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attempting to hold back the tears spilling down her cheeks.
Dex wanted to tell her he was sorry, to beg her not to say anything. He wasn t sure his heart could take
any more. He d never felt this close to complete and utter desolation. But he couldn t, he couldn t say
anything. They were right, he was wrong. He d made a mistake.
She lifted her chin and stared straight at him.  There is nothing I can say, nothing I can do to show you
how very grateful I am for what you did today. Her voice cracked just a little on the last word.
 Despite knowing the personal repercussions of your actions, you saved my husband s life, she
whispered.  You have no idea what that means to me. Thank you.
Dex didn t even try to stop the tears dampening his face.  I m glad I was here to help.
She smiled.  Me, too. Grandmother Cooper hugged him close. His chest constricted. When at last she
released him, she turned back to the rest of her family.  I have to get back to your grandfather soon.
But first, there s something you all need to realize. She reached for Dex s hand and squeezed it.  This
man saved your grandfather s life. Though we might not understand the circumstances that brought
him back into our lives, the only thing we need to know is that he s family. She looked from one wary
face to the other.  You treat him with the love and respect he deserves.
Dex stood very still, too uncertain& too undone even to guess what would happen next.
Jenny was the first to approach him. She smiled a watery smile up at him.  Welcome to the family
Dex.
She hugged him.  We re glad to have you home.
Dex trembled as his arms went around her.  Thank you, he managed to mutter.
One by one, the entire Cooper clan hugged him, more tears flowing. Angelica waited until next to last.
She waltzed up to Dex and extended her arms upward.  Thank you, Uncle&  She scrunched her
forehead in confusion.  Uncle Tex, she finished with a wide gap-toothed grin.
Dex felt a smile tug at his lips as he knelt in front of her and took the hug she offered.
 Listen, whoever you are, she whispered into his ear,  you d better get them babies off my back. They
keep dumpin all their ol yucky toys in my room.
He drew back and winked at her.  Don t worry, princess, I m sure it ll all work out.
She scowled her five-year-old best at him before trudging off to join her mother. Dex stood, painfully
aware that Court had not made an effort as yet.
Before he d scarcely completed the thought, Court took the two steps necessary to put himself within
handshaking distance. He thrust out his right hand.  I want to thank you for what you did& Dex.
Dex accepted his hand and gave it one firm pump.  That s not necessary. He looked the other man
straight in the eye.  He s my grandfather, too.
Court nodded solemnly.  You re right. He smiled then.  It s good to have you in the family. He pulled
Dex into a heartfelt embrace.
When Court finally released him, he asked,  What are you, a doctor or something?
Dex smiled, suddenly tired all over again.  Yeah. That s what I am. For the first time since his
residency, he felt exactly like a doctor.
 Leanne, we didn t even see you over there, Brenda said suddenly, looking somewhere beyond Dex.
Time lapsed into slow motion then. Dex turned to face the only woman in this world who d ever
touched him deep inside. The hurt and confusion on her pretty face slammed into him like a blow to
his abdomen.
She walked straight up to him and slapped him hard. He didn t blink, instead he allowed the sting to
reverberate all the way to his heart. He deserved whatever she felt compelled to throw his way.
 I can t believe you lied to me. She shook her head slowly from side to side.  How could you pretend
to be Ty& and do what you did?
Dex felt unsteady on his feet. He d never experienced this level of regret or pain before.  I didn t mean
to hurt you. I only came here to get to know the other half of my family. He gestured vaguely.  It just
happened, he explained softly.
She glowered at him, her fists clenched at her sides.  Were you just slumming, Doctor? Surely you
didn t come here to stay?
He closed his eyes against the anguish staring back at him& against the hurt throbbing in his chest.
 Answer me, dammit! she demanded.  Did you come here to stay?
It took all the courage he could dredge up to open his eyes to her again. He shook his head, the gesture
hardly more than a tic.  No.
The new flash of pain that flickered in those blue eyes ripped the heart right out of his chest.
 What was I? she demanded, her voice faltering.  The entertainment?
 Leanne, I 
She took two stumbling steps backward, as if the mere sound of his voice had propelled her.  It doesn t
matter. Just go back to wherever you came from and stay away from me.
She left him standing there, knowing for the first time in his life how it felt to have a broken heart.
 Dex.
He felt his grandmother s hand on his arm; slowly he turned to face her.
 You have to give her some more time, she offered kindly.  She feels betrayed.
He released a shaky breath.  I don t think there ll ever be enough time.
Grandmother Cooper took his hand in hers.  Come over here and sit down with me for a moment. We
need to talk. She sent a pointed look across the waiting room.
 Let s go down to the cafeteria and get some coffee, Chad suggested a little more loudly than
necessary.
The rest of the family looked startled for a moment, then realized what was going on. Sounds of
agreement rumbled through the group.
 The babies can t have coffee, can they, daddy? Angelica announced as her father led her away.
Dex heard the patience in Chad s voice as he answered the princess. Dex found himself wondering
what it would be like to have a child of his own, one completely unlike the princess, of course.
God, he had lost it.
Grandmother Cooper settled into a blue molded plastic chair and gestured to the one beside her.
 There are a few things you need to think about before this goes any further.
Dex wasn t sure if he was up to this talk right now, but she appeared intent on giving it to him.  I m
listening. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]