Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor (Friday Harbor #1)(29)

“What are you doing for her? Have you called the doctor?”

“Of course I did.”

“What did he say?”

“That it’s probably flu, and to give her sips of an oral rehydration fluid. And he said the ibuprofen may have made her sick to her stomach, so we’re going to go with just Tylenol now.”

“Does she still have a fever?”

“One hundred two, last time I checked. Unfortunately she can’t keep the medicine down long enough for it to do much good.”

Mark gripped the phone tightly. He’d never wanted anything as much as he wanted to be back on the island, right then, taking care of Holly. “Do you have everything you need?”

“Actually, I have to pick up some stuff at the grocery store, like Jell-O and clear broth, so I’m going to get someone to babysit for a little while.”

“I’m coming back.”

“No, don’t. I’ve got a whole list of people I can call. And I…oh, Jesus, she’s throwing up again. Gotta go.”

The connection went dead. Mark tried to think above the rush of panic. He called the airline for a reservation on the next flight to Friday Harbor, called for a cab, and strode back to the table.

“Thank goodness,” Shelby exclaimed with a taut smile. “I wondered what was taking you so long.”

“I’m sorry. But Holly’s very sick. I have to go back.”

“To night?” Shelby asked, frowning. “Now?”

Mark nodded and described the situation. Allison and Bill looked sympathetic, while Shelby appeared increasingly distressed. This sign of concern for Holly gave Mark a new sense of partnership with her, a feeling of connection. He wondered if she would consider going back with him. He wouldn’t ask her to, but if she offered…

Standing from the table, Shelby touched his arm gently. “Let’s talk about this in private.” She sent a somewhat weary smile in Allison’s direction. “Back in a sec.”

“Absolutely.” And the two women exchanged one of those unfathomable female something-is-brewing glances.

Shelby went with Mark to the entrance of the restaurant, to a corner where they could talk undisturbed.

“Shelby—” Mark began.

“Listen,” she interrupted gently, “I’m not trying to frame this as a choose-between-Holly-or-me thing…but she’ll be fine without you. And I won’t be. I want you to come to this party tonight, and meet my family. There’s nothing you can do for Holly that Sam’s not already doing.”

By the time she had finished speaking, Mark’s feelings of warmth and connection had vanished. No matter what she said, she was making him choose between her and Holly. “I know that,” he said. “But I want to be the one doing it for her. And there’s no way I could have a good time tonight, knowing my kid is sick. I’d be in a corner with my cell phone the whole time.”

“But Holly’s not yours. Not your own kid.”

Mark looked at Shelby as if he’d never seen her before. What was the implication? That his concern for Holly wasn’t valid because she wasn’t his biological child? That he wasn’t entitled to worry about her to this extent?

It was often in small moments that significant things were revealed. And with that spare handful of words, his and Shelby’s relationship had undergone a sea change. Was he being unreasonable? Was he overreacting? He didn’t give a damn. His first concern was for Holly.

When Shelby saw Mark’s expression, she lifted her impatient gaze heavenward. “I didn’t mean it to sound like that.”

His brain methodically rearranged the words into a more precise truth. She had meant it, despite how it had sounded.

“It’s okay.” Mark paused, feeling the supportive trusses of their relationship being dismantled in this conversation, every word a hatchet-strike. “But she is mine, Shelby. My responsibility.”

“Sam’s, too.”

He shook his head. “Sam is helping. But I’m her only legal guardian.”

“So she needs two grown men hovering over her?”

Mark replied carefully. “I need to be there.”

Shelby nodded and let out a slow breath. “Okay. Obviously there’s no point debating this right now. Should I take you to the airport?”

“I called for a cab.”

“I’d offer to come with you, but I want to be there for my cousin tonight.”

“I understand.” Mark put a hand on her back in a gesture of appeasement. Her spine was stiff and straight, as if it had been carved in ice. “I’m going to take care of dinner. I’ll leave my credit card number with the hostess.”

“Thank you. Bill and Allison will appreciate that.” Shelby looked glum. “Call me later and let me know how Holly is. Although I already know she’ll be fine.”

“Okay.” He leaned down to kiss her, and she turned her face so that his lips met her cheek.

Nine

The cab ride to the airport seemed to take forever. The flight back to Friday Harbor was so slow that Mark was certain he could have gotten there faster by kayak. By the time he’d driven back home to Rainshadow Vineyard, it was almost ten o’clock. An unfamiliar car was parked in the driveway, a white Sebring.