Healing Hearts

by Margaret Daley

  “I’d never forget you. I didn’t know they were moving you earlier than planned.”

  Gabe tugged on his leash and dragged her toward the older man sitting in a chair positioned by the window that overlooked a garden bursting with the bright colors of summer. She let go, and Gabe made a beeline for Mr. Johnson, who greeted him as if he hadn’t seen him in days.

  “Neither did I. I told them they couldn’t operate like that. People need to plan for changes.”

  “If only that could be the case every time.”

  He chuckled as he stroked Gabe’s fur. “Yeah. It would make my life much better.” When he patted the arm of his wheelchair, her dog propped himself against it so Mr. Johnson could hug him. “I sure missed this, boy. I didn’t know what I was missing not having a dog for all these years.”

  Watching the man’s face glow with contentment made her heart fill with joy. “You know I could check with the nursing home and see if they allow pets for the residents. I have an abandoned dog left at my father’s veterinary clinic that needs a home.”

  “What kind?”

  “A bichon frise. She’s about this tall.” She indicated a few inches over a foot. “Pure white with a curly tail.”

  Mr. Johnson shook his head. “Nope. I want a manly dog. Like Gabe. He’s perfect for me.” He rubbed his face along Gabe’s neck.

  “I’ll be on the lookout for one, but first I need to see if you can even have a pet.” She couldn’t give Gabe away. He was a part of her family, had been there for her through the good times and bad, but maybe she could find a similar dog for Mr. Johnson. As her dad had pointed out, people left animals on his doorstep for him to take care of because he was a vet, so it wouldn’t be too long before another one turned up at the animal hospital. “Before I leave, I’ll see if the director is here.”

  “The old battle-ax.” Mr. Johnson snorted. “Forget it. She won’t allow anything to disrupt how Shady Oaks is run.”

  “And you know this after being here less than half a day?”

  “Yes. I saw and heard things at lunch. She runs a tight ship.” He tapped his temple. “Not much gets past this steel trap. I may have lost the ability to walk, but my mind is sharp as a tack.”

  “Keeping things running smoothly can be a good thing. You know what to expect.”

  “You’re right. I expect her to say no.” As he patted Gabe, he continued, “Did I ever tell you about that time in the navy when we snuck a couple of cats aboard our ship to rid it of the mice and rat problem?”

  “No.” Abbey took a chair across from Mr. Johnson so she could listen to one of his many stories.

  When Mr. Johnson finished telling her his escapade that landed him in the brig, he yawned. “I can’t believe my own story almost put me to sleep. You’re a jewel to listen to this old man.”

  “I told you I was a good listener. But I still have a young lady to take Gabe to see.”

  “I have a rival for his affections?”

  “Yep, she’s eight years old and had surgery today. She needs some cheering up.”

  Mr. Johnson took Gabe’s head in his hands and said, “You hear that? You go make that child happy and tell me about it when you visit again.” He peered up. “You two will come again?”

  “Just try to keep me away. Tomorrow after work.”

  On her way out of the nursing home, she stopped by the main office and asked to speak with the director, Mrs. Rosen. When Abbey greeted the fortysomething woman, her mouth pinched together and she pointed at her dog.

  “How did you get him in here? We have a rule about no animals in the building.”

  She should have checked beforehand, but so many nursing homes allowed them inside. “Pets are wonderful therapy for people who are lonely and depressed. It would be nice to bring some small pets in.”

  “No way. Not. Possible,” Mrs. Rosen said. “Our patients aren’t lonely. And pets can be so disruptive. I have a full staff that engages the people on their ward whenever they can. They don’t have time to take care of animals on top of patients.”

  “I brought Gabe to cheer up Mr. Johnson. This move has been hard on him. I take care of my dog, so the staff doesn’t have to. Mr. Johnson expects me to come tomorrow with Gabe. Do you have a problem with that?” How could this woman not see how good animals were for people?

  “That’s fine so long as you and he meet out in the courtyard. Animals belong outside, not in here, even for a visit.”

  Her blood starting to boil, Abbey counted to ten before she responded to the manager. “Do you know who I am?”

  The lady arched a brow. “Abbey Harris, according to my secretary.”

  “I’m the social worker at Cimarron City Hospital. I often have to place people in nursing homes when their hospital insurance runs out, but they still need care. From the literature I’ve read an animal can calm a patient otherwise agitated, lower a person’s blood pressure. I can run off some copies of those articles for you to look at.”

  “That’s okay. That still doesn’t address the care it would take if individual patients had their own pets. Like I said, not possible. This place would become a kennel, not a nursing home.”

  Anger festered in the pit of Abbey’s stomach. Mrs. Rosen wasn’t even willing to check into the benefits of animal therapy and make some concessions. “If this home isn’t friendly toward its patients, I’ll have to consider others in town.”

  “I’m a good friend with the director of the hospital. Mr. Hansen won’t be happy to hear about your threat.”

  “It’s part of my job to offer the best options to our patients, which include animal therapy. According to Mr. Hansen, the patients come first. Good day, Mrs. Rosen.” Abbey hurried from the woman’s office before she made the situation worse.

  Abbey had let her anger get the better of her. Indeed, Mrs. Rosen might have more influence with Mr. Hansen than she did. She’d been working at the hospital for less than a year and had hardly seen the man who ran the place. But she did believe strongly in the power of animals to help people and speed the healing process along.

  Somehow she would change Mrs. Rosen’s mind, so Mr. Johnson could have a pet or at the very least regular visits from Gabe inside, where the heat of summer wouldn’t be an issue. In a few weeks the temperature could be in the hundreds. Once Gabe had started visiting him on a regular basis, it had transformed an angry man into an affable one.

  Twenty minutes later she pulled into the hospital parking lot and strolled toward the back entrance. Using the stairs, she and Gabe climbed them to the floor where Madison’s room was. Before she’d left for the day she’d checked to make sure the little girl was back in her own room. Caron had told her Madison was doing great, more awake and alert than after her previous two operations.

  She knocked on the door and waited to hear “come in” before she entered.

  Dominic stood on the opposite side of the bed from Abbey. “She’s been sleeping awhile now. I’ll tell her you and Gabe came when she wakes up. Maybe you can come back another day.”

  “We can stay awhile, if that’s okay with you. I don’t have anything special to do other than pick up a new dog Dad wants me to take.”

  “How many will that make?”

  The sight of his smile, which quirked the corners of his mouth, fluttered her stomach. “My fourth one. I’ll have to apply for a kennel license if I get too many more. This particular dog was left on the doorstep of my dad’s clinic.”

  “He’s a vet?”

  Tired after a long day, Abbey came around the bed and sat on the couch. Gabe stretched out on the floor at her feet. “Yes, and I’m the first person he tries to pawn any abandoned animal off on. I’ve had to put my foot down a number of times or that would be my full-time job.” She grinned when she thought of her dogs greeting her when she came home from work. �
��Actually that wouldn’t be too bad a job. It just wouldn’t pay anything for me to live on.”

  Dominic scooted his chair around to face her. “I used to have a horse when I lived at the ranch, and Lightning had a dog that shared his stall with him. Dusty was a mutt that wandered into the barn one day and never left. My dad was a sucker for a stray animal. Used to drive my mom crazy. After she died, Dad stopped adopting animals. I asked him one day why. He told me her death took all the fun out of trying to find a way to have one more pet.”

  Abbey chuckled. “That kind of sounds like my parents. The problem is my mother is a cat person and my dad a dog person. That’s caused a few arguments through the years.”

  “You took after your dad then?”

  “Not really. I have two cats, too. I won’t be surprised if Mom tries to give me another cat to try to even out the numbers some.”

  “It sounds like you have a zoo at your house.”

  “I grew up with animals all around me and loved to help Dad at his veterinary hospital.”

  “Why didn’t you become a veterinarian like your father?”

  She let out a long breath. “That was a bone of contention with my dad. He thought I would and didn’t understand why I wouldn’t. He didn’t count on the fact I loved animals so much I couldn’t deal with seeing them hurt all the time. I don’t know how he does it day in and day out.”

  Dominic looked away, a frown carving deep lines in his face. “Sometimes what our fathers want isn’t what’s good for us.”

  Abbey wanted to ask him what he meant by that last statement, but an expression descended on his face that stopped her. Anger? Hurt? She wasn’t sure, but she did know one thing—Dominic didn’t want to talk about it. She searched her mind for something else to talk about. “I think I might be banned from Shady Oaks Nursing Home after today. I let my temper get the better of me.”

  “What happened? Did that involve the patient who moved to the nursing home?”

  Abbey related her conversations with Mr. Johnson and Mrs. Rosen. “My impulse is to bring a ton of articles on animal therapy to the lady and dump them on her neat, well-organized desk, but I suppose she wouldn’t appreciate that.” Abbey smiled. “I might mess up her routine and that is not allowed. I don’t think the woman is an animal lover.”

  Dominic’s laughter echoed through the room. She liked hearing it. Rich and deep. The corners of his eyes crinkled and dimples appeared on each of his cheeks.

  “Maybe I should teach you the art of negotiation,” he said when he finished laughing.

  “I’ll have you know I’m usually quite good at it. I even know how to compromise. She just riled me today.”

  “What are you going to do about Mrs. Rosen?”

  “Win her over, somehow.”

  “I have a feeling you’ll succeed.”

  His declaration sent goose bumps flashing up her arms, and she felt a blush heat her cheeks.

  “I think I see some bulldog characteristics in you.”

  Abbey burst out laughing. “I’m trying hard not to take offense. I’d rather believe you meant I’m simply a determined person.”

  His gaze riveted to Abbey. Intense. Probing. Assessing. For the life of her she couldn’t look away. In that moment a connection sparked the air between them, heightening her senses to the man struggling to help his sister.

  “In the short time we’ve known each other, that’s one of the things I’ve learned I like about you. You know what you want and go for it. I won’t be surprised if Shady Oaks has more than one dog there before this is over. And I agree, taking care of an animal can be good for a person.”

  “It can turn their focus to something other than their problems. There are two wings that have patients who only need assisted living. They should at least have an opportunity to have a pet if they want.” She finally dragged her gaze from Dominic and noticed Madison stir in the bed. Abbey gestured toward the girl. “She may be waking up.”

  By the time Dominic turned around to face his sister, Madison’s eyes eased open, and she spied Gabe. “You brought him.” She smiled.

  Abbey pushed to her feet and covered the distance to the bed. “There is no way I would disappoint you. Besides, Gabe was excited to come up here to see you. Weren’t you, boy?”

  Her dog barked, his tail wagging.

  Madison’s grin widened. “I’m glad.”

  “We won’t be able to stay long, but we’ll be back tomorrow. Gabe wants to make sure you’re getting better. He loves to listen about your day.”

  “He does?”

  “That’s one of his gifts. When my daughter was sick, he was there for her every day.”

  “You have a daughter?”

  Abbey pushed her sorrow down so she could answer the child. “Yes, but she went home to be with the Lord.”

  “Like Mom and Dad.” Madison’s eyes misted, and her smile drooped.

  “Yes.” Abbey cupped her hand over the girl’s. “So remember Gabe’s gift. He’s special.”

  “I will.” Her eyelids began to slide close. “Thirsty.”

  Since Abbey was closer than Dominic to the water pitcher, she poured some water into a pink plastic cup and helped Madison sit up enough to sip out of a straw. “How are you doing?”

  “O-kay.” Madison sank back on the bed and drifted off to sleep again.

  Dominic stood beside Abbey. “Even when I know she’s in pain, she doesn’t say much. I worry she’s holding it all inside, especially about her parents, and it’s building up. She doesn’t even talk much with her counselor, and they’ve been together for months.”

  “How someone copes with trauma varies from person to person. If you’ll be okay with it, I can have Gabe visit every day, and we can leave them alone some. She may talk to him when she won’t to a person. I found that worked with my daughter. Even at five, Lisa was trying to be brave for me. But once, when I had to leave the room for a few minutes, I heard her talking to Gabe. I found out how she was really feeling, and it helped me to help her.”

  “I’m willing to try anything. I want my sister well and able to be a child again.”

  “How long is she going to be in the hospital this time?”

  “A week. It’ll depend on her pain level and her progress after the surgery.”

  “Then tomorrow I’ll bring Gabe by at the end of my day. I can go home to get him and bring him back. I usually make the rounds with him to certain patients a couple of times a week. Are you staying here all the time?”

  “Yes, except when the housekeeper can relieve me for a little while. She doesn’t like hospitals and prefers not to come by very much.”

  So it was just him taking care of Madison. Alone. At least with Lisa, Abbey’s mom and dad had come to help her whenever she needed them. “When I come, I can give you some time to yourself. I know how important that can be. Go home. Take a shower. See to things you’ve let go.”

  He looked at Madison. So did Abbey. Madison’s dark eyelashes were in stark contrast to the pale cast of her skin—as though the child had spent months indoors, which was most likely the case with all her injuries.

  “I need some coffee. I’ll walk you out,” Dominic said, weariness in his voice.

  As he started for the door, Abbey hung back for a few seconds. She’d barreled into this man’s life. She didn’t blame him for backing off. When she saw a need or problem, she went in and tried to fix it. She’d had to do so much of that when dealing with Lisa, then her husband’s abandonment, that it had become second nature to her.

  Out in the hallway, she paused, forcing Dominic to stop and look at her. “I’m sorry. I can come on too strong. I don’t mean to take over, but I’ve been through what you’re going through and was trying to use that knowledge to help you and Madison. I’ll understand if you don’t want to do wh
at I suggested.”

  “You will? Remember I know about your bulldog tendencies.” His mouth turned up into a half smile. “Actually your suggestions make sense. I can’t help Madi if I’m so tired I can’t string words into a coherent sentence. I could use a break. I didn’t want her to hear me say that. I don’t want her to think I don’t love her. I do. From the day she was born. But at the same time, I’ve let my other responsibilities go. I have over a thousand employees who depend on me and my company for their livelihood. I’ve been thankful I have a good CFO, but I still need to oversee some issues.”

  “Like the rescue of your kidnapped workers?”

  He closed his eyes for a second. “Yes. And there’s still no word on that, which concerns me.”

  “Then let me help.”

  “Why? Until yesterday we were strangers.”

  “Because I can. Because...” No words came to her mind. How did she explain she felt deep down she should help? “Like I said, I see a need and jump in with both feet.”

  “No matter how deep the water is?”

  She pictured herself on top of a high cliff, getting ready to leap into a roiling sea far below. “You forget I’ve been in this water before. I had my parents and cousins to help me. It sounds like you’ve got a reluctant housekeeper and no one else.”

  He glanced at her left hand. “Not your husband? I’ve noticed you aren’t wearing a wedding ring.”

  The thought that he’d checked sent another blush to her cheeks. “No. We’re divorced.”

  “I haven’t lived here in over ten years, and what family I have is distant and scattered all over the country. My friends are in Houston, and since I’ve been back, I haven’t had a chance to renew old friendships.”

  He was alone. How could she turn away? “Tell you what. I’ll be here tomorrow after work. You can decide then what you want to do.”

  “Thanks. When this is all over with, I owe you a dinner. No, a banquet.”

  “I’ll take you up on that. I never turn down good food, and Gabe will take a big steak bone.” Her dog nudged her hand as if he knew she was talking about food. “We’re leaving, boy,” then she said to Dominic, “I feed him in the evening. The word s-t-e-a-k is in his vocabulary.”