After fumbling twice with the key, Joanna finally turned the ignition and heard only a grinding noise. She tried once more, and then again, receiving nothing but protest from the temperamental vehicle. The worn-out sedan had chosen that moment to give up, something she’d been expecting—and dreading—for months.
Tapping her forehead against the steering wheel, she released a frustrated groan. Why now? Why tonight? She had no one to call, no one to seek out for a ride unless she returned to the ballroom. If she chose that route then she risked running into the phantom kisser. Maybe that wasn’t such a horrible prospect.
Good grief. She certainly didn’t need to see him again, no matter how appealing the thought. She already had one male in her life; she didn’t need another. Joseph, with his trusting smile and wisdom beyond his years, was her world, her hope, her all. Considering he was only six years old, he posed a lot less trouble than most adult men, especially his father, who had left them alone in the city while he chased after another scheme that promised him riches and excitement. A man who couldn’t let go of his youth. Adam hadn’t wanted to deal with responsibilities, or a family. Joanna had learned much too late that he would never change.
And now their child—the baby Joanna had wanted so badly—had to depend on her, because his father simply didn’t care. If she hadn’t been able to send Joseph to live with her mom, she didn’t know what she would have done.
If only Joseph could be with her now, but he wasn’t, and she should be thankful for that. The broken-down car, her equally broken-down apartment, served as reminders of why her son must continue to live with his grandmother, over five hundred miles away. Although that was best, sending him away had been the most painful experience of her life.
She turned her thoughts to the day when she’d told Joseph goodbye with the promise that they would be together soon. She’d tried so hard not to cry, tried to be strong, but to no avail. Joseph had proved to be much stronger. When she’d hugged him hard, never wanting to let go, he’d patted her back and said, “It’s okay, Mommy. You’ll have a good job and make some money, then I’ll come back to San Antonio, okay?”
Her little man. And every day since their parting two months ago, Joanna had resisted the urge to send for him so they could be together now.
Joanna had no choice but to put that idea out of her mind. Joseph needed security and a safe place to live, something she couldn’t offer until she found better housing, paid off a few more bills. Hopefully they would be reunited soon, if only fate would quit throwing up roadblocks.
The rap on the window startled Joanna so much that she almost cried out. She was overcome with relief when she saw Cassie O’Connor standing outside the car, not some mugger.
She stepped out of the sedan then leaned back against the closed door for support.
Cassie gave a one-handed sweep of her shoulderlength blond hair, her dark eyes reflecting her concern. “Where did you go in such a hurry?” Cassie asked.
Joanna willed her pounding heart to slow. “I have to work at the birthing center tomorrow.”
“That’s horrible, working on New Year’s.”
The day held little meaning for Joanna, since she would be spending it without her child. “Babies don’t care about holidays. Besides, I’ve got bills to pay.” And it looked as though she would have one more debt now that her car refused to run. Just another to add to the pile, thanks to her ex-husband’s careless disregard.
“I’m sorry if I scared you,” Cassie said. “I was worried something might be wrong when I saw you rush out.”
“Actually, I’m glad you came along. My car won’t start.”
Cassie gave her a sympathetic look. “Not a great way to ring in the new year, that’s for sure. Do you have a phone to call a mechanic?”
Joanna couldn’t afford a cell phone. She could barely afford the pager she was required to carry. “No, and I have no idea who to call.” Nor did she know how she was going to pay for the repairs. Under normal circumstances, her nurse’s salary was more than decent, but the amount of liabilities Adam had left her with was obscene.
“We’ll ask Brendan for a recommendation,” Cassie said. “He’s bringing the car around. We can give you a ride home.”
Joanna didn’t relish the thought of the O’Connors seeing her neighborhood. “I’d appreciate that, but you can just drop me off at the clinic. I have some extra clothes there.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to go home?”
“I’m sure. That way I’ll already be at work in the morning, since it looks like I’ll be without transportation.”
“Okay. If you’re sure.” Cassie’s brassy smile appeared. “And how did you like Dr. Madrid?”
“Dr. Madrid?”
“Yes, Rio Madrid. The man who had you in a lip lock a few minutes ago.”
Joanna’s face heated to flash-fire proportions. She’d hoped that no one had witnessed her reckless behavior. Obviously she’d made a total fool out of herself with a man. Again. “Oh, him. I guess I didn’t realize he was a doctor.” She hadn’t even known his name.
“As a matter of fact, he assisted Dr. Anderson when the twins were born.”
“He’s an OB?” Joanna failed to keep the shock from her voice.
“Yes, and I’m surprised you haven’t met him before tonight.”
Joanna still hadn’t officially met him, but she had kissed him. “I’ve only been working at the center for six weeks. I still haven’t met all the obstetricians.”
“That might be for the best,” Cassie said. “He’s not too receptive to alternative birth methods.”
Classic conservative-doctor attitude, Joanna thought, though the man didn’t appear to be typical physician material. But men could be deceptive. She had learned that lesson the hard way. “Hopefully I won’t be crossing his path any time soon.”
Cassie’s grin deepened. “Do you mean personally or professionally?”
“Both.”
Cassie rubbed her arms and shivered. “If you say so. Right now let’s get out of here. It’s pretty nippy tonight and I need to relieve the baby-sitter.”
Joanna hadn’t noticed the cold, probably because she still battled a slow-burn heat caused by Dr. Rio Madrid. She started to move but realized her dress was caught in the closed door—the dress she had borrowed from Cassie. What other disaster could possibly befall her tonight?
She opened the door and pulled the hem from the car’s rusty clutches, immediately noting an ugly smudge of grease on the royal-blue satin. “I’m sorry, Cassie. You were so nice to loan this to me and now I’ve probably ruined it.”
Cassie glanced at the soiled hem. “That’s okay, Joanna. I’m sure the dress will be fine after it’s cleaned.”
Joanna had her doubts about that. “I’ll get it cleaned for you. It’s
