Especially because I knew that you’d be okay here with Molly for a little while. But I want you to know that I’ll always love you best.”
“All finished,” she said, and then shut off the ultrasound machine. “I, um, have to check on something. Excuse me.” She hurried out of the room, without even wiping the gooey gel off Josh’s legs.
Dan took the towel and did the task himself. “You’re not mad at me, are you, Josh?” he finally asked, breaking the silence.
“No. I think I understand.”
He was tempted to spring the news about the surprise birthday party on Saturday, but forced himself to keep silent. The look on Josh’s face would be well worth the wait.
“What flavor lollipop do you want today?” he asked, reaching for the candy jar.
For a moment Josh simply stared at the various flavors. Then he turned his head up to face him. “What’s your favorite flavor, Daddy?”
He was touched that his son cared enough to ask. “Lime. The green ones are my favorite.”
“Then I’m going to have a green one,” Josh said, digging his little fist in the jar until he grabbed a lime sucker. He ripped off the wrapper and stuck the candy into his mouth.
Dan glanced toward the doorway and saw Molly hovering there. He realized she’d purposefully left them alone to give them time to talk.
“So I’ll see you tomorrow, then,” she said lightly, as Josh levered himself into his wheelchair.
“Don’t forget about Friday night,” Dan said, following her out into the hallway so Josh couldn’t overhear.
She froze and then shook her head. “Look, Dan, I don’t think Friday is a good idea,” she said, avoiding his gaze.
He frowned and glanced back to make sure Josh was still preoccupied. “Why not?”
She took a deep breath. “I came over last night to help out because you and Josh needed me, but I don’t want to be a convenient surrogate nanny. Been there, done that, don’t want to do it again.”
He was startled by her revelation. “I want to see you, alone, Molly. Certainly not as a surrogate nanny. And I had no idea Gemma was planning to call you.”
“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
