Romance: New Beginnings (Young Adult and Adult Romance, Christian Christmas Fiction book as a Love Story) (Second Chances Trilogy 3) (7 page)

Chapter 12

Tori watched both girls until they entered the backyard and then she pulled up all of the strength she could muster before turning to face the stranger once again. “Sorry about that. Uhm, maybe you could just push Grace’s package up next to the door and she’ll be sure to see it when she gets home.”

“I don’t think I should do that.”

Grace closed her eyes.
He was going to be difficult!
Taking a breath, she stared at him, using the look that had gotten compliance from more than one difficult patient, but on him it had absolutely no effect. “Look, I’m not feeling very well, so could you just leave the box and go. Grace will be home later tonight and I’ll make sure she knows it’s sitting here?”

“Are you ill?” the man asked as he looked her over with a critical eye.

Grace felt like a bug under a microscope. She knew what she looked like at the moment. She was rail thin, her face had a grey pallor to it, she was wearing an oversize sweatshirt that completely hid the shape of her body, or the lack thereof. She had made a concession and was wearing one of the wigs Grace and Jane had convinced her to buy, but other than a perfectly fake head of hair, she looked like something the cat had not only dragged home, but through the wringer first.

“You know what, do whatever you want with that box. If you leave your name and number on the door, I’m sure Grace will contact you and arrange for you to bring it back.” With that said, Tori carefully navigated her way down the two steps and started across the grass.

When she reached the large maple tree in the middle of the two yards, she stopped and leaned against it as she surveyed the remaining distance she still needed to cross.
I’m never going to make it!
Tears of frustration filled her eyes, and she bowed her head in defeat as she realized she only had two choices. Try to make it to the backyard before she collapsed and hope that Emily wouldn’t be too scared when she found her. Or, stay by the tree until Grace came home. They would most likely be gone a few more hours, and maybe she’d find enough strength to make it back inside the house before then.

She was so deep in her thoughts, she didn’t realize the strange man had followed her progress across the yard, first with his eyes, and then with his long legs.

“Ma’am?” he asked startling her and causing her to shriek in alarm. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you, but you look like you need some help.”

“I’m…,” Tori tried to tell him she was fine, but she wasn’t! The tears flowed faster now and she just shook her head, unable to verbalize the frustration she was feeling at the moment. The respiratory infection had compromised her ability to breathe deeply, causing her oxygen levels to hover at barely acceptable levels when she was sitting up in bed. They certainly weren’t able to support any type of activity and she’d known that when she’d gone searching for the girls.

“Hey, I know you don’t know me from Adam, but I’m a doctor. I take it you live next door?”

Tori nodded and tried to stem the flow of tears.

“Good. Well, I have a very important package for Grace from her sister, Sara, up in Montana. Their mom’s wedding dress is in that box and I really don’t think I should leave it sitting on the front porch.

“And frankly, you don’t look like you’ve got enough energy to make it back inside the house. How about I help you inside, and then I can leave the dress with you until Grace gets home?”

Tori watched him and tried to determine why he seemed so familiar.
I know I’ve seen him before, but where?
“You’re a doctor?”

He nodded, “Jackson Myers, at your service.”

Tori looked at him and cocked her head to the side.
Jackson? Wasn’t that the name of Michelle’s boyfriend in high school?
She looked him over once again and then shrugged her shoulders, “Tori. Sure you’re not a murderer?”

Jackson smiled and then asked, “Would I tell you if I were?”

Tori shook her head, “No, probably not.” Deciding he had just presented her with the only viable alternative, given her situation, she gave him a small smile, “If you could help me back to the house I would really appreciate it.”

Jackson nodded and then offered her his arm to lean against, “So, you’ve been sick?”

“You might say that. I just finished the last of my chemo and lucky me, I got a respiratory infection as a going away present.”

Jackson digested the fact that the fragile woman hanging onto his arm had just survived cancer. “Shall I tell you what my specialty is?” he asked as he helped her navigate the narrow gate.

“Sure. Why not? We have to talk about something, don’t we?”

Jackson admired the snarky attitude and figured it had probably served her well during her treatment. “I treat people with cancer. In fact, I’m going to be heading up a new facility in Montana with Grace’s sister that will provide out-of-the-box alternatives to traditional medicine.”

“What kind of treatments?” Tori asked, struggling for breath as she tried not to step on the first puppy to come barreling up against her legs. “Sorry about the pups.”

“Goodness, there’s a bunch of them,” Jackson said, trying not to step on the wiggling bodies that were jumping and vying for attention from the newcomers.

Tori smiled and then told him, “Nine. They’re almost nine weeks old and ready to find new homes. Want one? Or nine?”

Jackson laughed, “Uh, no. I’m not in the market for a dog right now. I’m moving to an entirely new place in a few weeks, and two days ago there was about three feet of snow in the backyard of the house I’m going to be living in.” Jackson still couldn’t get his head wrapped around the fact that the house was being thrown in as part of his compensation package.

“Three feet of snow?” Tori got a smile upon her face, “We used to have snow where I lived when I was growing up. Sometimes I miss it.”

“I grew up with snow, but not as much as they have in Montana. It’s going to take some getting used to.” They had reached the back patio and Tori sank down in one of the chairs.

“Thanks for the help.”

“No problem. Let me run get the box and I’ll bring it back over and then get out of your hair.” Jackson really wished he had his medical bag with him. Tori, as she’d introduced herself, didn’t look good at all.

Retrieving the box, he hurried back across the yards, alarmed when he saw Tori struggling to breathe. There was a blue tinge around her mouth, and it was obvious she was in respiratory distress.

Squatting down next to her chair, he grabbed her wrist and began measuring her heart rate, nodding when it registered slow but steady. “Tori, you need some medical help. Where’s your phone?”

“No…oxygen…I…” she struggled to tell him and he finally figured out what she was saying.

Opening the backdoor, he spied the two girls lounging in front of the TV and called for their assistance. “Hey ladies, could one of you come here and help me for a minute?”

Emily glanced out the back door and then ran towards her mother. Jackson stopped her and calmly asked, “Sweetie, she’s having a little trouble breathing. Does she have an oxygen bottle around here somewhere?”

Emily looked at her mom and then nodded, “In the bedroom. It’s on wheels.”

“Great! You stay here with her and I’ll be right back.” Jackson headed in the direction the little girl had looked and moments later returned with the green oxygen bottle and mask.

Fitting it over Tori’s mouth and nose, he turned it on and then instructed her to breathe nice and slow, “That’s it. Again.” He watched as the blue tinge disappeared around her mouth and she was taking nice, deep breaths once again.

After about fifteen minutes, he removed the mask and took her pulse again. The capillary refill response on her fingernails was back to normal and he was pleased to see the crisis had passed.

Tori thanked him with her eyes and then turned her attention to the two little girls who were clinging to her knees, “Hey, why don’t you two go finish your movie. I’m okay, I just walked a little too far.”

“Aunt Tori, I’s sorry…”

“Dani, you’ve nothing to be sorry about. Go watch your movie while I say ‘Goodnight’ to Mr. Jackson.”

The girls hugged her and then scooted back inside the house. She watched them for a moment and then lifted one of the puppies into her lap. She needed something to hold onto and the warm body was comforting.

Looking up, she met Jackson’s green eyes and once again felt like she’d met him before. “Thank you.”

“Are you sure I don’t need to call your doctor?”

Tori smiled at him, “I’m a registered nurse, and yes, I’m sure. Before I got sick, I worked on the oncology floor. I knew I didn’t have the strength to walk next door, but the girls had been gone too long.”

“That’s my fault. I think I scared them when I rang the doorbell. I could hear them inside and waited around hoping they would open the door so the dress could sit inside.”

“Well, the dress is safe with me. Grace will be back shortly and I’ll see that she gets it.”

“Shall I set it inside the house?” Jackson asked.

“Yes. Could you sit it by the front door?”

Jackson picked up the box and nodded, “Sure.” He carried the box inside, noticing the many pictures on the walls and stopped to look at them on his way back. What he saw made his heart stop. He glanced back out the door and then back at the pictures on the wall.

When he felt something next to his leg, he noticed the older of the two girls was standing next to him. She pointed at a picture of an older woman and said, “That’s my grandma. She’s in heaven.”

Jackson nodded his head and then walked back to the patio, “I noticed the pictures on the wall in your living room.”

Tori smiled, “Yeah. Most of them are of my mom and sister. They were both killed in a car crash right around the time Emily was born.”

“I’m sorry for your loss. It must have been hard caring for a newborn and grieving at the same time.”

Tori nodded, “It was the most difficult time in my life. But Emily gave me a reason to go on, so I did.”

Jackson looked at the little girl and then back to her mother. “How old is she?”

“Nine. And I’m twenty-five, even though I know I must look forty at the moment.”

“No, I…”

“It’s okay. I look in the mirror. But I’m on the road to recovery now. No more chemo. No more radiation. Each day I get stronger, and soon this will all be nothing but a bad memory.”

“You sound really positive. That’s good. That’s real good.” Jackson wanted to ask her about the picture on the wall. The one taken of her sister right before she had disappeared from his life; but he couldn’t see an easy way to broach the subject.

According to his calculations, Tori would have been not quite sixteen when Emily was born. Michelle’s mother had been all about appearances.
Had she taken the girls and moved when Tori became pregnant at such a young age?

He tried to remember Michelle’s younger sister, but the only image that came to mind was that of a scrawny little girl, who was way too quiet and always had a book in her hands. He’d only ever spoken to her once, and that was barely memorable.

They’d all gone to the same school, but she hadn’t hung out with the cheerleaders or the popular crowd, and their paths had never crossed.
Michelle! After all these years, I finally find you, but you’re dead! No wonder I could not find you all those years ago!

“Well, I’m going to let you rest. I’ll take this back where I found it, shall I?” Jackson asked, picking up the oxygen bottle and heading back to the bedroom before she could answer.

When he came back out, Tori was standing on her own and looked much stronger, “I know you are probably sick of hearing doctors tell you what to do, but you really do need to take it easy and get some rest.”

“Yes, sir. I plan on it.”

“Sir? Really?” Jackson asked, amused that she was trying to come off all professional on him. “Jackson is fine. Tell Grace I’ll stop by and introduce myself at a later time.”

Jackson gave her one more appraising look and then headed out the way they first entered the backyard. Through the side gate. Moments later the growl of the Mustang’s engine moved away from the house and Tori sighed in relief.

Chapter 13

Grace was beside herself with worry when she arrived home and heard the girls recount the evening’s adventure. Tori tried to downplay the entire incident, but Emily and Dani were in drama mode and loving it.

“He helped momma breathe too,” Emily offered.

Michael and Grace exchanged a look of concern, “How did he do that?”

“He got that green tank thing from the bedroom and put the mask over her mouth. Momma, why was your mouth that blue color? Did you have some candy?”

Michael narrowed his eyes at Tori and then shooed the girls back out into the living room. “Tori, why didn’t you tell us you were having trouble breathing?”

“Because I’m not. Well, I’m not if I don’t try to walk across the front yards. I just over did it, but everything turned out okay. I’m safe. The girls are safe. And Grace has her momma’s wedding dress.”

Grace bent down and hugged her, “You need to stop overdoing it if you ever want to fully recover.”

“Yes, mom.”

“And don’t you forget it.” Grace smiled at her and took Michael by the arm, pulling him from the room. After collecting Dani and all of her princess paraphernalia, they headed home and put her to bed.

Michael kissed Grace on the lips at the front door, “So are you excited to see your mom’s dress?”

“I am. Sara is sure it will fit with only a few minor alterations. I hope she’s right.”

“Well, I’m going to wish you sweet dreams and get out of here so you can go play dress up. Happy Valentine’s Day!” Michael kissed her tenderly, hugging her close as their lips separated and she lifted her closed eyes. “I love you, Grace.”

“I love you too, Michael. More than I ever thought possible. Happy Valentine’s Day!”

*****

“So, Mrs. Harding, did you enjoy your Valentine’s Day surprise?” Trent asked as he helped Sara pull off her boots.

“Trent, the carriage ride was very romantic. How could I not like it?” Sara told him, kissing him on the cheek and then shivering. “You’re cold!”

“So are you. Let’s go warm up by the fire. It won’t take but a minute to get going.”

Sara nodded and then made a beeline for the couch and the blankets, “I can’t feel my nose.”

Trent looked her over and assured her, “Well, it’s still there. A little red perhaps, but rest assured, you still have a very cute nose on your face.”

Sara blushed and then giggled. She’d been waiting all day to tell him her news, but was still undecided no how to do it. When he joined her on the couch a few minutes later, and pulled her up against his chest, she forgot about it momentarily as she basked in being held close against her husband’s chest. “I love you,” she murmured to him.

“I love you right back. I can’t believe it’s been less than two months since you drove into Castle Peaks and into my life.”

“So much has happened in that two months, it sometimes seems like a lifetime.”

They grew quiet, wrapped in each other’s arms and thoughts of what their lives had been like before each other. Trent had been content to navigate life as a bachelor, immune to the various single women the matchmaking mommas of the town had offered up.

Sara, had found herself married, and a few hours later, had been running for her life. Literally. She had ended up in his town, a few days before Christmas. Sick. Scared. And wanted by the authorities.

Trent thought about the phone call he’d received earlier that day, and then pushed it aside. There wasn’t anything that could be done about the situation tonight, and he really didn’t want their first Valentine’s Day to be marred by the ugliness of the past.

Tipping her chin up, he kissed her softly and asked, “Ready for bed?”

Sara sighed and relaxed into his kiss, “Just about.”

When Trent raised an eyebrow at her in question, she began toying with the buttons on his shirt. A dead giveaway that something was on her mind. Deciding to cut right to the chase, he asked, “What’s up?”

Sara gave him a soft smile and then leaned up and whispered in his ear. She watched as his eyes got as big as saucers before a huge grin covered his face. “Really? You’re sure?”

When she nodded, he kissed her and then let out a holler, “I’m gonna be a daddy!”

Sara watched him, laughing at how happy he seemed. They’d talked about trying to have a baby a few weeks ago, and she’d never dreamed they would get lucky this quickly. But they had. She was going to have a baby, sometime between Halloween and Thanksgiving.

“That’s the best Valentine’s gift you could have given me.” Trent kissed her deeply once again and then asked, “Now, are you ready for bed?”

Sara nodded at him shyly and then giggled as he picked her up and carried her down the hallway. He was always picking her up, and she figured she might get used to the sensation in fifty years or so.