“Well, no,” he said sheepishly.
Mr. Vick pushed some markers his way and winked. “I’ll show him.” Again, there was a wheezing with every word, then a short coughing fit.
She grinned at Sean. “Have fun.”
For the next hour she called numbers. Sean even won a game. He whooped and put a hand in the air, pumping it in a sign of victory. He smiled broadly as he came to the front to receive his prize. There was friendly ribbing among the crowd over the possibility of her cheating so he could win. A few games later Rose called an end to the play.
As Cynthia boxed up the supplies Sean approached her. “So I’m guessing by your reaction to winning you’re now a fan of bingo. Another first for you too.”
“I have to admit I had a good time.” There was a twinkle in his eye.
“That’s what’s important.” She smiled at him.
His face turned serious. “Do you think Mr. Vick trusts you enough that he’d let me examine him if you asked?”
“I guess so. Is something wrong?” She glanced at the older man starting for the door.
“I think I know what might be causing that wheeze he has. It could be serious if it isn’t taken care of.”
Cynthia didn’t hesitate before calling, “Mr. Vick.” He turned to face them. “Wait up a minute, would you?” She and Sean walked toward him. “Mr. Vick, I was wondering if you would tell us about when your wheeze started? Sean here is a doctor and he’s curious.”
The man looked stricken and raised his hand to his throat.
Cynthia gave him a reassuring touch on the arm. “It’s okay. Nothing’ll happen you don’t agree to.”
“Mr. Vick, did you hurt your throat some time ago?” Sean asked, studying the man closely.
The grizzled man nodded.
“I’m a doctor who takes care of those types of things. I think you might have the beginnings of a real problem. I’d like to examine your throat.”
Mr. Vick started shaking his head. “Don’t like doctors.”
“I can understand that but I promise I’ll just touch your throat and look down it. Nothing more.”
“I’ll be right here with you. I promise Sean will be easy on you,” Cynthia added confidently. She knew his tenderness first hand.
The man looked from her to Sean and back again, then nodded.
“Cynthia, would you see if you can find me a flashlight?” Sean had turned into a medical professional on a mission.
“There should be one in the kitchen. I’ll be right back.” She hurried off and returned minutes later.
Sean had Mr. Vick sitting in a chair and was slowly moving his fingers along his throat.
“Here you go.” Cynthia handed him the flashlight.
“Mr. Vick, please open your mouth as wide as you can.” Sean shined the light into the man’s mouth. Seconds later he straightened and turned off the light. “Mr. Vick, you have a tracheal stenosis. I’m afraid it can be serious. Have you had pneumonia more than once?”
A wheezy “Yes” came from the man.
“You’ll have it again. It will get worse each time you have it. You’ll start having to stay in the hospital. I could help you if you would let me.” Sean waited as if the man saying yes was extremely important to him.
Mr. Vick took some time before he asked, “How?”
“It’s a pretty simple procedure done with a laser. You’ll need to stay one night in the hospital but that’s about it.”
Mr. Vick stood. “Let me think about it.”
“If money is the problem, don’t worry about it.”
Cynthia’s heart swelled. Sean might not believe in spending money on frivolous things but he would take care of a veteran without batting an eye.
Sean pulled his wallet out, found a card and handed it to him. “This has my office number on it. Call and make an appointment when you get ready. Tell them I told you to call.”
“Okay.” The ever-present wheeze was there.
“But don’t wait too long,” Sean added as Mr. Vick walked away.
“Do you think he’ll call?” Cynthia asked.
“I hope so. Sooner rather than later.” Sean turned to her. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yeah, just as soon as I put the bingo stuff up in the cabinet.” She started toward the box sitting on the table up front.
Minutes later they were on their way out of the door into the dimly lit parking lot. Cynthia walked toward her car and Sean followed beside her. She didn’t want their time together to end but she was unsure what she should do next. What was happening between them was too new. When they arrived at her car she faced him. “It was sure a nice surprise to see you tonight. Real nice.”
Sean stepped closer, forcing her back against the door. “Nice enough that I can get a thank-you kiss?”
Her arms went around his neck and she went up on her toes to give it to him. Seconds later Sean pulled her tightly against him as he took charge of the kiss. All she’d experienced that morning had been real.
“I can’t seem to get enough of you,” he whispered with wonder in his voice.
She gazed at his face. “I missed you too. Thanks for the email.”
“You’re welcome.” His lips found hers again.
When a couple of veterans walked by them, she and Sean broke apart.
“Hey, are you hungry?” Sean asked. There was a desperate note in his voice. As if he wanted to hang onto her longer.
“A little,” she admitted.
“How about going for dessert?” He took her hand and pulled her toward his car parked a couple of spots away.
She giggled. “Okay.”
* * *
Sean found a diner not far away. He wasn’t going to let Cynthia go for the night until he had to. He led her to a back corner booth. When she stopped in the middle of the seat he said, “Scoot over,” and sat next to her.
Cynthia was obviously pleased with his decision. She smiled brightly. There was a rightness about being next to her that had him thinking of more than just tonight.
When the waitress came to take their order they both asked for a slice of pecan pie. She ordered hot tea and he a coffee.
Taking her hand under the table, he brought it to his thigh and held it there. He wished he could find some way to have her to himself for just a little while. They both had busy lives but hers seemed as if it were wrapped up in doing for everyone but herself. He liked that she cared, had such a big heart, but she needed to move forwards in life. He knew from pleasurable experience that all of the business covered up an uninhibited Cynthia who was amazing.
She leaned her head against his shoulder and squeezed his bicep. “It’s so nice to see you.”
He smiled. “I couldn’t stay away.”
Cynthia turned to him. “What about your grant? How much did you get done on it?”
His look held hers. “Surprisingly a whole lot. Maybe it was because I was so anxious to see you and wouldn’t let myself leave until I reached my goal for the night.”
“So I was the prize?”
“You were.” He kissed her.
The waitress brought their order. Just as Cynthia was about to take her first bite of pie she asked in a worried tone, “What time is it?”
Sean checked his watch. “Nine fifteen.”
“Oh, no, I’m late.” She started burrowing through her pocketbook.
Sean put down his coffee cup, preparing to leave. “For what?”
“To check in with my brothers. We do it every night at nine if one of us is out.” She tapped a number on her phone.
Her obsession with her brothers was a little over the top. He understood concern or caring to a point but it was as if she couldn’t accept that her brothers were grown men. If her relation
ship with him went further, could she let go of them enough to share her life with him?
As she spoke to Mark then Rick Sean finished his pie and coffee.
Done, she smiled at him and pulled her pie plate to her.
“Help out veterans and check on your brothers. You’re always taking care of someone. Who takes care of you?”
She shrugged. “I guess I do. I just do what my mother did. What my father encouraged us to do. See about each other.”
“That must be hard doing everything by yourself. I don’t see how that leaves much time for that fun you keep talking about.”
She looked at him over the rim of her tea cup. “Sometimes that is hard to find. But I try.”
Sean put his arm across the back of the seat. Her shoulder brushed the tips of his fingers and that was all it took for his body to react. How long could he endure sitting so close without kissing her again?