Taking on Twins

by Mollie Campbell

  “I don’t mind helping out, Coralee. But I’m there by myself all the time now. Holbrook’s is your dream, not mine. When there are customers coming and going, I like the work. But I didn’t see a soul today except you. And you holed up in the workroom the entire time.”

  Cat’s words cut straight through her heart. She had to find a way to take care of her family. But instead, she had been spending all her time helping everyone but her sisters. How would the shop ever recover if she didn’t focus her attention on it?

  Jake and Cecilia watched the scene, heads swiveling back and forth between the two sisters. Coralee’s hand shot out and caught Louisa’s falling fork before it clattered to the floor, even as she met her sister’s sullen gaze head-on. “Cat, I’m sorry. You’re right. I haven’t been at the shop as much as I should be.”

  “It’s not just that, Coralee. I know you’re not having much success with Papa’s research. Maybe that’s a good reason not to pin all our hopes on it.”

  Coralee bristled. “Of course Papa’s research is the key. He wouldn’t have wanted me to work on it if it wasn’t important.”

  “I’m not saying it isn’t important, Coralee.” Cat rolled her eyes. “I’m saying there must be other things we can do to get customers in the shop right now, while you work on it.”

  “Papa’s medication will bring all the customers we need.” Coralee knew she was being more stubborn than necessary. But she needed Cat to understand how vital the medication was to the shop. She turned to wipe butter off Phillip’s hands with a damp cloth just as he reached up to smear it in his hair.

  Cat arched one eyebrow, voice turning frosty. “And just how much progress did you make on it this afternoon?”

  Louisa grabbed at Coralee’s sleeve, leaving a trail of beef juice that soaked into the fabric as she tried to wipe it off. “Cat, I’m working on the formula as much as I can. There’s...a lot going on.” She had to force the words out around the lump in her throat. She was failing her family, no matter how hard she tried.

  Cat’s tense posture softened. “I’m sorry, Coralee. I know how hard you’re working. I don’t want to put extra pressure on you.” Leaving her plate barely touched, Cat rose and whisked Phillip into her arms. “Let me clean up this rascal for you.”

  Cecilia’s smile was sympathetic as she grabbed several plates and followed Cat to the kitchen.

  Coralee felt Jake’s eyes on her but she busied herself with wiping Louisa’s hands and face. How had she let Cat bait her into an argument like that in front of a guest? This was a family affair and no matter what their relationship had been in the past, Jake was not family.

  As she helped Louisa climb out of her chair, Coralee glanced up. He sat at the end of the table, arms crossed over his chest, head tilted to one side. Waiting for her to acknowledge him. He wasn’t going to let her get away with pretending he didn’t hear the argument. Family business or not, his posture made it clear he had every intention of including himself in what was going on at Holbrook’s.

  * * *

  “Is business really that slow, Coralee?”

  Jake watched her shoulders droop as she let out a pent-up breath. Then she fixed him with a pointed look. “Yes, it is that slow. It’s hard to keep customers coming in to buy medicine when the only doctor in town advises them not to.”

  His stomach clenched. Was Dr. Jay more responsible for the problems at Holbrook’s than Jake wanted to admit? “What about this medication of your father’s? It’s clear you don’t want to tell me about it, but if you’ll trust me, maybe I can help.”

  She picked at nonexistent crumbs on the tablecloth, a grimace of indecision tightening her lips. “It’s a medication for pain.” Jake’s heart flipped when she began her explanation. He leaned in closer, willing her to go on.

  “Papa hated to see his patients suffering from terrible side effects when they just needed relief from minor pain. He had gathered a list of potential ingredients to test and I’ve been working my way through those for a few months. But I’m not sure what the next step is when I run out of options.”

  “I could come by the shop and look over what you have. I learned about a few new developments during my time at the hospital. Maybe we can come up with a few more things for you to try?” He could see her hesitating. Happy laughter floated in from the kitchen, where Coralee’s sisters and the children were washing the dishes. “Why don’t we take a few minutes and go now? I’m willing to bet Cecilia would jump at the chance to play with the twins a little longer.”

  “I don’t know, Jake.”

  He tried to look charming and innocuous. Her project had piqued his professional curiosity. Although he had spent much of his free time growing up helping Mr. Holbrook in the apothecary shop, he had never seen the process of discovering a new medication in person. The idea was fascinating. “You said you haven’t accomplished much recently with everything that’s happened. Maybe a few hours of work combined with someone else’s perspective will get the project moving again?”

  That hit the mark. Her face was so easy to read that he saw the moment she decided to let him help. He mustered his most disarming smile as she sighed. “You win, Jake. Let’s go.”

  Coralee explained parts of the process as they walked to the shop. “Papa started with his reference books and remedies he already had on the shelf, looking for ingredients he knew had an effect on pain. He got as far as compiling a list before...” She paused and swallowed hard. Jake’s heart ached, knowing that she had gone through such pain. But in the blink of an eye, she shook off the sadness and continued. “I’ve worked through much of the list already, without anything to show for it.”

  “How are you testing the ingredients?”

  “For each one, I make up a batch of any forms I think might work. I have a few patients with chronic pain who still come to the shop. They’ve been kind enough to help me try the medicines as I go. Usually, I try a very low dose to begin with, then a higher one later if there aren’t any side effects.”

  “But you haven’t had any success at all?”

  She flinched at the direct question. “There have been two formulas that helped the pain for one or two of my patients. But they also made them feel terribly sick for days. That’s not what Papa wanted for his medicine.”

  They fell into silence, both considering the problem. The streets of Spring Hill were quiet as they walked through the gathering dark. Now and then they passed a couple enjoying a stroll. Escorting Coralee on such a lovely evening reminded Jake too much of the days when they were courting. If that wasn’t bad enough, entering Holbrook’s alone with her after-hours felt intimate, in a way. He fought to keep his personal feelings in check. This was a professional experience. A friend helping a friend, at most.

  But that was hard to remember as he bent over Mr. Holbrook’s notes with Coralee. A soft, flowery scent reached his nose every time she shifted to point out an entry on the list. He reached for a page at the same time she did and their hands brushed, sending shivers up his arm. As soon as they finished going through the papers, he moved to the other side of the table, needing space between them.

  “So that’s how far I’ve gotten.” She was focused on the pages, shuffling through them over and over as if something she had missed would jump out at her.

  “You’ve covered most substances I would have suggested. I’m sure one of these will turn out to be just the right ingredient.”

  Coralee nodded, but she was still fixated on her father’s notes, reminding Jake that it had only been a year since she lost him. He moved to rest a hand on her shoulder, giving in to an urge to comfort her. But even before her eyes shot up to meet his, she shrugged off his touch. He stepped back, running a hand through his hair, feigning indifference.

  “Jake.”

  He met her eyes, seeing confusion swirling in the blue depths. He broke
in before she could continue, not sure he could stand to hear what she might say next. “I’m sorry. That was too familiar. I don’t want to ruin the truce we’ve had the last few days. I value your willingness to offer your help with the twins. And I want to help you in return.”

  She stared out the window into the dusk, so still that he wondered if her thoughts had turned to the loss of her father again. Or Alan. The familiar pang of jealousy swept through Jake, just as it did every time he thought of her marriage to his best friend. Finally she turned back with a curt nod. “I think I’ve spent as much time here as I can handle today.”

  “Sure. We’d better get back and see if the twins have your sisters tied up in a corner while they ransack the house.” His heart swelled when Coralee laughed, the light sound chasing away the hurt that had threatened to settle between them again.

  Jake helped her clean up the materials and they left the shop, walking slowly back to the café. This time, they walked in silence. Jake was torn. Deep in the corners of his heart, he still felt lingering hurt from her rejection all those years ago. He still longed to understand why she had turned so quickly to Alan. But at the same time, he was afraid to ask. If he did, he might find out that everything he’d thought she had felt at the time had been in his imagination. He had been so sure, but maybe she had cared more for Alan than for Jake all along.

  As they approached her home, Jake wanted to linger, feeling a twinge of regret that the evening was over. Regardless of the pain of their past, he couldn’t help wanting to be near Coralee, to help her. But he forced himself to bid the ladies good-night and gather the pink-cheeked, droopy-eyed twins to return to the boardinghouse.

  He settled the children in bed, but they didn’t stay there. He heard Louisa’s sniffles first. Then Phillip whimpered for his mama. Jake’s heart ached. He had wondered if the children would ask about their parents eventually. Pushing back the covers, he climbed out of bed and settled himself between the twins on the floor. Phillip started to sob. “I miss Mama.”

  Jake held him close. “I know, Phillip. I’m so sorry.”

  Louisa snuggled close on his other side. “When Mama coming back?”

  His eyes slid shut as a wave of sadness washed over him. “She can’t come back, sweetie. I get to take care of you for a little while, but soon you’ll have a family to stay with forever. You’ll love them, I know it.”

  The tears continued for several long moments. Jake didn’t know what to do besides hold the little ones tight and murmur what he hoped were comforting words. Finally the sobs quieted and both children fell asleep, heads resting on his chest.

  Even after such a long, tiring day, he tossed and turned, unable to get comfortable on the floor with little bodies draped over him. Worries plagued him, first about the twins, then about Coralee. He hadn’t known business was that slow at Holbrook’s. Coralee had told him that Dr. Jay was impacting her customers. Jake had assumed it was just a few easily swayed patients overreacting to the doctor’s negativity. But seeing how upset the usually unflappable Cat had been at dinner, he suspected things were worse than Coralee had let on.

  Jake rolled to his other side as carefully as possible, trying to find a comfortable spot without waking the twins. Instinctively he wanted to fix the problem for Coralee. He was caught between her and Dr. Jay, feeling loyal to each of them in different ways. Maybe that made him the perfect person to defuse the situation. A surge of determination helped Jake’s mind settle. He had a plan. Finally he relaxed into sleep alongside the twins.

  Morning dawned bright and cheery, matching Jake’s mood. He was ready to solve some problems. Even the twins’ orneriness didn’t diminish his optimism.

  All through breakfast, Phillip insisted on smacking his spoon on the table, sending bits of food flying everywhere—and garnering disapproving looks from the other patrons. Louisa appeared to be the picture of good behavior. Until Jake helped her out of her chair after the meal and found every bite he’d thought she’d eaten stashed in the folds of her dress. Picking up the bits of food from the floor under the table made them late once again.

  But Jake was steadfast. He had realized last night that his approach to Coralee was all wrong. He had been defensive, deflecting her criticism of Samuel every time the doctor’s name came up. Jake decided that rather than just hoping to avoid the topic, he could work on winning her trust. If he took the time to get involved in her work and what was happening in the shop, maybe he could gain her confidence again. Then he could show her the situation from his perspective and she would see that Samuel wasn’t as bad as she thought.

  Chapter Four

  Getting dressed the next morning, Coralee felt a renewed drive to work on Papa’s formula. Cat’s frustration with their lack of customers had reminded Coralee how important her project was. Just as she finished twisting the last strand of her hair into a low chignon, she heard Jake and the twins in the parlor with Cecilia. Before she even stepped all the way into the room, Coralee could see his eyes gleaming. She stifled a laugh. He couldn’t seem to stay still, almost bouncing in place.

  “You look like a child waiting to open a gift. What’s so exciting?”

  His grin broadened. “I hoped you would let me work with you at the shop some today. Another pair of hands. The work you showed me last night was fascinating.”

  “Oh.” She tried to think, but her mind felt fuzzy. Did she want Jake by her side at the shop while she worked on Papa’s project? He stood watching her, near to bursting with enthusiasm. It was hard to resist. She found herself thinking it might be nice to share the work with someone. Her sisters and aunt were supportive, but they didn’t have the least bit of interest in medicine. Even Cat didn’t care to discuss remedies, in spite of all the time she spent at the shop.

  Lightness swept through her. It might be helpful to have Jake around. She gestured for him to come along and took Louisa’s hand as the four of them headed to the door. They walked down the boardwalk, Louisa toddling next to Coralee. The little girl was happy to be where there were people, head swiveling to watch everyone they passed. Phillip, on the other hand, tried to run for the rocks that lined the edge of the busy street. Jake held him tight. “Phillip, you must hold my hand.”

  Phillip stopped pulling at his hand, but only for a moment. A dog outside the livery stable caught the boy’s attention and he tried to take off again. “Dog, Jake. Want to see dog. Pease?”

  “No, Phillip, we can’t go see that dog. We don’t know if it’s a nice dog. Please stay with me.” After much wrestling, Jake managed to get Phillip in his arms so they could walk past the dog without the boy running off after it.

  The exchange wasn’t extraordinary, but Coralee was engrossed in the scene. Watching Jake fathering the twins so naturally was bittersweet. She was thrilled that Jake was gaining confidence with the children in leaps and bounds. Their parents would have wanted them to be with someone who cared for them and who was trying so hard to be a good guardian. They would have loved the way Jake cared for the twins.

  But at the same time, Coralee’s heart ached that she would never see children of her own with a father who cherished them like Jake cherished the twins. It was a relief to finally enter Holbrook’s. The twins ran to greet Cat with loud excitement. Working on the medication would be a good distraction from all the feelings the twins’ presence dredged up.

  At the shop, Cat feigned reluctance as she agreed to keep an eye on the twins while Coralee and Jake worked. But Coralee knew better. Her sister was bored to tears without customers in the shop. She felt better about asking when she saw Cat’s affectionate response as the twins clambered all over her. Maybe she enjoyed the children more than she let on.

  Coralee stepped into the workroom, swallowing hard when Jake followed her in. The room seemed to shrink with his presence. She grabbed some of her tools. The best course of action was to get involved in th
e work as soon as possible so her mind didn’t wander. “You saw last night where I left off with Papa’s research before the cholera outbreak. I think right now we can begin a new ingredient.”

  Jake moved closer. She felt his eyes on her as she started grinding some dried onion with Papa’s marble mortar and pestle. “We’ll start by using the onion powder to make a liniment and some to dissolve in water. I’ve heard of women who use the juice of cooked onions for several remedies, so we’ll move on to that next.”

  “Onion? That’s just an old folk remedy. I saw it on your list, but I didn’t think you’d really consider using it.” She turned to look at him, noting a slight frown on his face. Didn’t he think she knew the difference between a reasonable option and an old wives’ tale?

  She pursed her lips. “Yes, Jake. I know the origin of using onion medicinally. And I am still going to test it. I could never be certain of my results if I skipped any items.” She didn’t tell him how hard she’d had to fight Papa to get the remedy on his list. She had good reason to include it, but Papa had been sure herbal remedies wouldn’t produce the results he was looking for. She didn’t want to have the same argument with Jake now.

  He raised his palms and took a step back. “I didn’t mean to imply you’re making a mistake. I’m used to a more modern approach. I’ll help with any mixture you want to try. You’re the boss.” The eager light shone in his eyes again. He was actually enjoying this process. And he was willing to work on what she wanted, without criticism. That was a change from the man she remembered.

  Standing next to Jake in the shop brought to mind moments that were branded in her memory from the years he had helped her and Papa. There were the moments that had made her fall in love with him, of course. But also the moments she had relived time and again since he’d left for medical school, unable to believe she hadn’t noticed them when they happened.