Cinderella Story Part 2. Elizabeth August

at his computer. At the moment, he was standing at the window. She recalled the light, brotherly kiss he’d placed on her nose following her first meeting with William Bennett, then frowned at herself when the memory caused a curl of warmth to spread through her. He did not fit her requirements for a man she could learn to care deeply for. He scorned love and marriage. To her those were basic values that went to her core.

      Alex looked at his watch. “Four hours. Only four or eight or more to go.”

      The phone rang, causing both of them to jump. Alex grabbed it up. He listened for a couple of moments, said “Thanks,” and hung up. “That was the operating room. The nurse called to tell us that everything is going well.”

      “Do you think she was telling the truth?” Nina asked, fighting a rush of terror.

      “Yes.”

      He sounded so positive, her fear subsided to a manageable level. “I should call Helen and tell her everything is going well.”

      Alex punched in the number and handed the receiver to her. Reassuring her mother-in-law when she wasn’t at all certain of the outcome was difficult, but she forced her tone to remain positive.

      “It’s taking a very long time,” Helen said, voicing Nina’s concern.

      “You wouldn’t want them to rush,” she replied, repeating Alex’s argument.

      “You’re right about that,” Helen conceded. “Alex’s grandfather has been very generous. He’s offered to arrange for the children and me to go to a fireworks display, but I thought it would be best if we stayed here. I have a cell phone, but I don’t feel like being out in a crowd. So he’s sent John out for a few sparklers and we’re going to have our own Fourth of July celebration here.”

      “That sounds nice.” Nina had forgotten all about the holiday. The mention of sparklers brought a flood of memories to the forefront of her mind. She took a couple of minutes longer to ask about Elizabeth and Pete, then rang off.

      Alex watched her hang up, then stare vacantly toward the window. “What sounds nice?” he asked, wondering what Helen had said that had triggered that faraway look.

      “Your grandfather has arranged for a small Fourth of July celebration at his estate.” She forced her mind back to the hospital room. “I didn’t even realize it was the Fourth of July.” Again the memories took control. “When Tom was alive, we always went to the park for a picnic and afterward watched the fireworks.”

      Alex suffered a jab of frustration. Her deceased husband seemed to be always on her mind. That she hadn’t buried Tom Lindstrom and moved forward with her life was her problem, not his, he told himself. Not in the mood to listen to reminiscences about her and her former spouse, he merely nodded and returned to his computer.

      Nina frowned at herself. Alex Bennett wasn’t interested in her mundane life. As she had done so many times during the past three years, she sought refuge in her memories.

      Normally Alex had no trouble concentrating on his work. But Nina Lindstrom was a hard woman to ignore. He saw the distant look return to her eyes and his irritation with her returned. The woman needed to bury her dead and get on with her life. It’s her choice, he told himself curtly. Still, the urge to force her mind off of her deceased husband was too strong to resist. “Working with those toy models yesterday reminded me of a design I’d once considered but never had any time to pursue.”

      Jerking her mind back to the present, Nina looked at him questioningly. She’d expected him to ignore her. That he hadn’t, surprised her.

      You’ve got her attention. What now? Alex mocked himself. “Pete’s very clever with his hands.”

      A glow of pride gave color to her cheeks. “Yes, he is.” But instead of picturing her son at play with his building blocks, her gaze shifted to Alex’s hands. The remembered feel of them against her skin brought back a memory that was so vivid, it was as if he was actually touching her. Startled by how strong an impression they’d left on her, she quickly jerked her attention to the computer screen.

      Seeing the flicker of uneasiness cross her face, Alex wondered what had caused it. “I was surprised a child so young could actually be of so much assistance in putting the models together,” he persisted.

      Alex Bennett is not a man to let get under your skin, she cautioned herself. She pulled Tom’s image from the back of her mind. He was the kind of man she should look for if she ever decided she wanted another man in her life. “Pete inherited his father’s knack for mechanics.”

      Tom, again, Alex grumbled silently. Would any man ever break the bond the deceased man held over Nina? Alex doubted it but the urge to try worked its way through him. Unfortunately, he reminded himself, she’d want an emotional commitment, the kind he was determined never to feel toward any woman. Burying the urge, he returned to his computer and allowed a silence to fall between them once again.

      * * *

      Ten hours! Nina fought to keep the hot tears in her eyes from flooding down her cheeks. This had to be one of the longest days of her life. “What can they be doing?”

      “Their best,” Alex replied.

      She glared at him. “It’s easy for you to be patient. That isn’t your child on the operating table.”

      His expression darkened. “This waiting isn’t any easier on me than it is on you. Do you honestly think I’m so cold-blooded I don’t care what happens to the small boy in there?”

      The intensity of his anger startled her. “I’m sorry. It was unfair of me to lash out at you like that.”

      Silently Alex admonished himself. He knew she was under stress. What he hadn’t realized was how strongly he’d become attached to Tommy. The image of the frail, hollow-faced six-year-old looking up at him for courage had been haunting him for the past several hours. “It’s all right. We’re both stressed out.”

      Nina’s hands balled into fists. “I feel so frustrated. I want to do something to help, and there is nothing I can do.”

      “Just keep reminding yourself that he’s getting the best care possible.”

      Nina nodded.

      The opening of the door caused them both to jerk to attention.

      “Everything is looking good,” the nurse who entered said. “They’re finished with the operation and are closing now. He’ll be in recovery for about six hours. After that he’ll be transferred to intensive care. You can see him then.”

      “Was the operation a success?” Nina demanded around the lump in her throat.

      The nurse continued to smile reassuringly. “The doctor will be in to fill you in on the details. But don’t worry. Dr. O’Conner is the best.”

      As the woman made a quick exit, Nina looked to Alex with panic in her eyes. “She’s not telling us the truth.”

      That same fear was spreading through him, but he refused to give in to it. “Yes, she is.” His hands closed around Nina’s upper arms and his gaze locked on hers. “It’s not her duty to give us the details. All she can do is relay messages from the doctor. She said everything looks good, and that’s what we’re going to believe until someone tells us differently.”

      Strength seemed to flow from his touch into her. “I needed to hear that,” she said. “Thank you.”

      He grinned and kissed the tip of her nose. Straightening away from her, he returned to the window. That he’d been able to help her caused a rush of pleasure. Then Tommy’s small, trusting face came back to haunt him and the pleasure faded. “I never realized waiting could be so difficult,” he said, breaking the silence between them.

      “Helen says that waiting is the hardest part of being a parent. You wait for them to be born. Then you wait for them to roll over for the first time so that you know they’re getting stronger. Then there’s the first step