Damian chugged the bottle of beer Gus handed him. Hot and sticky from the day’s work, the liquid cooled his mouth and throat as it slid to his stomach. “Another one, Gus.”
This time, he took the bottle dripping with ice from the cooler to a table near a window and sat.
Ten days since Kerry left for Tulsa to pack up her belongings and move to Albuquerque.
They’d talked a few times on the phone. He knew she’d had friends help her pack up, and she’d already had an offer on her house in Tulsa. It had taken her two days to drive from Tulsa to Albuquerque, and despite his request, she hadn’t stopped in Amarillo.
With the way things stood between them, maybe it was for the best. The last he’d heard, she had settled into her new place and spent her days easing the pain and discomfort of laboring mothers.
His black mood, however, hadn’t changed since she’d left. He’d stormed away from his dad more than once during arguments over silly things, and almost came to blows with one of his employees over something he couldn’t even remember.
He worked himself to the bone during the day, hoping to sleep. But even with the fatigue the hard days brought, he tossed and turned most nights. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Kerry. Laughing, teasing, and lying beneath him with passion-filled eyes. Then the midwife Kerry, giving orders, soothing Bev, holding a newborn infant in her hands as their eyes connected.
“Hi there, cowboy. How ya been?”
Dorothy Lee, who he’d dated briefly last summer, pulled out a chair and plopped into it, chomping away on a piece of gum. She leaned her elbow on the table, and moved closer, the overwhelming scent of her perfume causing his eyes to water.
“Hi, Dorothy Lee. I’m doing okay. You?” He tilted the beer bottle and took a sip.
“You sure don’t look okay. In fact, the last few times I saw ya in here, you were lookin’ downright miserable.” She ran her pink tongue over bright red lips. “Thought maybe you could use a little cheerin’ up. You know what I mean?” Her delicate hand flicked long blonde curls over her shoulder.
A mere few weeks ago, he would’ve taken her up on the blatant offer and eased some of his stress with a good, hardy tumble. And if anyone could give a cowboy a memorable ride it was Dorothy Lee. There was only one problem. The voluptuous blonde, with the huge blue eyes and very talented mouth, wasn’t Kerry.
Shit. Maybe he should take her up on her suggestion. Maybe that’s what he needed. A way to forget the woman who blew him off. Kerry was having a great time in Albuquerque, most likely meeting new people, perhaps even dating. His stomach knotted.
Dorothy Lee’s long, pink fingernails ran up and down his arm. “So, what do you say? Should we cut out? Go to your place? Or mine?”
What the hell, why not? She was hot, willing, and knew how the game was played. No promises, no guarantees with Dorothy Lee.
He drained the beer, pushed back his chair and stood. “Sure, darlin’. Your place is fine.”
****
“Time to go, sweetie. I’ll take over from here.” Blanche Davis, Kerry’s shift relief, entered the room where Madeline—the young first-time mom—labored.
She moved from behind the computer screen and cast an encouraging smile at the young mother.
Madeline grabbed Kerry’s hand. “Oh, please don’t leave. I’m scared. You have to stay here with me.”
With a slight twinge of guilt, she wiped the girl’s forehead with a wet cloth. Another unwed, probably still in high school mother, laboring all by herself. No boyfriend or mother with her. So sad. “You’ll be fine, Maddy. Blanche is a wonderful nurse, and she’ll take good care of you.”
Fat tears rolled down Maddy’s youthful, freckled face. “But I want you.”
Blanche stepped forward, took the cloth from Kerry’s hand and motioned with her head toward the door. She returned her attention to the girl. “Now, honey, you don’t need to worry. I’ll be here with you, and it looks like you’re doing fine.”
She left, confident the new mother was in good hands. But what about when the girl returned home with an infant, not being much more than a baby herself? She shook her head. Too young to throw away the best years of her life to raise a child. And apparently without much help.
Her eyes watered and she blinked several times as she exited the hospital, the bright sunlight hurting her eyes. After fishing around in her purse, she plucked out her sunglasses and slid them on. She headed to the shuttle bus that would take her to the employee’s parking lot.
A quick glance at her watch confirmed it was three-forty-five. Hours lay ahead of her with nothing to occupy her time. Except thoughts of Damian. As usual when he entered her mind, the tears came unbidden. She blinked them away.
She’d made her decision. And she was happy with it.
Sure you are. That’s why you can’t sleep and haven’t unpacked one single box.
Kerry sighed at the annoying little voice, and climbed aboard the bus. She and Damian had talked a few times, but she always hung up with a heavy heart. As much as she’d like to deny it, she was in love with Damian Greer. With his warm smile, gentle touch, and caring ways.
When he’d suggested she stop at his place on her way to Albuquerque, she was sorely tempted. Ha! Not tempted—she’d actually driven right to the end of his driveway, then sped away in a panic before he could see her.