That was too much. Janine pinched her lips together to keep from crying out in anger. Taking a moment to compose herself, she closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. “Instead of blaming each other for something that didn’t happen, could we please return to the subject at hand, which is my grandfather?”
“All right,” Zach agreed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.” He went to the leather wingback chair and sat down. Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees. “What are you going to say to him?”
“Me? I thought…I’d hoped…you’d want to do the talking.”
Zach shook his head. “Tact doesn’t seem to be my strong point lately.”
“Okay, okay, I’ll do it, if that’s what you really want.” She gazed silently down at the richly patterned carpet, collecting her thoughts. “I think we should tell him how much we both love and respect him and that we realize his actions have been motivated by his concern for us both and his desire for our happiness. We might even go so far as to thank him—” She stopped abruptly when Zach gave a snort of laughter. “All right, if you think you can do better, you do the talking.”
“If it was up to me, I’d just tell that meddling old fool to stay out of our lives.”
“Your sensitivity is really heartwarming,” she muttered. “At first, this whole thing was one big joke to you and you really enjoyed tormenting me.”
“You’re exaggerating.”
“As I recall, you played that cow-and-ten-chickens business for all it was worth, but I notice you’re singing a different tune now and frankly—”
The library door opened, interrupting her tirade. Her grandfather and his longtime friend, veterinarian Dr. Burt Coleman, walked into the room.
“Zach. Janine,” Gramps said, grinning broadly.
“Gramps,” Janine burst out, rushing to her feet. They weren’t prepared for this, and Zach was being impossible, so she said the first thing that came to mind. Pointing at Zach, she cried, “I don’t know how you could possibly expect me to marry that man. He’s stubborn and rude and we’re completely wrong for each other.” She was trembling by the time she finished, and collapsed gracelessly into the nearest chair.
“In case you haven’t figured it out yet, you’re no angel yourself,” Zach said, scowling at Janine.
“Children, please,” Gramps implored, advancing into the library, hands held out in supplication. “What seems to be the problem?”
“I want this settled,” Zach said forcefully. “I’m not about to be saddled with Janine for a wife.”
“As if I want to be your wife? In your dreams, Zachary Thomas!”
“We realize you mean well,” Zach added, his face looking pinched. He completely ignored Janine. “But neither of us appreciates your matchmaking efforts.”
Gramps walked over to the leather chair recently occupied by Zach and sat down. He smiled weakly at each of them, his shoulders sagging. “I thought…I’d hoped you two would grow fond of each other.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Gramps, I really am,” Janine said, feeling guilty. “But Zach and I don’t even like each other. We can barely carry on a civil conversation. He’s argumentative and unreasonable—”
“And she’s illogical and stubborn.”
“I don’t think we need to trade insults to get our message across,” Janine said. Her face was so hot, she felt as if her cheeks were on fire.
“There’s no hope?” Anton asked quietly.
“None whatsoever,” Zach said. “Janine will make some man a wonderful wife one day, but unfortunately, he won’t be me.”
Her grandfather slumped against the back of his chair. “You’re sure?”
“Positive,” Zach said, loudly enough to convince Mrs. McCormick who was working in the kitchen.
“I love you, Gramps,” said Janine, “and I’d do almost anything you wanted, but I can’t and won’t marry Zach. We know you have our best interests at heart, but neither of us is romantically interested in the other.”
Burt Coleman, who stood by the library doors, looked as if he’d rather be anyplace else. His discomfort at witnessing this family scene was obvious. “I think it’d be best if I came back another time,” he murmured as he turned to leave.
“No,” Anton said, gesturing his friend back. “Come in. You’ve met Zachary Thomas, haven’t you?”
The two men nodded at each other, but Janine noticed how rigidly Zach held himself. This meeting with Gramps hadn’t gone the way she’d planned. She’d wanted everything to be calm and rational, a discussion uncluttered by messy emotions. Instead they’d ended up practically attacking each other, and worse, Janine had been the one to throw the first punch.
Without asking, she walked over to the sideboard and poured Gramps and his friend a cup of coffee. Burt sat across from her grandfather, clearly ill at ease.
“I should be going,” Zach said starkly. “Good to see you again, Dr. Coleman.”
“You, too,” Gramps’s friend said, glancing briefly at Zach. His puzzled gaze quickly returned to Anton.
“I’ll walk you to the front door,” Janine offered, eager to make her own escape. She closed the library door behind her.
Both she and Zach paused in the entryway. Janine tried to smile, but Zach was studying her intently, and her heart clenched like a fist inside her chest. They’d done what they had to do; she should be experiencing relief that the confrontation she’d dreaded for days was finally over. Instead she felt a strange sadness, one she couldn’t fully understand or explain.
“Do you think we convinced him?”
“I don’t know,” Zach answered, keeping his tone low. “Your grandfather’s a difficult man to read. Maybe he’ll never bring up the subject of our marrying again and we’re home free. I’d like to believe that’s the case. It’s just as likely, though, that he’ll give us a few days’ peace while he regroups. I don’t expect him to back off quite so easily.”
“No, I don’t suppose he will.”
Zach looked at his watch. “I should be going,” he said again.
Janine was reluctant to see him leave, but there was no reason to detain him. Her hand was on the doorknob when she suddenly hesitated and turned around. “I didn’t mean what I said in there,” she blurted in a frenzy of regret.
“You mean you do want us to get married?”
“No,” she cried, aghast. “I’m talking about when I said you were stubborn and rude. That isn’t really true, but I had to come up with some reason for finding you objectionable. I don’t really believe it, though.”
“It was the same with me. I don’t think you’re so intolerable, either. I was trusting that you knew it was all an act for your grandfather’s sake.”
“I did,” she assured him, but her pride had been dented, although that wasn’t anything new.
“The last four days have been difficult,” Zach went on. “Not only was Anton gloating about Scotland, but like I told you, he’s been giving me these amused looks and odd little smiles. A couple of times I heard him saying something in his native tongue—I’m afraid to guess what.”
“Well, I know what he was saying, because he’s been doing the same thing to me. He’s talking about babies.”
“Babies?” Zach echoed, his eyes startled.
“Ours in particular.”
One corner of Zach’s mouth lifted, as if he found the thought of them as parents amusing. Or unlikely.
“That was my reaction, too. Every time I’ve seen Gramps in the last few days, he’s started talking about…well, you know.”
Zach nodded. “I do know. The situation hasn’t been pleasant for either of us.”
“Setting Gramps straight was for the best.” But if that was the case, why did she feel this terrible letdown? “If he accepts us at our word—and he just might—then I guess this is goodbye.”
“Yes, I suppose it is,” Zach responded, but he made no effort to leave.
Janine was glad, because these few mom
ents gave her the opportunity to memorize his features. She stored them for the future, when there’d be no reason for her to have anything but the most infrequent and perfunctory contact with Zach.
“Unless, of course, your grandfather continues to throw us together.”
“Of course,” Janine added quickly, hating the way her heart soared at the prospect. “Naturally, we’d have to confront him again. We can’t allow ourselves to be his pawns.”
Zach was about to say something else when the library door flew open and Burt Coleman hurried out, the urgency on his face unmistakable. “Janine, I think we should call a doctor for your grandfather.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m not sure. He’s very pale and he seems to be having trouble breathing. It might be his heart.”
With Zach following, Janine ran into the library, her own heart in jeopardy. Dr. Coleman was right—she’d never seen her grandfather look worse. His breath came noisily and his eyes were closed as he rested his head against the back of the chair. He looked old, far older than she could ever remember seeing him. She felt a sense of panic as she raced across the room to the desk where there was a phone.
“I’m fine,” Gramps said hoarsely, opening his eyes and slowly straightening. He raised his hand in an effort to stop Janine. “There’s no need for everyone to go into a tizzy just because an old man wants to rest his eyes for a few minutes.” His smile was weak, his complexion still pale. “Now don’t go calling any doctor. I was in last week for a checkup and I’m fit as a fiddle.”
“You don’t look so fit,” Zach countered and Janine noticed that his face seemed almost as ashen as her grandfather’s. Kneeling beside him, Zach grasped his wrist and began to check his pulse.
“I’m fine,” Gramps insisted again.
“Are you in any pain?”
Gramps’s gaze moved from Zach to Janine. “None,” he answered, dismissing their concern with a shake of his head.
“Dr. Coleman?” Janine turned to her grandfather’s longtime friend. “Should I phone his doctor?”
“What does Burt know about an old man and his heart?” Gramps objected. “Burt’s expertise is with horses.”
“Call the doctor. Having him checked over isn’t going to hurt,” Burt said after a moment.
“Fiddlesticks,” Gramps roared. “I’m in perfect health.”
“Good,” Janine said brightly. “But I’ll just let Dr. Madison reassure me.” She punched out the phone number and had to speak loudly in order to be heard over her grandfather’s protests. A couple of minutes later, she replaced the receiver and told Zach, “Dr. Madison says we can bring him in now.”
“I’m not going to waste valuable time traipsing downtown. Burt and I were going to play a few hands of cribbage.”
“We can play tomorrow,” Dr. Coleman said gruffly. “You keep forgetting, Anton, we’re both retiring.”
“I’ve got things to do at the office.”
“No, you don’t,” Zach said firmly. “You’ve got a doctor’s appointment. Janine and I are going to escort you there and we’re not going to listen to a single argument. Do you understand?”
Gramps’s eyes narrowed as if he were preparing a loud rebuttal. But he apparently changed his mind, because he relaxed and nodded sluggishly, reluctantly. “All right, if it’ll make you feel better. But I’m telling you right now, you’re going to look like a fine pair of fools.”
The next two hours felt like two years to Janine. While Dr. Madison examined Gramps, she and Zach paced the waiting room. Several patients came and went.
“What could be taking so long?” Janine asked, wringing her hands nervously. “Do you think we did the right thing bringing him here? I mean, should we have gone directly to the hospital emergency room instead?”
“I doubt he would have agreed to that,” Zach said.
“Do you honestly believe I would’ve listened to him?” She sat on the edge of a chair, her hands clenched so tightly together her knuckles whitened. “It’s ridiculous, but I’ve never thought of Gramps as old. He’s always been so healthy, so alive. I’ve never once considered what would happen if he became ill.”
“He’s going to be fine, Janine.”
“You saw him,” she cried, struggling against the dread and horror that churned inside her.
Zach’s hand clasped hers and the fears that had torn at her composure only seconds earlier seemed to abate with his touch. He lent her confidence and strength, and she was badly in need of both.
When the door leading to the doctor’s office opened, they leapt to their feet. Zach’s hand tightened around hers before he released it.
“Dr. Madison can talk to you now,” the nurse told them briskly. She led them to a compact office and explained that the doctor would be with them in a few minutes. Janine sat in one of the cushioned chairs and studied the framed diplomas on the walls.
Dr. Madison came into the room moments later. He paused to shake hands with Janine and then with Zach. “So far, my tests don’t show anything we need to be too concerned about,” he said, shuffling through the papers on his desk.
“What happened? Why was he so pale? Why was he gasping like that?” Janine demanded.
Dr. Madison frowned and folded his hands. “I’m really not sure. He claims he hadn’t been doing any strenuous exercise.”
“No, he was drinking coffee and talking to a friend.”
Dr. Madison nodded. “Did he recently receive any negative news regarding his business?”
“No,” Janine replied, glancing at Zach. “If anything, the business is doing better than ever. Gramps is getting ready to retire. I hate the thought of anything happening to him now.”
“I don’t know what to tell you,” Dr. Madison said thoughtfully. “He should take it easy for the next couple of days, but there’s nothing to worry about that I can find.”
Janine sighed and closed her eyes. “Thank God.”
“Your grandfather’s getting dressed now,” Dr. Madison said. He stood, signaling the end of their interview. “He’ll join you in a few minutes.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Zach said fervently.
Relief washed through Janine like a tidal wave. She got up and smiled at Zach. It was a smile full of gratitude. A smile one might share with a good friend when something has gone unexpectedly right. The kind of smile a woman would share with her husband. The thought hit her full force and she quickly lowered her eyes to cover her reaction.
When Gramps joined them in the waiting room, he looked immeasurably better. His blue eyes were filled with indignation and his skin tone was a healthy pink. “I hope the two of you are satisfied,” he said huskily, buttoning his coat. “Most of the afternoon was wasted with this nonsense.”
“You were a hundred percent correct, Gramps,” Janine said brightly. “You’re as fit as a fiddle and we wasted valuable cribbage time dragging you down here.”
“I should’ve been back at the office hours ago,” Zach put in, sharing a smile with Janine.
“And whose fault is that?” Anton muttered. He brushed off his sleeves as though he’d been forced to pick himself up off the floor, thanks to them.
Once more Janine and Zach shared an intimate look. They both seemed to realize what they were doing at the same moment and abruptly glanced away.
Zach drove Gramps and Janine back to the house, Gramps protesting loudly all the while that they’d overreacted and ruined his afternoon. His first concern seemed to be rescheduling his cribbage game.
Afterward Janine walked Zach to his car. “Thanks for everything,” she said, folding her arms to repress the sudden urge to hug him.
“If you’re worried about anything, give me a call,” Zach said as he opened the car door. He hesitated fractionally, then lifted his head and gazed directly into her eyes. “Goodbye, Janine.”
She raised her hand in farewell as a sadness settled over her. “Goodbye, Zach,” she said forcing a lightness into her voice. “Thanks again.”
For the longest moment, he said nothing, although his eyes still held hers. Finally he repeated, “Call me if you need anything, all right?”
“I will.”
But they both knew she wouldn’t. It was best to end this now. Make a clean break.
Janine stood in the driveway until Zach’s car was well out of sight. Only then did she return to the house.
“This is really good of you,” Patty St. John whispered, handing the sleeping infant to Janine. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if I’d had to drag Michael to the interview. I need this job so badly.”
“I’m happy to help.” Janine peered down at the sweet face of the sleeping six-month-old baby. “I apologize if it was inconvenient for you to bring Michael here, but I’ve been sticking close to the house for the past few days. My grandfather hasn’t been feeling well.”
“It wasn’t any problem,” Patty whispered, setting the diaper bag on the floor. She glanced around the house. “This place is really something. I didn’t have any idea that you…well, you know, that you were so well off.”
“This house belongs to my grandfather,” Janine explained, gently rocking Michael in her arms. The warmth and tenderness she felt toward the baby was a revelation. She supposed it was understandable, though. Gramps had spent last week constantly telling her what remarkable babies she and Zach would have, and here she was with one in her arms. All the maternal instincts she didn’t know she had came bubbling to the surface.
“I’ll be back in about an hour,” Patty said. She leaned over and kissed Michael’s soft forehead. He didn’t so much as stir.
Still carrying the baby, Janine walked to the door with her friend. “Good luck.”
Patty gave a strained smile and crossed her fingers. “Thanks. Here’s hoping.”
No sooner had the door closed than Anton walked into the living room. He paused when he saw Janine rocking in the old chair that had once belonged to his wife. His face relaxed into a broad grin.
“Is that a baby you’ve got there?”
Janine smiled. “Nothing gets past you, does it, Gramps?”
He chuckled. “Who’s he belong to?”