Promise Made (The Callahan Series) by Mitzi Pool Bridges Page A

her head. “I won’t have you treating me like an invalid for the next six weeks. Get me a glass of water and go home. Aren’t you behind on your work?”
    Ed’s dark eyes widened with hurt. Gram smiled to ease the sting.
    Kate disappeared into the kitchen for the glass of water, leaving them alone for a minute. But she couldn’t stop herself from eavesdropping.
    “Didn’t you tell me you wanted me here?” he complained.
    “Of course I do. But right now, I have Kate and you have work to do.”
    “You haven’t told anyone, have you?” Ed asked.
    “Not a soul. Now, go. You were at the hospital way past your bedtime last night. I know you’re tired. If you’re not, finish your canvas. I like it.”
    What was that about? What canvas? What work? Ed was retired. When he bent down and kissed Gram on the lips, Kate covered her mouth. Gram’s soft smile and the way she stroked Ed’s cheek made Kate’s heart turn over.
    Tears threatened. She blinked them back before entering the room. “Here you go.” She put the glass on the table next to Gram’s chair. “What else can I get you?”
    “Nothing.” Gram took the remote, flipped it on, and sat back to enjoy the next hour.
    “I’ll go then,” Ed said with reluctance.
    It was clear he didn’t want to leave. “Come back at five and help with dinner, Ed,” Kate arbitrated.
    “Glad to.” He grinned.
    When the door shut behind him, Kate turned to her grandmother. “Why don’t you put the man out of his misery?”
    Grace turned innocent eyes on her. “I don’t know what you mean, Katie-Girl.”
    “Like hell you don’t,” Kate mumbled under her breath. Louder, she said, “He’s in love with you. Unless I’ve lost every last bit of my intuition, you’re in love with him.”
    Gram’s cheeks flushed bright pink. “Why would you think such a thing?”
    “You didn’t raise me stupid, Gram.”
    “Ed and I like things the way they are,” she said primly.
    Kate shook her head. Stubborn woman. Didn’t she know to grab onto love with both hands and not let go?
    Dugan’s face popped into her head. Her stomach plunged to the floor. “If you’re all right, I’ll be in my room.” She got out of there, fast.
    Kate left her door open in case Gram needed her, and sank into the nearest chair. She was good at seeing clearly what others couldn’t see about themselves. Her failings were another story. At every turn, she’d failed in the love department.
    She’d walked away from Dugan and from Erik. Just then her cell phone rang. Erik. She didn’t want to talk to him, but knew she had to since she’d flown out of her office like a Texas tornado after his unexpected proposal.
    “Hi,” she said.
    “Kate, are you all right?”
    “I’m fine. The only thing is, my gram broke her arm.”
    “Sorry about your gram, but I asked you to marry me and you walked away. What’s with that? Do you need time?”
    “I was surprised.”
    “Take your time. I know you’ll say yes in the end. I need you here, Kate. You’re good for me. We’re good for each other. And we just took on another big case.”
    “Didn’t you hear me? Gram broke her arm. I can’t come back now.” If ever. But she didn’t voice her concerns.
    “I’m serious, Kate. This case will bring in a huge fee. I’ll give you a big enough raise to hire a nurse to take care of your grandmother.”
    Kate couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. Didn’t Erik have an inkling as to how she felt? Evidently not or he wouldn’t suggest something so outrageous.
    “It would be cheaper to hire another lawyer. Maybe screen them so they don’t have a family.”
    She hung up, took a deep breath and went to check on Gram. She hadn’t seen this side of Erik before. But then she’d never had a family emergency before either.
    Stories of how the Callahans were always there for one another, how Gram had always been there for her, made her realize how Erik would never fit in here.
    Kate stood by the lounge