“squirt” on this visit.
“He picked her up this afternoon. The poor thing has been so good about my being sick all week. And my childcare lady has been picking her up every day. She even took her to pre-school. Mrs. Densmore has been watching her for a couple of hours in the evenings. I don’t know what I would have done otherwise.”
The predicament of being a single mother was daunting enough, Jason imagined, but having a chronic illness on top of it seemed unfathomable. Again, he marveled at how he’d never had a clue about Claire’s personal plight; how upbeat and cheerful she always seemed. Now that he knew, he’d find a way to help relieve her burden.
They sipped their tea, as Claire stretched out her legs and covered up with the blanket. He resisted tucking in her feet, using the poker to move a log around in the fireplace instead.
“Sometimes it’s too much to lift my head off the pillow. Charles couldn’t take the thought of living with an invalid, even though I rarely have flare-ups.”
“You mean to tell me he divorced you because of your Lupus?”
She nodded, a look of resignation dulling herfeatures. “That and a perky waitress at his favorite harbor bar.”
Jason shook his head. As he drank his tea in silence, he thought of his deceased wife and what he’d give to have her back. Then he thought how stupid Claire’s husband was for turning his back on her. The Claire he knew at the clinic was vital and witty, feisty and bright, and… quit denying it …sexy.
Perky waitress or not, the man obviously didn’t know how lucky he’d been being married to a woman like Claire. But Jason didn’t know the whole story, so he reserved his full judgment.
Jason hoped Charles was at least good to Gina. If he did anything to hurt her…His blood pressure rose just thinking about the potential. Had he inadvertently transferred his feelings for Hanna to Gina? He hardly knew the child, yet he’d already seemed to form a bond. Didn’t he have an art gallery’s worth of drawings to prove they were special to each other? He couldn’t let that go any further.
A rueful smile creased his lips. Jessica and Hanna would never be a part of his life again, and their loss stained every breath he took with guilt and anguish. A kid like Gina and a woman like Claire only complicated things.
“Are you OK?” Claire asked.
“What?” For crying out loud, he’d come over here to help her feel better, and now she was the one worrying about him. “Oh, I’m fine. I was just thinking of the irony of it all. You’re a living breathing woman with a lot to offer, and I think your husband is a fool for leaving you.”
She made a weak attempt at a smile. “Thanks. It’s been hard, but things are looking up with the new job and all.”
“I’ll make sure you get paid sick leave,” he said, though usually any new employee needed to work three months before sick leave pay kicked in.
Her feeble smile grew stronger. “For such a grouch, you’re a prince. Thanks,” she said. He thought he saw a quick glint of life in her eyes, and he was willing to take the cheap shot as a sacrifice.
“ Moi? A grouch? Are you sure you’re not feverish?” He knew damned well he wasn’t an easy man to work for, but he was surprised she’d been so candid. That was something else he liked about her. She was honest with him. Hell, hadn’t she called him a closed-minded medical robot on her first day at work? That took guts.
He clapped his hands together. “So what time do you prefer breakfast?”
“Honestly, Jason, you don’t have to do that.”
Their eyes came together. He held her gaze long and sternly. “Don’t be a martyr.” Wasn’t that a bit like the pot calling the kettle black? But he’d made his stand and he wasn’t backing down now. “I want to help you, and I make a mean omelet.”
She laughed. It sounded more like surrender than joy. “Then I’ll have Cheddar cheese with fresh avocado slices on
“He picked her up this afternoon. The poor thing has been so good about my being sick all week. And my childcare lady has been picking her up every day. She even took her to pre-school. Mrs. Densmore has been watching her for a couple of hours in the evenings. I don’t know what I would have done otherwise.”
The predicament of being a single mother was daunting enough, Jason imagined, but having a chronic illness on top of it seemed unfathomable. Again, he marveled at how he’d never had a clue about Claire’s personal plight; how upbeat and cheerful she always seemed. Now that he knew, he’d find a way to help relieve her burden.
They sipped their tea, as Claire stretched out her legs and covered up with the blanket. He resisted tucking in her feet, using the poker to move a log around in the fireplace instead.
“Sometimes it’s too much to lift my head off the pillow. Charles couldn’t take the thought of living with an invalid, even though I rarely have flare-ups.”
“You mean to tell me he divorced you because of your Lupus?”
She nodded, a look of resignation dulling herfeatures. “That and a perky waitress at his favorite harbor bar.”
Jason shook his head. As he drank his tea in silence, he thought of his deceased wife and what he’d give to have her back. Then he thought how stupid Claire’s husband was for turning his back on her. The Claire he knew at the clinic was vital and witty, feisty and bright, and… quit denying it …sexy.
Perky waitress or not, the man obviously didn’t know how lucky he’d been being married to a woman like Claire. But Jason didn’t know the whole story, so he reserved his full judgment.
Jason hoped Charles was at least good to Gina. If he did anything to hurt her…His blood pressure rose just thinking about the potential. Had he inadvertently transferred his feelings for Hanna to Gina? He hardly knew the child, yet he’d already seemed to form a bond. Didn’t he have an art gallery’s worth of drawings to prove they were special to each other? He couldn’t let that go any further.
A rueful smile creased his lips. Jessica and Hanna would never be a part of his life again, and their loss stained every breath he took with guilt and anguish. A kid like Gina and a woman like Claire only complicated things.
“Are you OK?” Claire asked.
“What?” For crying out loud, he’d come over here to help her feel better, and now she was the one worrying about him. “Oh, I’m fine. I was just thinking of the irony of it all. You’re a living breathing woman with a lot to offer, and I think your husband is a fool for leaving you.”
She made a weak attempt at a smile. “Thanks. It’s been hard, but things are looking up with the new job and all.”
“I’ll make sure you get paid sick leave,” he said, though usually any new employee needed to work three months before sick leave pay kicked in.
Her feeble smile grew stronger. “For such a grouch, you’re a prince. Thanks,” she said. He thought he saw a quick glint of life in her eyes, and he was willing to take the cheap shot as a sacrifice.
“ Moi? A grouch? Are you sure you’re not feverish?” He knew damned well he wasn’t an easy man to work for, but he was surprised she’d been so candid. That was something else he liked about her. She was honest with him. Hell, hadn’t she called him a closed-minded medical robot on her first day at work? That took guts.
He clapped his hands together. “So what time do you prefer breakfast?”
“Honestly, Jason, you don’t have to do that.”
Their eyes came together. He held her gaze long and sternly. “Don’t be a martyr.” Wasn’t that a bit like the pot calling the kettle black? But he’d made his stand and he wasn’t backing down now. “I want to help you, and I make a mean omelet.”
She laughed. It sounded more like surrender than joy. “Then I’ll have Cheddar cheese with fresh avocado slices on
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