“It’s because I’ve known Kyle so long and so well that I think he needs to go with you tomorrow,” Jewel said with a nod. “He’s slowly making peace with his future, making decisions about what he wants to do—but I think perhaps he needs to make peace with his past, as well. He should be reminded of the good times, rather than dwelling on the unhappy memories.”
“I was still pretty young when he left, but he seemed happy enough while he was there. He seemed fond of my parents, and they cared very much about him. None of us understood then why he stopped calling and writing and visiting. He wasn’t the only one who failed to stay in contact after he left, but losing touch with him seemed to really bother my mother. I guess that’s why I was so determined to get him to change his mind about attending the party.”
“When is the party?”
“Next Saturday. A week from tomorrow.”
“Mmm.” Jewel pursed her lips. “I suppose it would be difficult to detain him there for that long. But at least he can visit with your parents while he’s—”
Molly shook her head. “My parents won’t be back until the night before the party. They’re on
a cruise to celebrate their anniversary. The party is going to be a surprise. They don’t even know I’ve seen Kyle.”
“Oh.” Jewel sighed. “Well, maybe visiting this time will make it easier for him to come back someday. Not that I want you to keep him there permanently, of course,” she added with a slightly self-conscious laugh.
Molly couldn’t help but smile at Jewel’s unwitting repetition of her husband’s words. “I don’t think that’s anything you need to worry about. Kyle seems perfectly content here.”
Jewel stood and began gathering dirty dishes. “Would you like a brownie? I made them yesterday.”
“I’d love one. Thank you.”
Jewel set a plate of brownies within Molly’s reach, then asked a bit too casually, “So you enjoy being with Kyle?” Molly frowned. “What do you mean by that?” “Nothing,” Jewel assured her with an expression that was much too innocent to be credible. “Just asking.”
A door closed noisily in the front of the house, followed by the rumble of men’s voices.
“Sounds like the men are back,” Jewel said unnecessarily, turning toward the doorway with a smile of anticipation.
“Brownies?” Mack said, his gaze zeroing in on the plate of sweets. “Got any coffee to go with that?”
“I’ll make you some.” Jewel turned toward the counter, asking over her shoulder, “Herbal tea, Kyle?”
“Sounds good.” He was studying Molly’s face, which felt suddenly flushed for some reason she couldn’t have fully explained. “You doing okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine, thank you.”
He touched her shoulder as he passed her chair, to ward the empty chair beside her. It was a very light touch, perhaps intended as a bracing pat to reassure her that everything was under control. There was no way he could know that fleeting contact had just stolen the breath from her lungs, leaving her shaken and flustered and trying desperately to hide it.
What, she asked herself in shock, was that?
Chapter Six
Molly had an odd look on her face, Kyle noted as he took his seat. Her cheeks flushed, and then faded to leave her rather pale. She seemed to be making an effort to avoid looking at him, staring down instead at the brownie she was crumbling on her plate.
“Did Jewel tell you about the arrangements I’ve made to get you back home?” he asked, wondering if that had something to do with her behavior.
“Yes.” She looked at him then, her expression somber. “It really isn’t necessary for you to drive me all the way home. I’m sure one of my uncles or cousins would fly out to drive me if Shane is too busy to do so.”
“I’ve already told your brother I’ll drive you. It’s the least I can do.”
“It isn’t your fault that I hurt myself,” she said, as she had a half-dozen times since she’d fallen.
He still had a hard time letting himself off that hook. He had known about the rotten boards and he’d neglected to inform her of them. The fact that he had been distracted—by her—was no excuse.
Paying her medical bills was the easy part of the penance he had assigned himself. Spending two days in close quarters with her, trying to think of her merely as someone for whom he was temporarily responsible— that was going to be the difficult task. He just hoped it didn’t prove to be beyond his ability.
Having stashed her crutches in the backseat of the car, Molly balanced her weight on her uninjured leg as she turned to say goodbye to her hosts Saturday morning. She had grown very fond of both Jewel and Mack during her brief stay with them; it made her sad to think she might never see them again.
Jewel gave her a hug. “You take care of that leg,” she murmured into Molly’s ear. “And don’t take any guff from those bossy men, you hear?”