Nursing in Northlake (At the Altar Book 9) Read online

  “It’s already Friday night! I can’t ask you to change your plans at the last minute.”

  “Oh, you’re not asking me to. That chicken fried steak is! I’ll make the plans. I’ll probably be there by tomorrow afternoon. We’ll have dinner at Babe’s tomorrow night, and then I’ll interview you on Sunday.”

  Heidi stared at the dead phone in her hand. “I guess I’m going to Babe’s tomorrow,” she mumbled to herself as she hung up the phone. It was a good thing the food there was so good, because she might have had to be grumpy about being told what to do otherwise. Heidi had always been a strong, independent woman, and she didn’t need anyone telling her what to do.

  *****

  It was after eleven when Heidi woke the following morning, but she refused to feel guilty. She’d worked over sixty hours that week, and that was enough to exhaust anyone. There hadn’t been any calls, which must mean that the weekend shift had all shown up for work. Thank God. Maybe the stomach bug had actually run its course for everyone.

  Heidi started her laundry and cleaned up the house. There wasn’t a lot to do around her apartment, because she lived alone and she wasn’t horribly messy. She lived in an older house that had been converted into two apartments, and she loved it. She had the upstairs and a sweet, little old lady lived below her. She tried to look out for her.

  She got a call shortly after one, and she swiped her finger across the phone, not recognizing the number. “Hello?”

  “Hello, Heidi Hart. This is Dr. Lachele. I got an earlier flight than expected. Do you want me to start the interview today and finish tomorrow? Or would you rather do it all tomorrow?”

  Heidi was definitely a woman who preferred to just tear the Band-Aid off, rather than do it slowly. Get the pain over with. She felt the same about the interview. She wanted it done. “Let’s do it.”

  “I’m staying in Roanoke. Give me your address, and I’ll have the GPS get me there.”

  When Heidi first saw Lachele twenty minutes later, she was certain it was the wrong woman. Her hair was streaked with purple, and she had a purple shirt on. “Dr. Lachele?”

  “Are you expecting another crazy middle-aged woman today?”

  Heidi couldn’t help but smile. “No, you’re the only one.”

  “Well, get over here and bump boobies with me then. Any cousin of Cissie’s is a cousin of mine.”

  Heidi approached the older woman gingerly, not quite sure what to think of her. This couldn’t be the woman Cissie had referred to as a matchmaking genius, could it?

  Once they were sitting, Dr. Lachele was all business, and the sheer amount of questions she asked let Heidi know she was indeed knowledgeable about her craft. They took a break for dinner and went to Babe’s like Dr. Lachele wanted.

  “I can’t believe how good the food is here. We can get lots of good food in New York, but we can’t get Southern food like this. And I hate Mexican food there. Texas is the place for Mexican for sure.”

  Heidi nodded. “It sure is. Have you tried Taco Bueno yet? I promise you, if you want Mexican fast food, that’s where you need to go. It’s to die for.”

  Dr. Lachele shook her head as she cut off a piece of her chicken fried steak. “I’ll be sure to try it. I’m always in the mood for some Mexican food.”

  After Dr. Lachele left the following day, Heidi realized she hadn’t told Dr. Lachele her number one requirement in a husband—that he not be a doctor. She hated doctors. They were always full of themselves and impossible to work with. She couldn’t imagine actually having to live with one.

  She’d started out working in hospitals when she’d first gotten her nursing degree, but she’d learned very quickly that a nursing home was better for her. Fewer doctors and more nurses made her life so much better.

  She thought for a moment about calling Dr. Lachele and telling her that she couldn’t, under any circumstances, match her up with a doctor; but really? What chance was there that a doctor would be matched to her? Even if there were a doctor in the area who was ready to marry, why would it be to her? It didn’t make sense.

  No, she’d just let it go. The chances were too slim for her to worry about it.

  Chapter Two

  Heidi’s wedding day didn’t begin as she'd wanted. What else was new? She had to run some paperwork up to the nursing home first thing in the morning, and when she got home, she couldn’t figure out where she’d put her shoes. Her new shoes that were still in the box and she’d planned to wear for her wedding. Those shoes.

  She tore up her apartment, looking everywhere, and finally found them an hour later—once she decided she’d always wanted to be a barefoot bride. They were tucked under her wedding dress, which was hanging in her closet. It made perfect sense as soon as she found them. She wouldn’t lose them there.

  She sighed, certain she was making the biggest mistake of her life. Yes, she wanted children and she wanted to be married, but what kind of man would put up with a nurse’s crazy schedule? Especially one who worked the kind of hours she did.

  She hurriedly got the rest of her things together before making the forty-minute drive south to the church she’d attended as a child. Her mother was meeting her there, and her father and brother would be joining later.

  Her parents both thought she was insane for agreeing to marry a stranger, and her brother—well, Mark couldn’t seem to stop laughing. The jerk. Who needs a brother anyway?

  When she got to the church, she saw the parking lot was mostly empty, which was a good thing. She didn’t want to accidentally run into her future husband—whoever he may be. Dr. Lachele had told her to be at the church at ten. It was already quarter after. She hated being late!

  She ran into the church, slamming the door to the bride’s room as soon as she reached it. Her mother was waiting there, frowning at her. “It’s not too late to back out, Heidi.”

  “I’m not backing out, Mom.” As much as she’d been thinking about backing out just twenty minutes earlier, her mother suggesting it made her that much more determined to go through with it.

  “What if he’s a homicidal maniac?”

  “Dr. Lachele—she’s the matchmaker—assured me he’s perfectly normal. I’ve never met a normal man in my life! I have to marry him, just so I can see what this rare beast looks like! Surely you can see that!” Heidi kicked off her flip flops. “Is Carol still coming to do my hair?”

  Her mother nodded. “Yes. She said she’d be here any minute.”

  “Oh, good. I was worried about my hair looking this flat all day.”

  The door slammed open, and Heidi looked up to see her mom’s friend, Carol entering the room. She was carrying half a beauty salon with her and looked like she was prepared for any potential disaster. “I’m here. Prepare to be beautiful!”

  Heidi shook her head. She’d never been able to figure out why her quiet mother was so close to the flamboyant hairdresser. “I’m prepared mentally, but I don’t know if anyone can truly prepare for that physically.”

  While Carol was plugging in her supplies, Heidi’s best friend, Jenna hurried into the room. “I’m here! What did I miss?”

  “The wedding doesn’t start for two hours. What could you have missed?”

  “I was kind of hoping for chocolate.” Jenna patted her burgeoning belly. “Baby’s hungry for chocolate.”

  Heidi laughed. “You’re going to lose that excuse in five months, and you’ll have to go back to admitting to be a chocoholic.”

  “I’m allowed a few months out of time…”

  “That’s what you said with Sophia. I don’t think you ever quit patting your belly and saying the baby was hungry for chocolate.”

  Jenna smiled. “I didn’t. I never totally lost the baby bump, so I fooled strangers forever!”

  Heidi rolled her eyes as Carol motioned for her to sit in a chair. “Is that bridesmaid dress going to fit you?” she asked.

  “Oh, sure. I tried it on last night. I wore it for Jessica’s wedding, when I was six month
s pregnant with Sophia. That’s why I was pretty sure it would fit.”

  “Oh, that’s right! That’s why we have matching dresses!” Jessica had been one of their crowd in high school. “Have you had a chance to see her baby yet?”

  “I saw them last night. We shared a babysitter and did the double date thing. It was nice—just wish we could all come up with a topic that didn’t involve the kids.”

  Heidi smiled at that. “Well, you and Jessica are both stay-at-home moms. I can’t imagine there’s a ton to talk about other than the kiddos.” Heidi had a lot of respect for moms who stayed home with the kiddos, but she knew she could never do it. She was too involved in her career.

  Jenna pulled up a chair beside Heidi’s. “Just wait until you’re fifteen months pregnant, and you’ve forgotten what your toes look like, let alone remembered your pedicure. You’ll understand then.”

  Heidi shook her head at her friend. “You do know the gestation period for a human is only nine months, right?”

  “I do. I also know the last month takes seven months. The seven longest months of your entire life.”

  Heidi refused to listen. Jenna had been willing to do it again, so it couldn’t have been that bad. “Help me stop feeling nervous!”

  “You’re about to take the longest short walk of your life to a total stranger who is probably going to be one of the rejects you refused to date in high school, but a good man deep down. He’s probably been dreaming of Heidi Hart, the most beautiful girl in school for the past twelve years, and he bribed the matchmaker to set you two up. He’ll have become a billionaire at twenty-five with some high tech thing that no one understands but him, and you will spend the rest of your life being wined, dined, and treated like a queen. You’ll be whisked off to exotic locations at the drop of a hat, and spend the rest of your life making the rest of us jealous.” Jenna popped a piece of emergency chocolate into her mouth. “Feel better yet?”

  Heidi shook her head. “No, I need a piece of your emergency chocolate!” She looked at her mother. “Mom, would you have Mark stop on his way here and get me some tacos?”

  Her mother nodded, pulling her phone out of her purse. “Bueno?”

  “Are there any other fast food tacos in this great state of ours?”

  Heidi was dressed and had her hair done by the time Dr. Lachele arrived. Dr. Lachele was eating tacos out of a bag with Taco Bueno emblazoned on the side. “I’m so glad you told me about this place, Heidi! I just wish they had them in Manhattan.”

  Heidi grinned over her shoulder, thrilled to have created another Bueno-head. “You have to sit still if you don’t want to look like a clown!” Carol rubbed a smudge of eyeshadow off Heidi’s face as she scolded her.

  “Glad you like my favorite tacos, Dr. Lachele.” Heidi carefully kept her face pointed in the right direction. “Mom, meet Dr. Lachele—the matchmaker. Dr. Lachele, meet my mother.”

  Her mom stood and shook hands with Dr. Lachele. “How much research did you really do on this man?” she blurted out almost immediately.

  Dr. Lachele laughed. “This is how I always do my matches. It’s going to be all right, Mrs. Hart. I promise. Heidi is not the first woman I’ve matched at the altar, and she won’t be the last. I matched the groom’s brother back in May. I matched quadruplet sisters to four cowboys in Wyoming in April. My business has been going strong for quite some time.” She pulled out her phone. “Let me show you all the Matchrimony midgets!”

  “What is a Matchrimony midget?” Heidi’s mom asked, her voice filled with horror.

  Heidi covered her mouth, trying not to let peals of laughter erupt through the room. “Mom, she matched up Cissie and Bob. You’ve heard Uncle Andrew talk about how happy Cissie is!”

  “Why didn’t you tell me she matched Cissie and Bob?” her mother demanded.

  “I didn't think to tell you how I met her until just this second. Now you can calm down, right?”

  “I don’t think I’ll ever calm down. This is a ridiculous situation you’ve put yourself in, Heidi!”

  “You remember Cissie’s best friend? Cinderella? She was matched by Dr. Lachele as well. So there are two people you’ve met that have been matched by this woman. I’ll be perfectly safe. She’s got a great track record.” Heidi just wished she could believe the words herself. She’d already signed the agreement to stay together for a full year, so she’d better start believing.

  Lachele finished showing off her munchkins on her phone. “I’m going to go check on the groom. Need to make sure he hasn’t had a fit of nerves.”

  “Can you tell me anything at all about him, Dr. Lachele?” Heidi asked, her nerves getting the better of her.

  “Sure. He’s a man, and you’re going to love him!” The snap of the door closing was all anyone heard over Dr. Lachele’s laughter.

  Heidi’s mother looked at her. “You put your confidence in that woman?”

  Heidi shrugged. “Seemed like a good idea at the time.”

  *****

  Slade was pacing back and forth in the small room Dr. Lachele had told him to stay in. His twin was sitting in a chair ignoring him while talking softly to his wife.

  “How did you survive this horrible feeling you have to be doing something wrong?” Slade asked.

  Seth laughed, looking away from Michelle for just a moment. “I didn’t make a mistake at all, and neither are you. Dr. Lachele is a genius at what she does. Trust her.”

  “You’re not the first couple she matched, right? I mean you told me she matched Daniel to his wife, but the same way? At the altar?”

  Michelle got to her feet and walked to him. “I talk to Brenda, Daniel’s wife. I know they’re very happy. I also know a school friend of Brenda’s was married to a man in Oklahoma, and they’re very happy. She does this all the time. She’s good at it. You have to let her show you the woman who’s perfect for you, and you have to trust that she can do it.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “You’re Seth’s brother, and I want you to be happy. Trust us if you can’t trust her.”

  Slade looked at Seth. “Was her hair purple when you met her?”

  Seth nodded. “As far as I can tell, the woman was born with purple hair. That doesn’t make her bad at what she does.”

  “I guess not. I just—” He stopped abruptly when the door opened.

  “You just what?”

  Seth turned to Dr. Lachele. “He’s worried about your purple hair and whether or not you can make a good match.”

  Dr. Lachele sighed. “Do I need to show you my Matchrimony munchkins? I just had to show the bride’s mother!”

  Slade shook his head, not in answer to her question, but in confusion. “What’s a Matchrimony munchkin?”

  “It’s a baby that was born to a couple I matched, of course!”

  “How is that going to help me believe you know how to match people who will fall in love? I’m a doctor. I do know where babies come from. In fact, I deliver them on a fairly regular basis!”

  Dr. Lachele laughed. “I’m sure you do. Wanna see my munchkins anyway?”

  Slade resumed his pacing, wishing the crazy woman would just go away. She wasn’t helping at all!

  Dr. Lachele sat down next to Seth and showed him the photos on her phone and Michelle sat down and looked as well. Slade just kept pacing, refusing to believe people were going on with their lives when he was about to do the craziest thing he’d ever done in his entire life!

  *****

  Heidi gripped her father’s arm tightly as she waited for her turn to walk up the aisle. She watched as Jenna walked into the sanctuary and the door closed again. Jenna looked so cute in her dress with her baby bump. She tried to cover it with the flowers, but it didn’t work. Not that Heidi cared!

  The music changed, and the coordinator nodded at Heidi and her father. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment. Her dad shook his head. “This is crazy. You don’t have to go through with it.”

  “I want to.” Heidi wasn’t sure
if her words were true or not, but she’d come too far to back out now. The doors opened, and her eyes went to the front of the church to the man she’d spend at least the next year with, but hopefully, she’d be with him for the rest of her life.

  She saw him staring back at her at the end of the long aisle, and her eyes met his. His looked dark from where she stood, but it was hard to tell. He seemed so far away. Her knees wanted to buckle and give way, but she wasn’t going to let them. It would be just like her to trip at the last minute and fall on him, so she carefully concentrated on every step.

  When she stood beside the stranger, and her hand was placed in his, she gave an involuntary shiver. It felt so strange to stand next to someone she’d never met, but had already agreed to spend the rest of her life with. Of course at that moment, she was more worried about spending the night with him.

  She listened as the pastor gave a quick sermon on the sanctity of marriage and the role of the husband and the wife. Well, she pretended to listen. She was too busy looking at the tall, handsome man beside her. She didn’t even know his name!

  “Do you, Slade Henderson, take Heidi Hart to be your lawfully wedded wife? To love, honor, and cherish as long as you both shall live?”

  “I do.” His voice was deep and solemn as he answered, and it sent a frisson of excitement straight into Heidi’s stomach. He was sexy. How had she lived her entire life without this man beside her? And why was he willing to relocate to Fort Worth?

  His eyes were boring into hers. He finally mouthed, “Say I do!”

  Heidi realized she’d missed her vows entirely. Hopefully the pastor had been smart enough not to order her to obey! “I do.” She felt like an idiot, but whatever. She was busy staring at the sexy man in front of her, and who could blame her for that?

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife. Slade, you may kiss your bride.”

  Heidi’s eyes widened. Why hadn’t she considered that her first kiss with her new husband would be in front of a congregation of witnesses? How crazy!

  Slade leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. He wasn’t comfortable with their first kiss being in front of a huge room of people, so he kept it brief. When he lifted his head, he looked down into her beautiful green eyes. “Dr. Lachele said it’s normal at one of these weddings for the bride and groom to take a couple of minutes alone in the bride’s room. To talk a bit and learn about each other.”