Two Hearts Find Christmas

by Tamara Ferguson

  Josh blinked. “You don’t mean...?”

  Jake nodded his head up and down. “Yes. I found out it was your dad—John Turner.”

  “So, I’m...your cousin?” Josh shook his head dazedly. “I never knew.”

  “It was a shock for me too.” Jake continued staring into Josh’s eyes. “If I’d have known about you, Josh, I would’ve done something about all of this much sooner. You have to believe that.”

  Josh was still somewhat stunned. “But why would you feel you had to?”

  “You know why,” Jake stated grimly. “I knew what you were going through from the moment I met you. The same thing was going on with me as a kid. A great pair of fathers we had, huh?”

  When Jake held his gaze, Josh finally understand, recognizing the darkness deep inside Jake’s eyes.

  “You mean..?” Josh swallowed. “You too?”

  When Jake nodded his head up and down, his eyes still held a deep dark look of despair.

  “He’s through with me,” Josh growled, tears springing to his eyes. “But now he’s moved on to Luke...”

  “Yeah, I kind of realized that. That’s why, as much as we want to be able to narrow down the names of the people who were organizing the trafficking ring, which was operating before I purchased and remodeled the Dragonfly Pointe Inn, it’s more important to get your dad behind bars, even if it’s only for the next eight to ten years.”

  “Trafficking ring?”

  Jake smiled humorlessly. “You’ve had to realize Josh, we wouldn’t be going to all this trouble with surveillance if there wasn’t something more to it. We’ve managed to shut down the area trafficking for now, but we know it’s probably only temporarily. We’re going to get your dad put away one way or another, and maybe if we offer the bastard some kind of deal, he might be willing to give up the names of the people here in town who’ve been working with this organization, which appears to be nationwide.”

  Josh nodded thoughtfully.

  Jake stood up, walking over to one of the file cabinets lining the basement wall. “So, if you’re really ready to get this done? Here’s the first thing you’ll need to do.”

  Sliding out a drawer, he pulled out a file folder, handing it over to Josh.

  Opening the folder and glancing at what was inside, Josh’s head shot up and his eyes met Jake’s.

  “Josh Loughlin?”

  Jake shrugged giving him a rueful smile. “I tried to keep as many facts that I know about you as accurate as possible. Since I’m sponsoring you in the military, only a few people will know who you really are.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  “You’ll need to memorize everything in that file. I can’t allow you to take that out of the office, so you’d better start now.”

  Josh nodded his head firmly up and down. “Gotcha.”

  “I hate that in order to fabricate your transfer out of state, you’ll have to go into prison for at least six months so that we can establish your cover effectively. We don’t want John Turner knowing that you were the one who turned him in. Somehow, he’s gotten away with a hell of lot more over the last twenty-five years than he ever should have. That’s why we’re pretty certain someone important in organized crime has been backing him up all these years.”

  “Knowing I’ll be training for special ops will keep me grounded, and I’ll spend my time working out and keeping in shape,” Josh reassured Jake grimly. “After everything I’ve gone through with the old man, I think I can handle it Jake.”

  Jake looked him over thoughtfully. “Yeah, I do believe you can.”

  “What about Luke?” Josh was still worried about what would happen once his dad was arrested. “He won’t be going into foster care—right?”

  “Nope, we have a plan in place for him. Jim Callahan, the former police chief, has offered to take him in.”

  “Jim Callahan?” Josh grimaced before giving Jake a rueful smile. “I guess that could work. Luke’s gotten pretty attached to the family.”

  “Heck, he saved Jim’s granddaughter’s life at the beach last summer. Can you blame them for welcoming him into their family?”

  “Nah. Luke is a pretty damned amazing kid. He just doesn’t know it yet.”

  “Oh, yeah. He recognized you needed a doctor last spring and somehow he got you there as quick as he could.”

  Josh studied the floor. “Well, yeah, but I probably would’ve been okay.”

  “Take it from someone who’s been there, Josh?”

  Josh looked up and his eyes met Jake’s.

  “You’re far from being okay,” he said softly. “That’s why you’ll be seeing a shrink before you enter the training program.”

  “A shrink?” Josh growled. “What the f...?”

  Jake held up a hand. “You don’t have any say so about this. If I’m going to sponsor you, I’ll need to be able to do it without reservation.”

  Crossing his arms, Josh settled back into his seat feeling sullen. The last thing he wanted to do was talk about everything that’d been going on between him and his dad. All he wanted to do was forget about it.

  But finally he sighed, resigning himself to the idea. What other choice did he have?

  “Okay, I get it,” he muttered. “But there’s one other thing I’d like you to help me with, if you could?”

  Jake raised a brow.

  “Nina Chandler?” Josh hesitated. “Her mom isn’t doing so well, I’ve been hearing. Nina’s too young to be having to deal with everything she’s had to. Their house isn’t in good shape either.”

  Jake’s smile was wry. “Coincidentally, my wife was talking to me about that just the other day. We’ve been trying to figure out a way to help without offending them. Nina and her mom are both pretty stubborn about accepting charity.”

  Josh frowned. “After what happened today...”

  “No worries, Josh. We’ll figure something out. Just get to work on memorizing those details in that file.”

  Josh grimaced. “Yes, Sir.”

  Jake snorted.

  Chapter One

  Crystal Rock, Wisconsin.

  Fifteen Years Later.

  “Joshua Loughlin?” Nina Chandler asked. “Any relation to Jake, by any chance?”

  Pausing from typing on her keyboard, Nurse Melinda McDaniel looked up from where she sat at her desk, pursing her lips. “I think he might be a cousin.”

  Nina nodded in acknowledgement, studying his information on her computer screen. He’d be arriving at the wounded warrior facility later today and she was trying to study all she could about his injuries beforehand, since she’d been assigned to his case. Nina was the third R.N. to be hired at the Crystal Rock Wounded Warrior Home since it had opened two years earlier, and although the job was definitely a challenge, so far, it had been the most rewarding experience of her life.

  Hmm. After living through the detonation of an explosive device, her patient had managed to survive with what she’d normally expect—cracked ribs and a broken arm and leg, along with some deeper scarring from burns.

  She paused. He was blind? He’d been thrown by the force of the explosion which had resulted in concussion. Supposedly, he’d had corrective surgery a month ago, and not for the blindness but for the painful untreatable headaches he’d been having since being injured. Of course, that didn’t mean his vision wouldn’t return eventually, but it was best to prepare him for the worst since the surgery he’d had might prevent it from ever happening. And then there was the PTSD he was experiencing.

  Nina sighed. “I guess I’ll be working in conjunction with Steve?” Not only was Steve Ryder an excellent physical therapist, he was also Mel’s boyfriend.

  “Oh, yeah.” Mel stood up, walking over to peer over Nina’s shoulder. “Josh Loughlin’s the one who had that corrective surgery, isn’t he?” Mel patted Nina on the shoulder. “I thought you’d be a better fit since you’ve had a lot more experience with head wounds than I have.”

  Nina had been working several ye
ars at veteran facilities throughout the nation—anywhere they were short on help—before returning to her hometown to settle down. She was tired of continuously uprooting herself, so she’d snatched up the offer to work here in Crystal Rock when Jake Loughlin had contacted her and asked.

  Nina grimaced. “Yeah, I’ll have to agree with you there. I’ve worked with an awful lot of head cases through the years.”

  Mel started laughing.

  Nina gave her a rueful grin. No matter how grim the circumstances, it was best to stay upbeat and positive, they’d discovered. A little bit of humor went a long way with the majority of their patients.

  “Well, I think I’ll take off for lunch now, if that’s alright?”

  Mel nodded, looking at her curiously. “What are you up to?”

  She and Mel had hit it off right away, becoming good friends, so it didn’t surprise Nina when Mel asked the question. She was beginning to know her well.

  “I’m thinking about visiting Tim Atkinson, over at the shelter, and checking the availability of service animals.”

  “Oh, wow, Nina. That’s an excellent idea. Go ahead and take a few hours. I can wait until you’re back.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive. Steve’s with a patient in Eau Claire, so he won’t be returning until later today. All I’m going to do is take a walk on the beach when I get the chance a little later. It’s starting to get cooler outside.”

  “Sure is,” Nina answered.

  “Yeah. Before long, it’ll be Thanksgiving, and Christmas will be here just like that.” Mel snapped her fingers, staring at Nina worriedly. “Will you be alright?”

  Smiling ruefully, Nina nodded her head up and down. “Mom wouldn’t want me to keep being so blue at Christmas—it was her favorite time of the year.” But this Christmas would also be the fifteen-year anniversary of her mother’s death.

  “You’re always welcome to celebrate with Steve and me.”

  “Nah, I’ll be fine, but thanks. This year I think I’m finally going to be ready to raid the attic and pull out the old family decorations and albums.”

  When Nina stood up from the desk, Mel wrapped her arms around her. “Well, you know that Steve and I will both be around if you need us.”

  “That’s the best thing about returning to Crystal Rock,” Nina said, pulling out from Mel’s arms and walking to the coat rack. “I had so few friends growing up because it was just Mom and me and she was always so sick.” She grabbed her winter coat, putting it on. “I never realized how many people here in town were ready to be my friend, if I’d have just been a little more outgoing and not so resistant about accepting charity.” Nina grinned. “And you’re the best, Mel, in case I’m forgetting to tell you that.”

  Mel smiled, but had tears in her eyes. “Well, get the heck out of here. I’m anxious to hear if Tim’s got a dog available.”

  Nina shrugged. “Who knows, maybe Josh Loughlin will be resistant to the idea of working with a dog, but it’s best to be prepared beforehand.”

  A strange thought suddenly came to her mind, and Nina hesitated, before walking through the doorway.

  Sitting back down in the chair behind her desk, Mel noticed, looking over. “What?”

  “It’s just that...” She’d called him Josh, suddenly recalling his words from all those years ago. If she ever needed any help, she could contact Jake Loughlin.

  Joshua Loughlin.

  It couldn’t be him, could it?

  She shook her head dazedly. “Oh, nothing. It’s just that there’s a chance I might have met Joshua Loughlin sometime in the past, I think.”

  Mel nodded distractedly going back to work.

  But when Nina was walking outside into the parking lot, all the past coincidences were suddenly adding up.

  Like who had helped her with the burial of her mother.

  Jake and Danielle Loughlin.

  Who had supported her appeal to become an emancipated minor, so she was able to remain in Crystal Rock and continue living in her home?

  Jake Loughlin.

  And who had helped her apply for a grant when she’d decided on entering nursing school as opposed to college?

  Danielle Loughlin.

  Yep, everything was beginning to make sense now. Jake and Danielle had also taken care of the family cottage all these years, although Nina had been renting it out for the last ten. Some older vacationers had been steered her way by Jake, who’d claimed the Dragonfly Pointe Inn was overbooked.

  Could it really be Josh Turner arriving here later today as a patient? The records showed Joshua Loughlin as thirty-three, which would be close to the right age.

  The thought was making her increasingly nervous. Tattooed and a biker, he’d had an awful reputation growing up. But that hadn’t stopped Nina from having a massive crush on the guy as a teenager, even before the incident where he’d come to her rescue.

  For weeks afterward, she’d gone to sleep dreaming about him every night, remembering that sweet tender kiss.

  Josh had always remained at the back of her mind, she suddenly realized. She’d recognized right away that something had been off about him going to jail when it’d happened before Christmas fifteen years ago. But her mother’s deteriorating health had been her main focus at the time.

  Reaching her small pickup, she tugged open the door. Mel had laughed when she’d seen the vehicle Nina had purchased upon arriving in town. But growing up in Crystal Rock and living at Dragonfly Pointe had given Nina a no-nonsense sense of practicality after being snowed in with her mother during her illness, and there was much less chance of being stuck in the snow with four-wheel drive.

  Driving west past town, Nina arrived at the shelter about twenty minutes later. Nina made regular trips here because of her counseling and rehabilitation of soldiers suffering from PTSD. Unlike most facilities around the country offering pure-bred dogs, the Crystal Rock facility was different in that Tim trained the most promising of strays into service animals. He’d had such fantastic results with his new program, he’d expanded the operation to include an entire string of shelters operating throughout the country under his supervision. Because it wasn’t as costly to attain animals, Tim had many more dogs available than other facilities, which were consequently forced to dole out animals from a waiting list.

  The place was huge. Of course, the Loughlins had funded the building of the original shelter in the first place. After choosing not to reenlist in the Air Force, Tim had come into the picture a few years later. Once he’d run his dog training program idea past Danielle, she’d immediately approved Tim trying it out because, after all, he’d trained dogs in the service.

  “Hi, Rose,” Nina said, walking into the waiting area. “What are you doing here today?” she asked Tim’s oldest teenage daughter.

  Squinting, Rose grinned. “I think you forgot again that it’s Saturday, Nina.”

  Nina slapped herself in the forehead and laughed. “I’m still not used to all the strange hours I work now.”

  Nina looked at Rose thoughtfully. “You know, you’re just the person I should probably talk to.”

  “Hmm?” Rose answered, putting away some files.

  “I’ve got someone—a wounded warrior—flying in this afternoon to stay with us for his rehab. He lost his vision, and like you, he had an operation. The thing is, his vision hasn’t returned, and it still might never come back.”

  Rose motioned for Nina to take a seat on the bench near the wall, and came out from behind the receptionist’s desk, sitting down beside her.

  “You know my vision is still really fuzzy?” Rose said, shoving her glasses over her nose. “These glasses work to magnify everything for me. But considering I was supposed to go completely blind, I’m pretty happy with the results of my surgery. I could barely see at all before Mom and Dad decided it was worth the risk.”

  “I was thinking about trying to find a dog for him?”

  “Oh, yeah. You should definitely do that. Chloe a
nd Barney are both getting up there in age, but they still go everywhere with me, except for school. I’d feel guilty leaving them at home just because I can actually see.”

  Nina chuckled.

  Rose turned to the doorway where, coincidentally, her dad was walking through with Chloe and Barney following behind him.

  “Speak of the devils,” Rose said before giggling. Both dogs had run up and were sitting on either side of her as if on guard. Chloe was a pretty little collie mix, while Barney, with his shaggy brown hair and floppy ears, was the definition of what Nina would consider a stray.

  Tim grinned at Rose. “They can’t stand having you out of their sight when they know you’re here, Kiddo.”

  Rose turned back to Nina. “Dad brings them both along to help him train the other animals. It’s amazing how well the other dogs keep up with their drills when they’re led by example.”

  Tim crossed his arms and leaned against the desk. “How are you, Nina?”

  “Fine, Tim. Everything going good for you?”

  He grinned. “Fantastic, actually.”

  “Emily doing well?”

  Tim snorted. “Always.”

  Tim’s wife was Emily Richardson, a Grammy Award winning vocalist who’d switched from singing country to rock. Nina had never known such an unlikely couple.

  But, wow, when they were together...it was like magic, they were so desperately in love.

  “Tell her, Dad,” Rose urged.

  Tim looked like he was blushing. “Uh, well, Emily’s expecting again.”

  “Four kids?” Nina shook her head dazedly and grinned. “It’s amazing how Emily never loses her popularity with as much time as she’s had to take off giving birth,” Nina added dryly.

  When Tim looked embarrassed, Rose started giggling madly. Rose was so pretty with her white blond hair and deep blue eyes. Recognizing the challenges Rose would have to face growing up with failing vision, Tim and Emily still hadn’t hesitated adopting her before they’d been married.

  “And getting to the reason I’m here today...”