Conflicts of the Heart (16 page)

“Are you expecting anyone?” Patrick’s voice crackled with sleep.

“No. What time is it?”

Patrick picked his watch up from the nightstand. “God,
it's ten thirty. We fell asleep.”

The second knock came louder.

Dana jumped up from the bed, threw on her clothes, and headed for the living room while Patrick pulled himself together.

“Who is it?” she asked through the closed door.
“Teal.”

“Oh my God.”
Under her breath Dana muttered, “What the hell are you doing here this time of night?”

“Just a minute.”
Dana couldn’t hide the sheer panic in her voice. Michael cried out. She ran to his room and settled him down, then went to her room. “Teal’s at the door.”

He shook his head. “The jig’s up.”

“What'll we do?” She rushed around straightening the bed.

“Nothing.
When you let her in, I'll just be on my way out. It’s not that late.”

In the living room, he touched her cheek. A raw hurt dulled his eyes.

He pulled the door open and glared at Teal. “You ever heard of calling first?”

“Patrick. What are you doing here?”

“I was just leaving.” Without further explanation, he angled past her, waved to Dana, and disappeared down the stairs.

Teal stood in the doorway, arms akimbo. “Well, well, well, if this
ain't a fine kettle of fish.”

Eleven

“What are you doing here?”
Dana could not hide her surprise.

Teal drew back, shocked to see Patrick running past her like a kid hightailing it out of a drugstore after stealing candy. If Dana could see the guilty expression on her face, she would probably die.

Had Teal's luck just changed? An amusing little marker for the kitty.

Dana ushered her in. She had no right to be so hard on Teal, since she had an open invitation to drop by anytime. Just because Dana had been indiscreet, she shouldn't blame it on her best friend.

Dana followed Teal into the living room, where Teal plunked herself down on the couch.

Dana paused a moment, then laughed. “Does this take you back?”

“I think you caught me more than I did you.” She had satisfaction written all over her face.

“So, how are you?” Dana seemed to be having a problem concealing the tremor in her voice.

“Fine. Okay if I smoke?”

“Why don't we sit out on the balcony?”

“Great.” She pulled herself up.

On the small, narrow patio, she perched herself on the wrought-iron railing, lit up and took a drag from her cigarette. She decided, why wait? The time had come to use this little bit of leverage to get things rolling at Templeton and help Joel out. Every minute counted.

“I've got keys to a beach house at Cayucos next weekend. I thought you and Michael might like to go to the coast for a couple of days. It's free and I'll drive.”

“Oh, that sounds great. The way things are going with negotiations and all, I don't know.”

“And all,” she cackled. “Isn't Patrick Mitchell by any chance?”

“Don't be ridiculous. He's just a friend--”

“Don't make up your mind about the weekend right now. Think about it for a few days. It'll do you good to get away. You look like you could use a little vacation. You're pale and uptight.” She winked and stamped her cigarette out in the ashtray on the frayed wicker table.

“I didn't interrupt anything, did I?” She sat on one of three flimsy, webbed, aluminum-folding chairs.

“No, you didn't interrupt anything. Patrick just came by to bring Michael a game.” The lilt in her tone indicated that she was telling a lie. The woman could have made more of an effort to sound convincing.

“Patrick has taken a liking to Michael.”

Teal slapped her knee and let out an impressive peal of laughter. “Oh, honey, that's the best one I've ever heard.”

“Don't look for something that's not there. Don't you think there's a remote possibility some people just want to help other people?”

“Yeah, some. Not Patrick Mitchell. For crying out loud, girl, the man still had sleep in his eyes when he left. Okay, tell me all about it. I'm all ears. Maybe there's a side to the old boy I don't know.” She adjusted herself in her chair, crossed her legs, and lit another cigarette.

“Now you're reminding me of our college days when I had to explain everything I did to you.” Dana placed her elbow on the arm of the chair.

“Like hell, you did. I found out about you and Joel through the grapevine. If you'd ever bothered to tell me, you'd have known I was interested in him at the time.”

Dana shrugged. “That should have been between you two. He's available if you're still interested.” She grinned. “You two would make a great pair.”

“Too late.” Teal laughed, hiding her guilt. “Now, come on. Out with the truth. I know Patrick too well to think he is over here to visit Michael.”

“You don't know him as well as you think you do.”

“No man who is as good looking as he is, is that smart and has every hottie in town chasing his ass…and who has eyes for you, is coming here to bring your kid games.”

“Let's drop it!”

“I've seen the way he looks at you. I've heard a few rumors.”

“If you and Patrick can be friends as well as competitors, why shouldn't he and I be friends? There's not much difference.”

“There's a lotta difference, sweetie.” Teal began pumping her leg. “I don't control the hospital's contract.” She paused. “Hell, if he'd given me an inkling he was interested in me, I'da jumped his bones a long time ago. Ah, but alas.” She waved a hand. “I'm not his type.” She paused for a long, uncomfortable moment. “Though, you are, my dear.”

“Nonsense.
Our philosophies are as far apart at the north and south poles.”

“That day we were in the Peppermill with Ken, I thought Patrick was going to bust a blood vessel right in front of the table when he saw the two of you together.”

“He introduced us. Why would he care?”

“Whatever happened between you and Ken? He's a pretty good catch. He has money, looks, and he's on the prowl. Plus, he's not a negotiator.”

“Nothing. I'm not interested in getting involved with anyone right now.”

“His loss.”
Teal flicked the ashes from her cigarette. “You know if anything was going on between you and Patrick, and word leaked out at the hospital, all hell would break loose.” Her tone suddenly turned into a threat. “You really live dangerously, kiddo.”

Dana rose from her chair. “Let's go inside.”

She put out her cigarette and followed. “I don't know why you just can't be honest with me. Hell, I'm your friend. Don't you want to share things with someone?”

Inside, Teal took her same seat on the couch, curling her legs beneath her.

“Can I get you anything?” Dana asked.

“Yeah, I'll have some of that cake on the table.”

“How do you stay thin and eat sweets?”

Teal licked her glossy lips. “Some things you just take in small doses. Know what I mean?” She winked again.

They moved to the dining room. Dana brought plates from the cupboard.

She told Teal how her car had broken down and what had happened when Patrick met Michael, and about the horses. Teal ate her cake and listened to the story without a single interruption, knowing Dana left out the best parts. She laid down her fork. “Well, I didn't know the old boy had it in him. But, my dear, if that's all you’re willing to tell then I'll just have to accept your story at face value.” She licked a small glob of chocolate from the corner of her mouth. “It doesn't matter to me who you hang out with. It's a good thing it was me who dropped in on you, though, and not someone less discreet.”

“If it hadn't been for Michael, he'd never have been here.” Knowing she didn’t have much time, Teal pulled out all the stops.

Joel had told her to plant seeds of doubt. Go for it. “I hate to tell you this, Dana, but that handsome devil's been bragging around about you. Telling the gang he's getting his contract one way or another.” She took another large bite from her cake. “Know what I mean?”

“No, what do you mean?”

“I'm just trying to fit the pieces together. He mentioned he'd been getting to know you better…you know?”

“I don't believe you.”

“Believe me.”

Dana's face contorted.

“They're all alike, honey. I should know and so should you. How many is it going to take before you wise up and get with the program?” She paused, waiting to drop another bomb on Dana. “It surprises me that you’d be interested in a
man who thinks nothing of leaving his little girl in New York for a stupid job. Tells me a whole lot about him. Should tell you a few things, too, unless you’re purposely being blind.”

Shock registered on Dana’s face. Appearing defeated, she slumped back in her chair.

Teal wriggled around in her seat, watching Dana struggle with her feelings for Patrick. Seemed she came up with the right bait. “Well, how about that weekend at the coast?”

That bugger had been balling Dana and she knew it. Somehow, some way, she must get Dana to the coast. Had these little gems been enough to trigger a commitment out of her? What a perfect place to position herself for a crack at Templeton and have plenty of time to find out what she needed to know for Joel.

She rose, pulled Dana up by both arms, and gazed into her eyes. “We go back a long way. Let's have some fun together. You need it.”

Dana's eyes filled with sadness. This baby was hurting. Teal had a flash of guilt. She pulled her to her breast and held her. “Everything’s going to be fine. Please, come with me to Cayucos. It'll be just like the good old days.” She drew back. “Remember how much fun we had at our little
jammy parties? We'd talk about all the guys, rip our girlfriends apart, eat wonderful junk food and then sleep in crumbs all night.”

A wistful smile crossed Dana’s lips. “Let me think about it. I’m pushed right now…”

“Do ya good to get away for a few days. Be good for Michael too. He'd love the beach. Won't cost anything. I'm bringing the food and a jug of vino. Come on, Dana. Say you'll go.”

“When is the latest I can let you know?”

Teal could hardly contain herself at the thought of Dana weakening. “Friday. If you don't go with me, I'm going alone. I need to get away and sort out my life. Things aren't too good for me either.”

“Why?”

“You have enough on your mind. Let's save that conversation for the coast.” Teal held out her hands and smiled. “Oh hell, give me a hug.”

Dana embraced her. “I'll let you know by Wednesday if I can get
away for the weekend.”

* * *

Now that Dana thought about it, Patrick didn’t talk much about his daughter. She heard him fight for visitation, but not about being near her when she needed him.

Could Teal be right? Had she been blind? Had Patrick been using her? He seemed so sincere, so caring with Michael. This just couldn't be. That wasn't Patrick's style. Or was it? Had another man duped her again? The more Dana thought about it, the better the coast sounded.

She needed a friend like Teal right now and a little of Teal's fire under her.

Teal hadn't been gone ten minutes when the phone rang. Patrick, she just knew it.

“Look, Dana. We've got to talk.”

Yeah, they had to talk all right. So, he thought if he pleased her in bed and helped her son, she'd cave right in and give him his contract. Well, she had an enormous surprise for him. Why had he put his job in front of his daughter?

“You know, I think we've been moving too fast.” Only silence filtered through the phone lines.

“I'm coming over.”

“No,” she shouted. “Sorry, I didn't mean to yell, but now isn’t a good time.”

“It's the only time.”

She switched the phone to her other ear, gulping over the painful lump in her throat. “I'm so confused right now. I have so much to sort out. I need time.”

Following a long drawn out pause and crackling on the line, he said in a low, deliberate tone, “You can have all the time you need.”

He had cooled. Oh, how he’d cooled. She shook her head and smiled to herself. What a fool she’d been. “See you at negotiations.” The phone clicked in her ear.

If Dana had been on a bender the night before, she couldn't have looked worse than she did that morning. Before her dressing table mirror, she applied a concealer underneath her eyes. It didn't do any
good. “You look a mess.” She took a long, hard look at herself. “You blew it, baby.” Talk about a man being led around by his penis. Women can be just as bad.