Love Under Two Benedicts(32)

“Let me guess,” Adam Kendall said. “Auntie Anna called you.”

Steven met the man’s gaze and nodded. “Yeah.” He really should have known better than to allow that jumbled phone call to upset him. They all loved their Auntie Anna. Not another soul in the entire family knew the great-greats the way Auntie Anna Jessop did. Unfortunately, she couldn’t be relied upon to deliver a message or get any kind of the practical details of everyday life straight to save her soul.

Steven shook his head and focused again on Kelsey. Because her expression looked so haunted, he gathered her in for one moment, making his hug as comforting as he could, trying not to let his own emotions show. When she relaxed in his arms, when she wrapped hers around him and held him, Steven sighed. He searched but couldn’t see Matthew.

Rather than jump to any conclusions, he asked, “Okay, what happened?”

“They just left him,” Kelsey said.

She pulled against his hold, and he let her go but he slid his hands down her arms until he had her hands in his. Grateful she threaded her fingers through his, he nodded to let her know she had his full attention.

“He’s just a little boy. How could she just leave him? Doesn’t she know how precious he is?”

Kelsey’s voice shook with emotion, and Steven’s heart turned over.

Adam stepped closer and filled in the details, ending with when he and Matthew rushed to the restaurant.

“He wouldn’t wake up at first,” Kelsey said. “And when he did, I could tell…just looking in his eyes, I could tell something wasn’t right with him.”

Steven looked over at Adam, who nodded. “Kelsey said she thought the little guy had been drugged. Matt scooped him up and ran like hell for here.”

The clinic was only two blocks away from the restaurant.

“Here’s the bag.” Michelle came into the clinic, carrying what looked to Steven like a backpack. Adam took it and headed down the hall toward the examining rooms.

“Who’s on duty today?” Steven asked. Not that it made any difference. He’d known both of the doctors who ran the clinic all of his life.

Shirley, the middle-aged woman, who as receptionist, secretary and accountant for all intents and purposes ran the clinic, looked up at his question.

“Both Doctors Jessop are here today.”

“Do you want to sit down?” Steven asked Kelsey. Michelle had remained, and there were a few other people in the waiting area, cousins that Steven guessed had been dining at the restaurant when the drama unfolded. They were there, he knew, not to be nosy, but to be on hand in case they were needed.

“No. I want to go see what’s happening. I want to be in there. I just want to—”

Kelsey stopped talking, but she shook like a leaf. Steven understood, or at least he thought he did, where her mind was, where her emotions were. He looked at Shirley, one of the few people who lived in Lusty who had no family connection to Benedicts, Kendalls or Jessops.

“I’m taking her back there. Which room?”

Shirley looked as if she might protest, but then she nodded. “Room three.”

“Come on, sweetheart.” Steven kept his arm around Kelsey as he walked her down the hall to the appropriate room.

“I’ve never been in here before. It’s larger than I expected.”

“The town trust pays for it and keeps it up to the highest standards.” Steven kept his voice gentle, understanding Kelsey’s inane comment came from nerves.

He knocked once on the door to room three, then opened it.

Kelsey left Steven’s side, making a bee-line for the little boy who sat on the examining table looking lost and alone. As soon as she reached him, the little guy reached for her.

Smart kid. Steven looked at his brother, who stood with their uncles, Doctor James and Doctor Adam Jessop. Adam Kendall was sorting through the backpack while both doctors had been speaking in low tones to Matthew.

Likely the little boy felt overwhelmed with so many strange men in the room. No wonder he’d reached for Kelsey.

“How is he?” Kelsey asked.

“Here’s your culprit.” Adam said.

Kelsey had spoken at the same time Adam had. Steven looked at the bottle he was holding. Uncle James took it, read the label, then opened the bottle.

“This would do it. A mild dose of sleep aid, and it looks like there’s a half a pill here, which means a half a pill missing. If that’s all he ingested, he should be fine. The blood work will be back in just a few hours. Marc’s coming in to run the tests.”

“So he’s all right?” Kelsey asked. The little guy had laid his head on her shoulder and stuck his thumb in his mouth.