Angel's Rest(84)

He arched an eyebrow. “Starting the whole healing woo-woo stuff a little early there, aren’t you?”

“Nope. I don’t think so. Thank you for sharing this, Gabe. It means a lot.”

He shrugged, uncertain why he’d said so much. Why had he told her about the Callahans? Why did he trust her so much?

While he searched for answers, she met and held his gaze. “What happened to you—losing your family, twice—that’s not right. I think you need to be here. I think you need to be with me. With …” She reached for his hand and placed it atop her womb, pressing lightly. “Us.”

Gabe felt movement beneath his hand and closed his eyes. He felt as if he were standing at the peak of Murphy Mountain and a breath of wind would push him over the cliff.

Nic continued. “Like it or not, Callahan, the twins and I are your family now. When you are ready for us, we’ll be waiting.”

It was, he thought, the perfect thing to say. This was why he’d confided in her. Why he trusted her.

When it came to wounded souls, Nicole Sullivan Callahan had a healer’s touch.





FIFTEEN





At the Trading Post Grocery and Meat Market, Lori Reese stacked cans of green beans onto metal shelves and wondered how in the world she and her mom would survive the next year without totally destroying their relationship. She loved her mom. Truly, she did. But the woman was driving her insane. From the way Sarah was acting, you’d think Lori was going to graduate from high school in a year and move to New Zealand instead of going off to college. When the latest packet of college information arrived in the mail today, Mom had made a valiant effort to appear just as excited as she, but Lori hadn’t missed her trembling chin and watery eyes. It almost ruined the moment for her, and she resented it.

“If she didn’t want me to go off to college, she shouldn’t have taken me on a trip to visit universities and helped me investigate scholarships,” Lori grumbled, sliding a can toward the back of the shelf.

“Sarah, hon?” Lori’s grandmother said from the end of the aisle. “Have you seen your father? I need to tell him that Jane Waggoner wants him to cut her a nice rump roast.”

Oh, Nana. Lori straightened and smiled at her grandmother. Rather than correct her, she said, “I think he’s at the barbershop. I’ll tell him about the roast.”

“Okay, dear. Don’t forget now.”

“I won’t. I promise. Now, can I walk you back home?”

Lori hung the Back in a Minute sign on the front door as she led her grandmother across Aspen Street to their house. Walking inside, she called out, “Mom? Nana’s a little mixed up. Do you want to sit with her or shall I?”

Sarah rushed out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel, her expression wreathed with worry. “Hey, Mom. I’m in the middle of mixing up a cake. Will you come sit with me in the kitchen and have a cup of coffee?”

Ellen Reese wrinkled her brow in confusion and glanced between Sarah and Lori. “Where’s your father?”

Lori and her mother shared a pained look, and once again Lori mentally cursed Alzheimer’s disease. Nana always became the most agitated when she went looking for her husband, Lori’s grandfather, who had passed away eleven years ago. It was difficult to watch. “Go on back to the store, Lori. I’ll take it from here.”

Lori nodded, hating to leave her mom to deal with Nana alone, and at the same time, glad for the reprieve. It was her dirty little secret. She loved her grandmother dearly, but watching this slow deterioration broke her heart. It was one more reason to look forward to college, though admitting it made her feel like pond scum.

Back inside the Trading Post, she finished shelving the green beans, then reached for the box of canned corn. Kneeling, she glanced around for the box cutter, then remembered she’d left it in back. “Shoot.”

“Can I help?”

Startled, she jerked back and fell on her butt, staring up at a guy who at first glance could have doubled for Christian pop-rocker Joe Jonas—except that he held a pocket knife with the blade extended. Before she could draw a breath to scream, he calmly reached down, sliced open the carton, then closed and pocketed his knife. “Here you go. Sorry I scared you.”

Lori swallowed and felt her cheeks flush. “Uh … that’s okay. Thanks.” She scrambled to her feet. “I didn’t hear you come in. Is there … um … something I can help you with?”