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“Those two things tend to go together.”
“Yes, which is unfortunate for those who have no choice but to use those hospitals. My mom did have a choice, of course. I could have sent her to any hospital in the country—in the world.” He shook his head. “She kept me in the dark, not wanting to worry me. I didn’t even know she had cancer until nearly a year after the initial diagnosis.”
“Why are parents like this? It’s like pulling teeth to get anything out of my mother, especially related to her health. And don’t even get me started on my dad.”
“I’ve discovered that the span of time between when you go from being the child to the adult in the relationship is amazingly short,” Drew said. “You can’t imagine how stubborn my mom was, especially toward the end.” He huffed out a laugh that wasn’t really a laugh, more like a sigh. “I’d give anything if I could deal with that stubbornness again for just a little while longer.”
She reached out and gave his arm a squeeze.
“Anyway, once Ididfind out just how serious her condition was, I relocated her to Houston for treatment, but her cancer was aggressive and too far gone by then.” He shrugged one shoulder. “During that time, I realized that not everyone can afford world-class treatment at one of the premier cancer centers in the world, and that money should never be the thing that makes the difference between life or death.”
“So you left a job that paid millions because you want to live in a world where anyone can get the medical treatment they deserve, despite their tax bracket?”
“In a nutshell,” he answered.
London found his idealism breathtakingly sweet.
“Well, damn,” she said with a teasing smile. “You sure as hell can’t play the villain in my story anymore, not after hearing this.”
“I was never the villain you made me out to be,” he said.
“No,” London said softly. “I guess you weren’t.”
All of a sudden, he sat up straight. Then he stood.
“We have to dance.”
“What? No.” London slapped at the hand he held out to her.
“No, really. They’re playing ‘Uptown Blues.’ Jimmie Lunceford. You have to dance when you hear this song, London. It’s the rule.”
“I’m not dancing with you in the middle of the sidewalk. We’ll look like fools.”
He motioned to the other couples swaying in slow circles around them.
“And they all look like fools,” London pointed out.
“Then we’ll be in good company.”
He took her empty container and tossed it in the trash, then grabbed both her hands and pulled her toward where the others were dancing. London did her level best to pretend she wasn’t having a good time, but then the bastard dipped her, and how could she resist smiling after that?
Drew pulled her against him and rocked to the bluesy music.
“I think this means we really are going steady,” he said against her ear.
She laughed. “Why can’t you be satisfied with copious amount of no-strings-attached sex?”
“I had enough of that in my twenties. A few strings aren’t so bad.”
“I don’t even want to imagine what you were like in your twenties,” London said. “Wealthy, cocky, and looking the way you look?” One brow arched as he twirled her. “Oh, don’t give me that,” London said with a laugh. “You know you’re gorgeous and always have been.”
“Always have been?” This time his brows nearly reached his hairline.
“Every girl in school was after you, Drew.”
“Except for my co-valedictorian.”
“Maybe because she was too busy trying to keep up her grades,” London pointed out. “And because the plain Janes at Barbara Jordan High didn’t get many second glances.” She spun around again. “But, that’s okay, because I know I look damn good now.”
