Page 15 of A Groom for Lauren
Lauren’s head jerk back to look at him. “What in the world does that mean? That you're happy I’m upset? You are the one that keeps coming here every day to see about my welfare.”
“Mrs. Hale, I am an animal doctor.”
“I am not an animal, Dr. Spaulding.”
“No. But, I know a wounded soul when I see one.”
“I am not a wounded soul, either.” She paused to wipe her nose on her sleeve. “I am doing just fine.”
He took a step closer and brushed away the wetness on her cheek. “Is that why Esther was crying for ten minutes before I even knocked on the door?”
Her heart leapt inside of her throat. “How dare you listen in on my life?”
Dr. Spaulding gave her a patient look. “It is impossible to not hear the cries of a screaming baby. Especially one that has cried for 10 minutes without any intervention from the mother.”
Her face reddened. “Please leave.”
The man was getting under her skin. She wanted him to leave her alone. She wanted him to stay. Why was it such a contradiction? There was a tiny voice that did not want to admit it even to herself that she was glad he came every day to check on her. Was it because deep down inside she wanted him to rescue her again? But what would he rescue her from this time? Motherhood? A broken heart?Herself? No man could do that.
“Mrs. Hale.” The doctor took another step forward. Lauren pressed her back even harder against the door, her fingers scraping against the wood. “Lauren,” he said emphatically. “I am worried about you. I care about you.”
Tears started to form in her eyes, and she blinked rapidly as one escaped and fell in a salty trail down her cheek. Bending at the waist, she held Esther tight against herself and lifted her head, emitting a wail unlike any she had ever heard before. It reverberated against the walls and echoed through the tiny house. Her lungs expanded to capacity as she produced a noise that sounded as though it escaped from the deepest level of hell.
Dr. Spauling immediately took Esther from her arms and placed the babe back in her blanket. Lauren was too consumed in her grief to care. Wrapping her arms around her middle she slid down to the floor, her knees tucked against her. Tendrils of her hair caught on splinters, begging to be released as she rocked her head from side to side.
“Come here, sweetheart,” a voice said softly. She felt fingers wrap around her arms, lifting her back against the door, before she was wrapped in a warm embrace.
Chapter Six
Christopher wrapped his arms around the fragile creature. She fit perfectly in his embrace. He pressed his head against the top of her head and whispered comforting words against her hair. “Let it out, sweetheart,” he said. He knew she needed to let the pain out.
The crying was cathartic.
Once she released everything she had inside her, healing could begin.
He wasn’t a praying man. There were too many times he didn’t mince words when speaking with the man upstairs. Of course, he believed, he just didn’t pray.Often. If animals didn’t pray, why should he?
Since the moment he had found Lauren by the river and then rescued her from the raging water, he had been unable to get her out of his mind. He knew there was something wrong with her. Not necessarily physical. But something that would need time to heal. There was a bothersome voice at the back of his head that refused to be silent.
She needed help.
His help.
As he prepared to do his work for the day, he made a point to stop by to see how she was doing. She was his first stop about town. The first few times she pasted on a bright smile and assured him she was well recovered from her scene by the river.He knew better.The smile never reached her eyes.
And she looked unkempt.
Not in a slovenly, horrible way. Even untidy, she was still a lovely woman. It was dullness in her eyes he could not get past. He hair had lost its sheen, and her skin looked lifeless. Her clothes were wrinkled and dotted with milk stains.
Once, he had administered help to a wounded dog that had been beaten by some children and left for dead. The dog’s eyes were empty and sorrowful, as if it had lost all hope in humanity. It had taken all his skill and knowledge, but he was able to save the dog and give it hope again. He refused to leave the dog’s side; and he worked with the dog, until the dog learned that there were kind people and much good to be had in the world.
He sensed that same sorrow in Lauren, but on a greater scale. She was a woman whose images invaded his thoughts more often than not. There were times when, in his bed at night before he’d close his eyes, he’d be completely overwhelmed by a need to prayer for her. And even though he hadn’t prayed much in the past few years, he prayed more in this week than ever before.
Soon her wails turned to sobs, which in turn became sniffles. Her face was buried in the fabric of his jacket. He pushed her back a bit and she lifted her head from the dark wool. Tears and mucus streaked the front of his coat and her puffy eyes widened as she tried to brush the fluid away.
“I am so sorry,” she choked out. “I’ve ruined your jacket.”
“I can get it laundered. Not to worry. Let’s get you seated.” She drew away, tears trailing down her pale cheeks. Her lips parted as she tried to catch her breath. Gently, he took his thumbs and rubbed the tears away. “I promise, I’m only here to help you.”
