Angel's Rest (26 page)

I’ll do my best, Nic. It won’t be good enough, but it’ll be the best I can do. For you and for the baby. Babies
.

He shuddered. Twins.

I’ll be there to help. I’ll be there to support you. I’ll be your friend. Then, if the right guy comes along someday, a man who can love you like you deserve, I’ll shake his hand and step aside
.

Maybe in doing so, he could redeem himself at least a little.

Nic let out a little sleepy sniffle and shifted in her seat. Her foot kicked her purse and some of its contents spilled out onto the floorboard. Gabe locked his gaze on the road before him as his sense of self-preservation demanded he ignore the sonogram photograph lying right there in plain sight.

Nic didn’t stir until he slowed to pull into her driveway, and when she opened her eyes and started to move, a groan escaped her lips. “Ow.” She grimaced. “I forgot.”

“You’re due some aspirin.”

“Acetaminophen,” she corrected. “I’ll take a couple as soon as I get inside.”

As Gabe exited the car, Sarah Reese opened the door to Nic’s house and the boxer streaked outside. He barked twice in welcome, ran three tight circles around Gabe’s legs, his crooked tail wagging like a sorcerer’s wand, then bounded over to the passenger-side door, ready to pounce on Nic. Gabe called out to Sarah, “You want to grab his collar? The last thing we need is another fall.”

As Sarah hurried forward to corral the dog, Nic swung her car door open, then visibly braced herself to
swing her knees around. Gabe said, “Hold what you have, Nicole. Let me help.”

“My crutches …”

“How about I carry you into the house? Then you can tackle the crutches.”

“My hero,” she said past gritted teeth as he slipped one arm around her waist, the other beneath her thighs, and lifted her up into his arms.

Sarah held the dog and fretted aloud. “Thank God you are okay. Oh, Nic, I feel like this is my fault. If I hadn’t forgotten I said I’d meet you at the library, you wouldn’t have gone looking for me.”

“Don’t be silly, Sarah.” Nic smiled wanly at her friend. “I have no one but myself to blame for my clumsiness.”

“I feel terrible. Lori does, too, because the reason I forgot about the library is because she and I were arguing. We made you a cake.”

“Butter pecan?”

“Yes.”

“In that case, it was your fault, but being the wonderful friend that I am, I forgive you. Can I have a piece of cake now?”

Sarah scratched the boxer behind the ears. “Not until after your supper.”

“You are such a mom.”

“Yeah, well, you are too, aren’t you? That’s why you can’t have cake before supper. Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition.”

With the women’s lighthearted bickering ringing in his ears, Gabe carried his wife into the house, where the aroma of chili spices teased his nostrils and reminded him that he hadn’t eaten since breakfast. He settled Nic into the overstuffed chair in the parlor that he’d figured out was her favorite, then returned to the car for her crutches … and his suitcase.

When he carried them inside, Nic’s smile of thanks faded upon spying the case. Her brow furrowed with confusion. “Gabe?”

He set the crutches beside her and the suitcase at the foot of the stairs. Looking at Sarah, he said, “Do I smell that supper you mentioned?”

“Chili. Cornbread is in the oven. Should be ready in twenty minutes.”

“Excellent. That should give me just enough time to grab a shower and stow my things.”

“Gabe?” Nic repeated. “Are you staying here tonight?”

He shoved his hands in his pockets. “You can’t manage by yourself. Not while you’re on crutches. I’ll stay as long as you need help.”

A flurry of emotions flashed across Nic’s face, and Gabe feared he read them too easily. Relief was okay. Gratitude wasn’t a problem. It was the hope that sent unease crawling up his spine.

“Thanks, Gabe,” Nic said softly.

He searched for words to warn her against making too much of this, but came up empty, so he simply nodded, then headed for the stairs. When he reached the second-floor landing, he heard Nic say, “Guess what, Sarah? We’re having twins.”

Gabe’s stomach took a roll.
Wonder if morning sickness is contagious
.

By suppertime the following day, Nic was ready to declare the honeymoon officially over. Her husband was a tyrant.

First he demanded she hang a Closed sign on the clinic door and refer her patients to the vet hospital in Creede. No amount of calm, collected insistence that she could still perform her job while on crutches moved him. Next he refused to leave the bathroom while she hung her head over the toilet for her daily dose of morning sickness. Even if she did appreciate his steadying hands at her waist and his help keeping her hair out of the way, that didn’t mean she shouldn’t have control over who accompanied her to the bathroom under what circumstances. Finally, when she mentioned her intention to go to Cavanaugh House after supper for a meeting Celeste had requested, he took it upon himself to arrange for the meeting to be moved to Nic’s house without even asking her if she cared.

“Of all the nerve,” she grumbled as she sat in the overstuffed chair in her living room, her injured leg propped on an ottoman, flipping through the mail he’d brought in from the mailbox moments before.

The worst part of it was that she knew he was right about just about everything. She’d awakened stiff and sore this morning and hadn’t wanted to move, much less work. He’d filled the bathtub with warm water for her,
and when she’d gone shy about getting naked in front of him, he’d shown amazing sensitivity and promised to keep his eyes closed while helping her in and out of the tub. She hadn’t caught him peeking, either.

She told herself she was glad about that.

She also told herself she shouldn’t be so grumpy, that she should be grateful to him for his help, and that it wasn’t his fault that it was snowing again and she was sick to death of winter. If she was honest with herself, she’d have to admit that the only reason she felt so put out was because she had planned a different beginning for their marriage when Gabe returned to Eternity Springs.

She’d spent a lot of time thinking about their situation while he was in Virginia. He’d called often, keeping her apprised of his schedule, sharing bits and pieces of his days, and nurturing the friendship growing between them. She’d enjoyed the phone calls. Each one left her feeling hopeful about the future and cautiously optimistic that her marriage just might take.

Aware that he was as skittish as a wounded fox, she’d known she would need to proceed slowly and carefully. She’d planned a strategy intended to nurture their relationship that included inviting Gabe over for dinner, spending time with him at town meetings and events, and, when the time was right, inviting him into her bed.

Her plan hadn’t included her being black-and-blue with bruises the first time he saw her naked.

Nic sighed heavily, set the electric bill and a postcard from her vacationing mother and aunt aside, then threw the junk mail in the trash just as her doorbell rang. Gabe stood up from the drawing board he’d set up in her library and answered the door, the boxer at his side. “Hello, Celeste.”

“Hello, dear.” Celeste went up on her tiptoes and gave Gabe a kiss on his cheek. “Welcome home.”

His expression registered surprise, and he smiled crookedly before saying, “Thanks.”

Next Celeste patted Tiger’s head and cooed, “Hello, puppy dog. Look at that tail wag. I bet you’re happy your daddy is home, aren’t you?”

Gabe rolled his eyes but refrained from the usual he’s-not-my-dog protest when a second woman Nic didn’t know followed Celeste into the house. She and Celeste both carried bulging tote bags.

“Gabe and Nic Callahan, I’d like to introduce you to Alison Timberlake. Alison
Cavanaugh
Timberlake. Ali is my first guest at Angel’s Rest. She’s coming to reconnect with her family roots.”

As Gabe said hello and shook the newcomer’s hand, Nic waved a hello to the attractive, classy-looking blonde wearing black slacks and a carnation-pink sweater set. “Welcome to our home and to Eternity Springs, Ms. Timberlake.”

“I’m Ali.”

“Ali, then. I’m Nic, and I’d get up, but my dictatorial husband has threatened me with torture if I rise from my chair in the next hour.”

Alison grinned and repeated, “Torture?”

Gabe nodded. “We had a discussion about bad disco music this morning. I promised to sing ‘Dancing Queen’ if she doesn’t behave.”

“I rest my case,” Nic said.

“As long as you rest your ankle and my back, that’s all I care about,” he fired back before offering to take the visitors’ coats.

Celeste laughed. “Ah, acting like old married folk already, I see.”

“Nothing old about it,” Gabe drawled. “Since she’s been acting like a five-year-old, it’s more realistic to say she’s my child bride.”

Nic decided to ignore that and changed the subject by
asking Ali Timberlake, “Has Celeste told you about the journals we found that were written by Elizabeth Blaine Cavanaugh, who would be your great-great-grandmother?”

“Yes, she did.” Ali slipped leather gloves into the pocket of her cashmere coat and handed it to Gabe. “I’ve glanced through a few of them, and I’m anxious to read them. From what I understand, my branch of the Cavanaugh family descends from Elizabeth’s younger son, Lawrence, who married and left Eternity Springs. Her older son, Harry junior, remained in Eternity Springs.”

“The journals make fascinating reading. You’ll enjoy them.” Nic wondered if Celeste had mentioned Angel and the silver bars to the newcomer yet, and if Ali had any new information to offer about the mystery of Angel’s death. Knowing Celeste would share any news at an appropriate time, she addressed another curiosity. “What’s in the bags?”

“Supplies.” The older woman tugged off emerald-green knit gloves and a matching brimmed stocking cap, then allowed Gabe to help her out of her ski jacket. “LaNelle loaded me up. I hope we have enough for everyone, but tonight’s meeting is more organizational than anything. I don’t expect we’ll get down to work until next time.”

“What are we organizing?”

“A quilting bee. I’ve brought rotary cutters, cutting mats, cutting rulers, needles and threads, thimbles, scissors—lots of fun stuff.”

“Quilting?” Nic smirked with doubt. “I can’t even sew a hem.”

“No, you simply sew stitches in animals who are hurting,” Gabe pointed out.

Celeste crossed the room to Nic, placed a hand on her cheek, and looked deeply into her eyes. “How are you feeling, dear?”

“I’m fine.” At the older woman’s chastising look, she conceded, “I still have a bit of a headache. I’m achy and sore.”

“And grumpy,” Gabe called from the hallway, where he was hanging up coats.

Celeste clucked her tongue, then took a seat on the sofa and patted the cushion beside her for Ali to join her. “I hear that you received joyous news yesterday, Nic. You’re a mother to twins. How exciting. God’s blessings are indeed bountiful.”

Nic’s hand drifted to her stomach as her gaze cut toward Gabe. They hadn’t discussed the babies since leaving the hospital. He was doing a masterly job of avoiding the subject, and Nic saw no reason to force a discussion. After all, no immediate decisions regarding the babies needed to be made. He had months to grow accustomed to the fact that he’d soon be the father to two instead of one. “The news was certainly a surprise, but I think I’m up for the challenge.”

Ali Timberlake spoke up. “Two of my children are only eleven months apart in age. I often wished they’d been born twins. They were just far enough apart to always be on different schedules when they were little guys.”

“How many children do you have?” Nic asked.

“Three. Two boys and a girl.” Ali’s smile grew wistful. “My youngest, my girl, will be a senior in high school this fall, so the emptying of my nest is looming. I miss my babies. Enjoy your time with yours, Nic. It goes so fast. Too fast.”

Ali’s comments surprised Nic. She had guessed Ali to be no more than a year or two older than herself. Either the newcomer was quite a bit older than she looked or she’d started her family at a young age. “My friend Sarah’s only child is the same age as your daughter. She’s
starting to go a little crazy thinking about Lori going off to college.”

The doorbell rang, and Gabe tended to the new arrivals. Sage plunked a hip on the arm of Nic’s chair and asked a few quiet questions about the babies and her pregnancy. Before long, eight women and Tiger were crowded into the living room. Gabe picked up the tray of sweets Sarah had brought and took them to the kitchen, then retreated to the library and his drawing board. After a few minutes for people to say hello and be introduced to Ali Timberlake, who bonded almost immediately with Sarah, Nic said, “Okay, Celeste, the floor is yours.”

“Thank you, Nic.” Celeste smiled around the room and continued, “Thank you all for coming tonight. I know you’re all curious why I called you all together, and I apologize for being cryptic with my invitation, but I wanted to present this idea face-to-face. You see, I’d like to invite you all to join me in establishing a quilting bee.”