Harvest of Love: Insta-Spark Collection

My silent phone was in my purse. After the first anxious day, I stopped looking at it. As Dr. Clark said, there were no calls from the office, and the only text I had was from Lynn telling me to take care.

Today was the first day I felt completely awake and relaxed. A few days ago, I had convinced Noah I was fine on my own, so his mom no longer had to babysit me. She still dropped by to check in, but it was to visit, not to take care of me. Noah had given me a radio in case I needed him. He assured me he could be here in minutes—even faster, if need be. I only smiled, knowing it made him feel better.

He’d been so wonderful. As he had from the moment we met, he was ever patient and gentle, wanting to make everything okay for me. And he checked on me frequently. Far too frequently.

The door opened behind me, and I looked around to see Kris. I smiled at her. “Have you been sent to check on me?” The store was busy today, and Noah was still worried about me being alone too much.

She sat down, drawing me in with a one-armed hug. “Nope. I came all on my own.” She grinned mischievously. “Is he driving you crazy?”

“No. It’s just strange, having someone care so much. I have to get used to it. He checks in far too often. And he uses any excuse to pop home.”

As if on cue, my radio crackled. “Noah to Dani. Come in.”

Biting back a giggle, I lifted the radio. “Dani here.”

“All okay, Sprout?”

Kris grabbed the radio. “Noah Franklin Edwards, how do you expect the girl to rest if you keep checking on her? She is fine!”

“Oh, ah… Hey, Mom.”

“Don’t ‘Hey, Mom’ me. Get back to work.”

The radio crackled. “Yes, ma’am.” Crackle. “Can I…can I just talk to Dani for a second?”

She handed me the radio with a smirk, and it took all I had not to laugh as I pressed the button. “Hey.” If Kris wasn’t using the radio lingo Noah insisted on, neither was I.

“Are you hungry?” he whispered. “Do you want me to bring you lunch?”

I glanced at Kris, who was now laughing, her head in her hands.

“Noah, you know she can hear you, right? She’s sitting beside me. Whispering isn’t going to help.”

“Right.” Crackle. “So, no lunch, then.”

“No, I can get something for myself.”

“Are you… Never mind.” Crackle. “You know where I am.”

“I do.”

“Noah, out.”

I giggled. He certainly was.

Kris sighed. “You bring him such joy, Dani. I’ve never seen him like this.”

I picked at the frayed edge of the T-shirt I was wearing. “I worry I’ve caused him too much trouble.”

She was silent for a moment, then took my hand, patting it gently. “When Noah came back to us, I didn’t know what to do. My own son was like a stranger to me. And he was so worried about the trouble he was causing us.” She shook her head. “It took him a long time to understand—when you love someone, caring for them isn’t trouble. It goes with the territory.”

I gaped at her. “Love? You think he loves me? But it’s only been a few weeks.”

She chuckled. “Oh, girl. Time doesn’t mean anything. Love doesn’t have a calendar. It’s so obvious how he feels about you. He lights up just at the mention of your name.”

“I think he’s amazing,” I admitted. “He means so much to me.” The truth was, I was in love with him, but I was unsure if his feelings were as strong.

“I can see that as well.” Her voice was quiet. “As much as I hated what he went through, it brought him back to us. I got the chance to know my son again and watch him become the wonderful man he is today. But something’s been missing for him. That something is you. He is going to worry and fret—he’s just like Henry that way—protective and loving. But you aren’t trouble to him—to any of us. We want you well and happy.”

I didn’t know what to say.

“Let him care and fuss. It’s good to see him so involved with someone. To have someone he cares so much about that he wants to fuss and worry. Let him help you.”

“I don’t want to be that woman, Kris. The one who only takes in a relationship.”

She shook her head, chuckling. “You don’t see it, do you? You’re not just taking. You give to him as well. And when you’re stronger and feeling better, you’ll see how much you give.”

I bit my lip, worrying it as I looked at her. “I’d like to give something now.”

“What?”

“It’s Friday. What’s happening for dessert tonight?”

“Noah and Callie are going to do the usual. Unless—”

“Unless?”

She bumped my shoulder, winking conspiratorially. “Unless you want to surprise him and use some of the peaches I have in the golf cart.”