Sweet Surrender Read online

  Their food arrived, delaying Morton’s reply. Pierce saw the gleam in his eyes. The questions formulating in his mind practically leaped off the older man’s face.

  Pierce had a salad topped with curried chicken breast. The curry didn’t burn his tongue, but added enough spice to make him reach for his water glass. Morton had ignored the ethnic food and ordered a large hamburger and coleslaw. He had to stretch his mouth to encompass the large sandwich.

  “I’m waiting.” Morton set down his sandwich; more than a bite-size mouthful poked out the side of his cheek.

  Pierce filled him in on Haley in general, and specifically, how beautiful and marvelous she was, including how much Beth had grown on him. With any other friend, he would have concentrated on keeping any personal, subjective comments out of the conversation. However with Morton, he wanted to tell him everything about Haley.

  “My, but it sure looks like someone may be in love.”

  “Don’t know if I’d go that far. But that’s not what makes a relationship survive. Love is a good thing to have, but you need someone who would stick through the thick and thin.”

  “Most people plan to do that anyway. No one goes into a relationship saying I hope it will fail.”

  “But when there are signs, they bail out. Their actions speak louder than what they say.” Pierce hated talking about relationships. It was up there with talking about politics and religion. Some people were advocates, some weren’t. He was ambivalent. As long as Haley didn’t push the subject with him, they would be fine.

  “Let’s switch to a subject that won’t make you bare your teeth. How’s your family?” Morton asked.

  “Sheena is Sheena. She is mad at me because I want to sell Mom’s house. I’m not paying her any mind.”

  “Does she want the house?”

  “No, and that’s my point,” Pierce said.

  “Did you ask her?” Morton looked at him, shaking his head.

  “Don’t you start. She already has a house. Why should I ask her?”

  “The house belongs to the entire family. You controlled the estate, but they have an emotional tie to the house that you’ve ignored,” Morton said.

  “I’m selling it to Haley.”

  “The same Haley? Does Sheena know about you and the tenant getting it on?” Morton wiped his mouth. “This is getting good.”

  “I don’t know if Sheena knows. I’m sure Laura has briefed her by now, but it doesn’t matter. I should’ve cancelled this lunch with you,” Pierce muttered. He finished off his salad, spearing the last piece of chicken. Morton, who was lagging behind Pierce, dug into his food with relish.

  “What about Laura?”

  “Laura, thank goodness, has come around to my side. She likes Haley and spends time with Beth.” He couldn’t help the gloat in his voice.

  “Beth is the daughter, right? Ready-made family, all neatly packaged up for you.”

  “Beth is still adjusting to her parents’ breakup. Remember how long it took for me to get over it.”

  “And still getting over it. You’re hanging on to the memories like it’s a life raft. If you let go, you’d be fine. You’d stand on those large feet of yours and be just fine.”

  “Back to Beth—she painted the mural in my office.”

  “The psychedelic-looking wall at your office?”

  “I’m allowing someone’s creative juice to breathe. And my patients could do with some cheeriness while they wait.”

  “Sounds like making Beth happy was more the priority than your patients. Nothing wrong with that, but once you’re in with kids, you’d better plan to stay in.”

  Pierce heard the warning in Morton’s message. He would never use Beth’s feelings to manipulate the situation between her mother and him. All he’d done was provide a solution when she’d needed one.

  He couldn’t say that he wasn’t glad Laura had made some inroads with Beth. Haley had been worried about the close friendship between Laura and Beth. Haley wanted to be the one who Beth turned to for advice. But Laura had made it clear that she wouldn’t keep anything from Haley. Haley, in return, had promised that she would think before reacting to information Laura shared with her about Beth.

  “I mustn’t forget Omar. What has become of the dreamer?”

  “He’s studying for the LSAT. He took it once, but I advised him to start studying again, just in case.”

  “A lawyer, very prestigious. Is this a career race between brothers?”

  “Considering that I’m already a doctor, the race is purely one-sided.”

  “Why don’t you talk him out of it?”

  “He needs to do something logical and lucrative. I can’t take care of him for the rest of his life. And our sisters shouldn’t be helping him, although I know they do. He’s a young man and it’s time for him to stand on his own two feet.”

  “Isn’t he already working? As a teacher?” Morton raised an eyebrow, chewing on his last fry.

  “Part-time. With budget cuts, he may be out of a job.”

  “Lawyers get laid off, too.”

  “Morton, are you here to stomp on my nerves? In your family, you’ve got an ophthalmologist, a plastic surgeon and an obstetrician. Why can’t I want the same standard for my family?”

  “Each of us picked our career. My father owned a dry-cleaning business and a grocery store. Life wasn’t a walk in the park because we were expected to carry on the business. My father felt that he’d put all this work into the business as a legacy of sorts for us. When each of his children selected a career in the medical field, he got frustrated and sold the family business. He gave us each a nest egg and wished us luck when he retired,” Morton said as he sat back, folding his arms across his chest. “Give your sisters and brother a chance. They won’t disappoint you.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Expect the worst from people and they will oblige…” Morton’s voice trailed off, his attention diverted. Pierce knew Morton was about to launch into a full-blown lecture that would leave him re-thinking everything in his life.

  “What shut you up? Or should I ask who did?” Pierce laughed at his friend, knowing that some young thing had caught Morton’s eye. The older man had lost his wife five years before to a terminal illness. His friend still mourned and wore a cavalier, flirtatious attitude to hide his grief. Pierce could identify with that approach.

  Morton pointed toward the door. “The sister with the killer blue suit. Forget the dude. She looks like she could eat nails for breakfast and still look sexy in some fishnet stockings. I love a strong woman.” Morton returned his attention to Pierce. “Is Haley a strong woman? Frankly I can’t see you being happy with anyone less.”

  “After what you said, I don’t think that I should be talking about Haley to you. Now you’re into fishnet stockings? You are sinking into the den of iniquity pretty quickly.” Pierce craned his neck to see who had rendered Morton speechless. The woman either had left or had been seated in a booth. “Haley is a strong, stubborn, sophisticated, savvy, sexy woman.” He couldn’t help bragging.

  “I think that’s as close as we’ll get for poetry from you. Next thing I know you’ll be dancing and singing, while strumming on a mandolin while you serenade the fair-headed Haley.”

  “Actually her hair is a soft brown.”

  “There she is,” Morton whispered, loud enough for the man accompanying the woman to turn and stare at them. “She’s looking over here. Oh, this is sweet. I think she’s ditching the bald-headed dude to join us. Move over, Pierce.”

  Pierce finally saw the woman who had Morton blithering. He was surprised to see Haley, but his male ego preened that his woman turned heads. Pierce held his face straight.

  “Hi there,” Haley said and greeted each man with a smile. “This is a nice surprise.”

  Pierce stood and kissed her cheek. Was this how good she looked when she went to work? He’d love the chance to be able to see her every morning.

  “Haley, I hope?” Morton shook her ha
nd, but didn’t let go. Haley nodded. “I’m Pierce’s mentor. I tell him all the things that he should be doing. I take complete credit for all of his good points.”

  “Well, you’ve done a heck of a job.” Haley touched Pierce’s cheek, her face filled with tenderness. “I’ve got to get back to my lunch meeting.”

  “Pierce Masterson, you lucky dog. I can’t believe that a woman of her caliber is interested in you,” Morton said with a teasing chuckle. Morton reached for his glass and finished drinking his beverage. He wiped his lips with a flourish. “You will be inviting me over to meet her and really get to know her, right?”

  “Never. I don’t want you filling her head with any nonsense.” Pierce had thought about introducing Haley to the rest of his family and friends. But he didn’t know how she would feel about meeting them. She seemed to be keeping him at a distance.

  “I promise to keep a beer in my hand. Every time I get an urge to say something that might embarrass you, I’ll take a drink.”

  “Great. You can be obnoxious and inebriated. Can’t wait for that scenario to play out.”

  “Seriously, though, Pierce, both of you may be tiptoeing through the tulips. I’m an outsider and I can look at your relationship objectively. Both of you are smitten with each other. Stop fighting it. Let things happen without your crazy reservations intervening.”

  Pierce heard the words, the underlying meaning, all the nuances to Morton’s philosophy. He wished that he could truly be impulsive as he had once bragged to Haley. Instead, he pondered and made his moves with great caution.

  Morton pulled out his cell phone. He dialed a number and placed the phone to his ear. He winked at Pierce and made a motion to remain quiet while he talked.

  “Sheena, sweetheart, it’s Morton Bell, husband number two when husband number one doesn’t work out.” He laughed.

  Pierce wished that he could hear his sister’s comments to Morton. Based on his responses, he was getting clarity on Sheena’s version of things. He could feel another lecture coming on after this telephone conversation.

  “I’d love to come to dinner. By the way, I ran into your brother and his friend Haley. He said that you’re having a cookout. Heard that you always have a barbeque on the last Saturday of the summer to celebrate the end of season.”

  Pierce made a motion to cut off the mention of Haley. Morton smiled, but kept talking. “Yes, that Haley. Okay, I’ll see you then.” Morton hung up.

  “Have you lost your mind? I’m not taking Haley over to Sheena. If you had waited a few minutes, I was going to mention that I am having a small gathering over at my house this Saturday.”

  “You can still do it. I’d love to come and get to know your intended.”

  “See, that’s why I don’t want you near her.”

  “What time?” Morton ignored Pierce’s protests.

  “How about three o’clock in the afternoon.”

  “Good. I’ll be over on Saturday at three.” Morton looked at his watch. “I have to get moving. I’ve got a three o’clock tee time this afternoon. An opthamologist’s life is so decadent. Told you to go that route.” Morton grinned. He patted Pierce on his back. “Good luck. See you Saturday. And don’t try to cancel, I’ll still show up. Now why don’t you leave me and go talk to her. She must be wrapping up her meeting soon.”

  “Yeah.” Pierce didn’t take his eyes off Haley.

  “You’ve got the love bug in a bad way. Later, my friend.” Pierce heard Morton’s chuckle as he left the restaurant.

  Pierce moved to Morton’s seat to get an unobstructed view of Haley and her lunch companion. He choked on the thought of the well-dressed man as Haley’s date. After three refills of his soda, Haley finally had finished her lunch. Being a doctor and having to observe people and their body language to make a quick diagnosis, Pierce had formed an opinion of Haley’s companion before the man left her table. Like Morton, this man had fallen under Haley’s spell.

  Pierce found Haley’s lunch “date’s” rapt attention quite annoying. The man hung on every word she said. If he thought that Haley wouldn’t be furious, he would have parked his butt at the table. The man had the look of a stuffed suit. He probably didn’t do anything meaningful but count his dough. Haley appeared to be unaffected, taking notes whenever the man spoke. Once she looked up and caught Pierce’s stare.

  He looked down at his glass, suddenly interested in the ice cube that was shaped like a mountain. When he thought enough time had passed, he looked up to see that the meeting was over. Haley shook the man’s hand. As they stood, he stopped to ask her something. Was he asking for her phone number? Haley shook her head. The man shrugged, smiled and walked out of the restaurant. Pierce toasted his last gulp of drink to Haley.

  She didn’t approach him, as he’d expected. Instead, she also exited the restaurant. He got up, bumping back his chair with a loud scrape along the floor. Dodging other patrons and waiters bearing heavy trays of food, he got to the door and flung it open.

  She had crossed the parking lot, heading for her car. He ran out, jumping aside when an irritated driver honked at him.

  “Haley, wait.”

  “Finished spying on me?”

  Pierce slowed his steps. He didn’t mean to anger her. She certainly did look cross. Maybe he had overdone his stalker routine. “Don’t be mad at me.”

  “I’m not. I think that you’re comical. Do I get to come and look at you tend to your patients?”

  “Just making sure that Mr. Corporate Suit didn’t get fresh.”

  “Fresh?” Haley laughed.

  “I swear he was making goo-goo eyes at you.”

  “You jealous man. I’ll give you a chance to make it up to me.”

  “Really?” Pierce could only think of one way. His way required both of them to be lying in the same bed…naked.

  “I know what you’re thinking. And that’s not it.”

  “Darn it.”

  “Go back to work, Pierce.”

  “Right. Right.” Pierce wasn’t ready to let her go, but he couldn’t very well hold her hostage in the restaurant parking lot.

  Chapter 8

  Pierce went back to work with a smile on his face. His mood had been boosted by the unexpected meeting with Haley. Even his patients complimented him on his upbeat demeanor, attributing their improved attitude to it when they left his office.

  “Jean, did you send out the invitations?”

  “Yep. I sent out an invitation to everyone. So far, we have fifty that are definite and twelve that can’t make it. Are you sure we can handle fifty guests?”

  “We’ll have to make sure to stagger the refreshments to accommodate all of the guests at the open house. Don’t put out everything at one time, or the early birds will eat it all.”

  Jean gathered the papers on her desk and sorted them into a pile. She paused in her task and looked up at him.

  “What?”

  “You’re doing an awfully nice thing for that kid.”

  “She’s got talent. So why not show it off?”

  “Yeah, but most people would have looked the other way. Frankly, I was scared for her when I saw how she and her friends had defaced the fence.”

  “Believe me, I was mad. That wasn’t an act,” he said. He recalled how defeated Haley had looked by what Beth had done. Guess he did it for the mother, as much as he’d done it for the daughter.

  “Does Beth know about the party?”

  He shook his head. “I haven’t told her yet. Maybe that’s what I’ll do tonight.”

  “I’m going to get out of here, Doc. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Jean had given him an idea about the event. Announcing the event to Haley and Beth provided him with the perfect excuse to visit them. As he locked up the office, he whistled at the prospect of his new mission. Once he slid the key into the lock, he paused. He reopened the door, glancing down at the object that had nagged him.

  Beth had left her red-and-black backpack during her last painting
session. He’d put the bag in his office for safekeeping. He went back into the office and retrieved the bag. Now with the backpack slung over his shoulder, his whistle turned into singing as he closed up the office. Another practical reason for a visit had presented itself. He had to stop at Haley’s to return Beth’s bag.

  He never got to see Haley on weeknights. She came home late and besides, she felt guilty about not dedicating more time to Beth. He couldn’t argue with that. He didn’t want to usurp the precious time Haley spent with her daughter.

  Visiting Haley and Beth was enough for him. He didn’t require major conversation or a three-course dinner. Sitting on the porch sharing a bowl of ice cream with Haley and Beth would satisfy him.

  When he emerged from his office, night had already fallen. The streets were wet. He must have missed a late afternoon downpour. Traffic was still a little heavy. The noisy whish of tires on the wet asphalt filled the air. He merged into the traffic, adding to the many drivers heading home, only he wasn’t going to his house.

  No matter how many times he came to visit Haley or do work on the house, he never stopped admiring his family home. The front porch was wide and inviting, a reminder of times when families spent after-dinner hours chatting with each other without leaving their yards. The porch had been his perch when his siblings rode their bikes or roller skates up and down the street. The porch had provided him with a clear view, and he’d had the added benefit of neighbors who would tell him what his siblings were doing at the end of the road.

  Haley had planted flowers along the stone path, as his mother had done. He didn’t pretend to know anything about gardening. After his mother had died, he hadn’t tended them. His sisters hadn’t, either. He suspected that they didn’t want to disturb something that their mother had last touched. Their mother’s garden had eventually withered and died.

  He rang the doorbell, hoping that at this late hour Haley was home. A curtain was pulled back and Beth peered out the window at him. She waved, then disappeared from view. Moments later, the locks were released and the door opened wide.

  “Hey, Doc, Mom’s in the back cooking, I think.”