Page 32 of Doctor’s Surprise Twins

“You don’t understand. You can’t understand. You have to believe. It’s something you’ve never done or even tried.” He shook his head at me, and I watched his hands curl into fists.

“You don’t understand, Dad. I’m going to get married one day, and Mom will not be here for that. I’ll have children, and they’ll have no grandmother. Peter is even suffering. Look at how fucked up he is! You think this isn’t all related?” I fumed, standing and tossing my thermos back onto the hay. “If there is a God anywhere, I guarantee you he would have told Mom to take the fucking medicine because he gave mankind the smarts to create it.”

“Derek—”

“Tell me, Dad, would you object to my donating my entire inheritance to a research hospital that could help find a cure for cancer? What about a women’s medical center that would help women like Mom before it was too late?”

He stared at me, blinking slowly. “That’s ludicrous. That amount of money could do so much good.”

“Why the hell can’t you see that medical science could be good?”

He looked surprised as I charged toward him, passing him by on my way back to the pitchfork. In haste, I plunged the fork into the clean straw and broke it up, spreading it around the stall. My anger was in check. I’d never harm him seriously, but I might give him a hard backhand if he didn’t just leave. So I kept my back to him until I heard the car door shut and the engine start up. Then I collapsed back against the stall door and heaved out a sigh.

The door shifted, throwing off my balance, and I used the pitchfork to catch myself. As frustrated as I was, I should have been trying to relax, but I spent the next hour mucking out the rest of the stalls while the horses grazed. By the time I’d finished, I had stewed over the encounter so much I couldn’t think.

For months now, every time I got upset about this situation, I had turned to Maggie to help me calm down. She’d point out how I was seeing something incorrectly or validate my emotions, and I’d feel better. Or we’d have sex, which inevitably helped me calm down too. But Maggie had called into work sick on Monday and every day this week. I knew she was ill after the dinner last weekend, so I didn’t want to bother her.

I collected my thermos and headed for the house, walking the outside of the pasture fence. Part of me wanted to call Maggie, not because I wanted sex but because I wanted her company. Leaving her in that bed when she felt sick was a difficult choice. I knew weeks ago that I was falling in love with her, and I tried lying to myself so I wouldn’t threaten my career or reputation. Now I was beginning to realize exactly why I had been pushing her away. It had more to do with my mother than I’d thought possible.

I sat down on the front porch swing, thinking about my father’s visit. Mom had made her choices all on her own—choices that had affected all of us differently. But it had affected me in a way I hadn’t seen until just now. Mom’s decision to refuse treatment and “go home”, as she would say, left me without hope. She left us.

She left me.

And what if I told Maggie I loved her and she left me too?

CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

Maggie

The boxes were heavierthan I should have been lifting—I knew that—but Curt was taking forever, and Dad put his back out last week gardening. I didn’t want that on my conscience, so I carried as many as I could into the moving van. I’d taken the entire week off work to prepare for this and scheduled my resignation notice to arrive in Barbra’s email first thing Monday morning—after I was away and settled into my new place.

Curt passed by me with an armful of my clothing as I headed back into the house for another box. Dad sat on the sole chair left in the dining room, a straggler that hadn’t sold with the rest of my other large furniture. Once I listed the items on my Facebook, they went like hotcakes. The new place was fully furnished. I didn’t need any of this, anyway.

Dad sighed and frowned as I reached for another box. There were only a few left, but I refused to let him help. “I wish you would reconsider staying with me. You don’t need to work. I can take care of things. It’s obvious something is bothering you.”

“Dad.” I smiled and patted his hand. “I’ll be fine, really. I have a job lined up in Evansville. It’s only a few hours’ drive.”

The box was heavier than I thought, and I strained to lift it, letting out a grunt. Curt swooped in and took it from me, hefting it effortlessly. “Who is going to unpack you when you get there?” He frowned. “Please let me come and see you out.” He stood with the box tucked under one arm and balanced on his hip.

Shaking my head, I reached for the next box and picked it up. “No, really. I’m fine. I have some relocation allowance from the new job, so I’ll hire a few strong, handsome men to heft these things and enjoy the eye candy.” I winked at him and sidestepped him, heading out to the van. It was difficult being my normal chipper self with the fake smile and all the bubbliness in the world. I didn’t want to leave, but I had no choice.

Curt followed on my heels as I strolled down the walk to the moving van. The moving company would send a guy to drive it, so I was only responsible to load it and have it ready to hit the road by three o’clock. At least it was nice weather, not excruciatingly hot like yesterday.

“Mags, you only just came back home.” Curt placed his box in the van and turned to me, taking the box from my hands. “Why are you rushing off again? Dad and I miss you.”

I shrugged and dusted my hands on my slacks. My stomach rumbled, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten anything yet today. I’d done that on purpose, knowing the morning sickness would only have me tossing my cookies in front of them. It was bad enough that they insisted on helping me pack the van. They didn’t need to see me sick and assume that I was actually ill.

“Listen, there are just too many ghosts in this town. I need a fresh start. It’s not like I’m moving halfway around the world. Evansville is close. You can come visit whenever you want.” I stepped up onto the curb, heading back toward the house. I knew he had a point. Dad was getting older now, and with his retirement only a year ago, he likely wanted to spend more time with his children. I just didn’t know how to face down the problems I was up against.

“Mags, what did you tell Derek? Did he support your move? Is it good for your career?” Curt’s voice trailed after me as I tried to evade that entire subject. Derek didn’t even know I was quitting yet, and I had no idea how to broach the subject at all. Not with him—not with Curt.

“Uh, well, I don’t need his approval for my career move. So, yeah... and he’s just my boss.”

“So, what do I tell him when you’re not at myultra-cool parties?” Curt chuckled but I grimaced. Derek would call Curt. He’d ask prying questions. I was certain of it. I was glad I hadn’t said anything about the baby to anyone because if Derek knew, he would be so determined to follow me there would be nothing I could say to defend my choices. If Curt and Dad knew, they would never let me move away. And neither of them would keep my confidence.

I felt the weight of the massive secret trying to suffocate me and subconsciously brushed my hand over my stomach. I was already almost twelve weeks. Any day, I’d start showing and have to swap my comfortable baggy clothing for maternity clothes. I wanted to be as far away from here as possible when that moment happened and prayed like hell that Dad and Curt didn’t want to visit me.

“You can tell him nothing. My resignation indicates that I’ve gotten another job. Derek will understand. We’reonlyfriends.” My bitterness leaked out into my tone, and Curt eyed me but said nothing.

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