“The sun’s shining, so I thought I’d stretch my legs. I can’t stay long. Did you hear about the benefit concert they’re putting on for Allie Bigby though?”
Jonah shook his head. “I hadn’t. She lost her greenhouse and the barn where she did all her lavender stuff, right?”
“Christmas Eve. Or early Christmas morning, yeah.”
“When are they holding it? I should see if we can donate some treats—maybe they can sell them as concessions for extra money.”
Kenia smiled. “That’s a great idea. It’s Valentine’s Day?”
Wow. That was going to be a quick turnaround for the organizers. Not that people in Arcadia Valley didn’t manage to do amazing things when they put their minds to it. He cleared his throat. “You want to go together?”
“I was hoping you’d ask.” Kenia rose to her tiptoes and smacked her lips against his. “Thanks. I should get back to the store. We’re still on for tomorrow night, right?”
He nodded. Their usual Friday night date. “I’ll pick you up at seven?”
“Sounds great. Bye!” She hurried through the bakery door.
Micah pushed open the kitchen door and poked his head out. “She gone?”
Jonah sighed. “Yeah. You don’t like her.”
“I don’t not like her. She’s just awfully bubbly. And talkative.” Micah shrugged. “She’s not really your type.”
“She grows on you.” Jonah paced the length of the display case. Kenia was a nice girl, but there was no spark. When was he supposed to admit that out loud? Tomorrow would be their seventh official date, and that didn’t count the times he’d swung by the bookstore to say hi or they’d grabbed an hour together at the end of the day. “When did you know Serena was the woman God had for you?”
Micah’s eyebrows lifted and he blew out a breath. “I...didn’t realize your thoughts were leaning that way. Wow.”
“No. It’s not like that. It’s kind of the opposite.”
“What do you mean?”
“I like her. She’s sweet and easy to be around, but so’s Ruth, you know?”
Micah winced. “It’s like dating Ruth? That’s...weird.”
“Tell me about it. I keep waiting for the magic to kick in and there’s nothing. How long is it supposed to take?”
“I might be the wrong person to ask.”
“Because it was there, right from the start. Right?”
Micah nodded.
He’d figured as much. Did it always have to be that way? Couldn’t a good, happy marriage come from a friendship that slowly morphed into love?
“You should talk to Emerson.”
“Corban’s friend?” How was that going to help? He was another happily married person who probably didn’t have any trouble navigating from the first date to the altar.
“I think he and Pam were high school sweethearts, but the three of them were friends long before that. Maybe he has insight about feelings changing.” Micah shrugged. “It can’t hurt.”
“Yeah, maybe.” There were about nine hundred ways it could hurt, and that was just off the top of his head.
* * *
“Thanks for coming.” Jonah bounced his straw in the milkshake in front of him.
Emerson laughed as he slid into the booth. “Are you kidding? Any chance to get out of the house on a school night is a good one. What’s up?”
“Micah thought you might be able to help.”
Emerson’s eyebrows lifted.
A waitress appeared at the table. “Can I get you something?”
“You know what? That milkshake looks good—cookies and cream?”
“You got it.” The woman smiled and sauntered off to one of the few other tables with someone seated at it.
“I’m game to help if I can. Do I get a clue as to the topic?”
Jonah chuckled. “Yeah. Sorry. It’s...awkward. I—you know I’ve been dating Kenia Akers?”
“Sure, Ruth’s mentioned it one or two hundred times.” Emerson grinned. “She’s kind of excited that you’re finally dating someone.”
Great. “You’d think having two of us married off would be enough for her.”
“She loves her brothers. So, Kenia? I don’t know her, or any of the Akers, that well. Corban and I went to school with Grady, but we were a couple of years ahead of him. So I’m not sure I can give you any family insight.”
“No, it’s not that.” Jonah cleared his throat and reached for his milkshake, then waited as the waitress dropped off Emerson’s. “I’ve been wondering when there’s supposed to be a spark. I like her. We enjoy spending time together, but it’s not earthshaking.”
“Ah.” Emerson took a long pull on his shake. “Were you friends before you asked her out?”
“Not really.”
“Would you say you are now?”
“Sure, yeah.”
“Then I think I’d just give it some time.”
Jonah nodded. Not exactly life-altering advice since it was basically what he’d already decided. But maybe it was good to have confirmation from someone who wasn’t related. “Thanks.”
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“What happened with Gloria?”
Jonah sighed. “Nothing. She’s married. There’s a whole complicated story that goes along with it, but the result’s the same.”
“Wow. I’m sorry.”
Jonah lifted a shoulder and drank more milkshake. He was done moping about it. At least in front of other people. No one had to know how many nights he spent staring at the ceiling wishing things were different. There were skyrockets with Gloria, but no possibility of anything else. Kenia, at least, wasn’t already tied to another person.
“It took Pam two or three months to come around to the idea of us as a couple. I think a large part of that was her feeling that the chemistry wasn’t there. I wonder if, because you and Kenia weren’t already friends, you need to build that friendship first before the rest comes.”
It hadn’t worked that way for either of his brothers. Well, maybe Malachi, if you counted their online friendship when they didn’t know who the other person was in real life. Mal and Ursula both insisted it counted—they’d known everything about each other long before they met. Sure, they’d had their own challenges to overcome, but once they’d met in person, the feelings were already there waiting to be discovered. Even Ruth and Corban had developed a friendship at the same as they fell in love. Why did he have to be different? “Thanks.”
“Any time. I’m sorry if I wasn’t very helpful.”
“No. It’s good. I’ll keep on going and see where things lead. I just don’t want to waste Kenia’s time.”
“I don’t think spending time with someone who’s a friend is ever a waste of time.” Emerson tapped his glass. “Whether that’s a quick milkshake or something more indepth.”
Jonah smiled. “Good point. How’re the boys?”
Emerson grinned. “Growing like weeds. Keeping me on my toes. Whoever said homeschooling was easy never had boys.”
“I bet.” Jonah tried to imagine spending his days teaching kids anything and shuddered. That was definitely not something in his wheelhouse. If the decision was his alone, well, wasn’t that what public school was for? But Emerson made it work really well. “They’re good kids.”
“We think so. Pam’s up for a promotion at the hospital. Neither of us are sure if that’s a good thing or not.”
“How would a promotion not be a good thing?”
“Pay increases are always nice, right, but it’s like when I practiced law full time—longer hours, more responsibility, and suddenly you wake up one morning and realize you haven’t really seen your family in over a week.” Emerson shook his head. “Neither of us believe that’s how God wants families to be. It’s one of the reasons we moved back to Arcadia Valley. There’s a slower pace here, one where you can take time to sit on the porch and enjoy the people you love. That’s worth more to both of
us than being the Chief of Surgery.”
Chief of Surgery? Wow. “Still, that’s impressive.”
“She is rather amazing. I don’t know how or why God arranged for the two of us to end up together, but I’m grateful. Every day.”
“That’s what I want.”
“I hear you. It’s hard to wait for it, and I say that as someone who found his wife in high school. I know that probably makes you wonder what I know about waiting, and it’s a fair question, but I do understand at least a little. That said? Being on this side of things, I’d never encourage anyone to settle for less than God’s perfect will.”
Jonah nodded. The trouble, of course, was knowing what that will was. He’d been praying for years for God to bring him the woman He had for him. It had seemed like Gloria was that woman. In fact, he’d been more sure of that than anything in a long time. Now? It was all up in the air.
* * *
Two days until Valentine’s Day. The last two weeks had slipped by in a haze of baking special orders. Apparently everyone in Arcadia Valley wanted to give their special someone a baked treat to commemorate their love. Jonah had made more heart-shaped cookies and loaves of bread than he ever wanted to do again. The last of those orders had been picked up or delivered today. They’d probably have a few more trickle in, since men weren’t known for remembering Valentine’s Day, regardless of the incessant advertising. But for today, he was finished, the kitchen was clean, and the ovens were off.
Jonah pulled his coat off its hook and shrugged into it. February didn’t seem to be appreciably warmer than January, although Corban had already started looking toward planting so spring must be coming sooner or later. He smiled. This was his second full winter in Idaho, and he definitely wasn’t used to it quite yet. Maybe in another two or three years.
He stifled a groan. Two or three years cooking nothing but bread and sweets. Could he do it? Of course. It meant so much to his siblings. And with Ruth’s first baby on the way...he’d stay. Even if every day killed off a little bit of his soul. As he walked to the car, his cell rang.
“Hey, Corban. What’s up?”
“Jonah. Something’s wrong with Ruth. We’re on the way to the hospital in Twin Falls, her doctor said it was worth the extra time to go straight there rather than risk needing to transport.”
His stomach plummeted and he fumbled for his keys. “I’m on my way.”
“Can you swing by the B&B first? It’s so early—she doesn’t have a bag packed or anything. Just...can you get some stuff? And check the reservations? I can’t remember if we have anyone coming for a Valentine’s getaway or the concert.”
“Of course. Don’t worry about it. And if you do, we’ll take care of it. You focus on Ruth. I’ll be there as soon as I can. I’ll let everyone know, too.”
“Thanks, man. Pray. They said—they were so careful not to say anything at the doctor—but the snippets—the baby...”
“Breathe and drive. Don’t borrow trouble.”
“Okay. You’re right. Thanks.”
Jonah ended the call and blew out a breath. His heart was pounding in his chest as the list of things he needed to do scrolled through his head. He punched Micah’s number as he pointed the car toward the B&B.
“Didn’t I just talk to you?”
“Corban’s taking Ruth to the hospital in Twin Falls.”
Micah’s joking tone evaporated. “What can I do?”
Jonah rattled off a few instructions, passing off getting in touch with Mal and Ursula—this wasn’t something you texted. Micah could go by in person and they could come to the hospital together. He ended the call and concentrated on driving. There wasn’t ice on the roads, thankfully, but the last thing he needed was to get in an accident.
Using the spare keys Ruth had given to all of the siblings, he hurried into the foyer of the B&B, and headed straight for the apartment Ruth and Corban lived in. He found a reusable grocery bag in the kitchenette and carried it into their bedroom. What would she need? He grabbed his sister’s robe off the bathroom door and eyed her dresser. With a deep breath, he opened drawers and started gathering anything he thought seemed necessary. Hopefully, they’d send her right home and they could all laugh about whatever it was he had stuffed in this bag. Toothbrush. He strode back into the bathroom and grabbed toiletries.
Now the hard part. He eyed the computer. This was really more Mal’s domain, but he could at least check the reservation system. They were booked solid. He opened the middle drawer of the desk and pulled out Ruth’s notebook that gave sketchy directions for the system. He worked through the sequence to temporarily close online reservations so nothing new could come in. Now what? Could he and his siblings handle things for Ruth if there was a problem? They’d have to try. How did you cancel on people right before a romantic getaway? The first check-ins weren’t until tomorrow afternoon. That bought them a little time.
He was forgetting something. But what? Jonah shook his head. Didn’t matter. Or, if it did, it’d come to him at some point.
He should call Gloria.
His stomach jumped.
Jonah hadn’t gone out of his way to interact with her since Micah’s wedding. They’d exchanged a few words at church or when there was no avoiding it. But it was awkward. Still, she and Ruth were friends and it wasn’t likely anyone else would remember to let her know.
He sucked in a breath and dialed.
8
Gloria tore open the manila envelope and shook the papers into her hand. Her stomach clenched as the words across the top sank in. The divorce was final. She blew out a breath and tossed the papers on her kitchen table. There was nothing. Just hollowness in her chest.
It was done.
Which left her where?
The same place she’d been since she moved to Arcadia Valley. Nothing had changed, really. She was still Gloria Sinclair, former Marine, current cop. She wasn’t feminine or beautiful, but she was good at her job and a loyal friend. It was enough.
She was enough.
Her phone buzzed on the table and Jonah’s face filled the screen. Yeah, no. She swiped down to send the call to voicemail and turned to the fridge. There had to be something in there that would do for dinner. She couldn’t face another peanut butter sandwich.
The voicemail indicator chimed. Gloria frowned. Why was he calling now? Shouldn’t he be busy planning some amazing Valentine’s Day date for Kenia? They were probably going to the benefit concert out at Bigby Farm, and then a late dinner at L’Aubergine. Maybe after they’d go back and snuggle on the couch at the farmhouse with some cocoa and whatever amazing treat Jonah had made.
She pushed down the fingers of jealousy that crawled up her throat. That ship had sailed. He was better off with someone like Kenia.
Gloria shut the fridge, her appetite gone, and sank to a chair. Who was she kidding?
Her phone buzzed again. Jonah. Again. Biting back a sigh, she answered, “Hello?”
“Thank goodness.” Jonah’s words rushed out and Gloria stilled before reaching for a pen and scribbling notes.
“I’ll be right there. Why don’t I grab some food—I’m assuming everyone’s heading over?”
“Yeah. That’s a good idea. Thanks.”
“Drive safe.” Gloria glanced down at her old Marine Corps sweats. They’d do. It wasn’t as if she was heading to a gala somewhere. And the Baxters didn’t tend to stand on ceremony. She grabbed her phone and placed a big carryout order, drawing on what she knew of the various siblings’ preferences.
Halfway through the door, she stopped and turned around, rushing into her bedroom to throw on jeans and a sweater. Sweats might be comfortable, but she simply wasn’t going to be around Jonah looking frumpy. She could—would—deal with her feelings for the man, but she didn’t have to make it obvious to him that he was better off without her.
Gloria’s thoughts whirled the whole drive to Twin Falls. Mostly she worried about Ruth, trying to force her fears into prayers. Jonah hadn’t h
ad a lot of details, but if a regular doctor’s appointment turned into a suggestion to go to the hospital and, oh by the way, head on down to the one with the better NICU? That couldn’t be good.
She spotted the Baxters’ cars in the parking lot and pulled into a space near them. Gathering the paper shopping bags filled with takeout from the Jukebox, she strode across the blacktop, hurrying through the cold dusk. At the desk just inside the door, she paused and caught her breath before approaching the desk. “Ruth DeWitt?”
The older woman tapped at her computer and frowned. “I don’t see her. You don’t know the room number?”
Gloria shook her head. “She...maybe she’s still in the ER.”
“Sure, down that hall to the left.” The woman peered at the bags. “If she has family with her, they’re probably in the waiting area. They try to keep the number of people past triage to a minimum.”
“Thanks.” Gloria gave a tight smile and tried to keep from sprinting to the emergency room. Her sneakers squeaked on the vinyl floor as she sped through the corridor. Finally, she turned the corner and her gaze landed on Jonah, standing with his arms crossed, his face pale and blank. The rest of the Baxters were there, too. Serena sat with her head on Micah’s shoulder, Ursula clasped Malachi’s hand between her own.
“Hey.” Gloria set the bags down on an empty chair near the group. “What have they said?”
“Nothing. Corban came out, briefly, when I texted him that we were here. He said they’ve got her on some kind of IV and are giving her steroid shots to help the baby’s lungs develop.” Jonah’s voice broke on the last words.
“Lungs...but she’s nowhere near term. They aren’t seriously saying she’s in labor?” Gloria chewed on her lower lip. She didn’t know a lot about pregnancy, but giving birth in February when Ruth’s due date wasn’t until mid-April couldn’t be good.
“Not in labor, but they’re concerned about her blood pressure.” Ursula patted Malachi’s hand. “She’s been having headaches lately but dismissed them. You know how she gets with changes in barometric pressure. Turns out maybe she should’ve gone to the doctor.”
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