Nursing the Soldier's Heart

With a heavy sigh, Brady returned to Cora’s room. Her roommate sat in the chair with her eyes fixed on the blaring TV. No wonder Cora wanted to escape. He would, too.

“While you were out asking our pretty nurse for a date, I got ready for bed.”

“By yourself?”

“Do you think I’m helpless?”

“Well, no, but I don’t want you falling down again.”

Cora waved a hand at him. “I have to learn to get around on my own.”

“Okay, I guess, and for the record, I wasn’t asking anyone for a date.” Brady hoped his grandmother wouldn’t embarrass him with this date business when Kirsten came to the room.

For the next half hour, Brady answered Cora’s battery of questions about what he’d been doing since he’d gotten out of the army. He filled in the gaps between the postcards he’d sent and the infrequent phone calls he’d made to her. Her questions reminded him of his inattentiveness and made him feel more and more guilty that he’d neglected to keep in touch. “Alaska is too beautiful to describe, especially compared to Texas and North Dakota.”

“How nice that you could travel and see so many places. That’s one thing I wished I could’ve done, but I never had the money to travel.” Cora picked up a book lying next to her Bible. “But I can travel the world by reading a book or listening to you. Do you have photos?”

“A few.” Brady pulled his phone from the pocket of his jeans and scrolled through his pictures. “These are some I took when I was in Alaska.”

Cora took the phone as Brady showed her how to go through the photos. “Oh, Alaska is a beautiful place. I wish I could go there.”

“I wish you could, too.”

Wonder painted Cora’s wrinkled face as Brady watched her study every picture. He wished he could show her Alaska, but what were the chances his grandmother, with her less-than-good health, could make such a trip? He had a lot of regrets, but he couldn’t let regret keep him from moving forward. He couldn’t undo the past, but he could try to make the future better. Did that include staying here and putting down roots?

Chaplain Howard used to tell Brady to put it in God’s hands. Brady often found that hard to do. He was used to finding his own way and doing his own thing. Trusting God for guidance didn’t come easy. In fact, this whole Christian-living thing wasn’t easy. He’d been able to survive the cruelty and hardship of war, the physical labor of the oil fields and the treacherous seas of commercial fishing. Humility, putting others first, loving the unlovable—these things required more strength than Brady had on his own.

“Thanks for the tour of Alaska.” Cora handed Brady his phone.

“That’s only a small part of that big state. I didn’t have much time for touring. Too busy working.”

As Brady shoved his phone back into his pocket, Kirsten appeared in the doorway. “Ready for that talk?”

Brady nodded, then turned to Cora. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. I’m going to talk to Kirsten about the power of attorney you mentioned.”

“Good.” Cora grinned. “And ask her about that other thing.”

Brady shook his head as he hurried toward the door, hoping Cora wouldn’t actually say what that other thing was. He wanted to keep this conversation with Kirsten strictly business. He would decide later if he wanted to pursue the social side.

As soon as Brady stepped into the hallway, Kirsten turned and looked at him. Her brown eyes brimmed with curiosity. “What’s on your mind?”

Brady couldn’t help grinning. Did she know what a loaded question that was? Thoughts floated through his mind. He had to concentrate on Cora, not on the attractive brunette standing in front of him. “I know you can’t discuss Cora’s specific medical information with me directly, but I was hoping you could give me a general assessment.”

“That could be walking a fine line.”

“Jen said Cora was making good progress, but I want to know whether her prognosis looks good. When she talks about trying to escape to go to this wedding, I was worried there is more to her condition than the broken hip.”

Kirsten opened her mouth, but Brady shook his head and held up a hand. “First, let me tell you Cora asked me to get a medical power of attorney. That worried me because I thought only people who were incapacitated had such things.”

“Not necessarily. Your grandmother could use an advocate, not because her health is poor now, but her status could change. And if you have a medical power of attorney, you can talk to her doctor and any of the nurses about Cora’s situation.” Kirsten nodded. “You should do what she asks.”

“I intend to, but I was concerned about her reasons for making the request. How important is it that she attend this wedding?”

“Very important. It’s a big event for everyone here. The administrator of this facility is getting married, and your grandmother was a bit of a matchmaker in that love match. I understand her eagerness to witness the nuptials.”

“So is there anything I can do besides help her escape?” Brady grinned.

Kirsten narrowed her gaze. “Are you trying to be helpful or trying to be smart?”

Brady contemplated his answer. They’d been having a congenial conversation, but his last comment had brought out her prickly side again. He should’ve known the amicable mood wouldn’t last, but he hadn’t done anything to help. Did the woman ever joke around, or was she always serious? Maybe for now he should be serious, too. “I’m trying to help.”

“Good. When you come for a visit, encourage her to take a walk. You could walk with her out to the courtyard out those doors.” Kirsten pointed toward the end of the hallway. “Do you plan to stay in the area?”

“I haven’t made any definite plans, but I’ll be here for a while—at least until Cora goes back to her apartment.” Brady wanted to be a help for his grandmother and hoped to find a job here, but there were no guarantees. He couldn’t live on his savings forever.

“Good. She needs you right now. And I’ll help you every step of the way with your grandmother. We have to be a team. Are you good with that?”

“I am, and I’ll be here for her during her recovery.” For some strange reason, he wished Kirsten was the one who wanted him to stay. Pure lunacy. He’d just met the woman, and he wasn’t even sure he liked her that much. But he liked the idea of being a team with her. Cora’s suggestion was eating away at his brain and leaving his thoughts in a knot.

Kirsten glanced at her watch. “Technically, visiting hours are over, but I’ll let you stay because it’s important to Cora.”

“Thanks. I’ll say good-night to her, and I’ll be out of here.” Brady turned to go.

“Wait, Mr. Hewitt. The alarms on the doors are already set, so I’ll have to let you out. Stop by the desk before you go.”

Brady cringed inwardly when she called him Mr. Hewitt. She obviously wanted to keep her distance. The seemingly friendly conversation was all business for her, and he should probably keep it that way. So much for Cora’s matchmaking abilities in his case.

Chapter Three (#ulink_55f2d1c7-4027-5dce-9d38-79ab7d482924)

The next morning the sunbeams danced between the trees, highlighting the colors of the changing leaves, as Kirsten hurried across the portico of the administration building, with its cobbled pavers and white Georgian columns. But a thundercloud clustered in her mind when she entered the reception area and spied Brady lounging against the desk while he talked with Lovie Trimble, the receptionist, whose greetings never failed to brighten everyone’s day. Thinking she could avoid Brady, Kirsten was about to turn around and come in the side entrance when Lovie called to her.

Her plan foiled, Kirsten waved and worked up a smile. She forged ahead while Brady grinned at her. Her opinion hadn’t changed. Despite his interest in his grandmother, he came across as cocky, flippant and shallow, doing whatever he could to charm his way through life. She didn’t want to talk with him, but she supposed interaction was inevitable while Cora was in the nursing facility.

“Hi, Lovie, Brady. How’s everything?”

“Good.” Lovie’s brown eyes twinkled. “So I see you’ve met Cora’s grandson already.”

Kirsten didn’t trust the look in Lovie’s eyes. She nodded and hoped the older woman didn’t try any of her matchmaking plays today. The silver-haired grandmother prided herself on being the first to recognize that Ian and Annie belonged together. Now she considered herself an expert in romance. She was working double time to find a match for the women’s ministries director, Melody Hammond. Kirsten hoped Lovie’s focus remained on Melody, but Kirsten didn’t see Brady as much of a match for Melody, either.

Brady waved a paper in Kirsten’s direction. “Got my medical power of attorney.”

“So, then you’ve met Ian?” Kirsten asked.

“Yeah, he got me what I needed.” Brady nodded in her direction. “Now you can tell me everything I need to know. How about lunch?”

Kirsten didn’t know what to make of his invitation. Was this strictly business or something else? Why had she even asked that question? Of course it was business. He wanted to know about Cora. “I can’t today. I’m going to lunch with my dad. In fact, I’m here to meet him.”

“He works here?”