After a curt nod, he reached into the back seat. His broad chest brushed her arm, and it was all she could do not to wrap her arms around him and apologize. Regardless of how their relationship had ended, no matter that she needed peace and he craved adventure, she respected this man and for the first time realized he had been hurt, too.
He twisted front with a bag in hand. "Sorry I was late today. I swung by the BX after debrief and picked this up for Magda. Maybe you should give it to her, though. She probably won't be too excited to see me after the scene on the flight line."
Lori opened the bag and peered inside.
A dark-haired Barbie peered back up at her.
Uh-oh. Now she knew why she had walked away without saying goodbye a year ago, tried again today. Resisting Gray while he wore boxers and a smile had been hard enough. Holding strong against the man who bought Barbies for babies could be a near impossible task.
* * *
After Gray picked up Magda's chart at the nurses' station, he and Lori crossed the hall to the little girl's room. He shrugged through a kink in his shoulder and shifted into doctor mode.
Urgency thrummed through him to see, treat and heal his patient. A healthy child stood a better chance of being placed. He knew that as well as Lori.
His feet slowed as an idea picked up speed in his mind like an ascending plane. Was that his role for Lori before he could cut ties and leave? Helping her advance her career?
In the past, he'd taken a hands-off approach to her job, maybe because she worked with kids. Whenever she'd shared a story about one of her tiny clients, Lori's face had glowed with a beauty and yearning that had his restless feet itching to run. Every time he had changed the subject, he knew he'd been an insensitive jerk. He'd just been so damned wary of letting her become embroiled in a scenario that would have her believing he could be a father.
Now that they were no longer a couple, he could support her in her work. Right? She'd said speedy placement of all the children would solidify her position and the validity of the southeastern branch. He could offer medical advice, contacts and encouragement until the last child was securely placed. The idea hit cruising speed and leveled off, his course set.
Lori hesitated just outside Magda's room.
"What's wrong?"
She faced the door, soft television noises wafting through. "Am I doing the right thing coming to see her? Am I being selfish?"
"How so?"
"I do my best for all the children we transport. But for some reason that little girl got to me more than the others. What if I'm just coming to see her because I want to, not because it's best for her?" Lori's words tumbled over each other in a nervousness unlike her. "What if it turns into another scene like at the base? I don't want to upset her, especially when she's sick."
"Do you want to leave?"
"No."
"What do you want?"
Lori rolled her eyes. "I want to take her home."
The rest of Gray's answer came to him. He knew precisely what to do for Lori. He could find that home for Magda and give Lori the child she wanted after all, someone she could shower with her unselfish love. He didn't question the speed of his decision. Both his jobs necessitated quick assessment of the situation, followed by a solid plan of action. Both his professions also required a hefty dose of self-confidence in those decisions. "So do it."
"Do what?"
"Take her home."
Lori with a child. The thought of her as a mother seemed so right, so natural. The notion grew in appeal with each passing breath.
A food cart rattled past in the silence.
"You're kidding, right?"
"Didn't you tell me you've been a foster parent before?"
"Short-term, Gray, just as a forty-eight-hour stop gap for children on their way to permanent foster placement. Nothing with such an awesome commitment."
Commitment. The word might make him flinch, but not Lori. She could come through for that kid with ease.
Gray tucked closer to Lori to let hospital personnel and visitors stroll past. "Then be Magda's foster mother while the system irons out the kinks with finding her a home."