Free Storm Over the Lake by Diana Palmer Page B

shoulders.
    Adrian was standing at the front door, waiting for Frank, who was tucking a suitcase into the boot of the Lincoln. “Give me your case, I’ll have Frank load it,” he said without preamble, taking it from her cold hands.
    â€œHave a safe trip,” Lillian told her. “God bless.”
    Impulsively, Dana kissed her wrinkled cheek and turned to go out the door.
    The trip to the busy airport was a blur. Adrian was quiet, and Dana withdrew into the past, into memories of the way her life had been just years ago, before her father’s death had triggered so much tragedy.
    In her mind, she could see Katy Meredith in the old days, a sparkling dark-eyed jewel with a vitality, a love of life that burned like a candle in a chapel. Katy, laughing as she played hostess at political gatherings, chaired fund drive committees, played golf…
    She felt something warm and strong against the coldness of her fingers wherethey lay on the seat of the car. Her eyes glanced at them and saw Adrian’s big, dark hand swallow the coldness and warm it.
    â€œI…I’ll come back,” she said quietly. “I don’t know when…”
    â€œI’m going with you.”
    She met his dark, level gaze. “Why?”
    His fingers gripped hers closely. “Who else have you got, Meredith?” he asked.
    Tears welled in her eyes and a sob broke from her lips. She turned away, watching the blur of passing traffic.
    â€œDo you want me to hold you?” he asked in a strange, soft murmur.
    She glanced up at him, saw the tenderness in his eyes…“W…would you?” she whispered.
    His gray jacket came open against his white shirt as he reached for her, drawing her slender body against him, easing her cheek onto his warm, hard chest.
    His fingers tangled slowly, gently in her loosened hair. “It’s going to be all right,” he said, brushing her temple with his lips. “It’s going to be all right, my baby.”
    She closed her eyes and relaxed with a trembling sigh. He was warm and strong, and it was so good to lean on someone just this once, to have the security of someone else making decisions, leading the way. And in spite of all he’d said, and all he’d done, loving him was a way of life. Even through the fear and the pain and the grief, being in his arms was a balm worth any wounding.
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    The flight seemed short. In no time Adrian had her off the plane and into a rented car. The first thing he did was check them into adjoining rooms at a hotel near the hospital. Dana had had to give up her small apartment when she went to Atlanta, so the hotel rooms were a necessity.
    She had time to change her dress and compose herself before they went to the hospital. She clung to his hand all the way up the four floors and all the way down the hall to her mother’s semi-private room. But she hesitated at the door, trembling all over.
    His fingers meshed with hers, palm to palm, strong and reassuring. “Face it,” he said quietly. “I won’t leave you.”

Six
    T wo beds were close together in the small room, but only one of them was occupied. A thin, wraith-like little body was outlined by the crisp white hospital sheets and the single yellow blanket. An I.V. was hooked into the blue veins of the hand, and there was an oxygen mask around the nose. The small oval face was like old parchment, the big eyes closed, the mouth purplish.
    â€œOh, Mama,” Dana whispered, unaware that she’d even spoken.
    Adrian’s hand tightened. He went with her to the bedside. “How long has she been like this?” he asked.
    â€œBedridden, you mean? For the past three years,” she said quietly. “I moved her to Miami because I knew a specialist here who was willing to work with her.”
    There was a long, static silence.
    â€œWhat kind of shape are you in financially, Meredith?” he asked.
    â€œThat’s none of