“Derek, can you take the dog?” Lilly asked. “I don’t want to leave her here with all these strangers coming in and out.”
The house had been designated a crime scene, something that would worry his mother sick—so he didn’t plan on telling her just yet. When she was stronger, he’d fill her in on everything. And she would get stronger. She’d be fine. He had to believe that.
“Sure. I’m not on Dumont duty anymore.”
“Right. The cops have someone watching him at the hospital until whoever shot him has been caught,” Ty said.
“Who would want him dead?” Lilly asked. “And who’d come after me if not Uncle Marc?”
Ty shook his head. He’d been sorting through possibilities since hearing Lilly’s version of events. “He said he wasn’t behind the attempts and he knew who was?”
She nodded. “I was petrified and I wouldn’t let him into the house. But after he was shot, it actually seemed like he came to warn me, not hurt me.”
Ty rubbed his eyes with the back of his hands. “Let’s get to the hospital and see how my mother’s doing. Maybe there’ll be news on your uncle by then, too.”
“And don’t worry about your dog,” Derek said, coming back into the room with Digger on her leash, trotting happily at the other man’s feet.
“Looks like you got yourself a new lady,” Ty said, laughing. He knew all too well how Digger attached herself to new people.
“She stinks,” Derek said with a frown. “Did you ever think of getting her breath mints? She licked my face when I was putting her leash on and I swear to God, I nearly passed out.”
Lilly grinned. “It’s part of her charm. Take good care of her and thanks again.”
They started for the door together, when Ty turned to Derek. “She likes to sleep with you,” he told the other man. “And she likes to be on top.”
“Swell,” he muttered.
And Lilly laughed for the first time in hours.
TY HAD CALLED Hunter about the incident at his mother’s. Hunter had called Molly, knowing she’d want to be there when Dumont was brought in. He’d promised to meet up with her as soon as his meeting was over. She’d told him not to rush, that she was fine.
And she was fine. At least fine as far as Molly’s life was concerned. As soon as she’d hung up with Hunter, Molly had called her mother.
“I really don’t do hospitals,” Francie had said.
Disgusted, Molly had slammed down the phone and driven straight to the hospital by herself.
Molly heard the distance in her mother’s voice. She’d sensed it for a while. Ever since the party, when Francie had discovered Lilly was alive and well and stood to inherit the trust fund that would have been Marc’s and by virtue of marriage, hers, as well.
Molly had hoped things would turn out differently this time, especially since her mother hadn’t yet ended things with Marc. But with her mother’s refusal to come to the hospital, Molly had to face the truth. Francie was merely biding her time, waiting until she had a lead on another eligible wealthy man or at least until she had an idea about where to find one. Knowing Francie, a cruise or a trip to Europe would be her next stop as she hunted for her next victim. She wouldn’t think twice about leaving Molly behind. In fact Molly would be lucky if she received a goodbye. After all, she’d been this route before.
So much for family. So much for a mother loving her daughter and realizing her past mistakes.
So much for Francie having changed.
Molly stepped through the automatic hospital doors and strode up to the check-in desk. “I’m here to see Marc Dumont,” Molly said to the tired-looking woman sitting in front of her.
“Are you immediate family?”
Molly swallowed hard. “No.”
The woman glanced down at the papers on her desk. “Mr. Dumont is not allowed visitors just yet. Have a seat and we’ll let you know when you can see him.”
Molly nodded. “I see. Thank you.” She turned and headed for an empty chair in which to wait.
The longer she sat, the more uncomfortable she grew and she fidgeted, unable to remain still.
She didn’t belong here. She wasn’t related to Marc and probably never would be. But he’d been good to her in ways nobody else had been and she wanted to make certain he would be okay.
She tapped her foot. She drummed her fingers against the armrest. And she waited.
“Molly?”
She glanced up and saw Lacey and Ty standing in front of her. She rose to her feet. “I didn’t see you come in.”
“You were deep in thought,” Lacey said.
“Yeah. Not in a pleasant place, either. Are you okay? Hunter told me what happened. I can’t believe Marc was shot right in front of you. Why did he come to see you in the first place?”
Molly asked, still missing major parts of the story.
Lacey shrugged. “We never got that far. Is there any news?”
“Not yet.”
“I need to go inside and see my mother,” Ty said.
“I’m coming.” She touched Molly’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. Go. I’ll be fine.”
Lacey gave Molly a quick hug and walked off with Ty.
Molly sighed. Her gaze followed the retreating couple until they disappeared behind the emergency room doors, then she glanced around the busy room. Most people were here with someone else. A friend, a family member. Someone they loved. Not Molly.
As she waited for news on Marc, she realized something profound. She’d spent too much time defending the man and not enough time sorting through the truth, only to end up exactly where she feared she’d be when all was said and done.
Alone.
A place where she had always been and a place she knew she would be for a long time to come.
TY HELD ON TO Lilly’s hand as he walked into the room where his mother lay sleeping.
Earlier today Lilly had needed him but now he needed her. As he pulled a chair up to his mother’s bedside, he was reminded of the last time he saw her this frail and sick.
He’d come home from college when she’d had her first heart attack and subsequent surgery and she’d lain sleeping in a sterile room much like this one, hooked up to machines similar to these.
He’d taken one look at her and realized she was all he had in the world and he stood to lose her.
He felt the same way now. Because despite the fact that Lilly had returned, despite loving each other, there were no promises exchanged, no guarantees made to each other. He knew they’d take things one day at a time until this trust fund issue was solved, but after that? Who knew.