Free Daniel's Gift by Barbara Freethy Page A

no ball game to go to or anything." Her voice caught in her throat, and her lip trembled. "Oh God, Alan, what if he never wakes up?"
    Alan drew her into his arms, and she pressed her cheek against his chest. He was a big man, solid as a rock, dependable, protective. Jenny took a deep breath, wanting to absorb his strength. Alan wasn't the most affectionate man in the world or the most tender, but she knew he was brave, and right now the thing she needed most was courage.
    "He'll wake up," Alan said. "He's a strong kid. And tough. Too stubborn to die. You'll see."
    "I hope so. I really hope so." She looked into Alan's eyes, but his gaze wasn't as strong as his words. He was afraid, too. "You've been here all night, haven't you?"
    "I didn't want to leave you alone. Merrilee said she'd be back this morning. She'll probably bring Matt or your dad with her."
    "My father?" Jenny shook her head. "I don't think I can handle seeing my father right now, knowing the way he feels about Danny."
    "He loves Danny. He just doesn't know how to say it."
    "No, I don't believe that. The way he acts isn't love. He criticizes Danny and me all the time. Nothing we do is right."
    Jenny pulled herself out of Alan's arms and stood up, suddenly reminded that Danny and Alan didn't get along all that well either.
    "Maybe he's just trying to help," Alan suggested.
    "Everyone thinks they know what's best for Danny. But I know what's best. I'm his mother," she said, her voice rising along with her agitation.
    "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."
    "I'm going to find out how Danny's doing." Jenny stood up, then paused. She turned to see Alan watching her with a troubled expression, and she felt guilty. She was taking out her anger on him, and he had done nothing to deserve it. "I'm sorry, Alan."
    "It's okay."
    "Look, you don't have to stay here all day. You must be exhausted. Why don't you go home and get some sleep?"
    "I'm not leaving you here alone."
    "Alan -- "
    "No, Jenny, I'm staying." Alan stood up. "Let me come with you. I'd like to see Danny."
    Jenny hesitated for a long moment. She didn't want Alan in Danny's room. She knew Alan cared about Danny, he just didn't get along that well with children. But right now he was complicating things, and she didn't want to deal with anyone but Danny.
    "I want to be alone with him," she said. "You understand, don't you?"
    "No. Yeah. I guess." Alan held out his hands in a pleading gesture. "Don't shut me out, Jenny. I want to help you through this. I want to do whatever I can to help you. Tell me what you want."
    "I want Danny, happy, healthy -- but you can't give that to me," she said simply.
    "I wish I could."
    "I know you do."
    Alan put a hand on her arm as she turned to leave. "Jenny, there's something I have to ask you. I'm trying to piece together what happened yesterday. I need to know why Danny was on the highway last night."
    Jenny tensed. She didn't want to answer him, but what was the point of lying? He would find out sooner or later. "Danny went to see his father."
    "His father?"
    "That's right."
    Alan swallowed hard, biting back words that would surely have held criticism. She could see it in his eyes. "Did he see him?" Alan asked finally.
    "I have no idea."
    "Maybe one of us should talk to this guy."
    "Why? He wasn't driving the car that hit Danny."
    "You don't know that."
    "Actually I do. I saw him standing in his living room about twenty minutes before I found Danny on the street."
    Alan looked at her in amazement. "You went to his house? What did he say? What did you say?"
    "I didn't speak to him."
    "Why not?"
    "Because I didn't."
    "Jennifer. What the hell is going on?"
    His demand cut through her last remaining thread of control. "I'll tell you what's going on. My son is hurt. He might even be dying, and you're standing here shouting at me about Luke Sheridan. I don't give a damn about Luke. I don't want to see him. I don't want to talk to him. And right now I don't want to talk to you