Adam's Promise Read online

  He’d noticed the two earlier, and he wasn’t stupid. For years, Montgomery had turned a blind eye to pretty women, but the Darling nurse—he cackled at his private, little joke—had chopped away at the mighty Montgomery defenses. That was almost as good as what he had in store.

  A plan was what he had needed—a plan to rid the world of Montgomery and save his own neck. He’d researched and scrutinized until he had it down to the minute. He knew which nurses took breaks when. He knew what a doctor’s orders could accomplish…even if he wasn’t the doctor. He grinned to himself at the luscious idea he’d conceived…and it would work. No one would know who or what, but him.

  “Your day is coming, Montgomery,” he muttered.

  When Adam’s parents arrived, Kate took a break. She wandered to the cafeteria, but instead of eating there, she bought a tuna sandwich and soda and headed outside to a park bench in one of the courtyards.

  Kate wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone. Her mind had weighted with concern as she observed Adam’s pain and weakness. He could have a low pain threshold, but she didn’t think so. He’d been tough in Venezuela, not admitting the sting of the jejen flies or rarely complaining about the other discomforts of the village.

  The worry weighted her spirit while she added another concern. He’d called her Kate. Adam had never done that. Not once. Today he’d told her she was beautiful and called her Kate.

  She could still feel his hand against hers. He’d captured her fingers before she knew what was happening. She’d almost let herself believe her dream had come true. She wanted to stay there, palm against palm, to feel his pulse beat against hers, to feel flesh against flesh. Why had he done that?

  Kate didn’t think of Adam as a game player. He’d always been direct and unflattering. He’d spoken his piece. She was a good nurse, but not good for much else. He’d told her that often. Why now? Why when she felt so tempted to let herself fall in love?

  Fight against the emotion. The words rose like a mission statement. She had to be her own cheerleader, rallying herself to be strong and to win the battle. Battle? She needed to retain her self-esteem. Adam could be toying with her. He’d admitted he was bored and frustrated. He wanted action. He wanted to escape. Toying with her could be a means of mental distraction for him.

  But would Adam do that?

  The question rolled through her thoughts like loose marbles, banging against one another with little clinks, nudging one thought away and letting another bounce closer to the truth. Truth. She didn’t know it anymore.

  The sandwich seemed to clog in her throat. Kate swallowed, forcing herself to eat for sustenance, not pleasure. She sipped the soda, letting it wash away the tuna. With it half-eaten, she rose and dropped it in the trash can. Later when her mind wasn’t so agitated, she’d try again to get something into her stomach.

  She pondered going home…but home was Adam’s house. There or here, her mind filled with him. Images of their time together, thoughts of him today lying in pain on the hospital bed and visions of the future—imaginings she was even afraid to dream.

  Kate had more distractions at the hospital than at Adam’s town house so she took the elevator to the surgical floor. In two more days, she’d be back to work. She needed the routine to keep her head on straight. On Monday she would feel normal again.

  Frank Montgomery’s voice drifted into the hallway, and Kate girded a smile before she stepped into the room. Liza had drawn the chair beside the bed while Frank paced at the foot, his arms flailing with mayoral issues that registered in Kate’s mind in bits and pieces.

  “Frank, sit here,” Liza said. “Your pacing is making me nervous.”

  She rose, but Frank stayed where he was. Liza admitted defeat and moved to Kate’s side.

  “How are you doing, dear? Is Adam’s place comfortable enough for you?”

  Kate grinned. “It’s more than comfortable. It’s a lovely spot. What a view! You and Colleen decorated it so nicely. I’m very happy there.”

  “I’m glad. And his car? Does it drive well?”

  “Very nice. Better than my clunker.” Kate gave Adam a smile but would have given a bundle to have her junker back. She pictured herself jerking out of Adam’s garage and down the driveway like a new driver. Though she drove to the hospital that morning without incident, she still didn’t have the hang of the manual transmission. Maybe that’s why she dreaded going back to the town house. If she waited until evening, the traffic would be lighter.

  Frank’s voice rose in a tirade to Adam about some political issue, and Liza drew her aside.

  “You’ve been such a good friend these past days. Not just to Adam but to all of us. Would you join me for lunch tomorrow? Right after church, perhaps.”

  A chill rushed along Kate’s spine. “Lunch? I—I haven’t been—”

  “Whatever time’s good for you. Where do you worship? If the service is later, we can work around that.”

  “That’s not the problem,” Kate said, trying to decide what the problem was. “I usually attended Community Church, but—”

  “You’ve just returned home, I know. Well, you’re welcome to worship with us anytime you’d like. We attend Good Shepherd Christian Church.”

  “Thank you,” Kate said, wondering about Liza’s motivation.

  “How about Sunday one o’clock for lunch? Would that work? We’ll eat at the country club. It’s not far from Adam’s town house. Right at Union and Templeton Gap Road.”

  “The country club?” Her stomach tightened. “Yes, I know where that is.”

  “Wonderful. Then you’ll join me there tomorrow?”

  “That’ll be wonderful,” Kate said, grinding her teeth to hold herself from making an excuse. And why? Liza meant nothing but kindness, and Kate had enough social graces to enjoy a country-club luncheon.

  “Time to go,” Frank said, checking his watch. “You’re in our prayers, son. We have some kind of shindig tonight that your mother roped me into, but I’ll come by tomorrow sometime.”

  “That’s fine, Dad,” Adam said, propping his head upward on his folded arms.

  “Mind the nurses,” Liza said, bending over to kiss him on the cheek. “I’m so pleased to see you look more lively.”

  Kate wanted to attest to his liveliness, but she only waved her goodbye as they left, leaving her and Adam staring at each other from across the room.

  Adam patted the chair. “Come and sit beside me.”

  Kate looked at him while her thoughts presented a rebuttal. No. Never. I can’t sit close to you. While the words pelleted her mind, her feet propelled her forward like someone hypnotized. She sank next to him and studied his face, longing to ask him the meaning of his actions.

  “I’ve come to think of you as my guardian angel, Kate.”

  “It’s only an illusion,” she said, hoping to discourage his pursuing the topic.

  “I’ll admit, you’ve surprised me. Here you are every day more dedicated to a patient than I’ve ever seen. I thought you hated the ground I walked on…but I’m seeing a different side of you. You’re compassionate and faithful…not to mention full of charm, intelligence and beauty.”

  She felt a frown burrow onto her face, and she wanted to recoil from his wonderful words—words she’d never heard anyone say.

  Adam slid his hand over hers and caressed it, moving as slowly as a summer breeze. With each shift of his fingers, Kate’s pulse jolted like a wild colt. She longed to pull her hand away as she’d done earlier, but the feeling wrapped around her heart and kept her immobile.

  “I never appreciated you, Kate…not all of you. I admired your nursing skills. I told you that, but you’re so much more and—”

  “Adam.”

  As if struck by lightning, Kate and Adam yanked apart at the interruption.

  Chapter Nine

  Kate recognized Dr. Valenti’s voice before she saw him. “Lionel,” she said, straightening her back and stepping away from Adam.

  His gaze shifted
between her and Adam. “How are you?” He sauntered into the room. “I’ve been trying to see you, but you were still out of it. How’s it going?”

  “Forgive me for not standing,” Adam said, giving him a wry look. “As you can see, I’m a little under the weather.”

  “I know.” He stepped closer to the foot rail. “And I’ve heard you have—”

  “Amnesia,” Adam said before he could.

  “Retrograde amnesia. The doctors are hopeful he’ll retrieve his memory.” Kate wished she could control her urge to be Adam’s protector.

  “Then that’s good news,” Valenti said. He released the railing and tucked his hands into his pockets. “Do you recall anything at all?”

  “Nothing. Zilch,” Adam said, a frown furrowing his face. “It’s frustrating. What happened to you?”

  “I was detained in—”

  “I know about that. I meant that day. What happened?”

  Lionel jingled the coins in his pockets. “It was dreadful. I remember hearing something. A backfire, I thought, but I didn’t see anything through the window so I decided to check it out. As I reached the clinic, I bumped into two men barreling out the door. They were running, and I saw the gun.”

  “You must have been petrified,” Kate said, imagining how she would have felt meeting them in the hallway.

  “I didn’t have time to think. The one shot past me, but I ran smack into the other. His head butted against my lip, but I struggled to stay on my feet. He had the gun. I surprised him, I guess. I grabbed his wrist and twisted. The gun went off and got him in the chest. He fell to the ground. It’s all a blur.”

  “I’m glad you weren’t injured,” Adam said.

  Lionel Valenti scrutinized Adam’s face. “So why amnesia? The shot missed your head.”

  “I fell and hit the corner of that cabinet by the door.”

  Kate heard irritation in Adam’s voice and wondered if he would blow up again. His emotions swayed like a windsock in a storm.

  Lionel Valenti frowned. “I’m surprised you don’t remember anything from before you fell.”

  “Well, I don’t.” Adam’s tone rose in volume.

  Kate moved forward and rested her hand on his arm. “Adam was unconscious until yesterday. He needs time to heal.”

  “Sorry. I figured if you recognized one of them they could get the thing solved, and we’d all get back to normal. I’m sure everyone wants to return to the clinic.”

  “No, it’s me,” Adam said. “I’m just tired of people telling me what I should remember. I don’t recall a thing, and it’s frustrating.”

  “I understand.” Lionel Valenti’s head drooped. “It’s been difficult for all of us.”

  Adam drew back and studied him. “I hate to say this, man, you look worse than I do. You’re right. We all need to get back to normal.”

  Lionel drew up his shoulders. “It’s hard to get back to normal when you’ve been through what I have. I realize you have your problems, but I’ve had my own ordeal. I was interrogated and grilled for hours in the flea-infested city jail…as if I were the criminal. That’s not easy to forget.”

  Adam slumped against the pillow and rubbed his eyes. “I heard. It must have been awful.”

  “It was.” Lionel Valenti gestured to the IV. “And now you have sepsis, I hear.” He paused a moment, staring at Kate, and his face twitched. “Nice to have your own private nurse.”

  “I work on this floor,” Kate said, not liking his implication.

  Lionel gave her a knowing look. “Right.” He lifted his hand. “I need to get back to work. Take care, Adam.”

  Before either could say goodbye, he’d scooted through the doorway.

  Kate gave Adam an unspoken reprimand, and he nodded as if he understood. Adam’s self-control had been as wounded as his chest.

  She sank into the chair again, wondering what Lionel Valenti had thought seeing them together. She wished he hadn’t.

  Kate clamped her teeth together to keep from gaping. The Colorado Springs Country Club was as elegant as she had imagined. The central foyer, adorned with a lavish deep-toned tapis carpet, featured a round Chippendale table holding a lavish bouquet in a Japanese urn. The wide molding and rich wood accents lent opulence to the setting.

  To the left, a delectable aroma greeted Kate, and she was drawn forward. Waiting for service, she stood in the doorway of the dining room and gazed at the deep inset ceiling with ornate white cornices above the creamy yellow walls.

  Liza was already seated and the maître d’ led Kate across the thick burgundy-and-green carpet to Liza’s table at a window looking out at the lush lawn of the golf course.

  The waiter pulled out a chair and Kate sat, slipping the white cloth napkin onto her lap. “This is lovely,” she said to Liza.

  “No trouble finding it, I hope.”

  “Not at all.” Kate lifted the menu the maître d’ had left behind and perused it. The prices nearly made her eyebrows shoot upward, but she maintained decorum and was grateful she was Liza’s guest.

  When they’d mulled over their choices and placed their order, Kate handed the waiter her menu, then folded her hands and waited for Liza to begin the conversation.

  Liza took a sip of water with lemon, then grinned. “I suppose you know I have an ulterior motive.”

  Her words racked through Kate like fingernails on a chalkboard. “I wondered.”

  “I truly wanted to show my appreciation for all you’ve done for Adam. You’ve been a faithful friend.”

  Kate clasped her hands together in a death grip. “Allowing me into your home and loaning me Adam’s town house and car is enough thanks, Mrs. Montgomery.”

  “Please, dear, call me Liza.”

  Kate had always called her Liza in her thoughts, but hesitated being overly familiar with Adam’s mother. “Thank you. I’ll do that.”

  Liza took a roll from the basket and smothered it with herbed butter. The inviting scent drifted across the table. She shifted the bread toward Kate. “Try one while they’re warm.”

  She followed Liza’s direction and sank her teeth into the luscious crescent.

  “You have great compassion, Kate. I’ve been thinking about our upcoming fund-raiser. I wondered if you might volunteer to help.”

  “Fund-raiser?” Kate’s mind went blank. She hadn’t heard of a fund-raiser for the hospital, and one for the country club seemed ludicrous.

  “For the shelter. The Galilee Women’s Shelter. I mentioned it to you a few days ago.”

  “Yes, you did. I’d forgotten.” She lifted her water glass and took a sip, moistening her dry mouth and hoping to give herself time to think. “What type of volunteering did you need?”

  “We have a guest list and we’ll be getting together invitations. We always need help stuffing envelopes and putting on labels, making telephone calls. So many things. Please don’t feel you have to do this. I just thought that—”

  “I’m very interested in women’s shelters.” The admission surprised Kate. Her heart ached, thinking of the women and children in need. “I’d be happy to do what I can. Many women would be lost without a place like the shelter.” The words caught in her throat.

  “It is a worthwhile project. That’s why I give them my time.”

  And money, Kate added to herself. “When would you need me?”

  “I’ll give Jessica Mathers your name. She’s the development director for the Galilee facility and a wonderful woman. She does so much promotion and fund-raising. They’d be lost without her.”

  “Certainly. Give her my name…and you can keep me posted.”

  “Thank you, dear,” Liza said. “You’re always so kind. Do you know where the shelter’s located?”

  “On Galilee Avenue.”

  “That’s right.”

  Silence hovered over them, and Kate watched Liza’s face, knowing she had more to say. The woman shifted her water glass and lined up her silverware until she stopped and paused a moment.

&nbs
p; “I’m curious,” Liza said, looking directly into Kate’s eyes. “I’ve waited so long to see my children settled and happily married…and I’m still waiting. I’ve noticed something going on between you and Adam, and I was hoping you would give me a reason to be happy. Adam is so closemouthed about his private life.”

  Kate had expected as much. She ignored her pounding heart and struggled to keep her voice calm. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Mrs—Liza. Adam and I are, at best, friends.”

  “But…you’ve been so attentive, so concerned. Devoted, really, and I thought—”

  Kate shook her head. “Friends.” She watched disappointment settle on the woman’s face.

  “Is it you or Adam?”

  “I’m sorry?” Kate said, not sure what the woman was asking.

  “Are you the one holding back or is it Adam? You may be fooling each other, but a mother sees the truth. I’m certain your feelings are greater than friendship.”

  Kate reached across the table and touched Liza’s hand. “I’m very fond of you and your family. And I’m fond of Adam. We spent a great deal of time together in Venezuela…not only in the clinic, but we shared living quarters with common rooms. We ate meals together. When you spend that much time with someone, you learn to care about them.”

  Liza lowered her head. “I’d only hoped that perhaps I was right. My son’s face brightens when you come into the room. I’ve seen it more than once. He doesn’t express his emotions often, but—”

  “I think he’s grateful. He keeps reminding me that I saved his life, which isn’t totally true, but I was there.” Kate wrestled with the truth, wanting to admit to the woman why she had to harness her feelings. She could never tell them—especially Adam—about her childhood and poverty. “Your family and mine come from different worlds. I really am no match for the history and contribution your family has here in Colorado Springs…nor do I have your resources.”