LITMIR.BIZ

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long as you want.”

      The girl pushed at her long hair. “But … you understand I’m getting married in December?”

      “December?” He never dreamed the wedding would be that soon. “Isn’t that a bit rushed? You’ve only been out of high school for a little while, right?”

      “I graduated last spring. Cade did, too. But we both have jobs—just until Cade can get everything lined up for college and med school. And Arabella has a room here on the back of the house that Cade and I can use until we decide. It was her grandpa’s room for a while.”

      Arabella came around the counter and sat down. “I had to move my grandpa downstairs for a few months before he died. After he passed, I remodeled the room and turned it into an efficiency apartment, thinking I might rent it out. It has a bath and a small kitchen. I offered it to the kids rent-free until they get settled and decide about college.”

      “So they’d stay here?” This time, Jonathan’s tone was accusatory, but he didn’t care. Maybe he’d been wrong to assume Arabella didn’t have an agenda. “You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?”

      Arabella gave him another stubborn look. “When my grandpa got so sick, all I could think about was that he didn’t want to go to a nursing home. So I brought in a contractor to do some quick remodeling. We opened up a big storage closet and made it into a bathroom for him.” She shrugged. “After he died, I thought about bringing in some extra income since my child-support checks are few and far between. So don’t go guessing that I’m trying to manipulate things for my own benefit.”

      “I never suggested—” he began.

      “I actually think it might be a good idea for Jasmine and Cade to consider living in Denver. Several fine universities are there and they have talked about that possibility.” She met his eyes. “Having you nearby would ease my mind, that’s for sure.”

      Jasmine bobbed her head. “That’s true. It would be even better to know somebody in Denver. Especially a doctor.” She glanced at Arabella. “Cade’s mom lives there, but they’re not close. He won’t even talk about asking her to help.”

      Jonathan saw the hope in Jasmine’s eyes and the encouragement in Arabella’s.

      Maybe she wasn’t manipulating anything after all. But it would be hard to let her number-one helper leave. “Sorry. It just seems so convenient—wanting Jasmine and Cade to stay here with you.”

      Jasmine dropped her fork, her gaze widening. “It’s a good plan—if we decide to do that. We’ll have privacy here before we decide about school. And if Cade goes on to college, I’ll have a place to stay if I need it and he can come home on weekends. You have a problem with that?”

      Jonathan saw that he was caught between two forceful personalities. He knew when to back down. “No, but I still want you to consider coming to Denver.” He sent out his own challenge. “You and Cade both. As Arabella said, we have several very good universities. And I have connections.”

      Arabella put her hands on her hips and gave Jonathan a challenging look. “If you’re willing to help them.”

      Jonathan tried to hide his surprise, still not sure if she was being sincere or sarcastic. But before he could stop himself, he blurted out, “Seriously?”

      “Seriously,” Arabella said, her expression a tad too smug. “That is, provided you’ll stick around here for a while longer and get to know Jasmine and Cade, spend some time with them, let them tell you their plans. Get my drift?”

      He got it all right. This woman wouldn’t let go without a fight. That, or she was trying to call his bluff about letting them come to Denver. Well, that situation would definitely change his single lifestyle. Obviously, Arabella had already thought about that.

      But he wouldn’t be bullied into any type of commitment. “I can’t stay. I have responsibilities—”

      She leaned down, her hand centered near his half-eaten piece of pie. “Right now you have a responsibility to your niece. You came here to find her. Well, now you have. You can’t just swoop in and grab her up and cart her off to Denver without talking about this and thinking things through. That’s asking a lot, from us and from yourself. We both need to see if you have sticking power.”

      “Yes, we do,” Jasmine said, nodding her head. “But, thanks for the offer, Uncle Jonathan.”

      Jonathan knew when he was outnumbered. “I guess I could take a few more days—”

      The doorbell rang, followed by Arabella’s cell phone. Jasmine rushed to the door. “Cade!” She fell into the young man’s arms. “You won’t believe this.”

      Jonathan studied the young man. Muscular with dark blond hair. A nice all-American look. The kid pulled Jasmine into a tight hug.

      “Are you all right?” Cade asked, holding her while he looked across the hallway and into the dining room. “Come in and I’ll tell you all about it,” Jasmine said. Oh, great. Another strong ally in their corner. Jonathan stood to greet Cade, hoping to get a handle on the kid’s nature.

      But before he could extend his hand, Arabella grabbed him, her phone in her other hand. “I need you.”

      Shocked and wondering what she had planned for him now, he turned toward her. “Okay.”

      “No, I mean I need a doctor. Julie fell out on the playground at church and busted her forehead. They think she needs stitches. Will you come with me to check on her?” “Of course.”

      He turned and gave Jasmine and Cade a shrug. “Go,” Jasmine said. “I need to explain things to Cade anyway.”

      Cade looked confused, gave Jonathan a scathing look and then asked, “What’s that man doing here?”

      Jonathan gave Jasmine a reassuring glance as Arabella frantically dragged him out the back door and motioned toward her minivan. “Get in.”

      “I’ll drive,” he offered, seeing her agitation. “I have my medical bag in my car.”

      “I can drive. I’m fine.”

      Jonathan took the keys out of her hand, noticing the slight tremor. “Let me help. I don’t mind.”

      She looked less than pleased, but didn’t argue.

      After he grabbed his doctor’s bag and they were in her vehicle and headed toward the church, she finally took a long breath. “Thank you.”

      “I won’t let you down,” Jonathan promised.

      She briefly locked eyes with him, then turned to gaze out the window.

      He knew this temporary truce was the best he could get for now, all things considered. At least it was something.

      “No sign of trauma to her head. She’s alert and focused—no signs of shock. She’ll be fine, but she might need stitches.”

      Arabella glanced from Jonathan to the curly-haired little girl clinging to her. “How many? Will there be a scar?”

      Jonathan wasn’t used to distraught mothers. He was a surgeon, and he mostly worked on adults. Children weren’t his specialty. “I can’t say how many but if you don’t get stitches, she might have a tiny scar right underneath her hairline. We should get her to the hospital just to be sure.”

      Arabella got up, her hand pressing a wet towel against the still-sobbing child’s head. “That’s thirty miles away. Can’t you do it?”

      “Uh … I could but—”

      “Look, she’s bleeding all over this towel and I’ve got two more to worry about. Jasmine’s with Cade, explaining everything, and Mother’s Day Out is closing for the day. You’re a doctor and you’re here. You’ll do in a pinch, won’t you?”

      He heard the frantic worry in

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