"I'm sorry for that, but I swear to you right now, one man to another, that I'm here to stay."
"Are you going to marry her?" he demanded.
The boy was a tough sell, Rodney thought whimsically. "If she'll have me."
They both looked up as footsteps sounded in the doorway. "I just spoke with Sylvia. Melanie is improving." Her eyes went to David, her smile warm. "Hi. My name is Gloria Lancashire."
David stared at her, mesmerized. She had come straight from the function and was still wearing the shimmering emerald green dress. Her thick lustrous sable brown hair was loose around her shoulders and swung against her cheeks when she moved.
"You look like a fairy princess," he murmured in awe.
Laughing in delight, Gloria took his hand in hers. "I think we're going to get on very well indeed." Moving to her son, she placed her free hand on his cheek. "Take care, darling, and keep me posted."
"Thanks again, Mother."
"Of course. Ready?"
David nodded. Turning to look at the man standing there, he smiled slightly. "I don't hate your guts anymore."
Rodney's brows lifted in startled amusement, a smile tugging at his lips as his mother burst out laughing.
"Good to know. I'll call."
"Come on, young David. I want to hear all about you."
*****
"She's coming along and will probably sleep for the rest of the night," Sylvia told him. "The fetus is healthy and thriving."
"Thank you."
"I'll ask them to bring in a cot--"
"No," he shook his head. "I'll bunk right here." He pulled up a chair next to the bed.
"I'll be checking in on her," she assured him. Touching his arm briefly, she left and closed the door behind her.
He brushed back a tendril of hair from her forehead, his fingers gentle. "I really think you've cast a spell on me," he whispered hoarsely. "How else am I to explain that even when I hated you, I still loved you?"
They had changed her clothing for a hospital gown that somehow magnified her thinness. Putting his hand over hers, he gently linked their fingers.
"I want to rail at you, but that will have to wait. I was careless. I never am. But for the first time in my life, I never cared and as a result, you're now suffering." He drew in a deep breath and released it shakily.
"I promised your son that I'm going to take care of you and a Lancashire always keeps their promises." He lifted their joined hands and kissed her knuckles. "I just want you to get better, sweetheart. So that I can get to say my piece. So that I can tell you how much I love you."
Settling back, he kept her hand in his and continued to watch her sleeping.
*****
"Mom was puking and Rodney, he said I could call him that," he hurried on, before she could reprimand him for being fresh. "Rodney lifted her up and carried her to the car. He was so mad and he said the 'h' word, twice. Grams, can I have some milk and cookies?"
Shaking her head, Eloise gestured towards the kitchen. "Go, help yourself and bear in mind that I know the amount of cookies that are in the jar. Three is enough."
"Oh man." He started to rush ahead and then turned back as if remembering his manners.
"It was nice to meet you, Ms. Gloria," he said politely. "And to drive in that cool car," he added before rushing off.
"He's always in motion. Would you care to come into the kitchen and have a spot of tea? I was about to help myself before I received the call."
