“Shannon’s blissfully happy with Flynn, and now the baby’s coming.” She lowered her voice. “I want so desperately to figure out what’s wrong with Mom. She’s looking forward to the baby, and I want her to be able to enjoy him or her.”
I want that too, I thought. For everyone’s sake.
“Speaking of a husband.” She removed her straw hat and wiped her damp brow. “There’s someone I have my eye on.”
“Anyone I know?” I asked.
“Maybe.” She smiled shyly. “It’s Isak. He caught my eye four years ago when you were all here helping repair the barn. I used to get the butterflies every time he walked by. He thinks I’m still a kid though.”
“You were a kid back then. Now you’re a grown woman of twenty.” I smiled, thinking about my wide-shouldered Scandinavian friend. His heart was as big and brave as his physique. We’d fought together in the same hell of a war and come home in one piece. At least on the outside if not on the inside. “I could suss him out. See what he thinks of you.”
She pressed her hand to just above her bosom. “God, no. I’d be mortified if he found out about my crush.”
“He might return it, you know?” Why wouldn’t he, I thought, as I gazed into her pretty eyes. The smattering of freckles on her fair skin only made her more adorable.
“I doubt it.”
“My understanding is that he’s been too busy with his bakery to have time for courting.” Apparently, yeast and flour had his heart.
“His bread and sweet rolls are enough to make you want to sell your soul to the devil for one more bite,” Nora said.
“It’s another strange turn of events,” I said. “A bakery? With those giant hands of his I thought he’d work outside.”
She held up her small, chapped hands. “And me with these—doing my father’s work.”
“After the war, Isak wanted to spend his days doing something peaceful. Work that made people happy.”
“I’d not thought of it that way.” A sadness dimmed her bright eyes. “I know what you boys saw over there couldn’t have been easy.”
“No, not easy. But we’re home now.”
“Yes, you’re home, Theo Barnes, and a doctor. Of all the things that have come about since our school days, you becoming a doctor is the least of the surprises. You’re the only one who makes sense.”
“I’m glad to be home and of service to the community I love.”
“I keep hoping Alma will convince that husband of hers to move back here,” Nora said. “My mom and I miss her.”
“You never know,” I said. “Maybe he’ll get sick of city life.”
“From your mouth to God’s ears.” Nora swung open the screen door and stepped inside the house, holding it for me to follow. We went down the narrow hallway to the kitchen. The broad white farmhouse sink was scrubbed and shone under the morning sun. Pinto beans cooked on the stove, filling the air with a starchy scent. White-and-red-checkered curtains hung at the windows.
“New curtains?” I asked.
“Theo, only you would notice that,” Nora said. “Mom made those just last year.”
“They look nice.”
The sound of coughing came from the sitting room. A deep cough.
I followed Nora through the narrow doorway to the sitting room. Mrs. Cassidy lay on the couch. When she saw it was me, she tried to sit up, but another coughing fit kept her from greeting me.
I perched on the side of the couch and handed her my clean handkerchief. She shook her head, drawing from her pocket a piece of flannel fabric. “No, thank you, Theo. I’ve got one.”
“Dr. Neal sent me out to see how you’re doing.” Her naturally narrow face had thinned since I’d seen her last, giving her an almost skeletal appearance. I steadied myself, not wanting her to see in my face how shocked I was to see her deterioration.
“Thank you for coming out. I felt too poorly to make it into town.” She smiled weakly and patted my hand. “It’s nice to see you. We’re all so proud of you.” Her Irish accent was still apparent even after all the years she’d spent in Colorado.
“Thank you, Mrs. Cassidy. I’m glad to be home.” I took my stethoscope from my bag. “May I listen to your breathing?”