A Path Less Traveled (27 page)

“There are plenty
of people willing to help, you know.”

Please not
again.
Trish rose to her feet and drifted to the tall front windows,
rubbing her arms. “I’m just trying to cope. I’m not asking for help.’

Mama Beth let out
a tired sigh. “I understand. I really do, but make sure your pride isn’t
getting in the way.” A long moment of silence passed. “Forgive me if I’m
sticking my nose where it’s not wanted, but I’ve seen the way you look at Andy
and the way he looks at you. He loves Little Bo as if he were his own son.”

Trish froze, her
feet rooted to the floor. How could she have noticed? She licked her lips.
“It’s much too soon to even think abou—”

“Not if you love
him. Have you stopped to consider that God may have purposely brought Andy into
your life for this moment in time?”

Yes, but only as
a friend. Right?

“I love you,
Trish. I hope you know that.” Mama Beth stood and shuffled over to stand beside
her. “But I see you struggling so hard to do things on your own when God may
have another plan.”

Trish brought
both hands to her cheeks. “There’s just so much to think about. I don’t feel
ready to add a relationship to the mix.’

“I’m not trying
to rush you. I just want you to consider the options. Remember the story of
Joseph?”

She let her hands
drop to her sides and faced Mama Beth. “What does that have to do with this?”

“Think about all
he suffered. His brothers hated him and sold him into slavery. For thirteen
years he endured prison and hardships. Then, when God’s timing was right, he
became a leader in Egypt and was responsible for saving many lives.” Growing
confidence resonated from her tone and her face glowed. “God doesn’t waste any
hurt you endure, Trish. What He allows into your life—even something as painful
as Doc’s death—He’ll use for the days ahead. I know it’s hard to see past the
pain, but try to view the situation from an eternal perspective. And make sure
you don’t miss out on something wonderful because of fear and pride.”

Fire blazed in
her veins. Everything she did was for her son.
Everything.
Now Mama Beth
had the nerve to call her proud and afraid? Her fists clenched, then went limp.
Mama Beth was right. She was proud and afraid. Was she right about Andy, too?

Chapter 24

T
rish hurriedly wiped
down tables and chairs at Soldano’s in anticipation of an afternoon with Bo.
Between all her jobs, she’d barely had time to breathe, much less spend time
with him. She released a tired sigh between her lips. Just another fringe
benefit of being a single parent.

At least she had
Andy to fall back on. After last night’s ball game, he’d kindly offered to keep
Bo today, since the daycare wasn’t open on Saturdays, and since Dad and Mama
Beth had plans. Of course, her son had been giddy at the prospect of riding
horses and playing catch with Coach Andy.

She counted her
tip money. Not as good as last week, but every little bit was appreciated and
needed. Worry gnawed at her. She’d heard nothing about any legal action since
Steve’s phone call. Apparently Otis had decided to let her overdue payment
slide. Maybe he’d just been loose in the lips the day he’d spouted off to her
brother. The check she’d mailed yesterday should keep him at bay a while
longer.

Heading for the
back, she untied her apron strings. Juan caught her as she passed the glass
checkout counter, his dark eyes a-twinkle. “You have customers at booth four.”

Trish checked the
clock and gulped. Already ten after two. If she made Andy late to an
appointment, he’d be furious. She retied her apron and hurried to booth four,
her pen and pad in hand. Her mouth fell open.

Bo giggled. “Hi,
Mom.”

“Hi, Mom,”
reiterated Andy with a catchy laugh.

Her pulse
quickened at the sight of his handsome face.
Careful, Trish.
A smile
curved her lips before she could contain it, but she quickly assumed her
waitress persona. “What can I get for you two gentlemen?”

Bo chortled at
the charade. “We want ice cream.”

“Ice cream?” she
asked in mock surprise.

“You heard the
man.” Andy laughed again and sent her a wink. “The biggest bowl you can find
with lots of hot fudge sauce. Oh, and bring three spoons.”

“One extra-large
hot-fudge sundae coming up.” She laid a finger on the tip of her son’s upturned
nose.

Andy made a move
to stand. “While you get the sundae, I’ll ask Juan to let you clock out. You
look bushed.”

Mr. Fix-It to the
rescue again, but he’d get no objections today. “That would be awesome. My feet
are killing me.”

Minutes later
Trish returned with the ice cream and sank into the booth beside Bo. She dipped
her spoon into the fudgy, melting ice cream and scooped a bite into her mouth,
closing her eyes in rapture. Ice cream, her son, money in her pocket, and a
wonderful friend—what more could she ask for? God continued to provide. Now if
He could just do it a little faster.

“So what’s on
your agenda this afternoon?” Andy’s friendly question intruded into her
thoughts.

She opened her
eyes. “Well, first I wanna hug my son. I’ve missed him all day.” Trish reached
toward Bo.

He wrapped his
arms around her neck and planted a sticky kiss on her cheek.

Her heart melted.
“Have you had a good day, sweetie?”

“I had a great
day!” Her son resumed his dig into the ice cream sundae.

Like a big
overgrown kid, Andy delved in for his own bite. “Okay, you have your hug, now
what?”

“There’s a garage
sale I want to check out, then I’m headed to the ranch. Bo’s gonna help me
organize my studio.”

“Mo-o-om!”

“Mind if I tag
along?” Andy’s eyes held tentative hope.

How could she
refuse after all he’d done for her and Bo? “Not at all, but I hope you’re not
afraid of work.”

“I wouldn’t have
asked if I were.”

A little later,
Trish led the way to the garage sale, while the guys followed in Andy’s car.
She pulled up in front of a brick house and parked. Carla and Brody stood at a
table full of toys. She breathed a quick prayer that God would guide her words,
thoughts, and actions, and climbed from the car.

Andy accompanied
Bo to the toy table while she headed to a rack of boys’ clothing. Good. There
was still a big selection. Bo would need school clothes in another month or so.
She picked out several pairs of shorts and a few shirts, handed the woman a
five, and headed over to Andy and Bo.

“I had that
first.” Brody’s belligerent voice rose above the soft conversation of other
shoppers, and he grabbed for the toy truck tucked in Bo’s arms.

Mother-bear fury
raged inside. She quickened her pace.
Count, Trish. One, two . . .

Bo glanced up as
she approached, his brown eyes full of questions.

Time to set a
good example. She smiled at him, then turned her attention to Carla and Brody.
“You did a great job at last night’s game, Brody. You’re quite a ball player.”

Brody’s glare
turned to confusion. “Thanks.”

“Yeah, you did
super,” added Bo.

Pride swelled in
her heart at her son’s kindness. He’d come so far. She placed a hand on his
shoulder. “You must be so proud of him, Carla.”

The woman’s mouth
hung open in disbelief. “Yeah.”

Bo handed the
truck over. “Here. You can have it.”

Andy caught her
attention. His eyes shone like emeralds, and his lips turned up softly at the
corners.

A burst of
emotion threatened to swallow her whole. It wouldn’t do for her to get lost in
those eyes of his. She turned back to Carla. “Well, we’d best be going. Brody,
if you’d like to play with Bo tomorrow, we could pick you up for church and
take you back home tomorrow night.”

“Yeah, we could
play video games and catch.” Bo actually sounded excited.

“Sure, I guess.
Would that be okay, Mom?”

Carla smiled at
Trish. “That’d be nice. What time do I need to have him ready?”

“We’ll be there
at 9:30. You’re welcome to come with us.”

She lowered her
head. “Maybe some other time.”

“The invitation
always stands. See you in the morning.” Trish herded Little Bo toward the two
cars, Andy in step beside them.

After he helped
Bo into his seat and slammed the door, Andy faced her. “That was pretty awesome
to watch.”

“Thanks.” Heat
rose in her cheeks, and a nervous laugh fell from her lips. “Well, I guess we
should head on out to the ranch.”

“See you there.”
Andy smiled and trailed fingers down her arm.

Trish climbed in
The Lemon and started the engine, her heart bouncing in her chest. If
everything went well with the art classes and show in Dallas, then she could
consider the option Mama Beth mentioned.

* *
* * *

Andy steered into
the driveway of Trish’s house right behind her. First, time with Bo, now time
with both of them. And if things went according to plan, later he’d have time
alone with Trish.

She climbed from
her car and used a hip to shut the door. “Hope you’re ready to work.”

“It’s what I live
for.”

“What? Work?”

“No, helping
you.”

“Haven’t we
already had this discussion?” Trish’s aggravated tone matched her scowl.

Andy held up both
hands in surrender. “Sorry, my mistake. Now I remember. You don’t like to be
helped.” He sent a teasing grin as he sauntered closer.

Her pursed lips
curved upward. “And don’t forget it.” She spoke the threat softly, handed him
the garage sale sack, then pivoted toward the house. “You can lay that on the
kitchen counter for now. I’ve gotta change clothes.” The soft scent of perfume
trailed behind her.

One minute
telling him not to help, the next bossing him around like some domestic diva.
He shook his head, peered down at Bo, and let out a chuckle. “Just like a
woman. She tells you one thing, then does something completely opposite.”

Bo’s face took on
disgust. “Yeah, I know.”

Andy’s eyebrows
inched up. “You do?”

“Yep.”

“Like how?”

Bo made his way
to the door, and Andy followed. “Mary Simpson at school.”

Girl trouble in
Kindergarten? “Who’s Mary Simpson?”

“This girl.” Bo
swung open the door for both of them, then slammed it after Andy passed.

“Yeah, I gathered
that. What about her?”

“She told me she
liked me, then pushed me down in the dirt.”

Laughter poured
from Andy. He plopped the bag on the counter and squatted in front of Bo. “See,
I think Mary pushed you down ‘cause she likes you.” He tickled the boy’s ribs.

Bo didn’t laugh.
Instead he pulled away, one corner of his mouth hiked up on his darkened face.
“Yuck! I’m staying away from all girls!”

“Trust me, buddy,
you’ll change your mind one of these days.” Andy patted his shoulder and stood.
“Speaking of girls, would you mind paying a visit to your Papaw later so I can
spend some time alone with your Mom?”

“You like Mom?”

Andy grinned. No
beating around the bush with this boy. “Yeah, as a matter of fact, I do. Is
that okay?”

He shrugged. “I
guess. Does she like you back?”

Trish’s footsteps
sounded down the hall. Andy skewed his lips and brought a hand up to scratch
his cheek. “That’s what I’m trying to figure out.” She’d been sending off mixed
signals for weeks.

Even in cut-offs
and a T-shirt, her hair swept back in a silky pony tail, Trish looked gorgeous.

She glided to the
back door. “Okay, guys, let’s get this done in record time so I can have some
time to rest before dinner.”

An hour later,
she stood in the middle of the cottage floor, arms crossed, and viewed the
space. “There. That’s much better.”

Andy sauntered
over beside her, wiping sweat from his forehead. The room no longer held the
smell of dust, but the fragrance of fresh flowers Trish had picked from her
now-weeded garden. “You weren’t kidding when you said you were gonna put me to
work. I didn’t know you were gonna rearrange the whole cottage.”

“That’ll teach
you to volunteer.” She sent a teasing smile that tugged at his heart.

Bo yanked on
Andy’s fingers and looked up at him with a impish grin, then turned his focus
to Trish. “Mom, can I go over to Papaw’s for a while?”

A frown wrinkled
her forehead. “I guess so, but call first to make sure he’s home.”

“’kay.” He raced
out the screen door, letting it slam behind him.

She scrunched her
eyebrows together again, staring after him. “I wonder what he’s up to.”

“What do you
mean?”

“He’s acting a
little odd, like he’s up to something.”

“Probably just
wants to spend time with his grandpa.” Andy plodded to the overstuffed sofa and
sank into the cushion. “So how’s the painting coming along?”

“Not as fast as
I’d like. I’m worried that I won’t have enough paintings for the art show in Dallas.” She raised a hand to her mouth and nibbled at her thumbnail.

His pulse
quickened. So far she seemed oblivious to the fact that he’d arranged the
showing. “I’m sure you’ll do fine. Have any completed?” He scanned the far
corner of the room where they’d set up her easel.

Trish shook her
head, a brooding look on her face. “No, I just haven’t had time. Between trying
to get stuff done for your office, my art lessons, and the job at Soldano’s,
I’m snowed under right now.”

“Mom, he’s
there!” Bo hollered the words from the house.

She traipsed to
the doorway and waved. “Okay, have fun!”

Andy cleared his
throat. “What can I do to make things easier for you?”

Her head cocked
to one side, Trish studied him with her dark brown eyes. “Nothing. I wasn’t
complaining. I was just stating fact. I’ve already planned to start staying up
a couple of hours later than usual after Bo goes to bed.”