Her Valentine Hero

by Gail Gaymer Martin

  She nodded. “See you later, Daddy.” She wiggled her fingers his way.

  Jonny grasped the door, and leaned in. “Good night, Fred. I’ll get her home safely.”

  “I know you will.” Her dad’s voice sailed toward him.

  She stepped onto the snowy porch and closed the door, and Jonny linked his arm in hers as they walked down the stairs.

  “You missed a good meal.” He leaned his shoulder against hers. “And I missed you being there.”

  “Thanks, but we had a nice dinner at home.” Nice but quiet. She told him about the stuffing her father loved and Ashley’s visit. “But it turned into a mess. Can you believe Ashley called me a martyr because I stayed home with Dad?”

  He opened the car door, and she slipped inside. Jonny rounded the car, and when he climbed in, he paused. “Your sister feels guilty leaving you and your dad on Thanksgiving. That’s her way of putting the blame on you.”

  He was probably right, but it hurt. With Christmas coming, she’d have to plan differently. She didn’t want the same thing to happen again, and it could. This time she’d accept the invitation...if he asked this time.

  As Jonny drove to Ty’s, they talked about the food they planned to prepare for the homeless, but again she recalled the feeling she had about the dinner invitation. Silly that she’d felt that way. His parents’ invitation had been natural. How many times had she eaten with Rainie and Rainie, with her. Maybe she had played martyr.

  When they pulled into the driveway, Neely gazed at the lovely house Ty had recently purchased for Rainie for their first home. The glow of lights in the windows and the welcoming porch light aroused Neely’s envy. She wanted the best for Rainie, and she would have it with a great husband. Ty had proved to be a hard worker, intelligent and loving. He made Rainie laugh, and as her dad always said, “Laughter is the best medicine.” She’d learned that over the years. If she can laugh at her flaws and foolishness, she felt better. Her biggest folly with Erik was one thing she could never laugh away.

  Jonny opened her door, and they made their way through the snow to the house. Ty opened the front door, a warm greeting on his face that almost matched the warm glow through the windows. “Welcome to our leftover night.”

  She chuckled as Rainie wrapped her arms around her and drew her in. The scent of baked ham permeated the air, and she realized she’d forgotten to eat lunch. Ty swept them into the dining room. “I’ll take your drink order, and just dig in. Everything’s ready.”

  Neely accepted a cup of hot mulled cider and the others gave their orders, and she stood at the buffet beside the plates and gazed at the lavish meal. Rainie slipped to her side. “Mom insisted we bring half the dinner here for tonight. You know her.”

  Neely did. She took a slice of ham, candied yams, traditional bread stuffing, mixed vegetables and coleslaw. The others followed along the buffet, and they settled around the table. The conversation between bites lifted her spirit—memories of their past, wedding plans in the spring, and Jonny’s winning basketball team. Rainie asked about her job at the school and about her dad, but she noticed no mention of Ashley entered the talk. Jonny must have warned Rainie. Her heart skipped thinking of Jonny’s protection. Like a fairytale hero, he’d taken on the job of dragon slayer.

  When Ty finished, he gathered dishes and gave them a list of board games they could play. While he and Jonny talked the pros and cons of the games, Rainie hooked her arm into hers. “Let me show you the house. I can’t wait to move in.”

  The men’s voices faded as Rainie led her to a cozy den and then the year-round porch that looked out into a well-landscaped backyard. Next she followed Rainie up the stairs to the bedrooms, and once inside the master suite—huge walk-in closet and large bathroom—Rainie pulled her down on the edge of the mattress and grasped her hand. “I’ve never seen Jon so happy.”

  Her chest constricted as she looked into Rainie’s eyes, having no idea how to respond. “He’s a nice guy. I can’t imagine him being any other way.”

  But the look on her friend’s face made her question what she’d said.

  “He’s been a loner in a way. Jon’s always cordial to people, and they like him, but he doesn’t always relate. He sticks pretty much to his class work and his teams. He’s very responsible.”

  “And caring. He treats my dad as if he were his own.” After the words came out, Neely wished she hadn’t spoken them aloud.

  “I know. It’s you, Neely. You bring out the best in him.”

  She flinched. “I don’t do anything special. Nothing. I’m just me. We see each other at work. He enjoys exercising. He likes my dad. He—”

  “He likes you. He always has. Why do you think he followed you around so much when we were teenagers? He swore me to secrecy. I always wanted to tell you to be gentle with him. He adored you...for some reason.”

  The last phrase lightened the mood, and Neely chuckled. “Thanks.”

  “I’m teasing. I love you, too, but his love is real.” Rainie locked her eyes with hers. “I’m not joking now.”

  Air seeped from Neely’s lungs. “He told me a while ago he had a crush on me when—”

  “It’s was a crush...but it’s not a crush. It’s real feelings. I see it in his eyes. The way he looks at you. The things he’s been doing with his time. Walking with your dad. Do you think that’s typical of a man? Sure, he likes your father, but he’s spending time with him.”

  “I know. I wonder why.”

  She dropped back against the mattress and gazed at the ceiling. “Then you’re stupid.”

  Neely blinked. The past few months she didn’t know anything about herself. She’d become a martyr. A worrier. A blind person. Just plain stupid if what Rainie said was true. “But I didn’t know. I thought...”

  “Has he kissed you?”

  “He tried a couple of times.”

  “Tried?” Rainie’s forehead rumpled.

  “My dad walked in on us.” Neely reeled with the memory.

  “And that’s it?”

  Neely’s heart flew to her throat. “Once, but it was short. Dad again.”

  “Your dad? Jon ought to drag you away by the hair to a quiet, private place...like a caveman.” Her frown deepened. “It was all one-sided then?”

  The truth will set you free. The meaning tore through her mind. “No. I kissed him once when his team won the homecoming game.”

  Rainie’s head shake went along with her arched eyebrow. “It only counts when it’s on the lips.”

  “It counts.” She couldn’t help but grin.

  “Hey, what are you two doing?” Ty strutted through the doorway with Jonny on his heels.

  “Girl talk.” Rainie rose. “I guess we have to play games.”

  Ty slipped his arm around her back and drew her close. “I’d say so.”

  They chuckled as Ty kissed the end of her nose.

  Even that sent Neely’s pulse soaring. She stole a look at Jonny and realized he’d been gazing at her. He closed the distance and slipped his arm around her waist. “I talked him out of Monopoly, but I gave in to Clue. Can you handle it?”

  “Sure. Miss Scarlet committed the crime in the library with the candlestick.”

  He squeezed her closer. “I guess you can handle it?”

  Rainie’s words wrapped around her mind as she headed down the stairs. Thinking back so much made sense, and even though Jonny told her he’d had a crush, she didn’t know the depth of his feelings. For that matter, she didn’t know the depth of hers.

  * * *

  In Jon’s eyes the Thanksgiving weekend had been an amusement park. Neely’s refusal to his dinner invitation sent him on a roller coaster ride. He knew the car would nosedive down a track flying through a dark tunnel but never sure of when. Though he’d enjoyed his family, his thoughts ha
d been tied to Neely. She’d told him about Rainie’s invitation to spend the day with Erik, and it seemed a perfect chance for her to spend time with his family. He even considered Fred’s part in it. His dad would have talked a leg off the man who was hungry for adult male conversation. He adored his girls, but men’s talk and women’s talk was decidedly different.

  But Neely had refused. Asking her out for Friday took courage. He anticipated the same kind of response. Instead he’d enjoyed a pleasant surprise. The evening had been fun, good food, good talk, and lots of laughs playing the games. Neely looked relaxed, and her eyes sparkled when she discovered a clue that allowed her to solve the first game. Mr. Mustard did it in the conservatory with the rope. Hearing her pronouncement made him smile.

  He’d longed to kiss her many times when he observed the loving relationship between Rainie and Ty. They were meant for each other, and in his heart, he believed that Neely was meant for him. Now to convince her.

  One thing that confused him was the end of the evening. She and Rainie seemed to have an unspoken conversation, and the more they eyed each other, the more she relaxed. He’d noticed her looking at him for no reason, and he sensed something was going on in her head, but he couldn’t figure it out this time.

  Neely had even taken his hand and gave it a squeeze when he’d said what a good time he was having. It was her way, he guessed, to tell him she was having fun, too.

  He’d wanted to ask her out tonight, but she’d dropped a hint that she wanted to spend time with her dad since she’d been away from him the night before. More guilt, he figured. So why hadn’t he made plans with her dad? Then he’d be there whether she liked it or not. He grinned, listening to his cockamamie thoughts.

  Instead of moping, Jon turned on the TV and leaned back in his recliner. Since she’d said no about dinner, he planned to eat light. It made sense following the abundance of the Thursday and Friday meals. He’d pulled out a can of low-cal soup—the brand all the women had been talking about in the teacher’s lounge the past few weeks—and picked up a turkey sandwich.

  He snapped through the channels, searching for one of the college football games. He clicked past Oregon at Stanford and grinned when he landed on Michigan at Ohio State. He eyed the clock and decided to wait awhile before eating.

  Flipping up the recliner footrest, he leaned back, remote in hand. The TV commercial ended, and the camera focused on the replay as the announcer relived the touchdown.

  His cell phone buzzed, and he snapped the chair forward, wondering where he’d put his cell phone. He slapped his hands on his pockets, then dropped the footrest and darted to the table across the living room. Neely’s ID glowed on the screen. He poked the button. “Hi. This is a surprise.”

  “I hate to bother you, but can you come over?”

  Her voice rang with panic. “What’s wrong?”

  “My dad. I’m not sure what’s going on and he’s refusing to let me call a doctor. I hate to call Ashley and ask her to come. She has Joey and—”

  “Neely, stop. It’s okay. What are his symptoms?”

  “He seems short of breath, and he’s holding his chest. He says he’s nauseated. When I ask if it feels like a heart attack, he rolls his eyes and saying it’s nothing.”

  He could picture Fred denying what was evident. “Pains down his arms?”

  “I asked. He said no.”

  “No sense in fooling around. I’ll be there in a minute. Don’t listen to him. No one wants to be sick. Call nine-one-one.”

  Sandwich forgotten, Jon slipped on his shoes and coat, grabbed his keys and darted from the house. He prayed Neely did as he said and called an ambulance. As he shifted into Reverse, guilt assailed him. Should he have made Fred walk slower and pause to take a rest? He’d heard him huffing and puffing at times, but he knew exercise could strengthen muscles, and the heart was a muscle. But maybe he’d made a mistake.

  If he’d been at fault, he’d never forgive himself.

  Chapter Twelve

  “I’ll have to ask you to wait in the waiting room for now. It’s right down the—”

  “I know where it is.” Neely stepped toward the triage curtain.

  The doctor’s assistant nodded and waited as Neely slipped into the space between the closed curtains and made her way to the triage exit. She could hear tears and sobs, slurred curse words, and the hum of voices dealing with the emergency patients.

  Stepping into the admittance area, she drew a ragged breath, longing to calm her fears. Guilt riddled her that she’d allowed her dad to do things she preferred he didn’t. She’d read the internet article on heart attacks and thought she’d done the right thing.

  She turned down the hallway, and while struggling to regain her composure, she entered the waiting area. Jonny rose as she approached, and she stepped in his arms. “I’m so worried. I pray he’ll be okay.”

  “Prayer is good for a start.”

  His words whispered against her ear, sending a chill down her spine. He held her close, and the scent of his aftershave wrapped around her, offering a feeling of comfort. Jonny provided her with a sense of security she hadn’t felt in years. No matter what she needed, he seemed to be there for her. “Thanks so much, Jonny.”

  “What are they doing now?”

  His serious expression touched her. “After they checked his records, they gave him nitroglycerin, but the pain didn’t stop. They did an EKG and blood tests while I was there, and now I think they said they wanted to do an echocardiogram. Maybe chest X-rays, too.” Feeling overwhelmed, she sagged against him.

  His arms loosened, and he motioned to the chairs. She unwrapped herself from his arms and sank into a Naugahyde chair. “I had to leave. I wish I could stay and hear what they say.”

  “The doctor will send for you. They’ll talk to you. I’m sure you know that.” He slipped his hand over hers as she gripped the chair arm.

  “I know. We brought my mom to Beaumont when she became so ill. I remember it all too well.” She lifted her eyes to his. “I’m sure that’s why I’m so frightened.”

  “But you don’t have to be. Your dad’s coloring was good, and he was spunky. You know how he is.” He gave her fingers a squeeze.

  For the first time since she’d called him, she grinned. “He can be a pistol, can’t he?”

  Though Jonny grinned back, she sensed something more in his expression.

  “You’re worried, too.”

  “No, I believe he’ll be fine. If it is a heart attack, he’s here and in good hands. You were on top of it, and we got him here fast.”

  She lowered her head, hating to admit what had been bugging her. “I shouldn’t have let him do so much. I shouldn’t have believed the articles.”

  He chuckled, and it surprised her.

  Jonny lifted her fingers and kissed her knuckles. “You’re saying what I’ve been thinking. I’m the one that went walking with him. I heard his labored breathing sometimes, but I didn’t stop him because I know exercise is good for heart patients. He wasn’t walking up hill. He—”

  “Stop blaming yourself.” Her chest tightened. “You’re sweet, Jonny.”

  He grinned. “Thanks. I guess I feel a little to blame, too.”

  They settled into comfortable silence. The TV blatted a game show, and she studied the question, digging in her memory for the answer.

  Jonny rose and stretched. “Want some coffee?” He motioned to the urns close to the door.

  She nodded, all the while fearing the stuff would taste like mud. Surprised when he came back, she took a sip, and the coffee tasted fresh. “Thanks.” She settled her back against the seat cushion, willing her mind away from her worries. Sending up a prayer, she closed her eyes and pictured her dad’s face. Jonny was right. He had color in his cheeks, and the pain didn’t stop him from his usual comm
ents about the Bible saying honor your father, and she wasn’t because she was forcing him to go to emergency. Jonny had stood beside her chuckling, and she caught her dad giving him a wink.

  He loved Jonny. She saw it in his actions and heard it in his comments, especially the continual reference that she should snatch him up before another woman stole him away. Those times she did think about the possibility. She’d watched Cindy throw herself at Jonny more than once, and she guessed Cindy wasn’t the only woman in Jonny’s life who saw him as a possible husband.

  When she looked up, his gorgeous eyes captured hers, and her lungs collapsed. He would make an amazing husband. Anyone would be a fool not to see his great attributes.

  “Five bucks for your thoughts.”

  She chuckled at his playful request, but behind her grin, heat rolled up her chest to her cheeks. Had her eyes given away her thoughts? “I wouldn’t tell you for a hundred dollars.”

  “Whoa. Those must be some powerful thoughts.” In a heartbeat, his grin shrank. “I know you’re thinking of your dad.”

  True. She had been, but as happened so often, Jonny elbowed his way into her mind and everything else scattered. She checked her watch and then compared it to the wall clock. “How long do you think we’ll have to wait?”

  He shrugged. “Hard to know how long the tests take.”

  The time could drag on forever, and she faced that she should have insisted Ashley come with her. “I’m sorry I dragged you into this. I should have—”

  “You should have done what you did—call me.” He slipped his arm along the chair back and drew closer. “Ashley has Joey to handle. Bringing him here would be hard on her and you.”

  He was right and yet... “When I called to tell her we were taking him to emergency, she just said keep her posted.”

  “See. She has more sense than you.” He gave her a poke.

  The lighthearted moment settled around her, and she elbowed him in the side. “Thanks.” Then she shifted to face him. “I really mean that. Thanks for keeping me steady and from going off the deep end, and thanks for your help always. I’ve come to count on you for so many things, and...” And what? And I should stop? No. She couldn’t. He’d become a third arm, someone she couldn’t imagine living without.