The Nurse's Secret Suitor Read online

  Tia gasped. “Oh, no! I forgot! I don’t have a tea set!”

  Rather than shout praises, Caleb plopped down next to the coffee table, looking very much in problem-solving mode. “No sweat. We’ll make some tea stuff.” He grabbed construction paper from a box near the table then glue, tape and scissors. Tia, and admittedly Kate, watched in wonder as Caleb drew a mirror shape of a teapot on poster board then cut it out.

  “This is what it’ll look like.” He folded it to have a base and set it upright. “You need to give it some color.”

  “Ooh, cool! Yay!” Tia shoved the construction paper aside and popped open a tub of bright beads, reflective sequins and glittery markers.

  Caleb laughed. “Bling works, too.” It wasn’t until he caught Kate’s gaze that she realized she was ardently staring. “I could use an assistant teacup maker over here. You game?” he asked.

  She smiled and the trio fashioned a quite elaborate and impressive tea set out of cardstock and craft supplies.

  Afterward, Tia gathered her dolls and stuffed animals and placed them in itty chairs Caleb had brought to the “tea table.”

  “Miss Kate, you didn’t invite any of yours.” Tia sounded sincerely concerned. “We can’t leave them out!”

  “I don’t have any stuffed animals. Never have.”

  “Never ever?” Tia sucked in a disbelieving breath.

  “Nope. My parents never thought I needed one, I guess.”

  Tia stared openmouthed. “That’s crazy! Who doesn’t need a soft bunny or a teddy bear to hug?” She sighed, clearly channeling her father. “I will have to have a word with your parents.”

  That made Kate laugh, initially. But then a slice of dark pain went through her when she thought of all the fond memories of childhood with the trio of herself, Mom and Dad. Despite the lack of stuffed animals, she’d thought they were all so happy together. The devastating possibility of her parents not reconciling hit her again. Unlike Caleb and Bri, she was an only child and didn’t have siblings to lean on. If her parents split, that was it. Thoughts of ending up alone in the world welled irrational panic in Kate.

  Caleb must have noticed her struggle because he scooted closer than Kate felt comfortable with, being this emotionally fragile. She stiffened her spine and tried to prepare what she would say if he asked her if she was okay. He didn’t. Instead, he sat near and interacted with Tia who, thankfully, didn’t pick up on Kate’s being on the verge of tears.

  Don’t break down, Dalton.

  Caleb kept the conversation with Tia lively. He kept the dialogue between the two of them, as if he sensed speech in any form would be iffy for Kate right now. Speech without bursting into tears that is. She appreciated his perceptiveness, yet hoped he wouldn’t be offended she couldn’t open up to him.

  “Tia, I’m surprised you don’t have a real tea set,” Caleb remarked when the paper teapot fell over for the fifth time.

  “I did, but I gave it to a little girl whose toys burned up in a fire.”

  Caleb hunkered. “My goodness, how sad. That was sweet of you to give your toys to her, though. That was really thoughtful and kind.”

  “I even gave her Blink, my favorite doll.” Tia’s lips warbled. Kate’s heart clenched, thinking of the fire victims.

  “I bet Blink’s her favorite toy now, and one she’ll love and take care of forever.” Caleb’s voice softened like sweet taffy.

  “The little girl’s mommy got dead in the fire, too. Doctor Lockhart cried and cried.” Tia clicked her tongue. Kate hated that Tia had been at the trauma center when the victims came in. But Bri had been out of town and Ian hadn’t had time to take Tia anywhere before EMTs brought the victims.

  Caleb looked horrified but kept his voice calm and soothing. “I’m sure a lot of people cried.”

  Kate sent Tia to get Mistletoe fresh water, food and a doggy treat then asked Caleb, “Have you met her yet?”

  “Doctor Lockhart? I don’t think so, why?”

  “Just wondered.” Kate nibbled her lips. Then leaned in. “Her name’s Clara, just so you know. I’m worried about her. She took an emergency leave of absence after the fire victims came in. She hasn’t been back to work.” Kate watched Tia carefully and kept her voice low. “She’s pretty secretive about her life, but I think Clara may have lost a child in a fire because she seemed really traumatized.”

  “That’s rough. She won’t talk about it, though?”

  Kate shook her head. “Can’t say I blame her.”

  “You don’t have to be strong all the time, Kate.”

  She stared sternly at him. “That’s a matter of opinion. It’s also not up for discussion. Besides, this isn’t about me.”

  He nodded slowly. “Fair enough. For now.”

  * * *

  Kate’s straight white teeth clenched, but Caleb didn’t let it daunt him. He was determined to get her to a point where she would open up to people in her life, starting with him. He had three months left to make that happen.

  Problem was, BB could hinder that. Caleb wanted to laugh at the irony of competing with himself.

  His humor faded when news of a house fire scrolled across his phone’s EMT scanner app. He thought about Dr. Clara Lockhart, the young anesthesiologist Kate mentioned.

  Tia came back from tending to Mistletoe and flanked her hands on Kate’s face. “Dr. Lockhart’s pretty and you are, too. You look like that most bee-you-tea-ful princess on TV.”

  Kate’s eyebrows arched. “Oh, really? Which one?”

  Tia climbed Kate’s lap. “The real one who married the prince who flies the planes. You’re even named after her.”

  Caleb reclined against the couch skirt. “Kate Middleton, the duchess. And Tia’s right. You’re a dead ringer for her.”

  Kate’s eyebrows pinched as she set the princess doll down. “Hmm. I’ll have to study her out. I don’t watch TV much.”

  “How come?” Tia scooted between Kate and Caleb.

  “The war news bothers me because my father is serving overseas. Plus, I don’t want to be tempted to start missing the action, my military unit comrades or my old life.”

  Tia leaned in sweetly, nose to nose. “Do you sometimes?”

  “I do.” Kate bumped foreheads gently with Tia.

  “Even though my mom was mean, I sometimes miss her, too. She was my old life.” Tia scrambled to her feet and sped to Miss Jonah’s tank. “You could watch Miss Jonah with me. A fish tank isn’t like anybody’s old life.”

  Kate laughed and Caleb smiled in the midst of his ringtone. “Excuse me, I need to take this.” Caleb went on the side deck to answer Asher’s call. “Hey, man. How ya doin’?”

  “Eh, you know. Hangin’ in, I guess. You?”

  “I’m good, man. You and Levi have been on my mind.”

  “We’re makin’ it. Things’ll get better.”

  “Yeah, they will.” Caleb thought of Ian and Tia and how life had turned around for them the past few months.

  “So, I wanted to check in and ask—how’s the physical training coming along?”

  “Real good. I get up at 4:00 a.m. to run and do the rigorous outdoor stuff before it gets hot. The PJs gave me keys to their Refuge Drop Zone gym. I hit the weights, then swim. I spend no less than four hours a day working out. I hope it’s enough.”

  “It will be, Landis. You have what it takes. How’s Kate?”

  Caleb looked at her through the window. “Good. We’ve gotten to spend more time as friends since I’ve been here. Bri’s glad.”

  “I’m sure. She probably hopes it’ll turn into more.”

  “Not gonna happen. Our lives are going in opposite directions.” Caleb couldn’t deny feeling regret at that. Strange. When did that start? It needed to stop.

  “Well, I just wanted to see ho
w you’re doing. Levi’s ready for lunch and begging for pasta. I’d better go figure out how to fix it.” Asher chuckled on the other line.

  “I’ll let you go. Stay cool, man.”

  “I’m trying, Landis. God’s got me, but it’s hard.”

  “Don’t lose your faith.” That would be a tragedy. “I wish you lived closer. We’d hang and I’d go to church with you.”

  Asher laughed. “Seriously? If you’re not blowing smoke, don’t be surprised if we show up on your doorstep someday.”

  “Hey, if you’re looking to relocate, Eagle Point’s the place to be. There’s Refuge, next town over, too. Place does its best to live up to its name. Keep that in mind, all right?”

  “I will. You keep in mind I’m holding you to the whole church thing if me and Levi end up there. ’Bye, now.”

  Caleb ended the call smiling yet sifting through ambivalent emotion. He needed to work things out with God. He knew he did. He just wasn’t sure he was ready. Letting God in meant letting all the anger out. And that would require him to stop hating his dad.

  He didn’t hate the man himself, really. But he did hate the hurt Dad had caused, and other consequences that Dad’s bad choices rained on his, Mom’s and Bri’s lives.

  It fueled his driving need to triumph over his dad, and prove wrong everything the man had said about him. It wasn’t a very Christian impulse.

  Caleb came back in and sat down on the rug next to Kate. She looked to be about to ask him if everything was okay when Caleb changed the subject.

  “Tia, why did you name a girl fish Jonah?”

  Tia huffed as delicately as a fairy princess could. “I didn’t. I named a boy fish Jonah but my dad didn’t apparently know the difference between boys and girls yet then. He does now. Little girls will break your eardrums and little boys will break your furniture. That’s what Daddy says is the difference. And my daddy is allllways right.”

  “He’s most certainly usually right,” Kate said, giggling.

  Bri and Ian took that prime moment to walk in from their date.

  Despite the smattering of uncomfortable moments, Caleb was sorry to see his babysitting gig with Kate come to an end. It had felt far too natural to laugh and talk with her, playing tea party and taking care of Tia. It had all been so warmly, sweetly...domestic.

  And that, as much as anything, was why he needed to go home. He’d get some sleep and wake up for his training, and remind himself that domestic was the last thing he needed.

  Chapter Six

  “See? I was right. You’re like a sidewalk shadow a shoe can’t detach from,” Kate teased. Caleb grinned in reply as he unfolded his tall, bulky frame from Bri’s car. They’d arrived separately, but had the same destination—Lem’s barbecue welcoming Refuge’s PJs back from a pilot rescue mission.

  It had been a week since their babysitting adventure, but she’d seen plenty of him since then. Comrades and coworkers had begun to call him her shadow. Not only did they work together remodeling Bri’s bunkhouses, but he also was required to follow her around work at EPTC.

  “Hello to you, too, Kate.”

  “No! I want Uncle C to,” Tia said as Ian bent to unbuckle her. Ian stepped back with a smile and nodded at Caleb.

  Caleb helped Tia out of her booster seat. Or tried. “Okay, someone tell me how this thing works.”

  Ian had taken the kidless moment of opportunity to drag his fiancée to the cozy gazebo in a private corner of the yard. Kate smiled at the image of the strong, manly soldier struggling to figure out the buckles and straps.

  “Move over, Landis.” Kate leaned in to help. “It can’t be too hard.” Well. Maybe. Bri and Ian must have graduated Tia to a new seat. This one looked as if it required an engineering degree to operate. She swooshed hair from her eyes and elbowed Caleb. “It would help if you’d scoot over and give the expert some room.” Plus, his nearness was messing with her concentration.

  He laughed. And stayed right where he was. Gentle elbow jabs and genteel verbal sparring ensued that boiled down to two headstrong leaders not used to having to follow. And both being dead-dog determined to not be the one unable to figure out what should be a simple buckle release. After moments of Caleb and Kate’s conjoined yet competing attempts, Tia giggled then reached down and aptly unsnapped the contraption.

  “That works, too.” Caleb chuckled and lifted Tia out.

  “Figures. Ask a kid for help when maneuvering medicine bottles, smartphones, computer technology and for sure, fortress-caliber car seats.” Kate ruffled Tia’s hair. “You really enjoyed watching us sweat that one out, didn’t ya kiddo?”

  Tia covered her mouth but the giggle wouldn’t be capped.

  Caleb peered past Kate then nodded to Tia. “Hey, hold this pretty princess for a bit, will ya? I need to talk to someone.”

  Kate took Tia and pivoted around to see where Caleb went.

  Her heart sank to her toes. Brock, a PJ, picked Caleb up on a four-wheeler. They disappeared over the knoll where Lem had a weight bench in his barn. Probably the PJ was going to help Caleb train for ranger school. Oh, well. None of her business.

  “Ready for a horsey ride?” Kate galloped with Tia, whose laughter and squeals permeated the cornfield-flanked yard.

  Kate refused to look back or acknowledge the little hope inside that Caleb would rejoin their antics.

  “Tia, Lem’s getting Bess out!” Bri and Ian announced upon approaching. Kate knew Bess was Lem’s faithful tractor.

  “Yippee!” Tia launched herself into her dad’s arms.

  “Where’s Caleb?” Bri looked around. Kate bit her lip.

  “With Brock.” Ian studied Kate shrewdly. Who knew what for?

  Bri’s forehead furrowed. “Oh.” She looked at Kate, as if she wanted to ask her why. But how would Kate know? Caleb was required to follow her around at EPTC. He had no reason to stick close to her the rest of the time.

  Ian pointed toward Lem’s house. “Bess is ready.”

  “You okay, Kate?” Bri asked when Ian took Tia.

  “It’s none of my business who he’s with or why, Bri. I hope you don’t think I’m interested in your brother. And he’s certainly not interested in me.” Obviously! Ugh. Who cared?

  Bri just stared at Kate silently.

  Uh-oh. “Bri? He’s not interested in me, right?”

  “Right. I mean, the only thing on his mind is getting into ranger school.”

  “No need to worry over me feeling neglected. Caleb and I are enjoying a nice friendship. I don’t expect to be his only friend.”

  Yet Kate couldn’t deny the irritability gnawing her when he didn’t hang with her for the next two hours.

  Eventually Caleb jogged up with a wince on his face. “Hey, sis. Would you be too terribly offended if I jet?”

  “You mean leave? With Brock?”

  “Yeah. It’s important. Otherwise, I’d stay.”

  Bri shrugged. “Suit yourself. I’ll see you at home later?”

  “You bet. Thanks for letting me take over your couch so we can renovate cabin seven.” He grinned then gave Kate an awkward, hasty wave before sprinting to Brock who tossed Caleb his keys.

  All Kate could think as the truck peeled out of Lem’s driveway was that he’d never been in that much of a hurry to leave with her.

  “They’re probably going to train for Caleb’s ranger test.”

  Kate forced neutrality onto her face so Bri wouldn’t suspect Kate’s discomfort with the idea. Yes, she knew that becoming a ranger was important to Caleb, but she couldn’t pretend to be pleased that he’d be taking a position that would put him in so much danger.

  Kate’s phone bleeped a text from Mom and she immediately knew her day was destined to keep heading downhill.

  Honey, you should think abou
t heading to Chicago before long.

  She felt Bri radiating concern beside her. She forced herself not to react physically. Instead, Kate called her mom. “How long is ‘before long,’ Mom?”

  “They’ve given him four months, at best.”

  Kate swallowed. “At worst?”

  A heavy pause. “Weeks. He’s gone into a coma, so I...I don’t think it’ll be long now. I’m sorry, honey. I wish I had better news.”

  “And Dad?”

  “Is at his hotel. He was feeling ill and didn’t want to expose your grandfather. Kate, the doc’s back. I should go.”

  Kate hated the deadness on the line, both before and after Mom actually hung up. Her voice hadn’t so much as cracked when discussing Dad. And if they were staying at different hotels, that wasn’t a good sign. Daddy, Mama, please try.

  Kate fought an overwhelming urge to cry. She swallowed the emotion before looking up. She pasted a smile on, but Bri didn’t look one bit fooled.

  “What’s going on?”

  “I may need to head to Chicago next month. I should look in on my grandfather. Plus, I’d like to see my dad. He flew in a couple days ago. I forgot to tell you.” She hadn’t gone to see him yet because she’d wanted to give him and Mom alone time, maybe to reconcile.

  Clearly, that wasn’t happening. “I think I’ll go for a walk. See Lem’s rabbits at the hutches on the edge of his land.”

  “Okay, but are you sure you don’t need me?”

  “I’m fine. Really. Go find that handsome fiancé of yours. You need time together, and Lem and the PJs are going to keep Tia entertained. When you’re ready to leave, you’ll have to drag her away from Bess, farm animals and flower beds.” Kate smiled at Lem’s charming home, literally a houseboat on dry land, which drove his granddaughter Lauren bananas. That was Lem for you. His quirky humor shone through in all the details of his home, including the scarecrows he had lining the fence and gracing the porch swings of his houseboat.

  When she walked away, her smile faded, and the full weight of her mother’s news hit Kate once she was out for a walk. In a remote field, she let herself break. Raw emotion seeped out, causing rabbits to skitter to cage corners. Kate stayed like that for what might have been an hour, crying in the dusk, then the stars and the moonlight, and wishing...