Loe raamatut: «Her Christmas Wedding Wish»

CHAPTER ONE

MOLLY SODERLING hurried back down the hall to the one patient who had been on her mind all through her break. Toby Astin. The eight-year-old had also found his way into her heart, ever since he’d come into the hospital three days ago, the victim of a car crash. The same crash that had killed his parents and two other adults, and had left the boy an orphan. Less than a month before Christmas.

Molly’s heart ached for him. She knew exactly what he was feeling, as she, too, had lost her parents when she was a young child. She remembered how lonely she was the first Christmas without them, and every one since then.

In Toby’s eyes she saw the loss he suffered; in his clinging arms she felt his pain. In the three days he’d been here, no one had come for him. Perhaps after the funerals someone would claim him. She didn’t want Toby to be put into the foster care system as she had been.

As she turned down the pediatric wing, she saw two people clad in black enter his room. Perhaps they were mourners who’d attended the funeral for his parents today. According to his doctor, Toby’s uncle and grandmother had phoned to ask for Toby to attend, but Dr. Bradford had refused.

He was concerned the boy might suffer depression.

Molly had disagreed with the doctor, but he wasn’t going to listen to her. Having had to attend her parents’ funeral when she was seven, she knew how comforting it had been to see others mourning their deaths also.

Molly sighed. Then, forcing a smile on her face, she turned into Toby’s room.

“Molly!” he cried as if she were a lifesaver.

“Hi, Toby. Did you eat your dinner?”

“Yes, but—”

“Are you his nurse?” the man in the black suit asked abruptly, stepping toward her. He looked about thirty, with dark hair and striking blue eyes.

“I’m one of Toby’s nurses.”

“He seems extraordinarily attached to you.”

Was it condemnation she heard in his voice? Her shoulders stiffened. “We’ve become friends,” she said tersely.

Then she turned her attention to Toby. “Can I get you anything, honey?”

“I’d like some ice cream,” he said hesitantly, shooting a look at the man as if he would object.

“Sure. I’ll be right back with it.”

She passed the older woman dressed in a black designer suit, leaning against the wall. She wasn’t sure who the elegant-looking woman was. Maybe a family friend or maybe even the grandmother she’d heard mentioned. But no, she wasn’t acting like a grandmother, at least none Molly had ever imagined.

“Excuse me, Ms. Soderling,” the man called.

How did he know her name? Molly turned around. “Yes, sir?”

“We’re taking Toby with us in the morning.”

Before he could go on, Molly said, “I’m sorry to see him go. I’ll miss him. Are you his guardian?”

“Yes, by default.”

She stared at him, her eyebrows raised. Who would say such a thing, as if the boy was nothing more than a burden to be endured?

“The other couple, who also died in the car with Toby’s parents, were named in their will as guardians. However, my mother and I are his only relatives. I’m an attorney and I filed the papers this morning to be named guardian. They’ve assured me it would be approved. I want to get Toby home so he can begin to heal.”

“Good. He’s been feeling lost since no one had come to claim him.”

“The doctor in charge of Toby says he’s very fond of you.”

Molly frowned. “Yes, I told you we’ve become friends.”

“He’s eight years old. How could you be friends?”

Molly said nothing, turning to continue on her way.

“Wait!”

She didn’t like the order, but she obeyed. No need to irritate the man if he was going away in the morning. “Yes?”

“Dr. Bradford said you didn’t have any family here.”

“Why would Dr. Bradford tell you that?” she asked carefully.

“Because I need someone to come with us to Dallas to take care of Toby and help him settle in.”

“Sir, I’m a pediatric nurse, not a baby-sitter.”

“I know. And I’m willing to pay your going rate, twenty-four hours a day, if you’ll come with us in the morning.”

“For how long?” she asked, startled at his offering.

“For a month. You’ll make more than three times your salary, Ms. Soderling.”

“I don’t know if the hospital—”

“Dr. Bradford assured me he could spare you.”

Molly didn’t know what to think. “I’ll have to talk to Dr. Bradford.”

“He left a note for you at the nurses’ station,” the man said, as if that alone should persuade her.

He expected her to drop everything and go to Dallas for a month, as if it were nothing but a shift reassignment. Not that she had anything holding her here in Florida, especially at holiday time. Still, the man hadn’t even introduced himself! “Excuse me, sir, but who are you exactly?”

“I’m Richard Anderson, Toby’s uncle.” As he spoke, he stood straighter, his shoulders back in a proud gesture. But he made no move to shake her hand.

Neither did Molly. “I’ll go read the note,” she said. And she walked away.

At the nurses’ station, she got the Dixie cup of ice cream for Toby and asked the nurse on duty if Dr. Bradford had left a note for her.

“Oh, yeah. Sorry, Molly. I forgot to give it to you.”

“Thanks, Ellen,” Molly said, taking the note with her as she found a quiet corner of the floor to read it.

Indeed, Dr. Bradford had asked her to go with the Andersons to Dallas. Because of her rapport with little Toby, he thought her best for the job. He’d approved a month’s leave for her if she decided to go. And, she guessed, to make her refusal harder, he added that Mr. Anderson had offered two hundred thousand dollars to the pediatric wing if the hospital could supply a nurse for the boy.

That much money could help the children, Molly knew. And she knew Dr. Bradford was counting on her love of the kids…

But a month in Dallas with the seemingly pompous Richard Anderson? Could she handle it? The assignment would span the holidays, and aside from some volunteer work, she had no Christmas plans. At the very least she wouldn’t have to spend another Christmas alone. She could stand the thought of that. And she’d be with Toby.

Still unsure, she pocketed the note and brought the boy his ice cream. “Your wish is my command,” she joked to Toby as she pulled the lid off the Dixie cup and held it out to him.

Though his arm and collarbone were in casts, he could hold the Dixie cup in his injured hand and eat with his right.

“Thank you, Molly. You’re not going to leave, are you?”

The boy’s sad blue eyes reached right down into her heart. “No, sweetie, I’ll stay for a little while.” She smiled as she pulled up a chair next to the bed. His frown transformed into a broad grin and he dug into his ice cream. How could she leave him? Not just now, but when he went with his uncle and grandmother?

“What’s wrong, Molly?” Toby asked anxiously.

Molly knew her concerns were nothing compared to the tragedy Toby had experienced. She pasted a bright smile on her lips. “Nothing, sweetheart. Hey, would you like me to go with you to Dallas, where your uncle lives?”

“You could do that? And stay forever?” Toby asked, hope in his voice.

“No, but I could go and stay for a few weeks, during Christmas. Wouldn’t that be fun?”

“Oh, yeah,” Toby said, reaching up to hug her neck. With his face buried in her hair, he whispered, “I don’t want to go with them.”

“I know, sweetie, but we’ll be together and I’ll help you.”

“Okay,” Toby agreed as he pulled back to look at her. “You’ll really come with me?”

“Yes, your uncle has asked me to come.” She settled the little boy back in his bed. “Now, eat your ice cream before it melts while I talk to your uncle.”

And just like that, her mind was made up.

She stood and walked over to the man watching them with no sign of emotion. “I’ll take the job, Mr. Anderson. When were you planning on leaving?”

“We have seats on an eleven o’clock flight tomorrow morning. We’ll need to leave for the airport by nine, which means you should be here by eight to get Toby ready.”

“Does Toby have clothes?” The shirt and pants the boy had been wearing had been bloodied and torn.

The man stared at her, as if he hadn’t comprehended her question.

“Toby hasn’t had any clothes since he arrived and we cut off his bloody ones. He’ll need clothes for the trip.”

With a weary sigh, the man said, “Of course. It’ll take a little while because I’ve got to get my mother back to the hotel. But then I’ll go to his house and pack his clothes.”

Molly knew she was a sucker for the weary and downtrodden, but she couldn’t help herself. “If you want, I could meet you there and help you pack up his things. It would save you a trip back to the hospital.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Richard Anderson nodded. “I’ll take that offer. Thank you.” He looked at his watch. “Can you meet me there at eight o’clock?”

“Yes, but I don’t know the address.”

He pulled a card and a pen out of his pocket and wrote an address on the back of the card. “Do you know where this is?”

Molly nodded. The address was actually close to her apartment. How strange. She’d lived just a few blocks from Toby. “Yes, I do.”

“Then I’ll see you there at eight o’clock.”

Molly heard a warning in his voice not to be late. But she was always on time. With a nod, the man took his mother’s arm and left Toby’s room.

That was when Molly realized the older woman had remained in the back of the room the entire time. She hadn’t taken a seat nor uttered a word to her grandson. Instantly Molly felt good about her decision. How could she have let this sweet boy go with these cold-hearted people?

Molly came back to Toby’s side. “Was the ice cream good?”

“Yes. Are you really going to go with me tomorrow?” the little boy asked anxiously.

“Yes, I told you I would. And I’ll be there all through Christmas. I’ve never been to Dallas. Have you?”

“No. I never met my uncle and my grandmother before.”

How could that be? Molly wondered. They were family. But for Toby’s sake, she tried to put a positive spin on it. “Well, you’ll get a chance to know them now.” She grinned. “I have to go if I’m going to be ready to leave in the morning. Ellen will come in and see you before you go to sleep. Okay?”

“Okay. You really are going with me?”

“Yes, Toby. I’ll be here in the morning, I promise.”

Richard Anderson pulled up to his sister’s home in a nice neighborhood in Jacksonville, Florida. He dreaded going in the house. He’d missed Susan after her move to Florida. He’d talked to her on the phone some, but it hadn’t been the same.

Nine years ago his father had been furious with his daughter. He’d blown up at her and had refused any consideration of reconciliation. Now it was too late for both of them. James Anderson had been a brilliant man, but when it came to his daughter he had been foolish. He’d lost her because of his anger, long before either of them had died.

When another car pulled up behind him, Richard automatically checked his watch. Good. The nurse was on time. It would be easier to enter the house with a stranger.

He got out of his car and waited until the nurse joined him. “I appreciate you coming, Ms. Soderling.”

“Please call me Molly, and I’m glad I can be of assistance.”

“My mother would’ve come, but the past few days have been hard on her.”

“Of course. Shall we go in?”

Richard pulled the keys from his pocket. They had been handed to him by the funeral director, along with other items found in the clothing. He selected one that he hoped would open the door.

He’d guessed right. The door swung open and he followed the nurse into the house. He was hit almost at once with a wave of grief. The house showed so much of Susan. It was warm and cozy, a home where a family shared and loved.

He turned to the nurse, hoping to control his grief, and he saw the same reaction on her face. She hadn’t even known Susan.

“Poor Toby,” she muttered.

“Why would you say that?”

“Because I can see what he’s lost,” she said quietly, and he saw the sheen of moisture in her eyes.

Before he could think of anything to say, she said, “We’d better get started. Do you know where Toby’s bedroom is?”

He shook his head. “I’ve never been here.”

“Oh. Then I’ll go look for it.”

Richard decided he should remove any valuables his sister and her husband had before he hired someone to come pack up the house. What would he do with everything? What would Toby want to keep? Hard decisions to make on the spur of the moment.

He entered the master bedroom, neat and tidy, like Susan. And hard for him to enter. He looked in the closet and found his sister’s jewelry box. Then he found a folder of their financial papers on her husband’s side of the closet, and some cuff links and things in a small leather box. He assumed Toby would one day want them.

“Mr. Anderson?”

Molly appeared in the doorway of the bedroom. “Yes? And please, call me Richard.”

“Am I packing everything Toby has or just enough for the trip?”

“Have you found any luggage?”

“Yes, it’s stored in the third bedroom closet.”

“Then please take everything you can, packing the immediate needs in the smallest bag. I’ll be there to help you in a moment.”

After she left the room, Richard realized how extraordinarily kind she had been to come with him and do the grisly task. It was like sorting through the bones. A very personal experience.

As soon as he’d gathered anything valuable, he carried it all to Toby’s room. It was a perfect bedroom for a little boy.

Susan had loved her child. It showed in so many ways.

He stood there, not wanting to enter. Molly was folding clothes and putting them in the bags. He had to force himself to join her. “I need to put these things in one of the larger bags,” he said, nodding down to the articles he held.

“Of course. If it’s anything valuable, you should put them in a carry-on bag so you can keep them safe.”

He frowned. “I guess you’re right.”

She pointed out a small bag he could use. When he got to the hotel, he could transfer it to his own carry-on bag or his mother’s.

By the time he had those things stowed away, Molly had finished packing Toby’s clothes. Then she packed some books from a nearby shelf.

“The packers will get those things,” Richard said.

“I know, but I thought it would help Toby if he had some things of his own with him.”

Richard agreed. Molly was very thoughtful.

“I can’t thank you enough for coming with me to the house, Molly. It was difficult to—to come here.”

“Yes, I know.”

Molly reached for one more thing. A small framed picture of Toby with his parents. It sat on his bedside table.

He watched her but said nothing.

She was an attractive woman, he suddenly realized. Her reddish-brown hair was shoulder length and simply styled. Her green eyes held so much sympathy, he didn’t like to meet her glance. When she smiled, as she had at Toby, her face lit up a room. No wonder the boy was attached to her. She was like a warm fire on a cold night.

He backed away, recognizing a danger there. And he’d invited her to his home for a month. Was he crazy? No, just desperate. He had to protect his mother. Since his father’s death eighteen months ago the not-yet-sixty-year-old had aged. She leaned on him, so needy in many ways. Now she had to deal with her daughter’s death and the regrets she had.

How could she deal with an eight-year-old boy? And the child was frightened, since he didn’t know them. Molly was the answer to both those problems. He’d made the right move hiring her.

“Uh, I really appreciate your help, Molly,” he said again, preparing to set the tone for her visit.

“It’s all right, Richard. I’m glad I could help.”

“Yes. What I wanted to say is my mother is weak. She won’t be able to deal with Toby. I’ll need you to shield her from the boy’s energy, as well as care for Toby. Will that be a problem?”

She seemed taken aback. But she raised her chin and said coolly, “No, that won’t be a problem.”

He’d upset her. Too bad. He had to protect his own. “Good. I work long hours, so I won’t be there to make sure she’s not disturbed, so I will appreciate your help. If there are problems, bring them to me, not my mother.”

“Certainly,” she said, her voice crisp.

“Are we finished?”

“Yes, of course.”

He picked up the two big bags and she grabbed the overnight bag where she packed Toby’s things for tomorrow. She also picked up the bag that held the valuables.

“I can get that,” he hurriedly said.

The sympathy that had prompted her to come with Richard tonight was drying up. Molly glared at him and set the bag on the floor. Did he think she was going to steal something? “Fine.”

She walked back into the living area of the house. The Christmas tree looked forlorn in the darkened room. Suddenly Molly stopped. “The presents. Should we—”

“We don’t have room,” was his clipped response.

Molly forced herself to keep moving to the front door. Every step she took was a betrayal to Toby. She could feel him protesting. The presents under the tree would be something he needed, not for what was in them, but for the memories associated with them.

“When will their belongings arrive in Dallas?” she asked.

“I don’t know. I’ll have to make arrangements tonight.”

He sounded irritated.

Molly mentally shrugged. She’d done her best for Toby. She couldn’t do any more because the man behind her didn’t want her to.

She’d thought perhaps he was sad and exhausted at the hospital. Now he seemed surly and difficult. And she was going to live with him for a month? She must be crazy. At least he would be at work most of the time.

Poor Toby, in a house with a grandmother who needed to be protected from him, and an uncle who was never there. He’d gone from a loving home to what? A museum? She would only be there a month, but she’d do everything she could to make a warm home for Toby.

She squared her shoulders as she marched out to her car. She wasn’t going to worry about the man behind her, carrying most of the luggage. That was his choice.

After putting the small case in her car, she turned to look at Richard Anderson, who was loading the rest of the luggage in the trunk of his car.

“I’ll see you at the hospital in the morning,” she called.

“At nine o’clock. Please be on time. We don’t want to run late getting to the airport.”

With disdain, she replied, “I’m always on time, Richard.”

Then she went back to her car, got in and drove away, leaving him standing there. So what if he didn’t like her abrupt withdrawal. He shouldn’t have been so snippy.

Immediately she felt remorse for her attitude. The evening had to have been difficult for him, even if he hadn’t seen his sister in a while. And it must’ve been a long day, as she’d guessed at the hospital. She chastised herself for not showing more patience.

But Toby was a little boy. The man and his mother hadn’t shown much compassion to him. Richard’s concern had been for his mother.

The next few days would be difficult for Toby. But at least he would have her so he wouldn’t feel alone. Richard might regret his invitation, but he wasn’t going to get rid of her now, even if he wanted to.

She was going to be there for Toby.

For just a little while, and regardless of the heartache when she had to leave, she and Toby would be a family.

Molly was used to getting up early, but apparently her patient was not. She had to practically dress Toby without any assistance from him. “Toby, you’re not helping me, you know.”

“But I don’t want to go,” he said in a low voice. “Mommy and Daddy are—” He cut off on a sob.

Molly put her arms around him. “Sweetie, your mommy and daddy’s bodies are buried here, but they will always be with you, in your heart. You just have to think about them and they’ll come to you in your heart and in your memory.”

“Really?”

“Yes, and one day, when you’re older, you can come back to visit their graves. But they won’t be there, because they’ll be with you, in your heart.”

Toby patted his heart. “Do you think they’re here now?”

“Yes, I do. And they want the best for you.”

“So you think they want me to go with my uncle?”

“Yes, because he’ll take care of you. That’s important.”

“Okay,” Toby agreed with a sigh.

“Good. Let’s get your shirt on. I like it. It matches your eyes.”

“That’s what Mommy said, but I like it because it’s easy to wear.”

Molly smiled. “I see.”

Once she got his shoes on him, she helped Toby get down from his bed. He had a cast on his left collarbone that ended on the upper part of his arm and the cast on his lower arm started just below his elbow. At least he was mobile.

She managed to get him discharged from the hospital and down at the front door five minutes early. She already knew Richard would be irritated if they were late.

Her bags were down by the door. She’d left them with one of the greeters so she wouldn’t have to drag them upstairs and down. She sat Toby down in one of the chairs for visitors and hurried over to get her bags.

“Molly!” Toby cried urgently.

Molly whirled around.

Toby was pointing to his uncle coming through the door.

“I’m coming, Toby,” she called. Gathering her two bags, she rushed across the lobby to meet Richard at Toby’s side. “We’re ready,” she announced.

“Good. Toby, can you walk?”

“Yes,” the little boy said, his eyes big.

“Okay. I’ll get your bag. May I take one of yours, Molly?”

“No, thank you. I can manage.” She followed the two males out the door, keeping an eye on Toby. The boy kept looking over his shoulder at Molly, to be sure she was following.

Toby’s grandmother was sitting in the front seat. Elizabeth Anderson smoothed back her graying hair and turned her blue eyes to Molly. The woman looked rested, Molly thought. She was glad someone was. She had just come off the night shift for the last six months and was still adjusting to working in the daylight.

She got in the back seat with Toby, wondering if his uncle was still irritated with her. Judging by his silence as he loaded the trunk, he probably was. Richard Anderson didn’t appear to be the forgiving kind.

Toby sat very still as Molly put his seat belt on him. “Can she speak?” he whispered, nodding toward his grandmother.

“I don’t know,” Molly returned. After all, she hadn’t heard the woman utter a sound, either.

“Is everything all right?” Richard asked, looking at them in the rearview mirror.

“Yes, Richard.”

Before Molly could stop him, Toby leaned forward and said, “Are you my grandma?”

The woman seemed to freeze.

Richard answered for her. “Yes,” he said in clipped tones.

Molly put a hand on Toby’s good arm, warning him not to speak again. She didn’t believe the woman was as frail as Richard believed, but she was certainly suffering grief at her daughter’s death. That was enough for Molly to cut her some slack. For a while.

There was no conversation in the car. All the way to the airport, Molly held Toby’s hand and squeezed it when he sent her a panicky look.

When they got out at the airport, Richard got a skycap to take care of their luggage. Then he turned to Molly. “Here are the tickets for the three of you. Please take care of my mother and Toby while I return the rental car. I’ll meet you at the gate.”

“All right.” She nodded to the skycap who led them to the check-in line. She discovered they were flying first class, which made it possible to bypass the long line. In no time, she had checked them in.

“My son—” Mrs. Anderson said, looking as panicky as Toby.

“He’ll be joining us at the gate, ma’am. He has to present his own ID, you know. Airport security.”

“Oh, yes. Do you—do you know where our gate is?”

“Yes, ma’am. If you’ll come with Toby and me, I have our tickets and I can find the gate. It’s right over here.”

Molly led the other two to the gate where their plane waited. She checked her watch. Richard had about thirty minutes to get there before their plane took off.

“Will my son get here in time?” Mrs. Anderson asked, her voice trembling.

“Yes, I’m sure he will. He seems to be very efficient.”

“Oh, yes, he is.”

Molly’s words seemed to have settled down Toby’s grandmother. She relaxed in her seat, but Molly suspected if Richard didn’t get there quickly, she would start worrying all over again.

Toby leaned in against Molly. “Is he going to go with us?”

“Yes, Toby, he is.”

Mrs. Anderson looked at Toby. “How old are you?”

Molly stared at her, her mouth agape. Toby seemed to be taken aback, too. His grandmother didn’t know how old he was?

“I’m eight,” Toby finally said.

“Oh, you were born a year after your mother married.”

Toby looked at her curiously. “Did you know my mommy?”

The woman suddenly burst into tears.

For the first time since she met him, Molly discovered a desire for Richard’s presence.