Cinderella Story. Elizabeth August

Genkins coming out of one of the rooms and approaching.

      “Tommy is still groggy from the sedation,” Dr. Genkins said, smiling encouragingly at Nina as he entered. “I told the nurse to stay with him for a few more minutes so I could speak to you alone.”

      Nina had known the doctor all of her life. He’d been her pediatrician and now he was her children’s physician. Through the years, she’d learned to read him well. That he’d arranged to be at the hospital during Tommy’s examination had told her how worried he was about her son’s condition. Now, looking beyond his smile, she saw the results in his eyes. “It’s bad news.” The words came out shakily around the lump of fear in her throat.

      Alex was on his feet. Nina Lindstrom had turned ashen, and he was afraid she was going to faint.

      “Maybe we should sit down,” Dr. Genkins said. Although delivered in a fatherly tone, this was an order rather than a suggestion. Slipping a hand under Nina’s arm, he guided her to a nearby chair.

      Alex remained in the background. Obviously the doctor had the situation under control. Nina Lindstrom’s wait was over, and he was free to go. But he didn’t like leaving her on her own, not with the news he was certain the doctor was about to deliver. Besides, he wasn’t busy. He might as well stay, he decided, and eased himself back into his chair.

      “Tommy does have a tumor,” Jim Genkins told her gently.

      “Is it malignant?” Just asking caused a rush of terror.

      “We won’t know until the tumor is removed and the lab can examine it.” He smiled encouragingly. “But there is good news. I had Dr. Zycros, a very capable neurologist, come in and take a look at the scan with me, and both he and I believe it’s operable.”

      Nina saw the slight tic in his left jaw. It was a sure sign he was holding back, not telling her everything. “You’re not being entirely honest with me. I need to know the whole truth.”

      He took her hands in his. “The operation will be tricky, but Dr. Zycros feels there is no other choice.”

      “None?” She looked at him pleadingly.

      “The rapid increase in symptoms suggests the tumor is fast growing. It needs to be removed before it can do any damage.”

      Tears of fear welled in Nina’s eyes. “Damage?”

      “I know how you feel. It’s terrifying when any child is in danger, and hundreds of times more so when it’s your child. But I can assure you that I will do everything I can for Tommy.”

      Nina’s throat was so constricted she could barely speak. She did manage to choke out an, “I know you’ll do your best.”

      “I’m going to have my receptionist set up an appointment for you tomorrow. That will give me time to take another look at the MRI and consult with some of my colleagues. I doubt very much that their diagnosis will be any different, but I want to be certain we don’t have any alternatives.” He gave Nina’s hands a final reassuring squeeze. “Now, shall we go get Tommy?”

      As he started to rise, Nina laid a hand on his arm, keeping him seated. “I don’t have much money right now. I’ve been out of work since the storm,” she said stiffly. “But I want Tommy to have the best of care. I’ll pay whatever it costs. It just may take a little time.”

      Dr. Genkins patted her hand. “Don’t worry about the cost for now. We’ll work out something. You just think about your son.”

      Nina nodded and forced her legs to hold her as she rose. “I want to go to him. He’s probably wondering where I am.”

      “He was asking for you,” Dr. Genkins confirmed, holding the door open.

      Alex watched Nina cross the hall with the doctor and enter one of the rooms. Again he told himself to leave. Again he stayed. He wasn’t certain why. Curiosity, he decided. A few minutes later Nina emerged with a young towheaded boy. Must take after his father, he thought. Grudgingly, he admitted that he wouldn’t mind having a son of his own. He just wasn’t interested in having a wife.

      The boy stumbled, and Nina scooped him up in her arms. Alex frowned. She didn’t look much steadier than the child. In the next instant he was on his feet heading toward them.

      “You’ve had a pretty bad shock. How about if I carry your son,” he said, starting to reach for the boy.

      Nina’s hold on Tommy tightened. She knew it wasn’t rational, but as long as he was in her arms she felt as if she could keep him safe. “I can carry him.”

      Alex read the fierce protectiveness on her face. “Then, I’ll walk along and open doors for you.”

      By the time they reached Nina’s run-down Ford, Tommy was asleep, his head limp on her shoulder. She shifted his weight to a hip so she could hold him with one arm. Standing slightly tilted, she dug in her pocket for her keys.

      Some women carry independence too far, Alex mused. Without asking, he lifted the boy into his own arms. “I’m not trying to steal him,” he assured her in hushed tones. “I just didn’t want you to drop him or pull a muscle.”

      Nina drew a shaky breath and ordered herself to calm down. “Thanks.”

      Tommy woke and lifted his head. Seeing Alex, fear spread over his face. “Mommy,” he called, attempting to squirm out of Alex’s grasp.

      “You’re all right, son.” Alex tightened his hold on the boy to prevent him from falling.

      “Just one second,” Nina said, turning the key in the lock.

      Tommy looked over his shoulder. Seeing his mother, he stopped his struggle. Still, he studied Alex skeptically, as if not quite certain the man was safe to be with.

      Alex had dealt with many tough, single-minded businessmen during his lifetime. He, himself, was considered one of the toughest and most single-minded, but the child’s stare had an intensity that unnerved him. “I’m Alex Bennett,” he introduced himself, feeling the need to say something.

      Tommy’s eyes seemed to glaze over, and Alex realized the child had lost the fight to remain completely alert. Tommy was in a state of dazed exhaustion caused by the residual effects of fear and the drug the doctor had administered to calm him. He gave the child an encouraging smile and a wink.

      Tommy continued to frown, clearly not yet convinced Alex was a friend, but having neither the strength nor the coordination to struggle.

      “I’ll take my son now,” Nina said.

      “I’ll set him in the car,” Alex insisted, seeing her own exhaustion etched deeply into her features.

      Nina stepped aside and let him put Tommy on the seat and buckle the boy in. “Thank you again,” she said when he straightened and closed the door.

      “You’re welcome.” Time to get back to his own problems, Alex told himself.

      Nina noticed that his smile didn’t reach his eyes. They remained cool and distant, as if he found her an interesting specimen but wasn’t interested in getting too close. A mother with a child with a brain tumor wasn’t every man’s dream woman, she mused dryly, rounding the car and climbing in behind the wheel. And even if she’d been childless, she was certain she wouldn’t have been Alex Bennett’s choice for a companion. He traveled in a much more elite crowd.

      Driving away, she glanced in her rearview mirror to see him heading back into the hospital. Again she wondered why he’d bothered to give her any of his time. “We must have been Mr. Bennett’s good deed for the day,” she said to Tommy.

      When he made no response, she glanced toward him to see that he was again asleep.

      Brain surgery! The thought terrified her. “We’ll get through this,” she said aloud, using the sound of her voice to give her courage.

      * * *

      Alex Bennett ordered