Change of Heart

by Jennifer Moore

  Daddy moved from his squatting position to sit next to her on the curb.

  He smelled delicious. Sort of a warm, rum-spice smell. Certainly not something he got out of a sample bin at the drugstore.

  “I can’t begin to thank you, Miss McKinley. I don’t know what I would have done if you…” He took off his sunglasses and pressed his finger and thumb into the corners of his eyes.

  “No thanks necessary. I’m glad I was close enough to help.” She tried to keep her voice light, though she felt like screaming from the stabbing pain.

  He turned toward her and, for just an instant, their gazes locked.

  Val was startled by the color. She had never seen such deep blue eyes, and she forced away her gaze, certain the turmoil of the last few minutes was responsible for the increase in her heart rate.

  Ruby stepped behind them and sat on Val’s other side. “When you say I, it sounds like ah. I like how you talk.”

  Val was glad for an excuse to turn her attention in the girl’s direction. “Why thank you, Miss Ruby. What a nice thing to say.”

  “I’m glad you saved Finn. And I’m sorry your bottom got hurt.”

  Val smiled at the girl’s serious expression. “It’s hard to be a big sister, isn’t it? I bet y’all worry about Finn just like I worry about my brothers.” Now that her brothers were both teenagers, she worried about them even more. Who knew what sort of trouble those guys were causing without Val keeping an eye on them?

  Ruby knitted her eyebrows together and nodded. “I worry Finn is going to get hurt. Or in trouble.”

  “Finn’s lucky he’s got you to look out for him. Watching over your brother will make you a good momma one day.”

  “My mother died.” Ruby clasped her hands between her knees.

  That did a lot to explain why Finn was still clinging. Val’s throat tightened. “I’m sorry, Ruby. My momma died, too.”

  Ruby sat quietly for a moment, staring at the road. Then she scrunched her nose and tipped her head to the side. “Val’s a boy’s name.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, Val saw Daddy shift his position. “People call me Val, but my real name is Valdosta.” She spoke quickly before Ruby’s manners were corrected again.

  “That’s pretty.”

  “Thank you. I think Ruby is a pretty name.”

  Finn lifted his head and scooted around on Val’s lap so that he faced his sister. “And Finn is a pretty name, too.”

  Ruby shook her head. “Not pretty, handsome.”

  Daddy excused himself to speak to the officer.

  Val hadn’t realized how tense she’d been while he sat next to her. Now that he was gone, she relaxed. Kids she could talk to. She glanced up and took the opportunity to study him while he spoke with the other men, observing him objectively as she would a painting. His dark hair was cut short, but she thought if he allowed it to grow, he would have curls like his children. The sun revealed light caramels and deep bronze. His shoulders were square, his jaw was strong, and he had a cleft in his chin. He stood straight and confident, small lines fanning out from the corners of his eyes as he concentrated on the men’s conversation.

  If she were to do an artistic rendering, she would choose to paint him against the background of the sea to emphasize his deep blue eyes. She quickly looked away when she saw him watching her. Of course, he is watching me. She was a bloodied stranger sitting on a curb with his children. He wasn’t watching her. Time to get real.

  A blond man in a golf shirt and shorts strode up the street. He spotted the men and hurried toward them.

  The children’s father looked up and his face relaxed as he moved away from the others to meet the man. “Thanks for coming so quickly.”

  The blond man nodded and placed his hand on Finn’s daddy’s shoulder as he listened to what Val figured was a re-telling of the accident. His brows furrowed as he glanced toward the small group sitting on the curb.

  After a quick discussion, the man walked toward Val and Finn and knelt on the street in front of them. “I’m Dr. Goodwyn.” He smiled at Val, straight white teeth against tanned skin. “Seth Goodwyn. Rules say you don’t have to call me doctor unless I’m wearing a white coat.” He winked and turned to Finn. “How ya doing, kiddo?”

  Seth couldn’t have been much older than thirty, and between the casual way he dressed and the bleached blond hair, she thought he looked more like a surfer than a doctor. Val glanced at Finn’s daddy while Dr. Goodwyn talked to the boy.

  His attention was on his son.

  The concern on his face made her want to reassure him Finn was fine. But she remained silent, knowing the doctor would calm any worries better than she could. She glanced away, moving her attention to the buildings up the street. To The Venus Gallery.

  She looked at her watch and winced. Now she was officially late for her appointment with Abigail Longley and would have to reschedule. “Ruby, do you think you could run and grab my purse for me?” She pointed to where she’d dropped it, near the trolley tracks. Val could only hope her phone had made it out of the accident in better shape than she had. She could never afford to buy a new one.

  The doctor asked Val about the accident and checked her elbow. He crouched down to examine the scrapes on the back of her upper thigh.

  Val twisted awkwardly to give him a better view of her injury. Pain shot a fiery path up her leg. She wasn’t thrilled with the entire street watching while her backside was on display. As if he could read her mind, the children’s father motioned Ruby toward him, and the two moved to a position that blocked the crowd’s view and gave Val a bit of privacy.

  She tried to think of something to distract her from the doctor’s examination. The wind blew, and Val shook her hair out of her face, moving carefully so she didn’t disturb Finn. If it weren’t for the constant sea breeze, the humidity would be sticking her hair to her neck like it did back home in West Virginia. Typically she wore a pony tail, but last night, she’d slept with her hair rolled in strips of paper towels and teased it until looked like a rodeo queen’s. If that didn’t impress The Venus Gallery, she didn’t know what would.

  Seth helped her into a more comfortable position. “I don’t think you’ll need stitches, but I’d like you to come into the office to get these abrasions cleaned out. And just as a precaution, I’ll want to get you started on some antibiotics.”

  Daddy handed him a blanket someone must have donated to the cause.

  Val maneuvered Finn while Seth arranged the blanket over her lap to cover her exposed leg. He pulled it tighter on her other side, and she flinched and sucked in a quick breath.

  Seth’s eyebrows rose. “Is this where the trolley hit you?” He indicated her left hip.

  Val pursed her lips and nodded. This doctor was thoughtful and she didn’t want to be rude, but she had to get moving in order to convince Abigail Longley she hadn’t just blown off her interview.

  If things didn’t work out with The Venus Gallery, she’d need to find a gallery or an art shop in another town. The idea saddened her. In just a few days, Val had come to love the New England coast. But she wasn’t looking for just any job. She needed one that would give her experience in her field of Art History. The last thing she wanted to do was limp back to Millford Creek, penniless, and return to her old job at the cigarette filter factory.

  The doctor squatted back on his heels. “We’ll definitely want to do some x-rays.”

  “I can tell ya right now, that won’t be necessary. Nothing’s broken.”

  Ruby handed Val her purse and sat next to her on the curb again.

  “Much obliged, Miss Ruby.” Val reached inside, pulling out her phone.

  The doctor rested his forearms on his knees. “There are other things to worry about aside from fractures. I really would feel better if you were examined thoroughly. If it’s me you’re not comfortable with, other doctors at the clinic can—”

  “My unwillingness has nothing to do with you, sir.”

  “Seth.
”

  “Seth.” Val nodded and smiled. “I know I’m not hurt bad enough to need a doctor, and I don’t want to waste anyone’s time.”

  “It’s hardly a waste of time to make sure you’re taken care of, Val.”

  “Well, you make a good argument. But honestly…” Val’s gaze slid from his and she lowered her voice. “I can’t afford a doctor.” She didn’t know if she’d even stretch her funds far enough for bus fare back and forth from her apartment a few more times. The small room she’d found outside of Bar Harbor had required a first and last month’s rent deposit. Real estate prices in coastal New England were astronomical compared to rural West Virginia. Plus now she was worried about finding—and affording—a new skirt.

  “Of course, I’ll cover any medical costs.” Handsome daddy stood behind Seth with his hands in his pockets.

  “That’s not necessary.” Val lifted her gaze to meet his before lowering it again. Her face heated.

  Seth tipped his head to catch her eye. “I’m sure we can figure out—”

  Val drew in a deep breath. She’d pussy-footed around long enough. Time to be assertive. “I do appreciate your concern, but this isn’t my first scraped leg. I’m not in shock, I didn’t hit my head, and I know how to use hydrogen peroxide. Oh, and did I mention, I can be stubborn as a polecat once I’ve made up my mind?” Val gave Seth a pleasant smile that she hoped conveyed “it’s not you, it’s me,” and opened her phone. “Excuse me a moment, will ya? I need to place a call, and then I’ll finish explaining all the reasons why I don’t need a doctor.” She continued to rub Finn’s back as she scrolled to the number for The Venus Gallery and pressed Call. Then braced herself for a conversation with Abigail Longley, the gallery owner.

  Chapter Two

  Seth stood and joined Nathaniel. He put his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “Finn looks fine. You could bring him in if you want, but I don’t think he needs more than a good nap. Maybe give him a little children’s pain reliever if he feels achy in the next few days.”

  Nathaniel glanced at the children sitting with the woman on the curb. He was surprised how well Val McKinley had managed to calm his son. She’d even placated Ruby, who he’d have expected to be in hysterics by now. Nathaniel lifted his chin toward Finn. “Looks like he’s getting a good nap.”

  Finn’s eyes were closed and his head lay against Val’s chest.

  Seth smirked and lifted his shoulders. “Kids have all the luck, don’t they?”

  Nathaniel didn’t answer. He turned slightly in the other direction to give Val privacy as she spoke on the phone. He didn’t intend to eavesdrop, but he couldn’t help but hear her side of the phone conversation.

  “Yes, ma’am. I know you expected me at ten o’clock, but… No, I don’t make it a habit to be unreliable. If you will just let me reschedule… I…Please, if…” Her voice cut off abruptly.

  Assuming the conversation had ended, Nathaniel glanced over his shoulder.

  Val lowered the phone and stared at the ground.

  Finn shuddered in his sleep, and Val rested her cheek on his head.

  Seth excused himself and moved farther up the road to speak to Officer Harris.

  “Are you sad, Val?” Ruby placed her hand on Val’s arm and leaned around to see her face.

  Nathaniel saw Val smile, but noticed her expression had lost most of its light.

  “Just a little bit, but I’ll be fine. I just need to do some thinking is all.” Val rubbed her forehead.

  “My daddy is taking us to Martin Lighthouse today. Have you seen the lighthouse?”

  Val nodded and after a deep breath, her smile returned. She turned her knees slightly toward Ruby. “I did see the lighthouse. Are you climbing up all the way to the top?”

  Nathaniel walked toward Officer Harris and Seth. His mind churned. From what he heard of the conversation, he concluded the accident had cost Val the opportunity for a job. He wondered where she was interviewing, and what she would do now. An idea began to form in his mind.

  His gaze focused on the children, Nathaniel listened to the trolley driver, Seth, and Officer Harris as they discussed the accident. He didn’t dare move too far away while a person he didn’t know tended to his children, but he needed to understand how the legalities were being handled. The majority of his attention, however, was focused on the woman sitting on the curb with his children. He’d rarely seen Ruby and Finn so comfortable with someone they’d just met. Finn slept peacefully, curled up on her lap while Val gently rubbed her hand up and down his back.

  Val said something to Ruby, and his daughter laughed.

  The sound had become far too rare as of late. Nathaniel certainly couldn’t make Ruby laugh like that. He couldn’t seem to even find the right words to say.

  The officer nodded occasionally as he recorded the trolley driver’s statement in a small notebook.

  Officer Harris seemed to be doing a thorough job in his questioning. Nathaniel would, of course, need to speak to both men when they were finished. He caught Seth’s eye and saw the doctor’s nod. He must have reported the extent of the injuries to the officer. He motioned with his head to the side, and Seth walked with him back toward Val and the children.

  Based on his initial impression of Miss McKinley…Val. Valdosta—What in the world kind of name is that anyway? Nathaniel would never have imagined that within moments of laying eyes on the woman, he would nearly break down in tears of gratitude for her actions. The conflicting feelings were uncomfortable when he realized how quickly he had dismissed her because of her appearance. And now he owed her his son’s life.

  Instead of analyzing his emotions further, he spoke to Seth. “Do you mind taking Ruby to Julie’s for a sugar cookie? I want to talk to Val for a moment.”

  Seth raised his brows but agreed. He took Ruby’s hand and led her up the street to the sweet shop.

  Nathaniel sat on the curb next to Val.

  She winced as she shifted her position to face him.

  He definitely needed to convince her to get medical care. “Miss McKinley, I didn’t mean to listen to your conversation, but I couldn’t help but overhear you had a job interview today?”

  “Y’all didn’t think I got dressed up to the nines to go to the beach, did ya?” Val’s smile fell flat, and she let out a breath through her nose. “I had an interview at The Venus Gallery.” She waved her hand toward the corner behind him, farther up the street. “I’m an art historian.”

  Hearing her declaration, Nathaniel fought a smile. He covered it by looking over his shoulder to the gallery. “And you missed this opportunity because of…what happened today?”

  Val pursed her lips.

  She was obviously troubled about offending him by admitting that he’d guessed the truth. She must not want him to feel like the missed appointment was his fault. Nathaniel could tell he was making her uncomfortable. “I’d like you to work for me.”

  Val squinted as she studied him. “It’s real nice of you, but unless you own an art shop, a museum, or gallery, I’ll keep looking. I’m hoping to travel to Paris for an internship, and a job in my field will help my application. I do appreciate the offer, though.”

  “I was actually hoping I could convince you to be my nanny.” He shook his head, still surprised by the abruptness of his decision. “I mean Ruby and Finn’s nanny.”

  “A nanny? Like Mary Poppins?” Her brows rose, revealing even more colors in her rainbow of eye makeup. “I don’t even know you, and you don’t know me from Adam. How can you be sure I don’t have a criminal record?”

  He straightened. “Do you?”

  “Of course not.” Her lips twisted. “Unless you count the time me and my friends were caught skinny-dippin’ in the high school pool.” She waved a hand. “But I was a minor, and they told me it’s been expunged.”

  This was undoubtedly the most bizarre interview he’d ever conducted, but to his credit, he usually had time to prepare. He’d rarely made such a quick
decision and wasn’t quite sure how to approach this. Time to get back on track. “Listen, Miss McKinley…”

  “Call me Val.”

  “Val, I’m sorry, I’m a little shaken today. I’m going about this in the wrong order. First of all, I should have introduced myself.” He twisted to face her and extended his hand. “My name is Nathaniel Cavanaugh.”

  Val’s arms were still wrapped around sleeping Finn, but she shifted and grasped his hand with her left. “Pleased to meet you.” She squeezed his fingers.

  “Val, I could call an agency and weed through applications, and then interview someone, that I could only hope my kids even remotely like and who’s willing to move up here for the summer. But that could take weeks. You’re here now, and you seem to click with them, and I really need help. We’re just here for a few months, and—”

  Val held up her hand. “Listen, you don’t owe me anything. It’s not your fault, or Finn’s, that I missed the appointment. An accident’s an accident. Maybe things were meant to be this way, and a perfect job is waiting for me in a town I’ve never heard of. I really do appreciate ya looking out for me, but I won’t take a job offered out of guilt or charity.” She brushed Finn’s curls off his forehead and pulled back her shoulders, dipping her chin to see the boy’s face. She smiled at Nathaniel. “I do think your kids are pretty wonderful. If I didn’t need an art job, I’d have a hard time turning you down.”

  Nathaniel wasn’t above begging. He couldn’t wait for weeks—he needed someone now, and that someone had practically fallen into his lap. Or crash-landed in a mess of blood and cheap eye shadow. Either way, he wasn’t used to losing. He opened his mouth to deliver a counter-argument.