Bayview Heights Trilogy (67 page)

Playfully Kurt had tackled her onto the bed
and made her confess that younger men had no appeal for her…

Well, things changed, he guessed. Though she
wasn’t flirting outright with the guy, Kurt could tell they’d
gotten close. He tried to keep his eyes off them.

Which was why he didn’t see her go down.

“Hold the ball,” Seth shouted, as Zoe felt
her ankle give way and she hit the floor flat smack on her rump.
Pain shot from her foot to her extremities. “Ohh…”

Alex got to her first. “Are you all
right?”

She struggled for air, and her skin got
clammy from the pain. She heard shouting. People gathered around,
then parted.

To make way for the doctor.

In a moment Kurt was squatting in front of
her. “Zoe?” He grasped her wrist and placed his fingers on it. “You
all right?”

The breath drained out of her. He hadn’t
touched her in almost a year. The feel of his hands on her skin
startled her. His head was bent, and she stared at the thick dark
hair that she’d run her fingers through countless times. It smelled
like the woods.

“Zoe?” he said more firmly when he looked up.
His green eyes were wide with concern.

“I’m fine.” She shook her head. “I twisted my
ankle.” She glanced around her. “Let me get off the court so you
guys can play.”

“Not yet.” His hands slid down to her leg.
With trained nimble fingers, he untied her sneaker and removed it
and her sock. His touch was light as he felt her ankle, wiggled her
toes and just for good measure, gently prodded her calf. Tears
formed in her eyes. He must have seen them.

His dark brows knitted. “Hurt?”

She nodded. Their gazes met in silent
communication. His were apologetic. “But it’s eased a little.”

“Seems like a minor sprain.” He took her
pulse again. “Let’s get you onto a chair. We’ll elevate the foot
and ice it down.” He glanced up. “Seth, could you get my bag out of
Mitch’s car?”

“Sure,” Seth answered as Kurt stood and
started to reach for her hand. “Can you stand?”

“No need.” Big arms slid under her, and she
was caught in Alex Ransom’s strong grasp.

“Alex,” she said with a soft cry, “what are
you doing?”

“It’s called seizing the moment.” He grinned
boyishly. “Don’t think I’m gonna pass up this opportunity, do
you?”

In spite of the tension, she smiled.

Until she caught Kurt’s expression. It was
purely male and primal. With a trace of pain.

Well, that couldn’t be helped, she thought,
hardening herself against him. She looped her hands around Alex’s
neck and let him carry her off.

In no time she was seated, her leg elevated
under a cushion as they waited for the ice. “Go play,” she told the
group. “I’m fine.”

Kurt handed her a glass of water and sat
beside her. Cassie approached them. “What happened?”

“While you were off fighting with your
husband, Zoe took a tumble,” Alex told her, smiling down at
Zoe.

Cassie straightened. “We weren’t
fighting.”

Mitch came up behind her and placed his hands
on her shoulders. She leaned into him, and he kissed her hair. Seth
was right—Cassie and Mitch could work this out.

Seth returned and handed Kurt his bag. “Want
us to stay with you?” he asked.

“I want everybody to go play volleyball.” She
took a bead on Alex. “You, too, young man.”

“Ah, I love it when you get tough.”

Abruptly Kurt stood. “Where the hell is that
ice?”

A waitress finally brought it. His movements
were efficient as he encased the ice bag in cloth from his kit,
placed it around her ankle and then wrapped it in large ace
bandages, which he called cravats. His hands were gentle, and Zoe
was reminded of his skill as a doctor.

And in bed.

He rummaged through his bag again as Cassie,
Mitch, Seth and even Alex went back to the court. For all intents
and purposes, they were alone. He handed her some tablets.
“Ibuprofen,” he said simply. “It’ll help the pain and reduce the
swelling. Be sure to take two every four hours.”

“Thanks.” She swallowed the pills with
water.

Sitting down, staring out over the court,
Kurt linked his hands between his legs. He appeared a little more
rested tonight, or maybe it was the exercise. His face had a
healthy glow and his cheeks weren’t so gaunt. She was glad he was
on the mend. “I’m sorry,” she heard him say.

“It’s not your fault that I fell.”

He shook his head, raked back his hair
impatiently. “I’m sorry that I’m here. I should have known
better.”

“I wasn’t supposed to play tonight, Kurt.
You’re entitled to go out for an evening with your brother.”

“We just never imagined your meeting would be
canceled.”

“I know.” She watched Cassie’s spike fly past
an orderly from the hospital, and then Seth served again.

“If I could change this...being in Bayview, I
would.”

“Look,” she said firmly, “some things can’t
be changed. We just have to deal with them.” She gave him a hard
stare. “I’m over the worst of it, Kurt.”

Was that sadness in his eyes?

“I can handle your being here.” She hoped she
could.

His look was grave. Torn.

“Can
you?
” she asked.

“I have no choice,” he whispered
raggedly.

“Yeah, well, like I tell the kids, it’s the
tough things in life that make you strong.”

He nodded. And adjusted the ice on her leg.
She returned her gaze to the court, trying to concentrate on the
play and wondering just when she’d get strong.

o0o

ON THE LAST MONDAY AFTERNOON in September
when Kurt came to Zoe’s class to talk to the clinic volunteers, he
recognized what was happening right away—and why. He thought about
putting an end to the hostile behavior; the clinic work was too
important to allow personal feelings to endanger it.

But given that six of his new workers who
seemed bent on using him for target practice were Zoe’s girls, he
held back. His only ally appeared to be a dark-haired boy dressed
in black named Dan.

The fact that Zoe’s classroom was decorated
with streamers and balloons and a big
Happy Birthday, Ms.
Caufield
sign, didn’t help. It was a visual reminder of what
had happened exactly a year ago today.

At the beginning of class Zoe had explained
who was working where, then divided the students into four groups,
each headed by the supervisor of the particular area—an
elementary-school principal was in charge of the students who would
be helping with the lower grades; Carolyn Spearman, another vice
principal was overseeing the Study Buddies for reluctant learners
at the high school; one of Seth’s former students, Mary Jarrett,
was in charge of day-care placements; and, of course, Kurt got the
group for the clinic.

Seated in a circle, he smiled at the kids.
Only one smiled back. “Let’s start with why you volunteered for the
clinic.”

A pretty, dark-haired girl Kurt recognized as
Erica, one of Zoe’s favorites, scowled and gave a slight shake of
her head. All the others caught it and averted their gazes from
him. Nobody spoke.

Ah, a teenage girl’s biggest weapon. Freeze
out the adult. Kurt had experienced it numerous times with his
daughter, Lauren.

Finally Dan said, “I did my junior research
paper in Ms. Lansing’s class on how towns need teen health centers.
I think they’re a cool idea.”

A girl Kurt had seen in a play here at school
with Zoe, kicked the boy who spoke, without trying to hide the
censure.

Enough, Kurt thought. The kids needed to see
who was in charge. He waited, then said, “Since no one else will
volunteer, we’ll go around the circle.” He zeroed in on the leader.
“Erica, is it?”

She nodded haughtily.

“Why did you ask for this placement?”

“I asked to be out of the school system, and
I didn’t want the day care,” She shrugged slender shoulders.
“Process of elimination, I guess.”

“All right.” He turned to a striking black
girl and read her name tag. “Shondra, what about you?”

“I’m thinking of med school. Working at the
clinic is a logical choice, though
now
not such an
appealing one.”

Bingo. Girls had gotten better with their
barbs than in his day. And feistier.

“Rachel?” He smiled again, though it was
getting harder.

She stared at him blankly, then flicked a
gaze at a blond girl.

“Why did you choose the clinic, Rachel?”

Rachel shrugged. “Dunno. It’s a place.”

Kurt zeroed in on the blonde. “Ashley?”

“Same here.”

Erica sighed dramatically. It must have been
a signal that the cold war was over and the offensive was to begin.
“To tell the truth, Dr. Lansing, we didn’t exactly ask to work at
your
clinic. Most of us said we wanted a place that helped
teenagers. We thought we’d get the rec center or maybe a branch of
Planned Parenthood.”

A girl named Shelley, who wore a BVH Soccer
T-shirt, jumped in. “We didn’t know Planned Parenthood would be
part of your clinic.”

He straightened and scanned the rebels with a
forthrightness that seemed to surprise them. “Would you like me to
ask your teacher to switch your placements?”

Caufield’s Chicks all scowled. Zoe would
never tolerate their rudeness, and they knew it.

“No?” he pushed.

The girls shook their heads weakly.

“Okay, then I’d like some cooperation. And
enthusiasm.”

From the looks on their faces, he knew they
got the point.

Just then Zoe approached the group.
“Everything okay here?” She was dressed in a classic white-silk
pantsuit that fit her perfectly and contrasted with her dark eyes
and hair.

“Just fine,” Kurt said dryly.

“The necklace looks good, Ms. C,” Julia told
her.

Zoe’s hand went to a single jet-black stone
at her throat. Kurt cocked his head.

Before Zoe could tell him what the reference
was, the actress added, “We got Ms. C a special gift for her
birthday, Dr. Lansing. It’s an Apache Tear.”

Again, as if by silent signal, Erica picked
up on the comment. “Stones have mystical properties, you know. We
got this one especially for Ms. C at Hecate’s Palace.”

“Hecate’s Palace?”

“A store Julia works at.” This from Rachel of
the
Dunno
. “It’s a witch shop.”

“Wiccan,” Zoe corrected.

Shondra said, “The stones have otherworldly
powers.” She grinned. “Powers we wanted Ms. Caufield to have.”

Now he got it. Another zing. Well, he’d dealt
effectively with thugs in his New York City clinic. He guessed he
could take on a few suburban girls who hated his guts.

Ashley finished up. “The Apache Tear protects
you from the evil of others. Like when they do rotten things to
you.”

Zoe frowned as she finally caught on. Her
gaze flicked to Kurt’s. It startled him a minute. He expected to
see amusement, perhaps sympathy, even a little anger.

Instead, he saw,
You poor
bastard
.

Hmm, Kurt thought, maybe the thugs in the
city weren’t so bad, after all.

When the bell rang, Zoe said simply, “I’d
like to see every single member of this group after school. No
excuses. Be here at three sharp.”

THE MAYOR OF Bayview Heights stood proudly
before the crowd gathered around the doors of the Bayview Heights
Clinic for young adults. No one would ever guess the wiry little
man in the expensive suit had thwarted this venture at every
opportunity; eventually he’d buckled under pressure from the
community.

Zoe rubbed her hands up and down her arms,
trying to stay warm in the lightweight coat she’d purchased on the
Champs-Elysées.

“Neat coat, Ms. C.” Rachel Thompson smiled
from beneath her ever-present hat. Today it was army-green to match
her cargo pants and jacket. Close behind her, Rob Mason had donned
a matching hat and similar clothing.

“Thanks.” She grinned at Rob. “Playing the
Bobsey Twins again?”

“Huh?” Rachel said.

Zoe groaned, feeling old. “Never mind.” She
glanced around, noticing Erica, Julia, Shondra and Shelley near the
wall of the hospital. Because the building in which the clinic was
housed had formerly been doctors’ offices, minimal structural
renovation had been needed. The clinic had been ready to open in
record time after garnering the town’s approval.

Lucky me
, Zoe thought. She could
have used another year to get over Kurt Lansing. Another ten
years!

“Where’s Ashley?” she asked Rachel as the
mayor introduced the members of the school board. Absently she
noted no one cheered for Jerry Bosco, but there was warm applause
for Philip Cartwright, who looked younger every day.

“Dunno.” Rachel bit her lip.

Zoe had a fleeting feeling that something was
wrong; she frequently got these kinds of blips about her kids. But
she was distracted from analyzing it or questioning Rachel when she
heard the mayor announce, “And now I’d like to introduce the head
of the clinic, who will in turn introduce the staff. Dr. Kurt
Lansing.”

Zoe’s heart seemed to stop for a moment as
Kurt stepped out of the shadows into the early-October midafternoon
sunlight. Dressed in a gray pin-striped suit and an impeccable
white shirt and striped tie, he slipped his hands in his pockets
and smiled. His hair, ruffled by the wind, was appealingly
disheveled. It had gotten a little long.

Give me a haircut.

Hmm...okay.

Naked.

What?

You heard me, woman.

Stop it! she chided herself. But it was hard
not to think of the past when she was confronted by him in the
present. He was still too thin, but his face seemed a little fuller
and he looked as if he’d put on some weight at least. She knew that
Cassie, even though she wasn’t happy that he was living with them,
would make sure her brother-in-law ate well.