Through His Grace (16 page)

“Exactly,” Nickels agreed. At Sondra’s warning glance he shut his mouth. He wasn’t the one who’d be officially watching Lizzie and Jake.
I’m not qualified to be any kind of honorary parent
.

“We live just down the street. We could pick up their clothes, whatever they need. We know Jake is allergic to eggs. We can get them to school during the week and their church on Sunday,” Dylan said, listing some of the benefits.

“As I said, Miss Willard must approve. Your home has already met inspection requirements so, provided you understand I’ll visit to see how the children are, it should be doable.”

“Miss Sondra!” Lizzie ran down the hall and flung herself at the woman.

“Hey, baby.” Sondra hugged the little girl. “How’s Auntie Grace?”

“Better.” Jake kept a tight hold on Carl’s hand. “She’s awake now. But they stuck tubes and stuff on her.”

“That’s all to help her get better.” Nickels stooped to console the child. “And they’ll take them out when she is.”

“Okay.” Jake nodded.

“You can go in now,” Carl told Nickels. He looked at Sondra and Dylan, refusing even to glance at Miss McNarty. It was obvious the older man still bore ill will toward the woman who’d taken Lizzie and Jake from him and placed them in the group home. “Three at a time.”

Miss McNarty looked at Sondra and Dylan. “We need to get this straightened out.”

“I’ll wait.” Nickels forced the words out. Making sure Lizzie and Jake were taken care of was the most important thing. They said she was getting better. He would have to trust that for a little while longer. But that didn’t mean it didn’t take every shred of self-control he possessed not to storm through those doors and hunt down Grace’s room.

“Thank the Lord,” Grace said after Kate McNarty explained how the Wards had offered to take Lizzie and Jake. Even better, they would be allowed to do so. “And thank you,” she told Sondra and Dylan.

Lord, You’ve sent me such precious friends. Thank You for taking care of Jake and Lizzie. I almost think they’ll be less anxious this week than I will!

“I take that to mean you approve?”

“Absolutely,” Grace affirmed.

After they worked out the details, Grace pushed the button to adjust her hospital bed. It didn’t make a difference; she couldn’t get comfortable. She made a vain attempt to smooth out her hair.

Isn’t he going to check on me?
She knew he was there. If he didn’t, though, she shouldn’t be upset. She had no one to blame but herself. She’d told him to stay away. But he hadn’t. Lizzie called him, and he came running to take care of her… to take care of them.

She nibbled on her lip.
So where is he now?

“Here you are!” Eric strode into the room, his face hidden behind a gigantic bouquet of slightly smooshed flowers. He put them on the nightstand and smiled at her.

Suddenly the stress of the day hit her—and hard. So long as she’d focused on the pain or the surgery or Lizzie and Jake or the arrangements to be made, she’d been able to keep on. But then he walked in with a smile that made her feel as if she’d just won a beauty pageant, and she couldn’t keep it all under control.

“Don’t cry!” Eric fumbled for the tiny box of tissues and thrust it at her. “I’ll take them back!” He snatched up the bouquet and started looking around for a place to stash it.

“D-don’t you dare, Eric,” she gasped. “I love them.”

“Then what’s wrong?” He cautiously set down the glass vase and stepped closer.

“I—I—” Grace cried some more.

“You’ve had a rough day.” He patted her hand gently.

“It’s not just that.”
My right side feels achy and throbbing. I’m in a hospital gown with messy hair. I have tubes in my arms and a runny nose. I’m crying like a nincompoop in front of the man I care for but sent away…
. The list made her cry harder.

“And you were worried about Lizzie and Jake,” he said. “But now you’re relieved.”

“Yeah, but…”
How do I tell him I feel ugly and clumsy and stupid when he’s giving me credit for caring about more important things? Maybe if I didn’t hurt, I’d be in better control. I’m so glad the nurse is on her way
.

“You don’t want to stay in the hospital.” He rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand. “Nobody does, but it’s to make sure you’re okay. And that’s the important thing.” “Oooh.” She let out a breath, wiping her face with a tissue. “And I’ll bring Jake and Lizzie and even Carl over to visit you so you won’t be lonely,” he promised.

“Just stop it!” She ordered as she threw the tissue at the trash can—and missed.

“Stop what?” His brows knit in confusion.

“Stop being so…so…” She gulped air as she searched for the word.

“I’m sorry.” He looked nothing short of crestfallen as he dropped her hand. “You said you didn’t want me around. I shouldn’t have—” He ran his hand through his dark blond hair. “Here I am, being—”

“Wonderful!” she cried. “Here you are, trying to comfort me about my health and the kids and even bringing me flowers.” The words came out in a rush. “And no one’s ever given me flowers except my parents. I just can’t deal with it right now! You have to stop being so perfect.” She glared at him.

He didn’t help the situation when he threw back his head and laughed. “I was going to say selfish. You’re not feeling your best, and you’ve told me to stay away.” He grasped her hand again. “But I had to see you.”

“You’re being wonderful again,” she mumbled.

“Well.” He pulled over an uncomfortable-looking chair from across the room. “I’ll just stick around until we fix that.”

“Hello?” The nurse entered the room, took one look at Grace’s tear-streaked face, and double-timed it toward the bed. “I have your medicine. You’ll be feeling better in no time, Miss Willard.”

“But they’ll make me loopy.” Grace frowned.
I don’t want Eric to see me that way
.

“Groggy, more like.” The nurse gave her the meds.

“Go on.” Eric patted her hand. “I’ll stay here until you fall asleep.”

“She’s sleeping soundly,” the nurse said when she came in to check on Grace. “I think it’d be best if you left now.”

Nickels yawned and stretched. Grace wasn’t the only one who’d drifted off.

“Visiting hours are from eight to six, standard,” the nurse informed him. “But she’s doing well so she’ll probably be moved from intensive care in the morning.”

“Thanks.” He gave the nurse a smile. “Have a good night.” After she nodded and left, Nickels smoothed Grace’s curls from her brow. “Lord,” he prayed quietly, “keep pain at bay and let her heal. She’s taken a lot on herself these past months, and it’s not only her body that craves rest. Watch over her for me, as I’ll watch over Lizzie and Jake. Thank You for safeguarding her this far.” He leaned over to plant a soft kiss on her forehead and whispered, “Sleep well, honey. I’ll be back later.”

He couldn’t be sure whether she heard him, but a contented smile tilted the corners of her lips as she inclined her head toward him. Unwilling to jolt her awake, he tiptoed out of the room.

When he slid into the driver’s seat, he rolled his shoulders to ease the stiffness. The chair he’d fallen asleep in had been none-too-comfortable—but the twinge between his shoulder blades was a small price to pay for the balm to his heart.

When she started to cry I was afraid she’d send me away. I misjudged her
. He should have known something was wrong when she didn’t answer the door. His Grace wouldn’t do that to anyone. She seemed so small and fragile, almost as white as the sheets on her bed. It would have nearly killed him to leave her, but he would’ve done it to spare her any more pain.

He shook his head in amazement at the thought.
But I was wrong again. She wasn’t upset that I’d dared to show my face—she felt embarrassed by how happy she was to see me
. He could feel the smug grin spread across his features.

“Lord, I’ve been carrying around so much anger at myself. It took the unselfish love of a woman to help me break down the barriers I’d raised to get by each day. And to think, tonight it was my small token of affection that crumbled her walls. She’s stayed strong for Lizzie and Jake and even Carl, making it through the daily challenges with her own force of will and her belief that You’d see her through. Tonight she showed the same vulnerability I had to own up to.” Nickels remembered the conversations with his grandpa and Dylan. “Thank You for the strong faith of the people You’ve brought close to me. When Grace is well again, I ask Your blessing to move forward with our life together.”

They had weathered awkward introductions, self-doubt, and a breakup before they’d even started in earnest. Nothing could stop them now.

“Stop!” Lizzie shrieked and tried to wiggle away, elbowing Eric in the chest. “Stop it, and I mean it!” She slid to the floor, giggling long after he quit tickling her.

Grace couldn’t help but giggle along, though it hurt to do so. The brief time in the afternoon when Eric brought the children by after picking them up from school was her favorite part of the day.

“My turn!” Jake launched himself onto Eric’s lap.

“Are you sure you can handle it?” He gave the little boy an appraising look.

“No.” Jake resolutely planted himself. “But it looks like fun.”

“All right.” Eric began tickling the boy until Jake, too, collapsed in a noodley heap of laughter.

“You did ask for it,” Grace reminded him as they gasped for breath.

“Let’s get her, Mr. Nichols!” Lizzie grabbed the bedrail as if she would vault onto her.

“Oh, no!” Grace put out her arms to protect her sensitive abdomen, but Eric scooped up the little girl in his arms and set her back down.

“We have to be careful with Auntie Grace, remember?” he cautioned. “Now what do you say we head to the cafeteria and get some of that famous hospital gelatin salad?” Eric was so good about realizing when she’d hit her limit and needed a rest.

“Yeah!” Jake bolted for the door. “I want ‘lello.”

“I like the orange!” Lizzie joined him.

“What about you?” Eric patted the end of the bed.

“Strawberry, please.” She’d been living on popsicles and broth for the past four-and-a-half days. Gelatin salad was her favorite treat.

“We’ll be back.” With that, he took Lizzie and Jake out of the room.

Grace leaned back against the pillows and closed her eyes for a quick nap. She awoke from her doze when the door opened.

“Back already?” She struggled to sit up.

“Well, I do come by about this time every day.” Dr. Rutgers gave her a wry smile.

“Oh.” Grace pasted a smile on her lips as she answered his questions and let him poke and prod her. When he stood back, she mustered a hopeful question. “Does it look like I’ll be back home tomorrow?”

“Hmm.” A long silence stretched between them as he perused her chart. “You’re still tender and not on solid food. You’re using more painkillers than I’d like to see before we send you on your way, too.”

“So…another day?” She tried to remain positive.

“At least.” His blunt answer squashed her remaining hope. His steely gray gaze pierced her like a bug on a pin. “Even after you’re feeling stronger, I would only release you on the condition that you’d be resting more often than not, with a relative taking care of you.”

He paused as the sound of Jake and Lizzie’s laughter floated down the hall then hastily finished, “As is, you’d be expected to look after two children. Absolutely unacceptable, Miss Willard. You’ve already shown poor judgment in seeking medical treatment when needed.”

Dr. Rutgers’s scold brought a flush of color to Grace’s cheeks, but she still pointed out, “I have friends to help me, and Lizzie and Jake’s grandpa will be more than happy to lend a hand.”

He opened his mouth to respond but merely shook his head as Eric and the children burst through the door. The good—if stern—doctor gave her a pointed glance. “I’ll be back to see you tomorrow. Good day.”

Eric glanced from her to the doctor. “Kids, why don’t you go down the hall to the small lobby for a minute and bring back a magazine for Auntie Grace? And no running.”

“Yes, Mr. Nichols.” Jake, who’d already begun to jog, slowed down to a more sedate pace.