Page 62 of Surgeon's Surprise Baby
As for Ryan, her feelings about him were even more confused.Should she believe him that he’d never intended to leave once he learned about her and the baby?She wanted to but she was afraid to.In Denver she’d hoped he’d stay.Convinced herself he would.Until he’d walked out and blown that hope into tiny pieces.
She forced herself to get out, dry off, and get dressed in her comfy, if ratty, sweats, and leave her hair to dry on its own.Wandering into the kitchen she saw Ryan at the stove.He was cooking for her.For them.“Where’s Whitney?”
“She went home.I told her I’d stay.Unless you’d rather I leave.”
“I don’t care.”But of course she did.
He took that as permission to stay.Thank God.“I’m making breakfast for dinner.Is that okay?”
Oh, he was sneaky.He knew she loved breakfast for dinner.“That’s fine.I’ll set the table.”
Shortly after that they sat down to bacon, eggs, biscuits, and her choice of jelly or honey.She chose honey, figuring she needed the boost honey always gave her.Which Ryan knew, naturally.
“Do you want to talk about it?”Ryan asked after they’d eaten most of the food.
“He doesn’t want me.He won’t stay and let me take care of him.”
“Is that what he said?”
“He said he didn’t want to be a burden to me.”
“That makes sense.”
“I’m his only relative.But just like when I was a kid, he doesn’t want me.”
He covered her hand with his.“I don’t think that’s it.I think he really doesn’t want to be a burden.And it would be.You have a nearly eight-month-old baby and your business, and you know what taking care of a terminally ill person is like.You did it with your mom.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ryan hated seeingher so upset.He really did think Steven wanted to spare her, but he didn’t realize that Aria would see that as rejection.He should have but he hadn’t.He set down their plates.“Can I get you some milk?”
“That sounds good.Thanks.”
After they’d eaten most of the food, Ryan said, “Let’s go see Steven tomorrow.Will he be at the new place?”
“Yes.In fact, he planned on moving today.But he doesn’t want to see me.”
“Did he say that?”
“Not exactly.”
“Why would he go to the trouble of tracking you down and seeing you again just to blow you off?”
“I don’t know.”She shoved her plate back and got up.Grabbed her plate and carried it to the sink.After she washed off the dish and stuck it in the dishwasher, she turned to Ryan.Her eyes shimmered with tears.“I wish he hadn’t ever come back.To come back and then just… desert me again is too cruel.”
He said to hell with it and went to her, pulling her into his arms.“I honestly don’t think that’s what he’s doing.I think at first he thought he had more time.But now that his death is imminent he’s trying to spare you.”
Her tears soaked through his shirt.“I don’t want to be spared.”
“I’ll ask Whitney if she can keep Sophie tomorrow and, if so, we’ll go see him.”He looked down at her and his heart stumbled.“We’ll figure it out.Even if he’s staying at a hospice you can still see him.He doesn’t have to live with you for you to help him.For you to see him and talk to him.”
“All right.”She put her hand on his arm.“I’m glad you’re going with me.Even though…”
“I’d better go.Will you be all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“I’ll see you in the morning.”He hated to leave her.Wouldn’t have if she’d asked him to stay.But she didn’t, so he left.
