Unconditional Read online

  I reached for the phone and pressed in Kat’s cell number.

  She answered on the third ring. “Hey, Meg. I thought you’d given up on our dinner date.”

  “I’ve been busy since I got back from Arizona. But I wondered if you were free this afternoon for a movie and dinner? My treat.”

  “Sure, but I get to pick the movie.”

  “That’s not fair.”

  She chuckled. “I know your normal taste in movies. And, right now, you’re anything but normal. Let me pick you up. That way I can see your new digs. Say, one o’clock?”

  “Shouldn’t we check the movie listings and times first?”

  “Let’s live dangerously. We’ll go to the Cineplex at the mall. There’s a movie starting up there about every fifteen minutes.”

  I gave her directions to my new house. “See you at one.”

  I had barely disconnected the call when the phone rang. Without looking at the screen, I pressed ‘talk’. “Audrey, are you all set for your not-a-date?”

  “Meg, it’s Thomas.”

  “Oh…uh… Hi.”

  “Francisco told me you were sitting outside the house last night.”

  Francisco is a little snitch—or something that ends in –itch. “I was driving through the neighborhood and saw the lights on. Looked like a party.”

  “Yes.”

  Not wanting to sound upset, I asked, “Did everyone miss me?”

  “These weren’t our friends, Meg. Most of those people are on your side. These were… They weren’t people you would know.”

  Our friends chose sides? And they chose my side? “New life, new friends.”

  “Did you need something last night?”

  “Nope. Not a thing. I came, I saw, I left.”

  He paused. “How are you feeling?”

  “Fine.”

  “Good. So, Audrey has a date that’s not a date?”

  I became uncomfortable with the efforts we were both making to have a conversation as if everything was normal. “Yeah, uh…look, I have to go. I’ll see you next Friday at Dr. Brodey’s office. Bye, Thomas.” I snapped the cell phone shut. And I wondered why, if our friends had chosen my side, I hadn’t heard from a single one of them.

  At one o’clock sharp I heard a car in the driveway. I opened the front door to see Kat emerge from her Mercedes. She chirped the car lock and smiled as I stepped out onto my front porch.

  “Are you ever early or late for anything?” I asked.

  “No. I’m perfect.” She removed her Kate Spade’s. “And so is this house. I love it, and the neighborhood.” She reached the top step and gave me a hug.

  “Come inside and I’ll give you the grand tour. It’ll take two minutes.” I proudly ushered Kat from room to room, showing off my new home. I saved the nursery for last. She grinned as she trailed her fingertips over the crib rail. “I’m so happy for you, Meg. About the baby, I mean.”

  “Thanks. Thomas bought the furniture and put it together while I was in Arizona.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “You say that like it was some magnanimous gesture on his part. This is his baby, after all.”

  “He’s trying, Kat. We’re both trying.” I looped an arm through hers and steered her toward the door. “I don’t want today to be about Thomas. Just two friends out for fun and a nice dinner.”

  We arrived at the mall and parked in what seemed to be the next county. “Is everyone here this afternoon?”

  Kat eased the car into a just-vacated parking space. “Looks that way. It’s Sunday afternoon.”

  At the theatre entrance, we perused the options. We both shook our heads at the romantic comedy and opted for suspense. As if life hadn’t been suspenseful enough. The movie wasn’t that great, but Leonardo was distracting enough to hold my attention.

  I blinked against the sunlight as we exited the theater. “What’s your pleasure for dinner?”

  “I don’t know. You have any cravings?” Kat asked.

  “Ice cream. But I should eat something more substantial first. How about Panera? I love their soup and salads. Then Bruster’s for dessert.”

  “Sounds great.”

  Kat made the turn onto the highway and headed for the strip mall that housed the Panera Bread Company. She insisted on dropping me off in front of the restaurant, then parking the car. While I waited for her to join me, I glanced through the shaded glass window at the display baskets of breads and rolls on a table inside. I lifted my eyes and gazed toward the counter. And my breath caught. Seated at a table to the right were Audrey and Julian. Audrey was laughing. My heart twisted at seeing her joy.

  Kat skipped over the curb and removed her sunglasses. “Why didn’t you go inside and get a table?” She studied my face. “Are you going to cry?”

  “Audrey’s in there with the guy I set her up with. I saw her laughing with him and…I don’t know…it touched me.” I dabbed at the corners of my eyes.

  Kat leaned close to the window and peered inside. “Oh, there she is. So, are we going in, or what?”

  “I don’t want to seem like I’m following them around. I mean, he’s a patient.”

  Her head whipped around so fast, I thought her neck with snap. “He’s…what?”

  “He’s a patient. I knew he’d be perfect for Audrey, so I maneuvered an introduction.”

  Kat stood with her hands braced on her hips. “Have you lost your mind? Or are you just trying to lose your license?”

  “It’s fine. He was very cool about the whole thing. He even met us at the opera and bought Audrey a drink.”

  Her eyes flashed. “You met your patient at the opera?”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Audrey and Julian both stand. “We have to go. Here they come.”

  But Kat snagged my arm. “Hold it. If this is all so kosher, why can’t we be seen? Maybe I’d like to meet your patient, too. Do you have another mildly disturbed man about my age?”

  “Julian’s not disturbed, he’s just—” The door swung open and Audrey exited the restaurant. She was still smiling. Until she saw me.

  “Meg? What are you doing here?”

  I stretched my mouth into the biggest smile I could muster. “Audrey. You remember Kat Newberry.”

  Audrey glanced away from my face only long enough to nod to Kat. Then she fixed her eyes back on me.

  “Aren’t you going to introduce Julian?” I asked.

  When Audrey didn’t respond, Julian stretched a hand past her and offered it to Kat, making his own introduction.

  “Kat and I were just about to have dinner. Imagine running into you two here. So far from the museum.”

  Julian seemed nonplussed by it all. He smiled and cupped a hand under Audrey’s elbow. “It was nice to meet you Kat. Meg, I’ll see you next week.” Then he asked, “Audrey, are you ready for dessert?”

  “Yes, I am.” She glared at me. “I’ll talk to you later, Meg. Bye, Kat.”

  I wanted to ask where they were going for dessert, but thought better of it. I watched Julian hold the car door open for Audrey. He waved at us before sliding into the driver’s seat.

  Kat grinned at me. “Busted.”

  I groaned. “Audrey’s going to kill me. And now my patient probably thinks I’m the one who needs a shrink.”

  “You already have one. Remember? And you know I hate that term.”

  I winced. “Sorry.” I opened the door to the restaurant and stepped into the coolness. “I swear if they’re at Bruster’s when we leave here, we’re driving right on by.”

  “And common sense kicks in. Finally.”

  We walked to the counter and placed our orders, then found an empty booth. Kat excused herself to find the restroom. I dug into my purse for my cell phone and turned it on. Four messages. Three were from Aunt Eleanor. That can’t be good.

  My heart thudded as I pressed ‘call’. “Aunt Eleanor, is everything okay?” I blurted as soon as she said ‘hello’.

  “Meg. Is Audrey with you?” Her voice sounded
tight, and my heart rate quickened.

  “No. Why?”

  “Are you alone?”

  “I’m at dinner with a friend. Why? What’s wrong? Did something happen to Dad?”

  “Honey, it’s your mother.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Kat drove in silence while I sat with our dinners in a brown bag in my lap. I repeatedly hit redial, trying to get through to Audrey’s cell phone. But she didn’t answer. “Dammit! She probably sees it’s me and is ignoring the call.”

  “Let’s just go to her place and wait for her. Okay?”

  I stared at my cell phone, willing Audrey to call me back. “Maybe I should call Thomas.”

  “Not a good idea.” Kat’s voice was steady, calm and reassuring. No wonder she was such a good psychiatrist. Which may come in handy in the next few hours.

  I nodded numbly. The baby kicked as if to jar me back to reality. Barely a flutter, but enough to grab my attention.

  Outside Audrey’s door, I removed my key ring from my purse and fumbled for the key. My hands trembled, and I couldn’t get the key into the lock. Kat took the clump of keys and inserted one into the lock, releasing it with an echoing click. She flung the door open and followed me inside. “You sit. I’ll put our food into the fridge and get you a glass of water.”

  But I couldn’t sit. I paced to the window and looked down to the street, watching for Audrey. My cell rang and I startled, lifting it to view the screen. I swallowed hard. “D-Daddy?”

  “Meg, honey. Don’t worry.”

  I slumped into a chair. “I can’t believe this. Not Mom. What happened?”

  “Heart attack. All this time she was takin’ care of me, and she didn’t even know she had a bad heart.” His voice quavered. “She’ll be okay.”

  I wanted to scream. My mother did not have a bad heart. She had a strong, beautiful, loving heart.

  Aunt Eleanor came on the phone. “Meg, your father’s too upset to talk. Give us a call after you find Audrey. I tried to reach her, too, but I had to leave messages. Your father’s going to be okay. They’re letting us in to see your mother now. I’ll let you know if there’s any change.”

  “Audrey should be home soon. Aunt Eleanor?”

  “Yes?”

  “You’ll stay with Daddy, won’t you? I don’t want him to be alone at the hospital.”

  “You know I will. Don’t worry.”

  Kat pressed a glass of water into my hand and rubbed my back. “You okay?”

  “No.” I closed my eyes and drew in a deep breath.

  The door opened and Audrey entered the apartment, smiling. But her smile quickly faded as she halted in the open door and looked from Kat to me. “What’s going on?”

  “Sit down, Audrey. We have to talk.”

  She dropped her purse onto the floor beside the sofa and sat. “What happened?”

  Kat lifted the glass from my trembling hand. “I’ll be in the kitchen.”

  Weariness overtook me as I met Audrey’s worried gaze. “Mom had a heart attack.”

  “Mom?” Color drained from Audrey’s face.

  “Aunt Eleanor tried to reach us both all afternoon. I turned my cell off when I went to the movie. Then I tried to call you—”

  “Oh, God. I let it go to voicemail. Julian and I laughed about you calling…” Her chin quivered and tears filled her eyes. “Is she…?”

  “Dad says she’s okay.” I tugged a wad of tissues from the box on the coffee table and passed them to her.

  Audrey rose and lurched unsteadily toward her bedroom. “We should pack. We need to fly down there right away.” She turned and crossed to the desk, turning on her computer. “I’ll check flights and book two tickets. You should go home and pack.”

  “Daddy asked us to wait until he knows more.” I got up and wrapped her in a hug. “It’s going to be okay.” But even I didn’t believe my words.

  Kat, Audrey, and I sat around the small dinette table, sipping tea Kat brewed and picking at our meals from Panera. I excused myself and, on the way to the bathroom, snatched my cell from the table. After using the bathroom, I slipped into the guest room and made a call. “Thomas?”

  “Meg. Look, I’m kind of busy right now. You okay?”

  “Not really.”

  “What? I can hardly hear you. I’m boarding a plane for Atlanta. I’ll call you later, after I get to my hotel.”

  “Wait. My mother…” A vise closed around my throat. “Thomas?” I murmured into the silence on the other end of the line. But he was gone.

  ~ * ~

  I sent Kat home with the promise to call once we knew more about my mother’s condition. When the phone rang an hour later, both Audrey and I jumped. She answered, waving for me to pick up the extension. “How’s Mom?” she asked.

  I put the phone to my ear in time to hear my father say, “She’s just fine. You can talk to her in a minute. The doctor said this was a mild heart attack and a warning. Hold on, she’s motioning for me to give her the phone.”

  “I’m fine.” My mother’s voice sounded weak.

  “Are you sure? Audrey and I can fly down,” I said.

  “The doctor says they’ll monitor me overnight and then send me home. I’m sure your father will take good care of me. I know you and Audrey are both busy.”

  Memories rolled through my mind of all the times my mother remained in the kitchen long after the rest of us had gone to bed so she could bake cupcakes for a school function the next day, the times she volunteered to chaperone a field trip. Days when she dropped everything and played checkers with me because I stayed home from school with a sore throat. The time she drove the two of us from Pittsburgh to the Maryland shore because Audrey wanted only one thing for her tenth birthday—to swim in the ocean—and my father couldn’t get away from work to join us. Before that trip, Mom had never driven alone farther than fifty miles from home.

  “Mom, we’re not too busy.” I arched an eyebrow at Audrey, who nodded in agreement.

  “Your father’s been planning to come up there to take care of some business with the rental property we own. As soon as the doctor releases me to travel, we’ll be there.”

  “Make sure the doctor knows how far you’ll be traveling, and ask him if you should fly or drive,” Audrey said. “Oh, and make sure he gives you enough medication and an emergency prescription to bring along in case you lose the bottle.”

  My mother chuckled. “Listen to the two of you being the mother here. I have to go. The nurse is here to check my blood pressure. We’ll call you tomorrow after I get home. Visiting hours are over, and I need to send your father on his way now. I love you girls.”

  “Love you, too, Mom,” Audrey and I said in near unison.

  Audrey set her phone into the cradle. “She sounds pretty good, don’t you think?”

  “I don’t know. I’m worried. Mom’s side of the family has such a history of heart problems. Most of her aunts and uncles died when we were kids. Remember? She was always going to someone’s funeral.” At least she knew those people, a voice in my head chided.

  I glanced at my watch. “Daddy will probably leave the hospital at the end of visiting hours. I’m going to wait here and we can call him at home. Mom’s the one who’s always taken care of everyone else. I’m not really sure Daddy knows how to make more than a sandwich or a frozen dinner, and those things are loaded with preservatives.”

  My cell released a muffled version of Ode to Joy from my pocket. “Hello.”

  “I just got to the hotel. What’s up?” Thomas sounded harried.

  What’s up? “Nothing. Never mind. It wasn’t important.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Just peachy. Sorry I bothered you earlier. Bye, Thomas.”

  The phone symphony started again, but I pressed the ‘ignore’ button and let it go to voicemail.

  Audrey stared at me—waiting.

  Shame warmed my cheeks. “I know. I know. I shouldn’t have called him earlier. But I was
in a panic about Mom, and it seemed natural to talk to Thomas.” I laughed. “There is nothing natural about my relationship with Thomas. There isn’t even a relationship anymore.”

  “Of course there is. Maybe not such a good one, but you and Thomas have a history you can’t just erase.” She frowned. “You’re going to have to find some way to at least be civil with him for the baby’s sake.”

  “Civil? There is nothing civil about what he did. He betrayed the most sacred trust between a man and a woman.”

  “I meant you’ll have to be able to get along at times. That’s all.”

  I sighed wearily. “Yeah, well…that’ll come in time, I suppose. Let’s call Daddy. He should be at home by now. Their apartment’s only three blocks from the hospital.”

  After talking with both Dad and Aunt Eleanor, I hugged Audrey goodnight and headed to the car. Before I pulled away from the curb, I took my phone from my purse and listened to my voicemail. Thomas’s voice was sharp. “Meg, don’t ever hang up on me. You called me in the first place. If something is wrong with the baby or you, I have a right to know. Call me back tonight.”

  I pressed the ‘off’ button. “Go to hell.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Three weeks later, Audrey and I stood together in baggage claim at the airport.

  “Here they come.” Audrey, who could see above the throng of people waiting for luggage, waved.

  I edged through the crowd, excusing myself and jostling anyone in my path. As Audrey and I approached, Mom smiled and opened her arms, pulling both of us into an embrace.

  “My girls.” She touched my expanding belly. “And my grandbaby.”

  My father stood behind her, looking ten years older. “Daddy,” I reached an arm out to him, drawing him in for a family hug.

  He patted my back then pulled away. “Okay, let’s give your mother some breathing space. I’ll get our bags.”

  “I’ll help you, Dad.” Audrey followed him.

  I directed my mother toward a row of plastic chairs. “Sit down.”

  “I’ve been sitting for two hours on the plane. I really should walk around. Let me look at you.” Her face beamed as she gazed at my belly. “You’re glowing. I’m so happy for you, and I can’t wait to be a grandma. I already told your father I’m flying up here in November before the baby comes. That is, if you want me here.”