He hesitated for a few seconds, then finally nodded. "Okay. But only for you."
He stood and held out his hand for her, and she took it. "Thank you."
They walked hand in hand into the family waiting area. If her father and mother had any thoughts about it, they masked it well. They all sat together in silence and waited until Dr. Alder showed up with a smile on her face.
"Surgery went very well. Appendix is out, and there were no complications. Hazel's in the recovery room right now. You'll be able to see her shortly."
Loretta exhaled a sigh of relief. "Thank you so much."
"She should be able to go home later today, but we'll monitor her to be sure."
Loretta glanced over at Deacon, who looked as relieved as she felt.
About an hour later, Loretta went into the recovery room to see Hazel. She was mostly groggy and out of it, but Loretta got to talk to her and see that she was okay. And for a mother, that was everything.
Now all she had to do was wait for Hazel to fully awaken and shake off the anesthetic and have the doc check her out to make sure everything was all right with her.
Considering how terribly this day had started, it was looking better. Finally.
Chapter 30
* * *
HAZEL WAS EVENTUALLY brought to an outpatient room, where she'd stay until she was discharged.
She was surrounded by her grandparents, who all lavished love and attention on her.
Loretta had to admit that, despite her irritation with her parents at the moment, they knew how to cater to their granddaughter. Tom's parents were equally as loving, bringing her a bouquet of flowers along with a stuffed animal that made her grin a loopy, half-drugged smile that Loretta caught on her camera phone.
Deacon stayed in the background, but hovered nearby, and it meant so much to Loretta to have him there. Whenever Hazel asked for him, he was right there, holding her hand and making her laugh, which then made her wince. Then they both laughed about her wincing. He told her she'd forever have a battle scar and she should be proud of that. That made her happy.
There was a knock on her hospital room door, and Loretta went to answer it.
It was Tom.
"Hey," he said. "I got here as soon as I could."
"I'm so glad you made it. Come on in." She opened the door, shocked to see some dude she didn't recognize and a guy with a camera behind him.
She frowned. "Tom. What is this?"
He at least had the decency to look sheepish. "Well, they're documenting every step of the campaign."
She rolled her eyes and was about to hit him hard about it, but then Hazel saw him.
"Daddy!"
Tom brushed past her, and so did the other two guys.
"Hi, pumpkin. Heard you were sick, so I rushed right up here to see you."
Tom sure knew how to turn it on for the cameras. And suddenly they were on, lights blazing, as Tom sat on the bed, kissed Hazel, and listened to her tell the story of how she got sick and had to have surgery. He gave her all the appropriate sympathy and love.
For about ten whole minutes before he said he had to leave.
So much for Tom's record parenting skills.
"I have to go, pumpkin," he said to Hazel. "But I'll see you soon."
Hazel's eyes welled with tears. "Okay."
He brushed her forehead with his lips. "Love you."
"I love you, too, Daddy."
As he walked out, he stood in front of Loretta.
"Sorry. I have an event I have to be at by four."
There was so much she wanted to say to him, and none of it was good. And she wouldn't do it in front of Hazel. "Yeah. Thanks for stopping by."
"Sure. She's my kid. I'd do anything for her."
Bite your tongue, Loretta.
Tom's parents walked out with him, so there was finally some breathing space in the room.
Especially now that the blowhard politician had left.
"I'd love something cold to drink, Loretta," her mother said. "Would you like to come with your father and me to get some iced tea?"
Loretta looked over at Hazel.
"I'll sit with her," Deacon said. "You take a break."
"Yeah, okay. Sure." It would probably help to walk off her irritation at her ex-husband.
They headed toward the elevators. When they opened, Loretta pushed the button that would take them to the cafeteria floor.
"Wasn't it so nice of Tom to take time out of his busy schedule to come visit?" her mother asked.
Loretta couldn't help the eye roll. "Yes. So nice."
"I mean, to drop everything like that and fly to his daughter's side."
"With a camera crew in tow," Loretta added.
"He has to do that, you know," her father said.
She turned to face her parents. "No, he doesn't have to do that. He does it to make himself look good. The doting father so concerned for his daughter. You do realize he hardly ever sees her, and when he does, it's only for campaign purposes?"
Her mother looked shocked. "Loretta. He loves her."
"No, Mom. He uses her. If he loved her he'd see her every other weekend like he's supposed to. He would have dropped everything having to do with his campaign this morning and he would have been here by her side. That's not what just happened up there." When the elevator doors opened, Loretta walked out with her parents, then stopped in the hall. "What you saw up there? That wasn't a father concerned about his daughter's health. That was a photo op, and nothing more."
Her father frowned at her. "I think you're blinded by . . . by whatever is going on between you and Deacon Fox."
Her anger had reached the boiling point. "Oh. That's funny, Dad. Do you want to know about Deacon? Deacon was the one who held Hazel in the bathroom while she threw up. He was the one who was there cradling her in his arms while she was shaking with fever. She clutched on to him like a lifeline. He's the one she trusts. He's the one she asks for when she needs something. And you know why that is? Because her own father isn't there for her. She doesn't realize it now, but someday, when she's an adult and can reason it out, she'll realize how very little her own father cares about her."
"Don't you say that, Loretta," her mother said. "Tom is a good man. He loves Hazel."
"In his own way, he does love her. But not enough. Not as much as she needs."
She turned to her father and advanced on him. "And don't you ever belittle Deacon Fox ever again. He's been there for both me and Hazel. If you don't like him, that's just too bad, Dad, because he's in my life and in Hazel's life, and you'd better get on board with that, because I don't intend for that to change."
She walked away from both of her parents, nearly shaking with anger and frustration.
Maybe it was the aftereffects of everything that had happened with Hazel, or maybe it was that, for the first time in her life, she'd finally stood up to her parents and told them how she really felt.
Either way, she was done listening to bullshit about Tom and Deacon from her parents. They needed to open their eyes and see the truth, and she'd laid that truth out clearly for them.
As she made her way into the cafeteria, her lips curved into a smile. That had been a long time coming.
And she felt really damn good about it.
Chapter 31
* * *
IT HAD BEEN three days since Hazel's surgery, and when Deacon pulled up outside of Loretta's house after finishing work and going home to clean up, Hazel was outside kicking a soccer ball and laughing when Otis tried to steal the ball away from her.
He put the truck in park and grinned. There was nothing like the amazing resilience of kids.
They'd taken her home the night after her surgery. She'd slept off the anesthesia, and the next morning had asked for pancakes for breakfast. Though she'd been a little sore, she'd seemed fine. The nausea was gone, and so was her stomach pain. Every day since then she'd gotten better and better. He'd made sure to stick close and check on her dai
ly.
Obviously, she was more than fine now.
"Hey, Hazel," he said as he walked toward her and Otis.
Hazel kicked the ball to Deacon, who stopped it with the ball of his foot. Otis lumbered over, his tail thumping like a wind machine.
"Otis, sit."
The dog plopped his butt to the ground.
"Good boy." He scratched Otis behind the ears and waited for Hazel to make her way to him.
"Hi, Deacon. Did you see me kick the ball?"
"I did. How are you feeling?"
"I feel amazing. My stomach doesn't hurt at all."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"Mama said I can spend the night over at Tabby's house this weekend."
"Really? That's good."
"I know. We're gonna go to the rec center and play basketball and maybe go swimming if my doctor says I can. I have a checkup on Friday."
"I'll keep my fingers crossed on the swimming."
"Thanks. Mama's in the house changing clothes because we're going to Reid and Sam's new house thing tonight. You're coming with us, right?"
"I am. Are you coming, or are you staying home by yourself?"
She giggled. "Deacon. I can't stay home alone. I'm too young."
"Oh. I thought maybe since you'd had your big bad surgery, you were all tough and a big girl now and maybe you'd throw a party of your own while your mom was away."
"You're funny. But no. I'm going with you. Tabby's going to be there."
"And Ryan, too, right?"
"Maybe."
"Like maybe you like him?"
She nudged Deacon. "Not like that. He's annoying."
"Uh-huh."
He knew Hazel had a crush on Ryan. They teased each other, and at this age, Ryan would look at Hazel like his little sister's pesky best friend. But Hazel was beautiful and athletic and smart. And in about six or seven years, Ryan would see Hazel in a different light entirely.
For now, though, the teasing was fun.
The front door opened, and Loretta stepped out looking gorgeous in a white and red flowery sundress.
"Hazel, it's time to-- Oh, hi, Deacon. Why don't you both come in? I'm almost ready. Hazel, you need to change."
"Okay, Mama. Come on, Otis."
Deacon followed Hazel and the dog inside. Hazel went down the hall to her room, and Deacon watched her until her door closed. Then he drew Loretta into his arms and planted a long, hot kiss on her.
When she pulled back, she blinked. "Wow. That was nice."
"It's been a while."
"It has."
"Also, you look beautiful tonight."
"Thank you. It's so hot out I'm going with the minimal amount of clothing possible for mixed company."
She looked amazing. The dress hit her at the knees, so decent enough, but it clung to her torso and fanned out, and she had great legs and beautiful arms and--who was he kidding? He couldn't care less about the dress she wore. All he really wanted to do was take it off of her. With everything that had been going on with Hazel both before and after her surgery, and then him having to dive back into work at the building and Loretta needing to catch up at the bookstore, they'd had no time to be alone.
Which was fine. Life got in the way of romance sometimes. That was their reality. But he sure had missed the feel of her skin and the taste of her mouth.
Now, though, he smoothed his hands up her arms and took in the way her breathing deepened.
"Barring any further medical or other catastrophes, Hazel's spending the night with Tabitha on Friday."
Deacon nodded. "She told me. She wants to go swimming."
"Yes. She has a follow-up appointment with the surgeon Friday afternoon, and hopefully she'll get the go-ahead to resume normal activities, including swimming."
Deacon took a quick glance down the hall. "I'm no doctor, but judging from the way she was booting the soccer ball when I got here, it looks like normal activities have already resumed."
Loretta's lips lifted. "Hard to get that kid to tone it down, you know?"
"Yeah. She looks good, though."
Loretta took a step back and went to grab her purse. "Every day she's gaining back more and more of her strength. She seems normal already."
"Not surprising. You know surgeries like that are much easier on kids than on adults."
"No kidding. If it were me I'd be on the sofa with a pillow on my stomach. Not her, though."
"She's tough. And so are you. You'd be back at work already carting books around as if it was nothing."
"I don't know about that. I'm not as tough as a nine-year-old."
Said nine-year-old threw her door open, backpack in hand and dog following behind her. "I'm ready."
Deacon looked to Loretta, who smiled.
"Let's go."
*
LORETTA TOOK IN every kitchen cabinet, every bathroom tile, and every wall fixture as Sam gave her the tour of their new home.
"Is there anything better than new-home smell?" Loretta asked.
Sam nearly vibrated with delight. "There probably is, but over the past week I've walked through this house over and over again, unable to believe it's finally finished and we've moved in."
"It's beautiful, Sam. You're going to make some wonderful memories here."
"Thank you. We're so happy. Not My Dog loves it here, too. He has his own space in the master bedroom. And the yard is finally finished, and he's happy as he can be running around back there."
They stepped outside where a group of the guys were gathered around the backyard kitchen, which had turned out amazing. There was also a fire pit, which would be so fun to sit around come fall, though the thought of it in this July heat was not at all appealing.
The landscape was gorgeous, with trees and bushes offering up plenty of shady spots and tons of green grass for Not My Dog to run around in.
"Ugh. Too hot out here," Sam said. "I don't know how the guys can stand it."
She led Loretta inside and into the spacious living room. With its vaulted ceiling, it made the already good-sized room seem even larger. And, of course, Sam had filled the room with fresh flowers, her florist touch seen across the entire house with vibrant plants and beautiful flowerpots that filled the home with cheer.
Hazel had run off to play in the media room with Tabitha and Ryan, so she didn't have to worry about her daughter. She poured herself a glass of wine and took a seat next to Jane and Chelsea.
"So, how are you two doing?" she asked.
Chelsea rubbed her hand over her now-visible baby bump. "I feel pretty darn good. Though it's hot outside and my ankles are already swelling. What's up with that? I'm barely into my second trimester."
"It happens when you're pregnant. Hopefully once fall gets here it'll subside."
"I'm still nauseous," Jane said. "All the time. Crackers are my best friend, and they go everywhere with me."
"I'm sorry, Jane," Loretta said. Though it had been years, she remembered the nausea all too well.
"Thanks. It'll pass soon enough. Hopefully."
"Molly and I are not pregnant or nauseous," Megan said as they came into the room and plopped down on one of the love seats. "So we're doing all the drinking. And eating."
Jillian came in with a glass of wine in her hand. "Isn't it so great that there's more wine for us? I mean, there has to be some advantage to not having a gorgeous man who adores us and a sweet baby in our bellies." She kissed Chelsea on the cheek and winked at Megan and Sam.
"Hate you," Chelsea said.
Megan grinned at Chelsea. "You're welcome."
Then Emma and Des arrived with the babies. Loretta loved babies, and Michael and Ben were simply adorable, with their pudgy little faces and fat baby fingers.
Loretta couldn't wait to hold one of them, though she had to wait her turn as all the women fussed over them.
"This is probably like a little baby vacation time for you," she said to Des when Chelsea took Ben as soon as Des pulled him out of his c
arrier.
Des laughed. "It's like this at home, too. Martha takes him from me every chance she gets. And as soon as Logan is done on the ranch for the day, he's in his daddy's arms for the night. I'm lucky to be breastfeeding him, or I might never get to hold him."
Loretta smiled. "He's a well-loved baby."
"Definitely."
Loretta finally got a chance to cuddle Ben in her arms. There was nothing like holding a baby. Their sweet, innocent faces, the way their lips moved, the way they smelled like a sweet slice of heaven--everything about them was absolutely perfect.
"All right," Jillian said. "Hand him over."
Loretta frowned. "Fifty bucks."
Jillian laughed. "Not a chance."
"Fine." She gently transferred him to Jillian, but it wasn't long before Emma passed Michael to her.
"You two should charge us all for letting us hold your babies."
Emma looked over at Des. "Now that's a thought. We could probably pay for our sons' college educations that way."
Des offered up a cocky grin. "There's an idea."
"I noticed there haven't been paparazzi shots of Ben in any of the magazines," Chelsea said.
"Nor will there ever be. I know how to keep my child well hidden from the press. They're wily, but I've gotten advice from several veterans in the industry who've played that game with photographers. If you don't want your baby photographed, there are plenty of ways to keep it from happening."
"I don't know why anyone would want a picture of a baby anyway," Jane said. "I mean, I get that you're an actress and people like to see pictures of you, Des. But your baby? What business is it of theirs?"
Des shrugged. "No idea. But I control what photos are put up of my family. I posted a wedding picture on my social media sites. And I put up one photo of Logan and me and Ben together not too long after he was born. Anything other than that is no one's business. But the press? They think if we take a walk outside of our house, it's news."
Molly wrinkled her nose. "That's not news. Sorry."
Des laughed. "No, you're right. Nothing newsworthy about it. Unfortunately, I'm about to start work on a new movie within the next few months, and that means Ben will be traveling with me. Security will have to be doubly tight to keep photos from getting out."
"Oh, it'll be hard for Logan to be separated from Ben while you're on location, won't it?" Loretta asked.
Des nodded. "We've already started working out a schedule. Fortunately, the movie shoot will be in Montana, so not too far away. I'll be able to spend weekends at home, and Logan will occasionally fly up to be with Ben and me."