“Yeah, we’ve known each other for years. Peter, Jacob and I were foster brothers.”
“Ah, yes. I met Jacob and his wife yesterday.”
“How long have you been here?”
“Just a few days.”
Noah transferred his attention to Laura. “Why didn’t you say your friend was moving here? I know how long you’ve been wanting her to come.”
Cara folded her hands in her lap—tightly—to erase the warmth of his fingers about hers a moment ago, but she still felt the touch. “Not her fault. She didn’t know until the last minute. I finally sold my house and had been planning to move into an apartment in St. Louis.” She glanced at her son. “Both Timothy and I decided since we had to move why not come to Oklahoma. He missed Laura’s boys. They were buddies. And I missed Laura.”
“Cara is a free spirit. When I asked her to come to Cimarron City, I extended an open-ended invitation, which I’m thrilled she accepted. I’d about given up on her moving here.” Laura leaned forward. “We want to keep her here, so she needs a job and a place to stay. Any suggestions?”
Noah scanned his restaurant. “Have you ever been a waitress? One of mine will be going on maternity leave at the end of this week.”
Cara shook her head. Like Laura, she had been a wife, mother and homemaker with no skills beyond that. Not very marketable, she’d realized after the fifth interview with no hope of a job. “Unless you count waiting on my family at mealtime.”
“Close enough. You’re hired.”
Her mouth fell open. “Just like that?” She snapped her fingers and her lips closed.
Noah’s laughter spiced the air. “I need a temporary waitress. You need a job.”
“Don’t you have to check my references?” Despite her lack of experience in the workforce, even she knew that much.
Noah turned to Laura. “Will you vouch for your friend?”
“One hundred percent. You won’t get a better worker than her.”
Noah then shifted his attention to Timothy. “What do you say about your mom? Is she a good worker?”
“She’s the best!” Timothy scooped up another bread stick and took a bite.
Noah’s sharp, assessing gaze swiveled back to Cara. “There. I’ve checked your references. Do you want the job? I know it probably isn’t what you’re looking for, but it’s temporary until my waitress comes back in six weeks. The tips aren’t bad here, and it’ll give you some time to look for a different job.”
Two warm patches continued to flame her cheeks. She wasn’t used to a man looking at her with such intensity. Married right out of high school, she’d basically led a sheltered life where men were involved. “As long as you know I’ve never done anything like this.”
Noah rose. “I’m a risk taker. I think I can handle it. Can you start on Friday? The weekends are very busy around here. You might as well plunge right in.”
Three days. “Sure.” Thoughts flew through her mind. She had so much to do before she started the job. Enroll her son in school. Start looking for a place to live. She didn’t want to live off Laura’s—or anyone’s—charity for long.
“I’ll see you at eleven then on Friday.”
The quick smile that graced his mouth made Cara’s heart palpitate. After he left, she said, “Once I get past the fact he almost ran me down with his car, he’s a charmer.”
“Noah is a dear friend. He’s very charming and kind, but he’s left a string of broken hearts in Cimarron City,” Laura said.
Cara straightened, lining up her fork and knife next to her plate. “You don’t need to worry about me.”
“Mom, I need to go to the bathroom.”
Cara began to rise.
“I’m eight. I can go by myself.”
“Sure, hon. You see where it is?”
He nodded and left.
When he disappeared inside the restroom, Cara swung back to her friend. “Just because I said Noah Maxwell was charming, doesn’t mean I’m interested, Laura. Being married once was enough for me. My son and I are happy the way things are.” If she said it enough, surely she would begin to believe it.
“It seems the last year I was in St. Louis all we talked about were my problems. You haven’t talked much about your marriage to Tim.”
Although the sentence wasn’t really a query, Cara glimpsed the question in her friend’s eyes. “It’s not a secret we were talking about divorcing before he became sick. I couldn’t leave him when that happened. I’m not even sure I could have if he’d remained healthy.” Her husband’s long illness had wiped out their savings and what little life insurance he had went to finish paying off his medical bills and to give her some time to figure out what to do with her life. But she still didn’t know what that was.
A waitress brought a large Canadian bacon pizza and placed it in the middle of the table. After she left with Cara’s drink order, Laura said, “I took the liberty of ordering. Timothy seemed to think you wouldn’t mind.”
The aroma wafting to Cara made her mouth water. “Not one bit. I’m starved. I got out of your house this morning so fast I didn’t even get a cup of coffee. Thankfully I didn’t yawn through the interviews.”
“Noah’s pizzas are fabulous even if I’m a little partial.”
Cara surveyed the busy restaurant, noticing Timothy weaving his way back to them. “It’s a good thing I like pizza since I’ll be working here at least for the time being. Now all I have to do is find a place to live with my son.”
“You’ve got one for the time being. My house.”
“I can’t impose for long. You already have too many people under one roof.”
“The more the merrier, I say. Remember I chose to have four children, so I’m accustomed to a lot of people around.” Laura grinned. “Besides, soon our new addition will be finished and we’ll have two more bedrooms.”
“No, this is important. I have to make it on my own. I hope you understand.” She couldn’t make the same mistake again of depending on someone else to rescue her.
Laura fixed her with a kind look. “I understand perfectly. You remind me of myself this time two years ago when I first came to Cimarron City.” She took a slice of pizza. “But remember you aren’t alone. The Lord is with you and so are your friends.”
If only it were that simple . Cara picked up her own piece to eat while Timothy reseated himself. Her son had to be her main focus now.
Two days later, Cara stretched as far as she could on the second to the top rung of an eight-foot ladder, leaning against the trunk of an oak. “Kitty. Here, kitty. You’ve got to take this. You won’t get well if you don’t take it.” Although, by the way this tomcat scampered up the tree, it appeared as though he was healthier than everyone thought.
Cara held a treat between her forefinger and thumb and waved it toward him. The overweight cat, sitting on the branch above her, let out a protesting whine. Obviously this feline was too smart to fall for the hidden pill inside the moist delicacy.
She glanced at the top rung and decided there was no way she would go that extra step for the tomcat. She was high enough off the ground as it was. When she looked back at the animal, entrenched in his safe spot, the cat launched himself at her. She flung up her arm to protect her face. The action