Hometown Proposal (7 page)

“Just stopped by to let Seth know the movers have finished and all his possessions are now in his new house.” Barbara stood at the end of the bed. “Your mother has everything under control.”

“I had no doubt she would.” Seth chuckled, knowing that while sometimes he chafed under his mother's advice, she always had good intentions. “She likes to have everything under control.”

Barbara sighed. “Well, there's one thing she doesn't have under control. I think she's worried about what'll happen with Olivia after she leaves.”

Seth fought to keep his irritation from showing. Getting annoyed wasn't going to help his cause with Elise. Did his mother think he wasn't capable of caring for his own child?

“I'm not sure why she's worried. As soon as I knew I had this job, I made arrangements for Olivia to be in the day-care center that Ray told me is run by the church.” Seth glanced from Elise to Barbara. “And thanks to your plan, someone will be there to take care of her in the evenings until I can finally go home. Mom knows this. So why is she worried?”

“I think she wishes she could be here to help.” Barbara moved toward the head of the bed, her gaze holding a hint of sympathy.

Seth sighed again. “I hate that I have to depend on so many people.”

Barbara shook her head. “You shouldn't worry about that. We are all here to help. You just need to think about getting well.”

“My mom's right, you know. We're here to help, especially with this cutie.” Elise tickled Olivia ribs, and she giggled.

Seth's heart felt as though it were beating outside his body. So much emotion was tied up in Olivia and Elise. He was thankful that, for once, a nurse wasn't lurking outside the door ready to take his pulse. The reading might be off the charts.

Waving an index finger in the air, Barbara looked at Seth. “You know…I'm rethinking our plan. I've seen how Olivia seems to have bonded with Elise. I'm thinking Olivia would have a more settled and secure feeling if the same person was there every evening instead of a parade of caregivers.” Barbara turned her attention to Elise. “What do you think, dear?”

Seth could read the panic in Elise's eyes. He was sure it had nothing to do with caring for Olivia. It had to do with him. Was she feeling pushed into his life? He didn't want her to feel that way. “I'm sure the original arrangements will work out fine. There's no point in Elise carrying the entire burden.”

Elise shook her head as she eyed him. “Seth, my mom's right. It would be better for Olivia to have the same person with her every night.”

“And you're willing to do this?”

“I am.” Elise looked at Olivia, and love replaced the panic in Elise's eyes.

Swallowing hard, Seth could hardly believe what she'd said, but he wasn't going to question it. Elise was willing to love his little girl and help him, too. That was enough for now.

 

After taking Maggie to the Cincinnati airport, Elise headed for the nursing home. When Seth had said goodbye to his mother, he'd insisted Elise bring Olivia back to see him before she went to bed. As Elise drove into the parking lot, she had to
admit that her former reluctance to visit him had diminished. She wasn't sure when her change of heart had occurred, but it had.

Pink clouds adorned the sky as the setting sun sat just above the trees sporting the first leaves of spring. As Elise helped Olivia out of her car seat, the little girl pointed to the sky. “Pink.”

Laughing, Elise picked up Olivia and hugged her. “Yes, the pink sky sure is pretty. You can tell your daddy all about it.”

“See Daddy.”

“Yes, you get to see your daddy.”

Elise opened the door leading into the lobby of the nursing home. The smell of medicine and food from the evening meal filled the air. As she made her way down the hall lined with elderly residents in wheelchairs, Olivia wiggled to get down. Elise set the little girl on the floor. She scampered ahead but stopped before she went into Seth's room.

When Elise reached the doorway, she saw why Olivia had stopped. Seth wasn't there. Instead, a balding older man, who hadn't been in the room when she'd visited earlier, watched TV as he lay in the bed closest to the door. The other bed was empty.

The man glanced their way and smiled. “I guess you're here to see my new roommate?”

“We are.” Elise motioned toward the other half of the room. “Do you know where he is?”

The man shrugged. “Can't say for sure, but I'm guessing he's running around on those crutches and flirting with the pretty nurses.”

Elise flinched a little at the reminder of Seth's flirtatiousness but quickly reminded herself that it was none of her concern. Instead, she let herself consider the man's friendliness. Was he lonely? “Hope you're doing better, too.”

“I'll be better once I get outta here. Mild heart attack. Gotta change my ways.” He chuckled. “At least that's what the doc and my wife say.”

“It's always good to listen to the doctors and your wife.”

“The name is Bud Norman.” Chuckling, the man gestured toward Olivia. “And who is this young lady?”

“This is Olivia, Seth's daughter.” Elise patted Olivia on the shoulder. “And I'm Elise Keller.”

“Hi, Olivia. Hi, Elise.”

Elise turned at the sound of Seth's voice. As the little girl raced to greet her daddy, Elise tried to get her wildly racing heart under control. Why had she let her heart fool her again?

But the part of her heart that had never let go of Seth betrayed her as he put aside his crutches and settled in the nearby chair. He picked up Olivia and gathered her into his arms. Elise closed her eyes against the sweet picture. When they were together, she used to wonder what Seth would be like as a father. The reality was better than she'd imagined—except that in this reality, she had no part in the little family.

Why did her feelings about Seth have to be so con fusing?

“Elise, are you okay?”

Opening her eyes, she forced herself to smile. “I am.”

“Good. For a minute there, I thought maybe you were going to faint.”

Laughing halfheartedly, Elise shook her head. “Just gathering my thoughts.”
Thoughts about you.

She had to remember that she and Seth were better off apart. He certainly wasn't pining over her. Bud's comment about Seth's flirting with the nurses proved that. He was acting like the same old Seth she'd known—the charmer who loved to have women eating out of his hand.

Why was she bothered anyway? She had no claims on
Seth, but those old feelings lingered in her heart—feelings that could only lead to hurt if she acted on them. Too many unresolved questions about Seth needed answers before she could even consider giving him access to her heart again.

“I
've got something in my car that Olivia is going to love.” Elise's smile grew into a grin.

“What did you bring her?” Taking in Elise's happiness, Seth maneuvered on his crutches as he followed her down the walk to the driveway where she'd parked her car. Olivia followed close behind him, almost as if she were watching to make sure he would make it down the walk. Although he wasn't as mobile as he'd like to be, he was thankful that after two weeks of rehab in the nursing home he was finally in his own house. Little by little he was getting better. While his body mended, he prayed he could mend his relationship with Elise, as well.

“You'll see in a minute.” Elise opened the trunk of her car. “Be careful on those crutches. I don't want to be responsible if you fall down and break something else.”

“I'm not going to fall down. This is good for me.”

“I suppose, but you make me nervous.”

Did that mean she cared about him? He wanted to ask in the worst way, but he didn't dare to put her on the spot. He should just be glad for her help. During the two weeks he'd
spent in the nursing home, Elise had taken care of Olivia by spending the night at his house.

Now that he was home, would Elise's visits end? She hadn't said anything about it, and he didn't want to make her feel obligated to help. Even though she'd brought Olivia to the nursing home every evening, he'd sensed the barrier she'd erected—the barrier that clearly indicated she was there for Olivia, not him.

Putting the troubling thoughts from his mind, he hobbled over to the car and looked inside the trunk. A box containing a little wooden kitchen set lay nestled on an old blanket. He glanced at Olivia, then back at Elise. At least if she didn't have much use for him, she obviously cared for his daughter. “Olivia
is
going to love this.”

“I'm sorry, but we still have to put it together. It would've been too hard to transport if it was assembled.”

“So does that mean you're going to help me?”

Elise chuckled. “I believe you're going to need my help.”

“That's a relief.” At least it meant she'd be staying awhile.

“What is it?” Standing on her tiptoes, Olivia tried to see into the trunk.

“Step away, sweetheart, so we can get it out.” Seth waved her back.

Elise eyed him. “Are you sure you should be helping with this? I got it in the trunk. I should be able to get it out.”

“I'm fine.” He wanted to give her assistance. He didn't want to feel completely helpless.

Olivia did as he said, standing wide-eyed as he leaned against the car and helped Elise lift the box containing the play kitchen and deposit it on the driveway. Olivia ran and started inspecting the picture on the box. She looked up at Elise. “Mine?”

“Yes, it's your kitchen, but your daddy and I have to put it
together. Let me take this inside.” Elise reached into the trunk and held up a plastic shopping bag. “I've got pots and pans and little play food items in here, too.”

“Play now, please?”

“You can't, honey, not until we take it inside and put it together.” Seth gave Elise a helpless look. “Can you manage this by yourself if I open the doors?”

“I think so.” Elise handed the bag of food items to Olivia. “You can carry this and help your daddy open the doors for me.”

“I help.” Olivia scampered ahead, swinging the bag as she went up the walk.

Once inside, Elise set the box in the living room and looked up at Seth. “Is this okay, or do you want to put it together someplace else?”

“Here is fine.” Using the box for support, Seth ripped it open and started taking out all of the parts.

Olivia eagerly picked up a couple of the pieces that Seth had laid on the nearby coffee table. Stepping into help, Elise tried to guide Olivia so she wouldn't make a mess. “Olivia, let's put the pieces over here.”

After Seth emptied the box, he looked up at Elise. “Do you have any idea where they put my tools when they un packed?”

Elise shrugged. “Not really, but I'll check in the garage.”

Seth's pulse quickened when Elise returned with a large red box containing his tools. He wished he could tell her how he felt, but he was afraid of scaring her away. The fact that Elise cared for his daughter was a good start. He should be satisfied with that for now.

Elise set the tool kit on the floor. Looking at him, she reached for the instructions for assembling the toy kitchen. “I hope this isn't too complicated. I've heard horror stories
about putting stuff like this together from my cousins who have kids.”

“Me, too, from my mom and dad.” Seth couldn't suppress the feelings of hope surrounding his heart because Elise was here. He pointed to the instructions. “I remember them saying to check for all the parts first.”

“Good idea.”

Olivia stood with her hands on her hips and stared at the two adults. “Me help, too.”

“Okay, you can help your daddy keep track of the parts.”

Olivia clapped her little hands as she took a seat next to him on the couch. Somehow he'd managed to sit on the couch without falling over. Dealing with the crutches and the plastic cast still wasn't easy. Even though he'd been unhappy in the beginning about going to the nursing home, he was thankful for the time he'd had with the physical therapists there. They'd had him doing gait training with his crutches over even and uneven surfaces and strength training. He still had a long recovery, but they'd given him exercises to help.

For the next two and a half hours, Seth, Elise and even Olivia worked to put the little kitchen together. Still trying not to let his thoughts dwell on his hopes for a new beginning with Elise, Seth took in the camaraderie between Elise and his daughter. He'd been worried that Olivia would always remind Elise of his relationship with Sophie. Seeing Elise and Olivia interact put some of his fear to rest, but he wouldn't know for certain unless he asked Elise directly. Of course, he wasn't going to do that anytime soon. She seemed comfortable and happy in his home for now. He didn't want to bring up an uncomfortable subject and drive her away.

After Seth drilled in the last screw, he set his electric screwdriver aside and looked at Olivia. “It's ready. Do you want to try it out?”

Her curls dancing, Olivia jumped up and down and clapped
her hands. She bounded toward the kitchen and began opening doors and turning knobs again. Then she looked up at Seth. “Cook Daddy food.”

Grinning, Seth nodded. Her excitement was contagious. “What are you going to cook for me?”

With her dark eyes wide, Olivia stared at him. For once she didn't have anything to say.

“Do you need pots, pans and food?” Stepping forward, Elise picked up the plastic bag that Olivia had earlier dropped on the floor and forgotten. “Let's look in here. I've got some stuff for your kitchen.”

Olivia took the bag from Elise and dumped its contents. Little pots, pans and plastic miniature replicas of meat, fruits and vegetables littered the light brown area rug. The little girl began rummaging through the items as if she'd found great treasures. She held up an apple. “Apple.”

“Very good, Olivia. Yes, that's an apple.” Elise patted the little girl on the head.

Seemingly pleased with herself for identifying the fruit, she began to name the other pieces of fruit one by one.

Seth hunkered down and picked up some of the toy food and put it on the counter of the little kitchen. “Now you can put everything away, then you can cook something for me.”

“'Kay.” Olivia started gathering the pretend food and putting it away.

Elise turned to him. “Do you want to keep this here?”

“It's okay here for the time being. I'll eventually figure out a permanent place for it.”

Elise sat next to him on the couch. “She is so good.”

“Most of the time.” Giving her a wry smile, he leaned closer and hoped she wouldn't move away. Thankful that she'd stayed put, he spoke barely above a whisper. “I guess she hasn't erupted into one of her tantrums around you.”

Wide-eyed, Elise stared at him. “No. I don't believe it.”

“Believe it. That's why they call it the ‘terrible twos.'”

“Oh, yeah, my cousin Val has mentioned that.”

“Then you know she's not good all the time.”

Standing, Elise turned toward the kitchen. “While Olivia is cooking some plastic food for you, I'll make some real food.”

Seth reached out and caught hold of Elise's arm. He thought maybe he was dreaming or hadn't heard her correctly. “You're staying longer? You're cooking for me?”

Turning back to look at him, she nodded. “How do you and Olivia expect to eat if I don't fix you something? Besides, I've been doing this every night for Olivia while you've been in the nursing home. I'm used to it.”

“I could order a pizza.”

“Oh, okay, if that's what you want to do.” Elise looked at Olivia, then back at him. “Guess I'll be going then. I just wanted to drop the kitchen off for Olivia.”

Seth wanted to kick himself. Elise had brought Olivia a gift, and he hadn't even thanked her. Now she thought he expected her to leave. He didn't mean for her to go. If only he'd thought twice before opening his mouth. He'd wanted to let her know she shouldn't have to fix their meal, that she'd done enough already, but it had come out all wrong. “Wait. I never meant you should leave. Let me treat you, unless you don't like pizza.”

“I like pizza, or did you forget? Spinach and mushroom.”

He remembered.

He remembered everything—everything about the pizza and everything about the love they used to share. Most of the time remembering hurt because the memories created a longing for her love that he feared he could never realize again. He'd only begun to recognize how much he cared for Elise when the whole incident with Sophie had erupted. He'd had too many casual relationships with women. So when real love
found its way into his heart, he hadn't been prepared to deal with it.

Sighing, he shook his head. She had him so discombobulated that he wasn't saying what he intended to say. “I didn't forget. I didn't know whether you'd want to share a pizza with us. Olivia and I would love to have you stay. Will you be our guest? It's the least we can do after all you've done for us.”

Seth watched Elise's expression. He could almost see her warring with herself as she contemplated his question. Did he dare enlist Olivia in his cause, or would that be cheating? He was sure Elise would stay for Olivia.

“Will Olivia eat spinach and mushrooms?”

Seth smiled, relief washing over him. “Maybe not, but we can order half cheese and half spinach and mushroom.”

“Okay.”

“So that means you're staying?”

Nodding, Elise finally smiled. “I never turn down spinach-and-mushroom pizza.”

“Great.” Seth clomped on his crutches over to the end table next to the brown leather couch and picked up his cell phone. “Can you recommend a good pizza place?”

“Sure. My—”

“Let me guess. Your cousin's pizzeria, right?”

“No. My dad's cousin's wife's brother's pizzeria.” Elise laughed, and the sound wound its way into Seth's heart.

Shaking his head, Seth chuckled. “Okay. I'm not going to keep all of that straight. Can you give me the number?”

As he made the call, he leaned against the doorjamb so he could see Olivia busy at work, gathering her pots and pans on the stove and pretending to stir something.

How many make-believe tea parties had he attended in the past year? The older his daughter got, the more her imagination grew. Seth watched his little girl as an ache settled around his heart. He wanted to be the best father he could be, but he
wanted more than just the two of them, for his sake and for Olivia's. He wished Elise could be there always to help him, not just tonight. Maybe if he took things slow and easy, she would fall in love with him again.

After he ordered the pizza, he glanced at Elise. “Is all this stuff safe for her?”

Elise nodded. “I only bought the things that said they were safe for two-year-olds. I even took out a couple of pieces that seemed too small.”

“That's good.” Seth released a long slow breath and wondered whether he'd said the wrong thing again. Did she think he didn't trust her to pick out age-appropriate toys? He was second-guessing himself again.

His brain was as muddled as it had been while he'd been under the influence of the pain medication. He'd never had this much trouble talking with women or asking women for dates. But nothing had been riding on those relationships. Now all his hopes and dreams were wound up in reconciling with Elise, and he seemed to be making a mess of everything he said. Where was the guy who used to be so glib? Maybe when he was around Elise he should be a quiet, more cautious man. Then he might be less apt to say the wrong thing. He hoped the pizza would arrive soon.

While they waited for the pizza, Olivia served Seth and Elise a meal of plastic steak and corn on the cob, which they pretended to eat with great relish. When the doorbell rang, Olivia raced to answer it.

Seth tried to stop her. “Olivia, don't answer the door until Daddy gets there.”

“I'll get it.” Elise caught Olivia up in her arms and carried her to the front door.

Seth hobbled after them and managed to pay for the pizza. He was really beginning to realize how the crutches limited his movement. How was he going to manage a rambunctious
toddler while on them? Getting out of the nursing home made for more problems than he'd anticipated.

Olivia skipped beside Elise as she took the pizza to the kitchen.

Seth stood by, feeling quite useless as Elise set the table. He was certainly glad she'd agreed to stay. How was he going to take care of his house? He supposed he would have to hire someone to clean it. He was giving himself a headache thinking about what lay ahead.