Magnolia Storms

by Janet W. Ferguson

  J.D. tugged Josh’s shirt. “Daddy, are you in trouble?”

  “Looks that way, buddy.” He sent a weak smile to his son before raising a probing gaze back to her. “What are you saying, Maggie?”

  “I’m saying J.D. needs someone to take care of him when you’re off being a pilot. Someone who loves him. I’ll find a new position here, whatever it takes.” She forced out a huff. “Since I know you’ll never leave this place, and he needs me. My family needs me.”

  Josh’s brows drew together while he let that sink in. “What you’re suggesting... It’s a big commitment. A child’s heart can be fragile when someone doesn’t follow through.” His lips pulled downward and a shadow of angst touched his tone.

  Maybe it was the pain in his voice, or maybe it was the words themselves that stilled her anger. But in the space of that moment, the intensity of love she’d developed for this little boy pressed hard on her chest. She softened her tone. “I understand that.”

  “Plus, you wouldn’t only be taking care of him.” He pressed on, as if he hadn’t already driven his point home. “You’d have a ten-year-old, an adult with a spinal injury, and an elderly woman to care for.” He gave a small scoff. “Oh, and a store. That’s more than a handful.”

  “You don’t think I can manage?” She met his gaze, raising her brows. “And do you really believe I’d change my mind once it’s made?”

  “If anyone can manage, it’s you.” A chuckle slipped through his lips, but it held no joy. “And I know better than to try and change your mind.” His eyes seemed to glaze, and he blinked, then met her gaze with a direct intensity. “But they’re not the only ones who need someone to take care of them...to love them.”

  Her chest locked up as if she were swimming over a jagged and dangerous reef. What did she plan to do about Josh? She hadn’t gotten that far, but a stark awareness clamored and gnawed on her nerves. She’d be forced to come to terms with her feelings for him at some point. But she couldn’t go there now. Not with Cammie and everything else weighing on her mind. “You...I don’t know about. Yet.”

  “Yet.” Josh’s lips lifted a fraction, and a touch of hope lit his eyes. “I can take a yet.”

  Unable to validate his optimism, she dropped her gaze and scooped J.D. into her arms, pressing her forehead to his. “Would you want me to babysit you when Daddy’s gone piloting?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He giggled when she rubbed his nose with her own.

  “All right then, pumpkin. It’s a deal.” She scraped a smudge of sweet potatoes from the front of his shirt and pivoted her head toward Josh. “Daddy needs to get some stain remover on this tonight. And see if Dahlia and Aunt Ruth want to ride home with you. I have to speak with the doctor, and I want to visit Cammie again.”

  Saluting, Josh gave her a flirty grin, locking eyes with her for one last weighty moment. “Aye, aye, captain.”

  He wasn’t going to make this yet easy on her.

  “COME TO DADDY, SAILOR.” Josh held his arms out for J.D. “Let’s invite Dahlia and Ruth to ride with us.”

  His son held Maggie tighter.

  Man, didn’t he know that feeling. “Maggie’s coming after she talks to the doctor. You need to mind me now.”

  J.D.’s mouth twisted as he complied and switched his hold to Josh’s shoulder. “Okay.”

  “That’s not how we answer.” Josh forced a stern look on his face, despite the way he wanted to smile at the connection developing between his son and Maggie.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Let’s walk Maggie back in and get Ruth and Dahlia.”

  “Can Dahlia play with me?”

  Josh lifted one shoulder. “That’s up to her.”

  As they entered, the ten-year-old about ran over them. “Aunt Maggie, I’ve been invited to Anna’s house with her and her grandmother. Can I go? Aunt Ruth said to ask you.” Her expression was the brightest he’d seen all week.

  Looked like J.D. was out of luck.

  Maggie’s brows lifted, and she seemed to contemplate the request. Her first of many decisions if she took all this on. “I need to talk to Anna’s father and grandmother.”

  They walked as a group to the other side of the waiting room and approached the Castro family.

  “Mrs. Castro?” Maggie placed a hand on Anna’s grandmother’s elbow.

  The woman had to be the doctor’s mother. They looked so much alike, both with the dark hair and the exact same smile lines creasing their temples.

  “Hi,” Maggie continued, “Dahlia says she’s been invited over?”

  Mrs. Castro beamed. “We’d love to have her. The girls seemed to have hit it off. I can drive her back this evening or she can spend the night.”

  “Will anyone else be at the house? Or just you and Anna?” Maggie twisted one of her many wayward curls around her index finger.

  “Just us.”

  Both Dahlia and Anna stared at Maggie with pleading eyes.

  “She can come for a while, but I’ll pick her up myself. What’s your address and phone number?” Once they’d exchanged information, she turned to the doctor. “I’d like to speak with you after they take off.”

  Josh had to smile. She’d done pretty well. Deciding who looked safe these days was no small feat. He’d love to be a fly on the wall when Maggie cross-examined Dr. Castro.

  “So Dahlia can’t play with me?” J.D. turned Josh’s chin, forcing his attention to him.

  “Nope. But Daddy can. You name it, and I’ll play. Let’s get Ruth, and we’ll sail on out.”

  “Okay, but can Miss Maggie play, too, when she comes home?”

  Those blue eyes had always tugged at Josh’s being. Since the first day at the hospital. How Trisha could have left him, he’d never understand. But thank the good Lord, she hadn’t taken their son with her.

  “We’ll see. Can’t make any promises right now, though.” His mind couldn’t wrap around the fact that Maggie had really agreed to stay at the Coast. For good. He held in a sigh. For J.D. Not for him. The sooner he got that one straight, the better. But there was that yet... His heart wobbled at the possibility. This was gonna be agony.

  Chapter 24

  THE FAMILIES AND MEDICAL personnel cleared out, and the culinary crew began to clean up. Maggie tried to collect her composure and sort through the heavy conversation with Josh.

  “Can we talk?” Dr. Castro was at her side.

  She hadn’t noticed his approach, but maybe now was as good a time as any. “I wanted to speak with you, as well.”

  “Let’s go to a meeting room where we can talk privately.”

  Fear spiked in Maggie’s chest. “Has something happened to Cammie?”

  “Oh, no. Sorry.” He shook his head and lowered his voice. “It’s of a personal nature.”

  Relief loosened her constricted muscles. Maggie matched his steps until they reached the end of the hall and entered a small room with a few chairs in a circle. She chose a seat near the door. “You first.”

  After a heavy breath, he sat a couple of seats away and rotated toward her. “This is awkward, and I apologize in advance. Are you a prayerful person?”

  “Yes. Mostly.” She tried anyway. Questions bounced around her mind, but she waited for him to continue.

  “I am, too. And since the moment Cammie arrived, I’ve had the profound impression that I was meant to be a part of her life. It’s bizarre. In all my years as a physician, nothing has ever happened to me like this.”

  A part of her life? “What exactly are you saying?”

  “At first, I thought I was meant to save her and help her walk again. Then Cammie and I talked, and there was this connection. After finding out we were both raising daughters the same age—alone—I figured friendship. When this is all over, of course. I wouldn’t want to cause any appearance of a breach of ethics.” He paused and fidgeted with his watch.

  “But now?”

  “I’d like to have another doctor take over her case.”

  A wave
of anger crashed through her gut. This guy had a lot of nerve. “So you changed your mind and you’re going to dump her on someone else because of some weird impression you had?”

  “Oh, goodness, no.” Twin lines formed between his brows. “Though it scares the life out of me, and I have no idea if she feels the same, I’d like to get to know her in a different way...if you know what I’m saying.”

  Whoa. Huh. Now she understood what he was saying. And he’d better not be some pervert. Maggie scrutinized the man. “You of all people know she might be permanently paralyzed.”

  “I do. And I’d love to tuck tail and run. But who better as a friend or partner than a man who’s spent years studying the spinal cord?” He lifted one shoulder. “If she’s even interested. Now isn’t a time for her to make life-changing decisions, though. I’d keep our relationship in the friend zone. For as long as it takes.”

  A bit of the anger receded. “Who is this other doctor?”

  “Dr. Lincoln. He’s the best on the Coast. He’s taking her on as a personal favor to me.” His brows raised now, hopefulness covering his expression.

  “I need to talk to Cammie. I have no idea what to say about y’all’s business.” She pinned him with her hardest gaze. “You know I’m doing a background check on you now?”

  “I don’t blame you.” He dropped his head in his hands and massaged his temples. “I’m sorry this is so unprofessional.”

  Having a doctor in the family could come in handy, though, with their history. She allowed a small chuckle. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. I can’t imagine there are many men who’d meet a woman who can’t walk and has a kid and think, man, I want to ask her out.”

  He peeked over his hands at her. “Thanks for saying that.”

  “I still might be hiring a private detective to check you out.”

  “I would, too, in your shoes.”

  “Cammie didn’t have her oxygen on when Dahlia came in. Is she better? She looked so weak last night.”

  “She was breathing easier this morning. I’ll examine her latest stats and shoot you a text.”

  Maggie pushed to her feet, and the doctor followed.

  “How long will you be able to stay down here, Maggie? What about your job?”

  She felt her pocket for her phone. “I’m thinking I’ll look for a job here after Cammie is released for rehab. If she...”

  Dr. Castro stepped in front of her and leveled a warm gaze her way. “Cammie will get out of here, but her recovery might take a while. She’s lucky to have you.”

  “You, too.” Her mouth quirked as she turned away. “I think.”

  “Check me out all you want. I’ll give you any information you ask for.” His chuckle drifted behind her.

  She would. And she wanted to see Cammie, but right now she’d call the office and update them on her situation, see who had drawn the short straw and had to work on the holiday. After pulling out her cell, she pressed the number and added the extension for the meteorologist in charge.

  “National Weather Service, Steve.”

  Not him. Maggie groaned into the phone. Randy must be off. “It’s me. I was looking for the boss.”

  “Hey, you. Great to hear your voice, Mags. Still at the Coast?”

  No one called her Mags. “Yeah, and I only have a minute. Make that a second. I just wanted to speak to Randy.”

  “I know you were glad that hurricane downgraded to a tropical storm. I heard landfall centered on Bay St. Louis with torrential rainfall, five inches where you were, sustained winds of forty mph and gusts to fifty-five mph, but not as bad as it could’ve been. You still have a wet and soggy Black Friday forecast and the rest of the weekend.”

  That was more than a second. “Yeah.” But a little rain never sounded so good.

  “So when will we see your pretty face again?”

  Never, if she could help it. She wasn’t about to get into her personal life with him. “Gotta go, Steve.” She cut the connection. The jerk hadn’t even asked about her sister. She’d email her boss to let him know that she was moving down here. He probably wouldn’t be in until Monday anyway. Maybe he knew of some employment options for her. Now, on to visit Cammie.

  Through the glass door, Cammie smiled at Maggie’s approach. “Guess what?”

  Had the doctor already asked her out? “I don’t know, but you look happy.”

  “I am. I don’t need the oxygen mask today, and my leg itched a minute ago, and the nurse scratched it.” Cammie’s eyes sparkled waiting for a response.

  “Okay.” There had to be more than that.

  “Don’t you get it? I could feel. She poked around after that, and I felt it every time.”

  A swarm of relief drenched Maggie, like buckets of cool water on a sweltering day. “So what does that mean? Can you try to walk now?”

  “The nurse paged Dr. Castro to tell him.”

  And the man appeared in the door, grinning. “I heard. This is fantastic news, Cammie. Recovery is more likely if movement or sensation starts to return soon after an injury.”

  “Isn’t this wonderful.” Cammie mirrored his grin, holding his gaze.

  Maggie clapped her hands together. “Thank God. Three miracles in the works already.”

  “What were the other two?” Cammie turned her attention away from the doctor to Maggie.

  “You’re breathing well, and I’m staying here. For good. To take care of J.D. and whoever else—”

  “You and Josh?” Cammie’s brows shot up.

  That would be her sister’s first response. “Give the me and Josh obsession a rest. In fact, don’t worry about anything but getting better.”

  “Okay, for now, but I want to know more. Soon. And please open the store tomorrow. And Saturday. Has it been busy so far?”

  “It’s been fine. I’ll open your store. Rest now.”

  “RUTH, I WAS WONDERING about that big chest in the back of your store. The one with the box Maggie used to make J.D. that ship.” Josh held the elderly woman’s arm as he walked her across the rain-sodden driveway to her door.

  “Big chest? You mean the armoire?”

  “That’s it. The piece is like the one Maggie had in her room growing up. She loved that thing. I’d like to buy it for her as a Christmas gift. Unless Cammie ordered it for someone else.”

  Mouth gaping, Ruth stopped and stared up at him. “Cammie bought that armoire from a dealer because of Maggie. She thought Maggie might want it. Maggie always loved the one she’d had and spoke of it often. Cammie just wasn’t sure if Maggie would be happy or grieved with the find and the memories attached to it. The truck had just delivered it when Cammie was hit. I guess the driver miscalculated his turn and backed up to try again.”

  “Oh, man. I didn’t realize.” Strange how one moment could change the whole course of so many people’s lives. “Do you think Maggie would want it if she knew?”

  Ruth’s wrinkled hand squeezed his. “Sometimes what we want and what we need are not the same thing.”

  A laugh worked its way through his soul. “Don’t I know it.”

  “Maggie thinks memories are too painful, and she’s locked them out. She’s wrong. Pain is as much a part of this life as joy. Through pain, we learn to depend on the Lord.”

  He’d experienced that first hand. “You’re a smart lady.”

  “There’s a few marbles left up here.” She winked and pointed to her silver-haired temple. “I’ll give you the key to the store. You can get the armoire while Maggie’s at the hospital, so you can surprise her. I’ll tell her we sold it.” She chuckled. “Which will be true, of course.”

  “I’ll write you a check and call a buddy of mine to help get it loaded in the truck.” From the looks of the gray sky, he’d better hurry.

  “Leave J.D. with me. It won’t take long, I bet.”

  Once he’d led Ruth and J.D. inside, he called around until he found a semi-willing volunteer only a few blocks away to meet him at the store. Together they made quic
k work of hauling the huge piece into his truck. The only problem was where to hide the armoire once they had it inside his house. With no better ideas flowing, he pushed it into the master bathroom and shut the door. He’d share the restroom in the hall with J.D. for a few weeks. They’d survive. He just hoped Ruth was right about the purchase. And the memories.

  A LARGE COLD FRONT kept the showers in a holding pattern. Maggie sank back into the pillows on the bed at Aunt Ruth’s as rain pummeled the rooftop again. Standing all day and helping customers left Maggie’s feet aching. She’d been accustomed to sitting at a desk, staring at computer screens. The wet weather lingered after the tropical storm with such a deluge that they’d had fewer shoppers this Black Friday than in past years, according to Aunt Ruth, but it was still busy enough. Thank goodness Mrs. Daigle had taken care of the Black Friday festivities at the store and was working full-time with them. Their mother’s old friend had been a godsend.

  With help over the last few days, Maggie’d had the freedom to go to the hospital as needed, even taking Dahlia every night. Both the old and new doctors looked to be legit, and Cammie was more than happy to be friends with Dr. Kyle Castro. Even their names sounded cute together. Cammie and Kyle. Maggie smiled and shook her head. Who would’ve thought her sister would meet Mr. Right by getting hit by a truck?

  Maggie’s phone chimed with a text.

  J.D.’s asleep. Want to watch a movie?

  She cradled her cell in her hands like a fragile bird. His offer was tempting. Could her own Mr. Right be next door? She’d always thought she’d prove everyone wrong when she left Josh and the Coast. She’d find love again. Move on. And she’d tried dating, but no one had measured up. No one had understood her like Josh.