While Love Stirs Read Online Free PDF

checked the clock. If the oven was sufficiently hot to brown the flour in five minutes, then the oven was the right temperature. She could turn the gas cock up or down if need be.
    At the five-minute mark, she opened the door. Perfect. She set her layer cakes inside and closed the door.
    “You think you’re so smart.” Kathleen plunked her ample frame on a stool. “But you’re not smart enough to beat me. Remember that, Charlotte Gregory. I’m going to win this competition and get me a husband. You know what they say: ‘The way to a man’s heart . . .’”
    Charlotte rolled her eyes. “The way to a man’s heart isn’t through his stomach. It’s with a gentle and humble spirit. You give that a try. I’m sure it’s something new for you.”

    Joel heaved a sigh. Nurse Watkins should know by now that Joel liked the morning reports on the left rather than the right side of his desk. Bone-weary, he deposited the stack in its correct position, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes. Fifteen minutes of shut-eye. That’s all he needed.
    A knock on the door jolted him awake. He relaxed when his sister, Nurse Mathilda Brooks, peeked in.
    She set a cup of coffee in front of him and laid a hand on his shoulder. “I heard you lost Harvey Baker last night.”
    He nodded, not trusting the thickness in his throat. After a swig of the coffee, he glanced up at her and smiled. “I’m fine, Mattie.”
    She took a seat in the empty desk chair. “You stayed all night with him?”
    “No one should die alone.”
    “Cathy Creston is a good nurse. She’d never let that happen.”
    He held up his hand. “I’m not attacking the nurses. I have the utmost admiration for all you do.”
    “That’s good to hear.” Mattie smoothed her apron. “Speaking of which, what happened with Mrs. Cole’s sister? Charlotte Gregory, wasn’t it?”
    “And how did you hear about that?” He chuckled. “Never mind. I should know you’ve always had a way of learning about everything. And now I can tell by the way you’re biting your lip you have something to say. Go ahead. You will eventually.”
    “I need to get back to work.” She stood, walked to the door, then turned back to him. “Joel, that Miss Gregory has a valid point. New mothers do need adequate nutrition, and we nurses have been woefully trained in meeting those needs. We plan our menus based on what foods we have on hand, with little consideration for the nutritional requirements of the mothers. Maybe if she came to teach—”
    “Mattie!” Joel mockingly thumped his fist on the desk. “You of all people know this hospital is in dire financial straits. Besides, we don’t know if Miss Gregory could cook her way out of a paper bag.”
    “Aha. I saw that.” She pointed a finger in his direction.
    “What?”
    “The way your eye twitches whenever something fascinates you.” She tapped her finger against her jaw. “Is it the subject of nutrition or is it Miss Gregory herself?”
    “Neither, and I have rounds.” He slipped his stethoscope into his pocket and joined her at the door. “Things are fine as they are.”
    “You mean everything is in order. That doesn’t mean they’re good, Brother.” She kissed his cheek. “And I think Miss Gregory may be the spice this place—and perhaps even you—could use.”

    Palms damp, Charlotte wiped her hands on her apron and took in the room of hopeful contestants gathered to await the results of the first round. She smiled at Tessa and Aunt Sam, seated with other spectators. Baked goods scented the air with vanilla and cinnamon, and Charlotte licked her lips. She glanced at the layer cakes displayed on a long oak table. With three slices taken from each confection, a myriad of frostings and fillings begged to be sampled.
    Her own cake leaned a bit to the right. It hadn’t baked as evenly as she would have liked. If she’d used that oven before, she would have known the right side baked hotter than the left and