Angel's Rest(89)

Ever since she’d caught him scrounging for something sweet a week ago, Nic had made sure to keep her cookie jar stocked with treats from either Sarah’s or Wendy Davis’ kitchen. He and his sweet tooth appreciated the effort. Removing the jar’s lid, he peered inside. “All right. Lemon bars.”

He took two, wrapped them in a napkin, picked up his glass of milk, turned toward the table—and froze. The items slipped from his hands and crashed to the floor. “Pam?”

“Great. If those were the last two lemon bars, Callahan, I’m gonna be ticked. Nic tells me they’re totally awesome.”

Pam. Here. Oh, no. Fear sent a cold chill through his heart. Heedless of the spilled milk and broken glass, Gabe crossed the room and grabbed her by her shoulders. “You’re here. Is it Will? Is he okay?”

“He’s fine. He’s great. He’s playing golf at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs today.” She gave Gabe a hug, then said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. We wanted to surprise you.”

“Mom wanted to check out your new wife,” Nathan said by way of hello.

Gabe narrowed his eyes at Pam, who shrugged without apology, then shot an impish grin toward Nic. “It’s true. I just knew you’d married a bimbo. I thought I might need to wrest you away from her evil clutches.”

Worried how Nic would react to that, Gabe darted her a look of alarm.

Wistfully she said, “I always wanted to be a bimbo. Alas, I went to vet school instead.”

Both women laughed, and the vise around his chest eased. They like each other. Pam and Nic like each other. A lump the size of a baseball appeared in Gabe’s throat. He closed his eyes. His heart swelled with gladness.

You’d like her, too, Jen. I know you would.

He could almost hear her voice in his mind. You’re right, Gabe. I would like her. She’s a good woman and she’s good for you. Don’t screw it up.

He released a slow, heavy breath. Maybe, just maybe, everything was going to be all right.


Later, following a supper of hamburgers cooked on her uncle’s old charcoal grill that Gabe unearthed from storage, Nic sat in the glider on her back patio and listened to the conversation in the kitchen as Gabe and Nathan did the dishes. She couldn’t recall the last time this house had rung with so much laughter. Not male laughter, anyway. The quilt group did have fun when they met here on Tuesday nights, but that was a different sound.

She drew in a breath and caught the scent of pine in the air, and she smiled. She loved this little section of her backyard. Surrounded by a hedge of holly and lit with soft lanterns and ambient solar lights, it was her private oasis. She spent evenings out here whenever weather allowed. Though the outdoor space heater warded off the worst of the chill, she grabbed a blanket from the basket of covers and quilts she kept beside the glider during warmer months and spread it over her knees. She so enjoyed the sensation of snuggling beneath a blanket as the sky above filled with stars.

What a great evening this had been. Gabe, Pam, and her son had teased and joked and even reminisced about shared events in the past. Once or twice emotions had swelled, but grief never overtook the moment. It was, Nic thought, a hopeful sign.

Hearing the screen door creak, she glanced up to see that Pam had returned from a trip to her car to get her sweater. She did not, however, have it on. “Couldn’t you find your sweater?”

“Yes, but I also looked at your clock. I didn’t realize it was this late. We have to get back on the road. Gabe is on the phone with someone talking about a pump problem at Cavanaugh House. We’re going to head out.”

Nic started to stand and she added, “No. Stay where you are. Gabe says you’ve been on your feet too much.”

“He’s a worrywart.”

“Yes, but I guess that’s understandable, don’t you think?”

“Yes, I—” She broke off when Gabe opened the back door and stuck his head outside.

“Hey ladies, I need to run to the site for a bit. We have a pump problem. I don’t know how long I’ll be.”

“We need to head out anyway,” Pam told him. “I was just saying good-bye to Nic. Would you tell Nathan I said to get that box for you from our trunk?”

“Sure.”

Then he was gone and Pam stood staring after him, a bittersweet look on her face. Nic reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I’m so glad you came, Pam. This is the happiest I’ve ever seen him. You’ve given him his smile back.”