The Perfect Gift

Goldie could tell he’d added that last bit for the benefit of his sons, since their eyes grew even wider. The little one showed excitement, but the older boy’s eyes held a dark, brooding anger.

If her head hadn’t hurt so much, Goldie might have been able to figure that one out. And get to know Not-so-fierce Man a little better. She was certainly content to stay right here in the light of that great smile. But she was in pain, no doubt. And although she wasn’t sure if she needed to go to the hospital, she didn’t have much choice. Her car was probably totaled and she was too dizzy to stand up. Then, in a clear and concise image in her mind, she remembered her grandmother.

“I need to let Grammy know,” she noted. “My grandmother.”

“Sure. What’s her number?” Rory replied. “I’ll call her right now.”

Goldie rattled off the numbers, glad her brain was beginning to cooperate. “Her name is Ruth Rios.”

Rory let out a chuckle. “You don’t say? I should have made the connection when you told me your name. I know Miss Ruth. She goes to my church. So you’re her granddaughter?”

Goldie nodded. “I just came here a few weeks ago to help her out. She’s been recovering from hip surgery.”

“Yeah, we heard that and since she hasn’t been to church in a while…I’m sure sorry.” He gave her an apologetic look. “I should have gone by to see her.”

“She’s doing better,” Goldie informed him. “But I know she’s worried since I’m not home yet. I was supposed to be there hours ago.”

“I’ll call her, I promise,” Rory reiterated as the paramedics knocked on the door, followed by one of the three police officers serving Viola.

Goldie nodded, her mind whirling with pain and confusion. “Don’t let her get out in this weather. She doesn’t need to come to the hospital.” After that, she didn’t get much of a chance to say anything else to Rory. She was too busy being examined and questioned, both of which left her tired and even more confused.

The paramedics checked her vitals, asked her all the pertinent questions and concluded yes, she might have a mild concussion. And the officer seemed satisfied that she’d been in a one-car accident and that she hadn’t been drinking. He and Rory both assured her they’d have the car towed. So she was off to the hospital.

“I appreciate your help,” Goldie mumbled to Rory as she was lifted up and hustled onto the waiting gurney.

“Don’t worry about that,” Rory commented, following her stretcher out into the chilly night. “Take care, Goldie.”

“Thanks,” she mumbled again as the ambulance doors shut. She could just make out his image as he talked to the police officer.

But as she lay there with two efficient paramedics fussing over her, Goldie wondered if she’d ever see Rory Branagan again.

Doubtful, since she wouldn’t be staying here in Viola much longer now that Grammy was better. And double doubtful since she didn’t attend church with Grammy.

Or at least, she hadn’t yet.

The next morning, Goldie hung up the phone by her hospital bed to find Rory standing in the door of her room, holding a huge poinsettia in a green pot.

“Uh, hi,” he said, the big red and green plant blocking his face. “The nurse said I could come in.”

Goldie grinned then motioned to him. “Hi, yourself. I just talked to Grammy. She said you were so nice last night, calling her and keeping her informed. And that you wouldn’t let her get out in the weather even to come visit me.”

He lifted his chin in a quick nod. “She was pretty stubborn about doing just that, but I called her neighbor and asked her to sit with your grandmother. Then I contacted the hospital to check on you. Only, they didn’t want to give me any information. So I phoned your grandmother again and explained it to her, since she was your next of kin.” He laughed, took a breath then asked, “So how are you?”

“I’m fine,” Goldie reported, her heart doing an odd little dance as he set down the plant and came closer. “You didn’t have to go to all that trouble.”

“No trouble. Me and Miss Ruth go back a long way. I once rescued an armadillo out of her backyard.”

“Excuse me?” Goldie reclined against her pillows, taking in his crisp plaid flannel shirt and sturdy jeans. She didn’t think it was possible that he still looked so handsome, even in the glaring morning light, but he did.

“I work for the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries as a nuisance hunter. I get calls to trap wild animals, anything from armadillos and snakes to alligators and even the occasional black bear.”

“You’re kidding?”

He looked downright sheepish. “No, that’s my job.”

“Isn’t that sorta dangerous?”

He grinned again. “Not as dangerous as forcing myself to come to the hospital in an ice storm to check on you. And mind you, it wasn’t the storm that scared me.”

He did seem a bit uncomfortable. He fidgeted with the water jar and rearranged her drinking cup. And Goldie’s impish nature clicked on. “What, you don’t like hospitals?”

“That and…I’m a bit rusty on talking to women.”

She filed that comment away to study more closely later. He had two little boys so he was obviously a happily married man. Disappointing but comforting in a strange way. He looked like the kind of man who belonged in a family.

Nobody liked hospitals but the expression in his eyes told her maybe he’d had some firsthand experience with this kind of thing. Maybe she’d ask him about that, too, but right now, she only wanted to put him at ease. “I’m easy to talk to on most days and I really like the flower.”

“It was the only thing I could find at the superstore on the highway.”

“It’s pretty, but again, you didn’t have to come see me.”

“I promised Miss Ruth.” He shrugged. “And I wanted to make sure you were all right.”

Goldie stared at the plant. “I have a slight concussion, but they’re releasing me this afternoon. I just have to rest for the weekend and take over-the-counter pain reliever. No ibuprofen though, since it can cause some sort of bleeding—doctor’s orders.” She motioned to a paper on the bedside table. “I have a whole list of instructions on all the things to watch for after a concussion.” And she wondered if one of those things was a rapid pulse, and if Rory or her head injury was the cause of that symptom.

“So, what about your confusion and memory loss?”

She slanted her throbbing head. “I still can’t quite remember much more about the accident or what I was doing most of yesterday, but I’m okay. The doctor said I might not ever remember all of it. He just warned me of dizziness and confusion at times. But hey, I’m that way on a good day.”

He fingered one of the vivid red poinsettia leaves. “Your car was full of shopping bags.”

“You’ve seen my car?”

“I had it towed, remember?” He seemed embarrassed. “I guess you don’t. It’s at a nearby garage. But I got all the stuff out of it. It’s in my car right now. I can take it by your grandmother’s if you want me to.”

Goldie shook her head. “You’re amazing. What’s the catch?”

“Excuse me?” he asked, echoing her earlier words to him. “What catch?”

She shrugged, wincing at her sore muscles. “You just seem too good to be true.”

He lowered his head. When he looked back up, his eyes were dark with some unspoken emotion. “Oh, I’m not, trust me. I just walked across the woods last night with the policeman to check on your car and then I notified a friend who owns a body shop to tow it. After you file your insurance report and get the go-ahead, he’ll give you a good estimate—that is if you want him to fix the car.”

Goldie decided not to question why he deflected the compliment. “Can it be fixed?”

“Maybe.” He stood quietly and then said, “I hope I didn’t overstep—having him pick up the car.”

Goldie shook her head. “No, not at all. I just didn’t need this to happen right now. I’m here to help Grammy and I depend on my car to get me around. Just one more thing to deal with.”