“But?”
“I don’t know what all will be involved or if I could even do it.”
“I’ve taken the liberty of looking into the process. As for any cost involved, including any classes you may have to take, that’s on me till you get on your feet. Then we’ll work something out.” Sam’s eyes sparkled with sincerity. “And, to be perfectly honest, I asked some people I know who still work at your old hospital about you. They had nothing but high praise for you. You can do this, Sky. I know you can. And I’ll help make it happen.”
To be a nurse again would be a dream come true, but having to depend on someone else to help her, well, that had never worked to her advantage. “I’ll think about it and let you know after Thanksgiving. Will that be all right?”
“Of course. Ah, here comes Coop, and he has that I-need-coffee-now look.”
The lunch crowd filtered in, then it was the afternoon coffee and pie group. The constant activity kept her busy, but Sam’s offer remained foremost in her mind. Common sense said take it; lack of confidence made her hesitate. What if she had to go back to school? Was she up to that? Plus, the closest one was over an hour away. And she was thirty-three years old now; would she be competing with twenty-somethings? What about Maddie? How could she work it all out?
By the time her shift ended, she was no closer to a decision than before.
Head bent against the cold wind, she didn’t see Cade until he touched her arm, making her jump. “What is it, Cade?”
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you. I just wanted to apologize for last night. I was out of line.”
“Yes. You were.”
He took a breath and ducked his head. “I’m sorry. I should not have talked to Louise without asking you first. I’ll tell her never mind.”
“Don’t bother. I already did.”
He shuffled his feet and extended his hands out, palm up in a pleading manner. “Look, I just want us to get to know each other better. I’m sorry if I overstepped my bounds. It won’t happen again.”
His contrite manner probably worked on most women.
Sky wasn’t most women.
“Good. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to pick my daughter up at school.”
He tried to put his hand over hers as she gripped the door handle, but she jerked it away in time.
Unruffled, he continued as though nothing happened. “How about we all go out for pizza tonight? You, me, and the kid.”
It wasn’t the first time he referred to her daughter as the kid, and it ticked her off. “The kid’s name is Maddie.”
“Fine. Okay. You, me, and Maddie. How about it? I’ll pick you up at six.”
His smile said he thought he’d won.
He hadn’t. Not by a long shot.
“Maddie has something at school tonight.” She yanked on the door handle.
“Great. I’ll take you, then we can go for pizza afterwards.”
She took a deep breath. “My answer hasn’t changed, Cade. No.”
His jovial expression turned sour. “You going with Logan? Is that it?”
The instant change in his attitude caught her off guard for a moment. Relying on her combative patient training, she straightened and faced him. “As I said before, none of your business. Now, please remove your hand.”
“Everything all right, Miss Sky?”
The question came from Big John Andrews, a local handyman, who stood at the back door holding a narrow piece of wood trim. At least six five with a huge barrel chest and tree-trunk arms, he dwarfed the door’s narrow opening. Snow-white hair hung below a worn toboggan, his weathered face covered by a peppery beard that reached mid-chest. His age could have been fifty or seventy, the lines and scars on his face attesting to a life lived hard. Rumor had it the only thing he liked better than a good fight was Ruby’s pecan pie.
To Sky, though, he was a gentle giant of a man who looked out for those he cared for. Happily, she and Maddie fit that category.
John inclined his head toward Cade. “He bothering you?”
“No. He’s just leaving.”
Big John dropped the trim and took a step forward. “He need some help?”
Cade’s jaw clinched and relaxed. “Logan’s nothing but trouble, Skylar.” He tipped the brim of his western hat. “I’ll be around when you come to your senses.”
John watched until Cade was out of sight. “He gives you any more sass, Miss Sky, just let me know. I’d love to have a chat with him.”
She released the breath she held and jerked on the door handle again. “Thanks, John, but I don’t think that will be necessary.”
“Guys like him don’t like being told no.” His battle-scarred face was grim as he picked up the discarded piece of wood. “My offer stands.”
“You’ve made great progress, Max, so I was a little surprised at your call today. What’s going on?”
From their first session over a year ago, Dr. Oscar Bellamy’s smooth cadence, coupled with a deep southern accent and calm demeanor, put Max at ease. Pale blue eyes radiated compassion and understanding, seeing past a multitude of hurts and anger that made it easy to talk.
