Free Tell Me a Story by Dallas Schulze Page B

think Maggie has everything well in hand."
    "Of course. How foolish of me."
    "Not at all. Why don't you join me in a cup of tea?" She poured the fragrant liquid into a Limoges cup, setting it on the edge of the tea table as Ann sat in the chair across from her.
    "Did you enjoy your walk?"
    "Yes, the grounds are lovely." Ann picked up her tea cup, and Louise politely pretended not to notice the faint tremor that made the delicate cup rattle in its saucer.
    "My husband's mother started the landscaping but I've added to it over the years. It's an ongoing job, of course, but I enjoy it. Have you known Flynn very long?"
    The cup rattled but Ann's voice was calm. "I live across the hall from him. We don't really know each other that well. Becky fell and hit her head yesterday and Flynn knew that I was a doctor so he came and got me."
    "A doctor. I didn't know that. So you don't know Flynn all that well. I'm surprised. The two of you seem quite comfortable with each other."
    "Comfortable? I'm not sure that word applies to Flynn." She realized that her comment might sound like a criticism because she continued hurriedly. "I mean, he just doesn't seem the type—"
    Louise laughed. "Don't worry. I know just what you mean. And you're right. The word comfortable and Flynn don't really go together. Now Mark was a different story. He was so easy to get along with. Flynn was always too restless and full of questions. I think that's why he and his father have always had a hard time getting along.
    "Mark was a strong boy but he was willing to bend in the direction his father wanted. Flynn is just too much like his father. Neither of them knows how to bend. It's a shame. They have so much to give each other. Flynn especially has so much to give to those he cares about."
    She didn't lift her head from her needlepoint. Ann could either take the point or not as she chose. Louise had seen the way Flynn looked at Ann and her maternal instincts were telling her that Ann could be exactly what her son needed in his life. She didn't want to be a pushy parent, but it wouldn't hurt to nudge just a little.

Chapter 5

    I f Ann had seriously believed that her involvement with Becky and Flynn was going to end after the visit to his parents, she was doomed to disappointment. Over the next few days, the focus of her life seemed to shift.
    Ever since graduating from medical school, her life had centered on her work and, before that, it had centered on school. When she took a vacation, she used the time to catch up on medical journals; her visits with her father were spent discussing ways to advance her career.
    When she'd thought ahead, she'd never really considered whether or not things were always going to be that way. She'd never given much thought to a husband or children. There'd never been any room to think about them. Somewhere in the back of her mind were the usual dreams of a home and family, but they'd never been given any room to grow and solidify and they'd remained vague, nebulous images without real focus.
    Now, in the space of a few hours, her life had been turned upside down. Whether she wished it or not, she was caught up in Becky's life. Through her, Ann was caught up in Flynn McCallister's life. It wasn't that either Flynn or Becky asked her to spend her free time with them. There just didn't seem to be anything else to do.
    The morning after the visit to Flynn's parents, she woke up and told herself that she was not going to go across the hall. This was her day off and she had things to do. Things that didn't include a little girl and a dangerously attractive man.
    "Not that I'm attracted to him, of course." Oscar stirred and raised his head to blink at her. Ann stared at him in the mirror, aware that she was taking a great deal of time with her makeup, considering that she was planning on relaxing at home. "One kiss is nothing these days. It was a pleasant kiss but no big deal. Flynn McCallister is a playboy. Maybe he's got a heart of gold