Priceless(57)

“Oh, but I do,” Beth said. “Don’t you think I feel like that a hundred times a day, a few thousand times a year? But I can’t focus on what’s going on with me. It’s only about the kids and what they’re feeling. The worst thing anyone can do is make them feel even more isolated by refusing to listen to their fears. Often, their parents don’t want to face the truth, so there’s this awful silence that just builds and builds. I think it’s worst of all when that silence is never broken and no one has ever had the chance to say goodbye.”

Mack sighed, recognizing the sorrow and regrets she must deal with every day. “Do you have any idea how much admiration and respect I have for you?” he asked, fighting the desire to reach for her because he was one more person needing her comfort. He couldn’t be sure how much strength she had to go around, and it wasn’t fair for him to be one of those demanding a share of that incredible emotional resource. He was hurting, but the kids and their parents must be in far worse shape. He needed to let her conserve her strength for them.

He met her gaze. “It’s not just that what you do is important, it’s that you handle it with such grace, the ups and, more importantly, the downs.”

“You haven’t been around to count the number of mugs I go through in a year,” she told him, her expression rueful. “It’s a good thing my office is off the beaten path, since I break so much pottery.”

He knew she was trying to lighten the mood, but he felt even sadder at the admission of her lonely battle against desolation. “Does it help?”

“Not a bit.”

“Does anything?”

“The success stories,” she said at once. “Every tiny victory keeps me going till the next time.”

“Tony could use a victory about now,” Mack said, unable to keep the wistful note out of his voice.

“He’ll have it,” Beth said. “I truly believe that, Mack.”

“In your heart?” he asked, studying her intently. “Or because it’s the only way you can get out of bed in the morning?”

She sighed. “Maybe a little of both.” She searched his face. “Is there anything I can do for you? Would you like to come over for dinner? Or we could go to a movie, some action flick that will block out reality for a couple of hours.”

Mack shook his head. He could have used the comfort of her presence, maybe even needed it, but that need scared him. Like Beth, he was used to dealing with his emotions on his own. Of course, that usually meant ignoring them, but she didn’t need to know that.

Beth nodded, her expression filled with understanding. “Call me if you change your mind.”

“Thanks,” he said, then bent down to press a soft kiss to her forehead. He had to resist the urge to take more. “Get some sleep tonight. I’ll speak to you in the morning.”

He knew she was still there, watching him, her eyes filled with concern, when he pulled out of the parking lot a few minutes later. He was tempted to go back and get her. He knew she was hurting as badly as he was. She was simply more accustomed to covering it.

If he weakened and went back, they could cling to each other, maybe even feel a little better for it, but in the end it wouldn’t be what either of them really needed tonight. What they truly needed was some glimmer of real hope for Tony.

Or the strength to bear it if they lost him.



Beth watched Mack drive off with her heart aching. She understood his need to go off by himself, but he looked so unbearably alone. On impulse, she reached in her pocket and pulled out her cell phone along with Melanie Carlton’s business card.

“Beth!” Melanie said cheerfully when she took the call. “I hadn’t expected to hear from you so soon.”

“Actually I called because I need a favor,” Beth told her. She explained what had happened with Tony and the way it had affected Mack. “Think you could get Richard to check on him? He said he wanted to be alone, but I think he could use his brother about now.”

“Absolutely,” Melanie said without hesitation. “Can you hold on a sec while I call Richard? Then you and I can make some plans. Something tells me you could use a friendly ear, too.”

“Thanks,” Beth said, grateful for the immediate understanding.

It was only a couple of minutes before Melanie came back on the line. “That’s taken care of,” she said briskly. “Richard’s already calling Ben, and then he’ll track Mack down. He won’t let Mack put them off.”

Beth sighed. “I knew I could count on you.”

“Anytime,” Melanie assured her. “And since the guys are going to be tied up, why don’t you join me for dinner? I imagine that Mack’s not the only one who needs cheering up.”