Читать книгу A Mummy For His Baby - Molly Evans - Страница 11

CHAPTER THREE

WHEN AURORA LEFT the clinic an hour later she was walking straight for the first time in months and she could take a deep breath of the fresh Pennsylvania air without pain. Awesome. All because of Beau.

For the first time since the crash she had hope. Beau had given that back to her.

After making the drive to her mother’s house, Aurora stepped through the door to the fragrance of her mother’s cooking. Instantly she was transported back to when her mother had given her cooking lessons as a child, when she’d had to stand up on a stool to reach the counter and the stove. Those were lessons she’d hated at the time, but she used them almost every day now. Go figure.

“Mom? Where are you?”

“In the kitchen.”

Walking through the living room to the kitchen, Aurora began to feel the stiffness that Beau had warned her about. She wanted to lean back on an ice pack, the way he’d recommended, and read on the couch for a while. Reading had saved her life as a kid, during the long Pennsylvania winters, and she hadn’t done nearly enough of it in the last few years. Today seemed like a good time to catch up a little, but first there was the task of telling her mother she was moving out.

“What are you making? It smells great.” Steam wafted up from every pot on the stove and a blast of heat caught her in the face.

“Making beef stew for dinner. It’s better if it simmers all day.” Sally looked at her daughter. “You didn’t forget that, did you?”

“No, I remember.” Her stomach growled in response to the fragrance. “Guess I need to eat something now, though.”

Opening a drawer, Aurora pulled a zipper bag out of the box that her mother always kept there. She moved to the refrigerator and filled the bag with ice cubes.

“How was your appointment with the doctor? Does he think he can get you straightened out?”

“Yes. Beau thinks he can get me fixed up and off the pain medications.” Now she was going to try ice on the hip he’d adjusted and go with an anti-inflammatory instead of the narcotic-based medicine.

“Beau? Do you mean Dr. Gutterman?” Her mother tossed a small glare over her shoulder and stirred some mysterious spice concoction into the brew. “You shouldn’t call him by his first name. It’s disrespectful.”

“I went to school with Beau. I’ve known him a long time. I can’t call him Dr. Gutterman now. That would be weird.”

She tried it out inside her head and it sounded like the name of some old doctor, ready to retire. So not the Beau she knew, who was young and vibrant and sexy as hell.

“Well, I’m going to call him Dr. Gutterman. It’s good to have a hometown boy bringing some business to the area. We need more medical people around here.” Sally inspected Aurora through fogged-up glasses and gave her a pointed stare.

Perfect introduction.

“That’s good, because he offered me a job.” “Offered” was a loose interpretation of their mutual arrangement. Desperately needed was more like it.

“What?” The expression on her mother’s face looked as if she said she’d just gotten a job at an exotic dance club, not a respectable healthcare business. “You can’t be working yet! You’re still recovering.”

“Mom, it’s been over two months since the accident. When I got out of the rehab facility we agreed I would come here temporarily. I can’t sit around doing nothing or I’ll go mad.” She patted her mother on the shoulder. “It’ll be all right. It’s part-time, and I’m not going to do more than I can handle. That was my agreement with Beau.”

That assurance would comfort her mother and buy her some time. Her mother was a controller, and wanted things done her way, which was part of the reason Aurora had left town at such an early age.

“You won’t believe this, but his nurse went into labor just after I got there and we delivered the baby together.”

“You’re kidding!” That got her mother’s attention, and she gaped at Aurora. “Everyone’s okay?”

“Yes—but that’s why he needs a nurse right now, and I start tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow? So soon?”

Concern showed in her mother’s eyes, and though she hated to disappoint her Aurora knew she had to live her life—not the one her mother had planned for her. Although her mother loved having her around, she had no objective boundaries. It was all or nothing. And Aurora wasn’t about to be turned into an invalid lying on the couch while her mother spoon-fed broth into her mouth.

“Yes. Tomorrow. Which brings me to another point. Beau has a small apartment over the office that I’m going to move into.”

There—she’d said it. Short. Sweet. Firm. No question about it.

“What? You just got here.” This time her mother faced her fully, major disappointment on her face. “I had so many plans for us.”

“I know you did. But right now what I need is to work, get my career back, and not let the accident take away any more of my life than it already has.” She looked into her mother’s concerned eyes. “We can still do some of those things you have planned, but I have to work. It’s what I’m good at, and I need that right now.”

Boundaries. It was all about boundaries with her mother.

At that her mother pressed her lips together for a moment as she surveyed her daughter. “You always were too independent.”

“For me, there is no such thing, Mom. I’m as independent as I need to be.” She shrugged, but remembered Beau’s words about taking it easy on her mother. “Everything will be fine. Don’t worry.”

“I suppose you’re going to move tonight, aren’t you?”

Pulling away from Aurora, Sally stirred her stew and pouted. Yep, nothing had changed.

“It’s best if I move in right away. Most of my things are still in the car or on the porch, so it will be easier this way.”

“Easier for whom?” her mother asked, but didn’t really require an answer.

“Mom, I’m only going down the road a few miles. We’ll still have plenty of time to do things together. I really need to work. You know that.”

“I guess.” She sniffed. “If you can find time to spend with your poor old mother.”

Guilt trip. There was always the guilt trip.

“I’ll make time—I promise. But first I have to get settled into the apartment and the job. It’s not like I’m going back to Virginia right away.”

She might never be able to go back to her old life. Perhaps there really wasn’t a life to go back to there, and she just hadn’t realized it.

The car crash seemed to have been a defining moment in her life.

There had been life before the crash. There would be life after the crash. Each of those times was vastly different and she didn’t know which way to go. Forward or backward. Or was any direction still forward?

“Well, get your stuff organized and I’ll put some of this stew into a container—and some of the bread I made. You can have some home cooking in your new place.”

Though her mother didn’t like the idea, she appeared to be accepting it. Maybe she was listening to Aurora after all.

“I’d like that. Thank you.” Having a bit of home in a new apartment would be a great way to settle in.

“Okay, but I’m going to hold you to it,” her mother said, and pointed at her with the wooden spoon, giving a mock glare. “I’m going to find out when the Amish festival is in Smicksburg and we’re going.”

“That sounds like a great time. I haven’t been there in years.”

Funny... She’d used to hate driving around to different festivals and displays, museums and other events that had interested her mother, but now she was actually looking forward to it. Late summer and early fall was the time of year for celebrations, harvest gatherings and other festivals in Pennsylvania. There was always something new and interesting to be seen.

But all of it would have to wait until she’d turned her life around.

* * *

Two hours later a sharp pain knifed its way through Aurora’s hips, but she mustered on and dragged the last of her belongings into the small apartment over the medical clinic.

Beau had arrived with the keys earlier, but had had to rush off to an out-of-hours emergency call. Now, as he returned, he tutted at her.

“Hey, you aren’t supposed to be lifting this kind of stuff.” Beau took the last box from her, carried it up the stairs and backed through the door. “You’ll undo all the adjustments I just did on you.”

“I know. I know. I’m sorry.” She had to admit that her back was screaming with pain, but she just had to get this done, then she could rest. And ice. Ice was a magical treatment she was just beginning to discover. Thanks to Beau.

“You say that, but you’re doing it anyway, right?”

Beau gave her that sideways smile of his. Somehow it chastised and encouraged at the same time.

“You are correct about that. Nurses are terrible patients.” She pointed to the plaid couch up against one wall and Beau sat the box on it. “While I had some momentum going I wanted to push through, then it’ll be over with, and I can relax.”

Without another word Beau placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. His hands were warm, his touch gentle. Resisting him was impossible and all those unrequited feelings of long ago surfaced as her eyes met his.

What she wouldn’t have given to have been in this position ten years ago. Before they’d both been too hurt by life and love. But that was then and this was now. There was no way for them to go back to the innocence they’d once had as kids. Now she was too broken even to try. At least at the moment she felt that way.

“Promise me one thing,” he said.

“Okay. What’s that?” A deep breath filled her lungs, helped her push away the longings he’d momentarily stirred in her.

“That you’ll call me for any heavy stuff you need either to be carried or moved.”

“I’ll try. I promise.” With a nod, she pulled back from him, curiously aroused by his touch and the gentle tones of his voice. Having someone offering to do something nice for her was almost foreign.

Looking back, she could see that her last relationship had been doomed from the get-go, and now she wasn’t certain what had really attracted her to the man in the first place. Chad had been a controller, and demanding—which was not the kind of man she wanted in her life. Too much like her father.

But maybe that was what had appealed to her before she’d realized it. Drawn to the familiar rather than someone new, someone different. Seeing Beau in such contrast made her wonder about her mental state, having put up with that relationship for so long.

“I’m going to hold you to that. Your injuries are overcomeable, but you do need to be babied for a while after every manipulation.”

“I see.”

She huffed out a breath and changed the subject to one more comfortable to her.

“Speaking of babies—how’s Cathy and her baby? Have you talked to her since she got to the hospital?”

“Yes. I just spoke to her a few minutes ago and they’re doing great.”

The grin that split Beau’s face was contagious.

“That’s awesome. I still can’t believe that happened right in front of us.”

“I know—but better here than at home alone or something.” Beau opened a box and started to unpack it, then stopped. “Oh, sorry. Do you want me to help you?”

“Oh, sure. That’s just bedding. You can toss it on the bed. I can make it later.”

“No, that’s another back-bending chore. I’ll help you with it.”

Beau shook out the sheets and together they made up the queen-sized bed that took up the majority of the space in the efficiency apartment.

“Did you tell your mom you were moving out?”

“Yes.” Aurora nodded. “It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be, but still uncomfortable. I hate confrontation of any sort.”

“Yes, but it’s necessary sometimes.”

“Not according to my mother. If I just went along with all the things she’s planned for my life, everything would be just fine.” Aurora tossed up one hand for emphasis.

“Except you’d be unhappy.”

“Yeah. She kind of forgot about that part.”

There was real sympathy in his words, in his expression, and she knew he understood. Had always understood her, even when they were kids.

“She had visions of us being gal pals, or roommates or something.”

“Oh. That’s kinda weird.” Beau’s brows crinkled.

Aurora tucked the corner of a sheet in. “Since my dad died last year she’s been left without a mission in life, I think.”

“How so?”

“Well, she’s been a caretaker all her life, and without Dad needing her all the time she doesn’t have enough to keep her occupied.”

“Sounds like she needs a project.”

Aurora barked out a laugh and it felt good. For the first time in a long time, it felt good. “She does—as long as it isn’t me.”

The bed was finished in short order, and Aurora’s stomach rumbled.

“It’s getting to be that time, isn’t it?” Beau patted his stomach. “I could eat something myself.”

“That’s good, because my mom sent along a huge jar of beef stew she made today.” Aurora pointed to the jar on the counter. “And homemade bread. If you’d like some I’ll be happy to share.”

“Awesome. I never turn down free food. Especially homemade.” He pulled his phone from his pocket. “Let me check on Chloe first. She’s still at the sitter’s.” After a short conversation, he nodded. “Good to go.”

“I’d love to meet her some time.”

“Oh, I’m sure you will. I have her in the office sometimes.”

“Great. Babies are such fun.”

“Says someone who hasn’t had a child yet.”

“Are you telling me I have a skewed perspective?” With a grin, she parked her hands on her hips.

“Yes.”

The grin was returned, and she could see some of the pain of this morning had eased. This banter was fun.

“I dare you to make that statement again after you’ve been up three nights straight with a teething infant.”

“Oh, no, thanks. Not accepting that challenge.”

In minutes they had poured the still steaming stew into bowls, buttered bread, and sliced some cheese to go with it.

“Sorry, I don’t have any wine. It doesn’t go with my medications.”

“Oh, that’s okay. I’m not much of a drinker.”

He scooped some of the stew into his mouth and closed his eyes.

“Oh, my God, that’s good. She could open her own restaurant and just serve this. She’d make a fortune.” His brows shot up. “Hey, maybe you could talk her into opening her own diner or something? Then she’d be too busy to run your life.”

“I like the way you think.” Aurora laughed again and relaxed a little more.

Watching him enjoy the stew—a simple meal in her new place—stirred good feelings.

Forbidden feelings—especially after that comment about having her own baby. That had been her lifelong dream, to have a family, but it wasn’t meant to be apparently.

Recalling how Beau’s wife had tragically died after giving birth reminded her that having a family wasn’t without risk. And as she sat there in the small apartment, across from Beau, she wondered if the risks were worth it.

There was only one way to find out.