Accidentally Yours

Maybe it was a trick of the light, but she looked good. Pretty and dressed to fit in. Her hair was curly, which was different but still appealing. She glanced behind her and he saw her kid moving easily on his crutches.

Nathan felt a subtle shift beneath his feet, as if there’d been an earthquake. He blinked and, instead of Cody, he saw his own son. Daniel on crutches, then Daniel in a wheelchair, because that was next. He blinked again and his son was gone, but the reality of what would happen to Cody remained.

Nathan knew what it was like at the end. How the body weakened, how he would go from the chair to bed. How at the end, the drugs didn’t work and all the boy could do was scream from the pain.

He wanted to walk away, to be anywhere but here. What the hell had he been thinking when he’d agreed to the deal?

“You sent me an e-mail,” Kerri said by way of greeting.

“Yes. I needed to tell you where we’d be meeting and what time.”

“I know, but jeez. How did you get my e-mail address?”

“I have a file on you.”

“Sure, but my e-mail address? Isn’t that private?”

“Not in my world.”

She considered that for a second. “You could have just called.”

“E-mail is more efficient.”

“A phone call is more personal.”

“We don’t need to be personal.”

She smiled. “You say that now.”

Was she bringing up the kiss? Annoyance flared, but he ignored it. Emotions weren’t productive.

“So what’s the deal with this place?” Kerri asked. “Is there anything specific I should be doing?”

“Walk around with me and pretend you’re enjoying yourself.”

“Should I carry a sign telling the world I think you’re a god?”

“You’re a lot less reverent now that you have your money.”

“I know. Isn’t it fun?”

“Don’t talk about the money,” he said, ignoring her question.

“Promise.”

“Just be friendly. Don’t give out personal information, don’t volunteer anything. If someone asks if we’re dating, say no, but don’t use a facial expression.”

“What? How can I know what my face is doing?”

“You know what I mean.”

“You’re giving me way too much credit.” She waved Cody forward. “Cody, this is Mr. King. Nathan, my son.”

Trapped, Nathan shook hands with the kid without really looking at him.

“Nice to meet you,” Cody mumbled.

“You’d rather be anywhere but here, right?” Nathan asked. He pointed to the far corner, where a multicolored balloon arch beckoned. “All the kid stuff is there, including the free arcade.”

Cody grinned. “Sweet.”

“I’ll take him,” Lance said. “Make sure he doesn’t get lost.”

“Thanks,” Kerri told him. “I think I have to stay with Nathan and play grateful supplicant.”

“And here I thought you were sincere,” Lance said.

“I am.” Kerri’s eyes sparkled. “Have fun, Cody. Be good. Stay in the kids’ section until I come to get you.”

“Oh, Mo-om.”

She looked at Nathan. “That’s boy speak for ‘Why, yes, Mother. Of course I will. I would never give you a moment’s trouble because you are so loving and kind.’”

Cody grumbled something under his breath as he went off with Lance. Nathan watched them go, wondering if his relationship with Daniel had been so comfortable. He’d loved his son more than he’d ever loved any other person, but sometimes he hadn’t known what to do or say.

“He’s having a good day,” Kerri said happily. “I love the good days. They make me believe in miracles.”

“You have to be realistic,” Nathan said, oddly annoyed by her faith and optimism.

“No way.” She looked at him, her blue eyes narrowed. “If I was realistic, Cody would have been dead a long time ago. Faith matters. My grandmother was diagnosed with liver cancer and given six months to live. She refused to believe it. She thought her doctor was an idiot. She lived six years because she wanted to see me graduate from high school.” Some of the fight went out of her. “She did. She lasted until the following summer.”

Kerri crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him. “So I’m a big believer in cheating death and I’ll take on anyone who says otherwise.”

She radiated strength and power and an inner beauty he’d never noticed before. In that moment, he almost believed her. But he had a grave marker for a little boy that reminded him that miracles were a cheap trick and faith was for suckers.

CHAPTER FIVE

“I WANT THEM ALL to go away,” Abram said angrily. “There are too many people. They’re disturbing my concentration.”

In the past few years he’d learned to work in silence. While the progress was slow, it was safer that way—if it was just him. If no one got involved. No one got hurt.

“It’s difficult to start up a lab without having people,” Linda teased. “We could try using something quieter, like mice, but without the opposable thumb…”

She paused, as if waiting for him to smile. He didn’t. Nothing about this was funny.

“They need to go away,” he insisted. “They can go back where they came from and take their money with them.”

“No, they can’t,” she said. “Abram, this is a second chance for all of us. Not only for the sick children you’ll save, but for you and your work.”