“All set?” he asked.
“Yes. Thank you for such a nice night,” Maggie said. “I’m really glad you came into the diner tonight.”
Jobe had turned the ignition, but he kept the truck in park and turned to face Maggie. “I have to be honest. Your dad suggested that I come by and pretend to have just happened to be there.”
Maggie smiled at Jobe. “I know. He thinks he whispers, but can’t lower his voice to save his soul. I hear all kinds of secrets he tells my mom.”
“Do you mind much that I came?” he asked.
“I’d have minded very much if you didn’t come. You are the best part of my night.”
Jobe leaned over slowly, to give her plenty of time to say no, to kiss her. When she didn’t stop him, he very gently pressed his lips to hers. Then he pulled back, and did it again, before sitting up straight and beaming at her.
“And now my birthday wish came true,” she said.
Chapter 6
It was about 11:30 P.M. when Bam saw headlights pulling into the space where he parked his truck out in front of his house. He got up and went to the front door, pulling it open just as Jobe walked up on the porch. They’d enclosed the space beneath Bam’s home that he used to utilize as a work shop, and made their home two stories once they had the girls. The one thing Everly really wanted during the expansion was a wrap around porch, so Bam had made her a wide one with lots of room for chairs and little fancy tables beside them. It was so wide that Analise regularly drove her battery operated princess carriage from one end of it to the other.
“Watch out for the princess carriage,” Bam said, pointing out the pink and white carriage.
“I see it. Hope I didn’t wake you,” Jobe said.
“No, not at all. I’m watching the Flea Market Flip show. You have a good time?” Bam asked.
“Yeah, I really did. I think she had a good time, too,” Jobe said, grinning ear to ear.
Bam’s nose began to twitch a bit. “What cha got there?” he asked, jutting his chin toward the white pastry box in Jobe’s hands.
“Brought ya’ll some turnovers, cherry and blueberry.”
“Oh, man. Come on in,” Bam said, reaching for the box. “You want some milk, or a turnover, or something?” Bam asked, as he walked toward the kitchen with the box already opened as he chomped on a blueberry turnover.
“No, thank you. We already had some earlier.”
“Sit, sit, tell me about your date. It go well?” Bam asked, finishing off the turnover.
“I think so. Seems like her parents like me. And I took her to Joanne’s after dinner for birthday dessert. We got a lot of different little things to share,” Jobe said.
“You like her,” Bam said, biting into another of his blueberry turnovers.
“I do. A lot,” Jobe admitted.
“She likes you, too. I can’t always see colors on humans like I can on shifters, but I think she’s yours. There’s kind of a glow on you, so I think she’s your one. Just be you and it’ll all work out.”
“And honesty. Always be honest. That’s one of the most important things. Even if you’re scared and thinking she won’t understand whatever it is, always be honest because it’s never as bad as she’ll imagine it to be if you’re hiding something from her,” Everly said, walking into the kitchen with a serious halo of bedhead red curls going on.
“She’s right,” Bam agreed. “Sorry we woke you, my Ever,” Bam said.
“You didn’t. Fox smelled cherry turnovers and woke me,” Everly said.
“I brought you six cherry and six blueberry,” Jobe said.
“A man after my own heart,” Everly said, smiling at Jobe as she chose a cherry turnover and curled up on Bam’s lap to enjoy it.
“Your heart’s taken,” Bam said, making a grumbly face at her.
“Yeah, but he’s got cherry turnovers,” she said.
“Because I lent him the truck for a date,” Bam answered.
“Oh, yeah. Okay, lend it to him often,” Everly suggested.
Bam nodded and bit into his third blueberry turnover. “Think I will,” he agreed.
“You better save one of those blueberry ones for Analise. You know she loves those like you do,” Everly said.
“I will. I’ll just eat one of your cherry ones to make up for it,” Bam teased, swiping a bit of cherry filling off her turnover and wiping it on the tip of her nose.
Jobe chuckled. “See? This is what I want when I get married. This easy, warm, happy feeling.”
Bam looked at Jobe, all teasing aside. “I think you’ve found it, Jobe. When I see you together I’ll be able to tell you for sure. But what’s more important is, what do you feel when you’re with her?”
Jobe thought about it for a minute before shrugging and looking over at Bam. “Home.”
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Early the next morning Goldy stood at the stove, taking sausage patties from the cast iron skillet he’d fried them in. He’d already finished the grits, and made two sheet pans full of biscuits. All he had left to do was scramble the eggs he’d already beaten in the skillet with the sausage drippings, and breakfast would be ready.
He smiled to himself when he heard soft footsteps on the stairs that led from his and Ms. Sadie’s bedroom.
“Goldy?” she asked, as she set foot in the kitchen.
“Good morning, Sadie-girl,” he answered.
“Morning. Why are you cooking breakfast? That’s my job,” she said, walking over to him as she tied the belt on her bathrobe snuggly around her waist.
“I woke up early, thought I’d make you breakfast for a change.”
“Aren’t you sweet,” Sadie said, going up on tip-toe to kiss his lips.
“Shh, don’t tell everybody I’m sweet,” he teased.
“Newsflash for you, they know it already,” Sadie teased back.
“Here,” Goldy said, pouring coffee into a cup and adding milk and sugar, “have your coffee while I finish up here.”
“Thank you.”
“You hear Jobe when he came in last night?” Goldy asked.
“Yes, I did. Doesn’t matter how old he is, I’ll always have that mother’s concern, you know?” she asked. “He wasn’t very late, though. I was surprised. I figured he’d be out later.”
“I heard him when he drove by on the way to bring Bam’s truck back. I was surprised, too. Thought for sure if he really liked this girl he’d have spent every moment possible with her. I wonder how it went,” Goldy admitted.
“You should ask him. He might tell you,” Jobe said, walking into the kitchen from his bedroom, all dressed and ready for work.
Ms. Sadie laughed. “Good morning, baby,” she said, offering her cheek for a kiss and patting his shoulder as he leaned over to kiss her.
“Morning, Mama-Sadie.”
“Morning, Pop,” he said, peeking over Goldy’s shoulder at the food.
“Morning. So, out with it. How did the birthday dinner go? We were surprised you were back so early.”
Jobe smiled at him and poured himself a cup of coffee before joining Ms. Sadie at the table. “It went really well. I had dinner with Maggie and her parents, and then took her to Joanne’s after for birthday sweets.”
“How nice!” Sadie said.
“You going to see her again?” Goldy asked.
“I think so. I’m going to ask,” Jobe answered.
“You didn’t ask last night?” Kaid asked, coming into the kitchen.
“No. I wanted to give her time to get used to the idea of me, before I ask her for a date,” Jobe explained.
“The idea of you? What’s that mean?” Kaid asked.
Jobe shrugged. “Just don’t want to rush it and end up sorry when I’m all in and she’s got one foot out the door. I really, really like her. This isn’t just a date.”
Kaid smirked and shook his head slowly. “Like she wouldn’t fall all over you. Boy, please! That girl will be all over you.”
“I’m so happy fo
r you,” Ms. Sadie said, watching Jobe with a soft smile on her face.
“Me, too, Jobe. She’ll be lucky to have you. You’ve grown into a fine young man.”
“Thank you, sir,” Jobe said, blushing humbly as Goldy complimented him.
“We’re very proud of you,” Sadie said.
“We all are,” Kaid agreed.
“Food’s ready, ya’ll hungry” Goldy asked, starting to set plates in front of everybody sitting at the table. “Where’s Barron and Delilah?” he asked.
“Barron is brushing his teeth,” Kaid said before turning his head in the direction of the bathroom and bellowing at Barron, “Barron, hurry up! I’m gonna eat your breakfast!” Then Kaid faced the table again and answered the rest of Goldy’s question. “Delilah went in early this morning. She’s supposed to be off today, but she got a call that one of her patients wasn’t doing so well and she wanted to be there. She’s been spending a lot of extra time with this new mother the last few days. Apparently she’s been struggling with complications and she took a turn for the worst during the night. She’d promised to be there for the girl since she didn’t have anyone else to lean on, so she hurried over there as soon as she got the call about 3:00 A.M.”
“That’s a shame,” Ms. Sadie said. “It’s scary bringing a baby into the world and not having anyone to share it with or to help you out.”
“Yeah, it is. But, she’s got Delilah, and Delilah will make sure everything is just fine,” Goldy said.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
A very tired and stressed Delilah stood in the empty hospital room and looked questioningly at Dr. Eastmond. She’d been beside Angelle since just after 3:00 A.M. when she’d gotten the call that the woman had begun hemorrhaging, and gone into cardiac arrest. Her blood pressure had been fluctuating and her heart beating erratically since she’d given birth, but Delilah had thought she was finally stabilizing and would recover soon. Now here she stood, 7:00 A.M. in the empty hospital room that had once sheltered a new mother named Angelle. That new mother was now gone, leaving an orphaned child behind. “I don’t understand,” she finally said.
“They did all they could, Delilah. She just wasn’t strong enough to overcome all the damage done to her body by the heart attack. You know that. You’ve read the chart a dozen times at least.”
“I know. And clinically I do understand. But, I thought she was doing better. And that little baby… she needs her mother. She’s got no one else. I promised Angelle that everything would be fine,” Delilah said, her emotions beginning to win out over her analytical mind.
“I’m going to tell you a secret. That always smiling demeanor I use with all my patients, whether they’re here to deliver a baby or have a surgery performed, is always the same. It’s not meant to put them at ease, though thankfully it does. It’s meant to make it just another medical case for me. Same routine for everybody — keep everyone at arm’s length. It’s akin to a receptionist answering the phone at a business the same exact way every, single day. There are no emotions involved, and it’s a business greeting. I learned a long time ago not to get attached, not to get involved emotionally. I couldn’t still be doing my job if I got emotionally invested in every patient that comes through here. I’d have had to quit years ago.”
“I don’t know if I can do that,” Delilah admitted. “If someone needs, I can’t not be their strength.”
“You can. You’re one of the best I’ve ever seen at soothing your patients and gaining their trust. You just have to figure out how to compartmentalize them as your profession and not your friends. And you need to learn to do that, because this profession needs you. You’re extremely talented,” Dr. Eastmond said.
Delilah didn’t respond. She just let her eyes wander over the empty room. Finally she looked at Dr. Eastmond. “What about the baby?” she asked.
Dr. Eastmond looked at her with a confused look on his face. “That’s up to you now.”
Delilah snapped her gaze up to meet his. “What?”
“I acted as witness for her the day after delivery. I assumed you’d agreed, when she called me in and asked me to sign as witness,” he explained.
“What papers, witness to what?” Delilah asked.
“She wrote up a will just in case. She said she still had a fear that something would go wrong, and she wanted you to take custody of her daughter if she was no longer able to take care of her,” Dr. Eastmond explained.
Delilah’s mouth fell open and she walked over to the chair against the wall and slumped down into it, her face still registering shock.
“Did you not know this, Delilah? I assumed you’d been made aware and had accepted the responsibility.”
Delilah looked up at Dr. Eastmond. “Where are these papers?” she asked.
“I’m not sure,” he answered, shaking his head. “They’ve got to be here somewhere,” he said, walking over to the storage locker patients using the room would store their personal belongings in. He opened the door and looked around. “Nothing in here,” he said. Then he walked over to the beside table and opened the drawer. “Here they are,” he said, taking them out and walking over to Delilah as he held them out to her.
Delilah took the papers and read through them. One of them explained her circumstances — that her husband had been killed, his family had denounced her and the child, and her family was not a welcomed choice in her life. The second page, which held her signature, and Dr. Eastmond’s as well as her OB/GYN’s signature, stated that should she not be able to care for her daughter due to death or physical instability, custody of the child would go to Delilah Sanders. In the event Delilah wasn’t able to care for the child, it would be left to Delilah to find her a suitable, loving home.
“Did you not know about this?” Dr. Eastmond said.
“I told her that I’d always be here for her and her daughter, so she wouldn’t have to worry about being alone while trying to recover from giving birth and all the complications she endured.”
“Well, apparently, she took you quite literally,” Dr. Eastmond commented.
“At least the child is safe. The state can’t take her while I figure out what is best,” Delilah said. Then she looked up at Dr. Eastmond again. “How long before the hospital will insist the baby be released?”
“Her mother was the only reason the baby was still here. The baby is perfectly healthy, so I’d guess twenty-four hours most likely — forty-eight if you’re very lucky.”
“Do not allow anyone access to that child. I’m going to see a lawyer and make sure that no one can question these. Then I have to speak to my husband. I’ll be back,” Delilah said, getting to her feet.
“Okay. I’ll be happy to give a statement if you need it on her state of mind and the things she wrote in the letter explaining her choice of leaving her family and his out of it,” Dr. Eastmond said.
“Thank you. I’ll let you know if I need it,” Delilah answered as she hurried out of the door.
Chapter 7
Delilah pulled off the highway and onto the drive leading to her house. She’d already spoken with their attorney, and been assured that the child was her responsibility and that Angelle’s wishes could not be dismissed or challenged as they were quite clear and witnessed by two respected medical professionals. He’d drawn up the necessary legal documents to piggy back on the handwritten ones Angelle had created in the hospital. He was contacting the doctors who’d witnessed her documentation for an official statement and that would be that. He’d file it at the court house, and no one would be able to contest her guardianship of the baby girl sleeping in the hospital nursery with no idea that her mother was gone.
Delilah parked in front of the house and got out, headed toward the house at a run. Kaid opened the door and walked out onto the porch, having beaten her home after receiving her phone call insisting he meet her there at once.
“Lilah? You alright, Monster?” he asked, holding out his arms and walking toward her.
Delilah walked righ
t into his arms and turned her face into his neck, holding him tight.
“It’s okay. I’m here. Just tell me what happened,” he said, holding her and kissing her wherever he could reach as he tried to soothe her. “Come on, let’s go inside. Everybody is at work and school. We won’t be interrupted.”
Delilah nodded and allowed Kaid to lead her into their home.
Kaid guided her to the kitchen and sat her at the kitchen table. “Here, let me make you some tea. You gather your thoughts and start talking whenever you’re ready.”
Delilah sat there wondering where to start.
Thanks to the microwave, just a couple of minutes later Kaid placed a cup of hot tea with milk and sugar in it in front of her.
“She died,” Delilah said, the pain in her voice easily detected by Kaid’s Bear.
“I’m so sorry, Lilah,” he said, sitting right next to her, so close in fact that though they sat in separate chairs, they shared basically the same space.
“Me, too. She was alone, and scared, and now she’s gone.”
“But while she was here, you were there for her. That had to have made a huge difference,” Kaid said, trying to make her feel better.
“Some,” Delilah agreed.
“What’s going to happen to the baby?” Kaid asked the obvious question.
Delilah raised her eyebrows and handed him a copy of the papers Angelle had left behind — the lawyer had the originals.
Kaid was puzzled as he accepted the papers from her and began to read. A few moments later he jerked his gaze up from the papers to Delilah’s waiting gaze.
“Do you want this baby?” Kaid asked.
“Do you?” Delilah countered.
Kaid shrugged. “I… I always thought we’d have more children, but, you’re not finished with school yet, and I know your career means so much to you. I never really thought of adopting. I’m not really sure what I want,” he answered truthfully. “But I don’t want this baby to end up in an orphanage or in a foster home. Or with either side of her family from the sound of what her mother’s written here.”
Halloween Treats Page 5
