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“Odd, from what little you’ve told me about Addy’s father, I wouldn’t have thought him and Oz had anything in common.” Dr Talbot paused. “Except you and a love of sailing.”
“I’d really rather not talk about Chris.” At Dr Talbot’s open mouth, she quickly added, “Or Oz. Or sailing.”
She swallowed, trying to clear the wave of emotion tightening her throat. She could do this. She could be strong. Could keep her tears reined in for one night.
“Oz adores Addy. Just as he adores you.” Dr Talbot gave her a pointed look. “You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”
Blair shook her head. “Oz is a persuasive man. I got caught up in his charms. That’s all.” She called upon acting skills she wasn’t sure she had, but desperately needed. For that matter, Oz was a persuasive man and she had gotten caught up in his charms. Horribly caught up. But what had happened with Oz hadn’t been all bad. For the first time in years, she’d felt like a woman. She’d felt desire and desirable.
“Actually, I’m grateful to him,” she admitted. “I buried myself after what happened with Chris and had forgotten what it felt like to have a man’s attention.” A real smile lifted the corners of her lips. “Maybe I’ll bid on a date tonight and meet someone.”
Dr Talbot didn’t comment, just stared at her long moments before nodding and returning his attention to the band. Blair let him, not wanting to peel away the pretty wrapping she’d just hidden her aching heart inside.
Soon it was time for the auction. The women were being auctioned off first.
A radio DJ was first. Loving the concept of being auctioned, she worked the crowd, winking and egging on higher bids. Blair was quite impressed with the upper four-digit sum the woman’s date went for.
The next few dates passed in a blur. All of the women drew ridiculously high dollar amounts for an evening of their time. But it was for a great cause and Blair suspected this was a way for Dr Talbot’s friends and colleagues to feel that they were doing their part to help him.
Prior to the auction for the men starting, Blair and Stephanie had a few announcements to make. They took the stage, gave their spiel about Dr Talbot and his lifelong generosity to those he came into contact with. Blair thanked the audience for their generosity and encouraged them to bid on the silent auction set up at the side of the room, encouraged them to make donations to one of the many collection bins set up around the room.
When she made her way back to her table, Dr Talbot reached up to hug her. “You were magnificent.”
“I was too scared to move.”
“Too scared to move worked brilliantly.” A proud gleam in her eyes, Reesee hugged her, too. “I don’t think there’s a dry eye in the building.”
“Mommy—” Addy jumped up and down, too excited to stay in her seat “—you looked beautiful up there!”
Magnificent. Brilliant. Beautiful. Blair laughed. “I stood there petrified. I hope my words came out clear.” She smiled at Dr Talbot. “They were from the heart. We love you, don’t we, Addy?”
Her big grin showing off her missing front tooth, Addy nodded and spread her arms as wide as they would stretch. “This much.”
Dr Talbot’s smile reached his glistening eyes. “I know you do. That’s why I’m here. Why I’m getting on a plane for Rochester tomorrow afternoon.”
Blair’s stomach flip-flopped. “You were accepted for the Xabartan?”
“My hospital stay convinced me that I’m not quite ready to give up yet. Oz arranged everything. He’s offered to let me stay at his place until I’ve completed my therapy. Hate to bum off the kid, but figure there’s not much difference in living in his house here or living in his house there.” He paused, then dropped another bombshell. “I’m going to ask Stephanie to go with me.”
“Thank God.” Blair wrapped her arms around his neck. “The treatments will work. I know they will.” Then what he’d said about living in Oz’s house hit her. “What do you mean, living in his house here? Oz is living with you.”
“Technically.” His gaze fell to his wrinkled hands on the table. “I sold my house to Oz prior to Selma dying. The banks wouldn’t loan me any more money and I wouldn’t take a handout. Oz paid off the mortgage on the house and paid me a hefty sum as well.”
“But…” Dr Talbot had never said anything. Oz had never said anything, but then he wouldn’t, would he? To do so would be stripping away yet another layer of Dr Talbot’s pride. Oz would never do that.
“I owed more than the house was worth, but he insisted I take the extra and I was desperate to allow Selma to spend her last days as she wished—at home.”
“I’m sure Oz understood that.” Sensing how embarrassed her friend was at his admission, she refocused on his good news. “I’m so pleased you’re going to Rochester. If Oz made that happen, then I’m eternally grateful to him.”
Blair hugged him again and sat back down. Addy climbed into her lap, kissing Blair’s cheek and giving an excited clap although Blair was sure Addy didn’t fully understand what she was excited about. Or perhaps her daughter was just excited about the entire glitz of the night.
Blair took a drink of her ice water. “I really do love you, you know.”
“I know, Blair. It’s one of the reasons why I’m going to Rochester.”
A country music singer who’d just been auctioned off sang a song, putting the crowd back into an upbeat mood prior to the auction starting back. This time with the men.
The thing Blair had been dreading most was watching a bunch of women haggle over Oz, knowing one of them would buy his date, spend precious time with him on his cursed sailboat.
