His Sugar Baby (27 page)

Michael inhaled sharply, tightened his lips. Business was all it was, all it would ever be, he determinedly told himself. There would be no more of this skulking and adolescent obsession. He didn’t give a damn about Winter Somerset’s life. He gunned the Porsche and roared away.

Chapter Twenty-One

Cathy made herself get up off the sofa where she had collapsed. She didn’t know how much time had passed—an hour or maybe two—since she had returned from the hospital. Terror locked her brain. She didn’t know how she had gotten home. She didn’t remember anything except what the oncologist had told her. The sound of her harsh wheezing, the ribbons of pain squeezing her chest, were nothing beside the anguish of her heart.

Her hand was shaking so badly that she could barely hold the phone to her ear. “
Pammy?
Chloe has GVHD. Oh God, oh God! I’m going to lose her, Pammy! I’m going to
l–lose her
!”

“Cathy! Listen to me! We’re coming. John and I are coming. Call Vicky
now!
And Michael! Talk to them, okay? Just—just hang on. Do you hear?”

“Yes—yes.” Cathy ended the call. Blind panic assaulted her. She tried to breathe. Her hands were still shaking badly. She pulled her purse over and clumsily fished out Winter’s cell. She started to speed-dial Michael’s number. A shaft of reason speared through her panic. She shut the phone, squeezing shut her eyes.
What am I doing?
Michael was the last person she could call. But God, she could use his strong arms to hold her, to hear his voice comforting her. He was her anchor, her mooring. But she couldn’t call him. The wave of old terror crashed over her, and she went under.
Oh God, Chloe!
Her whole body trembled uncontrollably. She slid down the wall to the floor. She covered her face with her hands and rocked back and forth, wrenched by sobs.

When her sister and brother-in-law flew into
Austin
, they wanted to know immediately what was happening with their niece. Cathy was able to tell them, with a fair share of control over her emotions, that Chloe’s status was still critical. She couldn’t stop the tremors in her voice, though. “Chloe is receiving high doses of corticosteroids. That’s the standard treatment. All we can do now is wait and pray.”

Pam’s hands flew to her mouth. Beyond uttering a strangled murmur, she didn’t say anything, but her eyes glazed with tears. Standing beside her, her husband drew in a deep breath. With uncharacteristic abruptness, John Thompson said, “I’ve taken a leave of absence from work. We’ve sublet a house.”

Cathy was grateful for her brother-in-law’s matter-of-factness. She nodded, understanding what had not been spoken. “Thank you,” she whispered.

* * * *

For days, when he spoke to her on the phone, she was withdrawn and distracted. She wasn’t making time for him. She wasn’t available either in person or, increasingly, even by phone. It was worse than before. He couldn’t figure it out, no matter how much he revolved it in his mind. Michael thought back carefully. The change had taken place around the time she had cooked dinner for him…his heart stuttered in his chest.

Winter must have found out. She must have seen me at her apartment.
Michael swore at himself. He had broken their agreement. He had broken her trust. He had intruded into her life when she had made it very clear that she wanted to keep it separate.

It was driving him crazy. He had to talk to her. He had to explain, to apologize. But it seemed like he could never get her on the phone anymore. She wouldn’t return his voice mails or his texts. Michael pressed her number again. “Pick up, Winter.
Pick up!
”

Then suddenly, she did. He was so surprised that it took him a moment to find his voice. “Winter?”

“Michael. I’m sorry.” She sounded disjointed, not altogether there. “I forgot. You called, didn’t you? I’m sorry.”

Damn straight, I called! Several times!
But he wouldn’t say that. Not when he needed to find out what was going on, if
they
were going on. Besides his anxiety over their relationship, he was worried about her. It wasn’t like her to just freeze him out without a word, no matter how angered she might be.

He could hear noise in the background, the tinny sound of an intercom even though he wasn’t able to make out the message. Obviously, she was somewhere public. She could go out somewhere, but she couldn’t call him? His concern segued into a surge of annoyance. Michael thrust his fingers hard through his hair. “Where the hell have you been? It’s been days since I’ve seen you or heard from you. I’ve been worried!”

“I’m so sorry, Michael.” There was still that disturbing distance in her voice.

His frustration and anger escalated. He paced back and forth. “I’ve been trying to get in touch with you!”

“I know…I know. It’s not a good time. My daughter—”

Michael stilled. “Your daughter?”

“Chloe. Oh, Michael! She’s so sick!”

Michael’s whole being was on point. “I’m here at the house. Tell me where you are, Winter. I’ll come right now.”

“I’m—Michael, I don’t know if—” Listening closely, Michael heard the unmistakable rumble of a male voice. She came back online, her voice breathy. “The doctor. I’ve got to go. I’m wanted.” The connection was broken.

Michael took the phone away from his ear. She had hung up on him. Yet the simmering anger and yes, fear, that had ridden him for days had suddenly disappeared.

She’s so sick.

His mind replayed the breathy, shaken timbre of her voice. Winter was frightened. The conclusion was inescapable. Her young daughter, young enough to like teddy bears, was seriously ill.

He paced restlessly, hoping that she would call him back, but knew that she would not. Worry for her, and for the unknown child, rode him. He thought over the phone call again. There was something that he was missing. Then he had it. He had heard what sounded like an intercom.
Like at a hospital.

Michael snatched up his keys and slung on his jacket. He left the house, slamming the door behind him.

* * * *

“I’m not scared anymore, Mommy.”

Cathy tried to smile.
I’m scared spitless.
She was glad her daughter couldn’t read her mind. “You’re not?”

“No—I’m tired. Very, very tired.”

Cathy’s breath hitched. She looked closer at her daughter. There was a new awareness in Chloe’s eyes. She swallowed the gathering lump in her throat. She was barely able to speak. Her heart was thumping. “Tired?”

“I want to sleep and get better now.” Chloe’s unclouded gaze was locked on her face. “Is that okay, Mommy?”

Comprehension was slow, but then it burst full-blown. Cathy’s heart cracked. She loved Chloe so much. Hot tears blinded her, spilled, overflowed. She said, thickly, “It’s okay, baby. I’m okay with that.”

Chloe smiled, beautifully, gave a tiny sigh and closed her eyes.

Cathy held her daughter. She felt the frail flutter of Chloe’s breath, followed by the next, and the next. The methodical ping of the heart monitor continued. She sat immobile, holding Chloe, tears streaming down her face.

At last someone gently drew her away. Dr. Richardson met her just outside the hospital room to speak a few brief words, words that only confirmed what she had already sensed. “She’s turned the corner.” He briefly squeezed her shoulder before he hurried away.

Frozen with shock, Cathy walked into the waiting room. As soon as she entered, her sister and brother-in-law leaped to their feet.

With one look at her wet face, Pam burst into tears. She flew at Cathy, almost knocking her down. If it hadn’t been for her sister’s arms swooping tight around her, Cathy would have fallen. Automatically, her own arms came up to wrap around her sister. Her brother-in-law enfolded them both in a comforting, strong brace.

Cathy was utterly numb, incapable of speech or thought. She heard the jagged burble of her sister’s grief. She understood the disjointed words, but she wasn’t really taking them in. She was so dazed. She struggled to get free of her sister’s clinging arms, her clutching hands. She gasped, hyperventilating. “Let go.” She had managed the merest whisper, but her brother-in-law heard her.

“Pam, that’s enough. Give her some air.” He drew his wife back against him. Pam instantly burrowed into him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Over her head, John Thompson’s eyes were dark and searching. “Are you going to be all right?”

It was so odd, she thought dispassionately. His voice seemed to echo from such a very long way. Everything appeared surreal, distant. “She’s going to be all right.”

Pam straightened, turning a tear-streaked face. “
What?”

“Chloe. Dr. Richardson said she has turned the corner. S–she’s going to m–make it.” Cathy stuttered on the words. She felt the cracking in the thick block of ice that had encased her emotions for so long.

“Oh God, oh God! Are you sure?”

Cathy gave a laugh that ended in a sob. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to stop the wave of shivering that overtook her body. “Yes, yes! He just told me.”

“Thank God,” breathed John, shutting his eyes briefly.

Pam wiped her reddened eyes and shook her head, a smile breaking out. She leaned back against her husband. “I’m so, so glad!”

Cathy felt exhaustion fall on her like an anvil. She swayed. She was grateful when her brother-in-law steadied her with a hand under her elbow. “Thanks. It–it just hit me. I’m so tired all of a sudden.”

“You need rest. You’ve been here day and night! You’re coming home with me, Cathy.” Pam turned her head up to meet her husband’s gaze. “You can stay here for awhile, to look in on Chloe, can’t you, John?”

“Sure. You go on with Pam, Cathy. I’ll call you if I hear anything else.”

Cathy shook her head. “No! No, I don’t want to go home with you.” She was still shuddering. She couldn’t stop or force out more words. What was wrong with her? She felt the cracking inside of her deepen. An ominous tide was rising inside of her. Her thoughts scrambled in panicked confusion.
Losing it.
She had to get out, she had to go.

“Of course you are! John, tell her. She can’t go back to that horrible apartment by herself!”

Cathy understood. The panic sharpened her wits. Pam didn’t want her to be alone, wouldn’t let her be alone. She forced herself to form sentences, to make sense, an excuse. “I–I called someone. Earlier. A friend.” Cathy snatched up her coat and her purse. She took a step backward, toward the waiting room doorway, toward escape.

“Cathy, are you sure that’s what you want?” There was honest concern in John’s expressive face. “At least let one of us drive you.”

“No, no. I have my car.” Cathy turned swiftly and barreled straight into an immovable object. She staggered back with the impact. Strong hands caught her arms, steadying her. “Sorry! I didn’t see—”

“I’m glad I found you.”

Her head snapped up. “Michael!”

She stared at him. Horror slammed through her.

* * * *

Michael saw the color drain out of her face. It was a huge breach of her privacy, he knew that. “I came down when I realized where you were calling from. I asked at the desk for Chloe, and they sent me up here.” The tightness in her expression didn’t lesson. He gentled his voice, trying to make her understand. “I had to come.”

“Michael? Michael Lambert!”

Michael turned his head, at last focusing on the couple that was standing nearby in the waiting room. The man’s eyes had widened in recognition. Michael realized that he knew him.
John Thompson.
His brows creased, grappling at the significance of his international business contact’s presence. He knew it to be an odd coincidence, but at that moment, it didn’t seem particularly important. He nodded stiffly, putting a polite smile on his face. “John.”

John reached out a hand. Michael automatically shook it. “How do you know Cathy?”

The woman exclaimed in delight. “John! Is this Cathy’s Michael?” She stared at him, excitement lightening her expression. She also reached out to shake his hand. “I’m Pam, Cathy’s sister.”

Michael felt the air rush out of his lungs. Things were hitting him all at once. His mind made a leap back to an evening in
Singapore
and a certain conversation. He had not met the man’s wife before. She had been away helping a family member. “I’m sorry! I didn’t realize—”

John’s thoughts had obviously paralleled his own. “I never mentioned Pam’s sister’s last name, did I?”

“No.” Michael shook his head, with a shrug. He didn’t bother to explain having that piece of information would not have clued him in. He had never known her by any other name than Winter.

“You’ve come at a good time! We just heard. Chloe is going to get better!”

“I’m glad to hear that!” Michael felt a sharp shaft of relief. A grin broke free. His smile faltered as Winter stepped away from him, still wearing an expression of profound shock on her face.

* * * *

Cathy felt all of the morbid fascination she might have at watching a train wreck. Her gaze flicked back and forth between the two men. The thudding of her heart was so loud she wondered that no one said anything. Her brother-in-law and Michael knew each other. It was inconceivable. It was appalling. It was a disaster.