Page 42 of Dreaming of You

"Evie is not a bad person, but she's selfish, and she doesn't realize how much hurt she leaves in her wake. She acts impulsively and she's never the one to suffer the consequences. But Katie has paid a price and so has Bess. I shouldn't be thinking about her now, but I can't help wondering if I should call her. If Bess…if she doesn't…well, Evie is her daughter. Does she have a right to know, to be here?" Lance asked.

He had no idea how to answer that question.

Fortunately, Lance didn't seem to really want an answer—at least not from him.

"But even if I called Evie, would she come?" Lance muttered. "We haven't talked to her in a year. I'm not sure her number is good anymore. But at the end of the day, she's my daughter, Bess's daughter. Shouldn't she know that her mother is in surgery?" He paused, his gaze sharpening. "I'm sorry. I'm rambling on."

"Don't be sorry. Families can be complicated."

"That's for sure. Babies start out all sweet and innocent. It's an instant love affair. You never think you'll want to spend a second away from your child, but then kids grow up, and the distance can be more than you ever imagined." He drew in a shaky breath. "It was bad for us, but it was worse for Katie. She felt the sting of rejection from both of her parents. We tried to make it up to her, take care of her, love her as much as we could, but none of that made up for her not having a mother she could count on—not having a father at all. We used to get so angry with Evie. We'd demand she'd do better, but she just couldn't find it in herself to make that happen. And her father was just a worthless son of a bitch. Did Katie tell you her dad took off after she was born?"

"She mentioned that."

"The two of them didn't care their free love, their bliss, left a little girl without parents to watch over her. That's not love," Lance said scornfully. "Love takes work. It's about putting someone else before yourself. That's what Bess always did. She always put me first, and I tried to do the same." He sent Barrett an agonizing look of desperation. "We've been together so long, I don't remember a time when she wasn't there. I wouldn't know what to do without her. She's everything."

He could feel the older man's pain. He put a comforting hand on Lance's arm. "Hopefully, you won't have to know. And I have a feeling your Bess would want you to stay positive, keep the faith."

Lance gave him a shaky smile. "That she would. I can be strong for her now. I can believe."

"Yes, you can."

They both rose to their feet as Kate returned. "The surgery is still going on," she said. "The nurse said the doctor will speak to us as soon as it's over."

"I guess we just wait," Lance said wearily, taking a seat once more.

"You can go, Barrett," Kate told him. "It could be awhile."

He knew he should go. He and Kate were barely friends, and he didn't need to be a part of this. She probably didn't even want him to be a part of it, but he found himself reluctant to leave.

He wanted to know if Bess would be all right. He wanted to be there to support Kate and Lance, because they were both really, really shaken. And there was a chance, a terrible chance, that things might get worse.

"You know, I think I'll get us some coffee or tea," he said. "What would you like?"

"It's not necessary."

He glanced over at Lance, who had his head in his hands. "I think maybe some herbal tea."

She nodded. "If they have it."

"You got it. What about you?"

"I'll take a tea, too."

"Done."

She gave him a grateful look. "Barrett, you're being really nice. Thank you."

"It's not a big deal."

"It is—actually. My grandmother is so important to me, even more so to my grandfather. Having you here, well, it makes me feel a little less scared—I don't know why. Maybe because you're so calm."

He was touched by her words and a little unnerved by how close they were getting to each other. She didn't want him to leave, and he didn't want to leave—both desires probably neither one of them could have imagined a few days ago.

"I'll be back in a few minutes," he said, deciding those were the only words he needed to say right now.

* * *

Kate sat down next to her grandfather and put her hand in his, giving him what she hoped was a reassuring smile.

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