A Family of Their Own(4)

He sounded like a detective, and it unsettled him. Instead of brooding, Ross forced his mind to focus on the ensuing conversation about the upcoming Super Bowl. As he listened and tossed in a comment here and there, Kelsey’s presence invaded his space. Her sweet fragrance filtered past before being covered by the yeasty dinner rolls and succulent pork roast.

“Excuse me, please.”

Kelsey’s voice swept past him, and he gazed at her.

“I need to check on Lucy.” She pushed back her chair.

Concerned, Ross shifted and rose. “Is she okay?” He drew her chair aside so she could rise.

Kelsey stood, her body close to his. “She’s fine. My sitter isn’t the usual one I hire, so I’m always cautious.” She slipped past him, and he watched her slide a door aside behind them and enter a room.

He stood a moment, wondering if he should stand until she returned or settle back in his chair again. The time stretched, and his concern rose. Not comfortable nosing into her business, yet not at ease ignoring her absence, he strode toward the door, but as he approached, it slid open and Kelsey stepped out. A questioning look spread across her face.

His mind slowed down, and he could only mumble. “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

A grin replaced her uncertainty. “You’re as bad as I am.”

He shrugged. “Not bad really. Alert.”

“So you’re a worrier, too.” She tilted her head toward the kitchen. “Should we help clear the dishes?”

“That’s a plan.” He followed her around the table, removing the soiled china and silverware. Though Mrs. Carlson offered to help, Kelsey suggested that she enjoy the company while they took care of the dishes.

Ross rinsed while Kelsey loaded the dishwasher, and as they worked, he caught her eyeing him on occasion as if she were weighing her feelings about him. When he was about to be blunt and ask, she closed the dishwasher door and rested her hip against the countertop. “Are you always this nice?”

The question caught him off guard. “You mean am I always helpful?”

“Nice. Helpful. I suppose they go hand in hand.”

He grinned, still wondering what had brought on that question. “I try to be. How about you?”

Her eyes widened as if surprised at his directness. “I try to calm storms, but sometimes I create new waves. I think being a peacemaker is a good attribute, but I don’t know other people’s take on me.”

He’d expected a playful response. Instead he’d gotten a truthful answer. Earlier when they talked, he’d witnessed her penchant for making peace when she’d offered to bring his name up before the MOSK organization again. “I suppose we never know what people think.” He turned off the tap water and rested against the countertop beside her. “I’d like to hear about Lucy.” Seeing her expression, he’d surprised her again.

“We’ve been very blessed. Lucy’s been in remission now for nearly a year, and I’m hopeful the last surgery was the end.”

“Last surgery?”

“Yes, over the past few years, she had multiple surgeries for brain tumors and—”

“Multiple tumors? I didn’t know.” His chest tightened. “Are they—”

“Benign.”

The constriction in his chest eased, and he inhaled. “That’s a relief.”

She nodded, but no joy brightened her face. “The problem is the damage each surgery can cause. I fear that a tumor will infiltrate a major part of the brain that will make…” She closed her eyes.

Ross drew closer and rested his hand on her arm. “You’ve gone through a lot, Kelsey. Any type of tumor is awful.”

When she opened her eyes, his tenderness greeted her. “Thanks. We’re so blessed to have things go this way. I wish it could happen to every sick child.”

So did he.

He hadn’t meant for the conversation to take a dark turn. “You know Ethan’s involved with the Dreams Come True Foundation,” he noted.

Her eyes met his. “Yes.” She chuckled. “That’s where Lexie met Ethan. He did a presentation at our MOSK meeting.”

“I suppose I’d heard that.” Naturally she knew. He shrugged. “Since Lucy is doing so well, have you ever thought of letting her have a dream come true?”

Her smile faded and she flicked a shoulder. “I suppose I’m silly, but it seems like tempting fate.”