Love Inspired March 2014 - Bundle 2 of 2: North Country FamilySmall-Town MidwifeProtecting the Widow's Heart

by Lois Richer

  He let himself into his room. Liza’s comment had kept Autumn in his mind as he wound his way back to Crown Point. Thoughts of her traveling the steep narrow side roads he’d passed to deliver babies in homes set up on the mountainside alternated with visions of Autumn this afternoon, her delicate-featured face framed by wisps of flaxen hair escaping the silver clip that pinned the rest up.

  As he slipped off his suit coat, he noticed the message light flashing on the phone. He was tempted to ignore it. Morning would be here all too soon, and he had to be up to meet the moving van at the duplex at eight. That’s it. It could be the movers. He’d given the number here at the bed-and-breakfast as an alternate number where he could be reached.

  Jon lifted the receiver and pressed the message button.

  “Jay.” His grandfather used the family nickname he’d dropped in middle school. “It’s your grandfather. I’ll be upstate next week, and your grandmother insists on coming with me and having dinner with you. I’ve made reservations for Wednesday at six-thirty at the Sagamore in Lake George.”

  The message clicked off with no goodbye. Typical of Grandfather. Bark an order and leave, fully expecting it to be obeyed without question. Jon dropped the receiver back in place. He should ignore it. Nothing he did pleased his family anyway. But he couldn’t do that to Nana. Not after all she’d done for him. She’d provided the love his career-and stature-driven parents hadn’t. She’d grieved and prayed with him when Angela, his favorite cousin and close friend, had died in childbirth in Haiti, where she’d been serving at a mission.

  His parents’ brief acknowledgment of his sorrow had been tinged with an undercurrent that it was punishment for Angie having conceived before she and her fiancé had married. Angie had gone through a wild period at college. But after she and her fiancé had learned of the baby, they’d both reembraced the Christian faith they’d been raised with.

  Jon jerked off his loosened tie. Despite what the family might think, Angie and Brad’s Haitian missionary work after they married had been more than enough to atone for their indiscretion. Angie hadn’t had to... His throat clogged. Jon was finding it harder and harder to accept the tenet of a vengeful God that he’d been raised with in his parents’ church. His thoughts went to Brad, now raising their little boy alone, and how Brad’s faith in a loving Savior had given him strength. Jon had had only anger that grew into a need, a calling, to use his medical training and technology to do everything he could to protect other women, families, from the same tragedy.

  The directorship of the Ticonderoga Birthing Center was the perfect first step toward doing just that—maybe even more so now that he’d learned about some of the center’s current practices. In his opinion, home births weren’t something to be encouraged. Too many things could go wrong without emergency equipment on hand.

  He tossed the tie on the dresser. Tightening up birthing center procedures shouldn’t be too difficult. Part of the reason for the home births might be cost. Essex County had its share of lower-income and uninsured people. That shouldn’t mean mothers and babies received less-than-optimal care. He’d check the center’s financial records and work on Autumn and her partner, showing them his reasoning for technology-oriented treatment.

  Back at Samaritan, he and Autumn had been friends of a sort, until Kate had alienated her and half the other staff by making her version of their breakup public—very public. Kate had known all along he wasn’t serious about their relationship and, as far as he knew, she wasn’t, either. The dissension she’d caused among the members of the medical team had been unacceptable.

  He’d ignored the fracas as much as possible. And he’d done what he’d always done. Moved on. If he wanted conflict, he could visit his family.

  Chapter Two

  Autumn woke to the rumble of a truck engine, a truck much larger than her dad’s or grandfather’s pickup trucks. She checked her alarm clock—seven-thirty—and dragged herself out of bed to the front window. A moving van sat running in the driveway. Jon was moving in today? She didn’t even get a few days to acclimate to him at work before she had him here at home, too? She sighed. Jon was nowhere in sight. Better go down and talk to the movers.

  As Autumn walked across her living room to the front door, she heard the crunch of another vehicle driving up the recently tarred and stoned road to the house. She waited at the door until she saw her stepmother, Anne, pull up in her SUV.

  “Autumn. We’re here.” Her three-year-old twin half brother and sister, Alex and Sophia, stated the obvious as they raced up the shared walkway, followed more sedately by their eight-year-old brother, Ian. The twins were still in their pajamas. Anne waved to her as she went to talk with the movers.

  “Hi, guys.” Autumn gathered the twins in her arms. “What’s up?”

  Sophia stood tall with an air of self-importance. “Daddy f’got to tell you. So Mommy and us had to come. Mommy is not happy.”

  Ian interpreted. “Saturday is Mom’s day to sleep late ’cause she’s teaching that morning class at the college during the week. It’s my job to watch the twins and make sure they don’t wake her up until eight.” He pitched his voice to sound as if watching his siblings was a big burden, but Ian’s bright-eyed look gave away his pride that Anne trusted him with the responsibility. “Someone called and the phone woke her up, and she had to come to talk with the moving guys.” He pointed at the van.

  Autumn smiled over his head at her stepmother, who’d finished talking to the movers and was walking toward them.

  “Hi,” Anne said.

  “Hi. I hear you’re not happy.”

  Anne glanced at Sophia and laughed. “I’m never happy when I get woken up before I’m ready. I don’t suppose your dad told you the new tenant was moving in today.”

  “No, Dad didn’t even tell me he’d rented the place. I found that out at work yesterday.”

  “News does travel fast here.”

  “True, but I found out because the tenant is the new director of the center. Jon Hanlon. He told me.”

  “If it makes you feel any better, your dad didn’t find out about the guy’s moving in until late last night. Since he’s had so much out-of-town work this summer, he’s left the rentals up to the Realtor.” Anne tilted her head. “I know he loves doing the solar electric installations, but his being out of town wreaks total havoc on my efforts to have a well-ordered life.” She grinned. “Anyway, when the tenant couldn’t get a hold of the Realtor this morning, he called me and asked if I could let the movers know that he’s on his way. He has to drive from Crown Point.”

  “You didn’t have to come over. You could have called me.”

  “I know, but the house isn’t your responsibility, and I didn’t want to wake you up if you’d been out last night.”

  “I was. I had a hot date with a pile of billing invoices.”

  “Still haven’t found a temporary office assistant?”

  “No, but Jamie texted me last night that she may have someone. Her cousin is looking for a summer job.” Autumn motioned to the door. “So, do you have time to come in for a while? I’ll put coffee on.”

  Anne looked longingly at the door. “No, thanks. I told Drew I’d help with signing out this week’s campers at Sonrise this morning. I need to get these guys home and dressed and down to the lake.”

  Autumn nodded. They all helped in the summer with the Christian camp and conference center that her uncle Drew managed on her family’s Paradox Lake property.

  “But your aunt Jinx had better have some fresh coffee ready, or I’ll leave this crew with her and be right back up the road to take you up on your offer.”

  “You’re welcome anytime. I’m goofing off this morning. I’m on the crew to help with the cleanup and to get the camp ready for the new campers coming tomorrow. So maybe I’ll see you all later.”

  Autumn wa
tched Anne fasten the kids in their car seats and drive away. She glanced at the moving van. The stone-faced driver sat in the cab tapping the steering wheel with his finger while the other mover leaned against the side drinking a cup of coffee from the Paradox Lake General Store. She’d recognize the store’s distinctive logo anywhere. It wasn’t her problem that Jon was late. She went back inside and made some coffee for herself.

  * * *

  Gravel flew as Jon shot up Hazard Cove Road. He’d told the movers that he would meet them at the house at eight. They couldn’t have stopped and had breakfast or something when they got off the interstate at Schroon Lake? He eyed the house as he came to a stop. The New England–style shake shingles were painted a light gray, and the house had white-and-steel-blue trim. Both his unit on the right and his neighbor’s unit had bright red front doors.

  The Realtor, who was the town historian, had talked his ear off about how the house dated back to the early 1800s and was built by one of the Hazards who’d settled the area for logging. He’d also regaled Jon with the details of how and when the current Hazard family members had built their homes on or just off Hazard Cove Road.

  Jon got out of his car and strode across the yard to the moving van, wondering if those other family members included Autumn. Even though she was a few years younger than him, she might own a home.

  The moving van driver and his helper got out and met him in front of the duplex.

  “Dr. Hanlon?” the driver asked.

  “Yes. Sorry for the delay. I wasn’t expecting you until eight. I’ll unlock the door.”

  The man nodded. “We’ll start unloading.”

  Jon followed the shale walk up and to the left. He inserted the key the Realtor had given him and swung the door in. A lemony scent mixed with the warm summer air. It and the gleaming, wide-planked pine floors attested to the Realtor’s word that he’d have the house cleaned and ready for him today.

  “Hey, Doc.” The helper wheeled Jon’s Sportster down the ramp and over beside the truck. “Sweet bike. Where do you want it?”

  “In the back.” The house didn’t have a garage, but the Realtor had assured Jon that there was plenty of room in the shake-sided outbuilding behind the house. A former chicken coop, according to the Realtor.

  “Follow me.” Jon led the mover to the shed and inserted the key the Realtor had given him in the lock. It didn’t work. He called the Realtor and got his voice mail again, so he tried the Hazards’ number. No answer there, either. A movement in the window of the other side of the duplex caught his eye.

  “I’ll go ask my new neighbor for a key.” Jon crossed the yard to the back door and knocked. He tapped his foot as he waited for someone to answer.

  “Hi.”

  “Autumn. You live here? I’m surprised the Realtor didn’t tell me. He told me the history and everything else there is to know about the house.” Why was he stammering like the teenage nerd he once was facing the most popular girl at school? He looked into her light blue eyes. She probably had been one of the most popular girls at school—definitely one of the prettiest. “Why didn’t you say something yesterday?”

  “I thought I’d surprise you later once you were settled in.”

  The light in her eyes said she was teasing him, but years of sarcastic criticism from his family made him unsure whether he was reading her correctly. He cleared his throat. “Do you have a key to the shed? The one the Realtor gave me isn’t working.”

  “Yes, sorry about that. Some kids out partying tried to break into it a few weeks ago with a nail file that jammed in the lock. I don’t know what they thought I had in there.” She pushed an errant strand of hair behind her ear. “That’s a problem here. There’s not a lot to do, and some kids have too much time on their hands. I had to hacksaw the lock off and get a new one.”

  She spoke so matter-of-factly. “That didn’t bother you, being out here alone?” He refrained from saying a woman here alone.

  Autumn laughed. “Me, alone?”

  Jon glanced around and saw nothing but pine forest. “Someone was living in the other unit?”

  “No. But I’m surrounded by family. No one can get up the road without passing by Dad’s and my grandparents’ houses, and no one can come up from the lake without passing the lodge where my aunt and uncle live. I wasn’t home, but Grandpa and Uncle Drew were both here in time to block the kids’ car in. They ran off into the woods, but the sheriff’s deputy caught up with them quick enough. They were summer folk. But you’re not here for my life story. Come in and I’ll get you the key.”

  Jon stepped in and waited in the kitchen for Autumn to return. He breathed in the aroma of the coffee brewing on the counter, and his stomach growled to remind him he hadn’t had any coffee or breakfast.

  “Here you go.” Autumn walked back into the kitchen. She looked from him to the coffeemaker he was eyeing and bit her lip. “Want a cup?” she asked after a moment.

  “Yeah, but I shouldn’t keep the movers waiting any longer than I have.”

  “I’ll bring one out to you. Cream and sugar?”

  “Black is good.” He couldn’t tell if she was being nice or wanted him to leave. “I really appreciate it.”

  “I could tell. You were looking at my coffeemaker like a man who’d just crawled his way out of a waterless week in the desert.”

  “That bad?”

  “That bad.” She handed him the key on a key chain that read I Conquered the High Peaks.

  Had she climbed all of the Adirondack High Peaks? he wondered. At Samaritan, she’d always been open to a challenge. His former roommate could attest to that. The roommate had run into Autumn and some of the other women shooting hoops at the Y one evening and, after some back and forth, had challenged them to a three-point competition. It had come down to his roommate and Autumn. She matched him shot for shot until the competition was called because the Y was closing.

  So she certainly had the tenacity to conquer the peaks. Her crossed arms and wide-legged stance stopped him from asking, though. He should get back outside, but he couldn’t seem to get his feet moving. They were going to be working together and living next door to each other. He’d like to get past the undercurrent of resentment she exuded.

  “I’ll bring the key right back.”

  “Keep it. I have another one, and you’ll need a copy anyway.”

  He pushed open the screen door and reached behind him to close the main door.

  “You can leave it open. It feels warm out already.”

  He looked up at the bright sun in the cloudless blue sky. “Yeah, it looks like a scorcher.” As the aluminum door latched shut behind him, he wondered what had made him say that. Scorcher. It sounded like something they’d say on AccuWeather. And why was he so looking forward to Autumn’s bringing him coffee?

  * * *

  Autumn carried two coffee mugs across the living room and opened the screen door with her elbow. Since the weather had warmed up, she often had her Saturday-morning coffee outside on the patio Grandpa had added to her side of the house. She scanned the front yard. Neither Jon nor the movers were outside. She walked over to Jon’s side and peered in the screen door. The living room was empty of people and furniture. The movers must have started with the upstairs furniture.

  “Hello,” she called, taking a sip of her coffee as she waited for a response.

  Jon bounded down the stairway, opened the door and took the mug from her. He drank deeply. “Thanks. I really need this.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “I’d invite you to stay and drink your coffee with me, but I don’t have a seat to offer you.”

  “That’s okay. I was going to sit out on the patio. I don’t want to keep you from your work.”

  “The movers can handle things. I’ll join you, if you don’t mind.”


  She did mind. This morning was the only quiet time she expected to have all weekend. This afternoon, she was helping Drew at the camp. Gram and Grandpa had invited her for dinner tomorrow after church, and in the evening she was babysitting for her father and Anne so they could go out for their anniversary. She loved her family and everything that came with living close to them. But she’d hoped for a couple of hours to herself this morning.

  Oh, well. It was her choice. She wouldn’t trade living here at the lake for living anywhere else. At least not voluntarily. Autumn’s throat constricted. Once her contract with Kelly was up in the fall, she might have to go somewhere else. She had her doubts that Kelly would offer her another contract if she still wasn’t catching babies. And neither the Adirondack Medical Center nor the Ticonderoga Birthing Center had staff midwives.

  Jon looked down at her with the smile that had made half the nursing staff at Samaritan go all weak and dreamy and the other half want to mother him like a favored son. Autumn had been an exception. Rather than wowing her like everyone else, Jon’s masculine charms had irritated her. He’d been too smooth, too full of himself professionally and personally, although a few times when she’d seen him outside work, she’d thought she’d glimpsed a different Jon underneath.

  He motioned toward the walkway. “After you.”

  Autumn felt his eyes on her as she descended the porch steps. She wiped her palm on her denim shorts. She wasn’t about to succumb to his charms now. Not unless he’d changed a lot in the past two years. And from what she’d seen yesterday, he hadn’t. She glanced toward the patio. They could finish their coffee and she’d still have some time before she had to be down at the lake to help Uncle Drew.