A Ring For Cinderella

“Are the doctors going to make him better?”

This time Susan spoke first “Paul, you mustn’t ask questions right now. And be very quiet in the hospital. Some people will be trying to sleep.”

He liked the kid.

And Susan was right He was well behaved.

Zach led the way down the long corridor to the intensive care unit Susan followed, holding Paul’s hand. “Is there a lounge where Paul can wait?” she whispered, surprising him.

“He can go in with us. They won’t stop us. Gramp knows the right. people.” When they reached the door, Zach signaled to one of the nurses.

“The doctor said we could see my grandfather,” he said softly, sure the doctor had left word with the nurse. He didn’t want any battles tonight. But there would be one if they tried to interfere.

“Yes, Mr. Lowery. The doctor warned us. Come this way.”

She led them into a bare room, the only furniture a large bed in the center. His grandfather looked so small, lying there with tubes in him. He’d always been a big man, strong and active.

“Gramp?” Zach said softly as he moved to the head of the bed, touching his grandfather’s shoulder.

The old man came awake slowly. “Huh? That you, boy?” he asked groggily.

Zach fought to keep tears from his eyes. “Yeah, it’s me, Gramp. I kept my promise. I brought Susan to see you.” He motioned for Susan to join him, watching his grandfather as she stepped forward. The sudden spark in the old man’s eyes told Zach he’d done the right thing.

“Hello, Mr. Lowery,” Susan said softly, her voice husky and sweet. Without any prompting, she reached out and clasped his wrinkled hand. “I’m pleased to meet you.”

“Me, too, girl. Me, too.” He struggled to sit up, and Susan quickly helped him arrange another pillow beneath his head.

“Would you like me to raise the bed a little?”

“Yeah, that’d be good.” He leaned back in relief.

Zach watched as Susan helped his grandfather get comfortable. He was getting his money’s worth, he’d have to say that.

“Who’s that?” Pete Lowery demanded, staring at Paul, who’d followed Susan around the end of the bed.

Zach had forgotten about the boy.

Susan spoke before he could think what to say. “Paul’s mine. I think he’s the reason Zach hadn’t said much about me. He wasn’t sure how you’d feel about a ready-made family.”

Zach stared at her, stunned by her words. Her explanation made sense, but he hadn’t planned out that much in advance.

“Shame on you, Zach. You know I love kids. Come here, boy. What’s your name?”

Susan eased Paul forward, holding his shoulders as he stood next to the bed.

“Paul,” the little boy whispered.

“You’d be about what, seven, eight years old?”

“Eight.”

“Your ma must’ve been a baby when you were born,” Pete teased.

Paul didn’t know how to answer, turning to look at Susan.

“Yeah, she was,” Zach answered, deciding it was time he took over the conversation. “Has the doctor been in to see you? How did he say you were doing?”

Pete waved away Zach’s questions. “Don’t want to talk about that stuff. Susan, tell me, has this scalawag been good to you?”

She smiled. “Very good.”

As well she should say, Zach thought cynically. She was being well paid. But he had to admit she was giving great value. Gramp liked her, he could tell.

“So why haven’t—” Pete broke off and grimaced, drawing Zach’s attention.

“You shouldn’t talk so much,” he urged, stepping closer and touching his grandfather’s shoulder. Susan stepped forward and tucked in the cover that had come loose.

“Nonsense. It was just a twinge,” Pete insisted. “I want to know when you two are going to get hitched.”

“What’s ‘hitched’ mean?” Paul asked, looking puzzled.

“Married, boy, married. Don’t you want a new daddy?” Pete asked, his gaze on Paul’s face.

Zach almost swallowed his tongue. “Uh, Gramp, that’s not, I mean, we haven’t set a date.”

“Why not? You’re not getting any younger. Me, neither.” He sighed, sort of fading into the pillows, which only underlined to Zach how little time he had left with his grandfather.

“That’s not important right now. We want to concentrate all our attention on getting you well.”

“You want to get me well? Then get yourself married to this little lady. Now, before it’s too late for me to see you happy.” His breathing was becoming noisier and his eyes were closing.

“I think your grandfather is tiring himself out,” Susan said, her soft hands pulling the covers higher again before she tenderly cupped Pete’s cheek. “You need to rest, Mr. Lowery. Paul and I will go to the waiting room and give you a little time alone with Zach.”

Pete’s eyes came open again. “You’re a sweetheart, Susan. You take good care of my boy, okay?”

She leaned down and kissed his cheek. “You just take care of yourself. Zach’s a big boy. He’ll be all right.”

Pete chuckled, a sound Zach hadn’t been sure he’d ever hear again. “Yep, you’re a sweetheart.”

Zach’s gaze met Susan’s as she and Paul walked past him. On a sudden urge, he caught her arm and bent down to brush her lips with his.

He only did it to persuade Gramp everything was on the up-and-up. And to thank Susan for a great performance. His action had nothing to do with the fact that he hadn’t been able to get her off his mind all afternoon. Or those luscious lips of hers.

Nope, nothing to do with those things.

Thankfully she wasn’t facing Gramp, because she appeared startled by his action.

“I’ll be out in a few minutes,” he assured her, and winked at Paul.