.
I’m
going to be a mother.”

“Don’t play with me, Heidi.” Her mother sighed and sat on the bed. “You seem to have quite a mess on your hands.”

“I can handle it.” Could she? Even visions of the two weeks in Dallas on their so-called honeymoon caused her already empty stomach to rebel. She joined her mother on the bed and picked at a thread from the center of a purple flower.

Her mother cupped her chin and rubbed her thumb over her cheek. “I don’t think you’ve done a good enough job handling things up till now. How can you accept a marriage to Clarence?”

“It’s what everyone wants,” she mumbled to her lap.

Mother shifted on the bed and retrieved a familiar folded piece of paper from her dress pocket. “There’s more to it, isn’t there?”

All of Heidi’s blood left her face. “How did you find that?” she whispered.

Her mother unfolded the letter and held up the cursed paper in Clarence’s handwriting, dangling it in front of Heidi’s eyes like a poisonous snake. “In your drawer, when I returned clean clothes. I think it’s time we had a mother-to-daughter talk.”

Chapter 25

When the blasted knocking wouldn’t cease, despite his ignoring it, Michael threw on a pair of pants, flung open his front door, and glowered at his unwanted visitor.

“Good morning, big brother.” Ellie tilted her head. “Aren’t you in a fine mood today?”

He ran his fingers through his hair. “What do you want? I have to get ready for work.”

“Can I at least come in?”

“Sorry,” he mumbled and waved her past.

Ellie followed Michael to the kitchen, where he dragged out a chair, turned it around, and straddled it. He leaned his forearms on the back. “What do you want?”

“Michael, you look terrible.”

“Thank you. If that’s what you’ve come to say, I wish you a good day.” He rose as if to leave.

Her eyes flashed. “Sit down, Michael. You’re making me mad.” Her face softened as she regarded him. “The only other person I’ve seen lately who looks worse than you is Heidi.”

Michael jerked. “This conversation is over.”

Ellie hopped up. “No, it’s not.” She grabbed his arm as he moved past her. “What’s going on, Michael?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He glanced at the wall clock. “I have to leave for work in twenty minutes. If you have something of interest to say, let’s hear it.”

“Heidi’s getting married tomorrow.”

Heat coiled in his center and anger consumed him. He fisted his hands at his side. “That’s not news. Now if you’ll excuse me . . . ”

“Stop it, Michael!”

“What do you want from me, Ellie?” He stuck his arm out. “Here, take some of my blood because that’s all I have left. She’s gone back to Oklahoma City. She’s marrying the man she reminded me was her betrothed when she arrived. I’m a smart man. I understand.”

“Michael, I saw her earlier this week. She has to be the most miserable bride I’ve ever seen. She’s pale, her dark circles look as if they were painted on, and she’s lost weight.”

Michael slumped in the chair, his hands dangling between his spread knees. “You’re killing me, Ellie.” He raised his eyes to her. “There isn’t anything I can do. I wish to God there was, but before she left, Heidi made it quite clear she wanted to marry Clarence Manfred.”

“Wanted to, or had to?”

Michael shook his head, a knot forming in his throat. “She’s made her decision. No one is making her do anything she doesn’t want to do.”

“No. Something’s going on.” She narrowed her eyes. “I can’t believe you’re willing to accept that.”

He shot to his feet and headed to the door, then stopped, his back to her. “She left me no choice.”

“Do you want to explain what this paper means?”

Tears brimmed Heidi’s eyes and rolled down her cheeks. “I can’t tell you.”

Her mother stabbed the paper with a stiff finger. “This has something to do with your sudden decision to marry Clarence, doesn’t it?”

Heidi took the handkerchief Mother held out and wiped her nose. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve made my decision, and tomorrow I’ll stick by it.”

Mother moved to the bed and patted the area next to her. “Sit down. I want to hear the whole story.”

Heidi joined her mother, the words hesitant at first. Soon a feeling of relief swept over her as she unburdened herself. All the pain, sadness, and rage she’d lived with the past month came pouring out in a deluge. She twisted her handkerchief, mopped her eyes, and talked. Sometimes she sat, other times she paced. Finally, when no words remained, she settled back on the bed, spent. Her mother remained silent throughout her tirade.

Mother tapped tightened lips with her finger, her eyes flashing. “Let me understand. You’re about to marry a man tomorrow, who has blackmailed you, told you he would keep a mistress, frightened you at one point, and claims to not even like you?” She took a deep breath. “Do I understand the situation?”

Heidi’s shoulders slumped. “Yes.”

Mother move to get up. “I’m canceling the wedding.”

“No!” Heidi lunged when her mother started for the door. “You can’t do that. Clarence will send that information to the newspapers and Senator Cochran will be destroyed.”

“Oh, Heidi, I hardly think it’s that dramatic.”

“You don’t understand. Senator Cochran stands for family values, and if this news gets out, his career is over and his entire family will be ruined.”

“Don’t you think this letter is something you should have shared with Michael before you so hastily made a decision on your own and left?”

“No. I didn’t want him to be in a position where he had to decide between me and his family.”

“Now that you know you’re in a family way, you have to allow him the opportunity to do that.”

Heidi crossed her arms. “No.”

“Why not?”

She flung her hands out. “Because I love him—more than anything.” She waved her hand. “Oh, of course I love you and Papa, but you have each other. I wanted the kind of marriage you two have. I know Michael loves me that way. But I love
him
too much to watch his feelings for me change from love to loathing because of what I did to his family.”

“Heidi, listen to me. Michael is a strong man. If he loves you as you say he does, nothing can change that. You need to face this together.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “And you’re keeping his child from him.”

Heidi shook her head as her mother continued.

“If you insist on going ahead with this wedding tomorrow, you’re making a horrible mistake. It’s a decision you will have to live with the rest of your life. You’ll present your husband with a child he didn’t father. I don’t know that I even trust him to not harm you or the baby when he finds out.”

Her mother spun on her heel and paced. “We have to let your papa know what kind of a man he is. I’m sure he had no idea Clarence is this evil.”

Heidi’s eyes widened. “Mother, promise me you won’t tell Papa.” Her voice trembled.

Her mother cupped Heidi’s chin. “I don’t know if I can promise that.”

“Please. You can’t tell him,” Heidi begged.

Mother opened her mouth to speak, and Heidi held up her hand. “Please?”

The two women studied each other for a few moments. Mother and daughter, each determined to protect their loved one. Heidi’s hand rested on her belly. Her mother’s gaze followed the movement. She raised her chin. “All right. I promise I won’t tell your papa.”

Heidi blew out the breath she held. “Thank you.”

Mother headed to the door. “You need to dress. You have a final fitting at the dressmakers, and then you’ll have to rest this afternoon. Tomorrow’s a big day.”

“Are you going with me to the dressmaker?”

“No, dear, Mrs. Manfred will pick you up in her buggy. I’ve made arrangements to see the hotel manager to consult with him one more time on the wedding breakfast tomorrow. Make my excuses to Clarence’s mother.”

Heidi frowned. “I thought you finished all the arrangements.”

Her mother opened the bedroom door and turned to Heidi with a bright smile. “Just a few more things to attend to. I’ll see you tonight.”

Mary Lester moved the parlor curtain aside a few inches with her finger and peeked at Heidi as she climbed into Mrs. Manfred’s buggy. Once they were on their way to the dressmaker, Mary strode down the hallway and knocked softly on the library door.

“Come in.” Her husband’s deep voice filtered through the door.

Mary tugged on her gloves as she approached Harold’s desk where he added numbers in a long column. “I’m going out for the rest of the day, dear.”

Eyebrows raised, he regarded her. “More wedding plans?”

“Yes. I’ll be quite some time. I may not even return in time for supper. If not, don’t wait for me.” She snapped the pearl button at the bottom of the beige leather gloves and kissed him on the head.

“Wait.” He grabbed her arm as she moved to leave. “Do you want me to accompany you? I don’t like you being gone until dark.”

She brushed lint off her wool suit jacket. “No need, dear. I’ll be fine.”

“How will you get to town? Shall I drive you and pick you up?” He leaned back in his chair, tapping his lips with a pencil.

“Not necessary, dear. I can drive the buggy myself.”

“Well if you’re sure.” He gave her a warm smile, then returned to his figures before the door even clicked shut.

Mary checked the mirror in the front hall, adjusted her hat, and set off to do battle for her daughter’s happiness.

Michael fished in his vest pocket for his watch and checked one more time. Twenty-four hours from now Heidi would be out of his reach forever. He stopped mixing a prescription and gazed into space. Should he have made the trip to Oklahoma City and begged her to change her mind?

No. She’d made it clear what she wanted.

Ha. You didn’t believe it when she said it, and you don’t believe it now.

He rolled his neck to release the tension. That didn’t work. Nothing would until he came to grips with what would happen tomorrow.