Be My Texas Valentine

by Jodi Thomas

  His eyes met Noah’s and held them intently. “I want you to know I’m sorry, son. Sorry that I wasn’t there for you when your mother died. Sorry that you felt you couldn’t talk to me because you thought I didn’t have time for you anymore. Sorry that I’ve made you think that I consider you anything but the wonderful doctor, man, and son who others have had to tell me you are. I could have been, and should have been, learning that on my own. I’m most sorry for the years we’ve spent apart.” His voice broke as he added, “L-look at the time I’ve lost with you.”

  Thurgood pulled Noah to him. Noah’s arm reached up slowly to wrap itself around his father’s shoulder. He closed his eyes and breathed in the essence of the man who had always been his own personal hero, the man he’d modeled his own life after, the man he had wanted to make so proud of him.

  Thurgood began patting Noah’s back and saying, “I love you, Noah. Please forgive me. I’m so very sorry for hurting you.”

  Noah’s other arm went up to complete the hug. Tears that had lain deep in his heart for seventeen years rushed up to spill from his eyes onto shoulders not as physically broad as Noah once remembered, but strong enough to make amends.

  A twelve-year-old voice quivered in the throat of a twenty-nine-year-old man as Noah found the best words of forgiveness he could offer his father. “I love you, too, Dad.”

  Chapter 9

  “Good grief, how long is this going to take?” Angelina sat down on Noah’s bed in exasperation and held the soiled paper away from her body as if it were a rattlesnake ready to strike. “I thought you said there was nothing to it.”

  “You’re the one who told Noah that Gabby was yours and you would help take care of her.” JoEmma ignored her sister’s look of exasperation and turned to spread fresh paper inside the bottom of the cage. “It takes however long it takes.”

  “But I thought he would be in here with us,” she whispered even though the door was closed to his bedroom and they couldn’t be heard, “and I don’t like having to deal with bird droppings.”

  “Nobody does. That’s just part of what you’ve got to do if you’re going to keep them healthy. And Noah’s with his dad for the first time in years. Let him be.”

  “What do I do with this?” Angelina rattled the paper. “It stinks.”

  “Put it in that basket next to the bed. I’ll take it out when I’m done with everything else.” JoEmma had expected Angelina to eventually tire of coming with her to take care of the birds but not on the first day. Her sister had been prepared to make a great show of effort if Noah had stayed to watch, but with him out of their presence, Angelina was already back to her usual practice of letting someone else take care of the actual work.

  Not that JoEmma really minded. At least she knew the cleaning was being done right and Gabby and Amigo wouldn’t suffer from Angie’s lackluster efforts.

  “Look at them. Aren’t they cute together?” She watched as the lovebirds flitted about the room, one spotting a new place to roost and calling the other over to investigate its comfort while JoEmma changed out the cage lining. “They’re showing each other their new surroundings.”

  “Not much to it.” Criticism filled Angelina’s tone behind her. “I thought a bachelor’s private quarters would be more ... interesting. A bed, a pole, and a trash basket? There’s not a place to hang your corset even if you had a mind to let him woo it off of you.”

  “What kind of man do you take Noah for?” JoEmma finished putting in the clean trays and filling one with a scoop of sunflower seeds, the other with some water from the ewer balanced beside her in the wheelchair. She was surprised that Angelina might consider him one of those fancy gambler sorts who traveled through town and stayed long enough to make his next stash and woo a new female conquest with his flashy clothes and the dexterity of his fingers. That kind of man held a particular fascination for her sister, but JoEmma considered his sort a walking woman-trap. Not Noah. He didn’t have it in him to be anything but forthright.

  No, what he had in him was a certain way with a soul-searing kiss. “Noah’s not home enough to need more than this,” she defended his practicality.

  “Dr. Powell is male enough, don’t fool yourself, Sister.” Angelina deposited the paper in the basket. “But I’m beginning to think that after the Valentine’s dance, I should start setting my cap elsewhere.”

  Full-blown anger fired through JoEmma, making her swing around to face her sister. “Make up your mind, Angelina. Either go after him as your beau or don’t. But don’t accept his offer to escort you, then dishonor him by trying to charm someone else there. I won’t have it. I’m tired of you thinking you can have anyone you bat your eyelashes at, then tire of them and move on. I won’t allow you to do it to Noah. Not now. Not ever.”

  “Whoa!” Angelina held her hands up to ward off her sister’s attack, her slippers shifting suddenly to tuck themselves beneath the folds of her skirt. JoEmma had rolled the chair so close that the wheels pinned the hem of Angelina’s skirt and wouldn’t let her move any farther backward.

  “Owww!” Angelina yelped, her hands flying to the top of her head as a flutter of rainbow-colored wings flashed by her blond hair and flew somewhere behind the bird’s true owner. “That hat decoration plucked my hair!”

  “Better her than me,” JoEmma warned, wanting to yank out wads of her sister’s hair for being so knuckle-brained about Noah. “Maybe it’s best you don’t come here anymore, Angie. You don’t want to deal with the birds. Gabby has plans to use your hair for her nest. And after you win your stupid bet, I don’t want you hanging around Noah or his place ever again unless you are in dire need of a doctor. Do you understand?”

  “Roll back,” Angelina said quietly.

  “Why?” JoEmma had expected a full verbal assault, not something so calmly spoken from her sister.

  “I said, roll off of my hem so I can leave. Your chair is holding me down.”

  JoEmma rolled back, the anger slowing from its rapid course through her veins.

  “All you had to do was tell me you were really in love with him.” Angelina rose and shook the hem of her skirt to straighten it. “I would have never made the bet nor agreed to him escorting us both. I would have stepped aside.”

  “Of course you wouldn’t have.” JoEmma didn’t believe her.

  “Whether you believe it or not, I wouldn’t offend you deliberately.” Angelina grabbed her bonnet where she’d placed it on the bed when they first entered the bedroom. “I thought you showed interest in him because you know how competitive I am and that I would try to win his favor for that reason. I thought you were playing matchmaker, like Hannah has been these past two years. Trying to see me married so that we don’t run out of the trust fund money and I won’t have to take employment doing God knows what to earn my keep. I don’t have all your many talents, you know. I’m just pretty and that gets me only so far.”

  “When I asked you to draw the hearts fairly and not match yourself up purposefully with him, you thought I was competing with you? That doesn’t make sense.” JoEmma never quite understood Angelina’s way of thinking, but then they were two totally different types of women.

  “I’m stubborn. You know that. If you tell me what to do, then I intend to do quite the opposite. Perfectly logical reasoning.”

  I was born different, JoEmma decided, once again realizing that if such reasoning was logical, then it had to be something not within her makeup. “I guess I’m different from you. I mean what I say,” she told her sister.

  “Yes, you do. You just don’t speak up for yourself enough. Not to me. Not to others. Certainly not to Dr. Powell.”

  “It’s none of your business,” JoEmma argued.

  “No-ah-Pow. No-ah-Pow. Smch-smch-smch,” the two lovebirds chirped simultaneously.

  “It’s apparently everybody’s business.” Angelina’s gaze slanted to the birds. “Even they know how you truly feel about him. You’ve fooled nobody but yourself and apparently me, for a while.
Now that I know, I insist that you do something about it. Let me help you do something about it. You just might find yourself spoken for by Valentine’s Day.”

  “I won’t play games with Noah, and don’t act like you really care.” JoEmma couldn’t deal with her sister’s sudden concern. It hurt badly enough that pursuing any feelings she had for Noah would come across as competition with Angie. That was the last thing it would ever be. “No one’s watching and you won’t get anything out of saying you’ll help. He’s not a prize to be won. Leave me alone. Leave him alone.”

  Something dulled Angelina’s eyes for a moment before they suddenly shimmered with tears. “I’ll get something I’ve wanted for a long time, Jo. I’ll see you well and happy. Believe it or not, I’m telling you the truth now. I want nothing more than I want that at the moment.”

  Sister eyed sister in silent regard. JoEmma’s heart clenched as she realized she’d been too hard on Angelina. Maybe too critical for too long. Her elder sister was being sincere at the moment. JoEmma felt it to the bone, to the depths of her damaged heart. She’d hurt Angie deeply by accusing her of wanting to take rather than give something to her.

  Sadness had caused the tears welling in her sister’s eyes. Sadness that the bond that had once been strong between them had been frayed by envy and mistrust. JoEmma recognized that sadness, for she had it every time she ever wanted Angelina to show how much she loved and cared for her. Angie had simply done things her own way and her way wasn’t JoEmma’s. That didn’t make her any less of a sister. It just made her different.

  JoEmma was wrong this time and admitted it. “I’m sorry, Ang. I’m silly and do stupid things sometimes. Maybe I’m even just a little jealous of you.”

  “You have reason to be, you know.” Angelina’s chin tilted at a haughty angle and her eyes twinkled amid the shimmer of tears.

  “It’s hard to forget when you keep reminding me, Angie.”

  “An-gie. Phew! An-gie. Phew!” Gabby chimed in.

  The sisters laughed together, easing the tension between them. Both had returned to their more comfortable roles—older sister bossiness and younger sister defiance. Each now with a better understanding of the other.

  “Just what does she mean when she says that?” Angelina stood and tried to get closer to Gabby, but the lovebird flew into the cage and hid behind one corner of the perch where a rather large nest was being constructed.

  “Phew!” Amigo echoed and joined his mate at the nest.

  JoEmma laughed and told her sister that she had taught Gabby to say the word whenever she heard Angie’s name and that it meant Angelina could be exasperating at times.

  “Then all’s fair,” Angelina announced, sticking her face close to the cage. “JoEmma-just-wait,” she chirped in a babylike voice, trying to get the bird to repeat the words. “Heh-heh-heh,” she laughed.

  JoEmma smiled. “What is that supposed to be ... a threat?”

  “Like I just said. Just wait and see.” When Gabby moved from the nest and flew toward the latch, Angelina quickly swung the door closed. “No, ma’am, you aren’t getting any more of my hair for your nest, Hat Decoration. What do you have to say about that?”

  “Smch-smch-smch.”

  JoEmma started giggling. “I think she just told you to kiss her blue-colored rump.”

  A knock on the door told them the men had finished with their own talk.

  “Come in,” JoEmma encouraged, feeling good that Angie had laughed right along with her.

  “Are the birds in their cage?”

  Noah’s concern pleased her and reassured JoEmma that even when he was alone with their pets, he would be cautious with Gabby. She assured him the duo was secure from escaping.

  “You two sound like you’re having a wonderful time in here.” He looked pleased at the prospect. “I didn’t know taking care of birds was such a hoot.”

  “That would be for owl sitters.” Angelina kept her face straight as she uttered the pun.

  “Good one, Sis.” To Noah and his father, JoEmma added, “She’s cagey sometimes with her humor, but it always has a seed of truth in it.”

  Noah glanced at one sister then the other. “Are we missing something here?”

  JoEmma shrugged. “Not any of the birds. Just a few old misconceptions that have flown out the window. Right, Angie?”

  “Right, Sis.”

  Thurgood Powell tipped his bowler to the women. “I think it’s time to leave these two ladies to what they were doing, son. I believe they’re perfectly fine and don’t need us to step into something that we won’t remotely understand no matter how much sense we try to make out of it. Good day, JoEmma. Angelina.”

  “An-gie. Phew!” Amigo chirped.

  “JoEmma-wait,” Gabby added. “Heh-heh-heh.”

  JoEmma nearly fell out of her wheelchair giggling.

  “So Hannah’s not addlepated after all.” Thurgood tapped his cane on the hard wood floor. “I thought she’d been stirring up some wild concoction of a story about teaching two little lovebirds to talk to each other so that she could get two bigger lovebirds to do the same. Now I know what her intentions were. I take it one of those birds is yours, son, and the other belongs to one of the Browns.”

  “To JoEmma,” Noah replied before Angelina could contradict him.

  “Good, so you know the truth.” Angelina stood and dusted off her skirt. “No more poop paper for me, thank Heaven.”

  JoEmma laughed. “Ahh, Funny Feathers was looking forward to adding blond hair to her nest.”

  Angelina patted the top of her head and moved toward the door. “It will have to be yours, I’m afraid. I plan to keep the rest of mine.” She waved her hand, encompassing the room. “It’s been a pleasure, Drs. Powell, both of you. I didn’t realize you were such a practical man, Noah. If you ever need to refurnish your private quarters, just call on”—she eyed JoEmma—“my sister. She’s got a good eye for decorating things.”

  “You don’t need to rush off, Miss Brown.”

  “Oh yes, I do. It seems I may have to buy a pair of overalls.” Angelina’s gaze met JoEmma’s and held. “And as Gabby suggested to me a minute ago, Sis, smch-smch-smch. In other words, kiss ...”

  “I understand, loud and clear. Don’t say another word.”

  Chapter 10

  The next few days went by too quickly. JoEmma wasn’t sure she was ready for the Valentine’s party tonight at Belle’s but she’d promised Noah she would go with him and Angelina. Every time she’d tried to bring up a conversation to the contrary, he’d been too busy taking care of patients to talk to her. Now that she had changed her mind and had reason to want to go, it seemed this morning would prove to be like all the others. Too busy for him to stop and talk to her.

  She had stalled around taking care of the birds as long as she could, and it was long past time to head home and start preparations for the party. She had to help Angie with her hair and find something presentable to wear herself. Hannah was becoming suspicious about why JoEmma was taking so much longer than usual and had checked on her twice already. She wouldn’t be put off a third time.

  It was almost time for Hannah to head over to Thurgood’s place to clean, and she would not leave until she knew what was causing the delay. JoEmma knew her well enough to realize that her housekeeper thought she was ill. She couldn’t let her think that or Hannah wouldn’t attend the dance with Thurgood. That was not an option. Noah’s father planned on proposing to Hannah tonight and presenting her with a ring. He’d enlisted JoEmma’s advice about the possible size to fit his future bride and sworn her to secrecy. Noah didn’t even know he was about to get a new mother.

  Though she had once dreaded going to the dance, JoEmma wanted to be there to share in Hannah’s great surprise. She just didn’t want to go without Noah knowing about the bet the women had placed. He deserved better than that. He deserved the truth. He was certainly aware of the matchmaking attempt, but she would be no true friend if she didn’t tell him the ful
l extent of the bet.

  “Are you about done with those birds?” Hannah Lassiter called from the other side of the door. “Are you not feeling well, Kitten?”

  “Stand up. Puhleease,” JoEmma whispered to herself one more time, willing her legs to stand up from the wheelchair one last time. They trembled as she tried, shaky from the countless times she had practiced standing all morning and every one since the day of her and Angie’s talk. At home she couldn’t practice without stirring her housekeeper’s curiosity. Here at Noah’s, the privacy of his bedroom allowed her alone time to work on improving her ability to move better. At least the morning hadn’t been a complete failure. Not being able to talk with him had given her extra practice time.

  “Did you say stand back?” Hannah’s croaky question made JoEmma aware that the woman must have heard at least part of what she’d said.

  JoEmma plopped down in the wheelchair, needing the rest and to catch her breath. “I said it’s okay to come in,” she fibbed, making a mental promise that she would confess the fib at a later date to Hannah and apologize for it.

  The door opened and the rotund housekeeper waddled in. “You are ill, aren’t you?” Worry filled the woman’s tone. “You’re all flushed and out of breath. Did you try to lift the feed sack? You know it’s too heavy for you.”

  JoEmma shook her head. “I’m fine. It’s just a little warm in here with the window and door closed. I need a little air.”

  The housekeeper waddled over to the window. “I’m just about ready to leave. If you like, I’ll walk with you partway.” She started to open the window, then paused and glanced at the birds. “Is it all right if I open this? Is Gabriella secure?”