by Leslie Gould
Her cheeks burned. “Thanks.”
“Ready?” He met her on the porch and offered her his arm.
“Ready.” Or was she? Her insides quaked just a little.
Howie ran toward them. “Can I go, pleeease?”
“Not this time, buddy.” Heath ruffled his hair. “Tonight’s just me and your mom. But next time. I promise.”
Instead of taking Heath’s Jeep, Candace handed him the key to her SUV and let him drive, since she didn’t know where they were going.
Dinner was at a fancy place, a seafood and steak restaurant in downtown Peoria with linen tablecloths and crystal goblets. They sat at a table in an alcove with high-backed chairs. Light from the single candle danced across the tablecloth.
Heath seemed relaxed, and pretty soon Candace found her anxiety easing too. They bantered back and forth over the menu. Heath wanted to order calamari as an appetizer. Candace asked if he expected her to eat it because eating an eraser would be easier. He laughed and told her she hadn’t had good calamari before if that had been her experience.
He talked about the fresh seafood he’d grown up on in Washington State: salmon, clams, squid, scallops, crabs. He loved it all. Candace agreed to try the calamari but ordered a filet mignon for her entrée, trying not to focus on the twenty-six-dollar price tag. That led her to thinking about the hospital board meeting that was going on as they spoke. She shivered. Maybe they’d find out tomorrow they didn’t have jobs.
“Earth to Candace,” Heath said.
She refocused.
“What were you thinking about?”
“You don’t want to know.” She unfolded her napkin.
“Work?”
She nodded.
“About what’s going to happen with the hospital?”
She nodded again and spread her napkin in her lap.
“None of that tonight,” Heath said. “Stay with me. Here. Now.”
The conversation turned toward summer plans. Heath wanted to go camping. Candace hoped to take a vacation with the kids, maybe to the beach, but that would depend on how things were going at work—
Heath held up his index finger as a reminder against the topic.
Candace laughed, and the subject veered toward Heath’s father and how he was redoing the flower beds in Heath’s front yard, pulling out all the plants and starting over.
Not once did Heath excuse himself or confer with the waiter or seem secretive in any way. He didn’t pat his pocket, nor were there any bulges in his pocket. The more convinced Candace was that a proposal wasn’t imminent, the more relaxed she became. By the time they ate dessert—crème brûlée—she was a little disappointed that the evening didn’t seem to include a proposal. It was the perfect atmosphere. She looked as good as she was ever going to. Heath was over-the-top handsome in his suit and sky blue tie that perfectly complemented his eyes.
But no proposal came. On the way home Candace dozed a little as a soft rain fell on the windshield and the SUV’s heater warmed her. For the first time in weeks she felt cozy and safe, able to let go—to trust Heath with the driving and God with her future.
The next morning, Candace sat down in the computer chair at work and rolled close to the desk.
It was her birthday. She had grown used to having it be a pretty low-key day. Dean used to go overboard with celebration and gifts, making her birthday that much harder to get through the first couple of years after he died. She’d convinced her mom not to make a big to-do about it since then. And it seemed that had worked, because as far as she knew, no one had planned anything to celebrate tonight other than a regular family dinner.
The staff was abuzz about the board meeting that had taken place the night before, but no one had any definite information. A group of nurses gathered behind Candace, and she couldn’t help but hear their conversation.
“I heard from Frederick Innisk’s niece that the guy from California wanted so much money that his salary alone would force Hope Haven to close.”
Candace knew that wasn’t true. She tried to concentrate on the charting she needed to do.
“Why would they bring someone in from the outside anyway?” another nurse asked. She bumped into Candace again, this time on purpose. “Candace, isn’t the guy a friend of Heath’s?”
Candace nodded, her attention still on the computer.
“So what’s the scoop?”
She turned toward the women and shrugged. “I have no idea. Your guess is as good as mine, but I wouldn’t believe the rumors.” Surely we’ll have an answer soon, she thought.
After work, she hurried home. Heath had asked the night before if he could take Howie and Brooke on a hike. She’d said a week or two before that she seldom had any alone time in the house. Janet had been helping Susan with a gardening project and wouldn’t be home until later, so Heath suggested he take the kids out to Bass Lake again and she could relax. “Take a nap if you want to,” he had said.
The kids were ready to go when she walked through the door and thankfully the weather was cooperating. It hadn’t rained all afternoon. Heath arrived a couple of minutes later wearing jeans and a jacket. Candace waved good-bye as the three of them took off for their adventure.
She took a deep breath, enjoying the stillness in the house and then made herself a cup of tea. But the house was too quiet. It didn’t feel right. She couldn’t possibly take a nap in such silence.
But she did. She sat on the couch, intending to read, and then decided to rest for just a minute. She woke up to Howie bounding through the front door, shouting, “Mommy, Mommy! We have a surprise!”
By the time he reached the living room, Brooke was right behind him.
“Mommy, Heath—”
Brooke tackled Howie onto the carpet and slapped her hand over his mouth. “Heath told you to wait!” she bellowed.
Candace leaped to her feet, unsettling her teacup and then righting it quickly as she called out with a smile, “Brooke, get off him.”
Heath stood in the doorway, trying not to laugh. “Sorry,” he said.
Brooke rolled off Howie and, unnerved, the little boy ran to Candace. “We have a surprise!”
“We’re supposed to wait until after dinner.” Brooke was clearly exasperated.
“Dinner?” Candace stared at her kids. “I haven’t even started cooking.”
“We’re going to go to the Parlor,” Howie said. “Heath let me choose.” He turned toward Heath. “Do we have to wait to tell Mommy?”
Heath threw up his hands. “No. Now is as good a time as any.” He smiled at Candace as he spoke and walked toward the center of the room, then extended his hand across the coffee table. She took it and he led her to the center of the room.
Then he got down on one knee and took a small box out of his pocket and removed a beautiful solitaire. Tears sprang into Candace’s eyes.
Howie clapped his hands together. “He asked us first,” he shouted.
“Candace,” Heath said, taking her hand again, “will you marry—”
The me was drowned out by Howie’s yelling, “Please say yes, Mommy, please say yes.”
“Howie.” Brooke clapped her hand over his mouth again.
There wasn’t a doubt in Candace’s mind. “Yes,” she said, glancing at Brooke and then at Howie, before her eyes locked on Heath’s. “Yes, I will marry you.”
Heath slipped the ring onto her finger, and Candace pulled him to his feet. He embraced her and then kissed her. He whispered, “Happy birthday.”
Her eyes welled with tears as they turned, together, toward the kids, who stood ramrod straight and still, Brooke’s hand still over Howie’s mouth.
“Come here,” Heath said, motioning to the children.
They both moved at once, running together, and flung their arms around Candace and Heath.
Our first family hug, Candace thought, and then she was crying, tears of joy and relief flooding over her. That was another thing that she loved about Heath—that he could surprise
her and include the kids.
Later, after dinner and cake with Janet and Susan and her family at the Parlor, after the kids were in bed, Heath said he wanted to ask before they knew what was happening at Hope Haven.
“Why?” she leaned away from him a little.
“Because we’re in this together,” he said and then kissed her again. “Regardless of what happens with the hospital and our jobs, we’re meant to be.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
THURSDAY AFTERNOON, JAMES SAT AT HIS DESK checking the status of his unemployment benefits and found out his file still hadn’t been updated.
He stretched his back and clicked into e-mail. A message from Joel popped into his box.
Hey Old Soldier,
Made it to Texas with just a few mishaps—my chaplain’s not nearly as good at transferring me as you are. Ended up on my butt in the middle of the plane when we were supposed to be disembarking. Besides that, everything else has gone well so far. Started therapy two days ago—my PT makes Polly look like a saint.
Thanks again for your help.
Joel
He read the e-mail to Fern. She left her book in her lap when he finished and said, “It seems to me that God had you lose your job for a reason.”
“So I could take care of Joel?”
She nodded.
He’d thought of that too. But now Joel didn’t need him any longer. He was jolted out of his reverie by the phone ringing. He stood and ambled into the kitchen. It was Cody, calling to check in.
James kept his voice low. “Do you have bad news for me?” He’d put off calling her all week.
“Nothing definite,” she said, “but the man interested in the house has his financing all in order. He might make an offer by tomorrow.”
James lowered his voice even more. “If he does, when would the house close?”
Cody cleared her throat. “By the end of May. The sale would move quickly.”
It sounded like the man had cash. “Just let me know as soon as you know,” he said to Cody.
“Sure,” she answered. “And I’m sorry.”
James said he understood and hung up. As he refocused on the computer, the phone rang again. This time it was Dr. Hamilton. “Albert Varner wants to talk to both of us, ASAP,” he said.
“About?” James stood, bumping the office chair backward.
“He won’t say,” Dr. Hamilton answered. “And I don’t want to guess.”
After giving report, Anabelle checked her work e-mail before going home. She had one message—from Leila Hargrave. Anabelle’s heart raced as she opened it. They’d all been waiting for word about the future of Hope Haven. Maybe this was it.
She clicked open the message and read it quickly. Leila instructed her to stop thinking about retiring—there was no need. Nor was there a need for her to lay off Marie. And she should stop worrying about James too because everything was going to work out. Anabelle read the e-mail a second time, a smile growing on her face with each word. She e-mailed Leila back, thanking her and asking what happened for her to change her mind. It would be tomorrow morning before she would hear back from Leila, unless she went down to the HR office on the first floor before she went home. Maybe someone else would have the information she hoped for.
As she headed to the nurses’ lounge she spotted Marie in the distance, hurrying down the hall, probably in a rush to get home to her kids. She would never know how close she came to losing her job, even though that was her fear. Anabelle sighed in relief. The woman would be able to support her children. And Leila had been right—Anabelle wasn’t ready to retire. She was surprised at how grateful she felt to know she wasn’t at that point.
Elena was in the lounge refilling her travel mug with coffee. “Have you heard anything?” Anabelle whispered and then told her about the e-mail.
“Maybe Candace knows.”
“Let’s go see if she’s gone home yet,” Anabelle said. “Maybe we can catch her before she leaves.”
Candace had stayed late because her patient was giving birth as the shift changed. She cleaned up the baby and made sure the mom was settled before turning everything over to the evening-shift nurse. She hoped Heath was waiting for her in the parking lot. She hadn’t seen him all day. During his lunch, he’d picked up prescriptions for his dad but told her he’d find her after work.
She hadn’t worn her ring—it was a little big and she needed to get it resized—so she hadn’t told anyone her good news. She and Heath hadn’t discussed whom they would tell and when. She assumed he’d told his dad and, of course, they’d told Janet and Susan and her family last night, but she would wait to tell anyone else until she and Heath had talked.
Smiling, she started down the hall. Coming toward her were Elena and Anabelle. Did Heath tell them already? She couldn’t tell by their faces and before they reached her, the hospital PA system crackled and a voice—Heath’s voice to be exact—began to speak.
Candace stopped in her tracks.
“This is Heath Carlson and I have an announcement to make to the Hope Haven community so you can share in my joy.”
Elena and Anabelle quickened their pace, smiles spread across their faces, and behind them a group of OB nurses had gathered.
Heath’s voice continued. “I proposed to Candace Crenshaw last night, and she accepted.”
A cheer rose from the nurses, just as Elena and Anabelle reached Candace. The older women hugged her together, cheering. Behind them, Heath made his way through the cluster of nurses, a bouquet of red roses in his arms.
“How did you do that?” Candace asked Heath as Anabelle and Elena let her go, sure her face was the same color as the flowers. “How were you just talking over there—and now you’re here?”
“I prerecorded it.” Heath grinned.
Everyone began to clap again and Candace took the roses in her arms and then planted a kiss on Heath’s mouth as another cheer erupted.
James and Dr. Hamilton stood outside Albert Varner’s office, waiting for the CEO to open his door, and both smiled as Heath’s announcement sank in.
“It’s about time,” James said. But before Dr. Hamilton could respond, Varner opened his door and escorted them in, seemingly oblivious to the announcement.
“Sit, sit,” he said. “I wanted you to be among the first to know. Skip Mullen accepted the job about an hour ago. We’re reinstating the Holistic Cardiac Program and want you both to resume where you left off.”
James leaned back against his chair. It looked as if he might get his position at Hope Haven back but not have a home for his family.
As if he could read his mind, Varner added, “Sounds like he’s going to live in Princeton instead of Deerford though, but I guess that’s a short commute if you’ve been living in LA.”
Relief flooded James for a moment, but then a wave of unsettledness alarmed him and he began to stutter as he said, “I—I don’t think I’m the right nurse to lead the program th-though,” he said. But as he spoke, he felt surer of what he was saying. “I’ve decided patient care really is where my heart is. Don’t get me wrong. I treasure working with you, Dr. Hamilton, and enjoy interacting with patients to get them ready for surgery, but my heart is in taking care of the same patient several days in a row and working with their families.”
“Well.” Varner’s eyebrow twitched. “Speak with Leila. We’ll have a fair amount of juggling of nurses in the next couple of weeks. I’m sure we can get you back on the floor…with the same seniority you had before.” He turned to Dr. Hamilton. “And Leila will help you find another lead surgical nurse.”
Dr. Hamilton nodded and shook James’s hand, thanking him.
“If it’s official, as far as the CIO’s being hired, is it all right if I tell the other nurses?” James asked as he stepped toward the door.
“Tell away,” Varner said, pleasure spreading across his face.
James hurried up the back stairs, nearly knocking down Valera Kincaid from the Dispatch.
&nbs
p; “I’ve been wanting to interview you,” she said to James, flattening against the stairwell. “About being let go from the hospital.”
“The story’s moved on,” James said, still climbing. “I’m gainfully employed at Hope Haven again.”
“Then the rumor must be true,” she said. “That Skip Mullen has been hired.”
“Ask Varner. He’ll give you the details,” James called over his shoulder, leaving her behind. He didn’t want the celebration in the Birthing Unit to end before he got there.
He pushed through the fire door onto the second floor and bounded down the hall. Just past the nurses’ station, a crowd was gathered around Heath and Candace. James nudged his way through into the center and shook Heath’s hand and then gave Candace a hug.
“Now we just need good news for you,” Candace whispered in his ear.
“We’ve all got good news this afternoon,” he said stepping back, addressing all of the nurses. “Skip Mullen has been hired as the new CIO, and I’m getting my old job—my position in Med/Surg—back.”
A cheer, led by Anabelle went up along with another round of hugs.
James stepped back, taking it all in. They had leaned on God—and He had carried them through.
About the Author
Leslie Gould is the author of eight novels, including five in Guideposts’ Home to Heather Creek series. Leslie lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and four children. Visit her Web site at www.lesliegould.com.
Read on for a sneak peek of the next exciting and heartfelt book in Stories from Hope Haven.
Special Blessings
by
Anne Marie Rodgers
HEY, LOOK AT THAT!” HEATH CARLSON POINTED into the cool emerald forest that ringed Bass Lake.
“What?” Candace Crenshaw turned her head to peer into the woods on Heath’s far side. As she did so, Heath quickly pivoted, capturing her lips with his in a sweet, lingering kiss before starting forward again on the lakeside path.
“Heath.” Candace was smiling. “What was that for?”
Her fiancé grinned and shrugged. “Just because. You look very pretty in that green T-shirt. It matches your eyes.”
Candace’s heart melted. “Thank you.” She gestured to the seven people in front of them. “We’d better not get too far behind. Howie has a knack for falling into any body of water he gets near.”