Free The Doctor's Undoing by Allie Pleiter Page B

pockets and rocked back on his heels. “I see you didn’t find waiting for such approval necessary.”
    She spun about the room, her hands flung wide. “Well, my stars, I didn’t think it’d all happen this fast!”
    When he didn’t reply, she turned to face him with pleading eyes. It was obvious it would rip her heart out if he told her to send back the yarn. He wasn’t going to do that, of course, but in many ways this was the baby booties all over again. Charity may be the heart of the Parker Home for Orphans, but procedure gave it the bones to endure. He had to make her understand that if she was going to last, and Daniel found he wanted this nurse to last.
    He pinched his nose and pushed out a breath. “I’m pleased at your initiative, truly I am.”
    She looked as if she were holding her breath. “And?”
    â€œAnd I am not going to ask you to send all this back, but—”
    â€œThank You, Jesus!” She put her hand to her forehead in relief.
    â€œBut,” he continued firmly, “I would have liked for you to wait until I gave you permission to solicit donations. That was, in fact, why I was coming to see you.”
    â€œWell, I would have, but—”
    â€œBut?” Daniel crossed his hands over his chest and gave his word all the disciplinary strength he could muster.
    Her shoulders fell. “But nothing. You’re right. I charged right ahead when I should have waited. I let my excitement run away with my good sense.” She folded her hands in front of her. “It’s a problem of mine.”
    â€œMiss Landway, however did you manage in the army of all places?”
    She put one hand up to her hair in a sort of overwhelmed gesture, her eyes popping in surprise when she found a pencil there. She removed it and stared at it as if she had no idea how it had ended up in her chignon. Daniel pointed to her hair and raised two fingers, cueing her to find the two other pencils. Her cheeks flushed pink as she pulled those, as well. “You must think me a ninny,” she said with a sigh.
    â€œActually, I find you rather clever, if a bit...impulsive.”
    â€œA bit?” Her eyes lit up at the compliment, and Daniel realized he had yet to tell her he was glad she had come to the Home. He was, mostly. She brought an energy he’d once had, even if it came without all the caution life at the Home had driven into him.
    â€œPerhaps a great deal impulsive. In this case, it has worked out for the best. But I hope Meredith’s booties have shown you it doesn’t always end that way.”
    â€œYou’re right. You’re absolutely right.”
    Daniel picked up a ball of yarn, one in a light green that reminded him of spring leaves, and held it up. “So you will come to me with any new ideas and wait for my approval in the future?”
    â€œAbsolutely.” She took the ball from him as if it represented their agreement. “Oh, in that case I should start right this minute. Do you know Mrs. Smiley’s shoe size?”
    Daniel couldn’t quite follow that train of thought. “I beg your pardon?”
    â€œMrs. Smiley. I think she ought to get a lovely pair of socks, as well. I’ll need her shoe size.” Catching herself, she corrected, “Provided, of course, you approve of my making her some. I was chatting with her about all the math in knitting and she didn’t seem very taken with the idea, but perhaps some lovely socks could change her mind.”
    That was an understatement. “Mrs. Smiley is very particular about her methods. She felt your ‘chatting’ was an attempt to insert knitting into her mathematics curriculum.”
    Miss Landway’s face fell. “She complained to you?”
    â€œShe came to me with her concerns.” Then, against his better judgment, Daniel leaned in and said, “Mrs. Smiley’s life is continually filled with concerns. I