The Nurse's Secret Suitor Read online

  Half doubtful and half hopeful, Caleb sent a prayer up above.

  If it’s true you heal, Kate’s heart could use a touch.

  Chapter Seven

  “I need an awkward favor,” Bri admitted as she helped Kate cut decorative storybook ball costume material.

  Kate stretched a piece of purple silk out. “Sure. Shoot.”

  “Ian and I want to go to an engaged couples’ retreat hosted by our church this weekend in St. Louis from Friday to Monday.”

  “Need someone to watch Tia?”

  “Yeah. I was thinking you and Caleb could handle it, since you’re both off and not on call. He’s already agreed to it. I promise I’m not matchmaking. I’d mentioned to Caleb I was going to ask you and he offered to help out, too, if you wouldn’t mind him being here. He’s really getting attached to Tia and wants to spend as much time with her as he can.”

  From Bri’s anxious expression Kate realized that she felt guilty asking for help with Tia. Allowing Caleb to share the babysitting load would ease Bri’s guilt and let her fully unplug and enjoy her weekend with Ian. Plus, she seemed sincere about not matchmaking. “I’d love to help out. You guys need to get away.”

  “Sure you’re okay with watching Tia three overnights?”

  “Friday through Monday? I’m fine with it and I’m sure Caleb is, too. Tia’d enjoy both of us here, anyway. I’ll crash on your couch.”

  “Caleb already made up his mind to give you his room.”

  “Really? That was sweet of him.”

  “Thanks for doing this, Kate. I’ll return the favor when you have kids.” Bri tugged red suede from the fabric bin.

  “I’d like a husband first,” Kate said impishly.

  “Yeah, like you have time to date. What about the bandit?”

  “Right. I need someone stable. Not someone only meant to be a bright spot for a season.”

  Bri nibbled her lip, which made Kate wonder what she was hiding. Or had Kate’s comment about the bandit only being around for a season reminded Bri that Caleb would be leaving soon, too?

  “Bri, why is it so important to Caleb to be a ranger?”

  Bri gave Kate a pensive glance. “That’s his story to tell. But I will say it has a lot to do with his need to prove himself to our father. He really did a number on my brother. Yet Caleb was, even at ten years of age, a more responsible man than my dad ever thought about being.”

  “Parents’ words are powerful. Kids are impressionable and sometimes grow into the words adults speak over them.” Kate considered Caleb. Whose acts and words had fashioned his identity? His mom’s? Dad’s? A teacher perhaps?

  Someone did a lot of good because he was a phenomenal guy.

  Kate sighed. “I hope when I’m a parent I don’t make the wrong kind of difference. I’m so sorry you two had to endure that.” Hurt swirled inside Kate for Bri, but more so for Caleb, the unsettled sibling. “I hope he’s making the best decision.”

  “Ranger school? He’s not confident he has what it takes.”

  Kate shifted. She almost wished she agreed. He’d be safer that way. “I am. He totally has what it takes.”

  “That scares me. I don’t want something to happen to him. Militia often target special operatives. I’d be lost without him. And you’re becoming good friends...so would you, right?”

  Kate hug-braced Bri’s shoulders. “You know the old adage—worry is as pointless as paying interest on debts you don’t owe. Put him in God’s hands, Bri, and leave him there. Okay?”

  Bri nodded. “I’m trying.” She unfolded a bolt of pink taffeta.

  “And you’re right. I’d be lost without him, too. Who else would I have left to royally annoy without having to worry about getting my head bitten off?”

  That made Bri laugh. “True. Caleb is so laid back, he’s horizontal. I miss him so much when he’s overseas, but at least God sent you, Kate. You’re like the sister I never had but always wanted.”

  For some reason Bri’s words flared images of what being a sister-in-law to her could be like. Kate scowled at her rebellious imagination, because the only way to become Bri’s sister-in-law would be to marry her brother. Not happening.

  His heart was too fond of camouflage for her comfort.

  * * *

  “Uncle C!” Tia didn’t even let Caleb get all the way through the door before she threw herself at his knees. Caleb patted her back, looking up to grin at Kate who stood off to the side. After the hug, Tia dashed back to her bedroom to play. So much for her excitement over the arrival of her second babysitter for the weekend.

  “Sorry I’m a little late.” He presented Kate with a sheepish grin and a speeding ticket. “I drove Brock’s sports car here. I’m not used to the level of power with so little pedal effort. You ready? I want to take you and Tia to dinner.”

  “Oh? I was going to throw some BLTs together.”

  “Nah. Save your energy. Let’s eat in style.”

  Kate frowned. “Like, where?”

  “The Golden Terrace.”

  “What? We can’t go there. I’m not dressed for it. Besides that, they require reservations on weekends. Not to mention I’m pinching my dimes, remember?”

  There had to be more to it than that. Kate looked on the verge of panic, and she didn’t spook easily. But he wasn’t going to be dissuaded. What was wrong with wanting to take a lovely lady and his favorite niece out for a nice meal?

  “It’s my treat. I made reservations and you can wear something of Bri’s. She has dressy duds in her humongous closet. Plus, Tia likes to dress up. Which reminds me... Be right back.” He dashed to the car and returned with store packages.

  Tia emerged from the bedroom pulling a wagon full of dolls. “We’re havin’ us a slumber party. Even you, Uncle C.”

  Caleb knelt, picking up a doll. “So, who do we have here?”

  “That is Sing.” Tia pulled a string in the doll’s back and a melody flowed from a tiny speaker. Tia plucked another doll up. “This is Giggles.” Tia pushed a foot button. The doll wiggled and, well, giggled.

  Caleb picked up another. “What’s this one’s name?”

  “Dance.” Tia showed its ballerina twirling capabilities then lifted another doll. “She’s Shine.” The doll lit all over.

  “I see a common theme. You name dolls after what they do.”

  “Or maybe they do what they do because I name them.”

  Kate knelt in front of Tia. “You know what I’d name you if you were a doll?”

  “What?”

  “Blessing.”

  Caleb felt an odd lump in his throat. What a terrific thing to say to a child. And what a difference from the words he used to hear growing up.

  “Aww. Thank you, Auntie Kate.” Tia hugged her neck and whispered conspiratorially over her to Caleb. “She’s not really my aunt, but I wish she was. If you married her she would be.”

  Kate tugged Tia to face her. “Oh, Tia, we’re not each other’s type. So, sweetie, that won’t happen, okay?”

  “That’s what my daddy and Bri said for a while, too, and now they’re gettin’ marrrried,” Tia said in a sing-song voice while prancing on tiptoes.

  “Well,” Caleb jumped in. “Are you about ready to get dressed? We’re going out to eat somewhere nice.”

  “Yummy!” Tia clapped. As Caleb pulled out a new sequined silver tutu adorned with pink flowers, she gasped. “For meeee?”

  “Well, I don’t think it’s Kate’s size, it’s not my style and Mistletoe would have it as a snack, so yep. Looks like it’s yours.” He pulled a crown from the bag, too. “I have it on good authority you’re a princess.”

  “I am. I really, really am.” Tia exhaled pure delight.

  Tia slipped the tutu over her jeans. Caleb knelt and set
the fancy tiara atop her ringlet curls and secured it with sterling-silver pins.

  Kate blinked. “Mercy, Caleb. That looks expensive!”

  “Yeah, well. I won’t always be around. I want her to remember me after I’m gone.”

  Tia froze, burst into tears and ran to her room.

  The door slammed. Caleb stared at it, his face blank and blinking. “Wow. Man. What did I say?”

  Kate rose. “That you wouldn’t always be around. She knows being overseas is dangerous, Caleb.”

  “I feel like a jerk. How do I fix this?”

  “Don’t go to ranger school?”

  His jaw clenched. “Next answer.”

  “I’ll go talk to her. You need to come with me, though.”

  Tia had her own room for all of her things—and that was where they found her. Since Bri had babysat Tia before she and Ian got engaged, that’s where most of Tia’s toys and clothes had accumulated, including Mistletoe, Miss Jonah and the trillion other dolls Tia hoarded.

  Once there, Caleb gently pulled Tia onto his knee. “I’m really sorry, T. I didn’t mean to scare you and make you cry.”

  “Well you did. I hate the army! It made my mom leave my dad and me and it made my dad sad and it’s taking you away forever!”

  “Not forever. Just for a little while.”

  She straightened. “How long is a little while?”

  “A few years. Five, ten maybe?”

  “Five or ten!” She flung herself back onto the bed. “That’s horrible, Uncle C!”

  He tugged her up. “Then come on and let’s get to spending quality time together at a restaurant fit for a princess.”

  “Giggles wants to come with us.”

  Caleb laughed. “Does she, now? That’s fantastic.” He picked Tia up and kissed her cheek. “Kate’s right. From now on, you, miss fearless dolly leader, shall be called Princess Blessing.”

  He reached for the doll he thought was Giggles. By now they all sort of ran together. “C’mon, Miss Giggles. Time to eat.”

  “Uncle C, that’s not her. This doll don’t got a name yet. My mom got her for me. First present she ever got me.”

  “In that case, I think you should name her Hope.”

  “What for?” Tia scowled. “I got Bri now to be my mom.”

  “Because you never know how God will work in your real mom’s heart. Hope a little. Okay? If she won’t let God bring her to it, he’ll bring you through it.” Caleb hugged her again.

  “’Kay.” She hugged the matted-haired fairy, adorned with Sharpie bracelets. “Welcome to your naming ceramics, Hope.”

  “Ceremony. And to celebrate, everyone gets dessert at GT.”

  Ten steps into Golden T, Caleb realized why Kate tried to steer him clear. “Oops.” He grinned at Kate’s pursed lips and stiff demeanor beside him. Clearly, this was a romantic joint. Famous movie couples graced walls. Rose and Jack on the bow of the Titanic. Next to them, Gone with the Wind, Phantom of the Opera and Pride and Prejudice marquees.

  Golden T’s wallpaper consisted entirely of sweet romance novel covers. Everything in the place blared romance. Cupid lamps. Low lighting. Pink satin tablecloths with flickering candles and fresh roses. Heart-shaped chair backs. Artsy statues and other tasteful, classy depictions of couples lined shelves.

  Classic love-song albums through the ages hung in glass-and-gold filigree frames above the bar area. More romantic movie marquees hung above every table.

  Oh, well. He was here for the steak. Who cared what people assumed? Yet, as “Unchained Melody” wafted from the speakers, Caleb’s tie tightened around his neck of its own accord.

  A text bleeped on Kate’s phone. As she read through it, she paled and pressed her phone to her stomach. She looked extremely upset, averting her gaze.

  Thankfully Tia was preoccupied with Giggles. As Kate processed the text, Caleb felt she needed the space, time and quiet to calm. He shifted to peer around at Golden T’s classy, well-thought-out décor. Unfortunately, the hostess appeared before he could find her a place to go and pull herself together.

  “This way,” the hostess said.

  As they were seated, Caleb forced himself not to freak out when their waitress approached wearing a Venetian eye mask. God definitely had a sense of humor. Caleb picked up the white silk napkin embroidered with red hearts and dabbed sweat off his brow.

  Kate shifted uncomfortably in her seat, as well.

  “Oh, what a lovely couple,” the waitress said.

  Caleb groaned inwardly. This steak had better be good.

  “Adorable!” Tia exclaimed as she picked up the salt-and-pepper shakers which were Pepe Le Pew and a gal skunk. The sugar shaker was in the shape of the Eiffel Tower. The menu boasted photos of popular honeymoon spots. Hawaii, Cancun, beaches at sunset and sunrise.

  Caleb glanced at Kate and hoped she saw the beach photos. They’d remind her to remember the dawn and that it always triumphs over the night. His gut churned with worry over the text she’d gotten, but if she wasn’t willing to offer up the info, he couldn’t squeeze words from mortar. He slipped his phone under the table and quickly sent Asher a text.

  Hey, pray 4 Kate. Don’t call. Just pray. Thx, bro. BTW, I got the job @ EPTC. So thx 4 sendin’ a few up 4 me. It worked.

  Caleb pushed Send and looked up to see their waitress returning.

  “Yummy!” Tia exclaimed when the waitress set down their ice waters and three tiny bite-size chocolate roses.

  “You like chocolate?” the masked waitress asked.

  “Oh, boy! Do I ever!”

  “Be sure to ask your mom and dad here for permission to eat it before your meal, okay?” The waitress leaned in and whispered loudly, “I have a feeling they’ll not only say yes, but let you have a pinch of their chocolate roses, too.”

  Tia covered her mouth and giggled.

  He opened his menu and sought Kate’s gaze. “I concede. Next time, you pick the place to eat.”

  She laughed. “Perhaps I was too subtle in my protests.”

  He grinned. “Yeah. I’d say so. Tia, look. How exciting! They have broccoli here!” Caleb teased, knowing she hated it.

  She twisted her lips in a hilarious snarl then put Giggles nose to nose. “Noooo, Giggles! Don’t listen to him. Stay awaaaay from the Clutches! Broccoli is bad, bad, even when daddies drown it in cheese to hide it. It’s yucky and stinks like lake water!”

  Kate laughed out loud and her eyes sparkled with fun. Tia had a way of bringing out the playful side in people. If Caleb was still a praying man, he’d tell God thanks for putting such a special child in the lives of the people he cared about.

  A deep ache twinged inside him at his lost relationship with God. He may not be heard, but here goes...Thank You for little Tia.

  The waitress came back with a silver heart tray of food.

  “This is our free appetizer sampler.” She set it down.

  Tia gasped. “Ew! Yuck. That’s broccoli! And it’s burnt!”

  The waitress laughed. “It’s grilled in sea salt.”

  “Sea salt? Gross!” Genuinely horrified, Tia stared at the plate.

  Caleb pressed a napkin to his mouth but he couldn’t stop laughing. Kate gave him a pretty good Mommy Look...but it just made him laugh harder. Kate shook her head and handed a broccoli stem to Tia. “Try one bite. You might like it this way.”

  Tia looked at Kate as if she was the enemy. “No, thank you.”

  Grinning, the waitress stepped away. Kate drew breath and held her ground with the broccoli. “It’s not a suggestion, Tia. Kids are starving all over the world.”

  She jabbed a finger at the broccoli. “Then mail ’em that!”

  Caleb pressed the napkin against his mouth again. His shoulders quaked. He should help Kate. He
really should. But this was far too much fun. Relenting slightly, Tia took a bite—and promptly gagged. Kate pinched off a piece and handed it to Caleb. Giving him a look that clearly said Set a good example.

  “Uh, I don’t—”

  “Eat. It.” Kate’s gaze left no room for protest.

  Caleb crunched it down, even though he nearly gagged, too.

  The second Kate looked down, messing with her phone as a text came in, Tia grabbed the paper napkin from under her water glass and scraped the broccoli, whole, out of her mouth.

  He leaned in and Tia’s eyes widened at being caught. He whispered, “Don’t worry. I do that, too, when Bri’s not looking.”

  Tia giggled. Kate was too distracted to notice. She seemed unsettled. Was something wrong?

  Tia sighed and cupped a hand over his ear. “Kate looks sad.” Tia picked up a floret of broccoli and ate it bravely.

  He hated to see the sweet kid try to choke the gross green stuff down. Especially when Kate wasn’t even paying attention. “Hey, I don’t think she’s upset at you. Ya know?”

  “I know. But I like to make her happy.” Tia ate another piece.

  Caleb reached for one, too, even though he was dreading this taste.

  Tia smiled and wove her arm through his, leaned over and hugged him, then stayed that way, wound and leaning against his arm. “I love you, Uncle C. I wish you didn’t gotta leave us.”

  Caleb’s throat clenched in a way that had nothing to do with broccoli being his least favorite vegetable. Tia...wow. The love.

  Princess Blessing? Yeah. That and more. As bad as he’d wanted one of these steaks, his appetite fled at the thought of what leaving Eagle Point was going to be like. He studied Tia, and, admittedly Kate, and knew they’d be two of the hardest goodbyes. Tia could be driving by the time he returned. Confusion and doubt about his decision whirled like tornados in his head.

  But he’d been planning this ranger gig all his life. Despite the heartache, despite the tears, no matter the grievous goodbye, he was leaving in two months to return to his unit, whether ranger school was on the horizon or not. He hoped it was. A shot at the fruition of his lifelong dream would be the only thing that could make leaving his hometown bearable.