Sympathy Pains (11 page)
Authors: Sharon Sala
“The baby... When they take him to be weighed...don't let him go alone.”
Justin took a deep breath to keep from crying. “I won't,” he said softly, and then leaned down and gave her a slow, sweet kiss. “I'll take good care of him just like I'm going to take care of you. And when you're all rested and feeling better, we're going to drink a toast.”
“No alcoholic beverages if the mother is nursing,” the nurse cautioned.
“We'll use juice,” Justin promised.
The nurse nodded approvingly. “What are you going to toast?”
Justin grinned at Marilee. “For starters... Monopoly games and blizzards.”
Marilee laughed.
J
ustin stood at the window overlooking the terrace, watching his wife and son in the pool. Clay would be two in a few short weeks and Marilee was teaching him how to swim. His heart swelled with pride as he watched the ongoing lesson. Marilee's patience was unending and Clay's determination was just as strong. It made him sick to his stomach, every time he remembered how close he'd come to never knowing about Clay. And his wifeâhe couldn't imagine life without her.
The phone rang in the middle of his musings.
“Hello?”
“Justin, darling, how are you?”
“Fine, Mother. How are you and Dad?”
“Okay, but we'd be better if we knew when you were coming to see us again. I just know our little Clay boy is growing like a weed. Is he all right? What has he been doing?”
Justin turned back to the window, smiling to himself as Clay jumped off the side of the pool into Marilee's arms.
“He's good. Marilee is teaching him how to swim.”
“Oh, Lord... Do you thinkâ”
“Mother.”
The slight warning tone in Justin's voice was enough to remind Judith of her place.
“I'm sorry, dear. I know Marilee is a wonderful mother, but don't tell me not to worry about all of you because I can't help it. It's something that comes with the territory of being a mother and, unfortunately, never goes away.”
Justin grinned. The first time his mother had seen the baby and realized he was a carbon copy of her son, she'd done a complete about-face toward Marilee, even apologizing in tears and begging forgiveness. But her real test had come that first Christmas when they'd gathered together at
the ranch for dinner and Gavin had proposed the first toast. Judith had raised her glass along with everyone else and then turned red in the face when Gavin toasted her great-great-grandfather's brief career in the cattle business. She had however, taken it in good stride, knowing that it was his subtle way of reminding her that she was the last person who should be casting stones.
Justin chuckled beneath his breath, but when Judith spoke, she realized he hadn't been listening to her at all.
“I'm sorry, Mother. What were you saying?”
Judith sighed. “I asked if it would be all right if your father and I drove up one day next week. We can only stay one night. I have bridge club and I'm on the planning committee for the Harvest Ball at your father's club, so we can't stay any longer.”
“That's fine, Mom. I'll tell Marilee you're coming. Just give us a call before you leave.”
“Wonderful,” Judith said. “Give Marilee and Clay boy our love,” she said, and hung up.
Justin hung up the receiver then turned back to the window. Suddenly the need to be with them was stronger than updating the accounts. His mother wanted him to give them her love.
“I believe I will,” he murmured, and walked
out of his office. As he exited the house, Marilee saw him coming and waved. “Hey, darlin', how's the little fish coming?” he asked.
Clay squealed. “Daddy! I not a little fish! Look at me! Look at me! I can swim!”
Clay began flailing his arms and legs in the water, confident that his mother's hand would still be on his belly as it had been all afternoon.
Water went everywhere, dousing Marilee's face and hair, even onto the legs of Justin's jeans.
“Hey,” Marilee said, as she lifted Clay out of the water, “you're getting Daddy's pants all wet.”
“I don't care,” Justin said, and held out his hands. “Give him to me. I'm thinking I need a big hug.” Then he winked at Marilee as she lifted Clay out of the pool. “Besides, I've been at the mercy of the elements ever since the day we met.”
Marilee laughed. “So the weather was your Waterloo?”
“In more ways than one,” Justin said, and then grinned when Clay put both little wet hands on either side of his face and gave him a big, wet kiss.
“Mom and Dad send their love. They want to come up one day next week and spend the night.”
Marilee nodded, then smiled. “I just hope they don't bring another carload of presents. Clay has too many already.”
Justin looked at her then, drenched from head to toe and standing waist-deep in the pool. Her blue, two-piece swimsuit was glued to her body like skin and she had that come-hither smile on her face. His gut clenched with a wanting he couldn't deny.
“Clay boy, I'm thinking it's about time for your nap,” he said.
Marilee gave Justin a Mona Lisa smile and then climbed out of the pool and took Clay out of his father's arms.
“Daddy's right, little man. You've worked very, very hard today, and it's time for all good cowboys to take a rest.”
Clay's lower lip jutted out. “Daddy is a cowboy. Is Daddy gonna take a rest, too?”
Marilee looked back at her husband, acknowledging the hunger in his eyes and then nodded slowly.
“Oh, yes...I think he's more than ready for bed. Aren't you, Daddy?”
Justin's eyes glittered. “Yep, and after Mommy tucks you in bed, she's going to tuck me in, too. Aren't you, Mommy?”
Marilee laughed. “Something like that,” she said, and then walked inside with their child in her arms.
Justin grinned as he followed them into the house.
* * * * *
“Skillfully balancing suspense and romance, Sala gives readers a nonstop breath-holding adventure.”
â
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Going Once
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ISBN: 9781459294820
Sympathy Pains
Copyright © 2001 by Sharon Sala
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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