Page 44 of Convincing Him
“Then why couldn’t you let Marshall propose to her?” wondered Max.
“How do you know about Marshall proposing?” questioned Gabe. He looked down to see a piece of paper sticking out from under her door. It bore the logo of Mercy hospital on the corner of it. Frowning, Gabe crouched down to coax it out from between the plush carpet and the door without tearing it.
“Parker told me,” Max informed him. “Look. Either let her go and let her be happy with some other guy or man up and admit you are in love with her. If you go after her, you are going to have to prove for the first time in your life you are willing to put her first.”
“I’m not in love with her,” protested Gabe to empty air as he realized Max had hung up on him. Annoyed, he put his phone away and straightened to tear open the envelope then unfold the letter he had found beneath Britney’s door.
Backdated by two weeks, it was a formal protest from Britney’s doctor about her decision to have a child, citing the risks of not going ahead with a hysterectomy immediately. Her doctor warned the cancer, while currently contained, may spread and cause further surgical and medical procedures necessary, possibly even threatening her life. While her ability to carry a healthy baby to term was not in question, the likelihood of immediate conception was doubtful and further delay of the surgery to remove the cancer was inadvisable.
Britney had cancer. Her doctor wanted to remove it. She had known before she had accepted his proposal.
Paling, Gabe put the letter in his pocket. His dad had cancer and was dying. It was a scary disease. Gabe didn’t like the thought that Britney had it. It brought an unwelcome sense of fear he wasn’t quite ready to deal with. Worry gnawed at him.
Brit could die. He didn’t even want to explore the thought. Gabe had been so worried about the risks of losing his job, he had never once thought he could lose her. What would become of him if she died and left him with a baby? He couldn’t do it alone. Gabe had no idea how to be the sort of father Brit expected he would be with their kid.
The realization came swift and hard, Gabe didn’t want to lose her. Ever. He didn’t want to imagine a life without Britney irritating him about something. Less than a month ago, Gabe would have scoffed at the idea but somehow his fiancée had woven her way into his life.
“Taking someone else’s mail is a federal offense,” the old lady informed him as she waited in her doorway, openly eavesdropping.
Ignoring the old busybody, Gabe strode past her for the elevators. He needed to see Britney. The most likely place to find her would be Britney’s place of work. If she wasn’t there, then Tara would know where she was. He would just have to convince her to tell him which would be easier said than done since Tara didn’t particularly like him.
Once at the office, Gabe confirmed Britney wasn’t in before heading directly for Tara’s office. He ignored the secretary’s protests he didn’t have an appointment and walked right past her, closing the office door behind him. Gabe tossed the doctor’s letter onto Tara’s desk before having a seat without invitation. “Why didn’t she tell me?”
“Good morning Gabe,” remonstrated Tara as she picked up the letter to read it. “Why don’t you have a seat?”
“She left me,” Gabe said shortly. “She’s not in the office and now I find out about this. I want to talk to her about it.”
“Why?” Tara tilted her head to study him like he was some kind of exotic bug she didn’t particularly like. “Why talk to her about it? You’ve gotten what you wanted. Your inheritance and job are secure. You don’t even have to marry the girl you despise. It is a win for you.”
“I don’t despise her,” his tone of voice was impatient. Gabe was still feeling a little sore after the conversation with Max. He didn’t know exactly how he felt about Britney, but he did know he had feelings for her. He wanted her to stay in his life, preferably married to him. “I want to know why she wouldn’t tell me. Why she would put her health, even her life at risk.”
“Firstly, because you would have dismissed her as a candidate to marry. In case you’ve been blind, Brit really likes you,” Tara dryly responded. “Second, you are not a woman, so you don’t understand what it is like to want to bring a life into the world. What it is like to feel a baby grow in your womb and the promises it brings. Britney wanted to be a mom. It’s simple.”
“Her doctor advises against it,” Gabe tried to keep his voice level against the conflicting emotions he felt about the cancer he knew Britney was battling.
“She knew the risks and she felt it was worth it,” Tara informed him. “It’s her body to do with as she wishes.”
“Even if having a baby would kill her?” questioned Gabe. A sliver of fear danced along his spine. The fear was rising again and he could finally admit he didn’t want to lose her. He didn’t want her to face the same disease which was going to take his father from him.
“What do you care?” asked Tara shrewdly as she eyed his reaction. “You don’t want to marry her. You don’t want anything to do with her.”
“Who said that?” he demanded, feeling a little affronted over her accusations.
“You did. So many times during your lives,” explained Tara with no small amount of hostility. “She’s so messed up from trying to love you.”
“She and I were good. We were getting along, compromising,” insisted Gabe. “I don’t know what happened. Why would she suddenly leave?”
“Your secretary opened her eyes to the fact you were keeping key information from her,” retorted Tara. “Your father is the reason her father is in jail. You are using her for revenge to get back at your father for his foolish marriage ultimatum. I find it extremely petty and I think it’s good Britney is finally seeing through you.”
“I’m not marrying her for revenge,” protested Gabe. “I would never do that. You are overreacting.”
“Overreacting?” Tara ground out. She narrowed her eyes. “Do you love her? Can you actually say you love Brit?”
Gabe opened his mouth, but he didn’t really have a response. Earlier, it had been easy to deny it to Max. He decided to go with honesty. “I’m not sure what love is.”
“I see,” Tara leaned back in her chair. “Then she and I are notoverreactingat all. I’m glad you’re not getting married. You would have destroyed her.”
Gabe gave her a sharp look. After Rex’s and Max’s lectures this morning, he wasn’t in the mood to tolerate Tara giving him a dressing down. “I think that’s a little harsh, don’t you?”
