Alias Mommy. Linda Johnston O.

accident.” Reeve must have caught her tone, as he sounded defensive.

      There was no reason he should, of course. Just because she had a deep, terrifying aversion to politicians…

      She had almost forgotten everything. Why she had fled. Why she was here.

      But now she remembered. Only too well. And she needed to get away from Reeve Snyder. To compose herself. Collect her thoughts.

      If he had been kind to her, it had been for a reason. He was not just a doctor. He was a politician. Politicians were controlling. Manipulative. Deceptive.

      She swallowed a sob.

      She recalled only then Ernie Pride’s reference to city council when he’d visited her hospital room. If only she had realized—

      But it would have made no difference. Except she wouldn’t have believed that she might come to trust Reeve.

      Just beyond them was a patients’ lounge filled with comfortable-looking upholstered chairs interspersed with tables covered with magazines. The few people in the room watched a television in a corner.

      “Excuse me,” Polly managed to murmur. “I’m going to sit down for a little while.”

      “Are you all right?” Reeve’s voice sounded as though he were in a cave. No. She was in the cave, and the ceiling and floor, covered with stalactites and stalagmites, were closing in on her.

      “I’m fine,” she insisted. She sat on one of the chairs, then plucked Laurel from the stroller. The baby began crying as Polly held her too tightly.

      Cut it out, damn it! she told herself. She was overreacting. It didn’t matter to her whether Reeve Snyder was a politician or a polecat. They both smelled equally bad.

      It wasn’t as though she were involved with him. As though she cared who or what he was.

      No, what had gotten to her was her memories. Of other politicians.

      Of her family.

      Reeve sat down beside her. His shining brown eyes were narrowed in question, and she made herself smile weakly at him. She couldn’t let on what she thought. She needed the flexible job. Needed to be here.

      And if his concern seemed genuine—well, she didn’t dare let herself believe it. She knew better.

      She had let herself believe before.

      “I guess I’m still a little tired after the accident, the baby and all,” she said, trying to sound perky. “I’ll just sit here for a few minutes, if that’s all right.”

      “Of course.” There was a warmth in his voice that made tears rush to her eyes. What an actor he was! He really sounded as though he cared. “Would you like a drink of water?”

      “No. Thank you.” She tried to keep her voice even, though she wanted to shriek at him to leave her alone.

      At the same time, she wanted him to take her into his strong arms—arms that had rescued Laurel and her—to let her cry on his broad shoulder. She was so alone….

      But that would be weakness. Dependency. On the very person who caused her distress.

      Just like before.

      She would not let that happen again. Ever.

      “I…I’m a little dizzy,” she said without looking at Reeve. “Do you mind if I just stay here for a few minutes?”

      “Of course not.”

      She expected him to take her words as a dismissal, but he didn’t. He was a busy man. A doctor. A politician. Surely he had something to do besides hang around her.

      But there he remained. Sitting beside her, he reached over and took Laurel from her.

      The sudden emptiness of her arms nearly shattered Polly, and she almost cried out. But she didn’t, since she somehow felt relieved, too.

      Reeve hadn’t abandoned her, even though she had been less than kind to him.

      Just because he was a politician did not mean he was as cruel and hypocritical as most she had known. He didn’t criticize her, and he didn’t tell her he would take care of everything.