by Bree Cariad
“Jude.” Pappa’s tone made Nana freeze mid-word. Slowly she turned to the man standing at the doorway, looking calm and put-together. “Dinner’s almost ready and I just heard his truck pull in. We’ll discuss this afterward. Understand?”
“Yes, Leyton,” Nana said quietly.
“Good. Celie, you look sweet. You had best get everything set up.”
Dinner was good. The meat was a bit tough but the vegetables tasted all right. Larry didn’t seem to notice as he ate everything put in front of him and kept a running discussion with her grandfather about the price of oil. It was just as dessert was served that she finally got the chance to ask anything. “So what do you do?” It was a nice, simple, safe question and one she hoped would give her some indication of who he was. She was rather tired of hearing about the oil companies.
“Truck driver. Medium-distance, which means I haul loads within the state but am usually home every other day.” Almost immediately he went into discussing the price of gas and Celie sent her grandfather a look that made him snort and cover it with a cough.
Thankfully dessert went quickly and she was intensely glad for the Hyacinth dating rules. As soon as they stopped eating, Pappa showed him out. No lingering, which would have left more time for the topic of oil, gas, and any other fluids he wished to complain about. As she helped her grandmother gather the dishes and started washing, her grandfather walked back into the kitchen.
“Well?” he asked in a quiet voice, cutting himself a second piece of cake. “Did you learn enough about the state of oil?”
Looking over her shoulder at him, Celie grinned when she saw he was trying not to laugh. “Oh, I don’t know,” she deadpanned. “I’m sure there was some sort of tidbit he could have coughed up.”
A roar of laughter filled the room and she giggled. Nana didn’t look as happy as the two of them. “I thought he seemed like a very nice man,” she said in a prim tone.
“I’m sure he is,” Celie said, placating her. “But he’s definitely not for me.”
Sighing, Nana shook her head. “Are you holding his job against him, Celia May? Because, that isn’t very nice.”
Blushing at the rebuke, she shrugged. “Nana, all he talked about was oil, driving his truck, and oil. Like I told you. I like really intelligent men. He was nice, but not smart enough for me.”
“And everyone has their own likes and dislikes,” Pappa filled in, cutting off whatever her grandmother had been about to say. “Celie, think you can finish the dishes? I need to speak with your grandmother.”
“I’m good.”
To her surprise, Nana slammed the dish towel down on the counter and walked out of the room. Obviously her grandmother wasn’t happy. But Celia wasn’t going to act like she liked someone just to get courted. That went against what she assumed courting was for. From her grandparents descriptions, the dinners were for her to get to know the guy and for him to get to know her so when the courting was official, it was more like going steady and all the superficial dating stuff was behind them. The full year of courtship was to truly get to know one another.
Shaking her head and stretching to ease her backache, she finished washing the dishes, dried them, and put them away. When she was done, her grandparents were still in his study, so she went upstairs and changed into her pajamas. One date down.
Hopefully they would get better from here on out.
Chapter 3
“I’m beginning to think Hyacinth men aren’t for me,” she admitted to Jaylee two weeks later. They were at the Lava Lamp for their weekly coffee meetup before her cousin had to go to her doctor’s appointment. After four dinner dates, each one worse than the one before it, Celia was beginning to regret her decision to come.
“Oh, don’t give up yet,” Jaylee said, shaking her head. “Before Dirk, I had five men who were not for me. Five,” she emphasized with a shudder. “I didn’t know Dirk as he’s from Hins Creek and not only did he not move in the same circles as our family, he’d been living in California since he graduated from cooking school. He came to town for a couple weeks in between jobs and we met accidentally right here, actually.” A soft smile crossed her face as though she was remembering that day. “I was chatting with some friends when this really cute guy walked in. We were all eighteen and watched him walk up to the counter, order, and turn to walk back out. Our eyes met and I remember grinning. Next thing I knew? He was at dinner and that was it. I was hooked and so was he. It was difficult because due to rules and everything, he had to move closer. But he and I fell pretty madly in love almost from that first dinner so he turned down the good job he already had in LA and found a job in Longdale.” She looked up and winked. “I’m just glad he works so much closer now. Plus, he kind of hated that job.”
Wincing, her hand grasped her belly, and Celia sat up alarmed. “Do you need to go to the hospital?”
“Oh, no,” she said with a shrug. “Doc keeps telling me these are Braxton Hicks contractions, that they’re natural, and that I should applaud them.” She rolled her eyes. “I told him that the moment he had one and applauded it, I would.”
Grinning, Celie relaxed.
“So, seen any more of Marcus Hotham?” she asked with interest.
“Not since that first time you and I met for coffee. He seems like a nice guy.”
“Oh, he is. A very nice guy. Hmmm,” she said, moving her cup around in a circle as her eyes narrowed. “If he came to dinner, would you be interested?”
“I don’t know. I’ve only talked to him twice. Not something you base a relationship on.”
Her eyes twinkled. “Oh, I don’t know. I was caught in Dirk’s eyes and based my attraction on that. So tell me, if Marcus was to ask you out and the courting rules did not apply, would you go?”
“That isn’t a fair question.”
“Of course it is. Because when it comes down to it, the guy you end up with should be the guy you would break rules to—Oh!” Her eyes went wide and Celia reached forward and took her hand.
“Are you okay?”
“Umm. No? I think my water just broke.”
“Oh.” Celie had never been around a woman who was giving birth, but she figured television shows couldn’t be too far off. “I think we should get you to the hospital.” She helped her cousin stand up and the huge stain on the back of her denim gown as well as the wet spot on the chair were pretty clear signs…unless she’d had an accident. But Celie felt Jaylee would probably know the difference between the two. “Julienne!” she called and the barista trotted over smiling until her eyes took in Jaylee’s face.
“What’s wrong?”
“Jaylee’s water just broke,” she said quietly. “Um, can you guys clean up? I need to take her to the hospital.”
“Oh!” The barista’s eyes lit up. “Of course. Call and tell us when the baby’s born!” Turning, she ran to the back. “Don’t sit there!” she called at a customer who had made a beeline for their table.
“Is your car nearby?” Celia asked as they stepped outside the café.
“No. I walked from home because I thought I would be going to my doctor’s office which is just down the street, not the hospital. Ugh.”
“I can call Nana. I’m sure she would come help.”
“Is there something I can help with?” The deep male voice had them both turn and Celie smiled with relief even as her heart sped up a little.
“Jaylee’s water just broke and I need to get her to the hospital, but don’t have a car.”
Marcus’s eyes softened and he turned toward her cousin. “Any contractions?” he asked calmly.
“I had one, but thought it was Braxton Hicks.”
“All right. Stay here. I’ll grab my car. Why don’t you call your doctor and the hospital and let them know you’re on your way?”
Jaylee pulled out her phone and while she called her doctor, Celia watched Marcus run across the street and down a small alleyway. Before her cousin was even done with her call, he had pulled up
in front of them in a relatively new car. Hopping out, he helped Jaylee into the front seat as Celie climbed into the back.
The ride to the hospital was quick and thankfully a nurse waited near the entrance with a wheelchair as they drove up. She whisked Jaylee back to the maternity wing while Celie and Marcus stood by.
“I guess I should call Nana,” she said slowly, not knowing what to do.
“If you want to stay. Delivery isn’t fast. If she hasn’t been having contractions, she could be here for a day or more before she delivers.”
“Really?” she asked in horror.
Grinning, he nodded. “Vanna’s mom was in labor for thirty-two hours. First babies take their time.”
“Ugh.”
“Why don’t I drive you home? If your grandmother decides to come to the hospital, you can choose whether or not to come with her. But honestly? Waiting for a baby is rather boring except for the poor mother who is dealing with the pain.”
“Makes me wanna have my tubes tied,” she said flippantly, blushing when he laughed.
“Stacy said those hours of delivery were worth it to see little Vanna at the end.”
“I guess a ride would be good,” she finally admitted, not really wanting to hang around the hospital.
When they got back to his car, he suggested she take the back seat again. “I’ll need to clean the front.”
“Oh!” she said, her eyes widening at the stain. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t even think—”
“Don’t worry about it. It happens.”
“Yes, but…can I pay to have it cleaned for you?”
“Definitely not,” he said, sounding slightly insulted. His voice changed to teasing quickly. “And you forget. I have a four-year-old daughter. I have become adept at cleaning up messes. Ice cream, spit, bile…I was already good at dealing with all sorts of things from my work, but having a child makes you impervious to everything.”
“Ah, the joys of fatherhood,” she teased, making him nod.
“They’re worth it. Vanna is the sweetest girl on the planet and I’m a very lucky man to have her in my life.”
“How long have you lived in Hyacinth?”
“Five weeks. I’ve traipsed poor Cavanaugh around the United States her whole life, which is why she’s so shy. She isn’t used to getting to know people who stick around. I’ve been her only constant. I’m hoping that with seeing the same people every day that she will come out of her shell.”
“A travelling vet? I spent the last ten years travelling with my mother. She’s a musician.”
“How did you like it?”
“It got old. Fast. No friends, going town-to-town, nobody my age around. One of the reasons I leapt at the chance to come here, I suppose. I spent the first eight years of my life here.”
“Seeking normality.”
She smiled that he seemed to understand.
“So are you a large animal vet?”
“Oh, heavens no. Small animals only. This town has three full-time vets for the cattle and equine population. I serve the dogs, cats, and guinea pigs of the town.”
“Guinea pigs?” she said, laughing.
“You would be surprised,” he said, grinning at her in his rear-view mirror. “It’s a perfect pet for a small child and they abound here.”
He was easy to chat with and before she knew it, he pulled up in front of her grandmother’s house. “Thanks for the rides. Both taking Jaylee to the hospital and me home,” she said as she opened her door.
“You’re welcome.”
“Can I treat you to some cookies?” she asked quickly, remembering the chocolate-chip cookies she had made the day before. They were her first dessert made without her grandmother hovering over her and she felt rather proud of the result.
His eyes lit up. “A man never turns down cookies.”
Marcus followed her into the warm, inviting living room. “Nana?” she called. “Jaylee’s in labor!” She gestured for him to follow her into the kitchen and once there, she opened the plastic container the cookies were in and handed them over.
“Chocolate chip? Yum,” he groaned, picking one up and taking a bite. “I haven’t had a homemade chocolate chip cookie in years.”
“Oh, the horror,” she said dryly, taking one herself.
His eyes crinkled in a smile as they met her gaze. Instantly her stomach did a little loop-de-loop and she found herself wanting to get closer to him.
“Jaylee’s in labor?” Nana squeaked, rushing into the kitchen. Her face went from delighted to startled when she saw Marcus before switching to slightly alarmed.
“Marcus drove us to the hospital and then brought me home,” she explained. “Jaylee’s water broke while we were at the Lava Lamp.”
“Poor girl. I’d better call Betty, though hopefully she already knows.” Instead of using the phone in the living room which was her grandmother’s preferred form of communication as that way she could sit and talk at the same time, she used the phone in the kitchen.
“I had best get back to work,” Marcus said when although she talked to her daughter, Jude kept her eyes on him. “It was nice to see you again, Celia.”
“You too,” she said quietly, shooting her grandmother an angry look before turning back. “Wait. You’re going back to work? Did you get any lunch at all?”
“I’ll grab something on the way,” he said easily. “I’m used to it.”
“Wait. I can at least feed you for being such a good citizen and giving up your lunch hour and your front seat to us. Do you like meatloaf?”
“Well, yes, but I really should get back.”
“No worries. I’ll make you a sandwich you can take with you.” Ignoring her grandmother’s narrowed eyes, Celie pulled the leftovers out of the fridge, cutting a large piece of meatloaf and a couple slices from the new loaf of bread her grandmother had cooked that morning. After putting the sandwich in a baggie, she put a handful of cookies in another one and handed them to him. “There. Now your animals won’t wonder why your stomach is gurgling.”
“Thanks, Celia,” he said warmly, taking the baggies from her and walking to the front door. Her grandmother waved frantically at her from behind his back but Celie ignored her, walking him out “Oh, and I remember your request about work at the picnic.”
“Oh!” She had almost forgotten. “Yes, I have to admit I am busier than I thought I would be. Learning to cook is a full-time occupation. But I still would like something to do.”
“Did you know we have an animal shelter in town?” he asked pleasantly. “They’re always looking for volunteers to play with the puppies and kittens.”
“Really? That would be perfect.”
Reaching into his pocket, he came out with a card. “Just call this number and tell them you wish to volunteer.”
“Thanks, Marcus.”
“Have a good day, Celia. Thanks for lunch.” He quickly made his way to his car and got in, pulling out of the driveway a moment later.
Closing the door, she turned around, startled to find Nana standing in front of her with her hands on her hips and a very severe expression on her face. “What’s wrong? Is Jaylee okay?”
“Jaylee’s fine,” Nana said in a tight voice. “Betty’s with her as is her husband. Celie, being alone with Dr. Hotham could be very bad for you.”
“Oh, please! He gave me a ride home. What’s the big deal?”
“Wherein you were alone together.”
“For what? Fifteen seconds? You were in the house. Pappa’s around here somewhere. Besides, he was so nice I wanted to do something. I figured offering a few cookies for his trouble was the right thing to do.” Stepping around her grandmother, Celie made her way back to the kitchen to clean up the mess she made.
“Honey, it’s just that…” Her grandmother paused as if looking for the right words. “A single woman of courtable age spending so much time with an unattached man. It could hurt your chances.”
After putting the meatloaf back in the frid
ge, Celia stood up. “Nana, that’s silly. He’s a nice man. He let Jaylee ruin the front seat of his car and didn’t bat an eye. Marcus drove me home and has not been overly friendly or any kind of a jerk at all. Why don’t you like him?” she asked, turning and facing her grandmother full on.
“Oh, Celie. It isn’t that I don’t like him,” she said, her eyes softening. “But you’re a young woman. Why should you be saddled with a man and another woman’s child? The man you choose should be just for you, no baggage included.”
Shaking her head as she realized Nana thought much differently than she did, Celie guided her back into the living room. “Nana, first off? Marcus isn’t trying to court me. He’s just a nice man. Second, if he did? I’d love to get to know him better. No,” she said, interrupting her grandmother who looked as though she wanted to speak. “I know he has a little girl, but Vanna seems incredibly sweet. Not that I’m ready to be a mom, or worse, a step-mom, but I’m not opposed to it. But that isn’t what this is about. He knows you don’t approve, Nana. And that was embarrassing.”
Her grandmother had the grace to turn a little red. “I apologize. I don’t want to be rude, but I also don’t want him destroying your chances of finding a great guy to court.”
“How could he do that?”
“Rumors, honey. If people start seeing you with him without anyone else present? Rumors will start. And whether or not those tales are true, they could hurt your chances with the perfect guy. It isn’t that…” She paused and tapped her fingers on the palm of her other hand, something Celie had seen her do when she was looking for the right phrase. “It isn’t that I don’t think he deserves a wonderful woman. I do. But I don’t think he deserves that wonderful woman at your expense. I’m sorry, Celia. But this is one place I’ll put my foot down. I want you to promise me that you won’t accept a ride or be alone with Dr. Hotham again.”
Celie didn’t even know how to respond to that. She liked Marcus and the more she got to know, the more she liked. A woman of her word, she knew she could not make that promise as she would have to either break it at some point, or keep to it and hate it. “I can’t,” she whispered. “I’m sorry, Nana. But I can’t promise that. I like Marcus and if I happen upon him, I’m not going to run away.”