Always (29 page)

      The roar grew louder.

      "You did
what
?" Sue asked. "You mean you
want
to stay in Digby?"

      Ryan released a long sigh, which Patches echoed.

      "More than anything," Jeremy continued. "And, Taylor, the mayor said yes. As soon as we get the contracts drawn up and signed, you're free to go to Denver."

      "I see." Taylor couldn't bring herself to look at Gordon. After their incredible reunion, the last thing she wanted was to leave him. But what about her dream? This was a huge and incredible opportunity. How could she turn her back on this?

      She glanced from Jeremy to Sue, realizing she had to agree. It was, after all, what she'd always wanted.

      Wasn't it?

      And Sue and Jeremy belonged together. She smiled and drew a deep breath. "Well, I don't want to make any decision without talking to the folks at Children's Hospital first." That would buy her a little time.

      "Yes, definitely." Sue squirmed, obviously uncomfortable with this discussion. "And I think Jeremy should think this over before–"

      "I have thought it over." He took Sue's hand and held it in both of his. "I've done nothing but think about Digby." He smiled. "And you."

      "Yuck," Ryan whispered, and all the adults chuckled nervously.

      "You know, I believe that bear has taken a hike," Jeremy said.

      Taylor turned to look at Gordon and her breath froze in her throat. The expression on his face ripped her heart out. He averted his gaze and reached for the door handle.
 

      "I'll get that back door open this time," he said.
 

      Then he was gone.

      "I'm going, too." Ryan jerked open the door and scrambled out with Patches.

      "Make lots of noise, Ryan," Sue called when her dive to stop her son failed. She looked at Taylor and shrugged. "Can you believe I'm telling him to make more noise than usual?"

      Taylor gave a sad smile and met Jeremy's gaze. "Did I...screw up?" he asked.

      She sighed and tilted her head to one side. "I...I'm just in a state of be careful what you wish for, Jeremy." She gave him a sad smile and Sue reached for her hand. "That's all."

      "Well, I suppose I'll get out with the...men." Jeremy flashed a boyish grin and opened his door. He leaned over and gave Sue a peck on the cheek. "And I promise to make lots of noise."
 

      The door closed and Taylor said, "My God, he's actually charming. What have you done to him?"

      Sue laughed. "He's wonderful. Taylor, do you believe in love at first sight?"

      Taylor squeezed Sue's hand and drew a deep breath. "If you'd asked me that question a month ago, I would've said no."

      "Now?" Sue's eyes were wide and expectant.

      "Now, seeing you and Jeremy, I have to say definitely yes."

      Sue's hundred watt smile illuminated the inside of the Jeep. "Thanks."

      "You're very welcome." She sighed. "And thank you for making me talk to Gordon."

      "Is everything okay now with you two?"

      Taylor blinked back the tears stinging her eyes and cleared her throat. "For just a little while, everything was perfect." She rubbed her aching forehead. "Absolutely
 
perfect."

      "Oh."

      Jeremy returned to the Jeep and opened the door. Poking his head inside, he said, "It's all clear now and the front door's open, thanks to Ryan."

      "Ryan?"

      "Yeah, he fit through the basement window." Jeremy chuckled and held his hand out while Sue slid out of the backseat.
 

      Taylor climbed from the Jeep and shivered. The sky was dark and brooding again like her mood, and she was no longer alone with Gordon. Even so, they were surrounded by good friends, and she had some important decisions to make. Being alone with Gordon would cloud her judgment.

      She had to think with her head, not her heart.

*
 
*
 
*

      Gordon looked in the mirror in his office and straightened his tie. He'd be late for the wedding if he didn't leave right now. A soft knock on the door startled him. He didn't have time to deal with anything right now. Flustered, he opened the door and found Mike Bowen wearing a very serious expression.

      "Mike, aren't you supposed to be at the church?"

      "Yeah, but so are you." He inclined his head. "Got a
 
minute?"

      Gordon nodded. "Come on in. They can't start without us."

      Mike sat in a chair across from Gordon's desk while he leaned on the edge of it with his arms folded across his abdomen. "What's up?"

      "I was talking to Taylor last night," Mike said, "and she told me about..."

      "Us?"

      "No, but we're going to get to that in a minute, too." Mike grinned, then shook his head. "She told me about Ryan–about how Sue got..."

      "Pregnant?" Gordon nodded. "Go on, I'm listening."

      Mike gave a nervous laugh and raked his hands through his hair. "I came back from college for your graduation."

      "Yeah, I remember."

      "Sue was partying with me and Rick Miller that night."

      "Are you saying Rick–"

      "No, he would have taken responsibility. You know that." Mike shook his head, a stricken expression on his face. "It was me, Gordon. We were both plastered–dumb teen-age stuff–and after Rick went home, Sue and me, we..." He rolled his eyes. "And
she
doesn't remember."

      "Oh, God." Gordon released a breath and rubbed the back of his neck. "Man, I had no idea."

      "And I didn't know she was pregnant." Mike stood and paced the room. "How could I have known? My family moved away, Taylor wouldn't talk about why she left, but the minute I heard the story of how Sue ended up pregnant..."

      "You knew."

      Mike nodded. "And how am I going to tell her?"

      "You have a family now, Mike," Gordon said soberly. "Sue has a right to that, too, but she also has a right to the truth."

      "Yes, and Ryan's my son." Mike's eyes flashed. "My
son
."

      "Well, after Sue and Jeremy come back from their honeymoon, you'll have to tell them the truth, then let them decide how to tell Ryan."

      Mike nodded. "I never would've let her do this alone if I'd known."

      "Of course not." Gordon shoved away from the desk and patted Mike on the shoulder. "That means Ryan's about to get a step-dad, a birth dad, and an aunt."
Taylor.

      "And grandparents in Florida." Mike laughed again, then smiled. Really smiled. "They'll be thrilled."

      "And your wife?"

      Mike's expression sobered. "She'll be all right with this. We have a good marriage, and Sue happened a long time before I met her. Thanks, Gordon."

      "Did your family drive up with you?" Gordon said as they moved by mutual and silent consent toward the door.

      "Yeah, they're at the church. Taylor drove up on her own." Mike paused outside and gave Gordon a questioning look. "She's miserable, you know."

      
She's not the only one
. "This is her dream, Mike." He shook his head. No reason to be evasive with Mike. He knew how much Taylor meant to Gordon. "Loving her meant letting her go."

      "Cut the noble shit," Mike said. "For once in your life, be selfish, Gordon. You're crazy about each other, and it's high time one of you stopped making sacrifices and decided to take what you want from life. You're a couple of frigging martyrs."

      Taken aback, Gordon stared long and hard at Taylor's brother. "Yeah, you have a point, and I appreciate your advice," he said. "And I promise to think it over after the wedding. Honest."

      "Taylor's staying up here to cover for Jeremy at the new clinic while they're honeymooning." Mike sighed and looked at his watch. "If we don't get the move on Sue will kill us both and we won't have to worry about anything anymore."

      Gordon chuckled and climbed into Henrietta to follow Mike across town to the church. Mike's lecture replayed itself through his head all through the ceremony.

      He watched Ryan walk Sue down the aisle. The kid had decided that Jeremy wasn't half-bad after learning that he could fish
and
ride a horse. Jeremy had even helped Taylor diagnose Patches' allergy to Ryan's down comforter, which explained why the dog's condition worsened with cooler weather. Some bird dog.
 

      And, most important of all, as Ryan had announced in a very grown-up way, Dr. Dweeb made his mom smile.

      
What could be more perfect?

      Gordon stood up as Jeremy's best man, but his gaze kept drifting beyond the bride and groom to Taylor. He caught her gaze once and held it for a lingering moment. She was the most beautiful maid of honor who'd ever lived, he decided.
 

      After the service, he took her arm and followed the newlyweds back down the aisle. His mother surprised him by giving a thumbs-up signal as they passed. Priscilla Lane was in her glory, playing surrogate mother of the bride to the hilt, and entertaining Jeremy's disapproving blue blood parents while they were in town. Had her thumbs-up gesture been because of the successful ceremony, or for Gordon and Taylor?

      It felt wonderful to hold Taylor's arm close to his side. He'd missed her every minute of every day and night since she left Digby only a month ago. Thank goodness Sue and Jeremy's wedding and honeymoon had brought her back, even if it was only for two weeks.

      
She's miserable, you know.

      God help him, so was he. Maybe Mike was right.

*
 
*
 
*

      Taylor walked the Kenners to the waiting room of the Eddington Clinic after removing Adam's cast. The boy gave her a hug and a sticky kiss at the door. Tears clouded Taylor's vision for a moment, but she blinked them away.

      "You be careful a while longer," she said, and gave his mother a reassuring smile. "No tree-climbing or bike-riding for at least a week."

      Mrs. Kenner rolled her eyes and thanked Taylor, then left the clinic with her mended child. Envy spread through Taylor unbidden as she watched mother and son climb into the cab of a
 
pick-up truck. Would she ever have a child of her own?

      With a sigh, she turned to see Jeremy's receptionist deftly handle another phone call. He'd hired Sally Bradshaw to run the office at the clinic, and she was doing a pretty decent job, too. Goldie lifted her head and blinked at Taylor, then resumed her nap.

      "Got an emergency, Dr. Bowen," Sally said, feeling the edges of her memo pad with her fingers and tearing off a slip of paper. "Let me know if you can't read that, and I'll translate."
 

      "You're a goddess, Sally." Taylor took the note and frowned. "Isn't this...?"

      "Yep, it's Gordon's cabin all right. No other houses out that way."

      "Yeah, I know." Worry slithered through Taylor. The message read:
Matter of life and death–come at once.

      "That's it? What kind of emergency?" Taylor folded the note and put it in her pocket. "Was it Gordon who called?"

      "Nooooo." Sally bit her lower lip. "I think it was Ryan."

      "Ryan?" Priscilla was taking care of Ryan.
 
Maybe the boy had gone to Gordon's cabin and had some kind of accident. Her nephew. Ryan.

      "I'm gone. Hold down the fort."

      "You know it." Sally waved as Taylor practically flew by her desk.
 

      Taylor hurried to Jeremy's office, yanked off her lab coat, grabbed her bag, then raced out to her car. All the way up Gordon's mountain, her heart thundered to the cadence of her worry.
 

      Either Gordon or Ryan was hurt. Ryan wouldn't have called for anything less.

      Both Jeeps were parked in front of the cabin when she arrived, but no other vehicles. Taylor grabbed her bag and jumped from her car, then threw open the door to Gordon's cabin without bothering to knock.

      He looked up from the ledger on his roll top desk, his eyes widening in obvious surprise. "Taylor?"

      "Where's Ryan?" she asked. "Is he hurt?"

      Gordon rose, shaking his head. "Ryan isn't here." He frowned. "What made you think–"

      The phone rang and he answered it. "Yeah, Taylor's here, Sally. Just a sec."

      He held the phone out to her. "Your office."

      She took the phone and said, "Dr. Bowen."
 

      "I was instructed to give you the rest of the message after you got there," Sally said solemnly. "Are you ready, Doctor?"