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

by Jillian Walsh

  “Yes, she is awake right now and enjoys having visitors. Please, come in. She’s in the living room.” She stepped aside and motioned for them to enter.

  “Thank you, dear.” The woman, holding an enormous vase of fresh flowers, swept assuredly past Courtney toward the living room before any names were exchanged.

  The older gentleman came in. “So sorry for the intrusion. We just drove in from Illinois. I’m afraid my wife insisted on surprising her.” He flashed her a conspiratorial wink and Courtney returned a grin.

  “Oh, it’s no problem at all. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled,” Courtney said. That sure was some distance to drive to see someone without letting the other party know, though, wasn’t it?

  The man followed his wife into the living room and the second couple stepped forward. Courtney guessed they weren’t much older than she, and they didn’t seem to be in quite such a hurry. “Hello, I’m Kenny. This is my fiancée, Gloria, and those are my parents. Sorry to barge in like this. They’ve been anxious since we hit the Wisconsin border.” He grinned.

  “Hi.” She relaxed and held out a hand. “It’s so nice to meet you. I’m Courtney. Come on in.” They all shook. Something about Kenny felt oddly familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it.

  The two of them followed her into the living room, where the first two guests already sat across from Victoria, chatting and fussing pleasantly. The vase of flowers looked lovely on an end table.

  Victoria brightened when the younger couple entered the room. “Oh, it’s Kenny! What a wonderful surprise! And look how you’ve grown! Now, who’s this lovely young lady?” Kenny introduced Gloria.

  “It’s so nice to meet you, dear.” Gloria greeted her warmly.

  Courtney made a polite motion to leave. “I should let you all catch up with each other.”

  “Nonsense. Stay and chat, Courtney!” Victoria said. “Did you all meet Courtney? She’s my tenant in the guesthouse.”

  Introductions were made. Courtney gave a little wave, and Victoria introduced the older couple as Kenneth and Julia. “They’re dear old friends.”

  “So nice to meet you, Courtney,” Julia said.

  Courtney sat down on the sofa and returned the greeting.

  Victoria gushed over their surprise visit. “Oh, I can’t believe you drove all the way here out of the blue! It’s been so long. I want to hear all about you. Start talking!”

  Gracious yet matter-of-fact, Kenneth and Julia chatted a bit about themselves, his work, things at home, and how they’d all made reservations for a couple of nights at a hotel in Anderson Cove so they could stay a few days. It was one of the more luxurious options in the area. Courtney recognized it from the lodging guide she’d updated.

  Kenny mentioned he and Gloria had been in the area just last month although the older couple hadn’t been there in years. Eventually, they brought the conversation around as to how Victoria was faring since the stroke.

  “Oh, I’m no worse for wear,” Victoria said, waving it off.

  Kenneth asked some rather clinical-sounding questions about her medications and her diagnosis. Courtney thought he must be a doctor.

  “But don’t worry, I’m getting along fine here with Josie and Courtney. They’ve both been taking great care of me.”

  Josie walked into the room just then and greeted them all warmly. Apparently, she knew the family as well. Courtney was doing her best to be polite, but could not quite figure out just how these people fit in with Victoria’s life.

  “Oh, Kenny, you’re so grown up! I can hardly believe it. It’s got to be, what—eleven or twelve years since I’ve seen you?”

  Kenny laughed and gave her a hug. “Yes, something like that! It’s great to see you, too. And you haven’t aged a day.”

  Josie gave him a wink, beaming. “Can I get you all something to drink? That must’ve been a long drive.”

  “That would be wonderful. Thank you so much, Josie,” Julia answered for the group.

  Courtney jumped up and followed Josie into the kitchen. “I’ll help.”

  “Oh, let me help you, too.” Gloria hurried after them.

  In the kitchen, Josie poured lemonades and loaded up the tray. She handed it to Gloria, who stood waiting. “Thank you so much, dear,” Josie said.

  When Gloria was out of earshot, Josie lowered her voice and whispered to Courtney. “Honey, you know who these people are, don’t you?”

  Courtney shook her head. “I have no idea. I’ve been trying to figure it out. Should I know? They came from out of state.”

  Josie was about to answer when Victoria called pleasantly from the other room. “Oh, Courtney! Now, where did that young lady disappear to?”

  Courtney didn’t want to keep anyone waiting. She held up her finger to Josie. “Hold that thought.”

  Josie shrugged and went back to the sink.

  “There she is,” Victoria exclaimed. Victoria motioned gently to the sofa and Courtney took her seat again. “This young lady has been such a wonderful friend to me. She saved my life.” She turned to face Courtney. “Please, dear, tell them how you and Ash found me.” She grinned with delight. “Listen to this.”

  Courtney’s eyes shot wide. Talk about being put on the spot.

  Courtney was glad Victoria could enjoy hearing the story again. She summarized the experience quickly.

  Josie came back into the room with some snacks for the group and refilled Victoria’s lemonade.

  The group sat gazing at Courtney with admiration. When she finished, Kenneth leaned forward in his seat. “Is that right? What quick thinking.” It was more a comment than a question. “Very good, Courtney.”

  Julia chimed in. “Oh, my dear, how lucky we are to have you. I can’t imagine—if you hadn’t come along when you did, and then taken the necessary steps? We’re so grateful.”

  “Oh, no, it was nothing.” Courtney blushed. “It was all Ash. Really.” Courtney looked at the cat, who had jumped off the windowsill and was slinking through the room, friendly and unabashed, as usual. Gloria offered him her attention and the mood in the room lightened.

  “But thank you,” Courtney said. What else could she say? Victoria could’ve lain there for days if Ash hadn’t alerted her, or if Courtney had ignored the cat’s unusual behavior and assumed everything was fine. But she wasn’t going to take credit for saving Victoria’s life. She wasn’t the paramedic who treated her or rushed her to the hospital. Nor was she going to brag about it. That would be tacky. “The emergency response team showed up quickly, and they did all the work. I just called them in time. Really.”

  They all nodded with approval. “Well, still,” said Kenny generously, “it’s good to hear they’ve got a good team around here.” He turned to Victoria. “Speaking of emergency response teams, how’s my brother doing?”

  Twenty-Seven

  “I was going to ask you that next,” said Kenneth.

  “Oh, your brother is the apple of my eye, Kenny! Honestly.” She looked at Julia and Kenneth. “He takes great care of me. You’ve done a wonderful job raising that young man.”

  Courtney narrowed her eyes. Were they talking about…?

  “That’s good to hear,” said Kenny. “I’m glad he’s looking out for you.” He squeezed Gloria’s knee affectionately and she wrapped her arms around his wrist.

  Kenneth and Julia gazed at Victoria gratefully. “Oh, we miss him so much. You have no idea.”

  “Is he coming over, too?” asked Victoria. She looked to Josie. “Didn’t Nicholas call this morning, Josie?”

  Courtney’s eyes shot wide. She put a hand over her mouth. Josie glanced at her then answered Victoria.

  “Yes, he called early today. Said he’ll stop in tonight for a couple of minutes after work.”

  Nick’s family. Oh. My. Gosh.

  She focused on Kenny for a second. That’s why Kenny seemed so familiar—he was the spitting image of Nick! A little taller and leaner compared to Nick’s rugged build, but undeniably, his olde
r brother. Same hair color, same smile. She found herself gaping at him then quickly looked away.

  “Well, that makes our surprise so much easier.” Julia looked delighted, if not relieved.

  Obviously, they had no idea who Courtney was. Nick had told her that he hadn’t been in the best place with his parents, lately. Also, things had been so rocky between her and Nick until just recently—she didn’t blame him for not telling his mother about their relationship yet. She knew a lot of guys didn’t announce their romantic interests to their families in the early stages of a relationship, anyway.

  Having his family here now sure was awkward, though! She sucked in a deep breath, wondering how long it would take Victoria to tie Courtney to their son in conversation. She felt her cheeks warming and she shot Josie another look. Josie returned a knowing glance, one eyebrow arched above the other. Now you see?

  “We’re actually surprising him, too.” Julia crossed a leg. “He’s been letting on that he might finally move back to Chicago in the fall. Kenneth’s been trying to get him to go back to school. We don’t want him throwing away his future renting sports equipment to tourists. He’s done that long enough. I’m really hoping he comes around soon.”

  Kenneth let out a heavy sigh.

  Kenny broke in. “He didn’t say he’d go back to school, Mom. He said he was thinking about moving back. Let’s not push him. You know how that tactic goes over with Nick.” Apparently, Nick didn’t cave to familial pressure. Courtney felt the tension in the room rise.

  So this was behind Nick’s announcement on the Fourth of July? This was why he’d taken her breath away and left her stomach in knots? They wanted him to go back to school.

  She sighed, frustrated for Nick. He had told her very clearly that he no longer wanted to be a doctor. Why were they still pushing him on the matter? Weren’t two doctors in the family enough for them?

  Courtney’s heart began to pound. Nick would not want her meeting his parents like this. If nothing else right now, she was sure of that. She ought to try to make an exit before things got really weird.

  Victoria didn’t disguise her disappointment. “Oh, Julia, I hope he doesn’t leave us. He’s doing so well up here,” she crowed. “I thought he left medical school, Kenneth? He told me he has no interest in it anymore.”

  Kenneth frowned. “Did he?” His shoulders sunk, although Courtney thought he looked as though he’d expected her to say that.

  Would Nick be floored at their surprise visit or would he be thrilled? She really could not guess.

  Victoria went on. “Plus, he’s been so busy with the search-and-rescue team when he’s not working. Josie just told us all about a rescue he did with the coast guard just recently. Josie, won’t you tell them? It’s a wonderful story.” She took a sip from her lemonade and sat back, obviously eager to hear it again.

  “Oh, yes, sure, I’ll tell you.” Josie loved to tell a good story.

  Courtney took the opportunity to rise quietly and excuse herself, making sure to grab her phone and keys, hoping to escape to the kitchen—and then maybe out the back door. Nick could show up any minute.

  She made it to the kitchen without much ado and sighed with relief, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave. What else were they going to say about him?

  She kept quiet and stepped behind the kitchen wall to listen. She had to hear this. He hadn’t told her any details about the coast guard rescue. That must’ve been the day the whole thing started to go downhill between them last week? Gosh, the man was modest about his achievements, beyond belief.

  Josie sat up in her seat. “So, John—that’s my husband—” she explained, for Gloria’s sake, “John’s team had to rescue six people from the bay who had gone out in kayaks. They drifted out really far, where the big boats were rushing by, with huge wakes that could’ve capsized them. When John’s boat found them, they were exhausted and disoriented. So careless. These kids out on the water these days…” She shook her head and let out a frustrated sigh.

  Nick’s family was quiet. Josie must’ve had them all on the edge of their seats. Courtney leaned in closer to hear.

  “Anyway, John and his men did the rescue on that job. Saved them all without incident. So Nick and one other young man handled the medical response. And he said most of the victims had only been overexposed to the elements, but one woman had gone into shock.”

  Courtney heard Dr. Bingham’s interest. “Hmm.”

  “John said Nick was a model of grace under pressure, and that the woman had some underlying conditions that made her worse, and Nick knew exactly what to do. He hadn’t ever worked with Nick before, although he’s known him since he was a teenager, so he was very impressed to see what Nick could do and how he handled a tough situation. He wanted to offer him a job right there on the spot, if he’d had any openings.”

  It was obvious to Courtney that Josie didn’t want to see Nick leave Heritage Bay any more than Victoria did. She was laying it on thick. Go, Josie!

  Still, Courtney’s heart went out to Nick. Why didn’t he ever talk about this stuff? What he did was amazing and fit the superhero persona she imagined in him.

  “Dr. Bingham,” Josie went on, “if you could’ve heard John, you’d have been so proud of your son. John was beaming like a proud uncle that night.”

  Kenneth sounded surprised, if not heartened by the sentiment. “Really?”

  “Yes, really,” Victoria broke in with her matter-of-fact tone. “He’s doing great work here. He’s so modest you’d never know it, but there are many people out there who owe their health and well-being to your son’s actions.”

  Julia looked shocked. “Well, that’s wonderful to hear.”

  Courtney heard her sigh. “Well, is he over his heartbreak from last year or is he still talking about that dreadful Regina? I’ve been so hoping he would move on.”

  Kenny spoke up in defense of his brother. “Mom—really?”

  Courtney’s eyes went wide. Oh, my goodness, Victoria’s going to say something! What should she do? The door to the basement and out the back beckoned, but she stood there, frozen, unable to tear herself away.

  Just then, Courtney heard a shuffling from the entryway and another voice filled the room. “Holy smokes! Mom, Dad, what are you all doing here?”

  Nick!

  He sounded happy.

  But, still!

  Courtney’s eyeballs nearly bulged out of their sockets.

  He came in the front door! Now she was really going to look horrible if she were found hiding there, eavesdropping. What should she do?

  She had to go back in there—or leave now. Choose.

  But if she left, it would make Nick—and her—look terrible if her name was brought up. They’d all realize she’d turned and run. She’d better just come up with a simple excuse for her ten-minute absence and return.

  Courtney listened a little longer, her palms sweating, as Nick went about giving out hugs and stunned greetings individually to his parents, his brother, and Gloria before greeting Victoria and Josie. She heard him congratulate his brother and Gloria on their engagement. “So, what in the world is going on here?” he finally asked, sounding shocked. Still, Courtney could hear the warmth in his voice. “You all came up to surprise Victoria?”

  His mother explained and then gushed over him. “We came to surprise you, too, honey. Nick, how are you? You look wonderful. We’ve missed you so much.”

  Courtney took a deep breath and let it out. She had really better go back in now. Otherwise, her behavior was becoming borderline creepy.

  She crept back down the hallway and quietly made an entrance into the living room. Nick was sitting next to his mother on a love seat, her arm draped around his back, a look on her face that said she couldn’t bear to let him out of her sight. Courtney stopped at the entrance to the room and Nick’s eyes flew wide. “Courtney?”

  What was happening right now? Nick watched, stunned, as his girlfriend took a seat on the sofa across from his pa
rents and his brother, as if they were old friends.

  “Oh, there she is,” said Victoria. “Where did you make off to, young lady?” she said jokingly. “I was beginning to worry.”

  Courtney blushed and gave a little wave. “Hi. Sorry.”

  Apparently, Courtney had already been here for a while. Well, this was awkward.

  Nick caught Josie’s eye. Josie was staring at him. He stared back. What is going on?

  “I—uh, I had to make a call—to the office,” Courtney stammered. Nick narrowed his eyes. Courtney almost never called the office.

  Nick eyed her. She looked uncomfortable, at best. As gorgeous and sweet as usual, but uncomfortable. He had to do something.

  “Wait,” Julia said, circling around to the fact that Nick knew Courtney by name. “You two know each other?” Nick’s mother sat back, removing her arm from her son’s shoulders. “Oh, well, I guess that does make sense, if Courtney lives across the driveway now.”

  Nick shot a look of bewilderment to his brother, but Kenny only shrugged.

  “Victoria is lucky to have this fine young lady on the premises,” his mother went on. “Courtney, how long will you be staying here? I should hope a very long time.”

  “Uh…” Courtney shifted in her seat, “As of right now, through the first of next year. Thank you,” she said politely.

  Nick ignored the last subject under discussion and broke in. “Okay, what is going on here?” he asked the room in general, a suspicious look clouding his face. “Will someone please tell me? I feel like I’m getting punked or something.”

  Victoria answered. “What do you mean, Nicholas? We’re just so glad you’re finally here.”

  Dr. Bingham cleared his throat. “We wanted to see how you both were doing, Nick. We planned to call you until we heard you’d be stopping by. Then, we thought we’d just wait it out until you got here so we could surprise you.”