Caitlyn clenched her shaking hands and kept them in her lap. Maybe she could slip away after they washed the dishes. She wanted some alone time and needed to hear her father’s voice.
13
As everyone cleaned up after lunch, Noah didn’t have much to say. Other things preoccupied his mind.
Cancer.
Sona’s granny had chosen not to have treatment and had died in her sleep at Noah’s house. Until then, he’d not had any personal experience with someone who had the disease. She’d been seventy years old and a widow for thirteen. As hard as it’d been to lose the woman who’d been like a mother to Sona, she’d supported her grandmother’s decision.
What did it mean when such a young woman had cancer? Caitie’s mother had died of it too. How frightening it must have been for Caitie to receive a similar diagnosis.
And he’d accepted the rumor that she was a drug addict. He met Joe’s knowing gaze and understood what the man had been hinting at. How could Noah ever make it up to her?
Thinking back on the emotions on Caitie’s face when both she and Zoe had mentioned it, his heart ached for her family. He wished he could speak to his own right then. His granddadwasn’t scheduled to fly to America for another week, and Noah wanted to tell the old man how much he loved him.
Noah finished wiping the counter and glanced around the kitchen. It looked like they were done. Was it too late to call home? He pulled out his phone and was startled when the image of Caitie’s battered face came up. After he’d heard the wordcancer, he almost forgot he’d had Finn send the link.
His jaw clenched. While Keven had been spreading lies about drug rehab, Caitie had been suffering through chemotherapy. It made Noah sick. He’d never been a brawler, but at the moment he wanted nothing more than to plant his fist into Keven’s face to see how the brute enjoyed being a punching bag. How could a man who’d been such a stalwart friend to Noah have this other side? Was Caitie the only woman he’d hit?
Noah’s mind shifted to thoughts of revenge, but he pulled himself back from them. Caitie wouldn’t want retribution. The girl he cared about would only want the harassment to stop.
So, how did they get thechancerto stop spreading lies about her?
“I see you’ve been doing your homework,” came Joe’s deep voice near Noah’s ear.
He startled, putting his phone behind him. “Don’t you be sneaking up on a fellow. You about made me jump out of my skin.”
“I saw the picture,” Joe said softly, “when I looked it up myself.”
“Checking up on us?”
“It’s my job, and I was curious why your friend had parked so far away when there were spots closer.” Joe shrugged.
Noah debated whether he should say anything, and the older man waited patiently.
“There’s an ongoing problem I would like to help with, but I’ll be wanting to have a wee talk with Caitie first.”
“Let me know if I can help. I feel protective of Caitlyn.” Joe gave Noah’s shoulder a pat and left the room.
Noah went in search of her.
Caitlyn endedthe call with her father and went to the patio balcony, which overlooked the park. What a day of highs and lows. First the cancer revelation and then her father’s cheerful news. He hada date. She’d tried to talk him into getting a social life since she graduated from high school. She’d almost convinced him to try it. When she’d been diagnosed, it’d been like talking to a brick wall.
And he’d done it now on his own. That was as much a miracle as her admitting to her team members that she’d had cancer. Her eyes stung at the memory. None of them let her down. Had she been making too big a deal of this?
Caitlyn’s thoughts drifted back to last night, when Noah had found her sick on the sofa. Could she remember the song he’d tried to teach her? It was so beautiful. She started to sing but couldn’t recall the last part. She must have fallen asleep.
“Caitie?”
She jumped a little at the sound of Noah’s voice, her heart hitching up several notches. Turning around, she found him watching her from the doorway. Her old fears rushed in, and she searched his eyes, seeing only tenderness.
“Would you be minding if I joined you?” he asked.
“I would like that.” She turned back to the railing, the butterflies in her stomach going mad with a sense of anticipation.
“Would you now?” Noah came to stand beside her, his shoulder touching hers.
“Aye,” she said.
