Mom nodded in satisfaction and leaned back again. Raven scratched her nose where some of Mom’s hair had tickled her.
The crowd cheered about something Raven missed.
Rosie leaned closer. “Are you and Wade going to Kerrville with the team for their away game next week?”
“No, I don’t think so. I haven’t heard from Wade yet, but he’d mentioned going to see a show.” Raven inwardly cringed at the half lie. Wade had commented about seeing a movie a month or so ago. They’d gone out once in the last two weeks, and it’d been weird. It was like the marriage topic was an elephant in the room that neither of them wanted to address. They’d eaten their meal and then gone their separate ways. Truthfully, every time they met, she expected him to break up with her. “Hopefully he’ll make it to the next home game, though.”
Rosie seemed satisfied with that.
Raven finished her hot dog and pulled her phone out. She checked texts and discovered it’d been over a week since she’d last heard from Wade. She typed out a short message.
“Hey. We haven’t talked in a while. I hope all is well.”
She sent it and then stared at the screen for several moments before slipping the phone into her pocket again.
Rosie grunted and placed a hand on one side of her belly. “Oh, this girl is using my bladder for a trampoline.” She rubbed the spot affectionately. “Did I tell you we finally settled on a name?”
Raven sat up straighter and smiled at her sister’s extended abdomen. She loved the idea of having a niece to spoil. “No! What is it? Oh, I know. You’re naming her after me, aren’t you? How kind!” She batted her eyelashes until Rosie smacked her on the arm.
“You are too funny.” She gave Raven an amused look. “We’re naming her Tilly Anne. With an ‘e’ of course.”
“Of course.” Raven used to tease Rosie about how often she watched Anne of Green Gables. Rosie swore she’d give her daughter the middle name of Anne one day. “It’s a beautiful name.” Raven couldn’t wait to cuddle her little niece.
“Thanks!” Rosie beamed. “By the way, one of the ladies at the bank saw Heath the other day.” She gave Raven a curious look. “Are you still his physical therapist?”
Their parents were seated in the row behind them. As soon as they heard Raven and Rosie talking about Heath, they were all ears. When they first found out he was going to the CRC for therapy, they’d been thrilled. But after giving Raven the third degree and getting nothing in return, the subject dropped. Now that Heath’s name had come up in conversation again, they were nearly climbing into their daughters’ laps.
Their father, Roy, put a hand on Raven’s shoulder. “I always knew that boy would bounce back. Have you reconsidered the possibility of reconnecting with him?”
Raven didn’t even fight the groan that escaped her throat. How many times did they have to go over this? The man she loved walked away from her and didn’t even say hi for twelve years, and her dad wanted to welcome him back with open arms? Then again, her parents assumed she’d driven him away. If it was Rosie’s boyfriend who’d left, Raven was certain things would’ve been different.
Rosie looked excited. “Maybe you can invite him to come to a home game. I know the boys on the team would be star-struck to have one of our own hometown heroes here to cheer them on.”
Mom’s voice sounded from behind. “What a great idea! I’m sure Raven will remember to ask him, Rosie. Anything we can do to bolster our team’s enthusiasm is a good thing.”
Raven rubbed her temple, her head pounding with a headache that seemed to intensify with each passing moment. If she had to listen to them talk about Heath for the rest of the game, she’d need at least an order of nachos and a double dose of Tylenol to go with it.
~*~
Heath stirred the pancake batter and then, using a crutch to support his left leg, spooned some onto the hot griddle. His foot was steadily improving and didn’t bother him nearly as much as it had even a week or two ago.
The sizzling sound plus the smell of bacon cooking in the skillet made his stomach growl. He missed these big Sunday breakfasts. He recalled many mornings watching cartoons on TV while his mother’s amazing cooking filled the house with mouth-watering scents. They’d eat their big breakfast before going to second service at church.
It all seemed so long ago.
Today, his father sat at the dining room table as he read every word of the sports section of the newspaper. The cup of coffee he’d insisted on first thing that morning sat forgotten at his elbow. Meanwhile, Mom sipped at her orange juice and looked through the coupons.
Heath slid the spatula under one pancake and flipped it over without causing a mess. The first two pancakes hadn’t fared so well. But then, he was out of practice. He didn’t normally bother making himself a nice breakfast like this.
His father’s paper lowered enough to reveal a pair of dark eyes watching him. “Son, you should sit and rest that leg of yours. Save your energy for therapy. Let your mother make breakfast.”
Mom tossed him a disapproving look.
Heath flipped the other pancakes. “Mom made breakfast for me every Sunday growing up. The least I can do is make it for her today.” When he winked at her, the smile she gave him made it all worthwhile. Even getting the flak from his father. “Besides, I need to earn my keep somehow.”
His father lifted the paper to conceal his face again. “Get back on the field. That’s repayment enough for me.”
Mom cringed a little, but Heath gave her a reassuring smile. Truthfully, he’d been poking around town the last few weeks looking at real estate. He’d found the perfect place and planned to tell his parents this morning. Living with them the last month and a half was about all he could handle. Mom was great, but Pop made the whole thing way more difficult than it needed to be.
Heath added the cooked pancakes to the mangled ones on a nearby plate and spooned more batter onto the griddle.
By the time the meal was ready, Heath was glad to sit down again. He wasn’t about to admit that to anyone else, though. He poured syrup over his pancakes and added some to his eggs. No doubt his father objected. The added sugars wouldn’t be on what he’d consider a football-approved diet.
Mom lifted her fork. “This is wonderful, Heath. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He smiled. “I’m looking forward to going to church this morning. It’ll be great to get out for a while.” He hadn’t ventured to church since he’d come back to Clearwater. At first, he thought he’d lie low, get through physical therapy, and get out of town again. But he’d already had buddies from high school stop by to say hello. When Heath dropped by the store for a while, he had a string of visitors there as well. In the end, he decided he may as well go back to church. Everyone seemed to know he was in Clearwater anyway.
Besides, he hadn’t been going to church as regularly as he should be. Guilt twisted in his gut. Sorry, God, that it took an injury like this for me to realize I was neglecting time with You.
The three of them ate in relative silence for several minutes before Pop brought up therapy again. “You getting out of that boot soon?”
“Hopefully in the next month.” Heath couldn’t wait to be rid of the thing.
“Good. Then you can go back to that team of yours and show them how hard you’re working to get back on the field.” He speared a piece of pancake with his fork and popped it into his mouth.
Heath set his own fork down and took a deep breath. “Mom. Pop. I’ve decided to buy a place here in Clearwater.”
Mom’s face morphed into a huge grin, which was a direct contrast to the frown on his father’s.
It was Pop who spoke first, a hint of anger in his voice. “You’d better not be talking early retirement.”
“I’m not. But I need space here, and I think you do, too.” He glanced at his mom. “I don’t want this much time to pass before I see you again. I’ll have a place to stay when I visit.”
His words brought happ
y tears to Mom’s eyes. He was doing this for her. For himself. He didn’t think Pop would care either way, but the words that came out of his father’s mouth shocked Heath.
“Raven.” He spat out her name like a piece of rotten food. “You should have requested a different physical therapist weeks ago like I told you to.” He turned his attention to Heath’s mother. “He was never able to keep his head in the game when it came to that Weber girl.”
Mom reached over and laid a comforting hand on Pop’s arm. “Now, Gabe.” But he only shifted away from her, crossing his arms in front of him.
Heath lost his appetite. “Don’t you dare blame Raven for this. She has nothing to do with it—you made sure of that twelve years ago.” He’d resented the way his father felt about Raven in high school, and apparently those feelings were closer to the surface than he realized. “I bought a new car I’m supposed to pick up tomorrow, Pop. And I purchased a house on the other side of town. I’m moving in this week. You know as well as I do that it’s not healthy for either of us if I stay here. It’ll give us both space until I can move back to Cleveland.”
Pop stared at him, and Heath held his gaze without blinking until Mom spoke. “Raven’s in a relationship and has been for months. Last I heard, they were serious about each other.” She took a sip of her orange juice.
Heath straightened in his seat. He and Raven had steered clear of anything personal over the last few weeks. She’d never mentioned a significant other, and he’d refused to ask. He assumed the lack of a wedding ring meant she wasn’t married, but apparently it was only a matter of time. “Really? I had no idea. That’s great.” Hopefully he’d put the right amount of interest in his voice.
“I guess he’s a doctor over at the hospital. A renal specialist, I think. Pam at the hair salon knows Raven’s mother.”
For the first time that morning, his father relaxed a little. “That’s good. Real good.” He gave Heath another pointed look before returning to his breakfast.
A doctor. Wow. Yeah, she’d gone about as far away from dating a football player as she could. She deserved to be happy. To live her life. Wasn’t that what they’d both been doing the last twelve years?
The unexpected twist of jealousy in Heath’s chest only irritated him. He didn’t care what Raven did in her spare time or who she dated.
Now how many times did he have to repeat that before he believed it himself?
Chapter Five
Raven tried to cover a yawn Tuesday morning as she waited for Chrissy to hand her a cup of coffee. The moment that cup touched her palm, Raven wrapped her hands around it and absorbed the warmth. Too bad she couldn’t absorb the caffeine as easily.
When she’d talked to Rosie on Friday about Wade, she’d had no idea how different things would end up a couple days later. Why couldn’t she go home and sleep the rest of the week away? Instead of rushing out like she normally would, Raven took a small sip and flinched as the hot liquid hit her lips and tongue.
“You okay?”
Raven looked up to find Chrissy watching her with concern. “What makes you think everything isn’t?”
One corner of Chrissy’s mouth pulled to the side, and she shot Raven that “Don’t kid a kidder” look. “You want me to get you a mirror? Seriously, what’s going on?”
Raven didn’t want to talk about it, but then, she didn’t want to go to work yet either. She sighed and sagged against the counter. “Wade broke up with me last night.” There, she said it. That made it feel more official than the actual conversation with Wade had.
Chrissy looked over her shoulder. “Sal, I’m taking my ten.” She got a nod of acknowledgment from her coworker, tossed a towel onto the counter, and led Raven to a corner table. “I’m so sorry, Raven. That stinks. What happened?”
“Nothing.” When Chrissy looked doubtful, Raven continued. “I’m serious, nothing has happened for weeks. At first, I thought we were missing each other because of our schedules. He’s always either at his office seeing patients or at the hospital, which I’ve understood and supported. I’d convinced myself that’s why he hadn’t called as much.”
Looking back, Raven had suspected the breakup was coming. There were a handful of times she’d thought to go to the hospital to say hi or invite him to dinner. But every time, she’d worry she’d interrupt him or make him feel obligated. Those were all only excuses, though.
Raven told her friend as much. “What if I sabotaged this? What if it was all me? Wade is a great guy. Seriously, what woman wouldn’t want a relationship with a surgeon who spends his time helping other people? Not to mention he’s super sweet.” She set her coffee on the table and let her head fall into her hands. “I’m defective, Chrissy.”
The last thing Raven expected was to hear her friend laugh. Raven’s head jerked up, and she shot Chrissy a look that insisted she explain herself.
Chrissy tried to stop laughing, held up her hand, and then burst into giggles again. “I’m so sorry, Raven,” she said through short pants to get herself under control. “I wouldn’t be laughing if what you said hadn’t been so ridiculous.” She reached for a napkin and tried to use it to fan her face. Purple strands of hair fluttered in the breeze. “You’re right, Wade is a great guy.”
Raven groaned. She knew she was letting him slip right through her fingers. What was wrong with her?
“But,” Chrissy continued, “you are amazing, sweet, and anything but defective.”
“What’s your point, Chrissy?”
“It doesn’t matter how perfect you guys were together if you weren’t in love with each other.”
Raven blinked at her friend. Love. She’d never been in love with Wade. The realization hit her so hard, it took several moments to digest the information. She had to guess that Wade had never been in love with her, either. Otherwise they wouldn’t have been able to walk away from each other so easily. “You’re right.”
Chrissy crossed her arms in front of her and leaned back in her chair, a look of satisfaction on her face. “You’re welcome.”
Raven wadded up a napkin and tossed it across the table pegging, Chrissy right in the ear.
Chrissy picked it up off the floor and kept it out of Raven’s reach. “Is that the way to treat your best friend who also provides your caffeine fixes?”
Now it was Raven’s turn to laugh. “Maybe not, but I can’t let you go on thinking you’re too perfect.” She winked. Her mind returned to her recent break up and the smile on her face faded again. “The whole thing still stinks, though.”
“Yeah, it does.” Chrissy glanced at her watch and must have decided she still had another minute or two to talk. “Have you and Heath managed to get along without killing each other so far?”
Raven didn’t particularly appreciate Heath coming up as a segue to their conversation about her failed love life. “We’ve been keeping it professional. It’s all about his therapy and nothing else. Which is the way it should be.”
“But you’re getting along okay?”
“We’re both working as hard as we can to get him back to Cleveland. Why he didn’t see a PT there is beyond me.” Enough about Heath. “So what’s going on with you? Any hot dates lately?”
Chrissy snorted in a very unladylike fashion. “Um, no. You kidding? I’m pretty much here or at home.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “The only interest I seem to get is from wackadoodles who think drawing suggestive images on a napkin along with their phone number is a good idea. Do they think anyone would call them back? If they’re lucky, they’ll get a restraining order one day.”
Raven chuckled. “Are you serious?” Chrissy gave her a look that said she was dead serious. “Wow, that’s messed up. Come on, there has to be one handsome guy that frequents this place you’d happily go out with if given the chance.”
Chrissy shrugged. “Maybe. But it would be completely unprofessional.” She straightened in her seat. “Speaking of professional, I’d better get back to it.”
“Ye
ah, I’d better go myself before I’m late.” Raven smiled at her friend. “Thanks, Chrissy.”
“You’re welcome. Hang in there, huh?”
Raven lifted her cup of coffee in response. They both stood and went their separate ways.
Once in her car, Raven turned on the music and cranked up the volume to drown out all thoughts of both Wade and Heath. Belting out the chorus to “Carry On My Wayward Son” by Kansas certainly helped.
Once at work, she welcomed her first patient. Working kept her busy enough to keep the emotions of her failed romance from her head. Until Heath’s appointment. With one hand on the doorknob, she took a deep breath. Help me stay focused, God.
She straightened her spine, turned the knob, and walked in. The sight of Heath sitting in the chair caused her heart to flip flop in her chest.
Until now, all the isometric exercises she’d been giving him had only required verbal instruction from her. Today, that would change.
She asked him the usual series of questions about his progress since their last session. Once she’d jotted down the answers, she took in a subtle breath. “Dr. Bright checked your incision on Thursday and everything looked great. Today we’ll start scar mobilization therapy. Are you familiar with it?”
“Enough to hear it’s not pleasant.” He leaned against the back of the chair, his booted foot resting on the floor in front of him.
“That’s true, although it helps a great deal in the long run. Once we can get that soft tissue loosened up, you’ll experience less scar tissue and pain.”
She’d hoped he would go back to Cleveland before they reached this point. Raven waited for Heath to remove his boot and then asked him to lie face down on the padded table. She placed a rolled towel beneath his leg just above his foot. “We’ll start off with a gentle massage each session. After a week or two, we’ll increase the intensity of the massage as the wound continues to heal.”
She suddenly wondered if her hands were too cold. She slipped them into her pockets and kept them there as she explained what they would be working on. Hopefully it had been long enough to warm them up a little. Which bothered her because it wasn’t something she normally worried about with the rest of her patients. It was all because of her conversation with Chrissy. I need a vacation. “Do you have any questions?”
Marrying Raven (Brides of Clearwater Book 2) Page 4