Wedding at Willow Lake (7 page)

“Seven-thirty.”

“AM?”

“Yes. On Thursday.”

“But it’s only Wednesday.”

“It was Wednesday yesterday, Cate. Now it’s Thursday.”

“I don’t understand.” She closed her eyes and tried to swallow but her throat was too dry to function. None of this was making sense, but she knew something bad had happened. She just couldn’t remember what it was. She tried to sit up and the room tipped on its side. “I want to go home.”

“Whoa…easy there.” Brody gave her shoulder a gentle push, settling her back in the bed. “You’re not going anywhere for a while. You need to rest.”

“I’m thirsty.” She closed her eyes against sunlight that filtered into the room through blinds on the window. The cacophonous beep of an IV machine told her she had more than a little bump on the head. She reached up, felt the bandage across her hairline and wondered if there were stitches beneath it. “And, can you fix the blinds. The light hurts my head.”

“Sure.” Brody crossed to the window and, with a slight adjustment, the room grew still and shadowy. Then he poured her a glass of water. A few sips and her belly roiled. She forced back bile as tears blurred her vision.

“What’s under this bandage, Brody?” She tried to peel it back.

Brody took her hand, pulling it gently away from her head. “You know, you make a better doctor than a patient.”

“You wake up in a hospital, and don’t know what put you there, and you’d be an awful patient, too.” Catherine pressed a hand to her throbbing cheek, felt the slight slope of swelling and winced. “Do I have stitches?”

“Just a few.” Brody’s gaze was guarded, his voice a bit too gentle. She knew he was avoiding the full truth. “They’re above your hairline, so don’t worry about a scar.”

“But my hair…” She felt the small, bald area and that alone was enough to bring on tears. “What happened?”

“You don’t remember?”

“No.” A muddled vision swam like a nightmare through her throbbing head. “Wait…the clinic.”

“That’s right.” He tucked the blanket in around her shoulders. “Go on.”

“Lisa had just left, and I phoned you to let you know the last patient was gone.” The vision, like the ingredients of a recipe mixed together, began to gel. “I went into the reception area to straighten up and check on the fish. I heard the back door open and someone coming down the hall. I figured it was you, so I went to the hallway. But it wasn’t you, Brody. It was…oh my goodness. It was…” Unable to continue, she pressed a hand to her chapped lips as a sob escaped.

“I know who it was.” Brody’s voice morphed into a low growl. He rose to pace the floor like a caged panther. “You don’t have to talk about it now. The police are on their way to take a statement. They’ll want to hear everything.”

“It was terrible, Brody. He cornered me and threatened me, and he shoved me against the wall. I fell and hit my head on the corner of the play table. The room went dark, and I couldn’t see anything after that, but I felt the blood. He was yelling, and…I thought he was going to kill me.”

“You’re safe now, Cate.” Brody pulled her close and held her, and his gentle touch conflicted with the menacing tone of his voice. “No one’s going to hurt you. I’ve got you now, and I won’t let anyone, ever again, do you harm.”

9

It nearly killed Brody to know that he hadn’t been there to protect Cate. He should have taken the brunt of Bivens’s wrath. But, knowing what he knew about guys like Sam Bivens, it made perfect sense that he’d targeted Catherine instead. Brody should have seen it coming like a freight train roaring down the tracks. But he’d missed it—badly.

Sitting in the hospital room, watching Cate sob as she recounted to the police what had happened, he knew he’d never let her down again. He meant what he said. He’d be there for her—always. Though several days had passed since her release from the hospital, Brody remained ever-vigilant.

“Are you OK?” Catherine reached across the table to take his hand. Her pretty eyes were still shadowed with a hint of bruise, reminding Brody once again of his resolve to hold her close. “You’re not still thinking about what happened at the clinic, are you?”

“How can I not think about it?” Brody glanced around the restaurant. They’d come back to Manny’s pizzeria because he knew it was Catherine’s favorite place, and there was something hugely comforting about the blend of tangy sauce, yeasty dough, and mozzarella cheese. Pinball machines played a cacophonous symphony from the back room and that was a comfort, as well. “He really hurt you, Cate.”

“I know. But it’s over now. Sam Bivens will see nothing but a concrete cell for some time to come. He’s been extradited to Arizona. Who knew he had charges pending there, as well?”

“Larder and the good old boys at the police department did a stellar job covering them up, but the truth is always exposed, eventually.”

“John Larder will be gone soon, too. Despite his political connections, he’s been booted from the force.”

“It’s about time.” Brody grimaced. “Way overdue.”

Catherine squeezed his hand. “And, since you and Mason installed that new security system, Houdini himself couldn’t break in. I’m not going to let what happened keep me from living—or doing my job. The kids are counting on me.”

“You’re pretty tough, you know.” Brody smiled at her. “That’s one of the reasons I fell in love with you.”

“You love me, huh?”

“Yes, I do.” He touched the fading bruise along her cheekbone. “I told you I’ve never stopped, and that’s the truth, Cate. If I could turn back the clock…”

“You can’t, Brody. Neither of us can. You said you never stopped loving me. Well, it’s not fair for you to be the only one to lay your heart on the line—to put it all out there. I have a confession to make.”

“You don’t have to go there, Cate.”

“Yes, I do. That day, when you let me walk away, you were the strong one, Brody. By letting me go, you held on to me.”

“I don’t understand.”

“We would have never made it. I knew it, and you knew it, too. But I was selfish because when I told you everything I knew with my head, I expected you to come after me, to argue and persuade. When you didn’t, my pride got the best of me. My heart knew what we had, but my head was too cautious, too reasonable. So I used my anger for fuel, and I tried my best to forget you.” She shook her head. “I couldn’t, though, no matter how hard I tried. You were always there…as I plowed through classes, made my rounds as an intern, broke ground on the clinic. I thought about you, and felt you as if you were right at my side.”

“Maybe because I was there, in spirit.” He stroked a pair of fingers through her hair and leaned in to kiss her stitched forehead. “I felt you, too.”

“Knowing that is enough.” She brushed her lips along his jaw, smoothed a palm over his scruffy cheek, brushing the stubble. “Yes, that’s just right.”

“Did you get enough to eat? I think you lost a couple pounds, hanging around the hospital to babysit me. Is the pizza the way you like?”

“It’s perfect.” To prove it he took a bite, though the sauce bit at his tangled stomach. Cate appeared to be getting over things without a hitch. He, on the other hand, would require a bit more time to bring his flashpoint of temper into check. But that was no excuse to ruin a beautiful summer afternoon—and the last free afternoon they had together before Catherine returned to her work at the clinic. It made Brody feel just a bit nostalgic. “You’re beautiful, Cate.”

“I feel beautiful when I’m with you.” She smoothed a hand through her hair, and Brody guessed she remained self-conscious about the bare spot left by stitches. It would grow back eventually, but that would take time. In the meantime, she’d had the front trimmed into bangs that skimmed her forehead, framing her eyes. “Despite my newfound hair loss.”

“I like your new hairstyle. Those cropped bangs make your eyes pop.”

“Where’d you learn to talk like that?” Catherine burst into laughter. The carefree, tinkling sound was worth him sacrificing a bit of man-pride. “You’ve been brushing up on your smooth-talk, I see.”

“Is it working?”

“Hmm…” She lifted his hand to her lips to gently kiss each knuckle. “You be the judge.”

****

Brody was there for her…Catherine felt it deep in her bones. The ‘event’ as she’d come to think of it, at the clinic, had tossed her world upside down. Whether alone or surrounded by people, she’d never felt unsafe at work—until now. The clinic was her haven, her special place where, even on a particularly bad day, she could find a modicum of peace.

But now, in the throes of a single, irrevocable event, that peace had been shattered. But, somehow, having Brody near helped put the shattered pieces back together. His quiet faith was an inspiration to her. So, she kept a positive attitude, remained strong, and carried on, mainly because of his encouragement.

She wondered how she’d lived for the past decade without him. If she thought about it hard enough, she realized she hadn’t really been living. There was a huge difference between getting through a day and enjoying that day. Brody, well, he certainly added to the enjoyment. Catherine stole covert glances at him while he wasn’t looking, drinking in the strong set of his jaw and the tenderness in his gaze. His hands, able and strong, made her heart sing with each gentle touch. Over all the days and seasons spent together, she’d come to read his moods as if they were her own.

The truth stole her breath—she loved him.

“Do you want to go for a walk?” Brody wiped pizza sauce from his lips and tossed his napkin onto his plate. “It’s too nice to stay indoors.”

“I’d like that.” She drained her tea glass and reached for her purse. “After two days in the hospital, the fresh air is nice.”

“Your headache gone for good now?”

“Completely.” She paused at his side as he opened the door for her. “I feel fine.”

“Up to a walk along Willow Lake, then?”

“That sounds perfect.” Catherine slipped her purse strap over one shoulder. “The breeze is always cool along the water, and the wild honeysuckle is in bloom. I’ve always loved the scent of wild honeysuckle.”

“I remember.” Brody tugged his truck keys from his pocket as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “You know, we’ve had some of our best times on that lake.”

“Yes, we have.”

“And I believe we’re due for some more…lots more.”

“Yeah?”

“Trust me, I know.”

“I like the sound of that.” She reached for his hand as they started toward the truck. “Brody Simmons, you’re just full of wonderful surprises.”

10

“Can you believe it?” Catherine sighed at she leaned against the porch rail at the inn. Her hair was a glossy mass of silk as it kissed her waist beneath a sky exploding with starlight. Beyond the inn’s expansive yard, the lake shimmered and danced as water rippled. A gentle breeze carried the scent of wild lilacs in bloom along the forest’s edge as a grove of willows swayed in a balletic serenade. “Josie’s pregnant. Who would have thought it would happen so quickly? They’ve only been married a few months, but I’m so happy for her and Mason.”

“Yeah. Their announcement was a bit of a shocker, albeit a good one.” Brody eased in beside her and turned to drink in the commotion in the great room. Back-slaps for the guys, tears for the women as Josie’s belly became the focus of attention. Happiness reined all around; it was contagious. For the first time in a long time, he felt completely at peace. They’d all come full circle—almost. He aimed to place the final piece of that puzzle before the evening ended. “Soon the woods will be crawling with a new generation. So much out there to be found.”

“It’s only fitting, don’t you think, to fill this place with children again? It’s been way too long since the lake has heard the sound of laughter.”

“Ali had some good foresight, holding onto the inn when her parents were ready to sell it off. It couldn’t have been easy for her in the beginning, all alone here with all her memories. She’s tough…all of you are.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way. I can’t imagine anyone else living here, holding the reins.” Catherine leaned her elbows on the rail, propping her chin in upturned palms. “Ryder’s a perfect fit for her, don’t you think?”

“They’re perfect for each other, as are Josie and Mason, Hunter and Maci.” Brody skimmed a hand over Catherine’s cheek. “Impressive, isn’t it?”

“Like they’ve been programmed by GPS to find one another after so many years apart.”

“Nice analogy.” Brody leaned in, nestling his arm against hers. “How’s your GPS?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Walk with me down to the lake?” He glanced back over his shoulder at the commotion just inside the French doors leading off of the deck. “I’d like to have you to myself for a bit.”

“Do you think they’ll miss us?”

“I guess we’ll find out.”

****

Brody took her down to the lake by way of the long, winding drive along the boat house. Ryder had done a lot of work here and it showed. Water flowed over river rock to a backlit koi pond where fish, huge and magnificent, swam in a slow, intriguing dance. Ceramic planters of all sizes and shapes exploded with the color of wave petunias while a waterfall tinkled and splashed merrily. Lighting was soft and well-planned, adding an air of romance that only added to the beauty of a full moon.

“I love the scent of lilacs.” Catherine breathed deeply, closing her eyes as she spun in a slow circle. Music drifted from the inn, a soft melody that had her swaying. “It reminds me of us…how we used to come down here in the summer and sun ourselves along the rocks.”

“You sunned yourself. I watched.” Brody drew her close. “I couldn’t take my eyes off you, Cate. You used to pick the lilacs and weave them into your hair. It made me crazy, watching you.”

“I didn’t know.” Her heart leapt at the thought. And all these years she’d thought he was just hanging out with the guys. Talk about naïve. “I thought you were too busy showing off with the guys—jumping from the bluffs and screaming like Tarzan from that rope swing you and Mason fashioned.”