Besides, what if she was shacking up with this eighty-something Lothario? What then? Mandy would never be able to get a word in edgewise if that were the case. She needed to pry for answers while she had the chance, and now was as good a time as any.
Turning the full heat of her gaze on Deborah, she demanded, “Since when do you have a boyfriend?” And before she could stop herself, she added, “Aren’t you too old for a boyfriend?”
Deborah laughed heartily, leaning into James’s chest with a tender familiarity. “I should certainly hope not! Otherwise what’s the point of taking all those pesky pills day in and day out to keep me going? No sir, if I’m too old to have any fun, then I might as well drop dead right now.”
“Grandma!”
Deborah’s laughter stopped, and she let go of James’s hand with a slightly embarrassed look spreading across her wrinkled face. “I think I know what this is about. James, would you give us a moment please?”
“You bet. I need to go water my roses anyway. Am I still invited for dinner?”
“Of course, you are! Just make it six? We girls need some time to catch up first.”
Mandy watched in shock as her grandmother kissed her boyfriend—on the lips—and then saw him out the front door.
Once James had left, Deborah led them both to the living room where they sat on a bright blue loveseat facing each other. Deborah grabbed Mandy’s hand and held it between both of her own as she spoke. “I will always love your grandfather even though he’s gone. He lives in my heart, honey. Just the way your mom and dad do, too. I wasn’t looking for love, believe me that. I just wanted peace and sunshine and a break for my old bones when it came to those cold Alaskan winters. Did you know I grew up in Texas? And James is actually a very old, very dear friend. Honey, I fell in love with him before I ever met your grandpa.”
“What? How could…?” Of all the explanations she had expected to hear, this certainly wasn’t one of them.
“Before the war. I was eighteen, and he was an airman about to ship off overseas. I said I would wait for him, but he never came back. And then I met your Grandpa Rip and learned that sometimes when you’re lucky, life sends you two great loves instead of just one. I wouldn’t change a thing about my life, not a single thing. But when I was left alone again, James found me a second time. His wife had died, too, and he’d just moved in down the lane. And well, all those old feelings came rushing back. And—”
“Grandma, stop.” She’d heard enough, at least for now.
Deborah frowned, and it hurt Mandy’s heart that she had upset her grandma so soon after their reunion and for such a silly reason, really.
She smiled to dispel any tension she had created, and said “I’m super happy for you.”
They embraced again, but still Mandy was troubled. How was it that her grandmother had a hotter dating life than she did at eighty years plus? It wasn’t as if Mandy could just wait for the perfect guy to move in next door. Not here in Abilene’s premier retirement village where the bachelors were few and far between… and all at least sixty-five years old to boot. Not to mention the fact that she shouldn’t be dating at all. Now when there was so much to do before the baby came.
The most important of which would be making one last attempt at her dream before she had to put the whole thing on hold for who knew how long?
“Grandma?”
“Hmm?”
“Do you remember when you first taught me how to make macadamia nut cookies? I was in first grade and upset, because I got picked last for kickball. But you told me that I didn’t have to be the best at everything, that I could pick one thing I loved most and then be the best at that, let somebody else be the best at something that didn’t matter quite so much.”
Deborah’s eyes lit up, and she looked at Mandy as if she saw the six-year-old version of her now instead of the woman she’d grown into. “Of course, I remember, dear. That’s one of my favorites, actually.”
“Did you know that was the day I decided to become a baker? I wanted to be the best, just like you.”
Deborah shrugged and made a silly face. “Oh, I was never the best at cooking, but I sure put my whole heart into it. You were baking circles around me once you hit the second grade.”
“You know that’s not true, Grandma. You’re the best at lots of things. And ever since that day—and maybe before that too—whenever I feel like the world is spinning out of my control, I remind myself that happiness is just a batch of cookies away.”
Deborah chortled. “It’s a wonder you’re not three-hundred pounds, dear.”
“Grandma!”
“I’m just kidding. You know I will love you forever and for always, no matter what.”
“Yes, I do know that. You were the best grandma a girl could ask for.”
“Were? I better still be!”
“Forever and for always, no matter what… Do you think I’ll be?”
Mandy half-expected the old woman to make a quip about getting through motherhood before worrying about becoming a grandma, but instead Deborah pulled Mandy into her chest and hugged her tight.
“You will be the best. There’s no doubt in my mind that you will do whatever it takes to make your child happy. But there’s one thing I want you to remember.”
“What’s that?”
“Sometimes the best way to make your child happy is to first make yourself happy. Promise me you won’t give up, no matter how hard it gets.”
“Give up on what?”
“Life, love, your dreams, all of it.”
Mandy felt tears begin to form behind her eyes, and she knew that if she started crying she would never be able to stop in time for their dinner plans with James. She popped up to her feet and began to head toward the kitchen.
“Would you mind if I made us some dessert for tonight?” she called back to Deborah who stayed seated on the couch behind her.
“Go right ahead, dear. But you should probably know that James is diabetic, so take it easy on the sugar, if you don’t mind.”
“Thanks, Grandma. I will!” A new challenge, huh? These days her life was filled to the brim with challenges. At least this one would be fun and at least she knew without a doubt that she’d always and forever have her grandmother ready and waiting to celebrate the outcome.
Luke still couldn’t believe he was here. Texas of all places had become his sanctuary, a safe retreat from all the terrible feelings that followed him through the New York City streets. Gone were the days of playing doctor to the offspring of the way-too-rich and not-quite-famous—at least not famous enough for their own liking. Now he’d be tending to the needs of small town retirees, trading in croup and colic for diabetes and arthritis.
Still, as cynical as he felt coming in, he could already tell he would like it in Abilene. The people here were honest, had worked hard all their lives, and now were ready to live out the rest of their days as painlessly and as happily as possible. At least so he assumed. There were no appearances to keep up, no insane demands for organic vaccinations, just people who needed him—but didn’t need him quite so much.
Yes, Abilene would do just fine.
And now that he was here, he needed to meet his patients. As resident physician for the community, it would be his job to take house calls throughout the day and to be the first responder whenever any of the community members had a fall or some other more serious health scare. Even though he was a good forty years younger than most of them, he would become a part of their community. Not just a doctor, but a friend, a neighbor, a confidant.
It seemed perfect, really. Just what he needed.
And with all his neighbors being so elderly it was unlikely he’d come across many infants. Maybe—just maybe—he’d finally be able to find the solace he craved. While he’d come here by a complete accident of chance, Abilene might still prove the perfect haven, after all.
Now he just had to make the rounds to make sure the residents felt comfortable coming to him. Their last
resident doctor had been with them for some thirty years, and they had all been sad to see him go. Big shoes to fill, especially by some, young city boy—and a Yankee to boot. But he was determined—welcomed the challenge, even.
That’s why he’d decided to go door-to-door and spend some time getting to know each new patient. Making things friendly and personal from the start was sure to do the trick. In fact, he’d already met about a dozen or so community members, and they had all taken to him just fine, eager to share their medical histories or to invite him in for afternoon tea. The women regaled him with news of the events the board had planned for that summer, and the men warned him off swooping in and taking the hottest widows right out from under their noses.
All in all, it was pleasant—and pleasant was just what he needed to move on with his life.
The next porch he found himself climbing had a white, stone goose dressed in a bright, yellow rain hat and slicker beside a sign that read Grandkids welcome. Parents by appointment. The door was bright purple, and he liked that, even though he was pretty sure it violated one of the many home owners’ association rules.
He knocked, wondering what kind of eccentric, blue-haired granny he’d find waiting on the other side.
A few seconds later the door flung open to reveal a very un-grandma-like individual. Her young, smooth cheeks and naturally blond hair were the last features he’d expected to greet him.
She looked him over for a moment, and he couldn’t help but stare as she did. Flour clung to her bright pink cheeks as well as the apron she wore over her shorts and T-shirt. A sloppy ponytail held her long, blond hair back away from her face, and her eyes shone with curiosity. “Umm, can I help you?”
He swallowed down the lump that was forming in his throat and put on his most pleasant smile. “Are you…” Luke searched the sheet in front of him for the correct name. “Deborah Rockwell?”
“Do I look like an eighty-year-old woman?” she asked flatly, then broke out into a big, boisterous laugh. “Deborah’s my grandmother. I’m Mandy, and I’d shake your hand but I’m kind of covered in flour and sticky goop right now. Will you accept a wave instead?”
As she waggled her fingers at him, he felt equal parts disappointed and relieved that he couldn't steal this small chance to make physical contact with her. If simply looking at her practically took all his breath away, what would happen if he were to touch her soft, glowing skin?
Glowing…? Oh, no.
His eyes shot down to her midsection, and saw a small but obvious bump. She couldn’t have been too far into her second trimester from the looks of it. He wanted to run away every bit as much as he wanted to sweep the beautiful stranger into his arms and carry her away with him. Instead, he just stood there staring slack-jawed and reading the text on her apron over and over again. Hot in the kitchen. Hotter in the bedroom.
She caught him staring and flushed even redder than before, embarrassment adding to the heat that had already permeated her cheeks. “Oh, ha. This is my grandma’s.” She tittered nervously and lifted the apron off over her head and balled it up in her hands. “Speaking of Grandma, she’s out for a walk, but she should be back any minute. Would you like to come in and wait?”
“I, uh…”
“Actually, yes, come with me.” She tugged him over the threshold, forgetting or no longer caring about the “flour and goop” that covered her hands and forearms. “I’m working on a new recipe, and I need a taste tester. You don’t mind, do you?”
Luke allowed himself to be pulled along, all the while wondering how quickly he could extricate himself from this situation. This attraction was wrong for so many reasons. First, she was pregnant, and he just couldn’t do with babies and all the vulnerability, all the memories that came with them. Second, she was pregnant, which likely also meant she was taken, probably married to boot. And then there was the simple fact that this was his time to start over, to learn a new profession, to make a new life—not to make a new relationship, a new family… a new mistake.
But then she sat him down at the counter and jabbed a spoon toward his mouth with a smile so big splashed upon her face that it couldn’t be anything but one hundred percent genuine. “Taste,” she ordered.
As soon as he parted his lips, she set the spoon into his mouth and unleashed a symphony of flavors on his tongue—citrus, vanilla, buttercream, and some other exotic hint he couldn’t quite identify. It was so delicious he had a hard time swallowing the bite, knowing there wouldn’t be another to follow it up with. He wanted to keep this sweetness on his tongue as long as he could, to fully enjoy it before letting it go.
Mandy’s eyes grew wider and wider the longer he went without saying anything. “Well?” she finally urged. “How is it?”
A gorgeous woman who could cook like an angel. That is, if cooking was something angels ever did up in heaven. Oh, he was in trouble. So, so much trouble.
“It’s good,” he said at last, finally swallowing the morsel. “Very good.”
Her face fell. “Only good? I can’t build an entire menu from good. I need great.”
“It is great. The best frosting I’ve ever had.”
“Honest?” Her blue eyes grew large as she awaited his follow-up assessment.
“Honest. Umm, could I maybe have some more?”
They laughed together, and it felt good—great.
“Sit down, and let me make you a plate.”
He looked down to the stool beneath him, then back up at Mandy. “Umm, I’m already sitting.”
“Right. Just a sec then.” She chuckled and shook her head as she marched toward the other side of the kitchen. A moment later, she plopped a shiny blue plate before him—with golden music notes painted around the edges. On that plate there was a napkin neatly folded in half and a large cupcake with extra frosting. She sat down beside him and took a long, slow drink of water from a half-empty Aquafina bottle.
He felt rude eating without her, but he also felt rude not digging in the moment she set the plate in front of him. After a brief hesitation, Luke asked, “Aren’t you going to have some, too?”
She snorted. “No, no. If I ate everything I baked, well…” She puffed out her cheeks and rolled her eyes. “Besides, it’s way more fun for me to watch you enjoy it.”
He took a huge bite, basking in the pop of flavor that danced across his tongue.
“Good?”
He nodded enthusiastically.
“Great?”
He gave her the thumbs up.
“Perfect. Now would you mind telling me who the heck you are?”
Chapter 3
She’d made him blush! How adorable! Mandy held back a laugh as she watched her new friend scramble to swallow the big bite he’d just taken.
After raising the napkin to his mouth and brushing the crumbs from his lips, he finally answered, “I’m Luke.”
“Hi, Luke. I already know you like my cupcakes, which is the most important thing, but could you also tell me why you’re here and what you want with my grandma?” She realized now that these were probably questions she should have asked before dragging him into her grandmother’s kitchen and inviting him to join her for a pleasant mid-afternoon snack, but she had just been so taken by his confident posture, his friendly eyes. His clean crewcut and pressed shirt made her feel safe somehow—and in this strange, new land of walkers and golf carts, safe was a very welcome feeling. Besides, he was crazy handsome and the first youngish person she’d seen since arriving in Abilene earlier that day.
“Oh, jeez, I’m sorry. I really didn’t do a good job introducing myself, did I?” He frowned for a second, then the smile rushed back to his face and made Mandy feel all bubbly inside. “My intentions with your grandmother are pure, I assure you.”
She broke apart in a fit of giggles. “Well, they’d better be! Besides she already has a boyfriend, so you’ve missed your chance.”
He snapped his fingers playfully in an aww-shucks move she found incredibly endearing.
“That’s okay. I shouldn’t really be dating my patients anyway. Can I try that introduction again?”
She nodded, afraid that opening her mouth to speak would just result in another bout of uncontrollable giggles. Normally, she wasn’t this silly. Was there something in the air down here in Texas, or was it just that this particular conversational partner had that effect on her?
Luke cleared his throat and straightened his back, then turned his full attention on her once more. “Hi, Mandy. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Dr. Luke Ward, the new resident physician. Today I’m making the rounds to say hello and get to know everyone.” He waved, just as she had done when she’d first invited him in. “Hello.”
She quirked an eyebrow. “You’re making the rounds, huh? How many people have you met so far?”
“A dozen or so. Everyone’s real nice.”
“So you’ve done this twelve times, and you still suck at introducing yourself?” The giggles had returned full force.
“To be fair, you kind of caught me off guard.”
“Me?” She placed her hand to her chest in mock surprise. “You’re blaming little old me?”
“If the apron fits.” He gestured toward her apron with the bold statement.
“I already told you it’s my grandma’s!”
“Yeah, sure.” He winked at her, and she could have sworn that for a second the beating of her heart just plain stopped.
Once she had a second to regather herself, she hit him playfully in the chest, noting the firmness of the muscles that lay hidden beneath his polo shirt. “I mean it! She’s quite the character. You’ll see soon enough. In the meantime, tell me about you. Why don’t you speak all Texas-like?”
The Alaska Sunrise Romances: A 9-Book Sweet Romance Collection Page 29
