Prescription: Marry Her Immediately (10 page)

Across the room, Natalie clapped her hands for attention. “Okay, guys, let’s form a receiving line!”

They barely had time to queue up before the guests began arriving. A short time later, Quent helped Noreen McLanahan inside and stood beside her, waiting to shake hands.

Usually, Noreen had enough pep to volunteer at the hospital gift shop in addition to being a donor and board member, but obviously she wasn’t up to par today. Amy was pleased that Quent had taken the older woman under his wing.

When they reached her, he shook Amy’s hand firmly and held it longer than necessary. “I’m glad we were able to get you to the church on time. You added a lot to the ceremony.”

“Me?” Amy shook her head. “Bridesmaids are just set decoration for the bride.”

“I’d like to see
a few more brides around here,” said Noreen. “Even on my not-so-good days, you can’t keep me home when there’s a wedding.”

“We’ve been joking about who’s going to catch the bridal bouquet,” Amy told her. “No one’s taking any bets.”

She noticed that Quent’s mouth was ajar. Surely he didn’t think she was dropping a hint! That would be ridiculous, considering how he’d beaten a retreat when they started to get close. To forestall a possible awkward moment, she turned and introduced Noreen to Alana.

“You’re as pretty as your sister,” Noreen told her. “But I see you’re already wearing a ring. I guess I can’t get you married off.”

“You’re way too late for that,” Alana agreed.

Other guests required Amy’s attention. By the time she found a free moment, Quent and Noreen had disappeared.

More and more people arrived, including some city officials. Since they were customarily invited to Patrick’s Christmas open house, they had been included today as well.

Heather stretched up and whispered in Amy’s ear, “Guess who just got here?”

She checked the end of the line, which was growing shorter. “If it isn’t our favorite chief of police!”

There’d been speculation as to whether Finn Sorrell would show up this year. For one thing, he was the brother of Spencer Sorrell, the doctor who’d retired suddenly after trying to make trouble for Patrick.

In addition, Finn was known for having given Natalie’s family a hard time whenever he came across them. Although they were good people, they’d had a few minor run-ins with the law, which had been enough to make Finn and Spencer both look down their noses at Natalie and her mother.

However, the Barr open
house was a highlight of the season in Serene Beach. The mayor and the school board president, among others, were sure to be here, and the police chief knew that if he didn’t show up, others would assume he hadn’t been invited.

His high forehead shining beneath the bright lights, Finn stood with his wife on his arm, waiting his turn to shake hands. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” Heather said. “I’m not sure whether I’d rather see him force himself to be nice to Natalie and Angie, or see Patrick throw him bodily out the door.”

“My, aren’t you in a feisty mood!” Amy said.

“I can’t stand people who pick on anyone who’s at a disadvantage, the way Finn and Sorrell used to bully Natalie,” Heather responded. “I know what it’s like to be the person that people point to as a bad example.”

It was hard to picture Heather in that situation, now that she was a successful obstetrician, but Amy knew the Moms in Training complained of suffering such insults. “Old wounds take a long time to heal, don’t they?”

“You’ve got that right!”

Finn and his wife passed down the line, stiff smiles pasted to their mouths. Amy and Heather couldn’t resist peering around to watch them tender their best wishes to the bride and her mother.

The police chief made a slight bow and introduced his wife. She hovered nervously as if unsure whether to curtsey.

“Everything went smoothly,” Amy murmured, relieved. “I’m glad to see the chief finally learned some manners.”

“There’s nothing like
a generous helping of humble pie,” Heather said. “Maybe he’ll be more careful who he picks on in the future.”

Bernie, who always co-hosted the Barr open house, came to tell the bridesmaids they were free to go eat now. From her broad grin, anyone could see she was delighted about her brother’s marriage.

Amy wandered through the mansion, enjoying the sumptuous decorations and the high spirits of the partygoers. Beautiful as this place was, though, she knew that if she were lucky enough to marry Quent, she wouldn’t care where they lived.

When she spotted him standing near the terrace doors in the living room, enjoying the sunlit view of the harbor, Amy’s throat tightened. She loved the strength of his jawline and the rebellious tuft of blond hair working its way upright at the crown of his head.

Well, she’d better not stand here with her heart in her eyes. There was enough gossip already going around Doctors Circle, and no doubt there’d be even more after their kissing scene in front of the church.

She filled a plate at the buffet. When she reached the dessert table, Quent materialized beside her, having already managed to snag his own food.

“I hear a rumor that there are vacant seats in the den,” he told her. “Care to sit down?”

“Are you kidding?” Amy said. “My feet are killing me.” Even the best-fitting high-heeled sandals began to hurt after a while.

Quent accompanied her into the oversize den, where a second Christmas tree sparkled in one corner. On the couch, Noreen held court between Dr. Dudley Fingger and Endowment Fund donor Alfred LoBianco. Both men were laughing at her witticisms.

“Isn’t she amazing?” Quent
held a chair for Amy, then perched on a folding chair beside her.

“I hope I’m that sharp when I reach her age,” she said.

“I wish I were that sharp now!” The two of them shared a smile.

A rush of happiness swept over Amy. She felt utterly contented right this minute, being here with Quent. She didn’t want to think about the future or the past, about where this might lead or whether she’d be a fraud if she caught Natalie’s bouquet. She just wanted to stay next to Quent.

So, naturally, his cell phone rang. It was an occupational hazard of being a doctor, she reflected ruefully as he answered.

“Dr. Ladd.” His easygoing expression vanished. “Slow down, Greg. What’s going on?”

Greg, Amy remembered, was his nephew. How old had he said the boy was? She had the impression he was awfully young to be telephoning his uncle.

A moment later, Quent said, “I’ll be there as soon as I can. You know it takes an hour and a half, but I’ll step on it. Greg, you have to act like a grown-up until I get there or until Lucy or your baby-sitter comes back. Try to make your sister laugh so she’ll stop crying, okay? I’m sure your aunt will be there any minute. I’m on my way.” After a few more reassurances, he rang off.

“What’s wrong?” Amy asked.

“I’m sorry, but I have to go.” He set his plate on an end table. “Greg’s aunt went running and left the kids with a teenage neighbor named Jenny. For some reason, she’s gone outside and they’re alone. Thank goodness Greg remembered how to speed-dial my number.”

He was already on his
feet. Amy rose, too. “Should you call the police?”

“I hate to do that. It’ll get Lucy in trouble and this isn’t exactly her fault.” Quent clenched his teeth, obviously torn. “But if they’re in danger, I should, shouldn’t I?”

“You could call back in five minutes and see if they’re still alone,” Amy said.

He nodded, relieved. “That’s a good idea. Meanwhile, I’ve got to hit the road. I can’t afford to wait.”

“I’m coming, too.” She spoke without thinking, and more loudly than she’d intended. Suddenly she realized everyone in the room was watching.

When Quent hesitated, Amy’s heart sank. She’d over-stepped the bounds and made a fool of herself.

Worse than that, Quent was going to keep her out of what was obviously an important part of his life. She didn’t intend to let him.

He had no right to
drag Amy away from the wedding celebration, especially since she was one of the bridesmaids, Quent thought. Whatever happened to his niece and nephew, it wasn’t her problem.

But he preferred not to be separated from her today. Their kiss had resounded through his entire being, reminding him that his feelings on Saturday night hadn’t been an aberration at all.

He might not be ready to take on a serious relationship. He certainly didn’t want to lure her from her busy, fulfilling life into a relationship that might deteriorate into misunderstandings and resentments, as had happened with his parents and, he gathered, with hers as well.

That didn’t mean he had to give up her company. Being around her centered him and gave him strength. Besides, it might be useful to have a trained counselor on hand if matters got touchy in San Diego.

After hesitating longer than he’d intended, Quent decided to accept her offer. “Thanks,” he said. “Let’s go take our leave of Natalie and Patrick.”

“I’ll tell them,” Noreen volunteered. “I heard enough to know it’s an emergency. They’ll understand.”

“You’re
a sweetheart,” Amy said.

“Hold on.” Dr. Fingger was wearing his I’m-in-charge-here scowl. “Aren’t you on call?”

“Nope,” Quent said. He’d double-checked the bulletin board the day before.

“Are you sure?”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake!” Noreen burst out. “If he is, I volunteer you to cover for him, Dudley.”

“That hadn’t occurred to me,” Dr. Fingger said. “All right, Quent. I’ll check with the hospital. If it turns out you’re mistaken, I’ll have the calls forwarded to me.”

“I appreciate it.” After they left the room, Quent said, “If I were on call, I’d know it. I don’t take things like that lightly.”

“I doubt Dr. Fingger meant to insult you,” Amy said. “He strikes me as a person who has trouble trusting anyone but himself.”

“Well, it was nice of him to offer to cover for me, even though he won’t have to,” Quent said. “And even though Noreen badgered him into it.”

“She’s good at that.” Amy shot him a grin. “She nudges people to do what’s right, and she usually gets her way.”

They hurried through the crowd, out the front door and down the driveway to where Quent had left his SUV. He’d been lucky to find a space in Patrick’s private parking area. Most of the guests had had to leave their cars across the street at Doctors Circle.

Before hitting the road, Quent dialed Lucy’s number. To his relief, a young woman answered with a tentative, “Hello?”

“Is this Jenny?” Eager
as he was to get moving, he preferred not to talk on the phone while driving.

“Uh, yes.”

“This is the children’s uncle, Dr. Ladd.” He used his title when he wanted to impress people or intimidate them, as he did now. “My nephew called and said you left them alone.”

“I forgot to take out my mom’s trash like she told me and I knew she’d get mad, so I ran out for a minute.” She sounded defensive. “I just live downstairs.”

“It was long enough for Tara to get scared and start crying.” Quent fought to keep his tone level, although his temper was rising.

“I saw my best friend outside and she had this big problem with her boyfriend and needed my advice. The kids were okay. I left them watching TV,” Jenny said.

“Do you have any idea what can happen to a small child in a minute or two?” Briefly, he outlined some of the near-tragedies he’d seen as a doctor. “You will not let them out of your sight until Lucy gets back, is that understood?”

“Okay. I’m sorry,” the girl said. Apparently he’d finally gotten through to her.

“I’m on my way there now.” Quent put the car into gear. “If I find the children unattended, I’ll have to call the police.”

“Yes, sir. I mean, no, sir, they won’t be alone.”

“I’ll see you soon.” He didn’t want her to know how long it would take, or she might duck out again.

“I’m glad she came back,” Amy said after he hung up.

“Yes, but this situation can’t go on,” Quent said. “Although Lucy’s done her best, I’m afraid she bit off more than she can chew. This baby-sitter is obviously unqualified.” He whipped onto St. Michel Drive, then drove as fast as the speed limit allowed up Serene Boulevard toward the freeway.

“When you said the
children lived with their aunt, I pictured someone older,” Amy said. “I gather that’s not the case.”

“She’s twenty-six.” Calmer now, Quent told her about the accident and how Lucy had been the only family member to volunteer a home. “It must have been hard, even with a day-care center at work, to raise a baby and a toddler. She’s a kindhearted person and I know she loves them, but she wasn’t prepared.”

“Apparently she loves running on the weekends,” Amy said. “How did she manage until now?”

“She gave up running for a while,” Quent said. “A few months ago, she told me she couldn’t stand it any more. She should have found a good sitter first.”

“She still might. This may be a transition period until she lands the right person.”

Quent shook his head. “Already there’ve been two worrisome incidents. If Lucy isn’t willing to give up running…” He let the words trail off as he reached the freeway and hit the gas.

“What are the options?” Amy asked. “It might be wise to prepare some suggestions before we get there.”

“You’re right. I’ll think about it.” He appreciated her logical approach. Although Quent had nerves of steel when it came to emergencies at work, it was different when the situation involved people he loved.

“While you’re thinking, I’m going to take a nap.” Amy settled back, couldn’t get comfortable in her hat, and finally tossed it into the back seat.

Unrestrained, dark hair spilled across her shoulders, while the turquoise dress brought out the freshness of her skin. What a lovely face she had, Quent mused.

At church, she’d been far and away
the most beautiful woman walking down the aisle, not that he’d expected anyone else to recognize that fact when there was a bride to admire. In a way, he’d cherished being the one who appreciated her most.

The sexy, womanly sway to her movements had made him want to carry her off to a private place where they could resume their embrace. But it was best if they didn’t. How long could magic last? he wondered. Perhaps forever, if you never forced it down to earth.

To help him concentrate on the road, Quent tuned the radio to a country station they both liked, then settled into a rhythm of driving. The freeway stretched for miles through the Orange County landscape with its gently rolling hills, shopping centers and fanned-out housing developments.

Soon they were passing the exits to San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente. As they left the thickest traffic behind and entered San Diego County, Quent allowed himself to acknowledge the idea that had been tickling the back of his mind.

He wanted to take charge of Tara and Greg. A year ago, as a neonatology resident sharing an apartment with two other men, he hadn’t even considered it. Also, for months after the tragedy, he’d buried himself in work. It had been his way of keeping the universe from spinning out of control.

Now he had a steady job and had grown much stronger emotionally. More than that, he’d come to love Tara and Greg. Their personalities and their development fascinated him.

They’d popped into his mind frequently this week. He’d stopped at a toy
store and bought several gifts, which were tucked beneath the back seat of his SUV. He’d caught himself noticing the layout of playgrounds at nearby parks and had clipped a newspaper article about the best schools in the area.

He wanted to give the children a home where they would be safe. He wanted to guide them through childhood and adolescence, to provide the stability and the love that they deserved.

Of course, he didn’t mean to fight Lucy for custody. He had to give her a chance to keep the children if she were willing to make changes. If not, he hoped she’d listen to reason.

Having chosen a course of action, Quent turned his attention to practical matters. “Do you know anything about day care in our area?” he asked.

Amy’s eyelids fluttered open. “My aunt runs a licensed home center.”

“What about preschools?” he asked.

“My aunt’s mentioned a good one near her,” she said. “She drives one of her kids there and back in the mornings. Why?”

“Because I intend to take Greg and Tara, if Lucy will let me.”

His words hung in the air for several seconds. “That’s quite a decision,” Amy said. “Are you sure you’ve considered all the angles?”

“Are you implying that I’m impulsive?” Quent replied, half teasing.

“Impulsive? Well, let’s see.” Amy assumed a mock-serious attitude. “There was the time you came to work dressed as a pirate and announced that you planned to wear costumes to the clinic until Halloween. Which, as I recall, was three weeks off.”

“That was a bit
over the top, I admit.” Quent had done it mostly to annoy his former supervisor, Dr. Sorrell. He’d succeeded.

“Then there’s the Ping-Pong table in your living room,” she said.

“What could be more practical than having recreational facilities right in my own home?” Quent joked.

“How old are these children again? I forget,” Amy said.

“Greg’s four. Tara’s fifteen—no, sixteen months now,” he said.

“They won’t even be able to reach the Ping-Pong table,” she pointed out.

“They can stand on stepstools. Or I’ll get rid of it.”

They passed through the open expanse of Camp Pendleton, with the Pacific Ocean shining to their right. At last, Amy said, “You’re serious about this?”

“Yes.” An alarm sounded in Quent’s mind at the immense task he’d be taking on, but he reminded himself of how much the kids needed him.

He would always fear the nearness of an abyss, the one he’d sensed the other night when Amy nearly fell into the harbor. Certainly he would never forget the shock of losing his mother, brother and sister-in-law. He had to protect the children, no matter what it cost him.

For all his playful self-indulgences, Quent recognized that the time had come to put others’ needs first. In a sense, he’d been preparing for this for a long time. The desire to make his life count for something, to be of use, had inspired him to go to medical school, and it came to the fore now.

“I’m afraid I won’t be free to play video games and hang out as much as I used to,” he said. “I hope you won’t take this personally.”

“Personally?” Amy glowered
at him. “Quentin Ladd, do you think I’m going to be offended because you want to take in two orphaned children?”

“When you put it that way, I guess not.” Her indignation gave him new hope. “We can all schedule play dates together.”

“Play dates?” Amy glared even harder. “Someone will have to watch them when you’re working evenings or weekends. Not that I have much experience with children, but I can do that.”

He wanted to hug her and hold her close. Quent had never expected this much generosity, not even from his best friend. “I’ll take all the help I can get,” he said. “You’d be a lifesaver.”

“It’s essential for a parent to have a backup,” Amy said. “That’s what Lucy lacks.”

“That, and an understanding of the children’s long-term needs.” He recalled Lucy’s casual attitude about preschool.

“Do you?” Amy challenged.

“I’ll get one.”

The more he thought about it, the more excited he grew. Quent knew parenthood could be exhausting, but it was challenging and miraculous, too.

With Amy at his side, they’d not only manage, they would triumph. His imagination leaped ahead to picnics on the beach and trips to Disneyland. Well, maybe he’d hold off on the amusement park until the kids got older, but there were lots of other fun things to do.

And they’d mean a whole lot more with Amy around.

He’d learn to cook nutritious food. Stock up on children’s books. Hide the TV remote control so they could only watch educational shows. Of course, that meant he couldn’t watch kung-fu movies except late at night, but he’d manage.

There might be a hitch
or two along the way. It was nothing he couldn’t overcome with his best friend’s help.

A
MY HOPED
Quent wasn’t making a mistake. The last thing two orphaned children needed was to be bounced from one home to another and then not have it work out.

She knew he’d do his best. But she doubted a bachelor like him had any idea of what lay ahead.

Even Amy, despite her training in family counseling, lacked practical experience. She was game to learn, though. With Heather becoming a mother and a grandmother at the same time, Amy knew who to go to for advice on diaper-changing and baby-sitting.

There was another point she couldn’t ignore. Sharing the children should bring Quent and her closer. It might help him get past whatever emotional block was holding him back.

Still, she hadn’t offered her help with any ulterior motive. She intended to fulfill her promise regardless of whether matters between them remained at the casual level.

Amy studied Quent’s profile, silhouetted against the late-afternoon sunlight. There was a new maturity in the way he held himself, she thought, as if the prospect of fatherhood was already toning down his wilder side.

She vowed silently to do her best to make sure this new arrangement, if Lucy agreed to it, worked out happily for everyone.

“I’
M SORRY
, but I can’t let you have
them,” Lucy told Quent.

They were sitting in her kitchen, drinking herbal tea. Amy sat at one end of the table, listening without saying much.

By the time Quent and Amy had arrived twenty minutes earlier, Lucy had returned and Jenny was long gone. The children, after joyfully greeting their uncle, had retreated to their shared bedroom with their new toys.

According to Lucy, the sitter had given a version of events in which she merely poked her head out the door for a minute. Even when Quent explained that Jenny had earlier admitted going outside and chatting with a girlfriend, all Lucy had said was, “No harm done. I know the girl means well.”

As diplomatically as possible, Quent had proposed that the children come to live with him. He could swear he’d seen relief flash across Lucy’s face, yet, maddeningly, she was refusing.