“Really. So how about it?”
With a few clicks, Grace was scanning the schedule. “She’ll be over at Miss Trudi’s this afternoon, installing a pump for her new koi pond.”
“Thanks, Grace.”
With a spring in his step, Jack walked back outside and drove back to his office. Three minutes later, his first appointment walked in. He was ready to face the day and was anticipating seeing Caitlin.
A few hours later, he was headed to Miss Trudi’s. He had to drive so he wouldn’t take the chance of being late for his afternoon appointments. Going slowly down Apple Grove Road, he pulled up behind the black F1 and parked.
“Anybody home?” he called out, walking through the maze of plants and planters that Miss Trudi Philo had displayed. He heard them before he saw them.
“Well, I’ll be,” he heard Miss Trudi exclaim. “It works.”
“Like a charm,” Cait answered. “Now all you need to do is flip this switch, but if I were you, I’d leave it on unless there’s an electrical short somewhere. The fish need that water aerated.”
“You’re a clever one, Miss Cait.”
“Thanks.”
“Hello, Caitlin,” he called out, catching her off guard. The longing on her face eased part of his worry.
“I’m busy, Jack.”
“Caitlin, that’s no way to speak to Doc Gannon.” Miss Trudi shook her head. “I’m sure she’s just tired. You can tell from the dark circles beneath her eyes.”
My fault, he thought. “Yes. I can. Maybe she needs one of my dad’s tonics.”
Miss Trudi’s eyes lit up and her face beamed. “I think she just might. I have some in the house. Be right back.”
“You just said that so she’d leave us alone.”
“And if I did?” he challenged.
She blew out a breath and threw her hands in the air. “Jack, I need to focus on the repair schedule for today.”
He grabbed her hand and tugged on it. “I’m sorry I couldn’t talk to you last night.”
She turned in his arms and stared up at him.
“You said you would stick,” he reminded her.
“I’m sorry, Jack. After you walked out, I didn’t know what to do.”
“You left me,” he whispered.
“I had to.” Tears filled her eyes. “I needed to do some research, and I needed to think.” She left him in order to help him, just as he’d left her alone in his bedroom to protect her. They both wanted the same thing; it was something in common…something to hold tight to.
He brushed his lips to her forehead and laid her head against his shoulder. “I’m sorry. There are things that are hard for me to talk about. Iraq is one of them.”
“I want to help.”
“I go for help every few months. I was doing all right until a certain woman turned my well-ordered existence upside down with her smile.”
“I did?”
“Didn’t you?” When she shrugged, he went on, “Since the night we rescued Jamie, my focus hasn’t been on warning signs that the PTSD was ready to break loose again…it has been on you.”
“What can I do?”
“I need you to be patient with me.” He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to the center of her palm, watching intently as she shivered.
“Will you tell me about it?”
He looked away and then back down into her upturned face. “Not yet…but soon.”
She nodded. “OK.”
“Caitlin?” Miss Trudi called out.
“I don’t believe it,” Cait groaned. “Is that brown bottle what I think it is?”
Jack laughed. “Yep—Dad’s tonic.”
“Does it taste bad?”
“If it tasted good, it wouldn’t work.”
“Lovely.” She waved at the older woman and promised Jack, “You’ll pay for this one.”
“Thanks, ladies,” he said, walking back through the plants. “I’ve got a one o’clock coming. Can’t be late.”
“What a nice young man,” Miss Trudi said. “And so good-looking too.”
Caitlin stared after him without speaking. When she turned around, Miss Trudi was holding out the bottle to her. “One teaspoonful, morning and night.”
“Oh, I couldn’t take your tonic.”
“Land sakes, child,” Miss Trudi told her. “I’ve got a half-dozen more in the house.”
Resigned, she took the bottle. “Thanks. I’ll just clean up and be on my way.”
Miss Trudi was smiling when she handed Cait a spoon.
Knowing when she’d been beaten, she took the spoon and the tonic. “Good grief, that tastes awful!”