“You don’t have to. You’ve probably never bathed a child in your life.”
“Ben’s a big boy. He doesn’t need my help. I’ll just watch.”
“If you don’t, the only soap that’ll get on him will get there by accident.”
“I’ll see what I can do. How about it, sport? You ready for water polo?”
“Matthew Dennis, if you dare teach him to play games in the bathtub, I’ll...I don’t know what I’ll do, but I’ll think of something terrible.”
Nobody called him Matthew. It wasn’t his name, but he liked it. He was afraid to like it too much because he might start to need it. This whole area—the town, the people, the mountain—was a magical place where the unexpected could happen. It was like an Eden, small and green and friendly.
But no one was allowed to stay in Eden forever. Especially not Matt Dennis.
Several hours later, Matt tossed aside his book, turned out the light and lay down in his bed. He fluffed the pillow, then turned on his side. Moments later he flipped back again. He was warm, so he threw the covers aside. But the pillow or covers weren’t keeping him awake. He couldn’t sleep because he couldn’t stop thinking about the feeling of belonging he had experienced today with Liz and her children. The intensity of his need had taken him by surprise. Despite his attempts to distract himself, that longing had lingered all through the evening. Even now, unwelcome images continued to float through his mind.
Marshaling all his willpower, Matt made up his mind not to think about it. He’d been through this before. There was no need to go through it again. Nothing like this could ever happen to him. He ought to get to sleep. And if he insisted upon lying awake, he could put his mind to work figuring out how he was going to make up for a year lost in the wilderness.
Matt knew something was wrong. His foster parents were often solemn and browning. He wasn’t the little boy they wanted. They had told him so many times. But there was something different about today. His father had come home from work early. He never did that. They were going for a ride in the car in the afternoon. They never did that, either. But what confused him most was that his mother had packed his suitcase, put his toys in grocery bags, his books in a cardboard box and piled them all in the trunk of the car.
He hoped they were going on a trip across the water so he could play on the rides at the beach, but they’d never taken his clothes before. Besides, his mother hadn’t packed anything for her and his father.
“Where are we going?” he asked.
“You’ll see in a minute,” his father replied.
They weren’t going to the school. Matt breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn’t been in as much trouble this year as last. He had grown bigger than most of the kids who used to pick on him, but his parents had been called to the school twice in the past week. His principal said they’d never had a third-grader give them so much trouble. Matt had given up trying to tell them he wouldn’t cause trouble if the other kids would leave him alone. No one listened to him.
His father pulled to a stop in front of a small cinder-block building. Matt didn’t remember having come here before, but he had a really bad feeling when his father took the suitcase out of the trunk. This had happened the times he moved from one foster home to another.
But it was supposed to be different this time. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper had adopted him. They said they were his father and mother. They’d insisted he call them Mama and Daddy. They had said they loved him and hoped he would soon learn to love them. All summer long, his mother had kissed him at night and told him she loved him, bought him the books he so loved to read. His father had taken him to the beach, played ball with him, taken him fishing in the creek. After a wonderful summer, Matt had started to believe somebody could love him.
Then school started, and everything changed. Each time he got in trouble—and he got in trouble a lot—their frowns grew deeper, stayed longer. Assurances of their love grew scarcer, then stopped altogether. Then they stopped talking to him. He knew then he wasn’t going to find love this time, either.
“Am I going to stay here?” he asked as they entered the building and walked directly into a waiting area. His father put a hand on his back and pushed him toward a vinyl-covered couch. They sat down on either side of him, stiffly erect, the suitcase at his father’s side. They didn’t have to wait long before a door opened.
“Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, you can come in. Mrs. Osgood will see you now.”
Matt recognized Mrs. Osgood. She was the lady who helped him get adopted. She looked as stiff and formal as his parents. They all sat down. Matt got a seat to himself this time.
“You haven’t changed your minds?” she asked.
“No.”
“You realize adoption is a legal contract. Canceling it won’t be easy.”
A paralyzing fear gripped Matt. “You can’t give me back!” he exclaimed, turning first to his mother, then to his father. “You said you loved me. You said they’d never be able to take me away again.”
His parents stared straight ahead at Mrs. Osgood.
“Your parents say you’re too much trouble,” Mrs. Osgood said. Only her face showed sympathy. “They say you’ve destroyed the peace in their lives with your fights and constantly being in trouble at school.”
“It’s not my fault,” Matt said, turning to his mother. “Nobody likes me.”
“Why should they?” his mother demanded, her icy silence gone. “There’s not a parent in Gull’s Landing who will let their children play with you. You’re a bad little boy. You steal, you—”
“I don’t take their things unless they take mine first,” Matt argued, but they wouldn’t listen to him. They never did.
“You sass your teachers, won’t do your work. You’re sullen or downright rude when called on to perform in class.”
Schoolwork was easy for Matt, but his classmates resented it when he did well. One teacher even accused him of cheating. He found it easier to pretend to be average.
“We’re a quiet couple,” his mother said to Mrs. Osgood. “We always wanted children but couldn’t have any. Matt was such a beautiful little boy. Everybody said he was bright, that all he needed was a good home. We thought he’d be perfect for us.”
“He’s ungrateful, uncooperative and determined to blame all his trouble on somebody else,” his father said. “He’s turned our home into a battleground. Margaret and I can’t stand it anymore. We don’t want him. Take him back! Take him back! Take him—”
Matt awoke, sat up in the bed and massaged his temples to release some of the tension. It had been a long time since he’d had that dream or even thought of the Coopers.
Could it be because he’d been thinking about Liz’s family and how much he enjoyed being a part of it? Could this be his subconscious warning him not to let himself hope for something that could never be?
He didn’t need the warning. He had grown into a man whose goals precluded a wife and family, especially in such an out-of-the-way place as Iron Springs. One day he intended to work in one of the great hospitals of New York, Houston or Los Angeles.
He couldn’t afford the distractions of home and family, the time they consumed or the expenditure of emotional energy. He needed to concentrate on his career. He intended to prove to every man, woman and child in Gull’s Landing that, despite their predictions, he’d made something out of himself. He intended for that something to be damned good.
Chapter Eight
Liz couldn’t help but smile as she glanced in Matt’s direction. She had to give him credit; he was singing the last hymn as manfully as he’d attempted to sing all the others. As far as she could tell from the low rumble that issued from his throat, he was missing most of the notes. Apparently being a brilliant doctor didn’t guarantee you could carry a tune.
She couldn’t help him. She’d have had to screech to reach the highest notes. She continued to sing the alto part, even though the unfamiliar notes caused him to cast puzzled glances in her directi
on.
The hymn came to an end. Hymnbooks clunked into the hymnal racks, and the members of the congregation bowed their heads for the final prayer.
Matt had startled Liz when he came downstairs earlier that morning, just as she and the children were about to leave for church, and announced he intended to go to church with them. He was dressed in a navy pin-striped suit, and she’d been almost as strongly affected by his handsomeness as by surprise. All during the service, she’d been aware of heads turning in their direction. There’d be a lot of curiosity that needed satisfying before this day was out.
The preacher said the final amen from the back of the church, and the organ burst forth into the postlude. The congregation burst forth into even louder conversation. Matt hadn’t taken a single step toward exiting the pew before a woman in front of him turned and spoke.
“Welcome to our little church, Dr. Dennis,” she said. “I’m so glad you could join us.”
“Good morning, Mrs. Briggs. It’s good to see you, too.”
“The Lord have mercy on us!” Mrs. Briggs exclaimed, obviously surprised and very pleased. “How did you remember my name?”
“You brought your daughter, Wynona, in to see me,” Matt said.
“That’s right. Fancy you remembering.”
“How is Wynona?” Liz asked. Matt might remember his patients’ names, but Liz could see he wasn’t comfortable dealing with them outside the office. “Do you think she’ll make cheerleader this year?”
“I hope so. We’re sending her to cheerleading camp.”
Liz moved as they talked, forcing Mrs. Briggs to move, as well. She stopped in the aisle to let Matt pass in front of her. But all her strategies didn’t keep other women from crowding around him. By the time they reached the porch of the church, he looked ready to bolt. When she saw the minister coming his way, she knew she had to do something. The Reverend Pike was a wonderful minister, but he looked upon all outsiders as lost souls.
“Good morning, Mr. Pike,” Liz said. “I enjoyed your sermon as always.”
“Good to see you in church, Liz. Where are your delightful children?”
“With my cousin. This was her day to keep the nursery. I want you to meet Dr. Matt Dennis. He’s the new doctor at the clinic.”
“I’ve been wanting to meet you,” Mr. Pike said, “but I’ve been too healthy.”
“That hasn’t stopped anyone else,” Matt said.
Liz nearly choked. “Everybody’s been coming in for all the things they were too busy to do during the school year.”
Liz pulled on Matt’s sleeve, and they moved on. But getting past Mr. Pike was far from her most difficult task. It seemed nearly every woman in the church was determined to speak to Matt, introduce her entire family and carry on an exhaustive investigation of his dinner plans for the next month. Before ten minutes had elapsed, Matt had been invited to eat enough fried chicken, country ham, hot biscuits and homemade ice cream to keep him fed through the rest of the summer.
“I use my evenings to study and my weekends to relax out of town.”
If Liz heard Matt say that once, he said it two dozen times. He was obviously used to people taking no for an answer. He didn’t know what to do when nearly every person said, “You can come over to my house. I won’t tell anybody.” These would-be hostesses didn’t seem to realize that by adding the line, “I’ll even invite some nice young ladies so you’ll have somebody besides us old people to talk to,” they ensured the failure of their plans. There was jackrabbit in Matt Dennis’s veins, and Liz could see he was ready to use it to remain well out of the clutches of these “nice young ladies.”
Liz actually felt a little sorry for him. Despite his size, looks and abilities, the great and wonderful Dr. Matt Dennis was scared to death of all these little country ladies. Just as surprising, Liz found herself feeling protective of him.
She knew the people of Iron Springs had hearts of gold. Their straightforward, frank, open approach augured a real caring about people. Their curiosity about personal and family details was merely an extension of that. Knowing everything about a person allowed them to share that person’s life, to make them a part of the community, to feel like they belonged to the extended family. Still Liz could see how, to a man used to the impersonal atmosphere of a big city, it might seem like nosy, even rude, curiosity.
Since no one seemed willing to take Matt’s refusal as anything but bashful reluctance, it devolved on Liz to turn down these unwelcome invitations. It taxed her ingenuity to do it without offending anyone.
“They’re only trying to be friendly,” Liz said when she’d extricated Matt from an invitation to a family reunion.
“I should never have let you talk me into staying here,” Matt said. “I should have gone to Charlottesville. Richmond, if I had to.”
“You don’t have to run from us. Nobody’s going to eat you.”
Matt gave her a skeptical look.
“They’re just interested in you.”
“I’m their doctor, not their friend and buddy. I don’t think it’s a good idea to—”
“You told me. Doctors should keep their distance from their patients. I don’t agree with you, but after today, I can see why you feel the way you do. Oh, good Lord! Here come the children with Ethan and Josie trailing behind.”
Liz had an understanding with Ethan about his mother. When the three of them were in the same place, he was to stay with his mother and keep his distance. Josie was certain that when Liz tricked her son into marrying her, she wouldn’t want any more children and Josie would be denied her own grandchildren. She had announced several times she couldn’t possibly accept a Yankee’s children.
Liz had tried to point out that being from Baltimore, Maryland, didn’t make David a Yankee, but Josie didn’t want to hear that.
Liz couldn’t decide whom her children were happier to see, her or Matt. Ben wanted Matt to pick him up. Rebecca positioned herself between Liz and Matt. That left Ethan to walk on Liz’s other side and Josie to walk next to Matt. Neither was happy.
“Ben and Rebecca seem to like you a lot,” Ethan said to Matt. “They don’t usually take to strangers so quickly.”
Liz guessed Ethan felt nettled. It had taken the children nearly a year to accept him. Ben still wouldn’t climb up in his arms the way he did Matt’s.
“It’s hardly surprising,” Josie Woodhouse said. “With him living in the same house, they must think he’s their father.”
“My daddy lives in New York,” Rebecca announced. “He and Mama are mad at each other.”
“Are you going to see your father this summer?” Josie asked Rebecca.
“Mama says Daddy neglected us. She says she can’t trust us alone with him.”
One of the hazards of trying to explain things to your children was that they were likely to repeat everything you said to the rest of the world, Liz recognized.
“I think they ought to see their father,” Josie announced. “I deplore this modern penchant for divorce. I hope you’re going to take your children for a long visit.”
She meant she hoped Liz was going to get out of town and leave Ethan alone.
“I couldn’t leave the clinic just now,” Liz said. “We can barely keep our heads above water as it is.”
“It won’t matter if you’re not there,” Josie said. “You’re not a nurse.” She turned to Matt. “Don’t you think it’s important for children to spend as much time with their parents as possible?”
“Yes, I do,” Matt replied, “but I can’t spare Liz just now. We’d probably have to close the clinic.”
“There, Mother,” Ethan said, smiling proudly at Liz, “I told you they couldn’t get along without her. Stop trying to chase her out of town. If she stayed gone very long, I’d have to go after her.”
“Ethan, you promised me you wouldn’t leave Iron Springs,” Josie wailed. “This is your home. You can’t—”
“This is where we have to leave you,” Liz said, thankful
Josie lived seven houses away. Matt and the kids turned down the sidewalk.
Ethan put his hand on Liz’s arm to detain her. “I came to ask you to have lunch with us.”
“Thank you, but I can’t leave Matt by himself.”
“He’s a grown man. I’m sure he’s used to being by himself.” He sounded irritated.
“This is his first Sunday in Iron Springs. He stayed because I told him he ought to go to church and get to know people. I can’t just walk out on him.”
“I don’t see why not.” Now he sounded possessive and irritated.
“Don’t plague her, Ethan. If she doesn’t want to have lunch with you, leave her alone.”
“It isn’t that,” Liz said to Josie, exasperated. “It’s just that I don’t feel right leaving Matt.”
“You seem to be awfully interested in him all of a sudden,” Ethan said.
“How could I not be? I work for him. He stays in my house.”
“I never did like that,” Ethan said. “I don’t think it’s proper.”
“I wouldn’t have offered the house if I hadn’t thought it was going to be a female doctor, but I can’t ask him to leave now.”
He reached out and took hold of her arm. “You can if you stop stalling and marry me,” Ethan said.
“This isn’t the time to discuss it. I’ve got to go.” Liz tried to break his hold.
“Let her go, Ethan. If she doesn’t want to marry you, she’s a fool. I keep telling you she’s not good enough for you. Besides, she’s already been thrown out by one man. You can’t want another man’s leavings.”
Ethan released her. Liz turned and walked toward the house. She’d almost become hardened to Josie’s insults, but that didn’t mean she wanted to stand around and listen to more of them.
“Are we going to visit Daddy this summer?” Rebecca asked the minute Liz walked into the house.
That was another reason for being angry at Josie. She’d upset her children.
“I don’t know. We’ll decide later. Now go change your clothes while I fix your lunch.”
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