Love Beyond Reason(46)

She wanted to share his happiness, his enthusiasm. She longed to hold him, congratulate him, but he rushed on. "I thought maybe we could go out tonight. Leave Allison with Happy and go out to dinner and—"

"No," she interjected sharply. The temptation to accept was strong. "I ... uh ... I typed for hours today and I'm tired."

His disappointment was apparent, but he smiled kindly and said, "Okay. Some other time."

"I guess I'd better be going," Jace said now as he stood up and stretched, raising his arms high above his head. "I'm glad I bought that bed when I did. It crowds the room, but it's worth it." His smile was dazzling, devilish. She tried to ignore him.

He leaned down and nuzzled the back of her neck. "All it needs to make it perfect is for you to be with me." His lips nibbled at the sensitive skin on her neck, and Katherine's hand shook as she determinedly shoved another spoonful of peaches into Allison's dodging mouth.

Jace's hand slipped under Katherine's arm and covered a breast, squeezing it gently. His hand scorched her skin through the thin cotton of her T-shirt. She dropped the spoon, stood up, and wheeled around to face him. "Don't do that." She strove to control her quivering voice and said more forcefully, "If you want to ... to play with someone, go play with Lacey." She was encouraged to see his lips compress in irritation. "Besides, her figure is much more ... generous ... than mine," she said scathingly.

The metallic coldness in his eyes left no doubt that she had finally succeeded in sparking his anger. His jaw worked in vexation, and he held his whole body rigid as though trying to keep a rein on murderous impulses.

The victory didn't go to Katherine, however. Insolently, he raked her body with those glinting eyes and drawled, "Yes, it is. Much more generous." Then he turned and left the kitchen. A few moments later Katherine heard the front door slam behind him.

Miserably, she slumped down in the chair and gave vent to her tears. "Oh, Jace," she wept. Unconsci- ously, she placed her hand over the breast which had so recently thrilled to the warmth of his touch. "I miss you," she moaned before she lay her head on the table and sobbed.

She didn't have the luxury of self- pity for long. Allison had been cross and fretful for the past two days. Her usually hearty appetite had waned. Her nose was stuffy, and, later that same day, she started coughing. As the day wore on, Katherine gave up trying to work. Her increasing anxiety over Allison's health prevented her from thinking clearly or generating one creative idea.

By late afternoon the baby was crying piteously and had developed a fever. Katherine paced the floor with her, trying to comfort her with pats on the back and soothing words. The congestion in her breathing passages became more pronounced, and the cough sounded harsher and deeper.

Unsuccessfully Katherine had tried to call Happy, and continued to notice that her car was still not parked in its usual place. When the telephone rang, she reached for it like a lifeline. Jace was calling to say he might be returning home late, but Katherine was so relieved to hear his voice she forgot her pride and resolve to shut him out and quickly told him about the baby's illness.

"Have you called the doctor?" Jace asked when she finished relating Allison's symptoms.

"Yes. He said to give her liquid fever reducer, watch her closely, and call him if she gets any worse."

"When was that?"

"Early this afternoon."

"Well, I think I'd better call him and have him meet me there. Are you okay?"

"Yes," she said anxiously. "But, Jace, it's just that she was so little when she was born, and her lungs—"

"I know, darling, I know. You sit tight, and I'll be there as soon as possible."

Katherine replaced the telephone receiver and felt a glow of love spread over her heart. Jace was coming to help her. Everything would be all right. Jace would be home soon. She whispered such to the crying, coughing Allison as she continued to pace with the infant or rock her in the wicker chair.

Allison became more agitated with each passing minute. Katherine's anxiety turned into terror when the baby's breathing became labored. She emitted a harsh, grating sound from deep in her throat. Her cough sounded like something out of a nightmare. Katherine was reminded of baying hounds.

She was frantic by the time she heard someone on the stairs and rushed to the door, flinging it open with the baby still clutched in her arms. Jace was running up the steps two at a time with Dr. Peterson, Allison's pediatrician, in tow. Jace halted mid-stride when he saw Katherine's wild eyes, but then leaped up the last few steps into the room.

He looked down at Allison as Katherine blubbered, "She can hardly breathe. Listen to her. She's going to die. I know it. Her lungs—"

The doctor and Jace all but ignored her as they looked at Allison. Dr. Peterson heard the hard, wracking cough and said hurriedly, "Into the bathroom."

Jace shoved Katherine toward the specified room. He seemed to know what to do, for he reached for the hot water tap in the bathtub before Dr. Peterson had time to follow them in and close the door behind him.

"What—" Katherine started, but Dr. Peterson interrupted with, "Do you have any Mentholatum, Vaporub, anything like that?"

Katherine nodded dumbly and pointed toward the medicine chest behind the mirror. The doctor grabbed a jar and started liberally spreading the pungent gel on Allison's throat.