doting parents she’d always longed for.
And the thought of Mac having open-heart surgery terrified her. She knew he needed it, but there was always that chance that something could go wrong. Even though she treated animals, she knew more than enough about the surgery to be worried.
“Oh, now.” Mac took her into his arms and patted her. “Don’t tear up on me, Nora. I’ll be fine and back home grumbling in no time.”
Nora sniffed and eased back in Mac’s arms. “I’m just tired, that’s all. I know you’ll be in good hands and I’ll be there to make sure your family is taken care of.”
Mac squeezed her shoulders and nodded. “I couldn’t ask for a better daughter.”
Nora’s heart squeezed. He’d often referred to her as the daughter he’d never had. Being friends with Eli’s younger brother Drake had introduced her to the family, but it wasn’t until she started dating Eli that she truly felt the family bond she’d always craved. She’d thought watching him leave was the hardest thing she’d ever face. Boy was she wrong. The past few years had been difficult, but the past several months had been a whole new level of hell. One day at a time she was crawling out, trying to get back to some sort of stability in her life before she brought a baby into this world.
“I better let you guys go.” Nora moved toward the door, careful not to touch Eli. “I’ll be praying for you, Mac, and I’ll be by the hospital after work.”
She fled the family scene before she really did something stupid like break down in full snot-and-tears mode. Who knew pregnancies could produce such a juxtaposition of emotions?
Heading to her home next door, Nora crossed the lawn, speckled with a hint of snowflakes. She knew there was no way just one pint of Rocky Road would soothe her tonight and wine was out of the question.
There was only one thing left to do: she’d have to pull out all the stops and liberate the large supreme pizza from her freezer emergency stash. And seeing Eli looking all perfectly intriguing and mysterious with his scar and demanding presence definitely constituted an emergency.
While she hated pity from others, Nora felt she was entitled to throw herself a pity party. Once she gorged herself on junk and maybe indulged in a bubble bath, she’d feel better.
She placed a hand on her bump and smiled. She had four months to regain control of her life and emotions because, no matter the turmoil, Nora would provide stability and love to this baby...even if she was alone.
The surgery went beautifully and there were no complications.
Eli breathed a sigh of relief once the cardiologist confirmed the news. He also told them Mac would need to be monitored for a few hours before he could have visitors.
“Now we have to focus on getting him better and making sure he takes care of himself,” Cameron said, taking a seat back in the waiting area.
Eli nodded to his younger brother. “I agree. And doctors are such a pain to treat.”
Drake laughed, plopping right next to Eli. “Are you the pot or the kettle, Dr. St. John?”
“Boys,” Bev scolded. “I will make sure your father watches what he eats and gets more exercise.”
“Lifting the remote in his off time does not constitute as a workout,” Eli told her, reaching across to squeeze her hand. “But if I know Dad, this scared him. He may not admit it, but he’ll start being more cautious.”
A cell phone chimed and Eli jerked around to see both Cameron and Drake checking their sides. As the police captain, Cameron tended to be popular even off his shift, and as the local fire chief, Drake was always in demand, too.
Yeah, these rebel teens did all right for themselves, despite what the townsfolk may have initially thought.
Cameron came to his feet. “I’m the winner. Be right back.”
He walked through the double doors and headed out, taking his cell from his pocket. Eli was a minority in that he loved being on call. He’d been home less than twenty-four hours, but he already missed being needed, missed saving people under high-pressure circumstances.
And for the next three months, he’d be right here in Stonerock, Tennessee, treating cold and flu symptoms, random viruses and allergies, if spring hit early.
“Sorry I’m late.”
Eli glanced up to see Nora breezing in. She had on that happy gear again with the bright red coat, colorful scarf and hat. Juggling sacks of food and another sack full of bottles of water, she looked very rushed and worn as tendrils of wispy blond hair slid from her cap.
Both he and Drake came to their feet to help her.
“I had to fit in a last-minute emergency.” She handed over the drinks and food and collapsed into the nearest seat. “Have you heard anything?”
“The doctor just came out and said he did beautifully,” Bev said, taking a bottle of water from Drake.
Nora’s shoulders relaxed, her head tilted back against the chair and she sighed. “That’s such a relief. How are you all holding up? I saw Cameron out front on the phone.”
“We’re doing great now that Dad is out of surgery and food arrived,” Drake told her with a slight wink.
Eli didn’t want his youngest brother winking at Nora. The two may be old friends, but Eli was, well, he was...absolutely nothing in her life. So if Drake wanted to wink, then so be it. That didn’t mean Eli had to like it or watch.
Nora had to be exhausted because she sat stone-still, wearing her coat and hat. Apparently she wasn’t staying.
Eli unwrapped a burger and tore into it, focusing on his growling stomach and not the dark circles beneath Nora’s eyes or the way her face had slimmed down since he’d seen her the last time he’d visited.
The woman looked physically drained and it would be completely rude of him to say anything. Besides, he had no place in her personal life. Perhaps working herself like mad was her only way of coping with Todd’s death.
And even though Todd had died a hero to his country, the man didn’t deserve Nora’s tears...or Eli’s heavy dose of remorse.
“How are you feeling?” Bev asked Nora.
Nora lifted her lids and turned to smile at his mother. “I’m just tired. Thankfully the weekend is here and I have the next two days off. That is unless someone needs me, in which case they’ll call me at home or just come knocking on my door, pet carrier in hand.”
“You should consider hiring someone else to help you or getting stricter on your hours,” Bev offered.
Nora shook her head. “I’m going to have to pretty soon. I have a couple of people in mind. It will all depend on what they will accept for payment.”
Eli listened, but refused to get involved. Over and over he kept telling himself he was only here for a short time. Whatever was going on now would still be going
