Taking on Twins

by Mollie Campbell

  “I understand your fear, my girl. You’ve taken so much responsibility on yourself. And you have a valid point. That old grump won’t take it well when he sees how you’ve succeeded in spite of his efforts.”

  Aunt Lily stood and moved to place her hands on Coralee’s shoulders, holding her gaze with caring eyes. “All you can do is what God has placed before you. Dearest, the fear will be there whether the remedy does well or not. There’s always something on the horizon to be afraid of if you let it linger in your heart. You just have to be stronger than that emotion. And I know you are.”

  Coralee tried to smile at her aunt. “Thank you for believing in me. I don’t know if I’m as strong as you think I am. But I’ll work on it. I can’t keep living with this fear consuming me.”

  With a pat on Coralee’s hand, Aunt Lily moved away and cleared her breakfast from the table. “That’s the spirit, girl. Now, I’m off to a busy day at the café. I can’t wait for this evening when I get to hear all about the crowds of customers that will fill the shop today.”

  * * *

  Jake was pleased to get a better night’s sleep than any he’d had since bringing the twins home. For the first time, they didn’t cry over missing their parents, but slept the whole night in peace. And it didn’t hurt that the conversation with Coralee had calmed his spirit. He could almost see how spending time with her made him better, just like Ma had insisted.

  In the morning he worked on paperwork at the clinic, catching up after a busy week of home visits. It was close to noon when the clinic door burst open, letting in a gust of hot air. Samuel stalked in as Jake jumped, startled by the sudden interruption. Papers from his patient files skittered across the floor.

  “Surprised to see me, Hadley?” The older man’s eyes flashed and his face was crimson. Jake stared at his mentor, sweat beading his forehead. What had made Samuel so angry? He could only have just arrived back in town.

  “I am, sir. That is, I’m not surprised you’re back. I expected you at any time. I was just startled by your sudden entrance.”

  Samuel snorted and poked at Jake’s chest with one bony finger. “That’s what happens when you try to hide things. You get skittish.”

  Jake frowned as he tried to work through the doctor’s words. “What are you saying, sir?”

  “I know what you’ve been doing while I was away. Don’t think I didn’t have someone keeping an eye on you all this time.”

  “I don’t know what you’re getting at. There was an outbreak of cholera right after you left and we lost a few patients. Other than that, everything has gone smoothly.” Jake’s pulse beat hard in his veins. Samuel was accusing him of something, but he had no idea what.

  “You have deliberately flaunted my wishes about that Evans woman, Hadley.” Samuel spat the words in Jake’s face. “I told you, she’s a fraud and I don’t want anything to do with her. That includes anything that happens regarding my practice. I know you were working with her while I was gone.”

  Jake struggled to find words to respond. He hadn’t been prepared for the kind of hostility that was emanating from the older doctor. “Samuel, I didn’t mean to go against your wishes. Yes, you said you didn’t approve of her. But I needed extra hands during the outbreak and she’s the only one in town with any kind of experience.”

  Samuel dropped into Jake’s chair, leaning back and crossing his legs at the ankles. “But it was more than that, wasn’t it? I’m aware that you’ve been helping her work up some new potion to sell. Why would you think I would approve of you helping her on that fool’s errand?”

  “To be honest, I was sure if you returned and saw how well her medication works, you would change your mind about her. Maybe even support her business. If you would give her a chance, I think you’d find that she’s quite capable. Her father was excellent at his work and taught her well.”

  Samuel speared Jake with angry eyes. “Hadley, that shows your lack of respect for me more than anything else you’ve done. To think that you can sway me to your side after my many years of experience.” The doctor barked a harsh laugh. “Does this position truly mean so little to you?”

  The air whooshed out of Jake’s lungs. Right here, he was going to lose his chance at the practice. But he needed this and his parents needed him close. The opportunity was too important to risk angering Samuel further. “I’m so sorry, sir. I can’t tell you how much this means to me. Please believe that I didn’t mean to disappoint you. I hoped you would be pleased with how I ran the practice while you were away.”

  Samuel crossed one arm over his chest and rested his chin on his knuckles. He paused as if considering Jake’s fate. “I had high expectations for you, young man. I wouldn’t have left if I didn’t think I could trust you. But I will not have my clinic associated with that woman.” He pushed to his feet with some effort and banged his fist on the desk. “I won’t sit by and let her harm people in this community under my watch.”

  “What would you have me do, Samuel? She’s my friend and excellent at her work. I know she won’t harm anyone.”

  “I would have you listen to the voice of experience and reason. Nothing good will come of Mrs. Evans running that shop. I will not be party to her mistakes. If you want to help her, I can’t stop you. But you’ll have to make a choice—the woman or an established medical practice in Spring Hill. You can’t have both.” Samuel turned and marched into his office, slamming the door hard behind him.

  Jake sank into his chair, staring at the papers on his desk without seeing a thing. How could he choose between hurting Coralee and leaving his parents without help? Even after last night’s conversation with Coralee had calmed his worry for them a little, he still knew they would only need him more as time went on. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands together. If there was ever a moment to practice his fledgling faith, it would be now.

  “God, I believe You’ve put me back in Spring Hill, back near Coralee, for a reason. I want to see her succeed. But I also know my parents need me. I believe Samuel was serious about his threat to take away my place in the practice. But I don’t know how I can intentionally hurt Coralee. We’ve come so far since I’ve returned home, healed so much of the hurt from the past. Please show me what to do.”

  He sat for a moment after finishing the whispered prayer, half expecting a voice from Heaven to give him an answer. He was a little disappointed when only silence filled the clinic. Determined to get through the day’s work so he couldn’t be accused of neglecting his responsibilities, he returned to his files and updated them in silence until evening fell.

  Jake didn’t see Samuel again that day and didn’t stop to say good-night when he left the clinic. He would have to catch the doctor up on all their patients soon. But until he had a chance to think through his mentor’s ultimatum, he wanted to steer clear of the man.

  Cecilia was alone with the twins when he stopped by the ladies’ house, much to Jake’s relief. He also wasn’t ready to come face-to-face with Coralee right then. Once he thanked Cecilia for her help and guided Louisa and Phillip outside, he stopped and knelt to talk at their level. “How would you like to go play by the creek for a while?” As he’d expected, they cheered and ran ahead toward the water.

  Louisa and Phillip entertained themselves by throwing rocks and small sticks into the creek, squealing with each splash. Jake sat on the grass near the bank, leaning against a large rock and thinking about the conversation with Samuel. Nothing about the situation was easy. Someone was going to get hurt. Either he would hurt Coralee or he would hurt his parents. And no matter which choice he made, part of him would hurt, too.

  He heard the tall grass behind him rustling and turned to see Lily heading toward them. She smiled indulgently at the children as she approached. “Hello there, darlings. Oh, Phillip, what is it you have there?”

  Lily bent to exam
ine the wet, wriggly creature the boy held out. “It a frog.”

  “So it is. Louisa, do you like the frog, too?” The woman let out a hearty laugh when Louisa shook her head forcefully. Then she turned to Jake. “Those are some fine children. You’re doing an excellent job with them.”

  He stood to greet her with a hug. “Can’t say that I disagree, Lily, but I’m afraid I don’t have much to do with it. How are you?”

  “Oh, fine, my boy. Just fine. Tell me, have you had any word on a permanent home for the little dears?”

  Jake’s heart clenched. He tried not to think about the eventual time when the twins would leave his care. “No, we’ve put the word out as much as we can. Now I guess we have to wait and see if God prompts a family to step forward.”

  “Then I’ll continue praying for them to find the perfect family.” Glancing around, Lily drew in a deep lungful of warm summer air. “Looks like you’ve found a nice thinking spot.”

  The knowing look she sent his way made him grimace. He wasn’t going to be alone with his thoughts much, after all. “What makes you think that?”

  She winked with a chuckle. “Just a hunch. Which you confirmed.”

  Jake gestured at the rock and scooted over as Lily perched on it. “You’re right. I came out here to think through some things.” He stared out across the prairie stretching for miles on the other side of the water. “I thought my relationship with Coralee was in a hard place when I left for school. But I think all that’s happened the last few weeks has turned out to be even more complicated.”

  “Ah, yes. Affairs of the heart tend to be complicated.” She raised a hand to halt his protests. “Don’t try to tell me your heart isn’t involved, Jake Hadley. I know you as well as your own mama, boy. What’s made it so thorny this time?”

  “It seems that as soon as we work through one issue, something worse pops up the next day. Samuel came home today. He’s rather upset that I’ve been working so closely with Coralee while he was away.”

  “That quarrelsome man always has a problem with something. This town will be better off when he retires. But don’t you go worrying about him. He may huff and puff about it, but there’s not much he can do now that she’s got her medicine. Folks will be flocking back to the shop.”

  Jake mumbled agreement but he knew better. There was plenty of reason for him to worry. Samuel held the key to his future in Spring Hill. After the way the older doctor had exploded today, Jake was convinced his mentor would make good on his threats if Jake made the wrong choice.

  Lily hoisted herself off the rock and joined the children at the edge of the water, leaning down to point out some fish. Louisa squealed and jumped back as one splashed away, making Phillip laugh. The children’s antics were adorable, as always. But this time, it wasn’t enough to distract Jake from the ultimatum hanging over his head.

  He was watching Lily impress the twins by skipping rocks across the creek when the realization hit him. He hadn’t even considered where the twins figured into the whole mess. What would happen to Louisa and Phillip if he lost his position with Samuel and had to leave Spring Hill? He couldn’t take them away, not when he had promised their mother to do everything in his power to find them a home here. He still hadn’t been successful in finding a family for them. And, to be honest, he wasn’t sure he wanted to keep trying. It was getting easier to envision a future with the children by his side.

  He didn’t feel good about it, but in that moment it seemed Jake had made his choice. Coralee’s medicine had been a huge hit at their booth on Independence Day. Customers would soon be filling the store again, so she didn’t need his help anymore. So he would stay away from her, enough to appease Samuel, at least. He could have his mother help out with the twins. Yes, that was the answer. He was better established at the clinic now, so being farther out of town would be less of an issue. They would move out to the farm so Ma could watch the children when he couldn’t. He would be right there to take care of the farm for his parents and Samuel would be pacified. It would all work out beautifully.

  Except for Coralee. He forced the unbidden thought down deep. Even though they had formed a sort of truce, Jake had no reason to think she would be upset if he stepped out of her life. Maybe she would even be better off. He seemed to hurt her at every turn.

  With a renewed sense of purpose, Jake went to retrieve the children so they could get to bed. He pushed the unease in his heart as far back as possible. Samuel had not left him with any good options in this scenario, but Jake would make the best choice he could for all the people who depended on him.

  Chapter Eight

  The days following Independence Day passed in a blur for Coralee. The shop was busy much of the time, enough so that she and Cat both needed to be there during business hours. Coralee spent her evenings and even some early mornings replenishing supplies and stocking the shelves. There was much work to be done, but the fact that it was due to an increase in customers made it energizing for her. Papa’s shop was fulfilling its purpose again.

  The new medicine had drawn people’s attention back to Holbrook’s. And it seemed to be a help in regaining their trust. Their former customers were coming back in for other remedies, as well.

  When they had been planning promotions for the shop, one of Cat’s ideas was to offer perfumes, lotions and even cosmetics. Jake had told them about large shops in St. Louis that sold such products alongside their remedies with great success. They had ordered the supplies before Independence Day and the items had just arrived. Coralee almost hadn’t put them out, but she was glad they’d taken the chance. The ladies’ products were selling just about as well as the medicine. Cat had loved setting up attractive displays for the products she had selected and Coralee was happy to see her sister enjoy her work at the shop again.

  Coralee felt as if she was floating around the shop most days. She could hardly believe that after all the time and worry, Papa’s medicine was actually working. Holbrook’s would be a success once more. She wouldn’t need to resort to extreme promotions or Charlie’s bank loan.

  But even with her long, busy days at the shop, Coralee couldn’t help but notice that Jake hadn’t been around. In expectation of an increase in business, Jake had sent word that he would have his mother keep the twins until they knew how busy Coralee and her sisters would be. The plan had made sense, but it hurt to admit how much she missed them after just a few days apart. And how disappointed she was that Jake hadn’t bothered to see how things were going at the shop after the debut of their medication. As the end of the week approached, her heart jumped every time the shop door opened and she half expected Jake to be standing in the doorway.

  By Saturday afternoon Coralee was good and ready for Sunday and some time to rest. Near closing, Mrs. Collins from the mercantile stepped through the door and waved at Coralee. “Hello, dear. My, it has been a while since I’ve stopped in. The shop looks very nice.” The older woman leaned against the counter, looking like she was settling in for a long chat. Coralee stifled a sigh. She had so many things that needed to be done.

  “It’s nice to see you, Mrs. Collins. Can I get something for you today?”

  “Oh, yes, dear. I came for some of that lilac hand lotion I heard about.” Coralee grabbed a bottle of the lotion from Cat’s display and started wrapping it in brown paper. “I’m so glad to see your father’s shop doing well again. But I’m a bit surprised those poor orphans aren’t here. Or maybe you aren’t watching them anymore, since that nice young doctor moved out of town this week.”

  Coralee’s heart dropped to the floor. She rested a hand on the counter to steady herself. “Dr. Hadley moved? I hadn’t heard.”

  “Oh, yes.” Mrs. Collins’s eyes sparkled at the chance to spread a little gossip. “He took those children and went to live with his parents. As if Beth Hadley needs more to handle.” The older woman’s look turne
d sly. “I’m well aware of the time you spent with Dr. Hadley. I was sure you already knew about his change in location.”

  “I simply haven’t spoken to the doctor for a few days, Mrs. Collins. It’s been a busy week here at the shop for Cat and me. I’ve been rather focused on my work and unable to help with the twins.”

  “Oh, yes, of course. I suppose your work would come before the little orphans.” Somehow the explanation seemed to pacify the woman’s gossiping urge. Although that last comment of hers hit a nerve. Coralee cared for the twins more than this meddling woman could understand.

  Mrs. Collins prattled on about things happening around town, but Coralee didn’t hear much of it. Her mind went back to Jake. Had he really moved and not bothered to tell her? And was she actually surprised? She had been expecting him to hurt her again. But now that she was face-to-face with the pain, she realized her heart had been much more involved than she’d imagined. The sting of tears burned her eyes, but Coralee fought against it. She had to hold herself together until the town’s biggest busybody left. The last thing she needed was for gossip to fly around that the widow apothecary had unrequited feelings for the doctor.

  After far too long, Mrs. Collins ran out of rumors to spread and left with her lotion. Coralee bid her a distracted farewell then fled to her workroom, wanting to be sure she was alone in case Cat came in from the garden. As soon as she closed the door, the breath caught in her throat as tears overflowed. She had been so sure that she and Jake were becoming friends again. She thought there was a way to protect her heart while also having Jake in her life. But now he was keeping secrets again, shutting her out. She had convinced herself he had changed, but it seemed that wasn’t the case. A dull ache formed in her chest. Even though she had expected something like this to happen all along, the reality still hurt.