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Ever since her mother had died, Marvin had a horror of hospitals. It was something she’d strongly factored in when making her decision. He would need months of recuperation. Feeling fiercely protective, she was determined he wouldn’t spend it in a long-term recovery facility that would crush his spirit. She knew many of the places were excellent, but that wasn’t the issue. He didn’t need to mentally return to the worst time in his life. “When you get home in the morning, you can start recuperating with Noodle.”
“Hated the trip?”
“And then some. I expect him to pout for days.”
Marvin laughed. It was good to hear. Always an upbeat, charming, strong man, it had been frightening to see him lying in a hospital bed, connected to so many tubes and machines.
They chatted for a little while, and her father understood when she told him she still had to do some grocery shopping. She needed to replenish the fridge and pantry.
Since it had been evening when she arrived at the hospital, Kate had parked near the emergency room, the best nighttime exit. A lot of employees used the same entrance and she could hear the shuffle of their footsteps, the whoosh of automatic doors.
Head down, she dug in her purse for her keys.
“Whoa.”
Kate heard the voice, just as two strong hands grasped her arms. She jerked her head up, staring into a broad chest. The man stepped back so she could see his face.
That obstinate sheriff! His height, the boots and hat—no doubt about it.
“Don’t you ever watch where you’re going?” The brim of his Stetson shaded his eyes and she couldn’t tell by his voice if he was being sarcastic or teasing.
“This is a hallway, not a racetrack.” Abandoning the search for her keys, she echoed his own words from that afternoon. “Lots of pedestrians, you know.”
She thought she spotted a glimmer of amusement in his expression.
“You didn’t get very far.”
Kate drew her eyebrows together, uncomfortably aware that she still hadn’t put on any makeup and that she looked a mess. “Excuse me?”
“Aren’t you just passing through?”
“What makes you think that?”
“Your car was pretty loaded. Most folks don’t spend more than a few days looking at the wildflowers.”
“I’m not most folks.”
“I sensed that when you let your cat out of his crate. Cats aren’t known for enjoying car rides.”
So now he was an expert on cats. Kate realized she was grumpy. Tired and worried about her father, she was hard-pressed to be polite. More to the point, she hadn’t forgotten the stupid, unnecessary ticket. “Cats are allowed in cars here, aren’t they?”
It was definitely amusement in his dark eyes. “We don’t lock up many drivers for taking their cats along.”
Hysterical. “So, what do you lock people up for? Driving down Main Street?”
“Actually, our cells are empty ninety-nine percent of the time.”
She wasn’t amused. It wasn’t as though she’d intended to swerve all over the road. And he could have been more understanding about the circumstances. Since he was so tall, she had to tilt her head to meet his eyes, but she did, hoping she conveyed her resentment.
He waited another moment, but when she remained silent, he tipped the brim of his hat. “Got business to see about.”
Clutching her purse, she nodded in return.
He walked past her to the ER registration desk.
Don’t look! Don’t look! And she almost didn’t. A foot from the exit, she peeked back. And he wasn’t even a mite less impressive.
Tucker Grey pulled into the driveway of his house. His twelve-year-old daughter, Alyssa, had all the lights in the living room on. And as he parked in front of the detached garage that was set back from the house, he could see that she had the kitchen lights on as well. She did that when she was alone. Had ever since her mother died two years ago. He felt guilty that his daughter had to be on her own, but Alyssa now protested she was too old for a babysitter.
He had insisted—until a few months ago, when the only sitter he could find was barely a year older than Alyssa. The lady next door offered, but she was swamped caring for both ailing parents and a new grandchild. Other neighbors had also offered, but Alyssa didn’t want to stay at anyone’s house—she felt she was always in the way. Still, Rosewood looked after their own; people in town kept an eye out for her, knowing she was a latchkey child and that the Greys didn’t have any other family in the area.
Tucker’s sister, Karen, had moved away years ago, and she continued campaigning for them to join her family in Iowa. But he was a Texas man, down to the heels of his cowboy boots. Besides, Rosewood was good for his daughter. It was all she’d ever known, and he wasn’t about to make her go through any more changes.
Still, it remained difficult for him to open the door and walk into the house, knowing Shelley wasn’t there…wouldn’t ever be there again. She had made their house a home. Now it was just a place where he slept and ate.
Pushing open the back door, he took off his hat and hung it on a peg. An open bag of potato chips sat on the table along with some sort of dip. He hoped Alyssa had eaten something more substantial for dinner. The television blared in the living room, something else that had begun after Shelley’s death.
Stomach down, legs kicking in a crisscross fashion, Alyssa sprawled out on the couch with her homework. He was lucky. She was a good kid, doing what she should without being told. Remembering his own preteen years, he probably would have ditched his homework if his mother hadn’t kept at him.
Alyssa looked up, her dark, blunt-cut hair nearly obscuring her eyes. “Hey, Dad.”
He picked up the remote and lowered the volume. “Tell me you ate something besides chips.”
“Sure.” She turned a page in her math book. “I had pizza.”
He thought of their stock of frozen food: dinners, microwavable pizzas, egg rolls. It had been a while since they’d had anything else. His hours had lengthened and he rarely got home in time to eat with his daughter. “Sorry I’m late. Accident on the highway.”
She sat up, looking at him in genuine concern. “Did anybody get hurt?”
She was so much like her mother. “Not seriously. Mostly scrapes, a broken arm. You have much more homework?”
“I could work on my book report, but it’s not due for two weeks, and I want to watch my show.”
He smiled. She didn’t ask for much. “Sure, Lissy.”
She frowned. “Did you eat any dinner?”
Tucker had to think. “I grabbed something around two.”
“You have to eat three meals a day,” she lectured. “I told you I could make a casserole.”
His throat tightened. “You’re already doing too much. I don’t want you cooking for me as well.” Reaching out, he tucked her hair behind one ear. “You’re supposed to be a kid. That only comes around once, and I don’t want you to miss it.”
“Cooking won’t make me miss it. I used to help make stuff with Mommy.”
Briefly closing his eyes, he tried to keep the pain from his face. “I know. Listen, I’m going to be better about getting home earlier.” For some reason, after Shelley’s death, he couldn’t get as much done in a regular workday. It was as though he carried a hundred-pound stone around his neck, weighing down his thoughts and actions.
“It’s okay, Dad.” She shrugged. “You can’t just leave, like if you worked in a store or something.”
No. But Shelley was no longer there to make sure Alyssa was properly being taken care of.
She stacked her books and folders on the coffee table. “I’ll make you a sandwich.”
“I can do that.”
She shook her head. “You’ll forget. I’m writing a new shopping list, with stuff that’s not frozen. We’re supposed to be eating vegetables, you know.”
He always made sure they had frozen dinners with vegetables, but he guessed that wouldn’t be a convincing argument. “Even peas?”
She made a face. “Vegetables we like.”
“Ah. Then no broccoli for me.”
“Deal.” Alyssa headed into the kitchen.
He followed, feeling neglectful and guilty. “Lissy, you want to eat dinner at the café?”
“Not really. I’m kinda full. And my show starts in a few minutes.”
“Right.” He had to do better; his child couldn’t raise herself. He just wasn’t sure how he was going to pull it off.
Chapter Two
Kate’s dad, Marvin, had only been home a few days when he started getting restless. He’d had a stream of visitors—neighbors and members of his church. She had met some of them when they visited at the hospital. In fact, that’s how she’d found the contractor, Seth McAllister, who was making the house wheelchair-accessible. He and his wife, Emma, had offered to help. When Kate asked for the name of a good local contractor, Seth had volunteered. Later, another visitor told her how lucky she was to have snagged him, since he usually worked on larger projects.
Emma had helped keep Kate company during some of the many hours she’d spent at the hospital while her father was recuperating. Kate had protested that she was taking too much of Emma’s time, but the other woman waved away her objections. It was a Rosewood thing, she’d insisted.
During those hours, Kate learned that Emma had been a newcomer to Rosewood a few years earlier. Formerly an attorney, she’d been relocated to Rosewood while in the witness protection program. Sadly, her husband and daughter had been killed when a criminal attempted to murder Emma by setting fire to her house.
Once in Rosewood, Emma had opened a costume shop and literally fell in love with the man next door. Seth lived on his own, having lost his son to leukemia, his wife to divorce. Although he’d planned to never open his heart again, Emma had crept past his defenses. Together they adopted Toby, a boy who needed them as much as they needed him. Their family had nearly doubled when their twins, Everitt and Logan, were born. Now, the twins were rambunctious two-year-olds.
And Seth was coming over in a little while to take measurements for widening a few more doorways. He’d already rushed to reconfigure the bathroom before Marvin came home.
“Do you want a snack, Dad? Your friends have brought over everything from cupcakes to lasagna.” Fresh, homemade bread, cakes, pies and casseroles, even a batch of his favorite—fudge.
“Maybe later, Katie.” He petted Noodle. “Just laying around doesn’t work up much of an appetite.”
“Seth should be here soon. He suggested we take down most of the wall that separates the living room from the entry, so you can turn your chair easily.”
Startled, Marvin jerked his attention from the cat. “What do you think of that?”
“Actually, it’ll open up the space. I know it’ll take some getting used to, changes always do.”
Marvin’s eyes darkened.
Kate knew he hadn’t yet adjusted to his limitations. “But the room’ll still be cozy, especially since it has that gorgeous stone fireplace.” She perched on the side of his bed. “I know you’re going batty, Dad. Once you can wheel into the living room, you’ll be able to see what’s going on outside.” The living room had a big picture window that looked out on to the street. And the physical therapist had ordered a wheelchair with special leg rests that would allow Marvin to get out of bed. With luck, it should come soon.
“Just think about it, Dad. If you want to keep the living room like it is, we’ll move the furniture around and make it work.”
The doorbell rang and Kate rose. “That’s probably Seth.”
Kate was delighted to see that it was Seth and he’d brought Emma and Toby along.
Seth held up a television. “Emma thought Marvin might be getting bored. This set isn’t too big, but it has a built-in DVD player.”
“He’ll love it.” She closed the door. “He’s pretty antsy.”
Emma gave a mock shudder. “Drives me nuts when I’m stuck in bed.”
Kate gestured for them to follow her toward Marvin’s bedroom.
Emma rested one hand on her son’s shoulders. “Toby’s a ruthless Monopoly player. Think your dad would like a game?”
“He loves games—any kind. Thanks, Toby.”
The boy shrugged, embarrassed to be the center of attention. “I don’t like being sick, either.”
“Hey, Marvin,” Seth greeted the older man.
“Seth, good to see you!” Marvin sat up a bit straighter, pleased by the company. “And Emma! You look prettier every time I see you.”
She blushed, looking almost too young to be a wife and mother.
“Hey, Toby. Whatcha got there?” Marvin asked.
“Monopoly.” Toby held up the Texas edition. “Mom thought you’d like it.”
“She’s right.” Marvin rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
“We left the twins with a sitter,” Emma told Kate. “You know they get into everything they see.”
“Especially my stuff,” Toby added, as he laid out the game on the hospital-style bed table that Kate had rented. “But they’re okay.” Big brother pride crept through, making them all smile.
Seth placed the television on one end of the dresser. “I’ll run a line for cable,” he mused. “Won’t take a minute. The connection must be close, since the TV in the living room has a satellite converter.”
Kate was overwhelmed by the generosity of her father’s friends. “You all are great.”
Emma waved away the words. “I feel bad that I haven’t been over much since Marvin came home. During the week, it’s harder to get a sitter—and trust me, Everitt and Logan aren’t a good combo with anything that’s not totally indestructible.”
Marvin looked up from the game pieces. “I’m not fragile, you know.”
“Of course not. But the twins are like little tanks. Toby had a science project he’d been working on for weeks. They totaled it in about three minutes. By the time I figured out they’d learned how to get around the baby gate, his project was history.”
“That must have been tough,” Marvin sympathized.
“They didn’t know better,” Toby excused them, as he counted out the Monopoly money.
Kate met Emma’s proud, touched gaze. “That’s quite a boy you have there.”
