Sand Castle Bay (Ocean Breeze) - By Sherryl Woods Page 0,52
to hide the hopeful note in her voice.
“About Boone,” Cora Jane retorted.
Emily stilled. “Not up for discussion.”
“We’ll just see about that,” Cora Jane said stubbornly, then she sashayed by and disappeared into the dining room where the noise level defied further conversation.
Just as well, Emily thought as she followed. She doubted there was one single thing Cora Jane could say about Boone Dorsett that she had any desire to hear. And whatever lecture Cora Jane had in mind was nothing compared to the one already echoing in Emily’s head.
11
For once B.J. was silent as Boone sped away from Castle’s. Boone couldn’t recall ever being quite so angry and disillusioned, not even when Emily had walked out of his life ten years ago.
When his cell phone rang just after he sped out of the Castle’s parking lot, he hit the connection for the hands-free device. “What?” he snapped.
“You sound cheery,” Ethan Cole said.
“It’s not the best time.”
“Then I’m really glad I called. I wanted to remind you to bring B.J. by the clinic so I can take a look at those stitches. Maybe I can cure whatever ails you at the same time.”
“I doubt there’s a medicine on the market strong enough for that,” Boone said. “We’re only a few blocks away. Is now a good time?”
“Sure. If you’re close, swing on by.”
“Thanks, Ethan.”
B.J. sat up a little straighter. “Was that Dr. Cole?”
Boone nodded.
“Is he going to take my stitches out?”
“More than likely,” Boone confirmed.
“Is it going to hurt?”
“Maybe just a little,” Boone told him..
“Then I want Emily to be there,” B.J. said, his eyes filling with tears.
Boone stared at him in shock. “You were so brave when Dr. Cole put them in. Everybody told me so. Why would you be scared to have them taken out?”
“You said it might hurt.”
“Not as much as when he put them in,” Boone assured him.
More tears spilled down B.J.’s cheeks. “I want Emily.”
Boone fought to hide his frustration. This was one time he just couldn’t give in, no matter how much B.J. thought he needed Emily. He told himself B.J. would be fine. Even if Boone happened to be a mess at the moment, Ethan surely knew how to comfort a scared kid.
“Not this time, buddy.”
“Why not?” B.J. cried. “Are you mad at her? Is that why we had to leave Castle’s?”
“B.J., you and I were doing just fine before Emily came to town. We’re a team, right?”
“I want Emily,” B.J. repeated, crying in earnest now.
His tears tore at Boone’s heart, but this time he refused to give in. He pulled into the lot at the emergency clinic, then opened the door for B.J., who refused to budge.
“To the count of three, buddy,” Boone warned. “If you don’t get out on your own, I’ll have to carry you inside like a baby.”
B.J. regarded him with shock, but he did get out. “I hate you,” he said as he stormed past.
Boone stared after him, his heart aching. It wasn’t the first time those words had been thrown in Boone’s face, but they never failed to devastate him.
Inside the clinic, Ethan gave Boone a curious look, but followed B.J. into the examining room. Boone joined them, standing just inside the door as B.J. scowled at both of them, his arms folded across his heaving chest.
“How you doing, B.J.?” Ethan asked, his voice calm and steady.
“Okay.”
“Ready for these stitches to come out?”
“No.”
Ethan looked startled, then glanced at Boone.
“I warned him it might hurt a little,” Boone admitted.
Ethan smiled. “What do dads know?” he said. “Yours was probably a wimp, but I know how brave you are. You didn’t even shed a tear when I put the stitches in. I’m betting you won’t even feel this.”
B.J. watched him suspiciously but didn’t put up a fuss as Ethan went to work.
“See, I told you so,” Ethan said when he was done. “And the scar is hardly noticeable. A nice job, if I do say so myself.”
B.J. studied his forearm. “Will the scar go away before school starts?”
“Probably not entirely,” Ethan said, smiling. “You planning to show it off to your friends?”
“Uh-huh,” B.J. said. “Stitches would have been even better.”
“Yeah, well, leaving those in longer might have been a bad idea,” Ethan told him. “Why don’t you go out to the front desk and ask for a piece of candy? Your dad will be right out.”
B.J. ran out of the examining room without looking back.