The Secret Heir

Jackson sighed, wondering if he was in for another chilly session with his wife. Was it his fault that Chandra had a catty streak that showed up even when she was making an effort to be nice?

Laurel would probably figure that it was, he thought glumly, and then turned his attention back to his visitors.

She wasn’t jealous, Laurel assured herself again back in her chair in Tyler’s unit. So what if Chandra was younger, perkier and bustier? So what if she had a habit of looking at Jackson as if he were some sort of exotic, forbidden dessert? Jackson wasn’t weak enough nor foolish enough to be taken in by that sort of thing. And besides, he was too honorable even to consider breaking his marriage vows, something his staunchly moral father would have flatly condemned.

Still, Laurel would have liked to be sure that Jackson’s fidelity had more to do with his devotion to his wife than to his desire to live up to his father’s high standards.

One of the monitors connected to her son began to emit a high-pitched beep, making Laurel jump and half rise out of her chair. Before she could call a nurse, someone was there.

The nurse pushed a button to mute the alarm, then swiftly and efficiently changed an empty IV bag. Murmuring something reassuring to Laurel, she checked Tyler’s breathing and readings, then left the unit just as Jackson came back in.

“Is there a problem?”

Laurel shook her head. “One of the IV bags had to be changed. Everything else seemed okay.”

“Have they said anything more about taking him off the respirator?”

“No one’s mentioned it yet. I guess they’re waiting for a doctor to check in.”

Jackson frowned and glanced at his watch. “If we don’t hear something soon, I’m going to start asking questions until I get answers.”

She eyed his face, then glanced down at her lap, saying gruffly, “Maybe you’d like to wipe the lipstick off your face before you start throwing your weight around. People tend to take you more seriously when you aren’t smeared with Kiss Me Crimson.”

Though she wasn’t looking at him, she suspected he flushed a little when he reached up to swipe at his cheek with the back of his hand. “Chandra gave me a kiss on the cheek on her way out. One of those meaningless social kisses people toss around so easily these days. She’d have done the same to you if you’d hung around.”

“Not if she wanted to keep her lips,” Laurel muttered beneath her breath.

“What was that?”

“Nothing.”

“Laurel, you can’t seriously believe—”

She stood abruptly. “I think Tyler just frowned. Do you think he’s in pain?”

“I think you’re changing the subject.” But Jackson also stood and moved to Tyler’s bedside, studying the boy closely. After a moment, he said, “I don’t believe he’s feeling any pain, at least not consciously. He’s too deeply sedated.”

She wanted so badly to gather her baby into her arms and rock him, but she couldn’t, of course. Not with all the tubes and needles and monitors stuck in him and on him. She contented herself with stroking his hair. Maybe he sensed her touch; the slight frown she had noticed earlier faded, leaving his little forehead smooth again.

“He seems to know you’re here,” Jackson murmured, unconsciously echoing her thought.

“I hope so.”

“You’re a good mother, Laurel.”

She bit her lip to the point of pain as all her maternal insecurities flooded through her again. Would a good mother have missed the signs that her son was sick? Wouldn’t a

good mother have been content to stay at home with her child rather than going back to work even when they didn’t really need the money she earned?

Was Jackson only mouthing words he didn’t truly believe?

“I do my best” was all she could say.

But standing here now, looking at her unconscious son, she couldn’t help wondering if her best was good enough.

Tyler’s breathing tube was removed that evening. Because of potential complications of intubation, the doctors wanted the child breathing on his own as soon as possible, a sentiment with which Laurel heartily concurred. She was glad it hadn’t been necessary for him to remain on the machine overnight.

Jackson and Laurel were asked to leave for a while to allow the medical professionals room to work, and were assured that they would be allowed back in as soon as Tyler was settled again. She hadn’t been out of the hospital in days, so Laurel allowed Jackson to persuade her to go for a walk in the meditation garden.