The High Calling Read online

  No sooner had Parker returned from the States than he learned that Veronica had been visiting his family of late, expressing great interest in Parker and his whereabouts. Lord and Lady Braden and Parker’s aunt Edith had taken Veronica into their family circle, supporting her in her grief and falling in love with her darling babies. The Bradens were good people and merely concerned for this young widow in her time of great need. Unaware of Veronica’s skillful manipulation of their emotions, they began to believe it was their own idea that Parker should begin courting her, in hopes that he could come to care for her and the children and help Veronica out of her desperate situation.

  Parker had allowed himself to be persuaded, and before he knew it, he was deeply drawn into a whirlwind romance with the stage actress. The wedding that followed in a few months’ time gave Parker a renewed sense of purpose, believing now that he was the one man who could give Veronica a new life and rescue her from her uncertain future. It concerned him a bit, however, that she talked of someday returning to the stage, for although he admired her talent, he felt the theater was an inappropriate world for a proper wife and mother to inhabit.

  Just as his parents and aunt had, Parker fell in love with Veronica’s two children, adopting them and caring for them as his very own. For a time he basked in the joy of being a father and family man, content with his new life. But as the conflict in Europe picked up its tempo, Parker was forced to throw himself behind the war effort, leaving his position managing his father’s factory to join the RAF. As his absences became more frequent, Veronica dreamed about returning to her acting career on the London stage. Being the mother of twins was simply not enough to bring contentment to her life, and she knew she could leave the children in the care of the willing Braden family while she sought after her own ambitions.

  As for Parker, his focus at home was solely on his adopted children, whom he loved desperately. They filled a deep void in him as his marriage began to fall apart. Whatever feelings Veronica and Parker might have briefly had for each other soon dissolved into nothing more than a reserved tolerance.

  Such was the state of Parker’s life when he greeted his children that evening. It was far from perfect—but he did know a deep joy in coming home to the children’s smiling faces after his long hours of fighting and killing in a world gone mad with hatred and warfare.

  “How about a treat?” Parker said to the toddlers in either arm. “I smelled some treacle pudding when I walked in.” The twins squealed in delight and bounced in Parker’s arms as he carried them off toward the kitchen.

  Grace meanwhile turned to her husband. “I wish Veronica hadn’t gone off like that.”

  Gregory shook his head. “It hurt Parker. It hurts me too. I can’t believe she’d do such a thing.” They sat there helplessly, knowing there was nothing they could do about it.

  “Let’s go to the kitchen too,” Grace suggested. “I could eat some treacle pudding myself.”

  ****

  Parker packed his kit and left the bedroom. It had been a good day. Veronica had gone with him and the children to the zoo. She had apologized, after a fashion, for leaving him the night before, but he had made little of it.

  As he crossed the foyer, Aunt Edith called, “Parker, are you leaving?”

  His father’s spinster sister was sixty-seven now. She was a proud, strong-willed woman, successful as a historian although she had not gotten rich by it. She was a rather small woman with silver hair and came up to take Parker’s kiss. “You’re not going to leave now!” she exclaimed. “I’ve hardly seen you at all.”

  “You should have been with us at the zoo. You would have enjoyed the monkeys.”

  “I couldn’t get away from my meeting.” The woman was always involved in some kind of charity work.

  The two stood there talking, and finally Edith said, “Oh, by the way, when I picked up my mail I got one of your letters by mistake. I think I put it right over here.” She turned to the table beside the front door. “Yes. Here it is.” She looked at the return address. “Who is this woman writing you from America?”

  Parker hesitated for a moment. “She’s the daughter of the man I bought the Black Angus cattle from.” He had never told his family of his deep feelings for Katherine Winslow and his desire at one time to marry the American woman.

  “But that was nearly three years ago. She’s still writing? That is like an American, isn’t it? Rather pushy.”

  “She only writes occasionally.” He did not open the letter but leaned over and kissed his aunt again. “The next time I get any leave at all, you and I will have to spend some time together.”

  “You be careful, Parker.”

  He smiled. “I will,” he said, wondering how in the world a man could be careful while flying a Spitfire against crack German fliers. He left the house and opened the envelope after he got into his car. He scanned the letter quickly and sat absolutely still for a moment. Then he started the car and drove away.

  He made his way to the heart of London rather than going directly to the airfield. He parked in front of a large building with a small sign that said International Mission. He went inside and approached an attractive young woman sitting at a desk. “I say, I’m looking for a Miss Katherine Winslow.”

  “Are you, now?” The melody of Wales was in the young woman’s voice. She had a wealth of auburn hair and beautifully shaped green eyes set in an oval face. “What would a flight officer be doing in this part of town? There are no German planes here.”

  “Just visiting.”

  “Ah, well, come along, then. I’ll take you to Sister Winslow.”

  “I’ve always wondered why they call nurses sister. Do you know, by the way?”

  “No, I don’t. How do you happen to know Miss Winslow?”

  Parker was bombarded with questions, for the young woman was not shy at all. She led him through the building, which was filled with activity. Finally she brought him into a large room with a table and a line of ragged, dirty children. Katherine was wearing a blue nurse’s uniform, giving the children shots.

  “You have a visitor, Sister,” the young woman said.

  Parker moved forward and saw the delighted recognition leap into Kat’s eyes. She put the needle down and stood to greet him warmly.

  “Are you surprised to see me?” he asked.

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”

  Kat turned and said, “Wing Commander, may I introduce you to Sister Meredith Bryce. Meredith, this is Wing Commander Parker Braden, an old friend of mine.”

  Meredith’s eyes sparkled. “I’m so happy to meet you, sir.”

  “And I you.”

  Meredith winked at Kat, then said, “I’d better get back to the front desk.” She turned and left, and Parker looked at the line of children. “I’ve come at a bad moment. You’re busy now.”

  “Yes, I am rather.”

  Parker glanced at his pocket watch. “I have to be back at the station at five-thirty.”

  “I get off at four. That’s only fifteen minutes.”

  “Good. I’ll wait outside.”

  Parker left, and Meredith came scurrying back. “Who was that?”

  “You heard. An old friend.”

  Meredith studied the face of the young nurse. “An old married friend. I saw the ring on his finger.”

  “Yes, he is.”

  Meredith started to say something, then shrugged. “The good ones are always married.”

  As she turned and left, Kat picked up the needle and said, “Come here now, darling. This will only hurt a little.”

  ****

  “I don’t have much time. I wish I had more.”

  Kat was sitting across from Parker in the quaint tea shop he had taken her to. They had given their order and were waiting for their tea and raspberry tarts. “I was surprised to hear you were coming to London.”

  “So was I,” she said. “It was all very sudden.”

  “How long
have you been here?”

  “Only a week.”

  “I wish you would have contacted me earlier, but then I’ve been rather busy. How are your parents?”

  She gave him a full report about her family, and finally their order came. She stirred sugar and milk into the strong black tea and took a sip. “Tell me about the war, Parker.”

  He shrugged. “It’s bad, Katherine, and it’s going to get worse.” For some reason he wanted to share some of his experiences with her, so he told her about Tommy Higgins. He found himself stiffening as he told the story, and he was aware of the sympathy in her eyes.

  “Losing young men like that is the worst. It’s bad enough having to shoot down the enemy, but watching our own lads die like that with their whole life before them . . . it’s hard to take.”

  “I’m so sorry.” She reached over and squeezed his hand. “I hope it will be over soon.”

  “It won’t be. It’s just starting.” Parker was intensely aware of the warmth of her hand and said suddenly, “I’d like for you to meet my family.”

  “Oh, I’m not sure that would be—”

  He headed her off before she could say no. “And, of course, Hercules. I’ll bet he remembers you.”

  Kat’s face lit up. “Oh, I’d like that! I’ve missed him so much.” She laughed. “I’ve put the pictures you sent me of him on my wall back home. I took a lot of teasing for that. Most women have pictures of Robert Taylor or Clark Gable, but I’ve got a Black Angus bull for my hero!”

  “I’ll have to call you the next time I have some time off. I never know for certain when I can get leave.”

  “Here. Let me give you the number of the mission.”

  He waited until she wrote it down, and finally he looked at his watch. “May I take you home?”

  “Thanks, but it’s only three blocks away.”

  The two left the tea shop, and he turned to her. “It was good to see you, Katherine. You haven’t changed a bit.”

  “I’ve . . . I’ve thought so often of the little time we had together.”

  “I’ve thought of it too.” He hesitated, then said, “I’ll call you when I have more leave.” He turned and walked away, shaken at how the sight of her had awakened old memories. He tried to push his feelings away, but they came back to him strongly. When he got into the car, he slammed the door and muttered to himself, “Pull yourself together, man! You’re a husband and a father. It’s too late for anything like that!”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Luncheon With the Nobility

  Meredith Bryce lay propped up against the headboard, her legs stretched out, her fingers laced behind her head. She and Kat shared a one-bedroom flat in London that was close to both the mission and the hospital. They worked long hours as nurses at both places, so it really didn’t matter that they didn’t have much living space.

  Meredith was watching Kat dress and finally remarked, “Going to luncheon with the nobility, eh? You’re not doing bad for an American.”

  Kat had just slipped into the dress she had chosen for the occasion. Parker had called her the day before and said he would pick her up at noon. She had been nervous ever since, and now she stopped and tried to peer at herself in the small mirror fastened to the wall. She was wearing a light green wool dress and had bought a new pair of black pumps with a two-inch heel. The only other shoes she had were flat, suitable for nursing duties. She poked at her hair, which she had cut before leaving home. She wore it now in a bouffant style since it was easier to wash and care for.

  “He’s a good-looking chap,” Meredith said. She got off the bed and opened a dresser drawer. “Here. You can wear my jade earrings. They’ll look good with that outfit.”

  “Thank you, Meredith. I really don’t have much jewelry.” Taking the earrings, she adjusted the screws and winced. “I hate earrings. They hurt my ears.”

  “So you’re going to meet Lord Gregory Braden and his family. That’s moving in pretty fast company.”

  “Oh, I’m really going to see Hercules.”

  “Hercules! Who in the world is Hercules?”

  Kat gave her a quick summary of how she had raised the animal and Parker had purchased it.

  Her eyelids arched. “You’re going to see a cow?”

  “No. A steer.”

  Meredith had been intensely curious about her roommate’s relationship with the handsome, but married, Parker Braden. She had gotten Kat to tell her some of the story but felt there must be more. “Well, I’ll be blessed, I can’t believe the woman’s going to see a steer while visiting nobility!”

  “I’ve got to go.”

  “You’ll have to tell me all about it when you come back,” Meredith called.

  “I will.” Kat shut the door behind her and went downstairs to find Parker just arriving. “I’m sorry if I made you wait.”

  “No, I just got here.” He looked at her outfit and smiled. “Hercules is in for a treat. He doesn’t usually have such attractive visitors.”

  She felt her cheeks grow warm as he laughed.

  “I’m anxious for you to meet my family, Katherine.”

  ****

  “Who is this woman?” Veronica looked across the table at her husband’s aunt, who was arranging the silverware. “What’s she doing here? She’s an American?”

  “She’s the daughter of the man we bought the Black Angus cattle from,” Edith explained.

  “I know that, but what’s she doing here?”

  “Parker got to know her family while he was in America looking for livestock. They’ve written a few times, I understand, mostly about cattle breeding and the newest things in veterinary medicine.”

  Gregory was standing beside the window looking out.

  “She’s working at a mission house in East London, Parker tells me. Ah, there they are.”

  “A missionary?” Veronica muttered. “That’ll be dull fare.”

  “She writes very nice letters,” Gregory said. “I’ve written her a few times about the cattle. She seems quite sharp.”

  “Well, I’ll stay for luncheon, but I’m not going to be preached at.”

  ****

  As Parker pulled into the driveway, Kat gasped, “What a beautiful house!”

  A large front porch extended across the front of the huge two-story red-brick house. Six broad pillars held up the porch roof, and on either end of the house large chimneys were putting out puffs of gray smoke. The grounds surrounding the elegant home were carefully tended.

  Parker opened the car door, and when Kat stepped out, she stared at the house, obviously overcome. “It takes all we can rake together to keep it. Veronica wants to sell it and buy a townhouse for us in London and a cottage in the country for my parents and aunt.”

  “What a shame! Don’t you just love it?”

  “Well, my parents and Aunt Edith will never hear of selling it. They love this old place.”

  “What about you?”

  “I love it too. Of course, I grew up here and it’s full of memories. But sometimes I think Veronica and I and the children need a place of our own.”

  They climbed the steps, and the door opened before they reached it.

  “Hello, Cooper,” Parker greeted.

  “Good day, sir.”

  “This is Cooper, who takes care of us all. Cooper, this is Miss Katherine Winslow from America.”

  “I’m very pleased to welcome you, miss. Won’t you come in?”

  As she stepped inside, Kat was awed by the foyer. The floor was made of a beautifully veined marble. The walls were decorated with original paintings, and there was an air of spaciousness about it that could only be purchased by high ceilings and open spaces.

  “The family’s waiting in the drawing room.”

  “Thank you, Cooper.”

  As they walked down the long hallway that looked like an art gallery, Kat did her best to take in all the portraits lining the walls.

  “These are all of your family?”

  “Yes. My j
olly ancestors. Rather grim looking, wouldn’t you say?”

  Kat just nodded.

  Parker was watching her carefully. She was obviously overwhelmed by the house and by the stern faces of the Bradens that stared down at her. Parker knew that Kat had spent her early childhood in a lovely home in New York, and had even had servants at one time, but their home in Georgia was much more modest. “I think they were really better-humored people than they appear. I believe back in those days it was considered appropriate to look very stern when sitting for a painting.”

  “It must be wonderful to have pictures of so many of your ancestors.”

  “Your family goes a long way back too. Your father told me the first Winslow went over to the New World on the Mayflower.”

  “That’s true. His name was Gilbert Winslow. We don’t have a portrait of him, though.”

  Parker stopped and motioned toward the door. “Here’s the drawing room.”

  Kat stepped inside and saw the family that had gathered to meet her. As she was introduced to Veronica Braden, she saw something hard in the woman’s eyes and didn’t know what to make of her. She was impressed with Parker’s parents, however. Lord Braden was much older than his wife and looked rather tired, but his wife had a warm smile and made Kat feel at home.

  “And this is my aunt, Miss Edith Braden. Aunt Edith, this is Miss Katherine Winslow.”

  “I’m pleased to meet you,” Edith said formally.

  “I’m so happy to meet you too. Parker has told me so much about you.”

  “What in the world could he say?”

  “He’s told me about your books. I have always loved history, and I admire people who are able to make history come alive on the pages of a book.”

  Edith Braden had been prepared to dislike this young woman. She had a distaste for Americans in general, her ideas being formed by the motion pictures she saw. However, she saw that this young woman’s appreciation was genuine.