Patchwork Family Read Online Free PDF Page A

to see her daughter’s face. “How about we see if we can make you well again? Want to come with me? I may even have a lollipop for you.”
    Sara nodded. The doctor scooped her from Molly’s arms. Molly reached out as he moved away, afraid to lose sight of her daughter.
    Strong arms came around her. “She’ll be all right, Molly,” Quinn whispered in her ear. “You can trust Brady.”
    With a strangled sob, she instinctively turned into those strong arms and buried her face in his chest. All she could think about was her precious child.
    It had been so long since she’d had anyone to lean on, to share her burdens. The comfort the attorney offered was too tempting. She remained there, absorbing his strength, until other feelings invaded her concern.
    She jerked herself from his embrace, embarrassed. How could she think about a man, any man, when Sara was ill? She certainly wasn’t a lonely widow looking for some man to rescue her. No! She and Sara were a team. They didn’t need anyone.
    But, for a minute, she admitted, having someone to lean on had felt good.
    “I’m sorry. I don’t usually fall apart, but Sara’s never been really sick and—and—”
    “It’s all right. I guess I’d feel the same way if my child—” He broke off and looked away from her.
    She already knew he had no children and never intended to be a father. One night at Marge’s, the local diner, she’d overheard a conversation not intended for her ears. Quinn had been explaining to his companions how he felt about children.
    “Children only complicate your life and take up time. I’m always on the go. I’ll leave raising the little rug rats to other people,” he’d said with a laugh.
    Which made his assistance today impressive.
    “I appreciate your help. High fever always frightens me.” He must think her a real fraidy cat. After all, yesterday she’d been just as frantic. “You must think I’m always— I mean, yesterday—”
    He took her arm and drew her over to a row of chairs. “Special circumstances, Molly. Don’t worry about it.”
    She sat down because she didn’t know what else to do. She’d wanted to follow the doctor into the examining room, but that hadn’t appeared to be an option, which worried her even more. A nurse had hovered at the doctor’s side, ready to assist him, and Sara hadn’t put up any resistance. Now, Molly clutched her hands tightly together, tensely waiting for the doctor’s —and Sara’s—reappearance.
    A large hand reached out and covered her two. Its warmth helped ward off the chill that was racing through her. “It’ll be all right,” Quinn whispered.
    “I appreciate your talking your brother into seeing us right away. I don’t know what could’ve caused such high fever. It could be meningitis, or even—” she gasped at the thought “—even leukemia.”
    “It’s probably nothing more than the flu, which I’ve heard is going around.”
    “You don’t know that!” she snapped, refusing to be consoled.
    He squeezed her hands and said, “No, I don’t, butwe don’t want to borrow trouble if it’s not necessary.”
    She closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. “No, of course not. I’m sorry.”
    He seemed to take her apology in stride. “Do you have any family, other than Sara?”
    She shook her head.
    “Your parents?”
    She stared at him. Did the man think she could carry on a normal conversation when her baby was desperately ill? “They’re both dead. My mother died when I was twelve, my father three years ago.” Before he could ask, she added, “I was an only child.”
    As Sara was and would be. Molly had no intention of ever considering matrimony again, of giving Sara a stepfather who might fail her as miserably as her own father had done. No, it would be just the two of them.
    “No aunts, uncles, cousins?”
    “Are you asking who to notify in case of an accident? Or—or a death?” she demanded, her voice rising.
    “No! I was just making