“Engaged?” Angie caught the confusion, followed by a reassessment. “You two are engaged to be married?”
Lucius nodded. “It’s been in the works for a while.” Angie couldn’t get over the gentleness of his tone or the effortless way he held the baby, bouncing him in a light, rhythmic motion that spoke of experience in quieting a fussy infant, or entertaining a happy one. “Since she works for me—for the moment—we haven’t wanted to say anything. It didn’t seem…appropriate.”
Angie deliberately changed the subject. “Is there any news about Mr. Ridgeway’s condition?”
Fear invaded Tabby’s features once again. “Not yet. They’re taking so long. Too long.”
“Let me see what I can find out.” Lucius transferred the baby to Angie. “I’ll be right back.”
Angie cradled Mikey against her shoulder and took the seat next to Tabby. “If you want to get yourself a drink or some food, I can wait here and watch your things.”
“No. No, I don’t want anything.” She twisted her hands together, waves of disapproval emanating from her. “How long have you and Lucius…?”
Oh, dear. They hadn’t discussed the details of their cover story, yet. “About nine months,” she improvised, deciding Lucius would want the relationship to predate his guardianship. “We were going to announce our engagement sooner, but…” She trailed off in the hopes that Tabby would assume the announcement had been postponed after Geoff’s and Lisa’s deaths.
She nodded. “Very considerate of you,” she said in a stiff voice. “I’m surprised you’d be willing to take on a man like Lucius, especially now that he has the responsibility of my grandson.”
“I adore Mikey. I have from the moment I first saw him.”
“We—Benjamin and I—don’t feel Lucius is a fit parent.”
Angie tiptoed through the minefield which had opened up so unexpectedly in front of her. “Perhaps with time, you’ll discover otherwise. I know he has a reputation, but I’ve found that reputation to be a bit of an exaggeration.” She offered a conspiratorial smile. “You know how businessmen are. If people think you’re ruthless, they’re more respectful and cautious in their dealings with you. I’m sure Geoff would never have appointed Lucius his son’s guardian if he didn’t have complete faith in his best friend’s character.”
“Geoff was under the influence of that woman,” Tabby retorted. “I’m not sure he was in an adequate frame of mind to judge.”
Okay, Angie decided. Clearly, she wasn’t going to win this particular argument, not that she’d expected to. Heavy silence settled between them, as chilly and bitter as the breeze that gusted through the sliding doors whenever they parted to cough out a new arrival. She glanced in the direction Lucius had disappeared, relieved to see him striding in their direction, a doctor at his side.
“This is Dr. Sanji,” he explained, making the introductions. “He’s the cardiologist who’s been taking care of Benjamin.”
The doctor sat beside Tabby and gathered her hand in his. Brave man, was all Angie could think. “All is well, Mrs. Ridgeway. Your husband did not suffer a heart attack, but a panic attack.”
Tabby’s chin trembled. “Not his heart? You’re certain?”
“Quite certain.” His light brown eyes stayed fixed on her, their expression calm and reassuring. “I understand you are both under considerable emotional distress. This weekend would have been your late son’s birthday, is that correct?”
Tabby nodded, pressing her lips tightly together. “He would have been thirty-two.”
“No doubt this is the root cause of your husband’s problem. Panic attacks often mimic the symptoms of a heart attack. The nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath.”
“I didn’t know what to do,” she confessed, “so I called 9-1-1.”
“As you should have. We have put him on a mild antianxiety medication, which will ease his distress. You should be able to take him home in a few hours. Until then, why don’t you come sit with him?” He offered a charming smile. “I’m sure having you at his side will do far more for him than any medication.”
Tabby spared Mikey a worried glance. “My grandson?”
“Don’t worry about that.” Angie leaped into the breach. “Lucius and I will take good care of him.”