“You okay?” he asked softly.
“I guess it’s an adrenaline let-down. I’m excited and over-tired both. What time is it?”
“After midnight. Don’t ask specifics, it’s not good for your health.”
Caitlin smiled at that. “I should know the time since my phone’s been glued to my ear for the last two hours. I’ve left five voicemails for Wade. I just hope he gets them soon.”
“He will. He’ll be here as soon as he can. I know that much about the man.”
“I’m sure he’ll be frantic.”
“And, just so you know,” Quentin added. “If you feel like fainting, my arms are waiting.”
“I just may take you up on that, Mr. Hudson,” Caitlin flirted. She gazed at him, thinking about how astonishing he was. He’d shown up at the Starry Skies, knowing they might be in trouble with Wade gone, and hadn’t batted an eye when Rayna spilled a baby in all of its gory glory right in his arms.
“I know one event where you can’t avoid my waiting arms,” he said with a sly look.
“And what’s that?”
“The Valentine’s Dance tomorrow night.”
“That’s tomorrow? I think I’m losing days now.”
“Actually it’s today since we’re closing in on one a.m. but I’m trying not to count the hours.”
Caitlin reached out and took his hand again. He was so sweet once she got past the monster truck. The thought made her smile.
“What are you grinning about? You look like the cat that swallowed a mouse.”
She shook her head. “Nothing. Nice things. You.”
Quentin reached out and brushed his warm hand against her cheek. “Is it against the law to kiss you here? There’s nobody around.”
“Yes, it is,” Caitlin teased. “I’ll bet there are security cameras.”
“Well, shucks.”
“I’m going to make you wait and take me on a proper date.”
“We haven’t had one of those yet? The last twenty-four hours feels like a week.”
A nurse passed through the waiting room and lifted a hand to signal them. “Mrs. Kinsella is resting well. In a few minutes, I’ll let you tiptoe in to see her, and you can also come by the nursery and see the baby.”
“Oh, thank you. How is the baby? I was terrified he was going to freeze outside on the sidewalk.”
“He’s perfectly healthy and scored well both times on the Apgar. A solid seven pounds, eight ounces, and twenty inches long. Despite being at least three weeks early.”
Relief and happiness filled her. “He let out a pretty good yell when I rushed him in through the doors. But I’m pretty sure he just wanted his mama.”
“Has Rayna had a chance to see him yet?” Quentin asked.
“She was awake for a little while and was able to hold him. Then she fell asleep. It’s been quite an ordeal so we’re taking care of her son tonight. Or at least until Daddy shows up.”
“He’ll be here,” Caitlin said. “He’s out helping people in this storm.”
“That’s what I understand. Give us about twenty more minutes and then come on back. Farthest hallway, turn right, and keep going until you see the signs.”
A bit later, Caitlin and Quentin rose to go down the hall, but as soon as they stepped out of the waiting room, Wade came rushing through the double glass doors. A burst of freezing air came in with him.
“Wade, you made it!” she cried. He was still wearing his fireman uniform, helmet in hand, muddy boots tramping footprints on the clean tile floors.
“Is Rayna okay? She’s okay, right?” Wade said, bursting with questions. His hair was a mess, his face ragged with lack of sleep. “The baby is three weeks early. Is he alright? What happened? I got worried after all your phone calls lit up my cell when I got back to a tower. I couldn’t drive fast enough. Took me three hours.”
“You should have called me,” Caitlin said. “I could have saved you all that worry.”
“Roads beyond town are horrible. What a mess. One of the biggest snowstorms we’ve had in several years. I had to focus on my truck making it through.”
“Rayna’s doing well,” Quentin said to reassure him. “The baby coming was a big surprise but Caitlin was amazing and we got her to the hospital.”
“I have a feeling there’s more to the story,” Wade said, his eyes going back and forth between their faces.
“Let Rayna tell you when she feels up to it. We’re all just inordinately relieved.”
Impulsively, Wade reached out and bear-hugged Caitlin. “Thank you for saving her life. Thank you for helping bring our son into the world.”
“Congratulations, Wade,” Caitlin told him, trying not to cry now that he was here and it was all over. “We were just on our way down to see him.”
Two minutes later, the three of them stood before the nursery windows. The lights were dusky, the babies asleep so they didn’t walk in and disturb them. The same nurse that had come to the waiting room earlier pointed to Wade Jr in his bassinet. “He’s beautiful,” she mouthed, waving them into the room.
The nurse placed the sleeping baby, tucked into blankets like a burrito, into Wade’s arms. His head bowed as he stared down at his newborn son. “Alright guys, I’m having a hard time taking this in. It’s real. I’m a father.”
Quentin clapped him on the shoulder while Caitlin said, “You’re going to be a great father. Do you have a name picked out?”
“We’ve been debating names for a long time but I figured we had a few more weeks.”
“That big boy is certainly not a preemie,” Caitlin said with a grin.
They each took turns holding the baby for a few moments, careful not to wake him. His skin was smooth and pink, tufts of dark hair tucked under the little hat snug around his head.
Quentin finally said, “So you’d better get on the stick and go see your wife.”
Wade gave him a wry salute and rushed down the hall.
Following a bit more slowly, Caitlin peeked into Rayna’s room for a moment. She had to be sure that Rayna was doing well. The new mother was lying under the white sheets, cleaned up, her eyes closed in exhaustion. Glancing at the monitors, Caitlin saw that Rayna’s vitals were normal and she wasn’t on oxygen.
Wade had taken off his heavy yellow fireman coat and flung them over a chair. Perched on the edge of the bed, he held Rayna’s hands in his. Her eyelids fluttered open and then she let out a weak cry when she saw him there. Wade scooped her close to his chest, kissing her hair and then burying his face into her neck as he rocked her.
Crisis averted.
Now Caitlin just wanted to go home and to bed.
Chapter 19
Which she did—after Quentin drove her home and made sure she was locked up tight. Thankfully, he’d remembered to douse the candles and lamps before they’d left for the hospital to minimize the fire risk.
He gave Caitlin a hug and told her he’d pick her up the next day for dinner at six o’clock. Since Snow Valley wasn’t going to have power again until Sunday, he was going to drive her to the next town for a nice dinner before the dance, warning her that they were now going as official chaperones, which made her laugh.
Using a flashlight to dress in the cold house, Caitlin bundled into flannel pajamas and a knit hat, pilling extra blankets on the bed to sleep.
It was after two a.m. when she fell asleep and noon the next day when she woke.
She spent the afternoon enjoying a steaming hot soak in the tub and getting ready. She’d never been so grateful they didn’t have guests this weekend.
Just before Quentin picked her up, Caitlin glanced at her Fortune Teller predictions, but his honk in the driveway made her jump up before she could read them over.
Grabbing her purse and coat, she stuffed the sheet of paper into a side pocket and ran for the door.
When she opened it, there he was, devastatingly handsome in a suit and blue tie, which matched those amazing eyes.
“Are you ready to ki
ck up your heels, Just Caitlin?”
“Good evening, Mr. Hudson. I guess we’ll see who can outlast who on the dance floor?”
After a steak dinner, they did just that.
The high school had managed to get a couple of generators hooked up and the place was decorated to the hilt. It was also warm with extra heaters going on either end of the gymnasium.
Janet Hamilton from the local flower shop had done a bang-up business, decorating all afternoon with red roses and daisies. Baskets of hearts on each table and heart-shaped candy in bowls. The dance committee had lit lamps and electric candles for ambience. A nod to the snowstorm of the year.
It was romantic and everyone was in a happy mood to get out of their houses and compare horror stories about the storm.
The DJ, a young man named Sam Mason, whom Caitlin learned was the son of the local dentist, Dr. Mason, played a mix of ballads and waltzes.
“He’s good,” Caitlin said. “The sound system sounds just like a live band.”
“You should know,” Quentin said with a devious grin.
She glanced up at him, arching an eyebrow. “I heard what you did there,” she told him, knowing he was referring to Stefan and Painted City.
“As long as you keep your sense of humor you’re going to be okay, Just Caitlin.”
She bit her lips as he gripped her hand in his and kissed the back of her fingers.
“And now, may I have this dance?” he asked. “And every dance on your program card tonight?”
“Why, Mr. Hudson, you’ll make a girl blush at all the attention.”
Before Caitlin could catch her breath, Quentin had pulled her close for the foxtrot. “Or do you call this a two-step in Montana country?” she whispered in his ear.
His hand was on the small of her back, warm and possessive, and very sexy.
“We fit perfectly,” he said, his face pressed against her cheek, his musky cologne practically making her swoon.
They danced just about every single tune until the band took a break and they got refreshments, heading to a table. It was nice to recognize faces, even if everyone was dressed up with their hair done. A far cry from sledding in Eskimo outfits.
During the break, Sam tapped the microphone and spoke into it. “Good evening, folks. It’s time to announce the winners of the Dove’s contest. Three people will go home with a $100 shopping spree and a month’s worth of chocolate. Hold your breaths, folks. Here are the winners.”
“Did you enter?” Quentin asked, tucking her hand in his as they stood together in the crowd.
“I did a few weeks ago,” Caitlin said, suddenly remembering that she had, in fact, filled out the entry from when she was shopping.
“Drum roll, please!” Sam called into the microphone just as he hit a button on his synthesizer that started up the sound of a drummer spinning out a roll to mark the moment. “And the first winner is!”
He named off the first winner and then the second, names Caitlin didn’t recognize. At least not yet, she thought suddenly.
“Our third and final winner of the Valentine’s gift card for a shopping spree and a huge basket of chocolate is . . .” Sam paused for effect, lifting the card higher to catch the spotlight on the name written there. “Caitlin Webster! Congratulations, Caitlin, our resident midwife and savior of Wade Kinsella Junior!”
The room burst into applause as well as laughter. Caitlin felt her face turn red.
“You won!” Quentin started laughing. “Go get your prize.”
He gave her a small push forward and Caitlin found herself inside the spotlight’s circle as she walked up to the stage.
Sam handed her an envelope with the gift card, and then leaned into the microphone again. He waggled his eyebrows. “Guess you gotta stick around Snow Valley longer to buy groceries at Dove’s.”
She gave him a smile, thanked him, and then suddenly began to laugh when the clerk from Dove’s brought forth a huge basket of candy bars. Her favorite. Snickers. In large size and minis.
“Sorry they’re all the same kind,” Sheila told her, hefting the basket into Caitlin’s arms. “They were having a special sale so I stocked up for the contest.”
“They’re perfect,” Caitlin told her, giving her a quick hug.
For the last hour of the dance she was passing out Snickers bars to anyone who wanted one.
“Better hide some in your purse before they’re all gone,” Quentin advised.
“Good thinking. “They’ll be my late night snacks when the baby wakes up.”
Surreptitiously, Caitlin poured a handful of the candy bars into her handbag, crinkling the paper she’d stuck in there earlier. She pulled out the list of fortunes to refold it and tuck it into a side pocket, but curiosity got to her so she took a quick peek at the last couple of predictions.
#4. An unexpected fortune will come your way.
#5. The man of your dreams will be strong and tough, but not what you expect.
Numbers One and Two had definitely been crossed out already. After nearly being run over by Quentin’s monster truck and almost losing Rayna the night of the storm, Number Three could now be crossed off, too:
#3. “From the cusp of death a new day will dawn and all your dreams will come true.”
Not her death, but the possibility of losing Rayna tonight, including navigating the treacherous roads. And now there was a new baby and certainly a new dawn with Quentin Hudson. Were dreams coming true?
Caitlin sucked in a breath. “Number Four, too,” she whispered when the music started up again. “An unexpected fortune.” No, it wasn’t a million dollars, but it still qualified. And so much chocolate she’d be sick.
Glancing up at Quentin who was grinning at her, she found herself grabbing a pen out of her purse and crossing that one off as well. Maybe Number Five, too, but there was one last thing she had to confirm. She’d been suspicious of Quentin Hudson for quite some time and wanted to make sure her hunch was correct.
“Will you dance with me?” he said. “One last time before I take you home?”
“If you take me somewhere else first on the way back to Starry Skies.”
“That’s an offer I can’t refuse,” he answered, his smile growing when his arm went around her waist for a waltz.
After the dance concluded, on their way to the truck, Caitlin said, “Can we stop at the city park for a few minutes before we head back to the B&B?”
“The park is your secret destination?” Quentin asked with a laugh.
She nodded, her teeth chattering.
Quentin cranked up the heat as he headed down Main toward the park, then helped her out of the vehicle. “Where to?”
“Over there,” Caitlin said, taking his hand and running in her boots toward the sculpture standing on a circle of brick and stone off the pathway.
“Why do you want to look at this?” he asked. His striking sapphire eyes were curious when Caitlin bent to examine the sculpture of the sinuous tree, formed to appear as though the oak was waving in an unseen breeze. Sculpted metal leaves fluttered ever so slightly on the tree’s branches.
“I think I know who created this beautiful piece of art,” Caitlin said, flashing him a secret smile.
“You do, huh?”
She got down on her hands and knees and ran her fingers along the bottom of the carved trunk.
After a moment when she couldn’t spot what she was hoping to find, Quentin knelt beside her, sweeping away several inches of snow from the bottom of the sculpture. “I think you’re looking for this, sweetheart.”
He took her hand and brushed it along the trunk about four inches from where the sculpture had been anchored to its platform.
The letters QMH were stenciled into the wood.
“Q and M and H,” Caitlin breathed. “Quentin Mark Hudson. I was right.”
“You’re a clever girl, Just Caitlin.”
She gazed at him, her lips curving into a smile. Quentin Hudson embodied everything she’d been looking fo
r in a man. Artistry, a soft heart, a great provider, and someone who was steady and calm.
The kind of man who came through in any emergency. The kind of man she’d always wanted, but in a time and place she could have never predicted.
Caitlin rose to her feet and took out her list, crossing off Number Five with her pen. Madame Tallulah was remarkable.
Quickly, she pulled out her phone and texted a message to her friend Lila back home in San Francisco. Madame Tallulah nailed it.
“Who are you texting?” Quentin asked.
“Just Lila.”
“Is she anything like Just Caitlin?” he teased.
She shook her head. “Not a thing. She would drive you up a wall. I know she does me.”
Quentin laughed and ran his hands along her arms, bringing her close. Caitlin lifted her arms to slide them around his neck while his own arms circled her waist.
When he bent to kiss her, Caitlin’s stomach jumped in a way she’d never felt before. The cold disappeared, including the park and the town. Quentin Hudson was the only thing in her world right now under a canopy of magical stars.
With his lips soft on hers, Quentin murmured, “You know that there’s one more thing I want you to show me, Just Caitlin.”
She looked up into his face. “And what’s that Mr. Hudson?”
“I want to see your Fortune Teller list.”
“Have you been sneaking peeks at my list?” she laughed, not wanting to stop kissing him. His lips were so warm, so perfect, she didn’t care how cold it was and how much ice and snow she had to slush through to get closer to him.
“Maybe I have been sneaking peeks when you were off gallivanting around town and avoiding me.”
Caitlin gasped and pulled away to give him a glare. “You—you—”
He shushed her and kissed her again. “I just want you to add one more item to that list of Madame Tallulah’s predictions. One that says you’ll never leave Snow Valley.”
Epilogue
When: Three months later in San Francisco
Where: Fisherman’s Wharf on a breezy May evening
Winter in Snow Valley (Snow Valley Romance) Page 21
