Denver looked up at Stratton. “You’re right, Daddy. She does look like an angel.”
This remark drew a laugh from her.
“An angel, huh?” she repeated in her soft voice. “That’s a lot to live up to.” She bent down so she could look him in the face. “You must be Denver. I’m Leah. It’s nice to meet you.”
Denver threw her his toothless grin. “Do you really have an African grey parrot?”
She stepped back so they could come inside. “I sure do. Would you like to meet him?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“He’s waiting for you in the living room.”
Before they could get there, Aristotle made his presence known. “Who goes there?”
Denver stopped in his tracks, his wide-eyed astonishment drawing a grin from Stratton. “He really can talk.”
“I told you he could.”
Denver made a beeline for the table holding Aristotle’s cage.
Leah waved a hand toward the couch. “Have a seat, Dr. Levy.”
“This isn’t Hutchison Clinic,” he reminded her in a low voice. “My name is Stratton.”
“I know that, but old habits are hard to break,” she said, giving him a playful push in the back.
As he walked past her to sit down, he tried to ignore the tendrils of warmth swirling through him. It didn’t work. The sound of Denver’s animated voice gave him something else to think about.
“How are you, Aristotle?”
“Never better,” the bird responded.
Denver chuckled and clapped his hands. “You’re funny, Aristotle.”
“Pretty is as pretty does, missy.”
“I’m not Missy. I’m Denver.”
Aristotle tilted his head to the side. “We ride at dawn.”
Stratton laughed. “He sounded eerily like John Wayne when he said that.”
“He and Ben evidently watched a lot of westerns,” Leah added.
“How old is Aristotle, Miss Leah?”
She walked over to stand next to Denver. “Seventeen.”
“That’s older than me. What does he like to eat?”
“Along with those pellets you see in his bowl, he also likes sweet potatoes, zucchini, watermelon, grapes, and strawberries.”
“Do you ever let him out of the cage?”
“I usually let him out after I get home from work. He follows me around for a while, and when he gets bored with that, he watches television. He loves Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy.”
“And the answer is: a daily double,” Aristotle announced.
Leah wagged a finger at the bird. “Now you’re just showing off.”
“How do you get him back in?”
“I turn out the lights in the living room. That’s the signal that playtime is over.”
“I wish that worked with Denver,” Stratton put in.
“I’m sure a lot of parents would agree with you. Can I interest you guys in some chocolate chip cookies?”
“I’ll take some cookies, Miss Leah.”
She smiled at Denver’s eagerness. “What about a drink to go with them?”
“Can I have milk?”
“Is almond milk okay?”
“That’s what we drink at home.”
Stratton looked up from responding to a text from Jade to find Leah’s hypnotic gazed fixed on him. His mouth went dry, and his breath jammed in his lungs. For some unknown reason, the combination of those two things affected his ability to hear. Embarrassed, he said, “I’m sorry; I didn’t catch that.”
“I asked what you want to drink. I’ve got coffee and tea as well as the almond milk.”
“Coffee would be great.” With any luck, the caffeine would clear his head.
“One almond milk and one coffee coming up.”
* * * * *
In the kitchen, Leah’s smile faded and the tears she’d suppressed filled her eyes. With fingers that shook slightly, she reached into the refrigerator for the carton of milk. She no longer had to wonder why Stratton sometimes manifested such a discernible air of silent misery. It was obvious from Denver’s appearance that the child was seriously ill.
When she was in nursing school, she did a clinical at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. The children and their families whose lives had been forever changed by conditions and diseases that were as hard to understand as they were to treat had made an indelible impression on her. On a daily basis, her emotions had swung from depths of despair when one of her young patients succumbed to the illness invading their bodies to heights of joy when another attained remission. The twelve weeks she spent there had been the most difficult, and at the same time, the most rewarding of her life.
Hearing Denver’s raised voice in the next room had her dabbing impatiently at the wetness on her cheeks. Now wasn’t the time to give into the sadness coming at her from all directions. As she poured coffee, all the things she’d thought and said about Stratton since their first awkward meeting ran through her mind. Equal parts of shame and disgust welled up inside her. Just like with Roland, she’d been quick to judge Stratton. If anyone had a reason to be moody or grumpy…
“Do you need any help?”
She jerked at the sound of Stratton’s voice. She’d been so deep in thought she hadn’t heard him come in. Crumpling a napkin into a ball, she tried to smile through lips that had gone stiff. “That would be great, thank you. If you’ll grab the cookies, I’ll get the drinks.” The eyes she knew missed very little moved slowly over her face. Leah held her breath, hoping she’d removed all the evidence of her tears. He didn’t say anything at first, but he didn’t need to. His smile was enough: warm, tender and very nearly provoking another round of waterworks.
“Chocolate chip is Denver’s favorite,” he said, reaching for the ceramic plate decorated with roosters that was part of a set Leah had received from her sister Summer. “Mine, too, actually.”
She picked up the glass of milk and cup of coffee. “That makes it unanimous, then.”
“Where’s your coffee?”
“I had two cups at the baby shower. That’s enough for me; otherwise it’ll take me forever to fall asleep tonight.”
“Thanks to twenty-four hour shifts when I was a resident, I can drink several pots of coffee without feeling any effects.”
As soon as they walked into the living room, Denver skipped over to the couch and sat down. “Sit by me, Miss Leah.”
Stratton grinned as he put the cookies on the coffee table. “That’s not fair. I wanted Miss Leah to sit by me.”
“I called it first, Daddy.”
“So that’s the way it’s going to be, huh?”
Denver shrugged. “You snooze, you lose.”
Stratton shook his head as he took his coffee from Leah and walked over to sit in the chair. “Aunt Jade has a lot to answer for.”
Between bites of cookies, Denver entertained Leah with the discovery and subsequent acquisition of his new pet. In spite of his illness, it was obvious he was a happy child. Like most children in his situation, he made the most of every moment and didn’t look beyond the present. It was left to the grown-ups in his life to worry about the future; a legacy Leah wished Stratton didn’t have to face alone. This train of thought led to Denver’s mother, the woman who left Stratton for another man. Surely she hadn’t abandoned Denver, too?
A small hand touched her knee. “Miss Leah, do you want to see a picture of Long John Silver? Daddy took one with his phone.”
“I’d love to see him.”
Stratton grinned widely as he passed the phone to Denver. “He’s not exactly a thing of beauty.”
Leah glanced at the screen. “I think he’s adorable.”
Denver slid closer to her. “Uncle Joel fixed up a tank for Long John to live in. It’s in my room.”
“How nice! I’m sure he likes his new home.”
“We fed him some lettuce before we left.” Denver made a face. “I don’t know how he can eat that stuff.”
/>
Leah laughed. “That’s how I feel about turnip greens.”
“Daddy doesn’t like pepperoni or mushrooms. When we get pizza, he gives them to me.” Denver turned to Stratton. “Can we get pizza tonight?”
“I believe Aunt Jade mentioned pot roast for dinner.” Stratton put down his cup. “Which reminds me, she wanted us to stop by the store and pick up some onion rolls. As soon as you finish your cookie, we need to get going.”
“Can we come again, Daddy?”
“That’s up to Miss Leah.”
Denver turned his dark, pleading eyes on her. “Can we?”
A giant lump lodged in her throat. “Of course.”
“Will you have cookies next time, too?” he asked hopefully.
“You can count on it.”
Denver flashed the crooked smile he shared with his father. “I hope it’s before we have to go to Atlanta again.”
The bleak look that entered Stratton’s eyes sent Leah’s heart plummeting into her shoes. What was so bad about Atlanta? Was that where Denver’s mother lived?
“I’m sure we can work something out,” he promised.
Leah had barely returned to the living room from seeing her guests out when the doorbell rang. Looking through the spyglass, she saw Stratton’s slightly distorted face. She quickly undid the bolt and opened the door.
“Did you forget something?”
He smiled faintly. “Yes. I forgot to ask if you’re free on Friday night.”
“I can’t think of anything off the top of my head. What did you have in mind?”
“Dinner at a little Greek restaurant in Surfside Beach.”
Surfside Beach was twenty miles away. They wouldn’t have to worry about seeing anyone from work this time. “I’ll go on one condition.”
He leaned against the door frame. “A condition? That doesn’t sound good. What is it?”
“You agree to tell me what this,” she pointed at him and then at her, “is about.”
“You make it sound as if there’s something unusual about coworkers getting to know each other.”
“Is that all we’re doing?”
His smile was wry. “Yes and no.”
“That certainly cleared things up.”
Stratton reached for her hand, his expression turning serious. “Trust me, Leah; everything will be clear to you on Friday.”
She glanced down at the fingers clasping hers, their touch sending tingles of awareness up and down her arm. Something was already clear. The concern she’d felt for this man since she first became aware of him wasn’t impersonal, detached or even neutral. A person doesn’t spend hours and hours worrying about someone they dislike, nor do they wish they could help him.
There was only one rational explanation for such odd behavior. She liked Stratton. She liked him a lot.
She slowly raised her eyes from the buttons on his shirt to his chin and finally to his face. “What time should I be ready?”
“I’ll pick you up at seven.”
As confused as she might be about her own feelings, she was almost certain Stratton’s interest in her wasn’t personal. Given her opinion about office romances, she should have been happy about that. But she wasn’t happy or thankful or relieved. She was disappointed and a little regretful, neither of which made any sense at all.
Chapter Six
A heavy caseload kept Stratton busy until almost noon. When he arrived home, he found Jade and Denver sitting at the dining room table. Taking Denver out of school had been a necessity. His numerous doctors’ appointments, hospital stays, and more recently, the side effects of his medicine had taken their toll on his attendance. Jade had willingly rearranged her work schedule so she could help Stratton teach Denver at home.
“How did things go at The Denver Levy Academy this morning?” he asked, walking further into the room.
Jade laughed. “Very well. All we have left are a few phonics worksheets and some handwriting exercises. It wouldn’t hurt you to do a few of them yourself. Your writing is nearly unreadable.”
“By physician’s standards, mine’s pretty good. You should see some samples from the other doctors at the clinic.”
She stood up. “No, thanks. Maria made the chicken salad with avocado that you like. Do you want it on toast or pita bread?”
“Toast, please.” Stratton sat down in the chair she vacated. “What are you working on, kiddo?”
Denver looked up from the paper he was coloring. “I drew a picture of Aristotle meeting Long John Silver.”
Stratton laughed. “That would be something to see, wouldn’t it? Sorry I missed you at breakfast this morning. I had an early meeting.”
“That’s okay. Maria made buckwheat pancakes and sausage.”
“That sounds much better than the bran muffins I had.”
“Aunt Jade says bran muffins taste like dirt.”
“As usual, Aunt Jade is exaggerating. They actually taste more like tree bark.”
This produced a round of giggles.
“What’s going on in here?” Jade asked, returning with their food.
“Just one of those guy things.” He took the plate she handed him.
“There seem to be a lot of those. Joel drove by our house this morning on his way to work. They were installing the windows and doors. I can’t wait to get over there later to see it for myself.”
Stratton could remember doing the same thing with Eva. The two of them had driven to the construction site every day, rain or shine, to check the progress of their house. When it was finally complete, they threw a huge party for their family and friends. Fifteen months later, they sat opposite each other in an attorney’s office signing divorce papers. The home they’d planned so carefully now belonged to someone else.
“Daddy, did you talk to Miss Leah today?”
“I didn’t have time, buddy. But don’t worry; I’ll get with her soon.”
Jade put some cubed cheese and grapes on Denver’s plate. “I heard all about Miss Leah and Aristotle today. She sounds very nice. I can’t wait to meet her.”
“She is nice,” Stratton agreed, reaching for the jar of pickles. The two images that had been stuck in his head all night reappeared. The first was Leah and Denver standing side by side next to Aristotle’s cage; the other was when he found her crying in the kitchen. Her nursing skills gave her the proficiency to care for a critically ill patient, but it was her compassion, tenacity, and determination that made her the perfect choice for what he had in mind.
* * * * *
In spite of a busy Monday morning, Leah’s thoughts had never drifted very far from Denver and Stratton. Hearing Roland’s voice outside Dr. Gorman’s office had been a rude reminder that in all the excitement of yesterday, she’d forgotten about her confrontation with the new man in Lydia’s life. This mental lapse on her part meant she hadn’t given Stratton any kind of warning about what he might be walking into today.
Attempting to do anything about it now was too risky. All she could do was hope that the good nature Lydia claimed for Roland would keep him silent on the subject of what he’d seen Saturday evening. There was a slim chance that his story would be met with some degree of skepticism due to the very public and negative nature of Leah’s previous run-ins with Stratton. This was cold comfort, though, and did little to calm her agitation.
By the time she and Lydia were walking into Jason’s Deli, Leah had a headache that not even Tylenol and several cups of coffee had been able to relieve. She dumped a package of oyster crackers into her bowl of chili. Behind her, Lydia was patiently explaining to the teenage girl at the counter that her lettuce wrap was supposed to be grilled chicken instead of fried. Hopefully, she’d get the matter sorted out before their lunch break was over.
“Can I join you?”
Leah sighed inwardly. Trouble just seemed to follow her everywhere. Forcing a half-way decent smile to her face, she looked up at Roland. “Sure.”
He pulled out a chair and sat down, see
ming not to notice her less-than-enthusiastic greeting. “It appears I owe you an apology. I ran into Dr. Levy about a half hour ago. When I mentioned seeing the two of you at El Toro’s, he explained that you’d both been in a wedding earlier in the day.”
Leah just stopped her mouth from dropping open. Roland was apologizing. Would wonders never cease? “His cousin married my best friend,” she heard herself saying as Lydia appeared behind Roland.
“It took a while, but I got my grilled chicken,” she said, sitting down at the table. “I wasn’t about to eat those overdone fried strips that have been sitting under a heat lamp for the last hour.”
“Good for you, darling,” Roland said, leaning over to kiss her cheek.
Lydia’s face pinkened with pleasure. “What are you doing here? I thought you had a lunch meeting at the hospital.”
“One of the medical director’s kids got sick, so she went home. We rescheduled the meeting for tomorrow.”
“I wonder if it’s that stomach virus going around,” Lydia said. She pointed to the empty space in front of him. “Aren’t you eating lunch?”
“I will later. Right now, I’ve got a few errands to run. I just stopped in to say hello.”
“That was nice of you.”
He grinned as he stood up. “Yes, it was. Are we still on for tonight?”
She nodded. “Don’t forget to pick up the wings. The spicy ones.”
Roland laughed. “I won’t.” He glanced at Leah. “See you around, Nurse Langston.”
“Bye, Roland.” Once he was out of earshot, she turned to Lydia. “It’s nothing short of amazing.”
“What is?” Lydia asked innocently.
“You know what I’m talking about. I want to think it’s your influence because that absolves me of the crime of being totally wrong about Roland.”
“I was wrong about him, too, remember. Sometimes what you see isn’t what you get.”
“Which is another way of saying don’t judge a book by its cover. I seem to have been doing that a lot lately.”
The Gift of Love (Finding Love Book 9) Page 5
