Bachelor Father

“I’M LOOKING FOR Megan Novak. She was admitted early this morning,” Adam told the woman at the hospital reception desk. “I’m her father.”

He wondered why it should still feel awkward to identify himself as a parent. Maybe because his relationship with Megan still felt uncomfortable. He hadn’t expected her to rush into his arms and call him Daddy the first time they’d met. After all, she’d been told she didn’t have a father, a fact that still caused the hair on his neck to rise. He’d missed out on six years of Megan’s life because of Christie’s decision not to tell him she’d had his child.

And he knew that if it hadn’t been for a tragedy, chances were he still wouldn’t know he had a daughter. Adam didn’t understand why, after going through so much trouble to keep Megan’s existence a secret, Christie had named him as her legal guardian in the will. He probably would never know, but the reason was of no consequence at this point. What mattered was that Christie had ensured that, in the event of her death, Megan would have someone who was able to take care of her. He was that someone.

While the lawyers had worked out the legal details of guardianship, Megan had stayed in the small town of Silver Bay in the house she’d shared with her mother and her uncle. She’d said very little to Adam when they finally met for the first time, regarding him suspiciously as she clung to Tom Anderson’s side. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise to him that she would want to live with the uncle she’d known all of her life rather than with a father who was a stranger to her.

There was a lot to like about Tom Anderson. He had that same “live for today” attitude that Adam remembered of Christie, enjoying every minute of life and believing that tomorrow would take care of itself. It was obvious to Adam that he adored Megan and provided a much-needed male authority in her life. What he lacked in reliability he made up for in generosity. He wasn’t, however, her father. No matter how much she wanted to stay in Silver Bay, Megan belonged with him in St. Paul.

“She’s in room 217, Mr. Novak,” the receptionist told him, bringing his thoughts back to the present. “If you go down the hall and take a left, you’ll see the elevators.”

Adam didn’t wait for an elevator but took the stairs. When he reached the second floor he followed the arrows that directed him to the pediatric unit. Standing outside room 217, leaning against the wall was his sister-in-law, Lori. As soon as she noticed him, she straightened and started toward him, her arms outstretched.

“You made it!” she said, hugging him as close as her pregnant belly would allow. “I was worried the snow would close the airport before your plane could land.”

“I got lucky.”

She glanced past his shoulder. “Naomi’s not with you?”

“No. She stayed in Miami.” Which was how he’d wanted it. Not that Naomi Windell would have cut short her vacation for someone else’s sick child. He glanced at the closed door. “Why are you out here?”

“There’s a nurse and a lab technician in with Megan. It should only be a few minutes and we can go back in.”

“How is she?”

“She’s been sleeping ever since she came back from recovery. Have you talked to Dr. Lindgren?”

“Yes. He said the surgery went well.”

She nodded. “That’s what he told me, too. They’re giving her antibiotics, which should take care of the infection, but she’s going to have to stay in the hospital longer than if it had been a simple appendectomy…probably another five to seven days.”

“I don’t suppose she’s going to like that,” he surmised with a lift of one eyebrow.

Lori rolled her eyes. “Not if the way she behaved before surgery is any indication. She cried and begged me to take her home. Not that I blame her. Having an operation is scary enough when you’re an adult—but when you’re only six…” She shrugged helplessly.

“The worst should be over.”

“Yes, and now her daddy’s here.” Lori sighed in relief. “She’s going to be happy to see you.”

Adam hoped she was right. As hard as his sister-in-law had tried to smooth over the rough edges in their relationship, he knew that Megan regarded him as the man she’d been forced to go live with when her mother had died. In the short time she’d been with him, they hadn’t managed to get beyond that. Any affection she had for a father figure still went to her uncle. She treated Adam with a suspicion that at times bordered on indifference.

“Have you called Tom Anderson?” he asked, suddenly remembering the other man.

Lori nodded. “I told him I would keep him posted on what’s happening. He asked if he could talk to her this evening once she was back in her room, but until now she’s been too sedated to do much of anything but sleep.”

“I’m sure she’s going to want to call him as soon as she’s able to use the phone,” Adam noted.

“That probably won’t be before morning. I don’t expect she’ll be awake much tonight.” Lori glanced at her watch and said, “I can’t believe it’s only seven-thirty. It feels much later than that to me.”

“How are you holding up?”

“I’m okay,” she answered, although the circles under her eyes contradicted her. “It’s just the usual complaints of a pregnant lady.” She stretched, rubbing the area near the base of her spine.

“Backache?”

“Everything aches,” she quipped.

He saw the lines on her face and realized how stressful the day had been for her. “When I asked if Megan could stay with you while I was gone I never expected something like this would happen. I’m sorry, Lori. I probably should have just taken her out of school and brought her with me.”

“We both know why that wouldn’t have worked.”

“I wouldn’t have brought Naomi if Megan had come with me.” He didn’t want to sound defensive, but ever since Megan had come to live with him he’d felt as if his personal life were suddenly under a magnifying glass.

Lori raised both hands as if to ward off an argument. “I was happy to have Megan stay with me.”

He knew that was true, but it didn’t make him feel any less guilty about the situation. “I know, but you shouldn’t have had to be the one going through all of this, especially not in your condition.”

She brushed away his concern with a wave of her hand. “Now you’re sounding like Greg. Just because I’m pregnant doesn’t mean I have to sit at home with my feet up. I managed just fine today.”

“I knew you would. Just knowing you were with her was a great comfort to me, although I have to admit, that probably was the longest flight I’ve ever taken.”

“I hope I didn’t sound too frantic when I called you, but honestly, Adam, until that doctor came out of surgery and told me she was going to be all right, I was scared. Really scared.” Her voice broke with emotion and she bit down on her lip.

“Waiting in a situation like this is never easy, is it?” he asked rhetorically. “I’m just glad you brought her to the emergency room when you did. You saved her life, Lori.”

She leaned back against the wall, her shoulders sagging. “I know, but I can’t help but wonder if the infection couldn’t have been prevented if I had only taken her to the doctor last week.”

“She wasn’t having an appendicitis attack last week.”

“No, but last night wasn’t the first time she’s complained of stomachaches, Adam,” she said soberly.

“No, it wasn’t,” he agreed. “She’s had a lot of them—like when she didn’t want to eat her dinner or she didn’t want to go to school. You remember the story about the boy who cried wolf?”

“Yes, but…”

“Lori, she had a physical exam before she started school here and the doctor said she was in good health,” he reminded her, not wanting to admit that the same thought had crossed his mind when he’d learned that Megan’s appendix had ruptured. Images of her rubbing her tummy and telling him it hurt had flashed relentlessly in his head.

“She had none of the other symptoms of appendicitis until this morning,” Lori added, as if trying to convince herself she wasn’t to blame. “It’s not easy to diagnose, even with all of the symptoms.”

“No, it isn’t, as Dr. Lindgren told us. Nor does it do any good to second-guess the situation at this point. Yes, Megan did complain of stomachaches, but she’s complained about a lot of things since she’s been here.” He rubbed a hand around the back of his neck. “Sometimes I feel as if that’s all she does.”

“She’s had a lot to deal with these past few months,” Lori said sympathetically.

“I realize that. I’m also aware of what a huge change it was for her to come live with me. Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn’t have simply accepted the financial responsibility of her care and allowed her to stay with Tom.”

Lori placed her hand on his arm. “No, you are her father. She belongs here with you. I know that it’s been a little difficult for the two of you—”

“A little difficult?” He interrupted with an incredulous chuckle. “She’s been with me for eight weeks and she still calls me Adam.” A clear sign to him that she didn’t want to be with him.