Mom in the Middle (10 page)

“I'll park my ancient bones down here.” He tried to keep things light, knowing that was probably a waste of time. When she didn't acknowledge his effort at age-difference humor, he got to the serious stuff. “Is something troubling Shorty?”

She slid a folded sheet of white paper from her hip pocket. “The social worker in charge of Mama's case at the rehab center came to see her today and he brought her this.” Abby unfolded the paper and held it out for Guy.

He felt his eyes widen. It was a statement from the hospital.

For a
lot
of money.

“This is the portion of the bill that won't be covered by your insurance.”

“Then that's the part I'll pay.” Guy reached for the paper.

“You?” she quizzed, pulling the page to her chest. “Personally?”

“If necessary.” He waited, but she still didn't hand over the itemized statement.

“Guy, it's one thing for insurance to cover expenses, and it's another entirely for you to give my parents a handout. I can tell you right now they won't accept anything they're not entitled to. Besides, they're accustomed to juggling medical bills.”

“But that one doesn't need to add to their worries.”

She shook her head, a sad realization curving her enticing rose petal pink mouth.

“When there's no hope of paying off the ones you have, one more really won't matter. Like our lawyer says, ‘You can't wring blood out of a turnip.'”

The words caught him off guard. Echoed, bouncing around in his mind. So similar to the statement he'd heard from their own corporate attorneys once the arbitration proceedings with the Grossmans had concluded.

So, the Reagans had sought legal counsel after all. Guy's heart dropped. Had he been wrong to trust them? This family was honorable, he was certain of it. But Abby herself had just admitted they'd spoken with a lawyer. If he'd used the investigation service, he might have discovered that sooner. Wouldn't
Casey have a field day with that piece of information when she found out? And it was always a matter of when, never if.

He had to put this right in a hurry. Prevent this situation from spiraling out of control. He couldn't lose again, let the family down. He had to do something to protect his folks.

And he'd do just about anything for Abby if it would put a smile back on her lips.

Lips he was now certain he wanted to kiss.

“Y
ou might as well hand that over to save me some effort and grief when I contact our insurance company in the morning.”

She stared at the page, seemed unsure what to do. The worry on her adorable face caused him to shrink inside. A clamp closed around his heart, squeezed it painfully.

“You're wasting your time, Guy. I've spent countless hours on the phone chasing down stuff like this for my folks just to recover a few double-billed dollars. It's like dealing with the IRS. You haven't done anything wrong and you give it your best shot but you know the odds are against you. That person on the other end of the line holds all the power and you're nothing but a faceless interruption to their day. You feel helpless and pathetic.”

“Hon, it's a shame that at your young age you already have so much negative experience in that
area.” He kept his voice low and soft, appealing to her as he would a frightened child. Which is exactly what she looked like at the moment. “But I'm in a much different position. Remember, Hearth and Home is the insured party and I have the ability to cancel a significant contract with this provider if I'm not satisfied with the outcome of this settlement. So how about letting me throw my executive weight around and see if I can get them to reevaluate these expenses that don't appear to be covered?”

He extended his hand, took the edge of the paper between thumb and forefinger and tugged.

She held tight.

“Please, Abby? You don't have to fight this one alone.”

Her fingers relaxed but the set of her jaw told him reluctance was still holding her hostage. He slid the page gently from her grasp. She resisted for a moment then let it slip free. Without another glance at the offending document, he folded it and stood to tuck it into his hip pocket.

Her head hung, she stared at empty hands. What was she thinking? He stepped in front of where she sat, touched two fingers beneath her chin and tilted her head upward. The overhead lights cast shadows from her wayward curls across her face. It was difficult to tell whether the gleam in her eyes was from the threat of tears or surprise at his gentle touch.

He was a grown man, experienced in every way, but in an instant he was that high-school sophomore
again. He'd never longed to kiss a woman so much in his life and had no idea how to address the feeling.

The timing was completely wrong. If she was offended, he'd blow what might be his only chance to show her his heart. If she kissed him back, he'd never know if it was because she returned his feelings of if it was just gratitude. The last thing he wanted was attention from another woman just because he'd bailed her out of a jam. Lord knew he'd had enough of that in his life.

No, this was infinitely different. There was an unfamiliar tingling in his chest. His knees felt unsteady, wobbly. But it was a good wobbly, replete with chills that were out of place on this warm Texas night.

The gleam in her eyes intensified. Shadows didn't hide the fat tear that leaked from the corner of her left eye, trailed down her cheek and clung to her stubborn jaw.

He slid his hand upward, tenderly smoothed away the tear then took the liberty of sinking his fingers into her silky curls. He leaned from the waist, ducked his head and, though he was nearly desperate to touch his lips to hers, instead he placed a chaste kiss on the crown of her head.

 

Abby wanted to shrivel up and die right there on top of her cedar picnic table. She'd been so sure he was about to kiss her she'd almost closed her eyes and puckered up. Thank goodness she'd been too
chicken to do that or she'd really seem like a love-struck kid right now.

He'd kissed her all right. On the head! Just the way he'd done with Casey.

Oh, Lord, Guy really does think of me like another sister! How disgusted he would be if he knew the reason I'm sitting on this table is that I want to hug him so badly I can't trust my knees to hold me up. Father, strengthen me, please! Help me to stand on my own as I always have and not rely on Guy like so many women before me.

She tensed at the thought of making a nitwit of herself before a man who'd been nothing but good to her family. A man who was honorable, mature and accomplished in so many facets of life. Every muscle in her body tightened with anxiety over what he must be thinking of her weakness. Of her tears of self-pity! How embarrassing!

Guy must have felt the shift in her body language. His hands slowly dropped to his sides. He took a careful step back. His motions were cautious, like he was dealing with a potentially explosive situation. Was that how he thought of her? A ticking time bomb that had to be handled with care? Another sister who needed the kid-glove approach?

She had to put a stop to the useless fantasies that had somehow crept into the few quiet spaces in her mind. All evidence confirmed it. Guy didn't even remotely see her as a romantic interest. How stupid she'd been to warn him that her folks thought there
might be something brewing between the two of them. He must have gotten a belly laugh over that one.

She surreptitiously swiped at another runaway droplet as she shoved a hand through her hair. She didn't believe for a moment that her motions fooled him, but at least she was trying to maintain a shred of dignity. His sisters sounded like strong women. There was nothing strong about her right now, not when all she wanted was to curl into a tight ball and dissolve in a puddle of self-pity. Hopefully this paltry effort at composure would earn her a little respect.

Respect. Lots of people found love but respect was often harder to come by. Yes, she'd settle for that if it were all she could have. Not the stuff fantasies are made of but she didn't have time for daydreams anyway.

“Whew!” she huffed. “I just about let the pressures of life with Sarah and Shorty Reagan get to me that time.” She forced a smile, propped her elbows on her knees and met Guy's sympathetic gaze straight on. “Sorry about that.”

His brows drawn together, he studied her. She was glad for the new outdoor lights so she could see his handsome face, note the way he pressed his lips together whenever he was considering what to say.

“No apology necessary. My—”

“I know. I know.” She held up a palm, dismissing what he was about to say and closed her eyes, resigned. “With five sisters somebody was probably blubbering all the time so you're used to it.”

Guy's hand closed around hers and she absorbed his warmth, tingling as it shot from her fingers to her bare toes. Her gaze flew open, locked on his as he spoke.

“I was about to say my emotions would be at a fever pitch all the time if I had half the stressors on me that you carry around constantly. So don't apologize and don't hold back. If you need a shoulder I'm here for you, even if it's just to carry two-by-fours. Deal?” He switched from hand-holding to a handshake position.

“Deal.”

They shook twice and she prepared to let go. He held on.

“And is it also a deal that you'll let me do a full investigation of this hospital statement before you lose sleep over it?”

She was silent, not sure she had other options anyway.

“Abby?” His voice was hopeful, his blue eyes so kind. How could she not trust him with this situation when she was basically powerless to affect the outcome?

“Sure,” she agreed, feeling a small wave of relief at giving this burden over to him. No wonder all the women in his past remained hopeful, waiting for him to have a soul-mate epiphany. That endearing quality was a powerful force that inexplicably drew them toward Guy like the moon pulled out the tide.

“Great.” He released her, slapped his hands together and rubbed them, a look of accomplishment on his face as if he'd just closed a big contract.

There it was again. More evidence that she was business, not pleasure.

“Now, let's talk about a couple of areas where we do have some control,” he continued. “First, what do you do for stress relief?”

It was a basic question but one that had no answer he'd find acceptable. So she simply shrugged.

“Yep, just what I suspected. We're going to have to change that.”

“And how about you?” She turned the tables, uncomfortable being the center of his concern.

“I have a hobby that lets me focus on something besides myself and corporate worries. It's creative and restorative and I feel a sense of accomplishment that comes from working with my hands.”

“Really?” She waited for him to tell more, to claim the beautiful stained-glass pieces he'd anonymously positioned in her home.

“Yeah.” A sense of creative pride glowed in his eyes. “But the point is that I have something to do that lets me get outside of my head for a few hours. It recharges me. Has there ever been anything in your life like that?”

“Of course.” She didn't have to think that over at all. “Competing on the rodeo circuit always had that type of effect on me. Winning was nice but it wasn't everything. Just making a connection with the horse and running a clean cloverleaf pattern was so energizing. I couldn't wait to get to the stables after school. Even the days when I didn't ride, when
all I did was muck out stalls and groom animals, I always came home happy.” The memories were vivid; the sounds and smells were as real as if they were still part of her life. “Exhausted and smelly, but happy.”

“Okay, then we need to find an outlet that will give you that same sense of exhilaration.” He pinched his nose and continued in a nasal twang. “Maybe minus the smelly part.”

They nodded agreement and smiled at the silliness.

“Okay, let's talk about another area we have some control. How about if we take your family to the H&H barbecue next weekend? Your mom seems to be doing so well, I couldn't help but wonder if the doctor would give us a day pass so we could take her out for some fun.”

“But that's just for your employees, isn't it?” Abby's family would never crash a store function. And the last thing she wanted to do was give anybody else the absurd impression there was anything more than friendship between herself and their boss.

“If you'll recall, my sister's already expecting you. Aside from that, half the store employees knew or have met your family in the past month. They'll be thrilled to see your mother up and around. It'll reward their efforts and prayers, so how about it?”

Guy was right, as usual. How awesome of him to be the one to suggest they take her mother out of the rehab center for a break. It would do wonders for her parents to spend a carefree day together and was
probably just the interlude they needed to get them through the final weeks of separation.

Final weeks.

She glanced at her watch to confirm the date then calculated the remaining number of days. Abby's spirit plummeted at the thought of all the work that had yet to be accomplished at the church. She felt a Dillon-size pout coming on.

“What?” Guy's voice was insistent. “You looked all enthusiastic and then your face fell like somebody stole the last corn dog at Curbo's.”

She couldn't help but smile. He really did try hard in so many ways.

“I'm sorry, it's just that I only have a couple weekends left to get the project completed and I can't possibly give up next Saturday.”

He huffed a sigh, and shook his head.

“Hon, I know you want to do everything yourself and I understand why. I even understand the reason you'd rather not have any help from me, though it doesn't make any practical sense at all. But there are plenty of other people who'd gladly pitch in with painting and planting. In fact—” he snapped his fingers then tapped his temple “—I've arrived at the perfect solution. I'm drafting Casey to be your right hand until the playground is finished.”

“I can't take advantage of your sister. She's a professional woman with a lot of responsibility of her own.”

Guy put his hands on his hips, arched his back and
hooted up at the stars. Abby marveled at the sight of his unrestrained laughter. He tried to talk at the same time but the merriment took his breath away and made it impossible to comprehend his words.

Though she didn't quite understand what was so funny, the hilarity was infectious. Abby began to snicker and snort at his laughter, which only made Guy wrap his strong arms around his sides and laugh that much harder. Eventually he ran out of steam, leaned forward with his hands on his knees and labored to catch his breath.

“Now, will you explain what was so funny about me being considerate of your little sister?”

“Oh, the idea of sweet, unpretentious Abigail Cramer worrying about taking advantage of the Warden is just priceless. That woman is a professional busybody, a workaholic and barracuda. She's here three weeks early and she knows it. She can't stand not being all up in my business, trying to best me at every turn. The fact that this is something she can do that I can't will drive her to work as if her next meal depends on it. You are about to see Casey Hardy at her finest.”

“Well, she did say she was an able volunteer if there were home-improvement projects to be done,” Abby recalled.

“And the church is, after all, the Lord's house.”

He wore the broadest smile Abby had seen on him yet, and that was saying something because this man was basically a happy camper. She had to
admit he seemed to lack for nothing, which helped explain why he was perfectly at peace with his life the way it was. No wonder he wasn't looking for any change.

“If you're sure.” She still wanted to give him the chance to reconsider.

“Oh, I'm positive. You just plan to meet the two of us at the church tomorrow after school and tell her what remains to be done and leave it to Casey to throw her heart and soul into the work.”

“But there's still stuff I want to do myself.” She was skeptical that take-charge Casey would take over.

“And she'll respect that. Remember, she's the youngest of six. She learned the hard way that when Meg and Tess told her to stay out of their closets there was a price to pay when she invaded their space. And it took Kate and Andrea locking her out of their bathroom for a week to teach Casey their makeup was off-limits. So she's schooled in the ways of respecting another woman's territory. You just tell her where the line is and she'll toe it.”