Taming Mad Max (28 page)

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That same morning, while Max waited for the coffee to finish brewing, he read the label on the can of nuts Dan had left behind. One serving of roasted peanuts was 170 calories. Not bad. Zero trans fat and they were a great source of protein. He popped a handful into his mouth and then pulled two mugs from the cupboard. Did Kari like cream and sugar in her coffee? Hell, did she even drink coffee? There were so many things he didn’t know about her. What sort of music did she like? Did she have a favorite color? What month was she born in?

Suddenly, knowing these things about Kari seemed crucial. Maybe not life or death, but he wanted to know everything about her. He didn’t have to know everything today, not even tomorrow. But he wanted to spend the rest of his life getting to know Kari, peeling back the layers and discovering all there was to know about her. His heart did a flip-flop as he realized he needed to tell her how he felt. Right this moment. Forgetting all about the coffee, he headed back upstairs.

What if he said the wrong thing? Worse yet, what if she refused to marry him? What would he do? Maybe last night had been another figment of his imagination. That thought made his heart jump to his throat. He took the last six stairs two at a time and took long strides into the bedroom, more surprised than relieved to find her right where he’d left her. In his bed.

She stretched and arched a curious brow at him, maybe because he was standing before her wearing a pair of boxer briefs and nothing else. Or maybe because she could see the panic on his face. He didn’t know. He didn’t care. “Marry me.”

“No.”

“Damn it, woman. What do you want me to do? Confess my undying love for you? Is that what you want to hear?”

“It would be a good start.”

“I just had an epiphany. I can’t live without you,” he said. “I knew that even before Mom showed me the letters.”

She sat up and her beautiful pale breasts made it extremely difficult for him to concentrate while he said, “I should have believed you from the start. I had no reason not to trust you.”

“You didn’t have any reason not to trust your mother either.”

He loved her even more for saying that. “I’ve never been in love before,” he confessed. “I’m not good at this.”

He couldn’t tell if the smile on her face meant she understood, but he decided to let it go and forge onward. “Even if Molly wasn’t involved in this whole crazy deal between me and you, I would still want to spend the rest of my life with you. I’ve never met anyone like you. I always thought that feeling this way about someone would feel like a trap door being shut, do you know what I mean?”

She shook her head, adding “No” for good measure.

“Are you purposely trying to make this difficult for me?”

“Not at all.”

“You’re the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met.”

She lifted a brow.

Max knew she loved him. Her eyes said it all. He saw the look she gave Molly when their daughter was around. The look she was giving him now was close to that. He felt confident she didn’t care whether he played football for the NFL or if he was a produce manager at the corner market. She may not need him in the same way he needed her, but he knew she loved him. If he were lucky, she’d love him for the rest of his life.

The strangest thing happened in that moment. It was as if something inside of him lifted, as if a huge incredible burden had been literally hefted from his insides. “That’s what love is all about, isn’t it?”

Her eyes never left his.

“Love makes breathing easier,” he told her.

She seemed to ponder that.

“Love makes the moon brighter and the water taste fresher.”

Her eyes sparkled.

“All those ridiculous love songs are starting to make sense,” he said. He was definitely on to something because her eyes were welling up now. “This might sound crazy,” he said, “but I think I know how Tom Cruise felt when he jumped on Oprah’s couch.”

She laughed.

“I’ve never felt this way about anyone but you. I’m in love with you, Kari Murphy, and nobody can tell me I’m not. I always thought of love as this crazy tangible thing, but that’s not how it works. No neon sign pops up and says, ‘Hey, buddy, this is it!’ Love isn’t something you can touch or grab onto. It just is.”

She still didn’t say a damn word, but she must have realized her breasts were throwing him off a little because she pulled the sheet high enough to cover them.

“I’m not letting you walk out of here,” he went on, “until you agree to be my wife.” He stepped toward her and she opened her arms to him, letting the ridiculous sheet fall once and for all. But he must have moved too fast, too sudden, because everything changed in that one single instant. His legs gave out first, buckling at the knees, his surroundings becoming a hazy fog of darkness as he fell. “Not now,” he whispered. “Don’t take me now.”

CHAPTER 22

Lindsay waited until she could no longer see Cole’s car before she entered the building on La Grange Avenue. Although Cole had clearly been hurt, he insisted on driving her to DLS. After signing in, she went to the baby wall, a giant corkboard where clients posted their success stories along with pictures of their babies. Lindsay visited the baby wall every time she came into the building, and she always left feeling inspired by the other women’s stories. If everything went as planned, it wouldn’t be long before she’d be holding her baby in her arms and posting a picture of her own.

A door opened and a nurse called her name.

Lindsay followed the woman into one of six examination rooms. After being weighed, the nurse took her pulse and her temperature. “How are you feeling today?”

“Good. A little nervous.”

The pregnant nurse gave her a reassuring smile.

“When are you due?” Lindsay asked.

“Two weeks and a day,” the nurse said with a laugh. “Not that I’m keeping track, or anything.”

“Did you use a donor?” Lindsay asked before she realized she was being rude. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be so nosy.”

“I don’t mind,” the nurse said, rubbing her tummy. “But this little guy is the result of the best night of my life...my honeymoon in Paris. Little Jack is due exactly nine months from the first day my husband and I arrived in The City of Lights.”

Lindsay sighed. “How nice.”

Once Lindsay was seated comfortably, a blood pressure cuff was wrapped around her upper arm. The nurse inflated it, using a stethoscope to listen as the cuff deflated. She jotted down some numbers before she handed Lindsay a paper gown. “Put this on when I leave and, oh, I almost forgot.” The nurse pulled a file from beneath stacks of paper on the counter. The file was labeled “Baker’s Baby.”

“Inside is a CD,” she explained. “Many women who come to us want to hear the donor's voice or hear how the donor responds to specific questions. Some want to save the audio interview for their child to hear at some time in the future. Also inside is the picture you requested of the donor at a young age.” The nurse peeked inside the folder and smiled. “Oh, you chose well. You’re going to be very happy. He’s a cutie.” She handed Lindsay the file and patted her arm. “I suggest you put on your gown, then take a look at the picture while you wait for the doctor.”

“How long will the procedure take?”

“You’ll be out of here in less than an hour.”

“That’s fast,” Lindsay said. “Thank you.”

The door closed, clicking shut with a finality that made Lindsay’s heart pump a little faster. She exhaled as she glanced at the file clutched in her hands. Her fingers trembled as she opened it. The boy in the eight-by-ten glossy looking back at her had curly-blond hair and a wide grin. She guessed his age to be about twelve. He had a strong jaw for such a young boy and eyes the same metallic gray as Cole’s. She found herself smiling back at the picture as she wiped a tear from her cheek.

She seldom cried. Were they tears of joy or nervous tears? What was wrong with her? This should be one of the happiest days of her life. But her stomach felt queasy and for the first time in months she questioned her decision.

She’d been looking forward to this day for too long to be fearful or hesitant. The wave of emotions she felt was unexpected and unwelcome. Lindsay stood, placed the file on the counter, and waited for a slight dizziness to pass before she unfolded the paper gown and began to undress.

#

Kari hovered over Max as he lay in a hospital bed looking pale and weak. She reached her hand over the side of the bed, careful not to bump the IV hooked to his arm as she took his hand in hers. His fingers felt cold. “I’ve been worried sick. What did Dr. Stone say?”

“He’s perplexed,” Max said. “Just as Dr. Smith was two months ago and Dr. Persons was two years before that. They’re running tests, trying to figure out what’s wrong.”

“I never should have signed those papers clearing you,” Kari said. “This is my fault.”

“I’ll be fine,” Max said. He used his free hand to reach up and touch her cheek. “Now that you’re in my life again, I’ve got something to live for.”

His eyes closed for a moment and her heart sank at the possibility that something could be seriously wrong with Max. She couldn’t lose him. Not now. Not ever.

The door opened.

“Max,” Kari said, squeezing his hand. “You have visitors.” By the time he opened his eyes, Breanne and Molly stood at the side of his bed. Molly stood next to Kari on one side while Breanne stood on the other side.

“How are you?” Breanne asked her brother, unable to hide the panic in her voice.

“I feel great,” Max lied. “I could climb Mount Everest if the doc would just clear me.”

Molly reached over the bars and put her hand on his shoulder. He raised his hand and covered her small hand in his. “Shouldn’t you be in summer school?”

“Breanne’s going to take me,” she said. “But first I wanted to see you.”

“You’re all worrying too much. I’m fine. I’m Mad Max. I’m indestructible, remember?”

Molly’s fingers traveled to the back of his neck. “You have a rash.”

“I do?” He felt the small bumps there. “I’ll tell the doc when he comes back. Speaking of the devil,” he said as Dr. Stone entered the room.

“Good news and bad news,” Dr. Stone said. “Your heart is in great shape and you’ve tested negative for Syncope.”

“Syncope?” Breanne asked.

“It’s a sudden and temporary loss of consciousness, or fainting,” Dr. Stone explained. “Most people pass out at least once in their life, which doesn’t usually indicate a serious medical problem. However, sometimes syncope indicates a dangerous or even life-threatening condition.”

“What’s the bad news?” Kari asked.

“The bad news is we’re running out of ideas. We’ve already ruled out anxiety and heartburn.”

“I know what’s wrong with my Dad,” Molly said matter-of-factly, her gaze still on Max’s neck.

Everybody looked at Molly with renewed interest.

“He’s got the same rash I get when I eat peanuts,” Molly said matter-of-factly. “I’ve been allergic to peanuts since I was a kid.”

Nobody bothered to remind her that she was still a kid.

Molly looked at Kari. “Remember the time I fainted and then I got that horrible rash and we found out later that the cookies the neighbor had made for us had chopped peanuts in them?”

Kari nodded. It was hard to believe Max’s troubles could be caused by something so simple, but her daughter made a good point. “I remember. You had difficulty breathing. I took her to see the doctor immediately,” she told Max.

Kari examined the rash on Max’s neck, then looked at Dr. Stone. “Do you think my daughter could be on to something? Could his fainting spells be an allergic reaction?”

“It’s possible.” He pulled out Max’s chart again. “It says here that you were recently tested at a facility for food allergies.”

Color crept into Max’s face.

Kari’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Were you tested before?”

“I didn’t have much time when I filled out some of those medical forms they gave me the last time I was rushed to the hospital. They wouldn’t let me leave until I assured them I would be tested for allergies. They pestered me for weeks until I sent them the necessary paperwork.”

Dr. Stone rifled through Max’s file. “The form has been signed off by—” Dr. Stone adjusted his glasses, “by a Dr. Einstein.” He huffed. “What are you trying to do, kill yourself?”

“Did you eat any peanuts last night?” Breanne asked.

“No. But this morning I ate a small handful from a can of nuts I found sitting on the kitchen counter.”

Breanne moaned. “Dan bought those.”

“I always knew Dan had it in for me,” Max teased.

Dr. Stone gathered his things and headed for the door. “I’ll send in the nurse and have her take some blood samples so we can get to the bottom of this.” He turned and pointed a finger at Molly. “You just might have saved your father’s life. You’re a smart kid.”

Molly smiled.

The door clicked shut.

Molly looked from Kari to Max. “Did you ask her?”

He nodded. “Three times now.”

“Did she say ‘yes’?”

He shook his head. “I thought I had a good chance while she thought I was dying, but now that she knows my condition might just be an allergic reaction to peanuts I don’t think I stand a chance.”

Molly huffed. “You guys are such dorks. I have spent my entire life praying that someday I would have two parents. And now that I do, I find out they’re not adults at all, just a couple of children.”

Breanne laughed.

“It’s not funny,” Molly told Breanne as she crossed her arms over her chest. “I might as well be the parent and I’m only thirteen.” She looked at her mom. “You love him. Everybody can see it but you, so why don’t you marry him?”

“Molly, this isn’t the time.”

“Lots of guys can’t say the words. Just because he’s not any good at communicating how he feels, Mom, he loves you. Why do you think he stands there like a dork staring at you every time you come into the room when he picks me up?”

“And you’re not any better,” she said, turning to her father, pointing an accusing finger at him. “Haven’t you seen Mom staring from the upstairs window when we drive off? Sheesh. I’m always tempted to wave at her, but I know I’d get grounded for embarrassing her. I don’t get it. Why are you both trying so hard not to be together? You never should have slept together in the first place.”

“Molly!”

“It was irresponsible,” Molly went on. “But even though you’re both irresponsible dorks, you lucked out because you got me. What if you had ended up with the twins? Or that kid I saw on that new reality nanny show the other night. The little boy wouldn’t stop screaming at the top of his lungs.” She sighed. “I refuse to do the whole parent trap thing and waste my time trying to get you two together.”

Max looked at his sister. “Do you mind?”

“Yes,” Breanne said, “as a matter of fact, I do. I brought Molly here and I’m not leaving without her.”

“Okay,” he asked Molly. “What do you suggest I do?”

“Tell Mom you love her, duh.”

He looked at Kari. “I love you, duh. I always have.”

Molly shook her head. “Tell her why you love her.”

A few seconds ticked by. “Her hair,” Molly blurted. “Do you like her hair?”

“Yeah, the hair’s good. I like it.”

“What does Mom say or do to make you want to spend the rest of your life with her?”

He opened his mouth to speak, but Molly interrupted again. “Tell her, Dad.”

“You’re getting on my nerves kid.”

“Okay,” she said. “Breanne and I are going to wait outside the door while you two talk.” Molly grabbed Breanne’s hand and led her out the door.

Kari and Max watched them leave.

The door clicked shut. “She’s some kid,” Max said.

Kari nodded. “She definitely has the Dutton gene. I didn’t see it until now.”

“I’m sure you meant that as a compliment.”

“Of course.”

“I do like your hair and the way your eyes sparkle.”

Her lips curved upward.

“I do love you,” he said.

“I love you, too.”

“Marry me?”

“Absolutely.”