Twins Under His Tree (6 page)

“You weren't the one who started it,” she admitted honestly. “I don't know what got into me.”

“You were grateful for a little help,” he said with a smile that didn't come from inside. “A
lot
of help,” she returned, gazing into his eyes like she used to.

“Are you going to be okay when Angie leaves for work?”

“I'll be fine. It's Raina's day off. She's coming over.”

He nodded, sure her friends would give her any help she needed, at least for a while. But he also knew Lily wouldn't want to burden them and she'd soon be taking all of it on herself.

They couldn't get involved for so many reasons. What if Lily ever saw his scars, learned his fears? The last
relationship he'd tried a few years ago hadn't worked because of all of it. Nothing had changed since then, and on Lily's part, her grief and her connection to Troy was sustaining her in some ways. Missing and longing for him meant loving him. She wasn't ready to let go of that. Still, Mitch didn't know how to walk away from her. He couldn't because he'd promised he wouldn't.

“I'll call you in a couple of days, just to see if Grace and Sophie are settling in. If you need anything, you have my number.”

She reached out and touched his arm, probably feeling the same wall he did, a wall they were both standing behind so they wouldn't get hurt.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

He left the Victorian again, realizing he didn't want her thanks. What he
did
want was still a mystery to him.

 

A few weeks later, Mitch was driving home from work when he decided to call Lily. They'd had a
brief
phone conversation last week because neither was comfortable with what had happened and they couldn't seem to get back on that “friend” footing. Now her cell phone rang and rang and rang until finally—a man picked up.

“Who is this?” Mitch asked, surprised by the male voice. A repairman, maybe? But why would he have Lily's cell phone?

“This is Craig Gillette. I'm the manager of Sagebrush Foods.”

“Sagebrush Foods? I don't understand. Where's Lily Wescott?”

“Mrs. Wescott had an incident in our store. She's okay now but…”

An incident? What the hell was that? “Put her on,” Mitch ordered.

Apparently speaking to the authority in Mitch's voice, the man said, “Sir, I can't right now. We've got two crying infants and she's feeling a little dizzy.”

Dizzy? “You tell her not to move. I'll be there in five.” Mitch didn't give the manager time to protest or approve. He stepped on the gas.

Minutes later Mitch rushed into the store, scanning the produce area. Rounding a corner, he spotted Lily in the canned goods aisle, holding a paper cup. There were cans of green beans all over the floor around the folding chair where she sat. The twins were ensconced in their stroller. Sophie's little face was screwed up in displeasure, but Grace seemed content for the moment to stare at the bright lights and rows of colorful cans.

Mitch let his training prevail rather than the fear that threatened his composure. In as calm a voice as he could muster, he asked, “What happened?” followed by, “Are you all right?”

Lily looked so pale, and all he wanted to do was lift her into his arms and carry her somewhere safe. But the twins were a concern, too, and he had to get to the bottom of what had happened.

“I just felt a little dizzy, that's all,” she said in a soft voice, taking another sip of water. “I haven't gotten much sleep lately and I ran out of diapers…” Grace reached out a little hand to her and Lily reached back.

He got the picture much too well and he didn't like what he saw. His guess? She'd felt faint and she'd run the stroller into the corner of the green beans display.

“Did she pass out?” he asked Gillette.

“No, sir. We wanted to call an ambulance, but she said she just needed to put her head down between her knees for a while—” He stopped when Lily gave him a scolding look as if he were divulging too much information.

Mitch went to Lily and crouched down beside her, looking her over with a practiced doctor's eye. “Be honest with me. Do I need to call an ambulance?”

There were deep blue smudges under both of her eyes. Her hair was a disheveled ponytail and she wore a sweatsuit. This wasn't the Lily he was used to, with her composed attitude, neat hairdos and tailored clothing.

Looking up at him, she forced a smile. She was clearly exhausted.

With his fingertips to her neck, he felt her pulse beating fast.

“Mitch,” she protested, turning her head.

His fingers stayed put. “Quiet for a few seconds,” he suggested.

Her pulse was definitely racing.

“No ambulance,” she said.

“Then tell me what's going on. But drink that water before you do.” He guessed she was dehydrated.

“You're acting like a doctor.”

“I'm also acting like a friend.”

Their gazes met and Mitch could see she was remembering their kiss as vividly as he was, even in these circumstances. Just friends? Not likely.

She didn't argue with him, but rather drank the cup of water.

“Are you still dizzy? Should I call Hillary?” Their colleague was her OB/GYN.

“No. I'm seeing her in a few days for a follow-up. I know what's wrong, Mitch. Not enough sleep, not enough liquids, probably not enough food. I forget to eat when I'm busy. Please don't scold.”

He would have, but he could see she realized what he'd known could happen all along—she was overwhelmed.

“Let's see if you can stand on your own.”

He held her around the waist and helped her to her feet. She felt slight to him. She'd definitely lost weight. He should have been checking in with her daily, no matter how uncomfortable things were between them. So much for looking after her.

His body was responding in ways it shouldn't as he kept his arm around her waist and they walked a few steps down the aisle.

“Do you think you can walk to your car on your own steam? I'll drive yours then walk back here for mine.”

“I drove over here for the diapers because I didn't want to bother anyone,” she muttered, then added fiercely, “I'm capable of walking to the car.”

At least she wasn't protesting him driving her home. He wanted her to understand the seriousness of what was happening to her. But that discussion would have to wait until she was on the sofa with her feet up and Sophie and Grace were fed and diapered.

In the house a while later, they sat on the sofa, hips practically touching, watching the babies in their cribs on the monitor. Mitch had found laundry in the washer and dryer, bottles in the sink, and had coaxed a little information from Lily. The babies now had a fussy spell that lasted from after Angie left in the evening until well after midnight. And they were nursing at least every
three hours. She
was
exhausted and dehydrated and had to do more to take care of herself. But she couldn't do that unless the twins needs were met first.

Mitch began, “You need help, Lily, and you've got to get it before you can't take care of Sophie and Grace. Hire an au pair who will stay at the house for free rent.”

He shifted so they weren't quite so close as he expected Lily to protest. She didn't. Rather, she just looked pensive. “I really hadn't thought about doing that. I don't know if Angie would like having a stranger move in.”

“She can probably see you need help, too, but doesn't know what to do about it. Talk to her. Talk to Raina and Gina. Maybe they'll know of someone who needs a job and is good with children. But you can't go on like this.”

“I know. Believe me, Mitch, I do. What just happened scared me. I just wish—” She swallowed hard. “If Troy were here—”

Mitch watched as she blinked fast and faced the cold splash of reality once more. He didn't know whether to cover her hand with his or move even farther away. Everything had become so complicated between them.

After a few moments of silence, Lily seemed to pull herself together. “Thinking about Troy…” She stopped. “His sister Ellie might be the perfect person to help me.”

“Isn't she in Oklahoma?”

“Yes, but Troy's mom and Ellie have wanted to visit. Maybe they could come and help out and maybe…” A smile bloomed on Lily's lips. “Maybe Ellie could stay! She could set up her web business from here. I'm going
to call Angie first. If she's agreeable, then I'll phone Ellie.”

Lily picked up the handset from the end table.

As she dialed a number, Mitch realized he should be happy she was going to get the help she needed. Yet part of him knew that if Troy's sister came to assist her, Lily could stay entrenched in the past instead of moving on.

That shouldn't matter to him. But it did.

L
ily hung up the receiver and glanced at the glass of juice Mitch had brought her, now empty. She knew better than to let herself become dehydrated. She knew better about a lot of things. She should be grateful Mitch had called right when he had. Troy had always maintained,
There are no coincidences.
She'd always laughed when he'd said it, but maybe he was right.

She found Mitch in the laundry room, pulling baby clothes from the dryer. “You don't have to do that,” she said.

He just arched one heavy brow at her and removed the last of the Onesies, settling them in the wash basket.

“I ordered takeout from the Yellow Rose.” He glanced at his watch. “It should be here in about fifteen minutes.”

“Takeout? But they don't deliver unless—”

“I ordered two dinners for tonight, and three more. You should have enough for a few days so you don't have to worry about cooking.”

She knew better than to protest. She should have ordered food herself. She'd intended to cook, but with Angie on the late shift, it had seemed a bother when she had so many other things to do. Still, almost fainting had scared her. She had to eat, drink and get some rest.

“That was a long phone conversation,” Mitch commented, carrying the laundry basket into the kitchen and then the living room.

“Just set it on the coffee table,” she said. “I have to divide the clothes. I keep some down here, and the rest upstairs.”

After he set it down, he asked, “So is the cavalry coming?”

She smiled. “Troy's mother is going to stay for a week. She doesn't want to leave his dad for longer than that. But Ellie will drive her here and stay as long as I need her. She said she could use a change of scene, and Texas seems like a good spot. She's going to bring her sewing machine and make baby clothes and get her website up and running while she's here. If the three of us get along well, she might stay indefinitely.”

“I assume since she makes baby clothes, she likes babies.”

“She worked at a day-care center for a while, so she's had more practical experience than
I
have.”

“I'm glad that's settled. When are they coming?”

“Next week.”

“And in the meantime?”

“In the meantime, I'll get by. But I'll take better care of myself.”

“That's a promise?”

“It's a promise.”

There was about six inches of space between them that seemed to be filled with all kinds of electricity. Lily couldn't understand why, when she was around Mitch now, every nerve in her body tingled a new message.

“Why don't you take out the clothes you want to keep down here, and I'll carry the rest upstairs.”

She took a few outfits from the basket and laid them on the coffee table. As Mitch lifted it again, she found her hand going to his forearm.

He pulled away and she realized she'd clasped his scarred and injured arm. “I'm sorry,” she said.

He put down the laundry and took a step closer to her. “There's nothing to be sorry about. I'm just not used to having anyone touch me there.”

“Does it hurt?”

“No.”

“Do you ever let anyone see it?” She didn't know why the personal question had rolled off her tongue so easily, but what had happened at the grocery store had solidified the bond between them.

“Do you?” she prodded. “You wear long sleeves, winter and summer.”

“Why does it matter?”

“Because we're friends and I'd like to know.”

His expression remained steady, his voice steely. “Most people can't handle seeing scars. They're fascinated by them, but they're afraid of them. They want to ask questions, but they turn away.”

“Do you think I'd turn away?”

The two of them were breathing the same air, standing in the same space, but a shield went up in Mitch's
eyes that sent him somewhere apart from her. Suddenly she suspected why.

“Have you been in a relationship since you returned from Iraq?”

He started to swivel away from her to go into the kitchen. She wouldn't let him evade her that easily. She didn't touch him this time, but just slipped in front of him so he couldn't take another step without running into her.

“Lily,” he said with exasperation. “I don't want to talk about it.”

“Have you ever talked about it…talked about
her?
”

“No.”

“Just as you haven't talked about Iraq.”

“That's right.”

Men!
Lily thought. Troy had been the same way. He hadn't spoken to her about his earlier deployments, and she hadn't pushed. She had imagined that he'd eventually confide in her. But they hadn't had time. And maybe if he had confided in her, she would have been more prepared—

“So don't talk about Iraq,” she conceded.

“But tell you about my love life?” Mitch asked, almost amused.

She realized how ridiculous she was being, when Mitch was a private man who didn't reveal much at all! “I guess I just need something to think about besides my own life right now.”

That shield was still in his eyes but his face took on a gentler look.

“Okay. I'll do this once.” He jammed his hands into his trouser pockets. “I was back over a year. I'd gotten a
fellowship in endocrinology in Dallas and met Charlene, who was a reporter for the local news. She wanted to do a story about my new specialty and why I was changing, but I told her no. After a few tries and a few conversations, we started going out. I wore long sleeves most of the time then, too. One night I took her out to dinner. Afterward, things progressed naturally but when we got to the bedroom and I took off my shirt— She couldn't bear to see my scars, let alone touch them. That's when I realized reality was just a little too difficult for most people to handle.”

“Most
women,
” Lily murmured, realizing how little emotion Mitch had put into that recital. “That's what you meant to say.”

“Maybe I did.”

“Not every woman is the same.” She could see right away that he didn't believe that. “The scars are more extensive than on your arm and hand,” she guessed.

“Yes. They're on my shoulder, back and side, too.”

Lily thought about what he'd said but kept her gaze from falling to his shoulder, or to his flat stomach. She was feeling almost dizzy again. Could that be from imagining Mitch without his shirt? Was she different from that reporter? Would extensive scars make her want to turn away?

The doorbell rang.

Mitch took a step back, looking…relieved? Was
she
relieved that the personal conversation was over? Or did she
want
to delve deeper? Somehow she knew Mitch wouldn't let her do that. At least, not tonight.

“So what's for dinner?” she asked brightly, knowing the Yellow Rose delivery had arrived at the door.

Getting to know Mitch any better would mean ties
she might not want…problems she didn't need. Getting to know Mitch better could lead to another kiss.

Neither of them wanted that—right?

 

Lily's cavalry arrived and Mitch stayed away. He knew it was best for both of them.

Almost a month after the grocery store incident, he received a call as he sat at the desk in his spare bedroom, ready to check email and eat dinner—a slice of pizza and a beer. When he recognized the number on his cell phone, he quickly swallowed his mouthful of pizza and shut down his email program.

“Hey, Lily. How's it going?”

When he'd called to check on her a couple of weeks before, Troy's mother had just left Lily's home and Ellie was settling in. Mitch had known Lily didn't need him there, or even want him there. He knew what had probably gone on while Troy's family was with her—lots of remembering.

It was best that he stay on his side of town and not interfere.

“Darlene and Ellie have been wonderful. They gave me a chance to pull myself back together, get my diet straightened out and find a sleep schedule. And Ellie's definitely going to stay. Angie really likes her, and we all get along great.”

After a long pause, she asked, “Why haven't you been over lately?”

“I really didn't think you needed another visitor. Besides, the practice is picking up. I've been working late many nights.”

“The beginning of May is a time for growth and
thinking about the future. I can see why the practice picks up this time of year. I miss it.”

“I thought you might.”

“Don't get me wrong, I love taking care of Grace and Sophie. Doing that, even with Ellie here, is enough to keep me busy all day. But working with you and Hillary and Jon and the staff is part of my life, too.”

“So you're coming back?”

“I have to, Mitch. I'm going to see how the summer goes with Ellie, then I'll give you all a definite date.”

Lily sounded less frazzled, more peaceful, maybe even a bit happy. He guessed the babies were bringing her joy, not just work, and that was lifting her up, fulfilling her in a new way.

She went on, “They're both cooing. And they're fascinated by their mobiles. You've got to come see them, Mitch, and meet Ellie.”

Ellie was Lily's family now, along with her friends. He would bet a week's pay that their first meeting was going to be…uncomfortable. He thought about what type of visit this should be, how much time he should spend with Ellie and Lily, how much time with the twins.

“Have you been out of the house much?”

“Nope. The twins keep me a prisoner,” she said with a laugh. “Seriously. I went to the grocery store again last week. This time I made it without knocking anything over. But that's been about it.”

“Would tomorrow night be convenient?” he asked. “I could meet Ellie, see how the babies have grown, then take you for a drive. In fact, we could drive to the lake to hear the outdoor concert. How does that sound?”

“That sounds wonderful! But you realize, don't you,
I'm going to have to call back here every fifteen minutes to see what the twins are doing.”

“That's a mother's prerogative. Why don't you check with your housemates to see if they mind your leaving, then give me a call back. I think the concert will be a nice break for both of us.”

“Your idea sounds perfect. I'll get back to you shortly.”

“I'll talk to you soon,” Mitch said and hung up.

He didn't know whether to hope for this idea to go through or not. It could become more than a casual outing. Then he grabbed hold of reality again. Not if they
wanted
only casual. After all, it would be easy to stay casual. Lily could tell him all about the memories she and Troy's mother and sister had stirred up during their visit.

Casual would be the theme of the evening.

 

“How long have you been working with Lily?” Ellie asked on Saturday evening.

He'd arrived a short time before and looked in on the twins, who'd been finishing their supper. They were asleep in their bassinets now and Lily had gone upstairs to change.

Studying Ellie, he noticed she wore her light brown hair in a short, glossy bob that swung against her cheek. The style accentuated her heart-shaped face. At twenty-six, she was ten years younger than the brother she obviously missed.

Mitch tried to answer her question without becoming defensive. After all, who could blame her for watching out for her sister-in-law. “We've worked together for two and a half years.”

“Troy mentioned you,” she admitted. “Something about playing pool at the Silver Spur Grill.”

“We did.”

“He said you were in Iraq and had to leave the Guard for medical reasons.” She looked him over as if expecting to find his injury and her gaze settled on his hand. She quickly looked away.

“I did,” he answered crisply, not intending to go into
that,
even for Troy's sister. The screws the doctor had put in his shoulder and leg, his missing spleen, never mind the damage to his arm and hand, had shut down his ability to serve. Most of the time, no one could tell he'd been injured.

It was time to go on the offensive with Ellie. “Lily tells me you worked in a day-care setting.”

“For a while,” she responded.

If he got her talking, she might relax. “But you like to sew?”

Looking surprised that he knew a detail like that, she responded, “I started making customized outfits for gifts for friends and relatives. They became so popular, I was getting orders. That's when I decided to open the store. At first I did pretty well, but then when harder times hit, even folks who had the money for those kind of clothes decided to spend it elsewhere.”

“I hope your web-based business takes off for you.”

“I hope so, too. But in the meantime, I'm going to enjoy taking care of Grace and Sophie. Did you spend much time with them when you brought Lily home from the hospital?”

She clearly wasn't giving up on turning over every leaf of his association with Lily. But he didn't have
anything to hide—not really. “Two babies are a handful. That's why I think it's important Lily get away for a bit tonight.”

Ellie's green eyes canvassed his face as if searching for motives. Finally, she admitted, “I'm glad the weather turned warm enough.”

At that moment, Lily came down the stairs.

Automatically, Mitch turned her way. She was wearing blue jeans and a red blouse with a yellow wind-breaker tossed over her arm. She'd fashioned her hair with a clip at the nape and she looked…fantastic. Her blue eyes seemed even bluer tonight as she gave him a tentative smile. He couldn't look away and she seemed to be as immobilized as he was…

…Until Ellie cleared her throat and asked, “How long do you think the concert will last?”

Lily burst into motion, as if in denial that the moment of awareness had ever happened. “Oh, we won't stay for the whole concert, and I'll call in to check with you. That's the nice thing about going to the lake. I don't have to worry about anybody being bothered if I make phone calls during the concert. Since this is the first concert of the season, the audience will be sparse. So call me if the least little thing is wrong, or you think I should come home.”