Even as he basked in the knowledge that he didn’t have to watch the twins leave his care, Jake knew that there was one more thing he had to do to make their family complete. The minute his health returned he would confess his mistakes and his love to Coralee. And this time he wouldn’t give her reason to doubt any of his intentions.
* * *
After leaving the Hadley farm, Coralee rode the horse straight back to where the shop used to stand. The street was deserted. Most of the wreckage of the other buildings had already been sorted through and deemed unsalvageable. But Coralee couldn’t seem to stop digging in the ashes.
As the afternoon shadows lengthened, she knew it was over. Nothing was going to be saved. She started to wipe her hands on her skirt until she looked down and saw how ruined it was with stains. A bath and her soft bed sounded wonderful. How long had it been since she’d eaten? But somehow she couldn’t bring herself to leave the site and just go home.
Even as she stood there debating what to do next, Aunt Lily came marching down the street with a basket. “I thought you could use a bite to eat.” She turned all the way around, examining the devastation along Second Street. With a deep, sad sigh, she plopped down on the remains of the raised boardwalk in front of the shop.
After a moment of hesitation Coralee joined her aunt. She might as well eat before deciding what to do next. They unloaded the basket in silence before Aunt Lily offered a prayer over their meal.
“We’re thankful for Your provision for us, Father. And for protecting Coralee and our neighbors from the fire. Bless those who have to rebuild now, especially my dear niece. I know You have the best plans for her. Help her see where to go from here. Amen.”
The prayer stirred Coralee’s heart. She watched Aunt Lily as the older woman started in on her meal, trying to put her finger on what had caught her attention. When her aunt finally noticed Coralee’s gaze, her eyebrows rose in question. “What’d I say, my dear?”
“It’s just...how can you be so certain? About God, I mean.” She gestured to the destruction behind them. “I want to believe this is all for a good reason, but I just can’t see it.”
“Ah, my girl.” Aunt Lily put down her sandwich and took Coralee’s hand in her own wrinkled one. “We all have worries in life. Maybe they’re not always as big as what you’ve had to endure, but each of us has to learn to trust God somehow. I can’t carry it all by myself. I need the good Lord to lean on and people I love around me to help shoulder the load. Not one of us can live life all alone.”
Coralee focused on her untouched sandwich. “I don’t think I’m strong enough to risk losing someone else.”
“There’s always a risk in letting people into your life. Did I ever tell you about my first love?” Coralee pulled back in surprise and Aunt Lily chuckled. “Yes, it’s true. Your old aunt did fancy a young man at one time. He was so dashing. And he was in love with my dearest friend, although I didn’t know it. I only found out when they eloped.”
Coralee’s heart dropped at the pain her aunt must have endured. “How did you get through it?”
“Well, I had Mama and Papa to lean on. And your papa, who threatened to run off that young man if he ever showed his face in town again. But for years I shut my heart away, determined that I wouldn’t let anyone hurt me like that again. And I missed out on more than one opportunity to find love. I regret that today and I think you will, too, if you don’t let yourself take the chance.” Aunt Lily fell silent as she finished her sandwich.
Coralee ate in tiny bites, letting her aunt’s words sink into her heart. Before she finished, Aunt Lily stood, brushing off her skirt and straightening her bonnet. “I’ve got to get back to the café. I’ll see you later, my dear. Remember, your family loves you and so does God. He’ll always be there for you.”
Sitting in the quiet, unexpected peace came over her. She started to speak a hushed prayer, one she hadn’t been able to articulate before that moment. “I don’t know why the shop burned down, or why Jake was hurt. I don’t know why Papa and Alan were taken from me. But You said that You work out everything for our good and I think I’m finally ready to believe that.”
As the whispered words faded away, Coralee realized that Aunt Lily had hit on the core of her problem. The idea of letting Jake in scared her. It was a huge risk to her heart. But she was starting to see that if she didn’t, the lifetime of regret would be worse. She had loved Alan deeply. Even the pain of losing him and living without him was worth it for her memories of the years they had been together. If she had a second chance at that kind of love, why was she sitting here in the ruins of her past? Jake’s condition might get worse. Or maybe he would still want to keep her out of his life. But at least she would know that she had been there when he needed her.
First thing the next morning, she saddled the horse and rode to the Hadley farm again. There was a little less fear this time, but not by much. The only thing that kept her pointed in the direction of the farm was Aunt Lily’s words about regret from the day before, echoing in her mind over and over.
This time, Jake’s father heard her knock and opened the door. “Well, Coralee. We’re mighty glad you’re safe.”
“Thank you, Ezra.” She cleared her throat, hoping to get the words out around the lump that had formed without choking. “I came to see how Jake’s doing.”
“He woke up late yesterday. His throat is pretty sore and he tells us everything from his stomach to his head hurts. Doc said he looks good, considering what his body has been through. But it will be a few days until we know for sure if he’ll get better or worse.”
Coralee slumped against the door post, tears gathering in her eyes. He might be fine, or they could still lose him. But for now, he was alive. She brushed away the tears, determined not to give in to the fear. Silent prayers poured through her mind, the only thing she could think to do with the emotion that threatened to overwhelm her.
Ezra led her inside and pointed to the stairs. “I suppose you ought to go see Jake. The boy can’t talk yet, but he’ll be mighty glad to see you. Been asking about you since he woke up.”
Coralee nodded even as she blushed at the thought of Jake worrying about her. She took the stairs and headed down the hall to the bedroom at the back. The door was open. She peeked in to see sunlight streaming through the window, slanting across the quilt-covered bed where Jake was sleeping. Coralee paused in the doorway, not wanting to wake him if he needed rest. But just as she was about to tiptoe away, his eyes fluttered open and turned to her. A slow smile broke out on his face. It felt as if everything in the world shifted back into the right place.
He gestured for her to sit in the chair by his bed. As soon as she did, he reached for the paper and pencil lying next to him, wrote and turned the paper to face her. Even as she scanned the short sentence, she felt his hand grasp hers and squeeze gently.
How are you?
“I’m fine. Not quite sure what to do with myself, but I’m not hurt.” She couldn’t resist resting her free hand on his cheek. His eyes slid shut at the contact then opened again so he could scribble another sentence.
What happened the night the fire started?
“When I went to the shop to get the medicine for Mr. Price, someone was there. I just saw a shadow running out the back door. Then I smelled the fire. It started in my workroom, but I don’t know what caused it.” She paused as a wave of sorrow hit her. “The shop is gone. And five more businesses.”
Jake nodded, his eyes holding hers with an intensity that made her heart race. She turned away, focusing on the sounds filtering through the open window. The twins were shouting and laughing as they played in the yard with Jake’s father. Smoothing back wayward tendrils of hair, Coralee snuck a glance at Jake and found he was still staring at her.
The children’s happy shouts, the sunlight shining in the window, the gentle breeze ruff
ling her hair. It all faded away. Coralee was only aware of sinking in the warmth that emanated from Jake’s eyes. Flustered, she tore her eyes away and stood so suddenly her chair almost tipped over.
“I... I hope you’ll start to feel better soon. I need to go.” She had barely choked the words out when his hand grabbed hers, holding her in place. He shook his head. The message was clear: don’t run away.
She knew the impulse to leave was an attempt to avoid her new reality. If she stopped long enough, she would have to admit that her feelings for Jake were deeper than she wanted them to be. She would have to face the fact that even if Jake fully recovered, anything could happen in the future that would take him away from her. She had never seen Jake so pale and weak, lying there in bed. He was always steady, so certain. But now, even the certainty of Jake’s presence was gone. Nothing was secure.
Not even Papa’s shop, his legacy to her. Her livelihood, the only thing she had accomplished on her own, devoured by the flames. It would take her years to recreate the kind of stock her father had gathered before he died. And that was if she could even find the money for a new building. All the money she had left from Alan and Papa had gone into running the shop for those last few hard months. They had only just started to bounce back with the new medicine bringing customers in.
It all threatened to overwhelm her. Her world was completely shattered. How could she ever recover any semblance of security? Her eyes turned to meet Jake’s. With the hand that still held hers, he pulled her closer. She sat on the edge of the bed, so close to him. Too close. He released her hand and wrote again.
I’m sorry about the shop. I know how important it was to you. But God has His hand on you. He kept you safe for a reason. You don’t have to be afraid to face the uncertainty. You aren’t alone.
It was the second time in as many days that someone she cared about had told her that. God has a plan. You’re not alone. She bit her lip, searching Jake’s eyes. Could that be all there was to it? Could she just decide to trust God and risk leaning on Jake? It seemed too simple.
* * *
Jake’s pulse raced with Coralee’s closeness. Seeing her walk into his room, unharmed by the fire, his heart felt lighter than air. If only he could get out of this bed, he would have held her the moment he laid eyes on her. Instead he could only lie there and watch her heart break.
He shifted, frustrated by his new limitations. He wanted to be there for her. Taking a deep breath, he tried to push himself up in bed. Never mind the pain in his head and throat or the nausea that washed over him when he moved. He could ignore it all long enough to get to her.
But before he could even sit all the way up, dizziness made him slump back against the headboard. Her sharp gasp brought his eyes to her face. Leaning over, she helped him settle back onto the pillow. Then she rearranged the covers twice before finally meeting his gaze. He had never been surer of anything in his life. Now was the time to act.
He captured her hand again, watching the emotions play across her face as she resisted the urge to run. Airy warmth rushed into his chest. She was confronting her fears. For him. He reached up with his free hand and cupped her cheek, running the pad of his thumb over her soft skin. His hand slid around the back of her neck and he gently pulled her closer.
The moment their lips touched would be forever etched in his memory. The kiss was everything he could have hoped. Her lips were soft and warm on his. She tensed for a moment but relaxed into his embrace as he moved his lips on hers. Jake knew he should pull away, but he couldn’t make any effort to do so. He was sinking further into the swirling warmth when the sound of a polite cough came from the doorway, finally breaking the kiss.
Coralee jumped away, flustered and flushed. As she retreated to sit in the chair by his bed, Samuel stepped into the room with eyebrows arched. Jake refused to be apologetic for a moment that he could never regret. He gestured for his mentor to enter the room.
“Mrs. Evans, I’m glad you’re here. There are some things we need to discuss.” Samuel lowered himself into a chair as Coralee’s eyes met Jake’s, confusion all over her face. Jake shrugged. He had no idea what Samuel had to say that would involve them both. But as he watched the older man struggle for words, he could see a sense of brokenness in Samuel that had never been there before. Whatever the man wanted to get off his chest, it was important.
“The events surrounding the fire were my fault.”
Jake stared at Samuel, mouth falling open in shock.
Coralee voiced the words he couldn’t force out around the pain and swelling. “Dr. Jay, we’ve had more than our share of differences in the past few years, that’s true. But I saw a figure in my shop when the fire started and I’m certain it was not you.”
Samuel shook his head, eyes glued to his hands as they fidgeted in his lap. “I didn’t start the blaze, but it is my responsibility, nonetheless. I hired two men to watch you, Mrs. Evans. I hoped they would see something I could use to discredit you. As soon as I met them, I was uncomfortable with the arrangement. But I went through with it anyway.”
He met their confused gazes head-on as the confession poured from his lips. “I want to be clear that I didn’t ask them to go into your shop. In fact, I gave them specific instructions that they were only to watch and report back to me. They weren’t supposed to do anything else. But they took it upon themselves to break into your shop and search through your things, hoping to find something to give me. One of them came and confessed before they left town. They were just leaving the shop when you arrived, Mrs. Evans. The sound of the door opening startled one of them and he knocked over a lantern, which started the fire.”
Coralee sucked in a breath. “And where are these men now? Why didn’t you stop them from leaving?”
“I am getting along in years, you know. There was no way I could physically stop them.” He hung his head. “I’m humiliated to admit that I’ve been the biggest sort of coward. I felt so responsible that I didn’t go to the sheriff when they left, afraid I would be arrested for my part in the affair. And then I came here, cared for Jake, acted like I was shocked by the events of that night when all along I was afraid to confess my involvement. I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”
“I don’t understand, Dr. Jay. Why do you dislike me so much? Why have you done everything in your power to ruin my business?”
Samuel heaved a sad sigh at her imploring words. “That’s a very long story.”
Coralee leaned back in the chair and crossed her arms, eyes shooting sparks. “We have time. I think I have a right to know what’s caused my life and family so much harm.”
“Yes, I suppose you do. It may surprise you to know that I was married, once, years ago. She was the loveliest woman I’ve ever seen. Gentle and kind. We came west with some of the first settlers. It was rough in those days, but she was a strong woman and doctors were needed badly. So we worked hard and carved out a life for ourselves. When the time came for her to deliver our first child, she insisted that the area midwife attend her. She didn’t want me to feel that I had to stay with her if an emergency arose.”
He looked up at them, sadness etched in every line of his face. “The woman that arrived had vastly overrated her own skills. And, sure enough, before the baby was born a neighbor needed my services for an emergency. By the time I returned and realized the midwife didn’t know what she was doing, it was too late. My darling wife and baby were both lost.”
Samuel stood and paced the room as words continued to pour out, his voice hoarse with emotion. “I’ve seen it too many times. Charlatans inflating their abilities to make money off unsuspecting patients. Risking the lives of the people I vowed to heal.” He turned to face them with stooped shoulders.
Jake couldn’t believe how different this man looked from the overconfident doctor he had worked with.
“When Mrs. Evans took over the apotheca
ry business, all I could see was a woman who came out of nowhere. She was uncertified and, I assumed, unqualified.” He stepped closer to where Coralee was listening to his story with parted lips and sympathetic eyes. “Dr. Hadley tried to tell me that you are more than capable of treating the people of Spring Hill. But my pride stood in the way of admitting that he could be right. Until now. Seeing the horrible results of that pride, I imagine I may have been wrong about you. I’m just sorry I let it all get so out of hand before I realized that.”
Looking older and more tired than Jake could ever have imagined, Samuel knelt in front of Coralee and took her hand in both of his. “Mrs. Evans, I hope you can one day forgive me for all I’ve done. I hurt you because I couldn’t let go of my own bitterness and grief. And I regret that more than I can express.”
“Oh, Dr. Jay. I had no idea what you’ve gone through. I know a thing or two about losing someone you love. That kind of pain can cause us to react in ways we aren’t proud of.” She peeked at Jake over Samuel’s head and her full lips lifted in a slight smile. “Of course, I forgive you. I hope you can also forgive me for reacting with anger, rather than trying to understand what drove you to such lengths.”
Samuel patted her hand with one slow, deliberate nod.
He stood and turned to Jake. “I’m pleased to say that I do believe you’ll make a full recovery, Dr. Hadley. If you give yourself time to heal. The last item I need to cover is the state of my practice in the wake of my deplorable actions. I left some paperwork with your mother, along with instructions for sending it to my solicitor in St. Louis. When you sign those papers, my practice is yours. I know you’ll do the position more justice than I have.”
Coralee jumped from her chair as the older doctor turned to leave. “But what will you do?”
Taking on Twins Page 19