Million Dollar Marriage by MAGGIE SHAYNE Read Free Book Online

her head.
    Holden thought maybe she was lying, but he didn’t press the issue. She was tougher
     than she looked, reminding him yet again of his mother, the way she’d jumped in and
     handled things without batting an eye. That calm, deliberate action. That core of
     strength that didn’t show until a crisis hit.
    He liked her, he realized slowly. But then, he always had. She looked up, meeting
     his eyes, briskly taking the tissue from his hand. “We’d better get back downstairs.”
    God, she was as shaken by Bryan’s abduction as he was. It showed in her eyes.
    “No. We’ll stay here. Keep an eye on Matthew and Claudia.”
    “But the sheriff…”
    “Will know where to find us when he’s ready to talk to us.” He turned toward Vanessa,
     who was eyeinghim oddly. “Go on down and let the family know where we are. And maybe bring Lucy
     up a drink if you get a chance.” His gaze went back to Lucy’s face. It was pale, and
     she looked shaky. “Brandy. Okay?”
    “Sure, Holden.”
    An hour later Lucinda sat in a large, cozy chair, as instructed. Holden dragged a
     footstool closer and, lifting her feet, propped them on it. She smiled at him for
     just a moment. Then closed her eyes, shook her head. “I shouldn’t be sleepy at a time
     like this.”
    “It’s the aftermath of chaos. You’re emotionally drained. I feel the same way.”
    “It’s like being in limbo. I keep thinking we should be doing something…”
    “I know.”
    “And I can’t remember the last time I got a full night’s sleep.”
    “Me neither,” Holden said. He glanced at the big double bed where Claudia and Matthew
     were out cold, side by side. “I don’t imagine they’ll be getting too much, either.
     Until Bryan’s home where he belongs.”
    “I’ll leave a prescription. They’re going to need something.”
    “Claudia might take it. Matthew won’t.”
    “You’re probably right.” Lucinda closed her eyes and let her head rest against the
     back of the chair.
    Holden’s voice came from close by, and she realized he’d pulled his harder, less comfortable
     chair closer to hers. “So what’s been keeping you up nights, Doc?”
    She didn’t open her eyes. “Babies tend to come atodd hours. And Braxton-Hicks is almost always nocturnal.”
    “Braxton who?”
    “False labor,” she said with a slight smile.
    “Ah. Right. So it’s your patients keeping you awake nights, then.”
    “Among other things.” She took a deep breath, sighed softly.
    “Matthew mentioned something about a clinic you want to build.” Holden stopped, waiting
     for her to fill him in if she wanted to.
    She saw no reason not to fill the tense hours of waiting with conversation, so she
     told him.
    “The lower income women need a clinic,” she said. “Particularly the Mexican and Native
     American communities. There’s just nothing for them. I see them all the time. They
     wait until they’re too ill to wait any longer before they come in. Girls in their
     ninth month of pregnancy, coming in for their first obstetrical exam. Or worse, waiting
     until they’re in labor.” She shook her head slightly against the cushion that pillowed
     it. “It’s got to change.”
    “And you’re going to be the one to change it.”
    She nodded. “Just as soon as I can dig up a million dollars in funding, that’s exactly
     what I’m going to do.”
    He was quiet for a moment. Then he said, “Why you?”
    Lucinda shrugged, not even sure if his eyes were open to see it. “They’re my people.
     I’m fortunate, so I have an obligation to give something back.”
    “That makes some noble kind of sense, I suppose.”
    “Glad you think so.” She didn’t like talking aboutherself or her clinic to someone like him. It felt too much like hinting around for
     a donation, so she quickly changed the subject. “What’s been keeping you awake nights,
     Holden Fortune? Too many visits to the salad bar at the babe buffet?”
    When he didn’t answer,