Rescue Me (a quirky romance novel about secrets, forgiveness and falling in love) (30 page)

Would anything she say or do help?

"Regardless of what you think," Hailey began. "I came here to try to help you. You're my sister. We're The Twins. Inseparable. Remember?"

"Inseparable, until you separated us," Heidi scoffed.

"I did. And I apologized."

"Yeah. Apologized. So why bring it up again?"

This was going nowhere! Frustration gave rise to anger. She swallowed back a bitter retort. "Because I want to make things right, that's why."

"Make things right? So, are you agreeing to my offer? Swapping lives with me?"

"There's nothing in California anymore. I sold my business.

"Really?" Heidi didn't look convinced.

"Let's just say I learned what's most important in life."

"Yeah? What's that?"

Their eyes met. The pain in Heidi's was so plain it made Hailey want to cry out, to take that skinny body in her arms and hold tight.

"I have another proposition," she said.

Heidi crossed her arms over her chest, making the tubes running to her wrists more prominent. "Proposition?"

"I have a friend. He's a computer geek. Programming, hacking, networking. That sort of thing. He needs an accountant."

Heidi shook her head. "I'm not interested in another low-paying job."

"I think you should listen to his offer first."

"Besides, I don't know how long it'll be before I can go back to work."

"I think you can work from home. Telecommute."

"Why are you pushing so hard?" Heidi's face was a mask of annoyance.

"Because I never wanted to see you like this. The job might be a small thing, but it's something."

Heidi sighed, and chewing her lip like she used to as a child, a habit that made it easy for their mother to tell them apart, she turned to stare at the black television.

Hailey took that as indecision and cautiously stepped closer. "Heidi, we've been fighting too long. I don't want this to continue--cancer or not. It's wrong. I went to California a stupid, idealistic child. Selfish, gullible, a dreamer. But I've returned a woman who knows herself and what's important."

"Everyone claims they've changed."

"All I'm asking is you give me a chance to prove it. Take the job my friend is offering--or at least listen to his offer, then decide. Let me gain your trust slowly."

A tear slid down Heidi's cheek, and she raised a shaking hand up to wipe it from where it settled. She met Hailey's gaze. "I hated you for what you did. I promised I'd never let you do that again."

"I don't expect you to trust me overnight. I've had a little taste of what you went through. I know what it's like. I'm embarrassed--ashamed--of how I acted. If I have to, I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you, Baby Sis."

Heidi laughed through tears at Hailey's use of her pet name. "I'm only three minutes younger than you," she shot back, like she had hundreds of times. It felt so good to have that minute touch of normalcy. Hailey wished she could climb into that moment and stay there forever.

"What happened to you?" Heidi asked after a few moments. "You never talk like this."

Hailey shrugged. "Am I that different?"

"Hell, yes!"

"I guess life happened to me. It has a way of teaching you hard lessons."

Heidi held up her arm in testimony. "I know exactly what you mean."

"So, will you listen to Andrew's pitch?"

"He's here? Now?" Her eyes darted around the room, then settled on the bathroom door. She slowly stood, and with one hand yanking at her I.V. pole, she staggered toward the bathroom.

Hailey lunged toward her. "What are you doing?"

"I can't see anyone looking like this. I may be sick, but I'm not dead."

"Let me help you," Hailey offered, while trying to steer Heidi back toward the bed. "Is your make-up in the bathroom?"

"In a small bag hanging on the towel bar. But I'd like to shower. Do I have time to shower?"

"Can you shower with all this gear attached to you?"

"If you call the nurse, she can unhook it for me--until I'm finished."

"I don't think all this fuss is necessary. Really."

"I do," Heidi said. "Don't you see? If I don't have the least bit of dignity left, I have nothing!"

"Okay. I'll call the nurse." She pushed the call button on the side of the bed, and explained the situation to the individual who answered.

Within moments, a friendly-faced nurse wearing a pink lab jacket and a pleasant smile came to the room to take care of Heidi. Feeling out of place, Hailey excused herself from the room and found Andrew sitting in the family waiting area, reading a book. When she stepped into the room, he lifted his head and raised his brows in question.

She grinned. "I think I've made some progress. I don't know what made this time different, but it was."

He stood and hugged her. "I'm so happy for you. What about the job?"

"She's getting ready for her interview as we speak," she said, pulling out of his embrace. "She wants to act as normal as possible. Can you do that? Act like she's really interviewing for the job?"

"Sure. It'll be great. If she's anything like you, I'm sure it'll work out."

"She's a lot like me, only better." Hailey said, like she always said. "She's the good twin. I think you'll like her." She went to the door. "I'll be back in a minute. I'm going to see if she's ready for you yet."

"All right," he said, dropping his gaze back to his book.

She walked slowly down the hallway. Gears whirring in her head. What if they really liked each other--like fall-in-love kind of like? Wouldn't that be great? Heidi deserved a good guy, and after spending the long road trip with Andrew, Hailey'd gotten a clear picture of who he was and what he was all about.

He was a doll!

Her heart jumped. Could it happen? Could Andrew see past the illness? See the beautiful woman Heidi had been, would possibly become again?

She knocked on the door, and Heidi answered with the typical, "Come in."

Hailey stepped inside. And was overwhelmed.

"How do I look?" Heidi asked from the bed. She sat propped up, the bed's head fully upright. The dark shadows under her eyes were gone. Her face was aglow. The cheekbones that had looked too prominent now looked lovely, touched with pink. Her full lips sported a similar shade.

But the biggest change was the hair.

Hailey's hair, or at least she thought it might be. It was dyed blond, with streaks of gold, and falling in soft layers around Heidi's face.

"You look amazing!"

The color on Heidi's cheeks darkened and spread over the rest of her face. "Are you teasing me?"

"No. I mean it. Is that my--"

"Your hair? Yup. Rainer found a local lady who makes wigs for cancer patients, rather than going through the national organization. That way, I got mine within days, instead of weeks."

Her heart skipped a beat at the sound of Rainer's name, and the kindness he'd shown to Heidi. "He's something."

Heidi's expression was solemn. "Yes, he is."

Hailey stepped up to the bed, her profound and inexplicable glee mellowing. "What's wrong."

Heidi shook her head.

"Tell me. What is it?"

"He was here today. I told him I never want to see him again."

"He told me about your earlier disagreement. I don't understand it, though. Why? After everything he's done?"

"I made up an excuse--well, kind of. I exaggerated."

Now, she was even more confused. "Made up an excuse?"

"Because he loves you. As long as he feels tied to me, he won't let himself be with you."

Hailey's knees turned to rubber at the thought of her sister's sacrifice. "I think you're exaggerating again."

"No way." Heidi studied her with eagle-sharp eyes. "You know how he is, don't you?"

"Well, he has some strange ideas about friendship, not that I'm complaining."

"Yes he does," Heidi agreed. "That's why I did it. After everything he's done for me, I wanted to see him happy." Then she added, with a softer voice, "And you too."

"Even before you talked to me?"

Heidi nodded. "I guess I can't hate you forever."

"Thank God!" Hailey threw her arms around her sister's slender frame. "Thank God," she repeated with added emotion, as the burn of tears settled in her eyes. "I love you."

"Yeah, yeah. Now, enough of this mush." Heidi said, giving Hailey a playful shove. "Where's this business mogul you conned into offering me a job?"

"He's outside. Are you ready?"

"Ready."

Hailey stepped out of the room, and flagged Andrew, who stood across the corridor leisurely leaning on the nurse's station counter.

He smiled and followed Hailey into the room, but as soon as they walked in, she felt like a she'd been caught in an electric current.

Heidi's expression changed from stunned surprise to glittering flirtation, and when Hailey turned to look at Andrew, she noted the same expression on his face.

"Hello," Heidi cooed in a sultry voice, adjusting the neckline of her top and brushing her bangs away from her eyes.

Andrew looked star struck as he greeted her, then tried to settle into a more formal business tone. As their banter livened, punctuated with Heidi's gleeful giggles, Hailey backed from the room, feeling like she'd finally done something good. Something that might give Heidi a reason to fight her way back to health.

Her footsteps light as feathers, she walked down the hallway. She left a message with the nurse who'd helped Heidi dress, letting Andrew know where he could find her later, then went to the lobby.

She had to talk to Rainer. She had to see him, to tell him what happened. She had to feel him. She yearned for that crazy current that shot through her body whenever he was near.

When she called his home number, she got the answering machine. Disappointed and impatient, she hung up and went to the cafeteria for a bite to eat. She'd try again later.

After selecting a turkey sandwich, tossed salad and diet soda, she carried her tray to a corner next to the windows. She mindlessly ate, staring outside into the dark night. Occasionally, she'd check her watch. The anticipation of the day, the excitement of seeing Andrew and Heidi form a new and tenuous friendship, maybe more. And the anticipation of a new situation, a new life, and an unknown future weren't enough to hold the exhaustion at bay any longer.

Succumbing at last, she sat lengthwise in the booth and leaned her head back against the wall.

A sexy radio voice whispered to her in her dreams, speaking of things she hadn't the nerve to utter aloud. And then it struck her. That voice was no dream.

She opened her eyes, and choked back a cry of joy. He was there. Smiling. As handsome as ever. The world around her shrunk to the size of that booth. She threw her arms around his neck and finally, with a welcome release, kissed him deeply. His breath hitched, the sound sending a pulse of excitement through her.

But, as her passion increased to an almost unbearable level, he broke the kiss, and smiling, rested a hand on her cheek. "Damn. What a greeting! Can you do that every day?"

"Every day! Absolutely."

He glanced around the room. "But I think next time, we should probably reserve it for a more private setting."

She laughed as heat settled where his hand rested. His was as scarlet as she guessed hers was. She glanced at the tables around them, and caught more than one amused expression from neighboring diners. "Good point."

He reached toward her half-eaten sandwich. "Not enjoying the food?"

"I guess I was more tired than hungry."

"Are you ready to leave? Where'd you park?"

She glanced at the clock. Eight-thirty. "Where's Andrew?" she asked, realizing visiting hours had ended.

"I ran into him upstairs. I loaned him my car and told him to go ahead to the house. I wanted a few minutes alone with you. It looks like we're going to be living in some close quarters for a while."

"I'm so sorry about that! I promise, I'll be back out looking for a job Monday. And I want to find an apartment pronto, too."

"That's not what I meant. There's no rush. In case you haven't noticed, I like having company. I hate living alone."

"Oh," she said, sensing something coming. Was he hinting at something? Did he want to live together? She didn't believe in casual living together. Funny. She'd never thought of herself as traditional, but when it came to dating, it seemed she was.

"I bought you a little gift," he said, reaching toward the floor.

"Why did you do that?" Anticipation danced up her spine. She loved surprises.

"It's nothing extravagant. Just a little something I thought you'd like." He produced a bedecked gift bag. Purple with multicolored streamers.

As she fished inside, discovering more tissue paper than anything else, she made all kinds of empty, "you shouldn't have's." Truth was, she hadn't received a gift in ages. Hadn't ever enjoyed being pampered. This was food for the soul.