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They walked to the small café. Lining the walls were pictures of Elvis in his signature jumpsuits with rhinestones and a large collar. They found a table and a young waitress took their order.
Tiffani had to admire Rex. He was eager to try whatever came along. She’d spent so much of her life hesitating and questioning that it had never occurred to her she could live with fewer restrictions.
When their sandwiches were delivered Rex grabbed his and bit into it. He nodded at her. “It’s really good.”
She cut hers into quarters and picked up a section. Taking a tiny bite, she was pleasantly surprised. It was good.
“Told you so,” Rex said, as he took another mouthful.
On the way to the car she said, “Thanks for bringing me. It really was a lot of fun.”
“I’m glad we came too.” In the car Rex turned to her. “What’s the address to your dad’s place?”
A knot of panic formed in Tiffani’s stomach. She’d forgotten all about him saying he was going with her to visit her father. Somehow she had to convince him not to. “Why don’t you just head to your place? You don’t have to go with me. It really won’t be pleasant.”
“Surely it can’t be that bad.”
“You’d be surprised. Especially when he realizes you’re a doctor.” Why wouldn’t Rex just accept she didn’t want him to go?
“We just won’t tell him. I’d like to meet him.”
“Are you sure?” She didn’t know how to keep him from going without hurting his feelings. Neither did she want her day with him to end. But visiting her father...
Rex met her look. “I’m sure. I’m a big boy. I can take care of myself.”
“Head east on the interstate.” Maybe she could convince Rex to wait in the lobby or car while she just checked in on her daddy. The closer they got to where her father lived, the more nervous she became. What if he recognized Rex?
He reached over and squeezed her hand. “It’s going to be okay. I’ll behave.”
“It’s not you I’m worried about. It’s him.” She knew how her father could act.
Rex pulled into a parking spot in front of the building. They walked together down the long hall. When Rex reached for her hand she pulled it back. Her father wouldn’t like that. Rex didn’t say anything but she felt more than saw his disapproval. Even so, it did feel good not to have to face her father alone for once.
She lightly knocked on the door. There was the expected growl of, “Come in.”
“Hello, Daddy.”
“Well, it’s about time, baby girl.”
Tiffani went farther into the room. “I brought somebody with me today.”
Rex stepped up beside her and held out his hand. “Mr. Romano, I’m Rex. Nice to meet you.”
“What’d you bring him for?” her father grumbled, ignoring Rex’s proffered hand.
“He’s a friend and wanted to meet you.” She pulled a chair up close to her father and sat. “We’ve been to Graceland today.”
“It’s the middle of the week. You’re not working on that awful campaign anymore? The one with the hospital?” he spat.
Alarm seized her. She had to steer the conversation in another direction. “Yes, but not today.”
Her father twisted up his mouth. “I still can’t believe you’re such a traitor...”
Rex shifted behind her.
“How’s your hand?” she said to change the subject. She could see the bandage needed replacing.
Her father raised it. “It hurts worse than ever.”
“Did you let someone change it?” she asked automatically, suppressing a sigh of frustration.
“No,” her father whined. “Only you do it right.”
“Then let me change it.” She went to the drawer where she stored supplies.
* * *
Rex couldn’t believe what he’d just seen happen before his eyes. Tiffani had morphed into a child. Where was the tough PR woman he knew? The one who faced each of his complaints head on? It was like she was at her father’s beck and call. Had she been taking care of her father for so long that she couldn’t see the change? Tiffani had a big heart, but her father was taking advantage of her.
A loud intake of breath from Tiffani had him looking over her shoulder. Her father’s hand was an angry red, with the look of infection setting in. He would require more help than a bandage.
“Daddy, have you told anyone how bad this is?” She glanced back at Rex.
“Why would I tell anyone? You were coming to see me. Maybe if you came more often it wouldn’t have gotten so bad.”
Rex was about to lose his patience. Nobody, not even her father, should talk to Tiffani that way. He went down on one heel beside her. “Let me have a look.”
Tiffani continued to hold the man’s hand in her palm while Rex examined it. It was going to require an antibiotic to keep the infection from spreading.
“What would you know about it?” her father snapped.
Rex looked him in the eyes. “I’m a doctor.”
Mr. Romano reared up in his chair. “What? Get out of here! Get out of my room! Leave my daughter alone, you quack.”
“Now, Daddy, he’s only trying to help.” Tiffani nudged him back down in the chair.
Rex hated to hear that placating tone in her voice.
“Doctors took my legs and now this one will probably want to take my hand,” the old man ranted.
Rex stood and focused on Tiffani. “I’ll wait for you outside.”
“I’ll only be a minute,” she said over her shoulder.
Her father’s face had turned red and he pointed toward the door. “Did you hear me? Get out! Leave my daughter alone.”
Rex wanted to drag Tiffani away from the toxic man too. How had she lived with that hatred all these years? What must her childhood have been like? At least his parents hadn’t taken out their pain at losing everything on him or his brother. Instead, they had worried about how their children were being affected.
He found one of the attendants and asked where to find the head of the nursing staff. Locating her, he identified himself and told her about Mr. Romano’s hand, then called in a prescription for him. Rex was waiting in the lobby when Tiffani came down the hall, her shoulders slumped. The smiling and playful woman he’d known earlier in the day had disappeared. By the glisten of her eyes she was on the verge of tears. Rex put his arms around her and gave her a hug.
She buried her head in his chest. “I’m sorry. I should have insisted you not come in with me. He shouldn’t have said those awful things to you.”
“You warned me. Don’t worry about it.” He tightened his hold for a second before he said, “I called something in for him. His hand should be much better soon.”
“That’s if he takes it.”
“The nurses around here know how to make that happen.” He turned her toward the door. “Let’s go home. We’ve had enough excitement for one day.”
Tiffani looked at him. “Thank you.”
“Not a problem.” Where she was concerned, it wasn’t.
CHAPTER NINE
BY THE TIME Rex had merged onto the interstate the sun was setting. “I didn’t even think about the fact that we’d be driving into the sun this time of day.”
“It does make it miserable and dangerous,” Tiffani murmured.
They were the first words she’d said since getting into the car. Rex was glad she was coming out of the stupor that visiting her father had put her in. “You hungry? We could stop and get something.”
“Not really. The sandwich filled me up.”
He grinned at her. “It was good.”
“I had a good time today. Thanks for making me play hooky.”
&nb
sp; “I had a good time with you today too.” He took her hand and intertwined her fingers with his, lifting it with the intention of placing a kiss on her knuckles.
A bang filled the air.
“What the hell?” His look jerked to the road ahead.
Before him a car spun around. Another hit it and sent it into the path of a transfer truck. It flipped and rolled.
Tiffani released his hand and he quickly put it on the steering wheel. “Hold on.” Glancing into the rearview mirror, he saw a car coming up on him fast. He whipped into the next lane. Slowing, he just missed the truck jackknifing and came to a stop on the shoulder of the road.
“Do you have a flashlight in here?” he asked, already opening the door.
Tiffani didn’t immediately answer.
“Tiffani!”
“Uh, it’s in here.” She unlatched the glove compartment and pulled out the light.
“I’m going to see who’s hurt. Call 911 and report the accident. Tell them I’m here. Then I want you to find me. Don’t get near any moving cars. Got that?”
“Yeah. Be careful. I don’t want you to get hurt either,” she called as he hurried away.
If they had been only a few seconds earlier it could be Tiffani and himself injured. His chest tightened. If he lost Tiffani... Had it come to that?
Debris covered the road. He almost tripped over a bumper. It had turned dark and this was the one stretch of road with little lighting. His first concern was the car that had rolled over.
Reaching it, he found a man struggling to get out. Rex went to his knees and shined the light on him. “I’m a doctor. Stay still, don’t move any more than you have to. Help is on the way. How many people are in the car?”
“My wife. She’s unconscious. My son and daughter are in the back.” The man groaned.
Rex’s chest constricted. Children. “I’ll check on them. You stay still.” He looked into the rear passenger window and was relieved to see two sets of wide eyes looking back at him.
Hurrying, he went around to the other side of the car. The door had been crushed. The woman’s head was bleeding. Rex checked a pulse in her neck. It was faint but there. She needed medical attention right away.
