People were crowding around her hospital bedâ¦
And Caroline didnât recognize a soul!
âI thought she was okay,â said a man in blue jeans.
Caroline couldnât help but admit her attraction to himâand she liked the anxious look he sent the doctor.
âShe is,â the doctor returned. âBut with the babyâ¦â
Baby? Carolineâs hand shot to her stomach. She was pregnant! She couldnât be. Could she? Oh dear, what had she gotten herself into? And with whom?
A look at the shocked faces told her that no one had known.
âI demand to know who the father is!â the eldest man present suddenly shouted.
With that tone, Caroline was pretty sure he was her father.
âWho?â he repeated.
Then three men stepped forward. In unison, as if rehearsed, they all said, âI am.â
âMEMORIAL HOSPITAL, on line one.â
James Adkins, one of the wealthiest men in Denver, reared back in his chair, ran a hand through his gray hair, slammed his bifocals onto the table and glared at his secretary. âI told you I was not to be disturbed.â
âYes, sir, but itâs Caroline. Sheâs in the hospital.â
âThat girl of mine is always running around getting involved in causes. Tell her weâll discuss it over dinner.â He turned away, assurance in every ounce of him that heâd be obeyed. After all, he always was.
âSir,â the secretary persisted, desperation in her voice, âsheâs there as a patient.â
He turned to stare at her, his frown of impatience turning to deeper emotion. âWhat? Thatâs ridiculous. I saw her this morning.â
âThere was an accident,â the secretary said quickly.
James Adkins moved faster than one would have expected from his less than sleek figure, overweight from rich foods and no exercise. He grabbed the phone and barked into it. âWhoâs speaking?â
The two men with whom heâd been meeting both stood and moved closer to the phone.
âSheâs what?â Adkins shrieked, and then listened again. âYes, yes, Iâll be right there! Yes, Iâll bring her mother.â He slammed down the receiver and looked at the two younger men, for the first time unsure of his actions.
âCarolineâs been in an accident. Andâ¦and sheâs got amnesia.â
âIs she all right?â one of them asked.
âI just told you she has amnesia!â James snapped.
âBut the accidentâ Is she hurt?â
âNo, only bruised. Prescott, go to another phone and tell Lewis to bring the limo around. Adrian, you call Tucker and tell him heâll have to wait on my decision. Iâve got to call her mother and Chelsea.â
As was their custom, the two men jumped to do his bidding. He growled to his secretary, âFind my wife. I believe sheâs attending the symphony auxiliary this morning. Iâll try to reach my younger daughter.â
The woman scurried from the room, as if grateful to have escaped.
âChelsea? This is your father. Are you dressed?â
âHi, Daddy. No, Iâm still resting. Expectant mothers should get lots of rest, you know. Roddy agrees with me.â
âIâm coming to pick you up. Your sisterâs been in an accident. Sheâs not badly hurt, but sheâs lost her memory. The doctor thinks familiar faces will bring it back.â
âBut Daddy, why do I have to go? Pregnant mothers shouldnât get upset or go to hospitals. They have germs there.â
âChelsea, you have ten minutes to get ready. Donât keep me waiting,â he warned in ominous tones.
âYour wife is on line two, sir,â the secretary said softly from the door.
James nodded and told his daughter goodbye in the midst of another protest.
âAmelia? Carolineâs okay but sheâs been in an accident.â
âOh, dear. But sheâs all right?â
He breathed a sigh of relief. Amelia might not be the perfect mother, but she loved her children. âYes, well, sheâs lost her memory. Itâs temporary, of course, butââ
âHer memory? You mean she doesnât remember who she is? Thatâs horrible. Whyâwhy, she might think sheâs someâsome common woman, notââ
âAmelia! Weâll be there to pick you up in five minutes.â
âPick me up?â she asked in puzzled tones.
âYes, the doctor said you should come. It might help Carolineâs memory come back.â
âButâbut Iâm in the middle of my meeting. Couldnât I come when Iâm free? After all, Iâm sureââ
âFive minutes, Amelia. Iâll come in and drag you out if youâre not waiting.â