From Nanny To Wife (7 page)
Read From Nanny To Wife Online
Authors: Kate Hopkins
By the time, Ryan and Zoe left the store it was after one. Hungry, they stopped off at a fast food place for lunch. Ryan noticed Zoe wasn't eating much and looked tired. Figuring it was the excitement of the trip, he did not think too much into it. "Did you have fun at the toy store?" he asked her.
Zoe nodded. "We go on boat?"
Ryan had promised her he would take her on a ferryboat ride before they headed home. "We'll go on the boat. Let Daddy finish eating first."
Zoe slid closer to Ryan on the bench like seat and laid her head against his arm. "Sleepy."
"You can take a nap on the plane," Ryan told her. "But not a long one because Hope will be upset with me if you're not sleepy when it's bed time."
"Zoe love Hope," she mumbled, closing her eyes.
Ryan brought a hand up and brushed Zoe's bangs back from her face. "I know you do, baby girl. Hope loves you, too."
Zoe tilted her head back and squinted up at Ryan. "Daddy love Hope?"
Ryan was taken aback by her question. "No, baby girl, Daddy doesn't love Hope."
I like her,
he thought.
More than I should.
While Ryan and Zoe were finishing their lunch Hope and Pam were sitting down to eat theirs. After much debating, they settled on Mexican food. Hope ordered a taco salad and Pam beef enchiladas. It had been a long day filled with shopping and it felt good to sit down and take a break. Hope's feet were throbbing and her head was aching. Reaching into her purse, she took out a bottle of Ibuprofen and shook two into the palm of her hand.
"Are you okay?" Pam inquired, raising a glass of sweet tea to her lips.
"No," Hope said. "My feet are killing me and my head aches." She popped the pills into her mouth and took a drink of water.
"I'm sorry," Pam said.
"I'll be fine." Hope set her glass down and picked up her fork. "I wonder if Zoe is having fun."
"She flew to New York in a jet and is spending the day there." Pam arched a brow. "Who wouldn't have fun?"
Hope swallowed a forkful of salad. "I wouldn't. You couldn't get me on a plane."
"Speaking of planes, the anniversary is on Tuesday," Pam said gently. "Are you going to take the day off?"
"No," Hope answered. "I'm hoping Zoe will keep me busy so I won't have time to think about it."
"Does Mr. Kendall know Tuesday is the anniversary of your parents and sister's death?"
Hope pinched the bridge of her nose. "Yes. I told him yesterday." She sighed. "I just wish he would tell me something about himself. All I know is that he's a wonderful father."
"I told you, he's a private man," Pam said. She studied Hope for a moment. "You don't have feelings for him, do you?"
Hope lowered her gaze. "No."
"Hope Elisabeth Landry," Pam growled softly. "Don't lie to me."
"All right," Hope snapped. "I admit I'm attracted to him. He's a handsome, successful man."
Pam shook her head. "This isn't good."
"Relax. I'm a big girl. I can control myself." Hope smirked. "I'm not going to jump the man."
Pam reached across the table and laid her hand on Hope's arm. "I don't want you to get hurt. Ryan Kendall will hurt you. He won't mean to, but he will. Every relationship he has had has failed miserably. That ex-husband of yours caused you enough heartache to last a lifetime."
"It wasn't Luke's fault I couldn't give him children." Regret and feelings of inadequacy came over Hope.
"He could have had more compassion, more patience," Pam stated. "Instead he was selfish and cold hearted. He was too wrapped up in his own feelings to think about yours."
"I - I don't want to talk about Luke anymore." Hope took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"We don't have to," Pam said. "Just promise me you will guard your heart when you're near Mr. Kendall."
"I promise I will guard my heart when I'm near Mr. Kendall." Hope could only pray that she would be able to keep that promise.
Ryan pulled into the driveway shortly after five that evening. Weary, he climbed out of the car and opened the back door. He scooped a sleeping Zoe into his arms, grabbed the toy bag, and shut the door with his hip. Striding up the walkway, Ryan inserted the key in the lock and let himself inside. He started toward the stairs just as Hope entered the foyer.
"Let me help you." She hurried to Ryan and took the bag from him. "Is she asleep?"
"Yes," Ryan muttered. "I tried to keep her awake so she will sleep later, but-"
"Don't worry about it," Hope whispered. "Carry her upstairs for me."
In the bedroom, Ryan laid Zoe down on the bed and kissed her forehead. "I will see you downstairs," he said to Hope.
"I won't be long."
Ryan slipped quietly from the room and went downstairs to the kitchen. The aroma of bread baking filled the air and made his mouth water. He lifted the lid on a pot on the stove and saw it was beef stew. Removing a spoon from the utensil drawer, he dipped it into the stew and tasted the broth. "Not bad," he said aloud to himself.
"Thank you."
Ryan turned around to find Hope standing there. "You didn't have to go to all this trouble."
"It was no trouble at all," Hope assured him. She slid her hands into a pair of oven mitts and carefully removed the bread from the oven. "So what did you and Zoe do?"
"We went to the toy store," Ryan said. "Afterward, we had lunch and then went on a ferryboat ride. What about you? What did you and Pam do?"
"We went shopping," Hope said, slicing the hot bread. "Pam needed a dress for her cousin's wedding. We went to six different department stores before she found one she liked. We had lunch at that new Mexican restaurant next to the mall. They have delicious taco salads."
"I know," Ryan said. "I had one for lunch the other day."
Hope carried the platter of bread to the table and then began to ladle stew into bowls. "After lunch I came home and spent some time with Bob."
"Did you scoop his poop while you were spending time with him?" Ryan asked.
Hope grinned. "Yes. I'm keeping my end of the bargain."
Ryan and Hope sat down to eat. A few minutes later Gordon joined them followed by William and then Maggie.
"This is good, Hope," Gordon said, referring to the stew. "If I'm not careful you could replace me."
Hope smiled at him. "I don't think you need to worry about that. Your cooking is far more superior to mine."
Gordon blushed. "You are too kind."
Hope gave his hand a squeeze. "I'm only speaking the truth."
Ryan watched the exchange between Hope and Gordon. A part of him wished it were his hand Hope was touching.
Chapter 8
Sunlight streaming across her face woke Hope the next morning. She rolled over onto her side and squinted at the clock radio. It read six-fifty-five. Zoe always woke her at six-thirty. Frowning, she threw back the covers and reached for her robe. She slid her arms into the sleeves and got to her feet. Hope belted the robe as she crossed the bedroom. Opening the door, she heard Zoe coughing and hurried across the hall. Zoe was curled up on the bed holding her doll. Hope moved toward the bed and bent down. She caressed the little girl's cheek with the back of her hand and found it warm to the touch. Alarm shot through her.
"Feel bad," Zoe croaked.
Hope sat down on the side of the bed. "Can you show me where it hurts?"
Zoe pointed at her forehead, throat, stomach, arms, and legs.
Ryan entered the bedroom. "Is something wrong?"
Hope glanced up at him. "Will you please get the thermometer? I think she has a fever."
Ryan whirled around and quickly left the room.
"Everything will be okay, sweetheart." Hope saw Zoe shiver and pulled the covers up to her chin.
Ryan came back with the thermometer and handed it to Hope. "Is she sick?" he asked with concern.
"I believe so." Hope pushed the little button on the digital thermometer. "Open your mouth, sweetheart," she told Zoe.
"No," Zoe muttered. "It-" She broke off coughing.
"Please, open your mouth," Hope said.
"No."
Hope rose from the bed and turned to face Ryan. "Maybe you'll have better luck." She gave him the thermometer.
Ryan took Hope's place on the bed. "Zoe, open up for Daddy."
"No."
"You know Daddy doesn't like it when you tell him no." Ryan gave her his sternest look. "Open," he said in a voice that demanded obedience.
Slowly, Zoe opened her mouth.
"Good girl." Ryan inserted the thermometer. "Close your mouth." He stroked her hair and whispered words of comfort.
His gentleness and love for his daughter touched Hope's heart and brought a lump to her throat. She moved around the bed and sat down. Zoe turned her head on the pillow and Hope touched her warm forehead. "Hold on, little one. It won't be long now."
When the thermometer beeped, signaling that it was done, Ryan removed it from Zoe's mouth and raised it to eye level. "One hundred and two."
"I'll call her Pediatrician," Hope said.
"You can use my office," Ryan said. "The number is in my address book. Please, hurry."
"I'll try. " Hope ran to Ryan's office and grabbed the address book off his desk. She flipped through it until she found the doctor's name and dialed his number.
"Unity Memorial Hospital," a male voice announced a minute later.
"May I have Dr. Keith Marlow's office?"
"One moment please," he said.
Hope leaned against Ryan's desk and fiddled with the belt on her robe while she waited.
Come on. Someone pick up,
she thought desperate to speak with the doctor.
"Dr. Marlow's office," a female voice said.
"Hello, I'm calling on behalf of Ryan Kendall. His daughter Zoe is unwell and I need to know what I should do."
"Let me put you through to Dr. Marlow."
"Thank you," Hope said shocked that she was being put through right away. In the past, she had to leave her name and number and a doctor would call back when he had time.
"This is Dr. Marlow."
"Hello, Dr. Marlow. My name is Hope Landry and I am calling on behalf of Zoe Kendall. She's not feeling well. I was hoping you could tell me what's wrong with her."
"What are her symptoms?" he asked.
"She has a temperature of one hundred and two." Hope said. "Her head and body aches. She has the chills, a sore throat and she's coughing."
