Wearing one of her long flowing dresses, Fiona Hart grinned at him. Her accurately scientific explanation of comfort food surprised him. “Thank you.”
Callie, Lily and Poppy, followed their grandmother. Within minutes almost the entire family in residence silently rocked, side by side, eating their ice cream.
“Yes, I’ll tell her. Uh huh.” Violet stepped over the threshold, her phone at her ear, and scanned the area for an empty seat. “I love you too.”
“Who is it?” Lily asked.
“Rose. She accidentally butt dialed me.”
“Not having any pie?” her grandmother asked.
“No. I need the sugar rush like I need a hole in my head.” Violet collapsed on a nearby chair. “I don’t ever remember having a day like today, and I hope there’s never another one like it.”
Bouncing headlights lit up the lake in the distance.
“Oh, I think she’s home.” Fiona Hart pushed to her feet and Jake realized for the first time all week she hadn’t been knitting.
The porch went immediately quiet again. Only the sounds of crickets could be heard over the slamming of a car door. Jake watched the silhouette coming up the walkway. His heart lifted at the first clear sight of Heather. Neither bourbon nor a sugar coma could affect him the way a mere glimpse of her did. Never had he felt so strongly about any woman before, and he was sure that no matter how long he lived, no one could ever compare to Heather Preston.
His gaze tracked her every move. Up the steps. Stretching her arm to open the door. The moment her gaze met his, her lips curled upward in a smile that mirrored the one that had just taken over his face. Damn he loved that smile. Not just the smile. He loved her. Dr. Heather Preston. And wasn’t this one helluva time to fall in love.
“How is she?” he asked.
Her eyes remained leveled with his. “She’s awake and alert. And moving her toes.”
“Moving her toes?” Violet asked.
Heather nodded. “I didn’t say anything over the phone. I wasn’t terribly concerned about water in her lungs due to the obstruction, but the creek isn’t that deep near the wall. I didn’t know exactly where she went over and was a little concerned with potential spinal injuries.”
His heart gave a stutter. “I moved her like a rag doll.”
“You had no choice. There was no time. Spinal injury was secondary to not dying. All of which is a moot point as she’s fine. “
“I love good news.” Fiona pushed out of her seat. “I’ll get you some pie and ice cream.”
“Sounds heavenly.”
He wasn’t sure when he’d stood, and he had no idea when the others had abandoned their chairs to follow Fiona. All he knew was there was no looking away from Heather. Nothing seemed to matter more this minute than holding her in his arms and keeping her safe and close. Preferably forever.
“You may have missed your calling in life.” Heather came to a stop in front of him. “You saved her life.”
“You saved her life.” He ran his hands along the sides of her arms. “I would have been useless without you.” His own words echoed in his head. Deep in his heart he knew as sure as he knew his own name that the rest of his life wouldn’t be worth the paper his birth certificate was printed on without her in it.
***
All Heather had wanted from the moment the ER doctor confirmed Susie was stable and out of danger was to get home and find Jake. Home. Jake. Funny how the two words fit together so well. Not Boston, not the hospital, not surgery. Home and Jake. She was sure if she said them out loud they would easily roll off her tongue. And wasn’t that just her luck.
She wasn’t sure how long she’d stood merely steps away. She wasn’t sure when her family had cleared the porch leaving only the two of them. And she couldn’t remember when she’d been so afraid to move. Afraid everything she felt inside would come pouring out. Afraid that a single touch would tell him every scrambled emotion coursing through her veins. Not even for her first surgery had she been so afraid that even one wrong word or move could screw up the rest of her life.
Crickets continued to chirp. An owl gave a low hoot off in the distance. And the clacking of paws on wooden floors grew closer. People were coming. Heather sucked in a deep breath, prepared to retreat, to organize her thoughts and determine how she could feel so very much for one person in such a short amount of time.
The clacking quickened and two golden blurs appeared in her peripheral vision. Where Lady and Sarge went, the General was soon to follow. About to step back, she froze when the warmth of the dog’s fur brushed against the back of her legs. As soon as she felt the fluff of a swishing tail slide away from one leg, a cold nose bumped against the other.
“Whoa.” Surprise ringing in his voice, Jake took a single step forward wobbling for balance.
At the same moment, the full weight of a seventy pound golden retriever suddenly rammed against the back of her knees sending Heather flying the remainder of the short distance between them, slamming her against a rock solid chest. Strong hands circled around her arms, steadying her.
“Hi, there,” the low timbre of his voice sent shock waves rippling through her system. “Fancy meeting you here.”
“Lady, Sarge, heel,” the General’s voice boomed from inside the house and two sets of paws clacked a rapid beat against the solid surface floors and into the distance.
“Sounds like they went AWOL,” he chuckled.
“More like rogue.”
His face lit up. “I’m glad. Well, not that they disobeyed orders, but that they pushed me to take a step.”
Heather glanced down from left to right and then over to the doorway. “That was a bit odd of them.”
“They seem to like getting under our feet.” His hands settled easily on her hips.
Something about what he’d just said had her wanting to think, to process, to say something, but the fog seeping into her brain from his nearness wouldn’t have let her recite the alphabet, never mind form any intelligent conversation.
“I was just thinking.”
She was glad someone could think.
“I have a college roommate who lives in Winchester. Haven’t seen him for a few years.”
“Oh.” Her heart was picking up speed.
He nodded. “If I made my way down one weekend to visit do you think you might be able to free up a few hours for dinner?”
This time her head bobbed. “Everyone has to eat.”
“Maybe dancing?” His lips curved in a smile.
The memory of the other night had her heaving a small sigh. “I’d like that.”
“Next weekend?” he asked.
“I’d like that too.”
His mouth met hers, pressing lightly at first, and then creating a dance all their own. She definitely liked that. Actually, she loved it. Loved him. The thought should have scared the bejeezus out of her, but it didn’t. All she wanted was to stand in this spot for the next twenty or thirty years kissing this man.
When his lips pulled away from hers, she tightened her hold around his waist and bit back the words, don’t stop.
He let his forehead slowly come to rest on hers and blew out a small breath. She had the feeling they were both doing their best to steady rapid heart rates. Hanging onto her, his head lifted back and his eyes leveled with hers. “This may be a mistake, but I’m going to say it anyhow.”
Praying he didn’t say he’d changed his mind about coming to visit, she was already running options for coming to see him instead, almost surprising herself at the thought of going to talk with the local hospital about taking on a cardiac surgeon. She waited for sanity to strike that thought down, but instead found the idea taking root.
Placing his finger under her chin, he lifted her face to meet his. The sharpness in his eyes left her breathless. “I love you.”
Her heart skipped a wild beat. Words like that should drive a woman on her career track running away as fast as she could. Instead they made her smile. “
That could be a good thing.”
He cocked one brow. “Could?”
“Yeah,” she nodded. “Because I’m pretty sure I love you too.”
An echoed thumping sounded beside them. Heather glanced down at her feet. Lady sat to one side of them, Sarge on the other, tails wagging a mile a minute against the hard porch floor. If Heather didn’t know better she’d swear the two animals were smiling at them.
Jake looked from the dogs to her, his forehead scrunched in a slight frown. “Do you think they know something we don’t?”
Wrapping her hand around his neck, she pulled him in for a quick touch of the lips, then smiled up at him. “Not anymore.”
Chapter Seventeen - Epilogue
“There’s a reason the dining room was designed as the biggest room in the house. Lots of offspring.” Left hand on her hip, Lucy counted the chairs with her free hand. “Good thing, too, or there wouldn’t be enough for this brood.”
“How many times are you going to do that?” Grams shook her head, placing the bacon-wrapped asparagus tips on the buffet. “Two tables seating for eighteen. We’ve got this covered.”
A tray in each hand, Lily set the deviled eggs and Swedish meatballs beside the other appetizers and chuckled at the two women. She didn’t know of many families who kept a spare drop leaf dining table just for holiday dinners. “It is rather fun having all of us together, no excuses.”
“Well, we have been doing this every year since you girls were twinkles in your parent’s eyes.” Grams smiled at her granddaughter.
“Yes.” Lucy spun around to face Lily. “But this year there is an extra seat at the table.”
“They do seem rather happy, don’t they?” Lily didn’t have to be clairvoyant to know why Lucy was especially excited this year. What she didn’t understand was how Heather had pulled it off. Ever since falling for Jake Harper she had managed to come to the lake every other weekend. On opposite weekends, Jake had gone to Boston. With each visit to the lake, the two looked more in sync than the time before. Any minute now Lily expected them to finish each other’s sentences. Or even still, read each other’s minds. Though, frankly, she wasn’t totally sure they weren’t already doing that.
“Where shall I put these?” Iris held out a tray of kolackys and another of spitzbuben.
“Those are for dessert.” Lily sighed. She’d better put the crème puffs and coconut custard pie away before one of her family brought those out too.
“Oh no. These are meant to be snacked on all day long.” Iris maneuvered the trays away from Lily. “Thanksgiving is all about leaving the diets and the calorie counting behind. Technically it’s the one day of the year where nothing counts.”
“Do you want the cheese platters in here or in the parlor?” Cindy balanced her grandmother’s garlic cheese ball and her grandfather’s favorite jalapeno jam on cream cheese spread.
“Is everyone in the States of New York and Massachusetts joining us for dinner?” Dragging her roller bag behind her, Zinnia parked it against the wall and stuffing her gloves in her pockets, hurried into her grandmother’s arms. “Boy, are you a sight for sore eyes.”
“Stop the presses,” Cindy called. “The prodigal cousin has returned.”
“Ha ha.” Zinnia let go of her grandmother and twisted around to hug her cousin.
“Nice to have you back.”
“Ditto,” Zinnia murmured.
Tails wagging, Sarge and Lady came running, nails clacking on the hardwood floors.
“Everyone is happy to see you.” The General followed the pups and swallowed his granddaughter in an old-fashioned bear hug.
Multiple footsteps fell heavily on the front porch. Immediately, Lucy beamed and elbowed Grams, whispering like a giddy teen, “They’re here.”
Lily would have rolled her eyes except she was just as excited to see her cousin and her ‘beau’ as Lucy called him. She liked that at least someone in the family had finally found a match to equal what they’d grown up with.
Heather came through the door, stomping snowy boots on the winter welcome mat. One hand linked with Jake’s, she grinned at the cluster of family hovering in the massive foyer. “Now this is what I call a welcoming committee.” Slowly, her fingers slipped away from Jake’s as he helped her shrug out of her coat.
On her way to the kitchen, Lily caught Jake’s eye and reading the silent question, nodded. His responding grin was so bright she was rather surprised no one else in the room noticed.
Everything about today just made Lily want to smile. The special cupcakes were safely tucked away so none of the other family members would pilfer them. As much as she loved baking, this particular project had filled her day with joy, and maybe a pinch of envy, but mostly joy and happiness for her oldest cousin.
“That man seems too good to be true.” Violet slid onto a stool at the island. “How did none of us notice him before?”
“Because he wasn’t meant for any of us.”
Grinning, Violet reached for a box of crackers. “True.”
“If you’re going to loiter in here,” Lucy hurried into the kitchen and pointed toward the back wall, “grab an apron and help with the food.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Violet sprang to her feet. “But for the sake of the ER, you’d better only be needing help with salad.”
Lily couldn’t help but laugh. As much as she’d love to accuse her cousin of exaggerating, sadly, the kitchen was definitely not Violet’s friend.
“On second thought,” Lucy wiped her hands on her side, “this can wait. Let’s join everyone in the parlor.”
“Good idea.” Violet set the apron she’d grabbed back on the hook.
Within the hour all the cousins and their parents were scattered around the first floor eating and laughing and sharing favorite memories.
“Well,” the General stood from his favorite chair, “I, for one, am ready for some turkey.”
Cindy pushed to her feet. “And just a heads up, I helped with the gravy.”
Half the room moaned, the other half laughed, and following the General to the dining room, Lily and Cindy’s mom patted her daughter on the back. “Don’t worry, sweetie, if having a doctor in the family doesn’t help, I know a good funeral director.”
Winding her arm around her mom’s waist, Cindy smiled. “I love you too.”
Coming up behind them, Heather patted her cousin on the back as well. “No worries, I have connections at the local hospital. We can pump stomachs in a heartbeat.”
“Ha ha ha.” Cindy took it all with the good humor intended.
Standing behind Heather, Jake caught Lily’s attention and nodded.
Lily flashed him a thumbs up and slipped away from the crowd to the cupboard where she’d hid the requested confection.
With eighteen people shuffling around the table either finding seats or carrying in food from the kitchen, no one noticed Lily entering the room with the dish of elaborate cupcakes. While everybody settled down in their seats, Lily placed a red velvet cupcake with cream cheese icing and a single candle sticking up.
It took a few minutes of additional chatting for most folks to even realize what she’d done.
Heather finally stopped gazing into Jake’s eyes long enough to notice the cupcake. “What’s this? It’s not my birthday?”
“They say,” Jake cleared his throat, “that to enjoy life to the fullest, we should have dessert first.”
Blinking, Heather’s gaze scanned the room and noticed she was the only one with a cupcake. Looking down, her eyes suddenly widened giving away when she spotted the brilliant cut diamond ring hanging off the candle.
Her startled gasp, coupled with Jake’s chair scraping the floor as he pushed away from the table to get down on one knee, silenced the few family members still catching up.
Tears filled Heather’s eyes. Even knowing what was coming, Lily had to blink back her own tears of happiness for her cousin.
“I know this isn’t as romantic as a sunrise proposa
l on the point, but if you say yes, I promise to love you with all my heart and to spend every day giving my all to make you happy. Will you marry me?”
To say Heather flew out of the chair would be the understatement of the century. The seat kicked back, and throwing her arms around Jake’s neck, the two toppled over onto the floor.
“I do believe that is a yes.” The General smiled.
Heather leaned back, and grinning from ear to ear, called over her shoulder, “That is a resounding yes.”
One not so quick kiss later, Jake and Heather came to their feet.
Already seated beside Heather, Lily was the first to huddle around her cousin with a congratulatory hug. Squeals of oh my gosh, congratulations, and I want to see the ring, tumbled over each other until Jake reached around her and removing the ring from the candle, held it up to her. “May I?”
Heather bobbed her head, grinning like a fool.
Taking a second to wipe some of the icing from the diamond, Jake slid it onto the third finger of her left hand. “I’m sorry it’s a little messy. Still want to marry me?”
“Absolutely.” Her grin growing impossibly wider, she nodded at her new fiancé. “Life doesn’t get any better than this.”
Sitting down again, while the rest of the family continued to drench Heather with more squeals and hugs, and shook Jake’s hand with congratulations and the occasional warning, Lily wistfully took in the scene. Who knew on that night not so long ago when Heather collided with Jake at the bottom of the stairs, that her world would never be the same.
Too bad the only thing Lily ever collided with was usually low to the ground and unlikely to be breathing. And wasn’t that a shame.
***
So glad you could join Heather and Jake on their adventure in HART LAND. If you've read my books before, this little part can sound like a broken record (yeah I'm that old lol) but Ratings and Reviews are so very important to an author's livelihood. So, I'll say it all again, by now many of you have read my explanation of how authors (yes me too!) love to see Star Ratings. The only catch is that we have no idea what you think of a book if it's not reviewed. And yes, every book in a series needs reviews—LOTS of reviews. It’s not my intention to lecture – but many readers are unaware of the importance of reviews to an author’s career or how easy they are to write. So if you enjoyed reading HEATHER please take a second to let others know what fun it is spending time in Hart Land. Reading reviews –even if they're only two words—can make an author’s day. It certainly helps mine!
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