“My uncle is Reid Buchanan? My friends are going to die when I tell them.”
Reid looked more uncomfortable than excited. Cal changed the subject by asking, “How did you find out about me?”
“What? Oh, my mom told me. We were talking about the transplant and how well it went and I was really surprised because there can be problems with blood from an unrelated donor. And when I said that she got this really weird look on her face.”
Walker motioned for Cal to take a seat by the dining room table. Cal settled down, then removed the washcloth from his temple. Instantly blood began to trickle down his face.
“Are you sure you’re not going to need stitches?” Lindsey asked.
“That’s what I’m thinking,” Walker said.
“I’ll be fine. Try the bandage,” Cal told him. “Go on, Lindsey.”
“Oh. Okay. Well, she, um, got this weird look on her face and then she just blurted it all out. She told me who you were and that you’d always wanted to be a part of my life, but you didn’t want to push and that you were my biological dad and stuff. So I wanted to come see you.”
Cal groaned. “Did we just walk in the house and leave your mom parked out there?”
Lindsey laughed. “No. She went to get coffee. I’m going to call her when it’s time to come get me.”
Walker tugged on his skin. Cal did his best not to react to the pain. The bandages were put in place, but Walker didn’t look pleased. “These aren’t going to hold.”
Lindsey moved close and wrinkled her nose. “He’s right. You really need to go to the hospital.”
“In a minute.” He smiled at her. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me, too. I thought, you know, maybe we could be friends.”
“I’d like that.”
She glanced at Reid and Walker. “It’s nice to have more family. I’ve always wanted that. Are any of you guys married?”
Walker snorted. “Reid settle down with one woman? Not likely. I’ve been out of the country and Cal…You’re going to have to talk to him about that.”
Lindsey glanced at him expectantly.
Cal shook his head. “Another long story,” he said, knowing there was no way he could explain about Penny.
“That’s too bad. I’d like some cousins or even half brothers and sisters. I wouldn’t even mind babysitting. Well, at least until I go to college. Then I’ll be really busy.”
Impulsively, Cal grabbed Lindsey’s hand. “Thanks for coming to see me. I know you’re all grown up and have a life, but maybe we could get together for lunch sometime.”
She ducked her head, but squeezed his fingers. “That would be nice. I can give you my cell number. We can talk and stuff. And e-mail, too.” She grinned. “I love e-mail.”
“Me, too.”
Reid pulled the towel away from the cut on his jaw and showed it to Walker. Just then a fresh gush of blood dripped down the front of his shirt.
“That’s it,” Lindsey said forcefully. “I can see I’m going to have to take charge here. You’re both going to the emergency room. You need stitches. There’s no discussion about this. I just went through chemo and a bone marrow transplant. I think you tough guys can survive a couple of stitches.”
“WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?” Dani asked as she sat next to Cal in the emergency room. “You’re too old to be fighting each other.”
“We weren’t thinking,” Cal told her. “That’s how fights usually start. No one plans them. Well, Reid kind of planned this one.”
“But you’re mature adults. At least you were. And on the front lawn.”
He winced. “How’d you hear that?”
“I had a fascinating talk with your daughter before she had to leave. This was while you were being stitched up.” Her stern expression softened. “She’s great.”
“I know.” He still couldn’t believe she knew about him and wanted them to be friends.
“And her first impression of her father is he and his brother fighting. I should slap you myself.”
“Please don’t.”
“Are you in pain?” Dani asked.
“Yes.”
“Good. I hope Reid is suffering. Maybe that will teach you two.” She studied the bandages on his face. “What were you fighting about?”
“I made Penny cry.”
Dani’s eyes narrowed. “You sure did.”
“I don’t need you taking me on, too,” he told her. “I feel like shit.”
She socked his arm anyway, which, fortunately, was one of the only spots that didn’t hurt. “Why didn’t you tell her you were moving back east? What kind of moron has a relationship with a woman and doesn’t mention that at least once?”
“At first I didn’t think it mattered. Then I didn’t think about leaving at all. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been thinking that maybe I wouldn’t now.”
“Maybe?” She socked him again.
“I won’t go,” he said as he rubbed his arm. “I know I should have told her. I never meant to hurt her.”
“Too bad. If you had meant to, you could be happy you’d accomplished your goal. As it is, her heart is broken and you’re an ass.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“I mean it, Cal. You’re better than this. You don’t play with other people’s feelings. You’ve never been mean.”