“Yet she did, because you left my name and number to be used in case of an emergency.”
He couldn’t quite hide the flash of guilt, but he wanted to know more about this previous relationship of hers. “What do you mean, been there, done that?”
“The last guy I dated was also a single father, and he used me as a surrogate mother for his boys all the time. Yet when I thought he was going to propose, he told me he loved someone else. He never cared about me the way he should have.”
That guy was just plain stupid, he thought, but managed to keep it to himself. “But I haven’t been doing that with you, Molly. I do care about you. I want to take you to dinner so we can spend some time alone. I swear to you, making you a surrogate nanny was never my intention.”
But she shook her head, not giving an inch. “Dan, I’ll help you with … Saturday’s plans because I promised I would, but that’s all. I have to go, my next patient is waiting.”
And before he could protest or ask anything more, she turned and walked away.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
MOLLY TRIED TO ERASE the stricken expression on Dan’s face from her mind, but it stuck with her as she worked with her patients throughout the day.
Logically, she knew she’d made the right decision. Getting involved with Dan hadn’t been very smart in the first place. She should have known better than to make the same mistakes she’d made with James.
Wasn’t he already using her as a replacement nanny? Soon he’d leave her at home with Josh while he went out on dates. She had no doubt he’d find someone else to fall in love with, breaking her heart in the process. Just like James had done.
The organ in question ached in her chest as she rode the subway home. The newspaper she’d brought along to read didn’t even come close to holding her attention.
Two more days of therapy and then Josh’s birthday party on Saturday. After that, she probably wouldn’t see Dan anymore. He’d go back to work full time, as Josh had gotten through the worst of his crisis. She’d continue to see Josh as a patient, but wouldn’t see Dan. Wouldn’t be forced to make small talk with him, as if she wasn’t slowly bleeding to death inside.
She loved him.
The realization made her blink in surprise, although now that she’d admitted it she was surprised she’d fooled herself for this long.
She loved him. She loved the way he’d turned his relationship with his son around. She loved the way he cared about his tiny patients. She loved the way she could make him smile and laugh.
And most of all she loved the way he centered his intenseness on her when they were alone, as if she was the only person on the planet who mattered.
But they hadn’t been alone together much. The night of Jack’s going-away party and the night he’d taken her to dinner. Two nights out of two weeks.
Ridiculous to think she could fall in love in such a short time. She cared about Dan, but love? How could that be?
She didn’t know how it had happened, but it had. She loved him or she wouldn’t be so upset about leaving him.
She got off the subway at her stop, holding the newspaper she hadn’t read over her head when it started raining. She shivered and practically ran the rest of the way to her apartment.
Inside, she quickly changed out of her damp clothes into a pair of warm sweats. When her phone rang, she leaped to answer it, trying not to be too disappointed when she recognized the caller as her sister. “Hi, Sally, how are you?”
“Great, I’m great. Hey, listen, I know I should have asked you about this earlier, but will you be one of my bridesmaids at my wedding?”
Molly hesitated, wanting nothing more than to be included, but she knew her sister really would rather have one of her friends.
“I’m sorry I didn’t ask you sooner,” Sally said in a rush, filling the awkward silence. “And I don’t blame you for being upset. I ran into your boyfriend in the cafeteria yesterday and he told me I should be ashamed at how I’m always taking you for granted. That I should be grateful for having a sister. And he’s right. I am grateful, Molly. So will you please consider standing up with me at my wedding?”
Tears burned her eyelids as her heart swelled with joy. “Yes, Sally, of course I will. I’d love to be a bridesmaid at your wedding.”
“Oh, I’m so glad, Molly. Thank you.” She thought it must be her imagination because she thought she heard Sally sniffling on the other end of the line. “We’re going shopping for dresses a week from Saturday. Do you want to come along? That is, if you don’t have other plans.”
“I’d love to come along, and of course I don’t have other plans.” She was still reeling from the knowledge that Dan had approached Sally at work, just to stick up for her. And she was glad they weren’t shopping this weekend, as this Saturday was Josh’s birthday. “Let me know what time and what store you’re planning to meet at.”
“I haven’t figured that out yet,” Sally admitted. “But I will soon. Thanks again, Molly. I love you.”
Her heart almost folded in half at the second shocker of the day. “I love you, too,” she managed to choke out.
“Bye, Molly.” After her sister had hung up, she stared at the phone for several moments before she set it down, grinning like a fool. She’d mentally prepared herself to be left out of the wedding party, had even wondered if she’d make the invite list. But thanks to Dan, Sally had realized that being sisters was important.
Maybe their relationship wouldn’t be completely fixed overnight, but this was a good start. A really, really good start.
Her smile faded. She wondered who in Dan’s life had made him aware of how important he was? Certainly not his ex-wife. And he didn’t have any brothers or sisters, because he’d mentioned being an only child.
The ache in her heart returned, and she wondered if she’d been too hasty in her refusal to see Dan again.
Molly looked for opportunities to have a personal conversation with Dan, but as the week went on she hardly saw him at all. According to Josh, his dad had been on call again, leaving Mitch to spend the night and subsequently accompany Josh to therapy.
She should have been glad to hear Dan hadn’t used her as one of his nannies but instead she couldn’t help feeling guilty at how she’d left things between them.
Telling herself that putting distance between them was for the better was one thing. But the lingering doubts wouldn’t go away.
After rain during the week, the sun came out by Friday and according to the weather reports, temperatures were supposed to get up as high as sixty degrees by Saturday. Perfect weather for Josh’s surprise birthday party and the wheelchair football game.
She’d been thrilled to see Dan on Friday afternoon, but he was all business as they stored the wheelchairs in the truck he’d rented.
“That’s the last of them,” he said, stepping down from the truck. “Thanks for your help, Molly.”
She tried to smile, even though she missed the easy camaraderie that they’d once shared. “No problem. I’m going to head out to the park early to hide the prizes. What time are you going to have Josh there?”
“The party starts at one, so I thought we’d get there about one-fifteen.” They’d already agreed that the other kids should all be there, holding a big birthday banner, before Josh arrived. “Unless you think we need to wait a little longer?” he asked uncertainly.
She pursed her lips, considering the timeframe. “No, I think one-fifteen should be