The weekend flew by, with Whip showing his parents around the area in between his work at the stables. Monday morning, Sara made a decision. She would not ask her son for Bella’s cell number. Instead, she called Valley Ob-Gyn and asked to speak to her.
Bella came on after several minutes. “Hello?”
“Hi, dear. It’s Sara Kittredge. As you may know, we’re heading home tomorrow, and I didn’t want to leave without speaking with you.”
“Oh?”
“I know this is a strange request, but I can tell you’re very important to my son. Are you free at all to meet with me?”
“When did you have in mind?” Bella asked.
“Whenever’s best for you.”
“I have a pretty full day, but I do take a break at lunchtime. I could meet you in the park in town. We can find a bench in the shade.”
“Perfect. Why don’t I pick up some lunch for us? I could ask them to make us some sandwiches here at the Lodge. They have everything. What would you like?”
“A BLT, if they have it. Otherwise, I’ll eat anything. Shall we say twelve thirty in the park?”
“Thank you, Bella. This means a lot to me.”
“Of course.” Bella set down the phone and shook her head. What next? she thought as she headed down the hall to her next patient.
* * *
At twelve fifteen, Bella closed her office door and headed out to stroll the four blocks to the town green. The beautiful greenspace had been created years earlier, shortly after they paved Main Street, but had never been given a name. Thus, locals referred to it as the park. When she reached the western edge, she spied Whip’s mom across the green sitting in the shade of a mimosa tree. Sara waved as she approached, then stood up, reaching out her arms.
“Thank you for coming, dear.”
Bella returned her embrace. “Thank you in advance for lunch. A nice treat.”
Sandwiches and bottles of water sat neatly between them. “Both the same—BLTs on whole wheat—so take your pick.”
They unwrapped their sandwiches and ate a few bites in silence, observing people playing, sitting, and walking around the park. Finally, Sara sighed, putting down her half-eaten sandwich. “What a beautiful spot, and I haven’t had a bad meal since we arrived. You’re so lucky.”
Bella smiled. Even though Whip favored his dad in looks, there was something about this strong, handsome woman, an essence that was so like her son’s. “Yes, we are.”
“So, I’m sure you’re wondering what this is about,” Sara said, violet eyes meeting Bella’s own.
“A little,” Bella said, setting her sandwich down beside her.
“I would never have thought to do this with most gals, and my son’s dated a few, but you’re different. I can see the way he looks at you. He’s in love with you, my dear, even if he’s unable to express it. I know because he’s never worked so hard to get better with anyone else—not friends, lovers, or his family.”
“Get better? I’m not sure I understand. Is he sick?”
“I’m referring to the therapy. He’s been seeing a woman in town.”
Bella nodded. “Hayley.”
“Yes, that’s the name. My family experienced a horrible tragedy when Whip was five. It left all of us scarred, but Whip perhaps the most. My husband’s strong, and we have each other to lean on. I was carrying Addie, so she was spared.”
Bella realized she’d been holding her breath, fearful of what Sara might say, so she slowly let it out and told herself to breathe.
“I’m John’s second wife. He’s almost ten years older than I am. His first brief marriage fell apart because she couldn’t stand island life. We met when he came to San Francisco on a business trip. I was waitressing at one of the waterfront bars, and he asked me out. Says he knew immediately that he wanted to marry me and take me back to the island. I was eighteen. We had a couple of dates, he proposed, and off I went to live on Vancouver Island in the middle of nowhere. A year later, Whip was born. Shortly after his birth, John’s ex-wife, Myra, died in a car accident, and their two children, Johnny and Ellie came to live with us full-time.
“It was a heady time with him starting the new company, me raising three kids and going to college part-time, but we did it. I was too young to realize I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. We were happy. Our little fractured family slowly healed and became one. Whip idealized his older siblings, and they were wonderful with him. Caring and protective, the best stepkids a mom could have.”
“Did you have to commute to the mainland for college?” Bella asked.
“No, I went to Vancouver Island University. It’s a great school. Whip started there, then transferred. Anyway… John and I decided to have one more child when Whip was four, and lo and behold, I got pregnant.
“One really hot summer day, the kids begged to go on an adventure to Lizard Cove. I was particularly uncomfortable, heavily pregnant and cranky, so there was no way I wanted to hike over there. I offered to drive them, but they were determined to have a wilderness adventure. They were all good swimmers, even Whip, and the pond’s little beach has a full-time lifeguard, so I agreed. When Johnny proposed they take a shortcut through the woods rather than walking on the road, I thought it would be fine. That area was their backyard, and they knew it inside and out. It was stupid of me to let them go, but Johnny was a very mature twelve and Ellie a responsible ten-year-old, so I said yes. I should have made him take the shotgun, but it was broad daylight and there were three of them. I thought it would be safe. The lifeguard station has a phone, so I asked them to call me when they got there and also if they wanted me to pick them up after swimming.”
Bella gazed up and saw that Sara’s cheeks were wet with tears. “Are you sure you want to say anymore?”
Sara nodded. “It’s important.” She dabbed her face with a napkin and took a sip of water. “Anyway, they headed off. I waved from the back porch as they disappeared into the woods, my last glimpse of my two beautiful stepchildren. I fell asleep in my chair and awoke an hour or so later as Whip ran into the yard shrieking. Poor thing was delirious. He clawed at me, screaming, ‘Puma, puma, puma! Help!’
“I called John, and he and two of his men were in the yard in ATVs within what seemed like seconds. Whip was crumpled in my lap sobbing, but when he saw his dad, he jumped up and begged to go with them. John should have refused. We knew that at the time, but there was always the chance that they’d diverged from the main path and John might need Whip to show them the way. He took him up on his lap and sped off. All three of the men were armed. What they found was something no father should see, much less a child.
“Both Ellie and Johnny were dead, mauled and almost unrecognizable. One of the cougars was still there, attempting to drag Johnny’s body into the thick woods. They shot her and they wounded her mate, who was standing over Ellie.
“When they returned, our poor children’s bodies were strapped to the ATVs, nothing to cover the terrible carnage. Whip was comatose, eyes glazed and trembling violently. As I scooped him into my arms, my water broke. They called the ambulance and took us both to West Coast General Hospital, where Addie was delivered two hours later, Whip still locked in my arms. I don’t know how we did it, any of us. My husband was devastated. I blamed myself and would have locked myself in my room had I not had my two babies to care for.”
“Oh Sara, I am so sorry.” Bella reached forward and hugged her.
“Thank goodness for sweet little Addie. Whip adored her, and she gave us all something to live for, a source of joy and smiles amid the wreckage.”
Bella held her for several minutes, then Sara gave her a squeeze and pulled back. A wan smile played across her handsome face even as her eyes reflected unfathomable sadness. “Whip went through hell. We’ve watched helpless as he fell apart, unable to speak, rocking for hours, lost in his own world. It wasn’t until he finally pulled things together that we could all go on. He saw a child psychologist for a few years. She was helpful in getting him through the worst, helping him to speak again. Then when he was eight and a half, he announced, ‘No more shrinks,’ and refused to go anymore. He’s remained resolute until this past week.
“In the past, the minute he got close to someone, he’d break it off. As I said, he worshiped his older siblings, and I think he’s scared to death to get close to someone for fear of losing them. Then he met you. Something’s different this time. We all see it. Even if my husband keeps telling me to leave it alone, he senses it too. Something’s motivating our son to do the work of healing. I believe that something or someone is you, Bella. He wants to get better for you. I wanted to tell you all this in case you’re willing to be patient with him?”
“Of course,” Bella said, placing a hand over Sara’s. “I’m in love with your son. Of course, I can and will be patient.”
Sara smiled. “I thought so! Women’s intuition is seldom wrong.”
“Is there anything you think I can do to help support him?”
“I think you’re doing all the right things, my dear. Now let’s finish our sandwiches and get you back to work.”
“Have you got a way back to Morgan’s Run?”
“Yes, I have the SUV. Ben Morgan drove John and Addie up to the farm. I understand it’s lovely, but this was more important to me,” she said. “Thank you for making time.”
After leaving Sara at her car, Bella walked back to the office, stunned by the other’s revelations. Whatever happens, I’ll be by his side if he lets me, and even if he doesn’t, she thought, pushing open the door of Valley Ob-Gyn.