One Sweet Day I Found You: A Sweet Romance Book 1

by Jillian Walsh

  Strange.

  Courtney thought for a moment. Wednesday. This wasn’t typically one of the days that Josie Schlagel came to cook and clean for Victoria, so Victoria would be alone. Victoria still had a car, but she mentioned a while back that she never drove anymore. She also mentioned that Ash was often right by her side. It was unlike Victoria not to know his whereabouts, or not to let him in if the weather was bad.

  She must be here. Courtney knocked harder. No reply. Maybe she was asleep?

  She moved over to one of the low windows so she could gaze into the grand living room for a quick check. Curtains blocked some of the view, but not entirely. Lucky break. Courtney peered inside, shielding her vision with a hand to block the glare.

  She scanned the room. Nothing.

  She peered further, and finally, she saw her. Courtney gasped. Victoria was lying motionless on her back on the hallway floor that led into the kitchen.

  Her heart began to thump in her chest. Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh.

  She had to do something. Where was her phone? Of course—this would be the one time she didn’t have it on her. It was still inside her purse in the cottage. She dropped the umbrella and raced back to grab it.

  A few moments later, she’d dialed 911 and spoken to the operator. Emergency Services would be there in just a few minutes. Courtney stayed on the line with the female operator as she hurried back to Victoria’s porch to wait for the cry of the siren.

  But how were they going to get in? Would they have to break down the door? Break the lock? The operator wanted to know if she had access to the home. She told her she did not.

  Ash stood there, still pacing the porch. He knew it wasn’t like Victoria not to answer her door and let her favorite furry companion inside. Courtney picked him up and hugged him close.

  Clutching the cat, she sat down on one of the patio chairs, the 911 operator still on the other end of the line.

  Nick would want to know what was going on. He only did wilderness rescues, not residential calls, so he probably wouldn’t hear anything about this. Courtney had to let him know. Right now.

  She heard the sirens off in the distance.

  Nick probably wouldn’t take her call, not the way things went down last night, judging from the way he’d ghosted her last week. Too bad, she thought. I’m calling.

  “Listen, I need to call the injured woman’s loved ones, so I need to hang up with you,” she told the operator. The woman noted the vehicle’s GPS coordinates and agreed, telling her the ambulance would be there in four minutes. She advised Courtney to call back immediately if anything changed. Courtney ended the call.

  Courtney touched the audio button below Nick’s name in her contacts list. The phone rang once.

  He’d be at work, right? He was off yesterday. The weather was lousy. The shop shouldn’t be busy. Two more rings.

  Come on, pick up.

  Finally, Nick answered, his tone flat. “Hey,” he said.

  “Nick, it’s me,” Courtney said. “Victoria—she must’ve fallen. Emergency services are on their way. I’m outside her house, but I’m locked out.”

  “Oh, my gosh. I’ll be right there,” he said, and hung up.

  Courtney swallowed, staring anxiously at the lake and the rain. How long would it take them to get inside without access to the house? She should’ve told Nick to call Josie. Josie would have a key. Courtney didn’t have her number. Shoot.

  Did Nick have a key? She wasn’t sure.

  But wait—she hadn’t yet checked the back doors to Victoria’s expansive home. There were two she knew of. One of them might be unlocked. It was worth a shot. Courtney raced around the far side of the house to the back.

  She reached the door that opened into the garage and jiggled the handle. It was locked.

  The rain was falling harder now. The air felt heavy, humid. Courtney’s back was soaked with sweat and the drenching rain actually felt good on her skin.

  She ran to the side door, the one that must’ve led from the basement into the kitchen. Josie used it when she was unloading groceries. Courtney had seen her several times—the door was visible from a side window of the guesthouse.

  She jiggled the handle—it was locked. She huffed. Courtney looked around. A small cluster of flowerpots sat at the base of the door. There’s no way.

  Oh, why not? She lifted the pots, one by one, and finally, her eyes shot wide—a key!

  She tried it in the door and the lock turned.

  Courtney opened the door and quickly took the key out, sliding it into her back pocket, then raced inside the basement and up the stairs. At the top, she found her way through the kitchen to the living room hallway, where she knelt down next to Victoria on the floor. Victoria’s eyes were closed.

  Her heart racing, Courtney felt Victoria’s forehead and cheeks. She was colder than Courtney, but still, warm. She put two fingers to the artery in her throat. Her pulse was slow, but it was there. Courtney checked her mouth for breathing. Also, good, but the woman was unconscious.

  “Don’t quit on me now, Victoria,” she said softly, trying not to let the dripping rain from her hair soak the poor woman. “Help is on the way. I’m here for you.” Courtney pulled out her phone to call back the 911 operator.

  But the siren was extremely loud now. She stood up to peer out a front window and put the phone back in her pocket. They’re here.

  “I’ll be right back, Victoria.” She hurried to the front, turned the lock, and opened the heavy door wide. An ambulance had parked outside the house. She let the team of first responders in and they quickly went about assessing the situation.

  A police car showed up next, lights and sirens blaring until it parked outside the house.

  Courtney moved out of the way and shut off the noisy television. From a distance, she watched as they administered oxygen to Victoria, checked her vitals, and turned her onto her left side to keep her airways open. Within moments, the old woman seemed to stir. Courtney relaxed briefly.

  She checked outside. A folded stretcher with legs and a narrow mattress was being carried up the stairs, protected by a tarp to keep the pouring rain from soaking it. Under the covered porch, it was unfolded and wheeled inside the house.

  A medic asked Courtney a few questions about Victoria—name, age, emergency contacts. Courtney answered as best she could. She really didn’t know exactly how old Victoria was. She would have to find Josie’s number as soon as possible. Maybe it was in the kitchen with Victoria’s bills and mail? Nick might have more information for them when he got there.

  She went into the kitchen, dug around, and came up with some emergency cards that Victoria and Josie kept in an all-purpose drawer, probably for an unfortunate occasion like this. One of the medics thanked her and took it. The sheriff’s deputy had a few more questions for Courtney.

  Dear, sweet, spunky Victoria was going to be all right, wasn’t she? She had to be. Courtney hung her head and offered up a silent prayer.

  Moments later, Nick’s Jeep sped down the driveway.

  Twenty-Five

  Nick kept his voice as calm and supportive as he could manage. “What happened? Where is she?” He took the porch stairs two at a time. Courtney stood on the porch as the rain continued to fall and pointed inside the house. “She’s still inside.”

  Under the cover of the porch roof, he stopped short and took Courtney gently by the arm. “You okay?” She returned a steadfast look, but he could see the worry on her face. He squeezed her arm reassuringly.

  Nick was accustomed to emergency situations—accidents, trauma, sickness—but not when it came to someone he cared for. The feeling was something new and altogether unsettling. Courtney turned and motioned for him to follow. He steeled himself and hurried into the house after her.

  Nick approached the team. Victoria was conscious now and on the stretcher, but she wasn’t responsive to the medic’s questions that would help them gauge her physical and mental condition. Her eyelids fluttered, opening no
w and again.

  Ronnie, a medic in his early forties who’d been on the payroll full-time with the local team for years, looked over. “Hey, what’s up, Nick? I didn’t think they called in anyone from your crew? It’s just a house call.”

  “Hey Ron. No, they didn’t. She’s a good friend of my family’s. I’m on her list of emergency contacts.” He made a mental note to let Josie and his parents know what had happened just as soon as he could.

  “Oh, okay, good. Come on over. We were hoping she’d have someone. The young lady did the best she could, but she says she really can’t speak for her. She found us her medical record and health insurance cards, though. History of high blood pressure.”

  Nick glanced at Courtney, who just then scooped Victoria’s cat, anxious and underfoot, out of the way of the emergency team.

  “Okay, so how’s she doing?”

  “She’s stable. Go ahead.”

  Nick went to Victoria, placing his strong, warm hand over one of hers—frail, freckled, and wrinkled. “Victoria, it’s Nick. I’m here. We’re gonna take good care of you, okay?” He stroked her hand gently twice. “You hang in there. You’re going to be fine.” Victoria’s eyelids remained closed but there was movement behind them. He hoped she’d heard him.

  He let go of her hand as the team began to push the stretcher carefully out of the house. Nick followed them to the ambulance and watched them hoist her up inside the large van.

  Courtney followed and stayed out on the porch, still holding Ash. One of the medics jumped inside the van with Victoria and began to hook up the equipment that would prepare her for the trip.

  The rain had slowed to a trickle. Ronnie pulled his hood up and stood next to Nick outside the van.

  Nick turned to him. “So, any ideas?

  “Possible stroke, but we’re thinking a TIA.”

  “Okay,” Nick said. “She’s always been healthy as an ox, even at eighty-six. Any sign of fracture?”

  “Possibly. But they’ll check her out for sure at the hospital. She must’ve hit pretty hard when she went down. She was lucky to have the tenant at the guesthouse find her.”

  Nick thought about the hard wood floors that covered most of the first floor of the house. It dawned on him that Courtney must’ve been the one to find her and call 911.

  “Okay, so we’re taking her to Sturgeon Bay. You coming?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “All right, we’ll let them know.”

  “Thanks, Ron.”

  “You bet. And don’t worry. We’ll take good care of her.” Nick shook his hand gratefully, then waved to the other medic. “Thanks, Doug.”

  Ronnie closed the doors on Doug and Victoria then climbed into the driver’s seat and started up the engine. The sheriff’s officer had finished up his report and waved, getting back into the police car. Moments later, the ambulance headed down the driveway and turned south onto the main road. The fire truck left just a few minutes later.

  Nick skipped back up onto the porch and walked over to face Courtney, who had followed the group outside. He explained their assessment, and that a TIA in laymen’s terms meant a mini-stroke, which would usually indicate little to no brain damage. “It would’ve made her dizzy and weak, and she probably lost her balance—probably hit her head hard on the way down. They wouldn’t know for sure until they run some tests.”

  Courtney took it all in with a brave look. As much of a mess as things were between them, he found himself wanting to throw his arms around her. This couldn’t have been easy on her.

  But he didn’t.

  Courtney nodded eagerly.

  Nick stepped a little closer to her. “Thanks for what you did, Court. If you hadn’t come along when you did…” His eyes suddenly felt moist and his throat closed up. He looked away, blinking back a tear.

  There was no use thinking worst-case scenarios right now. He needed to hold it together. He sniffled and pinched his nose for a second.

  Courtney let Ash jump down from her hands onto the porch then reached up and cupped Nick’s face in her hands. She pulled him in close, put her forehead against his chin, and held him there. A tiny sob escaped her but she steadied her voice. “She’s going to be all right, Nick. She’s one strong lady. Don’t worry, okay?”

  He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed, then finally pulled away. She wiped the back of her hand against the tip of her nose.

  He ran a forearm across his eyes and sniffled again. “I know. She’s going to be fine.” He swallowed and brought his voice back to normal. “Okay, so, I’m going to meet them at the hospital. You coming? I’ll drive.”

  Courtney blinked. Had she heard him right? “Yeah. Yeah. Let me just go grab my things and lock up the cottage.”

  “Okay.”

  Ash was wandering the porch aimlessly and she hurried over to grab hold of him again. She carried him into the house. Nick followed and closed the door behind them. “Do you know where Victoria keeps her keys?”

  “Uh, no, I don’t. You don’t have one?”

  He shook his head.

  Then she remembered. “Oh, wait, I have one right here.” She reached into her pocket and produced the key. I found it out back under a flowerpot. It’s how I got in.”

  “You did?”

  She handed it to him. “Yeah, I was able to get in so the firefighters didn’t have to waste time or break her lock.” Nick was impressed. “If it doesn’t work on the front door, we can leave through the basement.”

  “Oh. Okay, great. Oh, and I’ll call Josie right now.” He pulled out his phone, called Josie Schlagel, and left a message when she didn’t pick up. Josie would want to know what happened and how Victoria was doing, but she’d also want to keep an eye on the house, the bills, and the contents of the refrigerator, however long Victoria might be away.

  A few minutes later, Courtney came back into the room with her purse, a light jacket for later, an umbrella, and a couple of towels. She handed Nick a towel. He wasn’t quite as soaked as she’d been, but he took it and ran it over his head and neck. “Thanks.”

  Courtney eyed up the room. “Do you think we should bring her some of her clothes and stuff?”

  “Oh, yeah, that’s probably a really good idea.” He wasn’t too sure what kinds of things a woman of her age might want and made a face that said help. “Do you mind looking through her drawers?”

  “Not at all. No problem.” Courtney hurried into Victoria’s first floor bedroom. She returned a few minutes later with a canvas bag loaded up. “This ought to do it.”

  Nick was standing by the front door. “Right. Okay, thanks.” He gave her a soft smile. “Let’s go.”

  “Wait, I should make sure Ash has some food and water first.”

  “Good idea.” Nick laughed with relief. “Wow, you’re good at this.” There were too many things on his mind right now. He was grateful she was thinking clearly.

  Courtney went and filled the bowls as Nick checked the key she’d handed him. It worked on the front door lock.

  Courtney appeared at the front door a couple of minutes later.

  “Ready?”

  She nodded.

  The drive to the medical center in Sturgeon Bay was about thirty minutes long. Outside the safety of the Jeep, dark clouds still hung heavily over the evening sky and the rain picked up again.

  After twenty minutes with nothing but a few polite words between them, Nick cleared his throat. The silence was deafening, and he was incredibly grateful and humbled by what she did for Victoria today. He should tell her.

  “Look, Court, I know things ended on a bad note between us last night. But thanks—for everything, today. Victoria’s lucky to have you around.”

  “Of course. And you don’t need to thank me.”

  He went on. “I’m glad you weren’t afraid to get in touch with me.”

  “You mean the world to her, Nick. I’m sure she wanted you there.” She cast a soft glance in his direction and he returned a smile, then she
cast her attention back out her window.

  But he had more on his mind. Still, he wasn’t sure how to say it. He’d just have to spit it out. Today’s events had already given him a new perspective on things. Life. Love. Happiness. Was he so proud and stubborn that he’d throw away his chance with the girl of his dreams?

  He fixed his eyes on the road and summoned the courage. “I know this isn’t really the time or the place to get into it, but I want to clear the air.” Courtney turned her head to gaze at him, eyebrows perked.

  He met her glance and then looked back at the road, his grip on the black leather steering wheel tighter than necessary. “I thought a lot about what you told me last night after I left. Not gonna lie—it wasn’t what I wanted to hear, but—I appreciate your honesty.”

  It couldn’t have been easy for her to tell him everything that happened with the ex-boyfriend.

  He even understood now, how it had taken her so long to get that final, agonizing piece of information out, considering the circumstances last night because things between them had been amazing for a few minutes. If he’d been in her shoes, he might’ve held off a while, too.

  Still, he had to leave when he did, because he was too upset to talk about it anymore. He’d needed to process it all. He’d called a rideshare, texted Tom, and left the party after their fight. And things had become a lot clearer since then. He realized he respected her for telling him the truth at all.

  He realized he’d been too hard on her.

  He glanced over at her again then back to the road. “I mean, you could’ve just gone on and left that part out about kissing him, and I’d have never been the wiser. But then, you would’ve always felt that distance between us, which would’ve eventually caused more damage, because I would’ve felt it, too.”

  He stared out the windshield as he talked. “So, I can see now that you did the right thing by telling me. Because, honestly, I’d rather know the truth, no matter what.”

  Nick switched the windshield wipers to a lower setting. The rain was slowing, thankfully.

  He took a second to look over at her again. She wore a stunned look, but she reached out and linked her hand with his, then rested them both on the center console.