LITMIR.BIZ

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be the first time,” the nurse replied. “Did you know that once we even had a baby born—”

      “I doubt Mr. Hammond will have to do anything quite as dramatic,” Noelle interjected. No need for the conversation to head down that particular road.

      The nurse offered a tight-lipped smile. Apparently, she didn’t appreciate being cut off. “Either way, you’re going to need someone to look in on you. Doctor’s orders.”

      “The concierge will love that request,” Hammond muttered.

      “We could arrange for a private duty nurse.”

      “Good grief,” Belinda said. “That doesn’t sound pleasant at all.”

      “Pleasant isn’t exactly on the table right now.” Hammond’s eyes had grown heavy lidded and his words were slurred. It was obvious the entire conversation was exhausting him, and Noelle couldn’t help but feel bad.

      Although she doubted he’d appreciate the compassion. A man like Hammond, with his disregard for sentiment and tradition, would despise showing any hint of vulnerability.

      “Of course pleasant is on the table,” Belinda said. “This is Fryberg.” The meaning behind her emphasis was obvious.

      Hammond let out a low groan. Still feeling compassionate, Noelle decided the noise was coincidental.

      Her mother-in-law continued as if the noise never happened. “We’re not going to let you spend your weekend in some hotel room, eating room service and being attended to by a stranger. You’ll spend the weekend with me. That way you can recuperate, and enjoy a proper Thanksgiving, as well.”

      The strangest look crossed Hammond’s face. Part surprise, part darkness as though her mother-in-law’s suggestion unnerved him. Noelle didn’t picture him as a man who got unnerved. Ever.

      “I don’t want to put you out,” he said.

      “You won’t. I have plenty of room. I’ll even make you some…oh, shoot.” A look crossed her features, not nearly as dark as Hammond’s, but definitely distressed.

      “What is it?” Noelle asked.

      “The Orion House Dinner is this evening. I completely forgot.”

      In all the craziness, so had Noelle. Fryberg’s was being honored for its fund-raising efforts on behalf of homeless veterans. “Would you mind?” her mother-in-law asked. “I don’t want Orion House to think I don’t appreciate the honor. The project meant so much to Ned.”

      “I know,” replied Noelle. After Kevin’s death, her father-in-law had channeled his grief into helping as many veteran programs as possible. Orion House had topped the list. “He was very passionate about wanting to help.”

      “That he was,” Belinda said, getting the faraway look she always got when they discussed Ned. The family had been through a lot these past years, and yet they continued to channel their energy into the community. Their dedication in the face of grief made her proud to bear the Fryberg name.

      “Would you mind stepping in instead?”

      “Not at all,” she told her. “I’d love to.” It’d be an honor to accept an award for them.

      “Thank goodness.” The older woman let out a long sigh. “I was afraid that because of our words earlier… Never mind.” Whatever her mother-in-law had been about to say she waved away. “Let me pull my car around. I’ll help you get Mr. Hammond settled, and then go home to change.”

      Help her…? Wait… What exactly had she agreed to do?

      Noelle opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again. Nothing came out though. That’s because she knew what she’d agreed to. As surely as the sickening feeling growing in her stomach.

      Somehow, James Hammond had become her responsibility. She looked over to her mother-in-law, but Belinda was busy fishing through her purse. And here she thought she would be free of the man. Talk about your sick karmic jokes. If only she’d been the one hit in the head.

      “Do you need an extra copy of the discharge instructions?” the nurse asked her.

      “No,” Noelle replied with a sigh. “I know what to expect.”

      There was only one consolation, if you could call it that. Hammond looked about as thrilled over this change of events as she was.

      Goodie. They could be miserable together.

      A few minutes later, James found himself being wheeled outside behind a tiny bundle of annoyance, who marched toward the waiting sedan with her arms yet again wrapped tightly across her chest. A voice behind his headache wondered if they were permanently attached to her body that way.

      “Why don’t you take the front seat?” Belinda opened the passenger door. “I’ve pulled it all the way back so you’ll have plenty of leg room.”

      Front seat, back seat. Didn’t make much difference. Neither were the cockpit of his private plane. His head felt split in two, the world was tipping on its axis and he wanted nothing more than to be in his bed back in Boston. Damn drone.

      He pushed himself to his feet only to have the world rock back and forth like a seesaw. A second later, an arm wrapped around his biceps, steadying him, and he smelled the sweet scent of orange blossoms. The elf. He recognized the perfume from the confines of the elevator. Funny, but he expected her to smell Christmassy, not like Florida sunshine. Maybe they were out of sugar cookie perfume this week.

      “Something wrong?”

      Turning his head—barely—he saw her frowning at him and realized he’d snorted out loud at his joke. “Do you really need to ask?”

      He was being an ass, he knew that, but with stitches in his scalp, surely he was entitled to a little churlishness?

      The frown deepened. “Watch your head,” she replied.

      James did as he was told, and as his reward, the orange blossoms—as well as her grip—disappeared. In their absence, his headache intensified. He found himself slumped against a leather armrest with his fingers pressed against his temple to hold his head up.

      “Fortunately, we don’t have to drive too far,” he heard Belinda say. “Noelle only lives a short distance from town.”

      “Great.” What he really wanted to say was that two feet was too far what with the lights outside dipping and rocking as they passed by. Thankfully the sun had set. If those were buildings bobbing, he’d be lurching the contents of his stomach all over his Bostonians. He closed his eyes, and did his best to imagine orange blossoms.

      “The nurse seemed to think the worst of the dizziness would pass by tomorrow,” Noelle said from behind him.

      “Thank God,” he whispered. If true, then maybe he could snag a ride to the airport and fly home, doctor’s orders be damned. He bet the elf would drive him. After all, she didn’t want him at her house any more than he wanted to be there. He’d caught the look on the woman’s face when Belinda foisted him on her.

      Foisted. What a perfect word for the situation. Stuck where he didn’t want to be, dependent on people who didn’t want him around.

      Story of his life.

      Great. He’d moved from churlish to pity party. Why not round out the trifecta and start whining too?

      How he hated this. Hated having no choice. Hated being weak and needy. He hadn’t needed anyone since he was twelve years old. Needing and foisting were incompatible concepts.

      “It’s too bad you can’t look out the window,” Belinda said. “The town looks beautiful all lit up.”

      James pried open one eye to see building after building

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