Page 17 of Deny Me
Except money. They provided services, opportunities, even goods like food and baby supplies, but not flat-out money, and that’s what Richard had wanted.
She’d come between him and what he desired.
“I know, hon. It’s unfathomable. But we’re not facing it alone; we have help.” She jerked her chin toward Charlotte’s tray. “Eat.”
The dry toast was just the thing to settle the gaping hole that was her stomach. Charlotte finished the first piece, watching as her mom moved across the room to her closet.
“Once you’ve finished, we need to meet with the JCL team member Mr. Brannan assigned to you and Becky.”
The bite she’d just taken turned to dust in her mouth. “Who?” she mumbled indelicately, mouth full.Not King. Please, not King.
Which was ridiculous to even consider. Her mother would be pitching a fit if King was assigned to her.
“A woman,” her mother called from the depths of the closet. “I told them we’d be down in a few minutes.”
Any appetite Charlotte had died. King had a female teammate. What was she like? Was she beautiful? The kind of woman he’d want in his new life? Were they together? Had they been in the past?
Jesus, was she that petty? Their private lives didn’t matter. This woman was obviously capable if she could keep up with three men like Dain, Saint, and King. Nothing else factored in.
She ran a hand through the rat’s nest her hair had become after so many hours of sleep. “I should take a shower then.”
Twenty minutes later she approached the door to the guest suite. Her head throbbed a bit, but the pain meds she’d taken with another piece of toast should help that soon. And coffee. She clutched the lifeline of a second cup as she knocked.
The sound of voices filtered through to the hall; then the door opened. Inside stood a blonde woman in black fatigue pants and a light T-shirt. Small, maybe a couple of inches taller than Charlotte’s own five-one, but where Charlotte tended toward thin and delicate, King’s teammate was strong, athletic. Charlotte couldn’t imagine her taking on men her teammates’ size, but there was no doubt from the confident way she held herself and the shrewd look in her eyes that this woman was a fighter.
Even the hand she extended toward Charlotte looked tough and capable, though her grip was gentle on Charlotte’s injured right hand. “Hi, I’m Elliot Smith.”
Belatedly she tried to clear her surprise from her expression, focusing on their hands clasping instead. “Charlotte. It’s nice to meet you.”
Elliot gestured her inside. The suite had an open living area with a small kitchen, the bedroom and bath to one side. On the sofa in the center of the living room, Becky sat, her legs up and covered with a soft blanket. Charlotte remembered how soft it was, the way it had caressed her face when she’d chosen it for Becky’s birthday a few months ago. The girl had obviously kept it and brought it with her when she left her home.
The thought sparked a warm glow in Charlotte’s heart, as did the smile that lit up Becky’s face when she saw Charlotte entering the room.
Charlotte made a beeline to the sofa to hug Becky, careful to avoid the swell of her stomach. “You look so much more rested,” she said as she took a seat at the girl’s feet. “How are you feeling?”
“Okay.” Becky smoothed her hand over her belly. “She was moving all night, but she’s quiet now.”
“Isn’t that the way of it?” Charlotte’s mom said, settling in a chair nearby. “She’s already got her days and nights mixed up. Kim Alexander, by the way.” She shook Elliot’s hand.
“How long before you deliver, Becky?” Elliot asked.
“About three weeks.”
Every time Becky answered that question, Charlotte could see the hint of uncertainty in her eyes. She couldn’t imagine being so close to what would be a life-changing moment for the girl. And now her whole world was falling apart on top of that. She settled a hand on Becky’s blanket-covered ankle, wishing she could do more to soothe her.
“I’ve already spoken to Dr. Keller, the on-call physician at CF,” her mom said. “She’ll be coming by today to check Becky and Charlotte out, but we’ll need to make some arrangements with Becky’s doctor if she wants to continue with him instead. I’m sure we’ll manage.”
Money usually smoothed the way. At least Becky was familiar with Susan Keller.
“Which brings me to a very important discussion.”
A subtle change in Elliot’s tone, her posture, told Charlotte the woman was shifting into business mode.
“Security is best here at the house,” she said, her lips twisting a bit at the end. “You already know that, of course, but most people don’t consider how much time they actually spend away from home. So we need to discuss your typical routines, your daily obligations, and see how we can arrange to transfer those here, inside the gates, where we can better control what happens.”
Charlotte’s throat closed up. This was the reality of what they were facing, wasn’t it? For how long?
“Becky can’t deliver her baby here,” she pointed out. “This is her first child; she’ll need a hospital with emergency services available in case of unforeseen complications.” Yes, women chose home births all the time, but Charlotte wouldn’t risk Becky’s life.
