Loving the Soldier

Nurse Kirsten Bailey places her family above all else. She refuses to give former army medic Brady Hewitt any leeway for being weeks late in visiting his ill grandmother. But Brady has a good excuse, and he’s eager to show the pretty nurse that first impressions aren’t always right. While working with Brady to care for his grandmother and two orphaned boys, Kirsten realizes that his charm and kindness aren’t an act. But Kirsten plans on doing missionary work abroad, and she’s determined not to fall for the engaging soldier. Could the man she once dismissed be the one to make her stay forever?

“Brady, where are you?”

“In here.” Funny how her voice quickened his pulse.

“Ready to go?” Kirsten poked her head through the doorway.

“Almost.” As he gazed at her, he noticed the little blotch of blue paint on her cheek. Without thinking, he reached over and rubbed his thumb across it.

“You have paint on your cheek.”

“I do?” Staring at him, she rubbed a hand across the place he’d touched.

His mind turned to mush, and all he could think about was spending more time with her.

“Mr. Brady, we’re done,” a little voice interrupted. Zach charged into the room and stopped abruptly, making Tyler nearly bump into his brother.

Brady smiled at the boys. “Would you guys like to grab a burger and meet Gram?”

The boys cheered.

“Am I invited, too?”

“Of course.” Brady grinned. Things were definitely looking up. Kirsten had invited herself to join them.

Brady couldn’t help thinking about the family picture the four of them presented.

MERRILLEE WHREN is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award presented by Romance Writers of America. She has also been the recipient of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of thirty-five-plus years, and has two grown daughters. Please visit her website at merrilleewhren.com or connect with her on Facebook at facebook.com/merrilleewhren.author.

Nursing the

Soldier’s Heart

Merrillee Whren

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

—Proverbs 19:20–21

I want to dedicate this book

to my granddaughters,

who remind me of what is important in life.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

The familiar recorded voice on the other end of the line made Kirsten Bailey’s stomach churn. The phone number had an Atlanta area code, but if it was a cell phone, no telling where the owner resided. She mustered some politeness and repeated her daily mantra. How many messages would she have to leave before she got a response? She slammed down the phone.

“Why are you abusing the phone?” Jen Chafin, the other late-shift nurse, swiveled in her chair as she tucked a lock of auburn hair behind one ear.

Kirsten grimaced. “Cora Barton asked me to call her grandson again. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve left him a message. The man obviously doesn’t care about his grandmother.”

“Are you calling the right number?”

“Absolutely. The voice mail message says, ‘This is Brady Hewitt. Leave a message.’” Kirsten shook her head again. “I hate the expression on Cora’s face when I tell her I haven’t reached him.”

“Does he have a job where he’s out of signal range for a period of time?”

“Cora doesn’t know what he does.” Kirsten shrugged. “Sounds like he’s a ne’er-do-well who picks up jobs here and there when he feels like it.”

Jen turned back to her computer. “Does Cora have any other family?”

“I don’t think so, otherwise I’m sure she would’ve asked me to call someone else. Her daughter died in a car accident when her grandson was young. Cora raised him.”

Jen stopped typing. “That certainly makes him ungrateful.”

“My thoughts exactly. How could someone ignore a grandmother like Cora? She’s one of the sweetest women I know.”

“Next time you could always leave a message telling him what you really think.” Jen laughed halfheartedly.

“I’d like to, but I have to keep it professional.” Kirsten grimaced. “At least Cora has lots of friends here at The Village to make up for her inattentive grandson.”

Jen nodded. “And speaking of friends, look who’s coming down the hall.”

Kirsten peered over the cowunter. “Annie and her kids. That’ll make Cora’s day.”

Kirsten waved at Annie Payton and her two small children, Kara and Spencer. The kids let go of their mother’s hand and raced to the nurses’ station.

Shaking her head, Annie caught up to her children. “Sorry, Kirsten. They’re excited to see you.”

“That’s okay.” Kirsten greeted the youngsters with a hug. “Who are you here to see?”

“Ms. Cora,” the children said in unison.

“We want her to get better, and Mommy says our visits will help.” Kara scrunched up her little nose. “I hope Ms. Cora gets out of here soon.”

“We all do.” Kirsten turned her attention to Annie. “How are the wedding plans?”

Annie’s face brightened. “Everything’s falling into place. Just ten more days.”

Kirsten came around the counter and gave Annie a hug. “I’m so happy for you and Ian.”

“Thanks.” Annie glanced down the hallway. “Guess we better get down to see Cora. Talk to you later.”

Kirsten waved as the trio went down the hallway. Seeing Annie and her children made Kirsten long for the family she’d almost had. But she shouldn’t dwell on what could have been. She had to concentrate on the here and now.

“Are you going with someone to Annie and Ian’s wedding?” Jen asked when Kirsten returned to her computer.

Kirsten frowned. “That’s another sore topic.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Maybe we should work and not talk at all.”

“But I can work and talk at the same time.” Jen waved a hand over the computer keyboard. “You know the rest of the evening is usually pretty quiet. Besides, you can’t leave me hanging like this.”

Shaking her head, Kirsten looked straight ahead as she input some data. “No fair. You have a husband who’s a built-in date for such occasions, so you don’t have to worry about someone trying to find you an escort.”

“Your dad?”

Kirsten released a harsh breath. “Yeah. Ever since I came back from Brazil, he’s been pushing some guy at me. I think he’s hoping I’ll find someone here, so I won’t go back.”

Jen nodded. “I can understand that. Lauren’s a college senior, and I’m hoping she finds a job close to home when she graduates. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have a child in another country, where you could never see them. Look at it from your dad’s point of view.”

Kirsten shrugged. “I suppose. Family’s important to me. That’s why I came home as soon as I found out how sick Mom was, and I stayed even after she passed away because Dad needed me. But he needs to let me live my own life, and he needs to get on with his.”

“I’m sure the loss of your mom still weighs on him.”

“I know. It hasn’t been easy for either of us.” Kirsten stopped typing and looked at Jen. “His duties as director here at The Village keep him busy, and that’s good. But the nights are hard for him. He didn’t want me to move into my own place, but I think that’s better for him, don’t you?”

“Probably, but your dad still looks at you as his little girl. You’re an adult, but you’re also his child.” Jen grabbed a folder from the end of the desk. “He wants the best for you.”

“I know that, but I wanted to adopt those three children in Brazil. Now that won’t happen.” Kirsten fingered the beaded bracelet on her wrist—the one Luciana, Nathalia and Rafael had made for her right before she came back to the States.

“Do you think they’ll lift the suspension of international adoptions?”

“Those children are lost to me. But I’m still trying to get a new visa in order to go back.” Kirsten tried not to think of those sweet children, but the image of their smiles and dark brown eyes looking up at her wouldn’t go away. Losing them was worse than the day she’d found out she could never have children of her own.

“What about trying to adopt children here?”

“Another thing my dad suggests when I mention going back to my missionary work, but it’s not the same. The kids here at The Village have wonderful homes with house parents who love them. The children in Brazil are in crowded orphanages with an inadequate number of caregivers. And there are many more on the streets.” Kirsten tried to shake away the sad memories. “I love my dad and want to be here for him, but he has to move on with his life. So do I. Going back to Brazil is my plan. That’s what I want more than anything.”

“Even though the kids in the children’s homes here have a wonderful place to live, don’t you think the ones who are eligible for adoption would want a special family of their own?”

Kirsten shook her head. “I only know the children I worked with in Brazil were destitute and neglected far too often.”

“Do you ever think these things happened because God has another plan for your life?”

Kirsten didn’t want to answer that question. “For the ten years I was in Brazil, I knew God wanted me there. I want to go back.”

“Think of it this way. You’re still helping—helping your dad and these seniors who need your gentle caring spirit in their lives.”

“I’m not sure my spirit is so gentle.” Kirsten tried to smile. “Tracking down wayward grandsons and shoveling pills at senior citizens isn’t exactly what I’d hoped to be doing with my life.”

Forcing herself not to dwell on Jen’s assessment of the situation, Kirsten grabbed some more charts and prayed for an uneventful evening. Were Jen and her dad right? Should she think about adopting children here? If she did that, how could she ever go back to Brazil? Why wouldn’t God want her to return to Brazil as a missionary nurse? What better plan could He have for her?

After Kirsten finished her paperwork, she got up and checked the medication cart, then turned to Jen. “I’ve got a few meds to deliver, and I’ll have to give Cora the bad news.”

Jen shook her head. “I hope the unresponsiveness of her grandson doesn’t affect Cora’s recovery.”

“Me, too. I hate giving her distressing news.” Kirsten headed down the hall.

As she delivered the medications to her elderly patients, she willed herself to get rid of her negative attitude toward Cora’s grandson. It would do Cora no good.

Four doors down the hall Kirsten came to Cora’s room. The door was slightly ajar. A television blared with the local news.

Kirsten peered through the small opening. While Cora’s roommate watched the television, Cora appeared to be sleeping. Not wanting to disturb her, Kirsten backed away, but she caught sight of a man with a scruffy appearance sitting in the chair at the foot of Cora’s bed.

Who was he, and what was he doing there while Cora slept? Kirsten’s radar for trouble zoomed into action.

* * *

Brady sat on the chair at the foot of his grandmother’s bed and glanced around the room. What would he find here at The Village of Hope? His grandmother had come to live here after she’d had a slight stroke about four years ago. He’d prayed this place was a good home for her.

At the time, he’d been in the army over in Afghanistan. There had been no chance to get home to see her. He shouldn’t use that as an excuse because even when he’d been stateside, he’d never taken the opportunity to spend time with the person who’d saved him from foster care. He’d never appreciated that until now. He should’ve come to see her rather than calling her a few times a year.

Guilt for the years he’d stayed away consumed his thoughts. The time had come to make amends—to renew his relationship with the one person on this earth who actually cared about him. She looked so frail lying there, her gnarled fingers resting on top of the blanket. What had happened to the robust woman of his childhood?

Was she okay? Her eyes were still closed and she didn’t move a muscle, but the steady rise and fall of her chest eased his mind. Her glasses and her well-worn Bible lay on the table next to the bed. She used to read that Bible every day and had gone to church every Sunday. He’d disregarded her faith—even mocked it. He was sorry about that, too.

So many of the decisions he’d made had been made with only a thought to his own life. Could he break that pattern? It might not be easy, but the time had come for him to think about someone besides himself.

Brady’s stomach rumbled, and he glanced out the window at the tall pines interspersed with oaks and maples with leaves that held a hint of fall color. He wished he’d stopped to eat, but he’d wanted to get here before the place closed to visitors. Did they have a cafeteria where he could get supper, or a vending machine? If he went searching, he might run into the disagreeable nurse who had left far too many messages on his voice mail. Shaking his head, he smiled at his ridiculous thoughts. Why was he afraid to face this unknown woman of the numerous phone calls?

He was done hiding out in his grandmother’s room. He would march out there and let the nurse know he was here. Brady Hewitt—soldier, oil-rig worker, commercial fisherman and all-around good guy. That last part was a stretch, but he was working on the good-guy stuff.

Pushing out of the chair, Brady looked toward the door. A nurse stood in the doorway. Their gazes met. Her chocolate-brown eyes held him captive, and he couldn’t look away. He fought to keep his mouth from dropping open. Did this attractive woman belong to the impersonal voice he’d heard over and over on his phone? Maybe she wasn’t the nurse who’d called. He could hope. He hated to think that such a pretty face served as a facade for those unpleasant messages.

“Sir, may I speak with you out here in the hall?” The nurse motioned with her hand.

Nodding, Brady sauntered across the room to the door. He couldn’t mistake the voice. The frosty tones on his phone’s voice-mail messages belonged to the attractive nurse. He followed the nurse, whose dark hair was pulled into a knot at the back of her head. “What can I do for you, ma’am?”

Although she wasn’t short, she had to look up at him. “Do you mind telling me why you’re in this room?”

“Cora Barton is my grandmother. Is there a problem?” He feigned an innocent expression along with a smile as he rubbed his stubble-covered chin.

His height advantage didn’t intimidate her as her dark eyes seemed to bore into his soul. She frowned. “So you’re Brady Hewitt. I’ve been trying to reach you for days. Make that weeks. Why didn’t you tell us when you arrived? Why didn’t you answer my calls?”

“So you’re Kirsten Bailey. Nice to meet you, too.” He broadened his smile into a grin. Could he make her smile? She was the beauty and the beast rolled into one. Prickly and pretty all at the same time. Or maybe she was the beauty, and he was the beast. His disheveled looks might put him in that category. Was she going to chastise him? “Yes, I’m Brady Hewitt, and I arrived a few minutes ago. I know you’ve been trying to reach me.”

“At least you could’ve told us you were coming, so I wouldn’t have kept calling.”

He’d lived on the edge for most of his life. He liked a challenge, and he could sense she was going to be one. “You know after listening to dozens of your messages, I figured I wasn’t really interested in talking to you. But now that I’m here I’ll let you know what I think.”

“And what would that be?” Kirsten gave him a defiant look.

She wasn’t backing down, and he liked that. But he wasn’t going to back down, either. “You need to work on your bedside manner, Kirsten. Is it okay if I call you Kirsten?”

Blinking, she opened her mouth as if she was going to say something, then closed it without uttering a word. She stared at him as if she couldn’t believe what he’d said. Okay, then. She obviously didn’t have a sense of humor, either. Now what?

They stood there staring at each other until Kirsten finally blinked. “We have rules here, very strict rules about people coming and going.”

Brady gave her a lazy grin. “Ma’am, I apologize if I broke your rules, but my name was on the list at the guardhouse at the main entrance, and the lady at the front door here had my name, as well. She buzzed me right in.”

“But didn’t she tell you to check at the nurses’ station for Cora’s room number?”

“She did, but on my way in, I met, ah... Annie was her name. She had two cute kids with her. The little girl was quite talkative and said they’d been visiting my grandmother. They gave me her room number and directions to get here.” Brady could tell by Kirsten’s expression she didn’t have a response for his explanation. He took some pleasure in knowing he had her tongue-tied. “So you see I had no reason to check at the nurse’s station.”

Tight-lipped, Kirsten nodded. “Please remember in the future to let us know you’re here. For security reasons, we like to know who’s in the building.”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be glad to check in with you.” Brady saluted, hoping to get a smile out of her, but none appeared. “Since Cora’s sleeping, is there some place where I can get something to eat?”

“Follow me.” Kirsten turned on her heel and proceeded down the hall.

Brady followed. He’d better behave himself because he’d sure hate to further annoy the pretty nurse. His haggard appearance wasn’t going to win him any accolades. Nearly twelve hours of driving could take a toll on anyone’s looks. And he had to remember this wasn’t all about him.

When she reached the nurses’ station, she stopped and turned in his direction. “Let me introduce you to the other late-shift nurse, Jen Chafin. Jen, this is Brady Hewitt, Cora’s grandson.”

The other nurse, who was older and a little on the plump side but with a much friendlier demeanor, came out from behind the counter and extended her hand to him. “Hello, Mr. Hewitt. So glad you’re finally here.”

Brady shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, Jen. Please call me Brady since I’ll be hanging around here as long as Cora’s here.”

“She’s a dear. We love her, but we’re eager for her to make a complete recovery and get back in her apartment.” Jen smiled.

He was glad to see his grandmother had loads of friends, who, unlike him, had been there for her when she needed help. “Is there a chance she could lose her spot in the assisted living center?”

Jen shook her head. “Not unless the doctor believes she needs to stay here, but that’s not likely. She’s making good progress.”

Brady nodded. “Good.”

Kirsten stepped behind the counter. “Brady would like something to eat. Should we send him to the cafeteria?”

Jen glanced at the clock, then back at him. “If you hurry, you might find the cafeteria open. Turn left down this hallway and go through the double doors. Signs should direct you. If they’ve closed down, you can still get something from the vending machines there. You’re welcome to bring your food back to Cora’s room.”

“Thanks.” Brady headed in the direction Jen had indicated, but stopped and looked over the counter at Kirsten. “Kirsten, I appreciate you letting me know about Cora. Have a good evening.”

Brady didn’t wait for a response because he probably wasn’t going to get one. He was going to enjoy getting to know the by-the-rules nurse and see whether he could get past her defenses. A kind word was a better approach than his earlier criticism.

Besides having to soothe the ruffled feathers of the pretty nurse, he had to figure out what he was going to do now that he was back in Georgia. He’d rather be someplace less crowded—someplace with lots of space to breath—but he’d been thinking about his own wants for too long. The time had come to put his grandmother first. That meant finding a permanent job and a place to live here. He wasn’t quite sure where that would lead him. Figuring it out was his first priority, not the attractive woman whose disdain challenged him to change her mind.

But he intended to put his charm into full gear.

* * *

“Now there’s a fine-looking man, wouldn’t you agree?” Jen leaned on the counter.

Kirsten shook her head. “If you like tattoos and the scruffy, unshaven look.”

“I was concentrating on those golden-brown eyes and that tousled brown hair.”

Shaking her head, Kirsten frowned. “He looks like he’s been sleeping in his clothes, and that tousled brown hair hasn’t seen a barber in weeks.”

“Looks good on his six-foot-plus muscled frame.” Jen let out a low whistle. “I think somebody needs an attitude adjustment.”

“I suppose you mean me.”

“Uh, yeah.”

Kirsten sighed as Jen came back around the counter. “I know I was rude, but he made me angry. He was impolite not to let us know he was coming or that he’d arrived.”

“Did he tell you why he never responded to your messages?”

Kirsten lowered her head and put a hand to her forehead. “He implied my messages were curt and unfriendly.”

Shrugging, Jen frowned. “I thought you sounded okay when you left messages.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t hear them all. Maybe my anger came through even when I was trying not to let it show.” Kirsten raised her head. “Oh well, he’s here now, so I don’t have to worry about it. I hope his presence will make Cora happy. That’s all I care about.”

An unsettled feeling washed over Kirsten as she tried to concentrate on her work. She didn’t want to spend time defending her reaction to the smooth Mr. Hewitt. The man had waltzed in here thinking he could flash around his good looks and charm and make everything okay. Nothing about a cocky guy appealed to her, especially one with a plethora of military and animal tattoos decorating his arms. She suspected there were probably more that couldn’t be seen.

Jen raised her eyebrows. “Did Cora seem happy to see him?”

“Don’t know.” Kirsten shrugged. “She was sleeping, and he was sitting there beside her bed when I looked into the room. All that matters is Cora’s happiness.”

“You’re right.” Jen nodded. “But I was thinking he might be a good candidate for your date to Annie and Ian’s wedding.”

With incredulity screaming through her mind, Kirsten turned to Jen. “You’re joking, right?”

“No, I’m as serious as can be.” Jen tapped her fingers on her keyboard. “Taking Brady would show your dad you can get your own dates.”

“My dad would have a fit if I showed up with a guy sporting tattoos.”

“And the plot thickens.”

Kirsten shook her head. “There’s no plot, and the only thickness is in your skull.”

They worked for several minutes in silence until Jen craned her neck to see down the hallway. She chuckled. “The hero of our story is on his way back.”

“Will you please behave?” Waving a hand at Jen, Kirsten stared at the computer monitor and hoped the man would pass by without a comment. “Don’t say a word to him.”

“Can’t be unfriendly.”

“We have work to do.” Kirsten tried to concentrate on the scheduling chart on her monitor and to not be tempted to see where Brady was. Why was she letting him bother her? She had to admit Jen was right. Underneath the tattoos and scruffy appearance was a good-looking man, but she couldn’t let that interest her. Charm and good looks didn’t undo bad character. What kind of man would ignore his grandmother for years?

“Hello, ladies. Care to share some of my contraband?” Brady held up a plastic bag bulging with unseen goodies. “I caught some of the cafeteria workers before they’d completely closed down. They loaded me up with treats.”

“No, thanks. We’ve already eaten.” Kirsten berated herself for not following her own advice. She had engaged the man in conversation. Now she’d have to pay the price.

Jen cast Kirsten a quizzical look, then smiled up at Brady. “She’s not speaking for me. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

“Sure.” Brady set a large drink on the counter, then proceeded to take several plastic containers out of the bag. “Roast beef. Gravy and mashed potatoes. Corn on the cob. Chocolate cake.”

Jen stood and surveyed Brady’s bounty. “How did you manage to get all this?”

Brady grinned. “I used my considerable charm on the ladies.”

With her gaze downcast, Kirsten rolled her eyes. Besides being ill-mannered, this guy was full of himself, too. Hardly a captivating combination. But who was she to judge? She’d been rude, too. The urge to apologize sifted through her mind, but she couldn’t find the words and quickly dismissed any desire to join the conversation.

Kirsten recognized that it wasn’t just Brady’s unresponsive behavior toward Cora that bugged her. He reminded her of Lance Tucker, the man who’d broken her heart in college. A charmer just like Brady, Lance had convinced her that he loved her. In the end, though, he’d broken her heart. She’d gone to his apartment unannounced and found him with another woman.

Jen nodded. “Looks like you used your charm well.”

“There’s more. I helped myself to the vending machine, too.” Brady dumped several bags of junk food onto the counter. He picked up one bag and held it up. “I haven’t had pork rinds in a long time.”

“Not my favorite snack.” Jen wrinkled her nose. “On second thought, Kirsten’s right. We’ve already eaten so I’d better refrain from eating more, but you must be hungry.”

Don’t you have a grandmother to see? Kirsten wanted to ask him the question, but she pressed her lips together to enforce her own silence.

“Yeah, my stomach’s been growling since I hit Interstate 285. I would’ve stopped to get something, but I wanted to get here.” Brady split open the bag of pork rinds and popped one into his mouth.

“How far did you drive today?” Jen asked.

Brady swallowed. “Too far. Started out in Dallas this morning.”

“Wow! You’ve driven a long way. You must’ve been eager to visit Cora.”

Brady nodded and gathered his haul. “And I’d better get down there and see if she’s awake.”

As he sauntered down the hall, the bag swinging by his side, Kirsten couldn’t help but look. She watched him until he disappeared into Cora’s room. Aggravated with herself, she turned to find Jen grinning. “Okay, so you’re right. He is good-looking.”

“Aha. So are you going to ask him to the wedding?”

Frowning, Kirsten narrowed her gaze. “Absolutely not. I just met the man. What would he think if I asked him to a wedding when he barely knows me or anyone here?”

“He’d think his abundant charm had wooed you.” Jen laughed.

Kirsten shook her head. “Maybe I’ll take Dad up on one of his date suggestions just to put an end to this discussion.”

Jen tapped a finger on her head. “Oh, good thought. Make the new guy jealous.”

“You’re impossible.” Kirsten pressed a button on her keyboard and the nearby printer sprang to life. “I have reports to prepare. These days registered nurses spend more time filling in charts and reports than they spend with patients.”

“I agree with you there.” Jen lifted her own stack of papers and resumed her spot at the desk.

Kirsten grabbed the pages from the printer and pinned the schedule to the bulletin board, then sent an email copy to the nurse’s assistants and LPNs. While she checked the next scheduled doses of medications, she tried not to think of Brady, but the image of his broad shoulders and disarming grin flitted through her mind. Despite his appeal, too many things about him said bad boy. She’d already dealt with one of those, and she didn’t want to repeat the experience. Brady Hewitt was everything she didn’t want in a man.

Chapter Two

Cora’s roommate still had the TV near full volume when Brady returned to the room. His grandmother continued to sleep. A soft snore accompanied her breathing. How she slept through the noise was a mystery to him. He settled in the nearby chair, put his bag on Cora’s rolling tray and extracted his food. As he opened the containers, the aroma made his stomach growl again. He grabbed the plastic fork and ate with abandon.

He scarfed down the food so fast he forgot to savor it, and he’d forgotten to thank the Lord for his blessings. He put down his fork and bowed his head. Thank You, Lord, for bringing me safely here. Thank You for being with Cora and helping her to recover completely. And thanks for this food.

When Brady raised his head, Cora was sitting up in bed. “Brady, is that you?”

“Gram, you’re awake.” Brady jumped up from the chair, put his food aside and hurried to her bedside. He gave her frail shoulders a big hug. “I finally got your message and came as soon as I could.”

“Let me look at you.” Cora eyed him from head to toe. “You’ve grown up a lot since I last laid eyes on you. The pictures you sent don’t do you justice. You look a lot like your dad.”

Brady merely nodded. He didn’t want to be anything like his dad. Brady hadn’t seen the man in years. He’d made a promise to himself that he would make something of his life, not let his circumstances determine the outcome of his life as his dad had done.

“Why did it take you so long to get here?”

Hoping to avoid answering her question, Brady shoved the cart over to Cora’s bedside. “You want something to eat?”

Cora waved a hand at him. “No, they feed us dinner around five o’clock. Can’t eat another bite.” She peered at the cart. “Is that chocolate cake?”

He chuckled. “I thought you said you couldn’t eat another bite.”

“There’s always room for chocolate.”

Brady slid the cake closer to Cora. “It’s all yours.”

“We can share, but I don’t have a fork.” Cora reached for her call button. “I’ll page the nurse.”

Brady took a deep breath. Would that bring Kirsten their way? Probably not. Registered nurses didn’t usually bring forks to patients. Minutes later, his supposition proved to be true when a petite young blonde scurried into the room.

The young woman surveyed the room. “May I help someone in here?”

“I need a fork, so I can eat this delicious cake. And I want you to meet my grandson, Brady.” Cora waved the young nurse’s aide over. “Brady, meet Kayla. She takes really good care of me.”

“Your grandma is super. Everyone here loves her.” Kayla shook Brady’s hand. “I’m so glad to meet you. Cora talks about you all the time.”

That was the second time he’d heard the same thing today. “Thanks for taking good care of her, Kayla.”

“It’s a pleasure. I’ll be right back with that fork.” Kayla hurried away.

“Seems you have quite a fan club here.”

Cora waved both hands at him. “The nurses here love everyone. They’re so caring, but I still want to get out of here and back into my own place.”

“I’m sure you do.” Brady sat down again as Kayla returned with a fork.

Cora thanked the nurse’s aide, then turned to Brady. “Now you can answer my question.”

“You mean why it took me so long to get here?”

Cora nodded. “I had them calling you every day.”

So that’s why he’d had so many messages. Maybe he’d been a little too hard on Kirsten. “I know. When I retrieved my phone, I heard them all.”

“Retrieved your phone?”

Brady scooted the chair closer to the bed. “I went up to Alaska this past May—”

“Alaska? You never told me.”

Nodding, Brady grimaced. “I know. I haven’t been good about staying in contact with you, and I promise I’ll do better in the future.”

“So why were you there?”

“I hired on as a deckhand on a commercial fishing boat during salmon season. Good pay.” Brady reached over and took Cora’s hand. “Gram, I would’ve been here sooner, but when they called I was in the middle of the sea. I got my messages when I retrieved my phone on the mainland.”

Cora smiled. “I knew something wasn’t right when you didn’t return the calls.”

“I got on the first flight out of Anchorage into Dallas. My pickup truck was there because I’d planned to return to Texas when the summer fishing season was over.”

“And you drove from Dallas today?”

Brady nodded. “Twelve hours.”

“You must be exhausted.”

“But seeing you has made the long trip worth it.”

“And seeing you has made my day, my whole year. I was afraid I would never lay eyes on you again.”

Brady hung his head. He wasn’t good at saying he was sorry, but he was. Cora had aged, and he had to face the fact that the time he had left with her was limited. He’d missed too many years with her. How could he ever make up for that? “I’m here now. So let’s make the most of it.”

“After you got out of the army, I didn’t hear much from you. You wrote a couple of times, but you never told me anything of significance about your life. I prayed for you every day while you were in the army and every day after you got out.”

“Thanks, Gram. Your prayers saved me more than once.” Not only from enemy bombs and bullets, but also from his own self-destructive behavior.

Her prayers had led him to Chaplain Howard, who’d urged Brady to take another look at Christianity. He’d remembered the Bible lessons from his youth and his grandmother’s devotion to God. With the Lord’s help, Brady stopped drinking to excess, misusing women and destroying his life. He’d spent the years since getting out of the army roaming from place to place, trying to find out where he belonged.

As Brady recounted the years since he’d been gone, he recognized the pattern—moving from one place to another, never finding a place to call home. Maybe he was more like his dad than he realized. The army had given him the discipline he’d lacked, and Chaplain Howard had capped that discipline with a moral code, but the army had also contributed to his wanderlust.

Now Brady wondered where the Lord was leading him. Did he belong here? He’d left his grandmother’s house in anger when he’d been barely seventeen, vowing never to return. This was one of the last places he would have picked to settle down, but his grandmother and the challenge of getting a pretty but petulant nurse to like him invited him to stay.

“What are your plans?” Cora peered at him through the large glasses that covered a significant portion of her wrinkled face.

Brady didn’t want to make any promises he couldn’t keep. Staying here to help his grandmother was something he should do, but the thought of living in Georgia again didn’t appeal to him. Finding a job was the only way he could stay, but he didn’t have to make any decisions now. “I don’t know, Gram.”

“I wish you’d settle here. You’re the only close family I have left.”

“I’m going to have to figure that out.” More guilt. He’d been gone for nearly twelve years, only visiting Cora twice during that time. He should’ve made more of an effort to be part of his grandmother’s life.

After leaving on bad terms, he hadn’t known how to make it right. The visits had always seemed uncomfortable. Cora had already been a widow when his mom, Cora’s only child, had died in a car accident. After that his dad had gone into a deep depression and never recovered. That’s when Cora had taken Brady in. She’d done her best to give him a decent life, but he’d done his best to make life difficult for her. Could he ever make it right?

“I can hardly wait to get out of here. I don’t mind being in the assisted-living apartment, but I’ll go crazy if they keep me in here.” Cora’s green eyes grew bright with tears as she grasped his arm. “You have to be my advocate.”

Brady furrowed his eyebrows. “You mean, like having a medical power of attorney?”

“Yes, that’s what it’s called.”

“But I thought that was for people who were dying or something.” Brady’s stomach sank. “You’re not dying, are you?”

Cora chuckled. “No. Nothing like that, but I want you to be able to talk to the doctors and nurses about my medical issues. Sometimes, I’m not sure what the doctors are telling me. So I’d like to have you know what’s going on, too. All that privacy stuff makes it so they can’t talk to you unless I say so.”

“What do I need to do?”

“Talk to the nursing home administrator, Ian Montgomery. He’s a lawyer, too. I’m sure he’ll know exactly what’s required.”

“Where do I find this administrator?”

“He has an office in the main building near the front gate.” Cora waved one hand toward the door. “But you’d better do it soon. He’s getting married in ten days. Then he’ll be gone on his honeymoon.”

Brady nodded. “I’ll do it tomorrow.”

“Good, because I want out of here so I can go to Ian and Annie’s wedding. In fact, if they don’t let me out, I’ll escape.”

“Gram, you aren’t in jail.”

“Well, it sure seems like it.”

“I heard that. They’ll be no escaping.”

The familiar voice made Brady turn toward the door. He wasn’t sure what to say as Kirsten pushed a cart into the room.

“Kirsten, have you met my grandson?” Cora saved him from having to say a thing.

Kirsten nodded. “We met earlier when he was looking for something to eat.”

Cora looked at Brady. “She’s the one who was calling you.”

Brady gave Kirsten a wry smile. “Yeah, I know.”

When Kirsten returned his smile, he almost fell out of his chair. Had the touchy nurse suddenly become friendly? There was a hint of humor behind her prickles. Maybe he had her wrong. She’d only done what his grandmother had asked.

Kirsten brought a little cup to Cora’s bedside. “Time for your pain medication.”

Cora frowned. “Do I need that stuff?”

Kirsten waved a finger at Cora. “You know if you don’t take it now, you’ll be waking up in the middle of the night in pain.”

Cora poured herself a glass of water, then took the little cup. “I hate taking these pills.”

“Gram, you need to stay ahead of the pain. You’ll get better much sooner if you do.”

“Listen to your grandson. He’s right.” Kirsten retrieved the empty cup after Cora took her medications. “And as for going to the wedding. If you work hard at your therapy and can walk the entire corridor with your walker, you can attend the wedding.”

“And the reception, too.”

Kirsten hesitated. “Why don’t we leave that decision up to the doctor and the physical therapist?”

“But you’ll put in a good word for me, right?”

Shaking her head, Kirsten laughed. “No promises from this corner. You have ten days to improve.”

Cora released a heavy sigh. “That therapist is a slave driver.”

“That’s because she’s on your side. She wants to help you get out of here, so you don’t have to plan an escape.” Kirsten looked at Brady. “I hope you’re not assisting in any way with her intention to break out of here.”

Brady held up his hands, trying to hide a smirk. “Not me. I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“I don’t know why that doesn’t comfort me.” Kirsten took hold of the cart. “Take care, Cora. I’m off to finish delivering these meds.”

As Kirsten wheeled the cart into the hallway, Brady looked over at Cora. “I’ll be back in a minute. I want to ask her something.”

“Out for a date?” Cora’s eyes twinkled.

Brady frowned at her. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

“You should think about it,” Cora called after him.

Brady stepped into the hallway, hoping Kirsten hadn’t heard his grandmother’s remark. A date. He could barely remember the last time he’d been on one. Or maybe he’d chosen not to remember because it had probably been a drunken one-night stand. He didn’t want to remember those. Since he’d discovered his newfound faith in God, he’d been too busy working on oil rigs or catching salmon to bother with dates.

Besides, he doubted a date with Kirsten would be that great, or would it? He liked challenges. He liked adventure. He liked pretty women, even if they were a little on the hypersensitive side. What was he thinking? He’d only met the woman a half hour ago. She was likely to turn him down if he asked, but give him a few days and she would look at him through a different lens. That was the plan.

He looked both ways down the hall but didn’t see Kirsten. She’d probably already gone into another room. He stood there for a moment, and she reappeared. “Hey, Kirsten.”

She turned, a little frown puckering her eyebrows. “Yes?”

He went down the hallway in her direction. “You have a minute to talk?”

She hesitated. “Not now. If there’s something you’d like to discuss, I can do it after I finish delivering the meds. I can stop by Cora’s room after I’m done.”

“Sure.” Brady watched her push the cart to the next room and forced himself not to think of her as just another attractive woman who’d caught his eye.

For a few minutes he leaned against the wall in the hallway and took in the sights and sounds of the place. He tried to put himself in Cora’s shoes. Everything was clean and the nurses and assistants seemed very attentive to the patients here. But there was no denying the place had the feel and smell of a nursing home—a place from which patients often didn’t go home. Was that what was worrying his grandmother? He supposed Kirsten couldn’t really tell him anything until he got the medical power of attorney, but maybe she could at least put his mind at ease concerning Cora’s condition.

With a heavy sigh, Brady returned to Cora’s room. Her roommate sat in the chair with her eyes fixed on the blaring TV. No wonder Cora wanted to escape. He would, too.

“While you were out asking our pretty nurse for a date, I got ready for bed.”

“By yourself?”

“Do you think I’m helpless?”

“Well, no, but I don’t want you falling down again.”

Cora waved a hand at him. “I have to learn to get around on my own.”

“Okay, I guess, and for the record, I wasn’t asking anyone for a date.” Brady hoped his grandmother wouldn’t embarrass him with this date business when Kirsten came to the room.

For the next half hour, Brady answered Cora’s battery of questions about what he’d been doing since he’d gotten out of the army. He filled in the gaps between the postcards he’d sent and the infrequent phone calls he’d made to her. Her questions reminded him of his inattentiveness and made him feel more and more guilty that he’d neglected to keep in touch. “Alaska is too beautiful to describe, especially compared to Texas and North Dakota.”

“How nice that you could travel and see so many places. That’s one thing I wished I could’ve done, but I never had the money to travel.” Cora picked up a book lying next to her Bible. “But I can travel the world by reading a book or listening to you. Do you have photos?”

“A few.” Brady pulled his phone from the pocket of his jeans and scrolled through his pictures. “These are some I took when I was in Alaska.”

Cora took the phone as Brady showed her how to go through the photos. “Oh, Alaska is a beautiful place. I wish I could go there.”

“I wish you could, too.”

Wonder painted Cora’s wrinkled face as Brady watched her study every picture. He wished he could show her Alaska, but what were the chances his grandmother, with her less-than-good health, could make such a trip? He had a lot of regrets, but he couldn’t let regret keep him from moving forward. He couldn’t undo the past, but he could try to make the future better. Did that include staying here and putting down roots?

Chaplain Howard used to tell Brady to put it in God’s hands. Brady often found that hard to do. He was used to finding his own way and doing his own thing. Trusting God for guidance didn’t come easy. In fact, this whole Christian-living thing wasn’t easy. He’d been able to survive the cruelty and hardship of war, the physical labor of the oil fields and the treacherous seas of commercial fishing. Humility, putting others first, loving the unlovable—these things required more strength than Brady had on his own.

“Thanks for the tour of Alaska.” Cora handed Brady his phone.

“That’s only a small part of that big state. I didn’t have much time for touring. Too busy working.”

As Brady shoved his phone back into his pocket, Kirsten appeared in the doorway. “Ready for that talk?”

Brady nodded, then turned to Cora. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. I’m going to talk to Kirsten about the power of attorney you mentioned.”

“Good.” Cora grinned. “And ask her about that other thing.”

Brady shook his head as he hurried toward the door, hoping Cora wouldn’t actually say what that other thing was. He wanted to keep this conversation with Kirsten strictly business. He would decide later if he wanted to pursue the social side.

As soon as Brady stepped into the hallway, Kirsten turned and looked at him. Her brown eyes brimmed with curiosity. “What’s on your mind?”

Brady couldn’t help grinning. Did she know what a loaded question that was? Thoughts floated through his mind. He had to concentrate on Cora, not on the attractive brunette standing in front of him. “I know you can’t discuss Cora’s specific medical information with me directly, but I was hoping you could give me a general assessment.”

“That could be walking a fine line.”

“Jen said Cora was making good progress, but I want to know whether her prognosis looks good. When she talks about trying to escape to go to this wedding, I was worried there is more to her condition than the broken hip.”

Kirsten opened her mouth, but Brady shook his head and held up a hand. “First, let me tell you Cora asked me to get a medical power of attorney. That worried me because I thought only people who were incapacitated had such things.”

“Not necessarily. Your grandmother could use an advocate, not because her health is poor now, but her status could change. And if you have a medical power of attorney, you can talk to her doctor and any of the nurses about Cora’s situation.” Kirsten nodded. “You should do what she asks.”

“I intend to, but I was concerned about her reasons for making the request. How important is it that she attend this wedding?”

“Very important. It’s a big event for everyone here. The administrator of this facility is getting married, and your grandmother was a bit of a matchmaker in that love match. I understand her eagerness to witness the nuptials.”

“So is there anything I can do besides help her escape?” Brady grinned.

Kirsten narrowed her gaze. “Are you trying to be helpful or trying to be smart?”

Brady contemplated his answer. They’d been having a congenial conversation, but his last comment had brought out her prickly side again. He should’ve known the amicable mood wouldn’t last, but he hadn’t done anything to help. Did the woman ever joke around, or was she always serious? Maybe for now he should be serious, too. “I’m trying to help.”

“Good. When you come for a visit, encourage her to take a walk. You could walk with her out to the courtyard out those doors.” Kirsten pointed toward the end of the hallway. “Do you plan to stay in the area?”

“I haven’t made any definite plans, but I’ll be here for a while—at least until Cora goes back to her apartment.” Brady wanted to be a help for his grandmother and hoped to find a job here, but there were no guarantees. He couldn’t live on his savings forever.

“Good. She needs you right now. And I’ll help you every step of the way with your grandmother. We have to be a team. Are you good with that?”

“I am, and I’ll be here for her during her recovery.” For some strange reason, he wished Kirsten was the one who wanted him to stay. Pure lunacy. He’d just met the woman, and he wasn’t even sure he liked her that much. But he liked the idea of being a team with her. Cora’s suggestion was eating away at his brain and leaving his thoughts in a knot.

Kirsten glanced at her watch. “Technically, visiting hours are over, but I’ll let you stay because it’s important to Cora.”

“Thanks. I’ll say good-night to her, and I’ll be out of here.” Brady turned to go.

“Wait, Mr. Hewitt. The alarms on the doors are already set, so I’ll have to let you out. Stop by the desk before you go.”

Brady cringed inwardly when she called him Mr. Hewitt. She obviously wanted to keep her distance. The seemingly friendly conversation was all business for her, and he should probably keep it that way. So much for Cora’s matchmaking abilities in his case.

Chapter Three

The next morning the sunbeams danced between the trees, highlighting the colors of the changing leaves, as Kirsten hurried across the portico of the administration building, with its cobbled pavers and white Georgian columns. But a thundercloud clustered in her mind when she entered the reception area and spied Brady lounging against the desk while he talked with Lovie Trimble, the receptionist, whose greetings never failed to brighten everyone’s day. Thinking she could avoid Brady, Kirsten was about to turn around and come in the side entrance when Lovie called to her.

Her plan foiled, Kirsten waved and worked up a smile. She forged ahead while Brady grinned at her. Her opinion hadn’t changed. Despite his interest in his grandmother, he came across as cocky, flippant and shallow, doing whatever he could to charm his way through life. She didn’t want to talk with him, but she supposed interaction was inevitable while Cora was in the nursing facility.

“Hi, Lovie, Brady. How’s everything?”

“Good.” Lovie’s brown eyes twinkled. “So I see you’ve met Cora’s grandson already.”

Kirsten didn’t trust the look in Lovie’s eyes. She nodded and hoped the older woman didn’t try any of her matchmaking plays today. The silver-haired grandmother prided herself on being the first to recognize that Ian and Annie belonged together. Now she considered herself an expert in romance. She was working double time to find a match for the women’s ministries director, Melody Hammond. Kirsten hoped Lovie’s focus remained on Melody, but Kirsten didn’t see Brady as much of a match for Melody, either.

Brady waved a paper in Kirsten’s direction. “Got my medical power of attorney.”

“So, then you’ve met Ian?” Kirsten asked.

“Yeah, he got me what I needed.” Brady nodded in her direction. “Now you can tell me everything I need to know. How about lunch?”

Kirsten didn’t know what to make of his invitation. Was this strictly business or something else? Why had she even asked that question? Of course it was business. He wanted to know about Cora. “I can’t today. I’m going to lunch with my dad. In fact, I’m here to meet him.”

“He works here?”

“Yes. My dad’s Adam Bailey, the director here at The Village of Hope.”

An expression Kirsten couldn’t define crossed Brady’s face. “Ian said I should meet the director of The Village. Will you introduce me?”

Kirsten didn’t see how she could refuse Brady’s request. “Sure. Come with me, and you can meet him before we go to lunch.”

“Thanks.” Brady turned back to Lovie. “Good to meet you. I’ll be seeing you around.”

“Welcome to The Village. You take care of that grandmother of yours. Grandmothers are important people.” Lovie patted her silver hair.

“You can count on it.” Brady fell into step beside Kirsten. “Is this lunch a special occasion?”

“Not really. We do this a few times a month.” What would her father think when she showed up with a guy sporting a dozen tattoos? Probably nothing as long as his daughter didn’t want to date the man. Her dad was used to dealing with people who flaunted tattoos, nose rings and the like. He’d learned not to judge people by their outward appearances except when it came to her dating choices. Then it was a completely different story.

“Must be nice to be close to your parents.”

“Parent.” Kirsten stopped in front of a door beside a brass plate engraved with Adam Bailey’s name. Before she opened the door, she turned and looked at him. “My mother passed away not quite a year ago.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” He dropped his gaze. “I shouldn’t have assumed.”

“That’s okay.” His statement about being close to parents was odd considering he hadn’t cared enough about his grandmother to visit her in years. Cora seemed to dote on him even though she had mentioned parting with Brady on a bad note. Kirsten knew she should be less judgmental, but the bad thoughts about Brady didn’t subside. Although she’d lost her mother, she had no idea what it would feel like to lose a mother as a young child and then be abandoned by a father, too.

“How’s your dad doing?”

Brady’s question surprised Kirsten. Maybe the guy did care about other people. He was hard to figure out. One minute he seemed self-absorbed, the next he was asking about her dad. She shouldn’t be afraid to get to know him, but she sensed danger lurking around him. Surely she was overreacting. “I guess as well as can be expected. He doesn’t like to talk about it, and I’m not sure whether that’s good or bad.”

Brady shrugged. “I’m sure he’s glad you’re around to help him through this.”

Another surprising statement. “Yeah, but being nearby gives him too much time to think of ways to run my life.”

“That’s why you’re working here?”

“No. That was my choice, but he wasn’t happy when I decided to get my own place.” Kirsten put her hand on the doorknob. “Do you suppose his ears are burning since we’ve been standing out here talking about him?”

Brady gave her a wry smile. “He’s probably wondering what’s keeping you.”

Kirsten glanced at her watch and opened the door. “No. Right on time.”

“Is your dad a stickler for being on time?”

“Absolutely, but he’s had to cut other people some slack because car trouble has made him late several times in the past few months.” Kirsten stepped into her dad’s office and spied him standing next to the printer as it spewed forth papers. “Hey, Dad. You ready for lunch?”

Adam looked to the clock on the wall. “Ready.”

Kirsten gave her dad a hug. “Dad, I want you to meet Brady Hewitt.”

An expression of concern flashed across her dad’s features as he extended his hand. “Nice to meet you, Brady.”

Her dad’s expression made Kirsten wonder whether he was worried that Brady was her new love interest. She’d better put her dad’s mind at ease. “Brady is Cora Barton’s grandson. You remember Cora, right?”

Adam nodded as the tension in his shoulders appeared to ease. “Your grandmother is a lovely lady. We enjoy having her here at The Village. I understand she’s making a good recovery from her broken hip.”

“It seems so. I need to give you one of these for your records.” Brady handed an envelope to Adam. “This is a copy of the medical power of attorney I have for my grandmother.”

Adam took the envelope. “She’s smart to have you do this. As our residents age, it’s good to have someone to help them with their medical decisions. I’ll file this away right now.”

Kirsten gave Brady a tentative smile while her father disappeared into a smaller room off his office. Now what? She didn’t want to invite Brady to lunch. His presence would remind her of her ill-fated college romance—the one her father had discouraged, and the one she should’ve known was a wrongheaded choice. Her father had been right about the guy who eventually broke her heart. She’d assumed her father was judging her former boyfriend on his tattoos, earring and long hair, but she realized later that wasn’t the case. Her father had seen through the guy’s charming facade while she’d been completely oblivious to his deceptions.

Her father had recognized bad character when she hadn’t. She’d hated knowing her dad had been right, and she’d been so wrong. Her broken heart had led her to the mission field. The situation had shown her that God could use any circumstance for His purpose. But even after that experience, she had a hard time always seeing God’s hand in unfortunate events—like her mother’s death or the lost opportunity to adopt three little children. What good had come from that?

“Thanks for the introduction.” Brady turned toward the door. “I’ll probably see you later when you come on duty.”

“Sure.” Kirsten breathed an inward sigh of relief as Brady opened the door.

“Brady.” Adam stepped back into the room. “Kirsten and I are about to go to lunch. We’d like you to join us.”

Speak for yourself, Dad. Kirsten bit back the words. She looked at Brady to gauge his reaction to the invitation.

Brady smiled, then looked at her as if he was seeking her approval. “Sure. Thanks for inviting me.”

Brady’s expression didn’t go along with his brash attitude. Maybe she’d imagined the look. She didn’t want him to go to lunch with them. With her dad there, she wouldn’t be able to tell Brady anything about Cora. So why did he want to go? Shouldn’t he be having lunch with Cora?

Kirsten tried not to analyze the situation further as she followed her dad and Brady to her dad’s car. She needed to develop a better attitude. Today’s lunch with her dad and Brady would test her ability to reach that goal.

* * *

The white iridescent vase full of pink roses and white calla lilies shimmered like a neon sign as it sat on the counter at the nurses’ station. The bouquet seemed to whisper, I’m really a nice guy. You just need to get to know me. Kirsten tried to purge the imagined message from her thoughts.

“I’d say Brady’s trying to impress you.” Jen grinned.

“He’s just thanking me for introducing him to my dad.” Kirsten wondered whether Brady had asked her dad about her favorite flowers. Otherwise, how would he have known?

Jen gave Kirsten a dubious look. “There’s more to those flowers than a thank-you.”

Kirsten shook her head. “You have no idea what happened yesterday.”

“I’m all ears. Give me the scoop.” Jen settled back in her chair.

“When I introduced Brady to my dad, he invited the guy to lunch.” Kirsten shrugged and held up her hands in a gesture of helplessness. “That’s the last thing I wanted, but it gets worse.”

“How does worse translate to this beautiful bouquet?” Jen gestured toward the flowers.

“First, we were talking about the wedding. Then Brady says he needs to get a suit, so Dad invites him over to check out one of his suits.”

“So your dad lent the guy a suit. What’s so bad about that?”

“Nothing if it had stopped there.” Kirsten released a loud sigh. “When I stopped by Dad’s office before I came to work, he informed me that Brady is going to rent a room from him—not just any room, but my old room.”

“You didn’t want it, so what’s the problem?”

Kirsten shook her head. “I don’t know. It seems weird to have this guy living in my old room.”

“Did you ever think your dad might be lonely, and having someone else in the house is a real plus? It’s probably a win-win for both of them. Your dad doesn’t have to come home to an empty house, and Brady has an inexpensive place to live while he looks for a job.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

While Kirsten checked patient records on the computer screen, she wondered what Brady might be hiding. Why was his job experience something he’d had to think about at lunch? Had he been involved with something illegal? Those tattoos could mean he’d been in some kind of gang or something. Maybe she’d been reading too many suspense books lately.

“I’m not quite sure why you have this hostility toward the guy.”

“It’s not animus. It’s caution.” Kirsten looked up.

“And why do you have to be cautious of a man who sends flowers?”

“You’ve answered your own question. Why did he send flowers?”

“To say thank-you. That’s what you said.”

“I was only trying to find an explanation, but he may have some ulterior motive.” Kirsten frowned. “What do we really know about him other than his relationship to Cora?”

“He’s good-looking.” Jen grinned.

Kirsten swatted at Jen. “Be serious. I’m worried about my dad inviting a stranger to share the house.”

“Don’t you remember the scripture from Hebrews that says if you practice hospitality you might unknowingly entertain angels?”

Kirsten didn’t want to think about the scripture reference. “He’s the only family Cora has left. He should’ve let her know where he was.”

“Fair enough, but I’d say he’s trying to make up for it now. Give him a chance to prove himself. You could still ask him to be your date for the wedding and get to know him better.”

“And why would I want to do that?”

Jen raised her eyebrows. “Because he’s good-looking?”

“Give up. I’m not interested.” Kirsten’s thoughts about Brady battled back and forth. One minute she was ready to cut him some slack because he had a legitimate reason for not answering his phone messages, but the next minute she couldn’t forget Cora’s distress when they couldn’t reach him.

He still had years of neglect to answer for. If you loved someone, how could you ignore them for months at a time, especially a grandmother who’d raised you? Kirsten’s judgmental attitude didn’t die easily when it came to Brady.

Jen shook her head. “You know what they say. Never give up.”

“Please. He’s only twenty-nine. I’m five years older than he is.”

“Is that a problem?”

“I don’t think it’s a problem.” A male voice sounded from around the corner an instant before Brady appeared.

Kirsten’s heart plummeted into her stomach as she quickly lowered her gaze. Her face flaming hot, she didn’t dare to look up. How much of the conversation had Brady heard? He must have heard enough to know they’d been talking about him. She wanted to crawl under the desk. What could she possibly say? Now he would surely have the wrong impression. Deciding not to respond to his comment, she shot a dagger-filled look in Jen’s direction, then finally found the courage to smile at Brady. “Thanks for the flowers. They’re lovely. My favorites.”

Brady grinned. “Your dad said you’d like them. Did Cora like hers?”

“I haven’t been down to her room since I came on duty. If they’re as beautiful as these, I’m sure she did.” Kirsten let this information filter through her mind. So Brady liked sending flowers. There was nothing special about her bouquet. Why did that disappoint her?

“I’ve been job hunting most of the day.”

“Any success?” Kirsten hoped her question would permanently steer the conversation away from her comment about his age.

Brady nodded. “I have a few leads. The job counselor here was very helpful. I’m glad your dad suggested I talk to her.”

“My dad tells me you’re renting a room from him.”

“Yeah. It’s a real help while I’m trying to find a job.”

“I’m glad he was able to help you.”

“Me, too.” Brady winked at her. “And for the record. I like older women. Underneath your prickly exterior, I’m sure there’s a heart of gold. And I intend to find it.”

Kirsten stared after Brady as he sauntered down the hallway without a backward glance. How had he managed to insult and compliment her all in one statement? How could such an insolent man make her heart flutter?

Jen swiveled her chair until she was facing Kirsten, then laughed out loud. “This is going to be fun to watch.”

“There isn’t going to be anything to watch.” Kirsten was determined not to let him get under her skin or into her heart.

Jen laughed again. “I wouldn’t count on that. I’m pretty sure Brady Hewitt doesn’t lose when he sets his mind to something.”

“Count on this. Brady Hewitt has met his match.”

“You might be right.” Jen smirked. “You realize what you just said, right?”

Kirsten shook her head. “Don’t misinterpret my meaning.”

“The way I see it, there is no misinterpreting the sparks flying around here when you two are together.”

“Don’t you have work to do?” Kirsten narrowed her gaze.

Jen glanced at her watch. “Yeah, I’m off to deliver meds.”

As Jen pushed her cart down the hallway, Kirsten rubbed her temples with her fingertips. Brady Hewitt was one big headache. At least he let you know where you stood with him.

Was she huffy, or was it only with him? He seemed to bring out her judgmental side, and that wasn’t a good way to be. Had God sent Brady into her life to help her see the need to change her attitude?

Do you ever think these things have happened because God has another plan for your life? Jen’s question floated through Kirsten’s mind.

Kirsten didn’t want her plans to be different, but the future didn’t lie in her hands. She had no control over the Brazilian government’s decision on her visa or Brady’s presence at The Village. She would have to make the best of whatever came her way—like it or not.

* * *

“How’s the physical therapy going?” Kirsten patted Cora’s shoulder.

A weak smile curved Cora’s lips, and her shoulders sagged. “It’s grueling. I’m worn out when they’re done with me.”

“I know. But think of the reward. You get to go to the wedding.”

Cora nodded. “That’s the only thing that keeps me going besides having Brady here. Thank you for your efforts to contact him. Just seeing him brightens my day.”

“I’m glad I could help.” Kirsten had to admit Brady’s presence had given Cora a lift. Kirsten hadn’t expected that.

“I don’t know what I’d do without this place. Y’all have given me a lot of hope.”

“That’s what we’re here for. After all, this is The Village of Hope. Hope is the most important thing we have around here.” Kirsten looked at Cora with sympathy.

Nodding, Cora sighed. “Hope in the Lord Jesus.”

“That’s who we depend on for sure.”

“I know. Say some prayers for my strength.”

“I will, and you can concentrate on your physical therapy so you can regain your strength and can get out of that wheelchair.”

“And return to my apartment.”

“Yes. The harder you work, the faster you get better.” Kirsten headed for the door but turned before she left the room. “Remember. You don’t get over a broken hip overnight.”

Cora wagged a gnarled finger at Kirsten. “Yes, but I’m not the most patient person. I like things to happen right now.”

“You don’t have many days left until the wedding.” Kirsten put a hand to her cart. “I think you’ll be ready.”

“I’d better be. Brady is so good to take me for walks.” Cora grinned. “We’re going to walk all the way to the cafeteria tonight for supper. I’m so excited to eat with Ruby and Liz.”

“That’s super news.” Kirsten couldn’t get over how attentive Brady was to his grandmother. The man appeared to be doing everything he could to help the woman who’d done her best to give him a good life. “Have fun with Ruby and Liz.”

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite grandmother and my favorite nurse.”

Kirsten turned to find Brady lounging in the doorway. Her heart did a little flip-flop. Why did this exasperating man make her react that way? It had to be his unexpected entrance. But she shouldn’t be surprised he was here. He’d shown up at this time every day for the past week, and she tried to convince herself that she didn’t look forward to his visit.

“Well, if it isn’t the favorite grandson.” Kirsten pressed her lips together in order not to smile.

“I’m glad you recognize that.” Brady walked across the room and gave Cora a kiss on her cheek. “Hey, Gram, how’s it going today?”

“Good. I’m looking forward to dinner with Ruby and Liz.”

“Have a good evening, you two. I have to deliver the rest of these meds.” Kirsten scurried out the door as the thought of Brady giving her a kiss the way he had Cora flitted through her mind. Why had that happened? Jen’s constant chatter about how Brady timed his visits so he’d see Kirsten made her think crazy things.

After Kirsten finished delivering medications to the patients on her wing of the nursing home, she returned to the nurses’ station. She plopped onto the nearby chair with a sigh and stared at the computer screen. The week-old vase of flowers, still surprisingly fresh, taunted her from the ledge above her. Another reminder of Brady. Thankfully, Jen was off helping a patient, so Kirsten didn’t have to listen to any more of the other nurse’s teasing.

Pushing thoughts of Brady from her mind, Kirsten concentrated on the patient records as she input the information into the computer. She missed the day-to-day hands-on work with patients in Brazil, especially the little children. She enjoyed helping the elderly patients here but didn’t relish the extensive amount of record keeping.

“Kirsten.”

The sound of a familiar male voice made Kirsten jump. She jerked her head upward to find Brady standing on the other side of the counter. She put a hand over her heart. “You scared me. You certainly are quiet when you walk.”

“All the better to surprise you. You were obviously lost in your work.” He gave her that lazy grin. “Do you have a minute to talk?”

“Sure.” Kirsten wondered what he wanted to talk about that he couldn’t have mentioned while she was in Cora’s room.

“Good.” He leaned on the counter next to the bouquet. He glanced at them. “Flowers still look good. Nice to know where to get good ones.”

“How’s my dad working out as a roommate?”

“Good.”

Staring at Brady, Kirsten wondered how she was going to get rid of him without being impolite. She didn’t want him hanging around here when Jen got back. That would mean listening to her supposition that Brady was out to impress Kirsten. “Was there something special you wanted to talk about?”

“Yeah, there is.” He rubbed the back of his neck and said nothing else.

Why was he hesitant? His uncertainty was completely out of character. She leaned forward. “And that would be?”

“I want to buy something for Cora, and I need your help.”

“Why my help?”

“Because you’re a woman.”

“And you need a woman’s advice?” Was he reluctant to ask a woman for help?

“Yeah.”

“Okay, I’m willing to assist you. What do I have to do?” Had she said that? No telling what he might ask.

“Go shopping with me tomorrow.”

Kirsten forced herself not to show she was the least bit put out by his ploy. He didn’t need acting lessons. He had the apprehension charade down. She had no one to blame but herself for walking right into his act. “And what will we be shopping for?”

“A dress for Cora to wear to the wedding.”

“And you can’t do that without my help?”

“No. Besides, your dad suggested I ask you when I mentioned buying the dress.”

“Okay.” Kirsten tried not to frown. What was her dad up to? Was he trying to push them together? “What time?”

“You name it.”

“Meet me at the reception desk at half past nine. That way we can be at the mall by the time the stores open.”

“Thanks. I look forward to it.” Brady turned and sauntered back down the hall.

Kirsten couldn’t help watching him walk away. Now there’s a fine-looking man. Jen’s words echoed through Kirsten’s mind. He was growing on her. Lately she hadn’t even noticed his tattoos. Was she inviting trouble by letting down her guard with regard to Brady and his considerable charm? She didn’t dare mention it to Jen, or she would never give Kirsten a minute of peace about it. She could purge these thoughts from her mind on her own. She knew from experience that charming men only brought heartache.

Chapter Four

Gray skies greeted Brady as he headed to The Village, but he wouldn’t let them dampen his good mood. He parked his pickup near the administration building. When he entered the reception area, Kirsten was talking with Lovie. Kirsten turned in his direction as he drew closer. When she smiled, his heart did a little tap dance. What did his reaction say about how he was feeling about her?

He was pretty sure Kirsten’s negative opinion of him was changing, and he was glad for it. But did that mean he could convince her to go out with him?

“Hey, Lovie, Kirsten. How are you ladies doing this morning?”

“Good,” they both answered.

Kirsten stepped away from the reception desk. “Ready to go? I’ll drive.”

Brady nodded, then waved to Lovie and followed Kirsten out a side door. “I checked the size of the dress hanging in her closet while she was napping yesterday.”

“What is it?”

“Eight P. Whatever that means.”

“It means eight petite. That sounds about right.” Kirsten opened her car door.

“So you’re taking me to the closest mall?” Brady adjusted the passenger seat as he settled in the car and buckled his seat belt.

“That’s right. We should be able to find something there.”

Brady watched in silence as Kirsten maneuvered through the traffic until they came to a traffic light. “When I was a kid, Cora lived about a mile from here. You know, this road had barely anything on it then. Now it’s lined with big-box stores, strip malls and fast-food restaurants. Urban sprawl, with its traffic jams and housing developments, has created chaos and taken over this once-quiet road.”

“I take it you’re not a fan of big-city living.” Kirsten looked straight ahead as the light changed and she drove through the intersection.

Brady shook his head. “After living in North Dakota and west Texas, where you can see forever, all these trees make me feel closed in—claustrophobic.”

“So it’s not only the urban sprawl, but the landscape, too.”

“Yeah.”

“Does that mean you plan to leave after Cora gets better?”

“I don’t know what it means. A lot depends on my job search.”

“How’s that going?”

“Too early to tell. I’ve filled out a lot of applications and had one interview. I don’t know anything beyond that.”

“Has Cora told you how much she’d like you to stay?”

Brady couldn’t decipher the meaning of Kirsten’s question. Was she trying to tell him he should stay no matter what? “I don’t believe she’s thought about much beyond that wedding.”

“She’s thinking beyond the wedding. She wants to get back to her apartment.”

“And I’m going to see that she gets there. I want to be the person she can count on when she needs help.” Brady wished he’d been more attentive to Cora in the past. He was going to make up for that now. He had to find a job. He hated the thought of living here permanently, but if he was going to be there for Cora, that’s what had to be done.

“Then I guess that means you intend to stay.”

“I still have to find a job.”

“What kind of job are you looking for?” Kirsten glanced at him as she turned into the mall entrance.

Brady wasn’t sure. What would Kirsten say if she knew he had medical experience? He’d only mentioned his work on oil rigs and a fishing boat when they’d had lunch with her dad. In the army he’d been a medic, and he’d been good at it. But he’d discovered after getting out that despite his experience, the only jobs he qualified for in the medical field paid little over minimum wage. He couldn’t survive on that long-term, so he’d found employment wherever he could. Those jobs had paid well, and he had a healthy savings account. “Something that pays a decent wage.”

“Have you considered taking a temporary job until you find something better?”

“Not until it becomes clear that I can’t find a good-paying job.”

Kirsten found a parking spot near an entrance. “We’ll start with the nearest department store, and if we don’t find anything there, we’ll try the specialty shops, then move on to other places.”

Nodding, Brady noted how she’d abruptly changed the subject. Did she think he was finding excuses not to stay? “You’re in charge.”

They entered the mall through one of the anchor department stores. When they reached the area for petite women’s clothing, Kirsten headed straight for the dresses. “How fancy do you want the dress?”

Brady stared at her. What did he know about women’s dresses? For men, a suit of some kind always sufficed. “What do you think?”

“Do you want bling on the dress?”

“What?”

“Bling. Like sparkly stuff.”

Brady shrugged. “If that’s what you think.”

Kirsten forged ahead of him. He followed, thankful that he wasn’t doing this on his own. She rummaged through the racks and scooped up a half-dozen dresses and hung them over her arm.

“Would you like me to hold them?”

She glanced at him. “Sure, and I’ll look at this last rack.”

Brady held the hangers and studied the dresses. They were nice, but he didn’t think any of them suited Cora. He walked over to where Kirsten was looking. “Have you run across anything in green?”

Kirsten frowned. “Not many. Black or neutral colors seem to be the going style.”

“But with her white hair doesn’t she need some color?”

Kirsten stopped and looked at him as if he had two heads. “Are you sure you need help? You seem to know what you want.”

“Yes, I need your help.” He gave her a wry smile. “How would I have found the special-occasion dresses section without you?”

Kirsten crossed her arms. “I think you could have managed.”

“But it wouldn’t be nearly as fun doing this alone. I’m enjoying your company.” Smiling wryly, Brady held up one of the dresses. “I like this one with the lace and sparkly stuff here, but I’d like it in a bright color.”

“I’ll put those back on the rack, and we’ll move on to another store.” Sighing, Kirsten held out a hand for the dresses.

As Brady handed them to her, their fingers brushed. There was no mistaking the look that crossed her face. The touch had the same effect on her as it had on him. The attraction he was feeling wasn’t all one-sided. That was a good sign.

She scurried away. Was she running away from their obvious attraction to each other? He closed the gap between them. “You’re in a hurry.”

“Have to be. We have a lot of ground to cover.”

Brady stared after her again. Despite her apparent attraction to him, she still seemed uncomfortable around him. Could he figure out why? Maybe her dad could shed some light on his daughter, but asking her father might not be a good idea.

Why did he even care, anyway? He was here for Cora, not to make friends with a prickly nurse.

But he knew why. He wanted to be liked. It was just how he’d always been.

He shook those thoughts away as Kirsten dragged him from store to store. They continued to find nothing. Why did women like to shop? He was developing a full-blown headache. What if the dress he’d envisioned didn’t exist?

As they left a specialty shop without success, Kirsten turned to him. “We have one more department store to check.”

“What if we don’t find anything there?”

“We will.”

“Okay. I hope you’re right.” Brady traipsed into the department store, his hopes about as low as they could get. Still, he wanted to see the surprise and delight on Cora’s face when he presented her with the dress. Was that going to happen? Maybe buying a dress for Cora had been a thoughtful idea, but not very practical.

Kirsten did her usual search through the racks, grabbing a dress here and there as she went. At least this time she carried a rainbow of colors on her arm. Brady trailed after her. “Need help?”

She shook her head as she forged ahead. Since she’d handed him the dresses in the first store and their fingers had touched, she’d avoided giving him anything to hold.

“Give me your opinion.” She held up the first dress.

“It’s okay, but I think it’s a little long. I wouldn’t want Cora to trip on it. She has her walker to deal with.”

“Okay.” Kirsten laid the dress aside on the top of the nearby rack and held up the next one.

Brady shook his head. “It’s green, but it’s kind of a washed-out green.”

Kirsten showed him another dress. “I like the cranberry color.”

“Yeah, it’s bright.” Brady shrugged. “But it doesn’t have any bling, as you say.”

Kirsten chuckled. “You may have to compromise. Something tells me the perfect dress you have in mind doesn’t exist. What about this?”

“Too low cut.”

“This one?”

“Too short.”

Kirsten smiled. “Making sure she doesn’t show too much skin?”

“Yeah. I wouldn’t want her to accuse me of dressing her like a floozy, as she would say.” Brady smiled, thinking maybe he’d found Kirsten’s less serious side. She’d actually joked about something.

“Did Cora warn you about them?”

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