Healing Hearts (2 page)

“Of course we are. I thought others at the place would enjoy meeting Gabe, too.”

“Sure. Sure. So long as
you
come.” Gabe perched his front legs on the arm of the wheelchair while Mr. Johnson rubbed him. “If I have to be in prison, I need something to look forward to.”

“You can count on us. I talked to the Shady Oaks Nursing Home this morning. Everything will be ready.” Another one of her duties at the hospital was often making arrangements for patients who were leaving for some kind of long-term care.

Mr. Johnson snorted. “That’ll make my son happy. He won’t have to deal with me.”

“Now, Mr. Johnson, you know he cares about you. He comes to see you every night.”

Another snort preceded a series of coughs. Tears crowded the old man’s gray eyes. Gabe licked him on the cheek, and Mr. Johnson cackled as one tear slipped down his face. “He always knows what to do.”

Abbey took a seat in a chair in a room decorated very differently from Madison’s. The walls were pale blue with two generic landscape pictures. She watched as Mr. Johnson produced a ball he liked to toss for Gabe, one of her pet’s favorite activities.

She used to throw a ball to Gabe for endless hours after her daughter’s death because Lisa had loved to do that when she hadn’t been too weak. If it hadn’t been for her dogs, she didn’t know if she could have pulled her life together, to finally finish her master’s degree and become a medical social worker. But nine months ago, she finally did just that. She knew more than anyone the power of animals to heal a broken heart.

* * *

Later that evening while his sister slept, Dominic paced the hospital room. This was the last operation—at least he hoped so—the one the doctors said would give Madison a chance to regain her ability to walk. But there was no guarantee, thanks to the extensive damage to her legs. Each limb had multiple fractures from the plane wreck. When the rescuers had arrived on the scene, they had been surprised anyone had survived the crash. His father and second wife hadn’t, along with Madi’s beloved pet, Zoe. All the money in the world hadn’t been able to bring his dad back, and it might not be able to give his sister the ability to walk or run.

His cell phone vibrated. He strode to the corridor to answer the call. It was the one he’d been waiting for but dreading from the second in command of his clothing and textile company. “Yes, what’s happening?”

“Not good, Dominic,” Samuel Dearborn said, in a voice full of exhaustion that matched how Dominic felt. “Three of our employees were kidnapped. The rebels are demanding two hundred thousand each.”

Dominic’s stomach clenched. “We have to do whatever is necessary to get our people back. But this is it. I won’t be threatened again and again. We’re moving the factory back to the United States. We should have done that six months ago when the rebels grew stronger.” But at that time his life had fallen apart, and his focus had been on burying his father and stepmother. Then he had to take care of his dad’s business affairs, especially Winter Haven Ranch, as well as make sure his younger half sister got the care and medical treatment she needed.

“When will you be able to come back to Houston?”

“Don’t know. I’m still needed here. Keep me updated.” After Dominic hung up, he leaned back against the wall, the quiet in the hallway not the comfort he needed. But what would that be, exactly? His sister healed? Yes, but something else wasn’t right.

Was it the situation in Costa Sierra? Maybe. He’d never been totally convinced that had been the best move for his company. The profit levels had gone up, but look at what he was dealing with now. He couldn’t risk any more of his workers being taken for ransom.

His gaze fixed upon a scene painted on the wall across from him. A little white dog holding a ball in its mouth looking up at a boy. The dog reminded him of Zoe—the dog that had died in the plane crash, the one his sister had been crying about earlier when that woman—Abbey Harris—had visited with her black Lab.

For a few seconds an image of the social worker flashed into his mind. Her pert face, framed by medium-length chestnut-red hair, had held his attention, but what had kept him looking at her in the hallway were her eyes, looking like swirls of milk chocolate. Inviting. Full of concern. Could she and Gabe truly help his sister?

A scream pierced the air—a scream from Madi’s room. Dominic raced inside and scooped his sister into his embrace while she lay in bed. “I’m here. You aren’t alone.”

Madi shook against him, sobbing and clinging to him. It had taken the rescuers twenty minutes to get to her in the plane wreck. She’d been there alone. Trapped.

The only thing that seemed to calm her was his reassurances that she wasn’t alone, that he was there for her. The few times he hadn’t been, he’d gotten a frantic call from the housekeeper or a nurse at the hospital. That was why he always stayed in the room with her and hadn’t yet returned to his life in Houston.

“I won’t leave you, Madi,” he whispered over and over until her cries subsided. “Ever.”

She pushed her hair back, her eyes red, her face pale. “You weren’t here.”

“I’d only gone out into the hall for a minute.” He sat back in the chair near the bed and held her hand. “Go back to sleep. I’ll stay beside you. Nothing can hurt you now—not with me here.”

She closed her eyes, but a minute later they popped opened, then slid shut again. Slowly her tense body relaxed. He kept holding her hand until he was sure she had fallen asleep. Tomorrow would be a long day with her surgery. He needed to get some rest, too.

He moved to the cot he’d been using and eased down onto it, his feet planted on the floor, his elbows on his thighs, his hands clasped together.

Heavenly Father, if someone has to suffer, make it me. I can’t take seeing Madi go through this anymore. I’ve needed You these past months. Why are You so silent? I’ve gotten her the best doctors money can buy. It doesn’t seem to be enough. What should I do?

* * *

The next morning, Abbey entered Harris Veterinary Hospital, which her father owned, and headed back to the examination rooms where he saw animals. Spying her dad writing something on a chart, she stopped, taking in the white lab coat he always wore at work. Distinguished-looking, with short salt-and-pepper hair, he was one of the kindest men she knew. Her childhood had been filled with animals and loving parents.

“Hi, Dad. Why did you want to see me? I can’t stay long, or I’ll be late for work.” Abbey set down a cup of coffee from their favorite place on the counter for her father. “Who do you have here?”

“An abandoned dog. Someone left her on my doorstep this morning. She’s in pretty good health and hasn’t been on her own long. I wouldn’t be surprised if her owner left her here.”

She knew where this was going. At least once a month, they had this conversation. “I can’t take another pet. I have three dogs and a couple of cats. With my crazy hours lately I feel I’m neglecting them.” Abbey tried not to make eye contact with the white bichon frise with matted fur.

“I’m going to have to cut most of her fur off. She hasn’t been brushed in a while, but she isn’t too thin. She has fleas, but I’ll take care of that as well as her shots,” he rattled off as he checked the
dog’s
ears, teeth, lungs and heart. “But I need a home for her.” He fixed his dark eyes on her.

Abbey shook her head. “What part of ‘I can’t take her’ do you not understand?”

“Oh, I heard you. But she’s so sweet and loves to be held. Just ask around. She’ll make someone a great pet. She could easily be trained as a therapy dog. Here, hold her while I give her a shot.”

She started backing toward the door. “No, you don’t. You think the second I hold her, I’ll fall in love with her and take her. I know all of your tactics. Where’s Emma? She’s usually in here assisting you.”

Her father ignored her protests and thrust the animal against her. “Emma’s busy with another animal.”

Abbey sighed, put her coffee down and took the quivering dog into her arms.

“She needs extra love right now.” Her father finished with the shot and turned away rather than taking the bichon.

Just like Madison Winters.
“You could always take her. Or Emma.”

“I already have five dogs and two cats, besides taking care of this veterinary practice. And Emma took home the last stray.”

“You already asked her, didn’t you?”

He nodded. “I have to keep my assistant happy. She’s the best there is. Almost like having another veterinarian working here.”

“I know.” When Abbey made the mistake of looking down into the dog’s brown eyes, she knew she was a goner. “Okay, okay. I’ll try to find her a home. But no guarantees.”

Her dad smiled. “Good. You can come pick her up after work today. Being at your house would be so much better than living in a cage here. Don’t you agree?”

She laughed. “I could say no, but it wouldn’t make any difference.” Approaching her father, she kissed him on the cheek, then turned to leave. “Now I really do have to go. A little girl is having an operation, and I want to check on her this morning.”

Abbey quickly left before her father found another animal for her to take home. In spite of her protests, she loved giving them a place to live. Along with the Lord, it was her dogs, especially Gabe, that had gotten her through Lisa’s death and her husband’s abandonment. But no pet could totally replace the emptiness in her heart.

Was that why she couldn’t shake Dominic Winters and his sister from her mind last night? She’d even dreamed about the pair. And she’d relived the grief and pain in their expressions in that dream. She’d seen that in herself when her daughter had died—and it was still there locked deep inside her. Seeing Madison yesterday had brought it rushing back to the surface.

When she pulled into her parking space at the hospital, an idea started forming in her mind concerning the Winters family. She knew what might help Madison, and perhaps even her older brother. Abbey had promised her dad she would find a good home for the bichon frise. What if the abandoned animal could replace the dog Madison lost?

As she strode toward her office, she remembered Dominic’s reaction to Gabe yesterday. Now all she had to do was convince him a pet would help Madison in her recovery.

Chapter Two

I
n the surgery waiting room, Dominic sat in a corner, spreading his work out on the small couch so no one would sit next to him. A crowd packed the area, taking every seat and making him unable to focus on the folder opened on his lap. The wall of people pressed in on him—had done so for several hours. But slowly, family and friends left when the nurse announced a patient’s name.

Dominic scrubbed his hands down his face, his eyes stinging from lack of sleep. No matter how hard he’d tried to sleep last night, he couldn’t forget what Madi would face today—a long operation that could make the difference in her life. He was also waiting for any news about his three employees in Costa Sierra.

Before his life had gone haywire six months ago, he would have flown to Costa Sierra personally to handle getting his people back safely. Although he felt he’d let his workers down, there was no way he could be in two places at once, and his sister needed him right now.

Dropping his head, he kneaded the tight cords of his neck. He’d stared at the same piece of paper for the past fifteen minutes and had only read a few paragraphs. He closed the folder, deciding he couldn’t work with everything in turmoil. When he looked up, he caught sight of the woman who’d been in Madi’s room yesterday with the dog. Abbey Harris. She saw him and grinned, then headed toward him. At least she didn’t have the dog with her.

When Madi came back from her tests yesterday, she’d wanted to know where the black Lab was. He hadn’t said anything because he still wasn’t certain that having a dog around would help Madi heal. Losing Zoe had been so hard on her. In fact, she’d reacted more to Zoe’s death than anything else, which concerned Dominic. His sister wasn’t dealing well with her parents’ deaths. He sometimes wondered if Madi thought her mom and dad would return from a long vacation. Even the counselor had remarked about Madi’s silence when it came to her parents.

His gaze fixed on the lady dressed in bright yellow pants with a yellow-and-white shirt. Miss Sunshine flashed him a smile, which reached deep into her warm brown eyes. He slid his folder on top of his briefcase and rose.

“Hi, Mr. Winters, as I told you yesterday, I’m Abbey Harris and I work here as a social worker.” She stuck her hand out.

As he shook it, he asked, “Is there something the hospital needs from me?”

“No. I just wanted to find out how Madison is doing. Have you heard anything about her surgery?”

“About twenty minutes ago a nurse told me everything is progressing the way it should.”

Ms. Harris glanced around, spied an empty chair nearby and dragged it closer, then sat. “I’d like to wait with you if that’s okay.”

He remained standing for a moment, not sure what to say to the woman.

She tilted her head back to look up at him. Her forehead scrunched, and she started to rise. “I’m sorry. I’ve intruded—”

He shook his head. “No, not at all.” Taking his seat again, he continued. “I guess I haven’t gotten past the part that you’re a social worker. I hadn’t had much to do with hospitals until Madi’s accident. What do you do as a social worker at a hospital?”

“I specialize in medical issues. I often counsel patients, especially in connection with what’s happening in their lives due to their health issues. I also oversee several support groups for patients and their family.”

“Madi already has a counselor.”

Abbey hooked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Another part of my job is to counsel families about what’s going on with their loved ones. Health problems can have far-reaching effects on a person’s family.”

He stiffened, his fingers clutching the arm of the couch. “I don’t need any counseling.”

“You’ve misunderstood my visit today. I’m not here to drum up business. I’m merely here to find out how Madison is doing. She seemed upset when I saw her yesterday, and I brought Gabe in to help cheer her up.”

“It didn’t work. She was crying,” Dominic said without censoring himself and regretted it almost instantly.

Especially when Ms. Harris’s eyes darkened. She shoved to her feet. “I hope everything goes well. Madison is a sweet girl. Good day, Mr. Winters.”

The frost that poured off the woman encased Dominic in remorse. Abbey Harris seemed so together, her life in control. He’d let his frustration about what was happening in his own life loose on her. And he deeply regretted it.

* * *

Abbey headed toward the hallway. The heat of embarrassment seared her cheeks. She should be used to being dismissed. More often than not, family members didn’t want any help from a social worker.

When she left the waiting room, she increased her pace, wanting to put distance between her and Dominic Winters. She’d felt a connection with the man yesterday, having dealt with sorrow herself and been thrown into a situation she hadn’t been prepared for. Her husband leaving her right before Lisa died had nearly destroyed Abbey. He hadn’t been able to handle their daughter’s illness and had sought comfort with another woman.

“Ms. Harris, wait.”

She continued forward.

“Please.”

She tamped down her burst of anger, stopped and swung around, coming face-to-face with Mr. Winters.

He closed the distance between them in the corridor. “I’m sorry. My worry over Madi’s surgery isn’t a good excuse for bad manners. Can we start over?”

For a split second, Abbey stayed angry. But his contrite tone soon melted her irritation. “Hi, I’m Abbey Harris.” For the second time that day she stuck her hand out for him to shake.

He did. “I’m Dominic Winters. I appreciate your concern over Madi. Really.”

His firm handshake reminded her what she’d read concerning him last night on the internet. A thirty-one year-old bachelor. He’d taken a small inheritance and built his company, Winters Clothing and Textiles, into a multimillion-dollar business in the ten years since he’d left Cimarron City.

When he released her hand, she missed the warmth of his touch. That caused her to look away, not sure where it had come from. She’d even dreamed about him last night—no doubt because she’d spent an hour surfing the web for tidbits about the man in hopes of finding something she could use to help convince him to let Gabe visit Madison.

“I was just feeling closed in back there in the waiting room. There must have been a record number of operations today. A good part of my time was spent on that small couch.”

Abbey smiled knowingly. “I’ve got an idea. You can hang out in my office if you’d like.”
Where had that come from?
“It’s not far from here. I’ll let surgery know that’s where you are, and they can contact you there when Madison is in recovery. It’ll be quiet. In fact, I’ve got tons of work to do, and it looks like you do, too.” She couldn’t believe she had offered her office. How much work would she really accomplish with him sitting only feet from her? He exuded strength and control—two characteristics that had served him well as CEO of a large company.

One corner of his mouth tipped up. “I’ve been attempting to do paperwork but not being very successful at it.” He peered at the waiting room, then at her. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” she said, not as sure as she sounded. Her office was her retreat when her job got to be too much, but when she’d first entered the waiting room, she’d seen the expression on his face—a worried man in the midst of an uncomfortable situation. And she could relate to that.

“Let me get my briefcase.” He darted back inside the room and returned half a minute later. “I brought work, thinking I would get some done. I’ve been going over the same report for an hour and probably couldn’t tell you one thing concerning it.”

Abbey headed for her office. She needed to see Mr. Johnson, who was leaving for a nursing home today, but she’d first get Dominic Winters settled. Mr. Johnson wouldn’t be transferred until later this afternoon. “I found out the hard way trying to work at a time like this wasn’t productive. During a difficult time in my life, I was in the middle of getting my master’s degree, and trying to study was nearly impossible. I ended up postponing things till later. That was one of the best decisions I made during that time.” She unlocked her door and entered.

“What happened?”

“My daughter had leukemia. The aggressive kind. Seven months after she was diagnosed, she died.”

He stopped and stared at her. “I’m sorry.”

“It was three years ago. Right after it happened, I thought I would never heal, but I am, slowly. I’ve used what I went through to help others. That’s also when I learned how much an animal can help a person recover.” Though she was used to talking about her past to patients and their families, it still brought up emotions that caused a lump in her throat. She swallowed hard. “I’m telling you this because I know what it’s like to be in your shoes. It’s tough being there for someone sick or injured and still trying to carry on with your life. One of the things that got me through was the support of my family and friends. And my pets, especially Gabe.”

His eyes clouded. “I’m not married, and Madi is my only close family.”

Abbey rubbed the finger on her left hand where her wedding ring used to be. She refused to think about her ex-husband. This wasn’t about her, but Dominic and Madison. “I’m here if you need to talk.”

He released a long breath. “I’m fine. Once Madi is out of surgery and on the road to recovery, life will settle down.”

She’d told herself that, too, on the anniversary of Lisa’s death. She’d hit the one-year mark, and in her mind everything would be all right after that. It wasn’t. She’d received divorce papers a few days after the anniversary of her daughter’s death, and finally had to acknowledge Peter wasn’t coming back. That was only hammered home when her ex-husband remarried a week after the divorce was final. “I’ll call Surgery and let them know where you are, and then I need to see a patient. Does Surgery have your cell number?”

“Yes.” His gaze linked with hers.

The intensity in his look robbed her of words. Frantically she searched her mind for something appropriate to say. “Good. They can call you when Madison is going to Recovery.”

While she placed the call, he took a seat on the couch in her office, setting the briefcase on the floor. Although she turned away from him, she was keenly aware of his movements, which sent a zing up her arm. Which shook her. She had no interest in dating, and yet her reaction to Dominic refuted that. She’d thought nothing could ever come between her and her husband. How naive she’d been.

When she finished talking to the person manning the desk in the Surgery waiting room, she looked toward him. “It’s set up. Make yourself at home.” She took in his dull gaze and the tired lines about his mouth. “Rest if you can. I’ll be gone for a while.”

“I think I will. Thanks.” He leaned back, then closed his eyes.

Transfixed by his long dark lashes, Abbey stared at him as she fumbled for the door handle. Yes, he was a handsome man. Commanding. But so was her ex-husband and look at what had happened.

Abbey hurried into the hallway toward the elevator. She always tried to help patients and their families as much as she could, but there was something about Dominic Winters that made her want to go above and beyond. He seemed lost, and she wasn’t even sure he realized it.

As she approached Mr. Johnson’s room, she planted a smile on her face. Without Gabe, she would have to work harder to cheer up Mr. Johnson, who was fighting this move to the nursing home even though he couldn’t take care of his own needs right now. With no family nearby interested in helping out, he had few options, and he’d finally recognized that.

“Mr. Johnson—” Abbey entered the room and came to a halt. It was empty, all signs that Mr. Johnson had been in it gone. She checked her watch and noted the time. Ten o’clock. Shady Oaks wasn’t supposed to pick him up until two.

Had he died? For a few seconds, her heart pounded against her rib cage, and she hurried to the nurse’s station. They always notified her when someone passed away.

“Where’s Mr. Johnson?”

The nurse’s eyes grew wide. “Oh, no. I had a note to call you and forgot. Shady Oaks came early.”

Abbey sighed and leaned against the counter. “I thought something...”

“I’m sorry. He wasn’t too happy, but he went.”

“I was going to have a late lunch and bring Gabe to give him a send-off.”

“It’s been crazy around here. A couple of emergency surgeries have been keeping us hopping.”

“Anything I can help with?”

“No, we’ve got it under control now.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll go see Mr. Johnson after work.”

As she headed toward the elevator, concern for the older gentleman took hold. He didn’t like change and the nursing home coming early to pick him up no doubt had thrown him off. Abbey could only imagine how angry he’d been. Technically he wasn’t her problem anymore, but she couldn’t just turn her back on the man. He was alone and in need of help—just like Dominic Winters. And neither man knew how to ask for help.

* * *

Dominic’s cell phone rang. He jerked awake, sitting straight up on the couch in Ms. Harris’s office. He blinked, orientating himself to his surroundings as he fumbled for the phone in his pocket.

“Yes,” he said without looking to see who called.

“Dominic, this is Samuel. I wanted to give you an update on what’s happening with the negotiations with the rebels. We offered to pay the ransom but haven’t heard anything back from them.”

“That seems odd. They’re getting what they want.” Acid burned in Dominic’s stomach. He would do anything to protect his people, but he hated giving in to the rebels.

“I know, and the Costa Sierra government isn’t quite sure what’s going on. I’ll let you know when we hear from the rebels, then I’ll make the arrangements for the exchange. You’re not to worry about it.”

“I know everything is in good hands with you, but I’ll worry until the three employees are home safe.”

“Has Madi had her operation yet?”

“She’s still in surgery but—” he glanced at his watch “—she should be through soon.” If all went well. That point rattled around in his thoughts, and he missed what Samuel said next.