For Love and Family Read Free

through it more than once today and let it all fall naturally into slight waves. Certainly it was nothing at all like the no-hair-out-of-place men she encountered in the social circles she was accustomed to.
    The nurse left them alone then and Hunter’s attention returned to Terese. “How are you doing?” he asked, barely penetrating her preoccupation.
    She consciously pulled herself out of that preoccupation and said, “I’m fine. I felt a little weak and light-headed for a while but they gave me juice and cookies and I’m okay now. They’re letting me go home.”
    He pointed a thumb over his shoulder at the door the nurse had just gone through. “She’d told me before that you were getting out. That’s why I’m here.”
    That sounded like it might evolve into a fast goodbye and Terese didn’t want it to. Not before she knewhow her nephew was. So she said, “More importantly, how is Johnny?”
    If Hunter had been about to make a quick exit, it didn’t show because he swung a leg over the wheeled stool the doctor had used and sat down across from her. “Johnny’s okay,” he announced with relief in his voice. “The nosebleed stopped. Finally. And the transfusion made him feel better. They’re keeping him for forty-eight hours—something about checking his hemoglobin to make sure it stabilizes. But as long as he isn’t bleeding, we’re doing well.”
    â€œAnd during the forty-eight hours will they know if he has hemophilia or not?” The drive to the hospital had only taken about twenty minutes, but Hunter had filled her in on a few things along the way.
    â€œYeah, those results should be in before they let him go. They’re pretty sure that’s what we’re dealing with, though. They said we’ll have to be cautious but there’s no reason to panic. It isn’t a progressive disease or a debilitating one. Which is good.”
    â€œIn other words, it’s not something you’d want him to have, but it could be worse,” Terese summarized.
    â€œRight. I’m sorry you couldn’t come in and see him. The nurses told me you wanted to, but between the nosebleed and the transfusion the poor kid was overwhelmed and not up for company.”
    â€œThat’s okay. I understand.” But that didn’t mean she hadn’t been disappointed. She’d been hopingthis would be an opportunity to meet her nephew. The nephew she probably wouldn’t have any other chance to meet, even though it was something she’d always wanted.
    â€œOnce the bleeding stopped,” Hunter was saying, “and the transfusion was over, Johnny was exhausted. He fell right to sleep.”
    Terese nodded. “I’m just glad he’s okay.”
    â€œI’ll be staying here with him but since he’s out like a light now I thought I could run you home without him missing me.”
    â€œYour wife isn’t here?” Terese asked, knowing that a married couple had adopted Eve’s baby.
    Hunter handsome features tensed again. “We lost her two years ago,” he said quietly.
    â€œOh. I’m so sorry.”
    He didn’t offer any more information on his wife’s death and although Terese was curious, she didn’t feel free to question him.
    He continued with what he’d been saying before that. “I don’t want you to have to take a cab home or bother anyone to pick you up.”
    â€œIt’s okay. I called the house when they told me I’d be able to leave and had a car sent to get me.”
    Did that sound pretentious? Terese hoped not. But just in case it did, she added, “I don’t usually use the Town Cars or the drivers. I like driving myself. I have a small sedan. But since I rode here with you…”
    It occurred to her that Hunter Coltrane wasprobably not interested in that many details of her means of transportation, so she stopped