Chapter 14
No sooner had Caitlin made it upstairs to Rayna’s bedroom than Quentin was knocking on the door right behind her.
“Is he following me all the way up here?” she said, whirling on her feet. Her voice rose into a squeak. “Don’t let him in.”
“What is going on?” Rayna said, sitting up in bed, a variety of newspapers and clippings scattered about the bedspread. The late afternoon news was blaring on the TV. Who’s following you?”
“Quentin Hudson,” Caitlin fumed. She was embarrassed now and didn’t want to face him. He’d told her he was falling for her.
She pressed her fingers against her temples, trying to absorb what was happening.
“What’s going on between you two?” Rayna asked, sitting up higher against the headboard. “I’ve been getting funny vibes for awhile now. Especially since last week.”
“Nothing’s going on!” Absurdly, Caitlin burst out into a laugh. Her protest was much too vehement.
“I see that,” Rayna said drily, arching her eyebrows. “Or should I say, nothing to see here?”
“The latter. I don’t care.”
“Hmm, I think you care very much, actually. You just don’t want to admit it. Otherwise you’d be ignoring the man.”
“I have been ignoring the man.”
Quentin knocked again, the sound echoing throughout the room. “Well, will you please open the door anyway? You can go back to ignoring him later.”
Caitlin rolled her eyes and strode across the floor, flinging open the door.
“Sorry to bother you, Rayna,” Quentin said, barely looking at Caitlin. “But I’m leaving for the day and I almost forgot to bring you these books. They’ve been in my truck all day.”
“You brought me books?” Rayna swung her legs around and rose. “You are such a dear! I ran out of things to read a week ago.”
Quentin handed her a package and she slid three volumes of historical fiction from the bag. “How did you know I had a craving for Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte?”
Quentin got a sheepish look on his face. “I happened to see a list you wrote on the kitchen counter a few weeks ago. Since I like bookstores, I went into Billings last weekend and picked them up for you.”
“You sweet man,” Rayna said. “Thank you. The library had these checked out and I’ve always told Wade I wanted these books for my personal collection. You got hardcover editions, too! These were a special order, weren’t they? Wow. Let me get my checkbook.”
Quentin held up his hands in protest. “It’s a gift. A gift, okay? Enjoy the books. I like bookstore shopping.”
“You always did.” Rayna turned to Caitlin. “I was friends with Quentin’s older brother. We graduated high school together, but I remember how Quentin always had a book in his backpack. He’d hide them from the other guys. His artistic talent and temperament were obvious even then. You were about thirteen, right?”
“Something like that,” Quentin admitted. “But ssh. I gotta keep up my macho appearance.”
“Your secrets are safe with me,” Rayna said conspiratorially.
Caitlin blinked her eyes, looking between the two of them. Since when did cabinetry and crown molding qualify as art? And now the aggravating man loved to read, too! Of course. It seemed like a joke God was playing on her. To have a man show up that was too perfect. All the things she’d missed in Stefan but had been too afraid to admit to herself.
“See you ladies later.” Quentin tipped an imaginary hat and departed before either of them could say goodbye.
“Well,” Rayna said, sticking a hand on one hip. “That was a little icy and uncomfortable between the two of you. You should see your face, honey. Spill it, Caitlin.”
“Let me see your books,” she said instead, picking up the leather bound volumes from the dresser and turning them over in her hands. “They’re gold stamped. Collector’s editions.”
“The Hudson brothers and I go way back. Quentin is so thoughtful. All during this bed rest before you even got here he’d bring me movies or ice cream when Wade was gone. Or a whole bag of pistachio nuts when I had a craving.”
Caitlin set down the books, her face heating up. “He sounds very thoughtful,” she admitted in a low voice.
Rayna stared at her. “He’s a really good guy. I couldn’t help overhearing some of your conversation downstairs.”
“When were you downstairs?”
“I was on the stairs, coming down for one of my indulgent Cokes from the fridge. I hadn’t been up for hours and I needed to stretch my legs. When I could tell your conversation was getting intense and personal I returned to my room.”
Caitlin flexed her fists, spinning around to flop onto the edge of the bed. “I can’t do this with another guy. It’s too soon. I can’t go there again.”
“Okay. So humor me. Describe the girl you saw him with.”
“She was about nineteen. College age. Long blond hair. Perky personality. Cute matching jacket and gloves and scarf. All fuzzy pink. She tackled him and then they proceeded to get physical and play in the snow. Before I knew it, they’d run off to take his sled down one more time in the dark. When I stormed off, I was hoping they crashed and burned.”
Rayna suppressed a smile at Caitlin’s intense words.
“Okay, now I sound like I’m eighteen again.”
Her cousin shook her head, perching on the edge of the bed. “You described someone in perfect detail.”
“So you do know her then?”
“Sure do. I used to babysit her.”
“What!”
“I’ll bet a hundred bucks that was Quentin’s baby sister.”
“Are you serious?”
“Deadly serious.”
“He called her Serena.”
“Yep, Serena Hudson. She attends the community college in the next town over. She was probably home for the weekend.”
“So he’s not robbing the cradle?”
“No, I’m the only one who does that.” Rayna snorted.
“Five years is hardly robbing the cradle. Quentin must be at least a dozen years older than Serena.”
“Probably more like thirteen or fourteen. She’s the baby. There are eight kids in Quentin’s family and Quentin is the second. His mother was suddenly widowed three years ago and he and his brother, John, take care of her. They’re good guys, Caitlin. Good guys.”
“I don’t know what to do.” Caitlin twisted her fingers. “I’m so embarrassed.”
“Hey, you didn’t know that was Serena. An easy mistake to make.” Rayna laid a hand over hers. “I can tell he’s got the Caitlin itch bad though. I could hear it in his voice downstairs. And yours, too, but you were doing everything you could to hide it.”
“We’ve only known each other about five weeks.”
“Sometimes it doesn’t take long to know. Our mutual grandparents met during WWII and got married three weeks later. He was eighteen and she was sixteen. They were married sixty-five years.”
“I didn’t know that!”
“Maybe it runs in the family.” Rayna poked her elbow into Caitlin’s ribs and nearly knocked her off the bed.
“You are so bad!”
“Hey, Caitlin” Rayna said softly. “I’m so glad we’ve had this chance to get to know each other. You are a lifesaver, and now you’re my current best friend.”
“Do you think Quentin will forgive me?”
“Without a doubt. From his perspective, he’ll say there’s nothing to forgive.”
Chapter 15
Before she went to bed that night, Caitlin pulled out her Fortune Teller list from the drawer in her nightstand. She didn’t dare tack it back up on the wall for Quentin to see. After all, there had been a day last week when the electrician was here fixing the lines in her bedroom and Quentin had been in and out while she made sure she stayed in town.
The last prediction jumped out at her.
#5. The man of your dreams will be strong and tough, but not what you e
xpect.
“Not at all what I expect,” she said aloud. “But can Quentin Hudson really be the man of my dreams? I never would have dreamed him up! But then he’s certainly not what I would have ever expected. So is this prediction actually coming true?”
After falling in love with a Jazz & Blues musician, Caitlin figured she’d go for a doctor next. They could work graveyard together. But she never would have guessed she’d feel this crazy flush around a construction guy. Despite the beautiful painting that hung in her room. Maybe it was a fluke. A paint-by-number class he’d taken back in college.
Of course, she didn’t want to insult his intelligence, either, because the man was obviously bright. And witty.
And seemed to have an uncanny connection with her thoughts and feelings.
“Maybe #3 is coming true, too.”
#3. “From the cusp of death a new day will dawn and all your dreams will come true.”
“I did have a near-death experience with his truck.”
Caitlin flopped back against her pillow. After their evasive conversation in the hall, it felt weird to talk to him. It was easier to avoid the whole thing and wait to meet someone when she returned to San Francisco. Snow Valley was much too complicated.
And then two things happened which Madame Tallulah had not predicted. Was the woman hovering somewhere in the clouds around Snow Valley!
First, Caitlin got a call from Doctor Cole Taggart wondering if she’d ever consider relocating here. In a few months he was going to be in need of another charge nurse. He was losing a woman whose husband was being transferred with his job to Arizona in the spring.
“I’m impressed with your schooling and resume,” the doctor said. “No pressure, but keep it in mind. Unless someone grew up here, or has family in the vicinity, it can be difficult to persuade medical personnel to move here. Sometimes we get traveling nurses, but they’re only here for a few months at a time.”
“I’ll keep it in mind,” Caitlin told him. “But I can’t make any promises. I have a job waiting for me back home, plus an apartment and, you know, people like parents.”
The doctor laughed. “Good enough. I’ll see you at Rayna’s thirty-eight week check-up here in the office.”
But before the second, catastrophic thing happened, Caitlin discovered a pint of her favorite ice cream in the freezer. Salted caramel vanilla bean with chunks of fudge and pecans. A note was taped to the lid. “Ice cream to be shared with your favorite construction guy. The one that likes to knock holes in walls. Now go to the sugar canister.”
Bemused, Caitlin obeyed. Inside the sugar canister—which had been conveniently emptied—was a single red rose and an invitation to the Valentine’s Day dance being held at the high school gym on Saturday, February 10thth.
Signed,
Quentin Hudson.
P.S. I know this is short notice, but I’ll take you in your jeans and galoshes if you’ll give me the honor of your company.
P.P. S. I’m a pretty good dancer so maybe put on your dancing shoes instead.
“I feel like I’m in high school,” Caitlin said, shaking her head, but smiling nevertheless.
“He’s terribly sweet,” Rayna said behind her, coming into the kitchen. “Are you going to go?”
“What day is it today?”
“February 3rd. The weeks are flying by. I’m pinching myself to think that my baby is going to be here in four weeks.”
“If he’s on time,” Caitlin said. “First babies often come late. It might be the Ides of March instead.”
“Don’t say that—that’s an extra two weeks! I feel like a waddling duck. Don’t I look extra huge to you?”
“No more than any other woman.” Caitlin stepped back to study her for a moment. “Although it looks like the baby is dropping. Let’s do a quick exam after your bath later today. Just to make sure if that’s what I’m seeing and it’s not an optical illusion from the clothes you’re wearing.”
Rayna nodded. “Gosh, I feel exhausted today. More than usual. The weather man said there’s a storm coming next week, too. Are we stocked up with food and supplies?”
“Mrs. Davies did a big shopping, but I’ll get fresh stuff again on Monday.”
“I think our current guests will mostly be gone by then.”
The next few days passed slowly. The rest of the guests checked out and the rooms were cleaned again for any unexpected travelers. The house bulged with food in case the storm showed up, but at the moment the sun was peeking from behind a few light clouds.
Caitlin tried on the dresses she’d brought with her, but she only had two so there wasn’t much to choose from for a special, dressy dance.
“Go shopping, for heaven’s sake!” Rayna urged her. “If only I could go with you. I haven’t had a contraction in two days. Pretty please?”
“No, ma’am.” Caitlin was firm. “I’m sorry,” she added more sympathetically. “You must be going stir crazy.”
“To put it mildly. I want to go dancing with Wade and see the hall all fancied up with hearts and lights. Heck, I want to go anywhere at this point—even if I’m with a gymnasium full of teens.”
“We get to see Doc Taggart in a few days,” Caitlin reminded her.
“Maybe I’ll steal a car.”
“Ha! Have one of these chocolates Wade brought you.”
“I’m almost finished with them. That’s how bored I am.”
“Ah, so that explains the weight gain,” Caitlin teased.
“Temptation overcame me. Come tour the nursery with me before I head back upstairs like a good girl.”
Caitlin indulged her. The snow had turned slushy and the days were gaining more sunshine than gray. Spring fever had Rayna in its grips.
Quentin winked at her when she and Rayna showed up at the new nursery door to see the progress. Caitlin blushed at the way he looked at her. Shyness had overtaken her after the uncomfortable confrontation, but she’d accepted his dance invitation.
Only two days away now. Butterflies raced up her throat. She really did need to go see what the Rodeo Drive Boutique had in town. Rayna had mentioned that Caytie McAllister was stocking designer-type clothing at affordable prices.
“Her tastes are girly,” Rayna had said, “So there are lots of skirts and dresses. I’m sure you could find a party dress more than your serviceable skirt, or the basic black you wore to church.”
“That sounds great,” Caitlin said. But deep down, she worried about going to the dance with Quentin. If they could hardly talk to each other, how could this man possibly be the one for her?
When she expressed her concerns, Rayna said, “I’m sure he thinks he needs to prove himself first. And he’s scared of making the wrong move. Just go to the dance and let the rest take care of itself. You’ll know after that night together if you want to pursue any further dates.”
After a day of shopping online as well as at the Rodeo Drive Boutique, Caitlin found the perfect red dress. It had a fitted bodice, heart-shaped neckline, and a flared skirt for dancing. With her black pumps and a pair of sheer stockings, she wouldn’t look like an RN any longer. She just hoped the school had good heating because she didn’t want to cover up the dress with a sweater.
Rayna gave her whole-hearted approval when Caitlin modeled for her. “You look stunning in that red with your dark hair and green eyes. Quentin’s eyes are going to pop.”
All the way home, storm clouds had been gathering. As if they were following Caitlin to Snow Valley.
The menacing clouds lowered over the entire town and everyone hunkered down hoping it would blow over by the next day so the Valentine’s Festivities could take place on Saturday evening.
Instead, the power went out Thursday night when the snow began to dump in a flurry. It was still off on Friday. Crews were out working the lines, but the roads were slow getting plowed with such deep snow and six foot high drifts.
School was canceled.
Many homes had no power and families hunkered down
with their wood stoves and candles.
Wade and Rayna had installed a generator to run the kitchen refrigerator and freezer in case they had guests, but the rest of the house was lit by kerosene lamps and a smattering of candles.
“I think we’re in for it, girls,” Wade said as a work call came through on his walkie-talkie. The voice crackled with static, but the message was clear. Two hikers were trapped in the mountains thirty miles away. “I’m out of here,” he said. “The department is now in Search and Rescue mode.”
Rayna paced the floors, biting her lips while she watched her husband pack up clothing and equipment into his fire truck. “Be careful.”
“I got the best vehicle in the state,” Wade assured his wife. “We’re outfitted for anything. I’m more worried about you.”
“Call me every few hours so I don’t worry,” she told him.
“I will. Now kiss me,” he teased.
Caitlin turned away as the two embraced and said goodbye.
“Thanks for taking care of Rayna,” Wade said, giving Caitlin a quick hug.
“We’re good,” she assured him. “We have food, water, lights. We’ll sit in bed and play board games for the next twenty-four hours. Be safe out there.”
Captain Kinsella smiled and tugged at her hair, as if she were a child.
The two of them watched as his yellow truck took off into the storm, a world of white swallowing him up in seconds.
“Ready for some cider and banana bread?” Caitlin asked, heading downstairs. She peeked out the windows of the front door toward the porch. It was a winter wonderland. The trees heavy with snow. Shrubs had disappeared, appearing like giant mushrooms. Three foot long icicles hung from the roofline. It was impressive and beautiful. Thank goodness they didn’t have to go anywhere.
In the kitchen, Caitlin sliced the banana bread and warmed up the apple cider on a battery-operated hot plate. Putting everything on a tray, she stuck cinnamon sticks into each mug and went back through the halls to the staircase.
Dusk had already come and gone. Shadows from the lamps flickered against the walls.
Winter in Snow Valley (Snow Valley Romance) Page 19