Clara met them at the door as they entered the house, her features tense with worry. “Turner called half an hour ago. Sharon started hemorrhaging. He rushed her to the hospital. They’re doing a C-section. They don’t know about the baby yet.” she raked her fingers through her bangs. Two suitcases sat next to the front door.
The news hit Zoe like a physical blow. She closed her eyes for a moment as instant tears threatened. The hits just kept coming.
“I’ve got a flight out in an hour. I’ve called a cab because I wasn’t sure you’d be back in time to take me to the airport.”
“I can take you now, Mom.”
“No, I’ve called a cab. You’ve been with your brother for most of the day and you’re tired.” At the sound of a car horn outside, her mother turned and looked out the window. “That’s my ride.”
Clara’s composure started to crumble as she reached for the suitcases.
“I’ll get them, Clara,” Hawk said and swung a bag up in each hand.
Zoe opened the door for him then turned to embrace her mother. She fought back her tears as Clara withdrew to look into her face. “It’s going to be all right, Mom. Sharon’s young and healthy. And the baby will be fine.”
Clara searched her pockets for a tissue to wipe her face. “I don’t want to go. I don’t want to leave Brett. I shouldn’t have to choose between them.”
The events that had taken place at the hospital and Brett’s apartment ran through Zoe’s mind. “Sharon needs you more right now than Brett does. He has me and Hawk to look out for him. He’ll be fine.”
“I know. You’re right.” She stuffed the tissue back in the pocket of her slacks. She focused on Zoe her look sharp, intent. “Don’t go back to the apartment until the locks are changed. Promise me you won’t.”
“I promise.”
“You have to pace yourself. You can’t go all out like you’ve been doing. You can’t try and take my place. Promise you’ll try and rest some. If you get sick too, I won’t be able to deal with it.”
“I’ll take it easier, I promise.”
“I’ll make sure she does, Clara,” Hawk said as he entered the house. “The team will take up the slack.”
A horn blew from outside again. “I have to go.” Clara gathered her purse and a carryon bag.
Zoe hugged her once more. “Call me as soon as you get there.”
“Turner may call before I make it there. Call me on my cell if he does,” Clara said.
Zoe nodded.
Clara embraced Hawk. “I know you’ll take care of both of them while I’m gone.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Clara broke away from him and went out the door, closing it behind her.
The ticking of the clock in the kitchen sounded loud in the silence that followed her departure.
“You didn’t tell her, did you?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I couldn’t. She was already torn between them. Had I told her what had happened it would have just made it impossible.”
“You did the right thing.” He ran his hand down his jaw where dark stubble had begun to show. “Look, I’m going to fire up the grill and burn us some meat. We both need some food.”
She had never been less interested in eating, but she recognized the need to feed her body. She hadn’t eaten since before noon and it now hovered close to seven. She forced a smile to her lips. “I put some chicken in a marinade this morning before going to the hospital. I’ll fix a salad and nuke a couple of potatoes while you incinerate the meat.” She headed for the kitchen.
He gave a short bark of laughter. “It was only a little crispy around the edges last time.”
She glanced over her shoulder. “Uh-huh.”
“I got distracted for a minute.”
“By what?”
His gray gaze swung away from her. “I refuse to answer on the grounds that I may incriminate myself.”
An ache built in the pit of her stomach that had nothing to do with hunger. She forced a light teasing tone, “That means it was some Baywatch beauty within seeing distance of the yard. Maybe Mandy next door.” Wishing it had been her he found distracting was like trying to touch the moon. The need to be held, comforted, loved, for just a few minutes, for forever, rose up in her like a physical pain.