Her Small-Town Hero

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Cara rolled the desk chair back, giving brother and sister as much privacy as possible. She tried not to listen, even considered slipping out of the room, but Ryan stood there, leaning on the counter and looking right at her as if she were as much a part of the conversation as he and his sister. He smiled and chatted, enjoying himself.

Finally he said, “I love you, too, sugar. We all miss you like crazy, especially Holt, I think. Y’all coming for the big game, then? Excellent. Looking forward to it. My best to Ty.”

He hung up, beaming. “Get this,” he said. “My brother-in-law usually attends the Super Bowl live. This year, he’s passing it up and bringing Charlotte home to watch the game on TV with the family.” He shook his head. “Now that’s true love.”

“You really care for her, don’t you?” she said to Ryan.

He chuckled and spread his hands. “Of course. She’s my baby sister. I’m told you have a brother, and I’m sure he loves you, too. That’s just how it is.”

Like Ryan, she had once thought that Eddie must naturally care for her, but all she had ever been to him was a conduit to the Elmont money.

“You and your brother and sister seem to have a special bond.”

“Yeah.” Ryan nodded, smiling to himself. “I guess, after our parents died, we sort of banded together, you know?”

She wasn’t sure she did, really. Cara and her brother had, for all intents and purposes, raised themselves. Usually Eddie had gone his way and she had quietly gone hers. They’d had little in common, except for Addison, who’d been buddies with Eddie in high school.

Something Ryan had said suddenly struck her. “Did you say parents, as in plural? I was only told about your father’s death.”

Ryan passed a hand over his eyes and rubbed his cheekbone. Leaning both forearms on the counter, he drew a little closer and related the tale. “Yeah, Dad’s death was a big shocker. You probably heard that he fell?” At her nod, Ryan went on softly. “Well, when our mother found out, she committed suicide.”

Cara caught her breath. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I had no idea.” Thinking of the moment she’d received news of Addison’s death, she recalled the shock and the numbness, the uncertainty and the very great sadness. Part of that sadness, though, had been because she’d known she wouldn’t really miss him, only the idea of raising their son together. “Your mother must have loved your father very much,” she mused absently.

Ryan drew back at that. “I guess she did,” he said, “but it marked Charlotte.” He shrugged, adding, “Holt and I were already out of the house, young men. Charlotte was just thirteen and still at home, and she’s never understood why Mom didn’t think of her before she swallowed those pills.”

Pills, Cara thought. She had more in common with Charlotte Jefford Aldrich than she’d realized. Neither of their mothers had cared enough about them to leave the pills alone. The knowledge saddened Cara and made her feel more kindly toward Charlotte.

Ace bucked and tried to slide off her lap, but she caught him up, hugging him tight. She loved him enough to put him first, and she always would. Thanks to the Jeffords, she now had a chance to establish herself as a fit guardian for him. If the Elmonts came calling, they would find no reason to again question her ability to care for her own son.