Kessler came down the hall. “Dr. Maguire.”
She tensed. “Doctor.”
“I was hoping to see you before I made my rounds. We found some chaparral tea.”
“Good.” It may be a long shot but it was all she had.
“You realize the use of this tea is only effective when used regularly over a period of time.”
She shot him a hard glare. She didn’t need the reminder that time was an issue. “I’m well aware of the situation, Doctor.”
She gritted her teeth against the gentle, pitying look in his eyes.
“Here you go.” Jamie sailed up and handed her a disposable cup. Steam billowed from the milky, brown liquid.
“Thank you, Jamie. Doctor.” She headed back to Mom G.’s room. She opened the door and slowly walked in, hovering just inside the room. Her throat tightened. Rod leaned in close to Mom G., still holding her hand. They talked in quiet tones. Rachel stepped back, intending to give them more time, but her elbow bumped the wall, making a dull thud. Rod glanced at her, and the corner of his mouth lifted before he turned back to Mom G.
Rachel continued forward. As she approached the bed, she heard Rod say, “I will do my best, my dear. I promise.”
Mom G. nodded. “We have to try.”
Rod stood. “Here’s Rachel, back just in time. I have to take off, but I’ll return this evening.”
“Your coffee.”
“Thank you.” He took the cup and walked from the room.
“Such a nice man.” Mom G. stared after him.
“He is.” Rachel lifted a brow. “You and Rod have become close. You never said anything in your letters or phone calls.”
Mom G. smiled slightly and a blush brightened her pale cheeks. Rachel laughed, loving the life shining from Mom G.’s eyes. If only she could hold on to that.
“Where’s Josh?” Mom G. asked.
Rachel sat in the chair. “He said he’d be here.”
Mom G. took her hand. “I’m going to rest until he arrives. Please wake me.”
“Of course.”
Mom G. closed her eyes. Rachel listened, thankful Mom G. breathed easier than she had earlier, but she couldn’t shake the fear Mom G. might not reawaken.
Dropping her head onto the side of the bed, Rachel squeezed her eyes shut. Lord, Your word says to count it all joy when we fall into various trials. This sickness is a trial that affects so many people. Mom G., Rod, Josh, me. Where’s the joy, Lord? Show me, teach me. I don’t understand.
The low beeping of the machines, combined with Mom G.’s soft breathing, lulled Rachel’s senses. Heart heavy with concern, she allowed herself to rest.
Josh pushed opened the door to Mrs. G.’s hospital room and stepped in. He stopped short when he saw Rachel sitting in the chair, her body bent forward and her head resting against the blue covers of the bed. He could see the steady rise and fall of the blankets over Mrs. G.
They were both resting. He started to leave, but found himself staring into Rachel’s crystal-blue gaze. She straightened and her black hair brushed loosely across her shoulders. She wore the clothes he’d seen her in yesterday. She hadn’t left and he doubted she’d had more than a few moments of rest.
She blinked several times. “Hi,” she said softly.
She sounded young and vulnerable, more like the girl he’d known. His heart twisted with longing. He pushed the unwanted emotion aside and told himself he felt sympathy for her for what was to come. Nothing else. “Where’s my dad?”
“He left.”
Josh frowned. “We came together, but he sent me to get coffee for him.”
Rachel smiled ruefully. “With cream and sugar.”
“Yes.” He smiled and held out one of the cups in his hand. “I brought you one, too.”
She stood and took the cup from him. Her hands shook slightly.
“Have you eaten?” He didn’t appreciate the sudden need to take care of her.
“No.” She sipped from the coffee cup.
He watched her press the cup to her mouth. He remembered kissing those lips so many years ago. Remembered her soft, pliant mouth beneath his, the way she’d felt in his arms.
Angry at the unwanted course of his thoughts, he averted his gaze. “You shouldn’t drink that on an empty stomach. Why don’t we go to the cafeteria and get some breakfast?”
She shook her head. “She wanted me to wake her when you got here.”
Even though Mrs. G. lay a few feet away, being this close to—this intimate with—Rachel troubled him. It was too easy to remember the past, to remember how he’d once loved her, how she’d looked at him with love in her blue eyes. Too easy to remember that she’d wanted to be a doctor more than she’d wanted to be with him. And being a doctor had changed her. The woman standing before him set his nerves on edge.
“I’ll let you do the honors.” He took her cup and set it, along with his own, on the side table.
Rachel lay a hand on Mrs. G.’s shoulder. “Mom G., Josh is here.”
Mrs. G. stirred. Her eyelids fluttered.
Josh’s chest tightened. Mrs. G. had been such a godsend to him and his family. They’d kept in touch after Rachel left town, and when Andrea died, Mrs. G. had insisted on keeping Griff while Josh had dealt with the funeral arrangements. Then she’d insisted on continuing to care for his son while he worked. She’d become the grandmother that Griff needed.
And now they were losing her. Josh didn’t know if his heart could take much more loss, and he worried what the loss would do to his son.
Mrs. G.’s eyes opened fully and she smiled weakly. “Thank you, Josh, for coming.”
Josh moved closer. “Of course I’m here. I’ll always be here,” he said softly. From the corner of his eye he saw Rachel glance at him.
“We’re both here, Mom G.,” she said softly.
Mrs. G. lifted her hand from the bed and held it out. Rachel immediately wrapped her own hand around Mrs. G.’s.
“Josh.” Mrs. G.’s intent was clear. He hesitated before he slowly lifted his own hand and placed it over Rachel’s. He kept his gaze trained on Mrs. G. and ignored the cool hand beneath his palm.
“I need a promise from…you both.”
He glanced at Rachel. Her gaze met his. The wariness in her eyes reflected his own. Whatever Mrs.G. wanted, they would do everything in their power to make it happen.
As if she’d heard his thoughts, Rachel nodded imperceptibly and turned to Mrs. G. “Yes, of course, we’ll promise you anything.”
“Of course.” Josh murmured his agreement.
His brows drew slightly together as he met the older woman’s gaze. A mischievous glint twinkled in Mrs.G.’s eyes. Josh dismissed it as a trick of the light. Then she said, “Promise me that you two will take care of each other when I’m gone.”
Josh stilled. Mischief nothing, the woman was bent on matchmaking! And he’d just given his word he’d do anything for her.
He hoped that wasn’t a mistake he’d come to regret.
Chapter Four
Dismay sat heavy on Josh’s chest, but he saw the fledgling hope in Mrs. G.’s expression and determination set