Healing Hearts

by Margaret Daley

“Do you think she planned this from the beginning?”

  Dominic locked gazes with her. “Yes. And if we don’t go, she won’t let me forget I told her it was her special day and she could decide what we would do.”

  “And she has decided. We must go to dinner together.”

  “Yep, so you’d better get moving. It’s six. I’ll be by to pick you up at six forty-five.”

  Abbey grinned. “You know she thinks we should be dating.”

  “She said that to you?”

  “No, but I overheard her telling Cottonball yesterday when I was here finalizing the plans with Chad and Mrs. Ponder.”

  “No telling what else that dog knows. Too bad Cottonball can’t talk.”

  “See you—” she checked her watch “—in forty minutes.”

  He should say something to Madi about what she was doing, but he didn’t have the heart. What harm would it be for Abbey and him to go on a date? He certainly owed her for all she’d done for Madi. So technically, this wasn’t really an official date.

  Who are you kidding, Winters? You’re crazy about Abbey. What would happen if we did start dating?

  * * *

  “This has been nice.” Abbey scanned the elegant restaurant with the gold-and-white decor and crystal chandeliers sparkling in the light. “Things have been so hectic, it’s good to stop and relax for a while.”

  “Especially with all that will be going on in the next few months with the ranch. Next week we’ll be doing some preliminary work before construction starts,” Dominic said, sipping his coffee.

  “I’m exhausted just thinking of what you have to do in the months ahead.”

  “Yeah, but seeing Madi today on the horse gives me such hope that everything will be all right with her in time. I can’t always say I felt that way.”

  Abbey could remember feeling hopeless right after Lisa died. It overwhelmed her and pushed her down deeper into the dark hole of her thoughts. “I’m glad it’s changing for you and Madi. Time can make a huge difference.”

  “It’s not just that. Reconnecting with the Lord has helped and I have you to thank for that. Going to church these past few weeks with you and Madi has refocused me on Him. I needed that. I think it’s also helped Madi. I like the idea she’ll be an assistant with the younger kids at Vacation Bible School in a couple of weeks.”

  “It gives her a chance to help, like at the nursing home, rather than someone helping her.”

  Dominic took his credit card out and put it with the bill. “I’m not the only one who’s been busy. How are the plans for the foundation coming?”

  “Slowly. That isn’t stopping Emma and me from doing what we can without the foundation. Our plans are to start with therapy dogs and move into service dogs, too. We want to have dogs available depending on the person’s need. The most important part of Caring Canines is giving everyone who needs one the opportunity to have a dog, no matter their income. Right now Emma and I are the trainers. Hopefully we’ll be able to expand in the future.”

  Dominic said, “I didn’t know you were a trainer, too.”

  “Yes. I haven’t done much since Lisa became sick, but I’m getting back into it. Emma has been doing it for years. When she came to work for my dad, I started working with her. We’re both members of the Cimarron City Dog Club. That’s how I became interested in therapy dogs.”

  “I’m glad you did. Cottonball and Gabe have been wonderful for Madi.”

  Abbey remembered how Madi had been six weeks ago, the day before her final operation. When she thought of the sadness in the child’s expression, she knew she had to do something to help the girl. “So am I. She’s a joy to know. Has she had many nightmares this past week?”

  “A few, but not as many as before, and when she does we talk about her mom and dad.”

  “Is that hard for you?”

  Dominic glanced down at the table for a long moment, his mouth pinched together. “Yes and no. I’ve made my peace with Dad. I haven’t with Susie.”

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t think I had much distance between us even while I was living in Houston. She was part of my family. I couldn’t walk away and forget when she was always there. I pictured her living at the ranch. It was hard getting that out of my mind.”

  “And now?”

  Dominic glanced around at the other diners. “I think we should leave,” he said in a flat tone as though they had been talking about the weather rather than his ex-fiancée.

  “Sure.” Abbey placed the napkin on the table and scooted her chair back. She was in love with him, but he still wasn’t over Susie. She would not let another man hurt her. She needed to put space between them.

  Silence accompanied them all the way to the car and halfway to Abbey’s house.

  At a stoplight Dominic peered at her and asked, “Have you made peace with your ex-husband?”

  The question hung in the air between them.

  Abbey remembered running into Peter with his wife and newborn at the Super Center earlier that morning. The pain at seeing him swamped her all over again—not because they weren’t a couple anymore, but because of the hurt he had caused by his actions, especially concerning Lisa. “I’m working on it,” she finally answered as he pressed on the accelerator when the light turned green.

  “I never had a chance to really talk to Susie about why she did what she did. When I found out she was marrying my father, I was so angry. And now I’ll never get a chance to talk to her.”

  “Do you really need that to forgive her?”

  In the light from the streetlamps, she saw Dominic’s hands tighten so much on the steering wheel that his knuckles whitened. “I don’t know. I...”

  “It sounds like we both have issues with our past.”

  He pulled into her driveway. “Where does that leave us?”

  “Us?”

  “Don’t pretend there isn’t something going on between us. We’ve been dancing around each other ever since we met. You’ve become important to me. I—”

  She cut his next words off with her fingers pressed over his mouth. “Please don’t. The bottom line is, I need a man who is one hundred percent in love with me. I’m not going to compete with a past love. You know who my ex-husband married?”

  He took her hand in his and held it tight. “What’s that got to do with us?”

  “He married his high school sweetheart. A few months before we started dating, they’d broken up. Now looking back, I don’t think they were ever over each other, and I won’t go through that again.”

  “Susie is dead.”

  “That doesn’t make any difference. Why can’t you forgive her?”

  “Why can’t you forgive your ex-husband?” Anger sliced through his voice, striking at her.

  “Because he left Lisa. I don’t care about me, but I had to tell my daughter why her daddy wasn’t there right before she died.”

  “He didn’t come?”

  “He came, but he was too late. His baby girl died without him because he couldn’t deal with her illness. So why can’t you forgive Susie?”

  “Because she betrayed me.”

  “So did your father. But you forgave him.”

  Dominic sucked in a deep breath. He dropped her hand from his, and faced forward. “Good night.”

  She pushed open the car door and turned back toward him. The hard lines of his face attested to the intense emotions gripping him.

  She hurried toward her lit porch and glanced over her shoulder as she let herself into her house. She saw him start the car and back out of the driveway. All her animals came to greet her as if she’d been gone for weeks instead of hours. Kneeling in the foyer, she wound her arms around Gabe and drew solace from him.

  This was for the best. She’d still see Mad
i occasionally when Dominic wasn’t there. She couldn’t do this, be around him, loving him like she did, and know that he didn’t fully love her.

  But something good had come out of their talk. She knew now that she needed to forgive Peter—and move on. Then she would be fine.

  If only I can convince myself that will happen.

  Chapter Twelve

  Abbey entered the CPA firm that Peter worked for and approached his secretary, the same one he’d had when they were married. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Maple. How have you been?”

  The middle-aged woman couldn’t disguise her surprise at seeing Abbey standing before her desk. “I’m fine. How about you?”

  “Doing great. I work at the hospital. Finally got my master’s degree last year.”

  “Congratulations.” Mrs. Maple dropped her glance to her computer in front of her.

  “I’m here to see Peter. Is he in?”

  “Yes. Is he expecting you?”

  “No, but this won’t take long.”

  “I’ll let him know.” Peter’s secretary rose and entered his office. Thirty seconds later, she reappeared. “He says go on in.”

  “Thanks.” At the door, she hitched her purse strap up on her shoulder and inhaled a fortifying breath, then went into the room.

  Peter stood in front of his desk and moved toward her. “It’s good to see you, Abbey.”

  “The other day I didn’t get a chance to congratulate you on your new baby. I understand his name is Sean Patrick.”

  “Yes, as you know, after my dad.”

  “I’m glad you named him after your father. He was a special man.”

  “That he was.” He turned toward a group of chairs. “Please have a seat. Catch me up on what’s been going on with you.”

  She remained where she was and gave him the abbreviated version of her past few years, minus all the heartache over Lisa. “I’m excited about the foundation I’m starting.”

  “I know how you feel about animals. It’s a good fit.”

  An uncomfortable silence descended, with Peter looking at the floor, then the door as though contemplating running away like she had at the Super Center.

  Abbey cleared her throat. “I won’t keep you much longer. I just wanted to tell you that I forgive you for leaving Lisa and me. You have your reasons and that’s between you and God. But I don’t hold anger toward you anymore. I wish you the best. Good day.” She swung around to leave.

  “Wait. That’s it? You forgive me?”

  At the door, she looked back. “Yes. We had some good times, and I refuse to dwell on the bad ones any longer.”

  As she walked from the building, lightness lifted her heart as though a burden she’d been carrying for years melted away. Now she could get on with her life, making plans for the Caring Canines Foundation. She wanted to help others who were going through difficult times in their lives, and it would give her life the purpose she’d been seeking for so long.

  * * *

  On impulse Dominic switched lanes at the last minute and turned into the cemetery where his dad and Susie were buried. He hadn’t been there since the funeral months ago. He parked near their graves but remained in his SUV. Why had he come? Tired from working long hours on the factory project, then making sure he spent quality time with Madi, he tried to relax his tense muscles, but pain clenched his shoulders and neck.

  It’d been two weeks since he’d seen Abbey, two weeks since she’d told him she couldn’t get involved with a man unless he was willing to totally commit. And he agreed with her. After Susie, he realized he needed the same thing.

  He shoved open the door and slid out of the car into the stifling heat at the end of a July in Oklahoma. It didn’t stop him. He trudged toward the graves. He needed once and for all to put his past to rest. He’d fooled himself that he had when he’d thought by reestablishing a relationship with his dad for Madi’s sake that was all he had to do.

  He scanned the cemetery to make sure no one else was nearby, then squatted between the two graves. “Dad, I know in my heart you didn’t intend to fall in love with Susie. Love doesn’t always behave how you expect it to. It can come out of the blue and smack you in the head. It can turn your life upside down. I thought I knew what I wanted. But I don’t. I do know I can’t keep going on holding on to my anger against you. I will do right by Madi and the ranch. Thank you for entrusting those two things that meant so much to you into my hands.”

  Closing his eyes, Dominic dropped his head. He could remember times in the past few years when his father had tried to talk to him about what had happened. He’d always stopped him, afraid if they did talk about it, he would storm away from the ranch for good. Now he wished he’d really talked to his father about it. His father had loved Susie, and she’d been good for him.

  When Dominic turned his attention to Susie’s gravesite, none of the hurt or anger surfaced. It just wasn’t there anymore. What good would it do to hold on to it, to keep himself from truly enjoying his life? He realized now that a marriage between Susie and him wouldn’t have lasted. Breaking up with him had been painful, but less painful than a divorce.

  “Thank you, Susie, for knowing when to let go of us, and for giving my father eleven years of happiness. I’ll take care of your daughter as if she were my own.”

  Then he bowed his head and prayed. When he rose, a peace cloaked him as though his father had clasped him and told him how much he loved him. Not just his earthly father but his heavenly one.

  As he made his way toward his SUV, his pace quickened. He’d told Madi he would be home by five today. She had something to show him. Twenty minutes later, he pulled up in front of the house. His sister was waiting for him on the front deck with Cottonball in her lap.

  “Sorry I’m a little late.” He took a chair near her manual wheelchair. “I see you’re using that more.”

  “I’m strengthening my arms, Greta says. She likes me using this one. I probably will except for going down to the barn.”

  His sister was sounding all grown-up. He’d noticed that over the past month. “Good. Building up your muscles is important. The stronger you are, the easier it will be for you to walk. What did you have to show me?”

  A smile slid across Madi’s face. She bent over and put Cottonball on the deck, then straightened, clasping the arms of the chair and kicking the leg rests to the side. She planted both feet on the ground. Her soft casts had come off last week, and she now wore braces to give her some support.

  Dominic held his breath as his sister pushed up and stood in front of her wheelchair.

  “I can stand on my own. I’m gonna be walking in no time.” She eased back into her seat, her grin even wider. “And before long I won’t have to wear these at all.” She tapped her hand against one of the braces on her legs.

  This was the first time he’d seen her in the braces. “Greta told me until you’re more stable with standing and walking, you need to wear them.”

  “I know.” Madi sighed. “I wanted to show Abbey, but she’s been extra busy at work and with Caring Canines during the day. Why isn’t she coming over in the evening at least?”

  Probably because he was usually home by then. “Have you asked her?”

  “No. I’m asking you. Everything was going good until that night you two went out to dinner on my birthday. What happened?”

  “We had a lovely meal and then I took her home.”

  “Nothing happened?” She gave him a skeptical look.

  “We’re both very busy. I’m glad she’s taking some time to see you.”

  “But not you.” Madi’s pout puckered her lips.

  “I know what you were up to that evening. If Abbey and I want to date each other, we will. Until then, you keep working on learning to walk.” He swiped the sweat beading on his forehead. “Wow,
it has to be ninety-five or hundred degrees. I’m going inside.” And hope you drop the subject of Abbey.

  * * *

  Two days later, Abbey was walking out of the hospital to head toward Shady Oaks when her cell phone rang. She answered it as she climbed into her car.

  “What’s up, Madi?”

  “Cottonball is gone. I’ve looked everywhere for her.” The child sobbed into the phone.

  “Where’s Dominic? Have you told him?”

  “No. He’s in a meeting. Please help me find Cottonball. Please.”

  “I’ll be right there. Don’t worry. I’m sure she hasn’t gone far.” Abbey hung up and drove straight to Winter Haven, Madi’s sobs echoing in her ears.

  * * *

  Dominic rose from the table at the end of a meeting with the architect and the head of the construction company for the factory and shook both men’s hands. “Thanks for your hard work getting this factory started so fast.”

  As the pair left his office at the ranch, Madi pushed herself into the room, tears streaking down her face. “Cottonball ran off. I can’t find her anywhere.”

  “Where did you see her last?” He trailed her out of the office.

  “Down at the barn. What if she ran away? I can’t lose Cottonball.” Her lower lip trembled, and her eyes shone with tears.

  “I won’t let that happen.” He had started for the front door when the chimes echoed through the house. He hurried to answer the door, surprised to see Abbey standing before him. “What are you doing here?”

  “Madi called me. Cottonball is gone. You were in a meeting. She wanted my help.”

  Madi wedged herself between the door frame and Dominic. “I’m so glad you’re here. We’re going to the barn to look for Cottonball.” She rolled over the threshold and out onto the deck. “Let’s go. What if a horse steps on her? Of a wolf comes around? Or—”

  “Madi, that isn’t going to happen.” Dominic maneuvered the wheelchair down the ramp and toward the black building.

  “It could. We don’t know.”

  When they entered the barn, Madi called out to Chad at the other end. “Cottonball is gone. Can you help me search here while Dominic and Abbey look outside?”