Loving Lizzy (The Serenity Mountain Series Book 6)

Chapter Sixteen

By the end of the week, Lizzy waited impatiently for the phone to ring. She debated calling Dr. Brady’s office and asking if the results of the biopsy came through. No. She knew the doctor planned to contact her as soon as the results came in. Elizabeth knew her from working at Seattle Health and they maintained a professional relationship.

Did Michael turn the heat up? She pulled back the blanket and took a sip of water from her new pink water bottle. The women took turns staying with her and today they asked to join her for lunch. She knew they secretly plotted to keep her busy to keep her from spending too much time dwelling on the biopsy report. Edie visited and taught her how to knit. So far, she’d managed to make a covering for her big toe. She unraveled the last row of yarn and tried to figure out where she messed up. Maddie stopped in with a batch of homemade cookies and Carol sent over a puzzle table and a charcuterie board for her and Michael to snack on. The thoughtfulness of the women astounded her.

Michael laid out the teapot in the kitchen with plates and silverware. Of course, the group decided on tea sandwiches, scones, and Bryanna’s tea cakes. Michael suggested he hang out in the bedroom which earned him a firm no from the ladies. He finally decided to go to his old office and start packing up his stuff.

The doorbell rang and Catherine arrived first with Bryanna right behind her. They greeted Lizzy as they made their way to the kitchen to put the food away until everyone arrived.

“I brought ham and cheese, cucumber, and turkey sandwiches. Leo’s going through some pregnancy cravings. I’m missing about eight. I didn’t bother to make more because Kassie planned on bringing egg, chicken and tuna salad.” She sat down on the couch.

“Leo craved cucumber sandwiches?” Lizzy asked.

“He started out sampling the ham and cheese and because I cut them in pretty shapes, he complained we eat like birds. I attempted to explain we’re having high tea, and he didn’t get why we needed tiny food samples to drink something we have every morning with a full breakfast. Then he took a couple of the turkey. He made a face when he tried the cucumber and informed me the weeds on top tasted disgusting. I told him I topped it with dill. He shook his head and popped in a couple more ham sandwiches while complaining it resembled chopped up weeds,” she sighed and shook her head.

“Did he ask for any more classes?”

Catherine thought for a moment. “No, but he tried to fool the librarian. Since she made him return the collection, he ordered the team to fill out a library card and check out ten books each from the maternity section. I received a phone call from her. When I met them at the team headquarters, Shadow crossed his arms and glared in Leo’s direction, Taco resembled a five-year-old chastised by his mother. Saint smiled, twirled his toothpick in his mouth and held out his hand. Apparently, he’d made a bet with Leo about how long it’d take me to find out and he won.”

“You gotta admit, it’s kinda sweet he wants to learn everything he can,” Lizzy came to his defense.

“The man has lost his ever-loving mind,” Bryanna chimed in.

Catherine laughed, “Sorry I gotta pee.” She got up and walked toward the bathroom.

“What did he do now?” Lizzy whispered.

“Catherine wanted to paint the nursery. He researched which paint to use because of fumes and such.”

“It doesn’t sound like a terrible thing to do,” Lizzy pondered over why Bryanna thought it a bad idea.

“No. It isn’t. Not until you see the doomsday gas mask he brought home for Catherine to wear until he ascertained all the fumes had dissipated. I’m not kidding, a full-on gas mask with filters attached. It must come from someplace military because I’ve not seen anything like it. She resembled a giant bug,” Bryanna told her laughing.

“She wore it?” Lizzy asked shocked.

“No, she brought it to Kassie’s. Then we made fun of it,” Bryanna logically answered.

Catherine returned. “Did you tell her about the doomsday mask?”

Bryanna rolled her eyes as the women giggled.

The doorbell rang and Michael hurried from the kitchen to answer the door while the girls visited.

Kassie, Maddie, and Victoria walked in carrying platters in their hands, calling out greetings as they set everything in the kitchen.

Kassie met Michael in the living room. “Thank you for letting Lizzy join us for tea. Don’t hurry back, we plan to enjoy the afternoon catching up.” She led him to the door. “Here’s your keys and wallet, you left them on the counter. The guys plan to stay at the team building if you get done early, feel free to join them.” She smiled as she opened the door.

“I’ll call and check on her,” Michael backed out of the door.

“Michael, there’re three nurses, a mafia boss and all of us, moms. She can’t be in better hands. Go visit the men and get a bit of air. You haven’t left the house in a week. Get out,” Kassie playfully whispered and ordered him.

Michael glanced nervously back at Lizzy, who gave an encouraging nod. “What if the doctor calls and I’m not here?” he whispered in Kassie’s ear.

Kassie shot him a glance of sympathy. “I promise to call you if she hears back from the doctor. She needs a break as much as you do. It’s only a few hours,” she told him consolingly.

“Fine,” he sighed and turned toward his vehicle.

“Where’s Carol?” Maddie asked as she came into the living room. “I talked to her last night and assumed she came over to help Michael pull everything out.”

“I’ll go check on her,” Catherine volunteered as she rose from the couch. “I’ll get my steps in before Leo purchases me a hovercraft to ride in. Mom’s acting a bit absentminded lately, she probably lost track of time.”

“How do you feel, sweetie?” Maddie sat down on the loveseat next to Victoria.

“I’m still sore. Thank you for taking such good care of me and Michael. I’m glad you convinced him to get out of the house. He’s going stir crazy. The clinic is all set up and he’s refusing to open it until I go back to work. Kassie, I wanted to talk to you about bringing some files down for me. I’m getting antsy myself,” Lizzy confessed.

“Nope. You’re on official medical leave and I believe it’s breaking a law to bring you work,” she insisted.

Lizzy pouted and Maddie got up to put on the tea while Victoria pulled out a smoothie for Lizzy from the freezer.

“Did Samantha make it in?” Bryanna moved the coffee table into position and took out the remaining TV trays for the older women.

“She’s running a bit late.” Kassie replied curtly as she busied herself.

Catherine walked through the door with her arm around a teary-eyed Carol.

“What’s wrong?” Maddie asked as she and Victoria rushed over to their friend from the hallway.

“I don’t care to discuss it. Jake acts like an absolute jack ass and next time he gets shot, which I’m sure someone will go for him at some point, don’t call me to babysit the man!” Carol exclaimed between sniffles. “I know he’s like a father to you Kassie, I apologize if I hurt your feelings. Jake Harper is the most inconsiderate man I’ve ever met.”

“Oh no. He seems grumpy lately. Chase took him to his doctor for a checkup and he got a clean bill of health. Did he do something?”

The doorbell rang and Victoria closed the distance to open the door to allow Samantha to come inside.

“It’s about time. I thought you’d never get here, and Bryanna already asked where you were. You know once they pick up the scent there’s no stopping them,” Kassie smiled at Samantha as if she knew a secret.

Victoria regarded the two women closely. “What are you up to?”

“Nothing, I went camping last night and didn’t get back until later this morning,” Samantha replied.

“What on earth? It’s freezing outside and you decided to go camping?” Maddie and Carol chimed in fussing over her. The kettle went off in the kitchen and Victoria went to remove it from the stove.

“I went to watch the sunrise,” Samantha explained as she took off her coat and hung it on the hall tree next to the others.

“I don’t know what these young kids are thinking these days. When you come down with pneumonia, I don’t want to hear a single complaint about bedrest and taking your medication,” Maddie fussed.

“Don’t worry, I stayed warm, Maddie.” Samantha practically glowed with excitement.

“Something tells me Samantha’s got a secret. Let’s get lunch, ladies and she can share the latest gossip with us. You know Kassie’s in on it by the way her nose scrunches up and she’s grinning like a loon,” Victoria directed the ladies into the kitchen.

Kassie brought Lizzy a plate filled with a portion of each item and a cup of tea with Bear’s honey. “Eat what you like, we brought plenty.”

Lizzy smiled. Her head and body started to ache and the food in front of her didn’t appeal anymore. “Can I get ibuprofen? I’ve got a bit of a headache coming on,” she asked softly trying not to draw attention to herself.

Kassie scanned her face. “Your cheeks appear a bit flushed.” She felt her head. “No fever, I’ll grab some from the medicine cabinet.”

She watched as all the ladies got settled into the room and started munching on the food. Kassie discreetly handed her two pills, her pink water bottle, and checked her phone for the time, then recorded it.

Samantha sat in the comfortable wing chair on the other side of the fireplace while the older women sat on the couch. Kassie joined Bryanna on the loveseat.

“What do you have up your sleeve?” Victoria eyed Samantha then Kassie. “I’ve plotted enough to smell one a mile away.”

Kassie leaned back on the loveseat and glanced at her friend expectantly. “I don’t have any news to share, do you?”

Samantha stopped eating and wiped her mouth. “As I mentioned I went camping last night.”

Victoria nodded her head. “Yes, yes, we get it. You got a bee in your nose to go camping in winter.”

Kassie shook her head, “It’s a bee in her bonnet.”

Victoria turned her cool blue eyes toward Kassie. “Where do you come up with these stupid sayings? She doesn’t even wear a bonnet. She may live near a mountain, but I don’t see her running down a hillside wearing braids like the little girl on the mountain.”

Samantha and Kassie giggled. Lizzy let out a little chuckle. Bryanna hid her grin behind her teacup.

“Whiskey called Kassie yesterday and asked her to keep LJ. Then he took me to Chase and Kassie’s spot. When we arrived, a tent stood in the spot with dinner and a cooler. We watched the sun set and he told me how Kassie brought him up to their spot on the mountain when he felt low.” She gazed at her best friend as tears filled her eyes. “Thank you by the way,” she choked out. “Anyway, we stayed up all night, snuggled in the tent, discussing how he felt, and he asked what I thought about his progress. PTSD sucks. He’s doing great and has even joined a larger support group and has taken a young soldier under his wing at the hospital. I’m incredibly proud of him.” Her voice showed her pride. “He woke me up before sunrise. He put out a piece of plastic on the ground and a blanket and we cuddled and watched the sun rise over the mountains. Just as it started to rise over the tallest peak, Whiskey stood up and tugged me to stand next to him. I got concerned when I noticed the tear running down his face.

The women leaned in as Samantha told the story and shared concerned glances when she stopped.

“He didn’t have a setback, did he?” Maddie asked. Victoria eyed Samantha with a shrewd gaze.

“No, he’s fine. In fact, he bent on one knee and said Samantha O’Neil, my world rises and sets with you, and I want you to always shine bright because my heart will always carry a flame for you, will you marry me?” She cried as she pulled out her left hand to show the ring. It resembled a stone on fire.

“Where on earth did he get the stone? I’ve never seen anything like that.” Carol exclaimed.

“It’s called fire agate. It’s a sign of passion and transformation. The Chinese believe fire represents the heart. Whiskey will always be my flame and he calls me his sunshine. He said as soon as he saw it, he knew it was meant for us.”

The women hugged and congratulated her. Samantha walked to Lizzy and leaned down to get a gentle squeeze from her.

“I thought you two had decided to take one day at a time,” Carol stated. “I’m happy for you both, but I’m surprised.”

“We lost the time when he went missing and then all the confusion when he returned. He didn’t want to waste another minute apart. His exact words were, ‘Samantha, the dumbest thing I ever did was letting you go and believing you deserved a better man. If we survived all my screw-ups after my return, we could handle anything that comes our way.’”

The women awed at the same time.

“I can’t imagine how happy you must feel. Your story of his proposal melts my heart,” Lizzy dabbed at the tears in her eyes. “Oh my gosh, how wonderful. What a perfect beginning after everything you two went through. Did you know, Kassie?”

“Yes, I felt like bursting if I had to hold it in any longer,” she laughed. “Whiskey asked us about proposing at our special place. Of course, we don’t mind sharing it.”

“We’re happy for you, truly.” Carol sniffed.

“What’s wrong, Carol? Don’t say nothing. Something has you all riled up,” Victoria admonished as she poured her a cup of tea and handed a napkin to wipe her eyes.

Carol gazed around at the women in the room. “We’re here for Lizzy, I feel stupid bringing up my problems while Lizzy recuperates.”

“As you can see, you all have tended to my well-being, and I can’t lift a finger without them scolding me. Please tell us what’s bothering you. Maybe we can put our heads together and figure out a solution.” Lizzy sat her cup down on the tray beside her and waited for Carol to begin.

“As all of you know, I’ve taken care of Jake while he healed from getting shot. The stubborn man refused to move to Chase and Kassie’s and I volunteered to help them out because they didn’t want strangers to care for the man. Over the last few months, we’ve gotten along famously. When my Catherine and Kassie got themselves kidnapped, Jake tried stopping it. When the team went after them, Jake tended my wound and he kissed me.” Carol sniffled into the tissue.

Catherine leaned forward and searched her mother’s face. “Did you want him to kiss you?”

Carol slowly raised her eyes to meet her daughter’s. “Honestly, I didn’t expect it. He’s a great kisser and one thing led to another and?—”

“Stop.” Catherine held her hand up. “Mom, please don’t say what I think you’re getting ready to confess. I don’t want the image in my mind. You and Jake, huh, I didn’t see that coming.”

“We didn’t go that far young lady.” Carol shot Catherine with a stern glare. “But we’ve made out a few times and I thought he had feelings for me.”

Kassie sat her teacup on the table. “Jake’s very fond of you, Carol. He mentioned the other day how he missed your cooking and what a great job you did taking care of him.”

“Ahhh, I believe Carol’s feelings for Jake turned into more than friendship. Did Jake tell you he didn’t feel the same way?” Victoria’s brow arched in her direction.

“I went over last night and brought an apple pie with me. He made stew and we enjoyed a nice dinner together. Then he asked me to move in with him.”

“What did you say?” Catherine shifted to the edge of the couch and picked out another ham and cheese sandwich and a cookie.

“I told him I didn’t intend to live with him without a ring on my finger.” Carol burst into tears.

“Mom, you’ve lived with him for almost six months, why does a ring change anything?” Catherine bit into her cookie and sighed in contentment.

“I lived with him because I nursed him back to health. He informed me last night he only loved one person in his life, and she perished in a car accident years ago. He didn’t intend to ever propose to another woman in his lifetime.”

“Chase told me Bonnie passed away in a car accident on her way home during a snowstorm. Jake took it hard and moved off the mountain because he can’t handle all the reminders of her there.” Kassie scrunched her nose as she thought about the issue.

Victoria sighed heavily. “Did Jake say he cared for you the same as you do for him?”

“He told me at our age, we didn’t need a marriage certificate. It didn’t make any sense making a commitment to one another when we each have one foot in the grave.” She sipped on her tea as she hiccuped her disappointment.

Kassie’s eyes narrowed, “Jake said you two have one foot in the grave?”

Carol nodded. Catherine walked over to her mother and rubbed her shoulders consolingly.

Victoria’s mouth firmed into a straight line. Her pointer finger tapped her cheek lightly as she mulled over the conversation.

“Jake’s set in his ways, I’m sure he didn’t mean to upset you. I know he’s gushed about your wonderful care, and he’s enjoyed all those home-cooked meals.” Kassie sympathetically offered as she passed another tissue to Maddie to give to her friend.

“I can’t picture him acting rude to you after all the glowing compliments,” Maddie chimed in as she held her friend’s hand.

“If Jake proposed to you, would you say yes?” Victoria poured another cup of tea and sat back on the couch already plotting.

Catherine leaned forward to hear her mother’s answer.

“If he truly meant it, I’d consider it. I’ve stupidly fallen in love with the old coot. I envisioned us traveling with Maddie and Joe. Watching our grandchildren grow together.” She turned toward her daughter. “Honey, I loved your father. Since you and Leo married, you’re raising your family, and it gets lonely sometimes. Not in the sense of you neglecting me, but in the ways a woman can love a man.”

“Oh mom, I’m sorry, I guess I never thought of you having needs of your own,” Catherine confessed as she moved back to her seat beside Kassie.

“How do you feel about dating other men?” Victoria proposed as she bit into her cookie.

“Oh, I don’t know. I didn’t set out to date anyone. Jake’s and my relationship developed because I stayed with him.”

“Oh, I know where you’re going with this,” Kassie exclaimed as she leaned forward ready to hear the plot Victoria had brainstormed in her head.

“I think you say something about buying the store when you can go out in the field and get the cow for free.” Victoria rose and paced the room.

Kassie shook her head, “No. The saying goes why buy the cow when you get the milk for free.”

Victoria stopped and stared at Kassie before shaking her head, “You women think too small. Let’s make a list of eligible bachelors.”

“I don’t want to date. My heart’s broken at the thought of Jake dating anyone new.” She began to rise from the couch. Maddie tugged her back down.

“Victoria has a point. Maybe Jake needs a bit of a reminder of what a catch you are.”

“Mr. Henderson’s available, oh, and Frank Benson broke up with Betty three months ago. He seems heartbroken,” Kassie told the group as she began to clean up their dishes.

“How about Oliver from the feed store?” Catherine suggested as she started to help, and Victoria pointed her right back to her seat. Catherine frowned.

“Three eligible men might get Jake riled up. Carol, this is what you need to do.” All the women listened intently as Victoria laid out the plan.

By the time they finished, the older woman’s tears no longer existed. Noticing Lizzy appeared fatigued, Kassie called an end to their get together. She held the door as Maddie kissed her cheek and walked out to give the items in her hands to Joe.

“Why don’t you sit back and rest? I’ll clean the kitchen and read until Michael returns,” she gently suggested as Lizzy yawned.

“My headache’s bothering me. Can you pass me another blanket, I feel a bit cold?” Lizzy moved to settle in her chair.

Kassie covered her and put her hand to her face. “How’s the pain in your chest? You’ve got a bit of color in your face.”

“It’s about a four. When you come tomorrow, can I ask you to help me shower? I…I’m not ready for Michael to see me yet.”

Kassie knelt beside Lizzy. “We can take a shower whenever you’re up for it. I can’t imagine the feelings you must have, but don’t doubt Michael’s love for you.”

Lizzy paused a moment before responding. “I haven’t seen myself. Having a friend with me might make it easier. If he sees me upset, he’ll take it badly and fuss over me more. I’m scared to see what I look like.”

“Do you have a drain lanyard or a mastectomy shirt?” Kassie stood and began to wipe off the coffee table.

“No, I’m afraid I didn’t plan too far ahead. I concentrated on getting through the surgery and moving here.” She glanced down to her hands in her lap.

“Hey.” Kassie bent down and took her hands. “You have three amazing nurses at your disposal who think ahead. You always stay one step ahead of everyone and now, you need to let your friends help you. We tried to prepare the best we could without making you feel like we’re taking over. Tomorrow, I’ll bring the drain lanyard to hold your drains while I help you shower. Then I’ll show you the shirts which have inside pockets to hide your drains like your gown.”

“I don’t know how I managed this by myself last time,” she murmured.

“You did it because you’re strong and didn’t have anyone to lean on. Now we’re here, Michael’s here, and we’ll get you through it.” Kassie patted her knee.

Lizzy watched as her friend went into the kitchen to wipe down the counters. She smiled to herself as she closed her eyes. Her new group of women and Michael proved to be blessings. Then why did she feel the panic inside her rising?