Second Time's the Charm

“No, she’s got a full schedule at the clinic today. She was only with him for a few minutes. Long enough to give him a hug and talk to him a bit. The woman’s magic with kids,” Bonnie extolled while Jon’s thoughts ran way ahead of her. “I’m not sure what she said, but that’s all it took.”

No, that wasn’t all. Where Lillie was concerned, his son had it as badly as he did.

In a short period of time, Lillie had become a part of their small family.

And because Jon had unwittingly exposed Abraham to an overdose of the woman, his son was feeling her absence. Suffering for it.

It was up to Jon to do something about that.

The bottom line was, they needed Lillie.

He just prayed that she needed them, too.

And that, when she found out about Jon’s past, if she didn’t already know, she’d still want them.

* * *

ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, pulling into the parking lot of the funeral home where she was going to be supporting a six-year-old who’d just lost her older brother to a car accident, Lillie heard her phone ring.

She couldn’t keep avoiding Jon’s calls. She didn’t even want to. She just wasn’t sure what to do—how to be friends with him and keep her distance, too.

At the third ring, she pulled her phone out of her purse. One thing was clear—they were going to have to work something out where Abe was concerned. The boy needed her. With all the time she’d spent with him, she couldn’t just drop him cold turkey because she’d had incredible sex with his dad.

The caller wasn’t Jon.

“Hello, Kirk,” she answered. Might as well get the weekly call over with now when she had an excuse to let him go quickly.

“It’s good to hear your voice, Lil.”

“What do you want?” She’d never have believed she could be so mean. Or cold. She didn’t like it.

“Are you working?”

“I’ve been working all day and I’m about to be again.”

“Shelter Valley’s lucky to have you.”

And he wasn’t, didn’t, and it was going to stay that way.

“I was thinking I’d drive up tonight, maybe we could get some dinner. Go to the pub again. I’ve got something I’d like to show you.”

“What?” She couldn’t imagine anything he’d have that she’d want to see.

“I had something made for Braydon’s grave.” His voice dropped. “It’s meant to sit in front of the stone you and Dad chose. It was just something I had to do, Lil.” Kirk’s voice broke. He tried to speak, and only made sounds.

Unsure of what to do or say, she struggled for words. He had never cried in front of her. Ever. Not even when the doctor had told them about Braydon’s condition.

She heard ragged breathing and then, “I’m...sorry.” His voice was weak, but legible. “I don’t know what’s coming over me. I just... I swear, Lil, I don’t want anything from you. I don’t mean to put my crap on your shoulders. I just didn’t want to put anything on his grave without you seeing it first and approving it. If you don’t want it there, I’ll take it back.”

Tomorrow was the anniversary of the day she’d told Kirk she was pregnant. Could it be that he remembered? And that he had to visit his son’s grave on that day? If so, she couldn’t deny him. If he was honestly trying to deal with Braydon’s loss, which would enable him to be a better father to his living son, she had to help.

“Okay, Kirk. I’ll meet you at the store on the Shelter Valley exit at six. No to dinner or the pub or anything else.”

“Six? That’s good. Okay, I’ll be there.”

He was remembering Braydon. She was touched. And didn’t want to be.

“And, Lil? Thanks.”