Beyond the Breaking Point (42 page)

“No you weren’t,” Erika said firmly. Cassidy spun to face her, shocked into immobility. “You love him and were somewhat content in your relationship, but I’ve never seen you with Phillip the way you are with Max.” The two couples had joined together again Sunday night for an impromptu dinner and movie at Erika’s home this time. “I swear the air simply vibrates and shimmers whenever you two look at each other. No wonder Phillip was pissed.”

Cassidy brought her hands to her cheeks. “Oh God.” She went and sat, bending forward with her elbows on her knees. “I’m scared, Erika. Things are going too good. Something bad is bound to happen. It’s Murphy’s law.”

“Stop jinxing yourself,” Erika snapped. “If anyone deserves a break, it’s you. Forget about the ‘what-ifs’ and focus on the here and now.”

She drew in a deep breath, held it for the count of ten, then released it on a sigh. “You’re right. No sense counting chickens before they hatch.”

“Speaking of eggs, I’m hungry,” Erika said with a laugh. “Let’s order pizza.”

Right then, Cassidy’s stomach rumbled loudly.

“Guess I’m not the only one,” Erika said and rose to go call in the order.

Max returned from his business trip and Cassidy gave him, in his words, “The best welcome home he’d ever received.” She’d ridden Max to exhaustion Thursday night and sent him to work Friday morning with a smile on his face.

However, once out of Max’s sight, Cassidy was all jangled nerves and sharp edges. That damn stopwatch was ticking down in her head, letting her know her time with Max was short. Everything—
everything
—important to her was riding on the results of this test.

She arrived at the hospital at her usual time and threw herself into her work. Anything and everything she found to do, she did it, no matter how menial, in a futile effort to make the hours until her doctor’s office opened for business pass and keep her mind occupied. When she absolutely couldn’t take the stress and the worry any longer, Cassidy glanced at her watch and realized it was time.

She alerted one of the floor nurses that she was taking a break to make an important personal call. Knowing the lounge wouldn’t do for something this personal, Cassidy found one of the empty single access handicap restrooms on the floor and locked herself inside. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed the practice.

 “Hi, this is Cassidy Brannon,” she said once she’d gone through all the prompters and reached the receptionist. “My test results were due today. I’d like to know if they came in and what the results were.”

“Sure, Ms. Brannon. If you’ll just verify some information for me?”

Cassidy paced the small space as she answered all the questions, confirming she was who she claimed to be.

“Thank you. Let me transfer you to Linda in records. She’ll pull your chart.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” the receptionist said. Then hold music came through the speakers.

Cassidy took a deep breath to steady herself.

“Ms. Brannon, this is Linda. Shelby said you’re looking for test results?”

“Yes, the paternity test. Are they in?”

She heard keys clicking. “Yes, ma’am. We received them yesterday.”

“And?” Cassidy questioned when nothing more was forthcoming.

“Subject B is the father,” Linda said after a short pause in which Cassidy assumed she was reading.

“Who is Subject B?” And why hadn’t they simply used names?

She head more keys clicking as Linda typed. “Subject B is Mr. Phillip Brannon.”

“You’re sure?” Cassidy asked tensely.

“Yes, ma’am. If you’d like, we can send a copy of the results to you,” Linda offered calmly.

“Please do.”

More keys clicked as Linda placed the note in Cassidy’s file. “You should have them in the mail in a few days. Was there anything else I can help you with?” Linda asked courteously.

“No, thank you. That was all.”

“Have a good day,” the woman said cheerfully.

“You too,” Cassidy echoed absently. Her knees gave out and she sank to the floor. The phone dropped on the hard tile with a clatter. Mind numb, she slowly became aware of a keening sound, like that of a small animal in pain. Then she realized it was coming from her. Not only that, but she was rocking back and forth like a mental patient.

Cassidy forced herself to get a grip. It wasn’t like she hadn’t known this could happen. Just because she’d hoped and prayed desperately for the opposite didn’t make what was any less true. She stood, went to the sink, and splashed cold water on her face until she felt more in control.

You can lie. The men don’t know which one was Subject A or B. Simply tell Phillip the tests came back with Max as the father
.

It was a measure of how distraught she was that for a moment, Cassidy actually considered it. “No,” she said firmly to her image in the mirror.

Lying was wrong and lies of this nature always came back to bite the teller. If the babe were his, she knew Phillip intended to use the results to strengthen his court case. She couldn’t lie to either one of the men, not and live with herself.

God, how was she going to tell Max? He’d been so sure he was the father. Had even told his family he was going to be a father. Would he leave her now that he knew differently?

How could one little test have the power to rock her world like this? Cassidy wanted to crawl into Max’s arms and tell him to make it all better, but once again she stood alone. If Max couldn’t deal with the baby not being his, she needed to know now. Otherwise, she’d be a basket case by the end of the day.

She’d been in here too long already, but still Cassidy picked up her phone off the floor and after checking it for damage, coded Max’s number in with fingers that trembled.

“Hey, I was just thinking about you,” Max said when he answered. “It’s a little early for lunch, isn’t it? Did you forget to eat breakfast again?”

“The baby is Phillip’s. I just got the test results,” she blurted out and then held her breath for his response.

It seemed an eternity passed before he responded. “The next one will be ours. What do you want for dinner tonight?” he said calmly.

Cassidy blew out the breath she’d been holding and sagged against the wall. “You’re not upset?”

“Upset with who? You? No, never. I am, however, disappointed. I told you before the results didn’t matter. I’ll love the baby no matter who fathered her because she’s a part of you.”

Absolutely staggered by the wave of love that swept over her for this man, Cassidy sniffed and blinked watery eyes.

“Honey, are you crying?” he asked, for the first time sounding concerned.

“No, pregnancy hormones,” she said shakily. “Max Desalvo, you are without a doubt the most wonderful man in the world.”

“Yeah? Maybe you should bring me dinner instead.” She could hear his amusement.

She laughed even though it sounded teary. “Whatever you want.”

“Hmm, carte blanche. I like. It’s Friday. Let’s go out tonight, dinner and a movie,” he said, his voice full of enthusiasm.

“It’s a date,” she agreed huskily. “I’d better go before they start paging me.”

“Cassidy?”

She paused with her hand on the doorknob. “Yes?”

“I…I’ll see you tonight.”

“Until then,” she said. As she disconnected the call and stuck her phone in her lab coat pocket, she had the feeling Max had been about to say something else. Her heart much lighter than it had been minutes before, she returned to work.

The baby might not belong to Max, but she still did. For now, it was enough.