Love Inspired May 2015 #1 by Brenda Minton, Felicia Mason, Lorraine Beatty Page B

the brush of the crutches on the sidewalk, and she turned to watch her daughter make steady progress toward them. Her pace almost a little too quick for a mother’s peace of mind. Lilly grinned at her, as if she knew Oregon’s thoughts.
    â€œBrody and Jake are bringing out a bunch of boxes, and they said Duke might want to get back in there and help. Instead of socializing,” Lilly said in a slightly deeper tone, to emulate the men inside.
    Duke saluted, chuckling as he headed inside. Oregon knew that he felt every bit the proud father, as if he’d just seen a newborn for the first time. But his daughter was long past infancy, past first words and first steps. She was a walking, talking—and very rotten—twelve-year-old, who would keep her daddy wrapped around her little finger.
    Oregon sighed. She knew she had to work overtime to keep her daughter on firm footing. And to keep Duke from giving her everything she’d always wanted.
    * * *
    Duke carried the last load of boxes from the truck to the cottage where Oregon was already putting things away, turning what had been his home into hers. He walked through the back door and noticed her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail as she swiped at perspiration on her brow. He guessed she was worn out, physically and emotionally. The last few days hadn’t been easy on any of them.
    â€œThis is the last of it. Jake and Brody left, and I think we should take a break.” Duke placed the boxes on the kitchen floor and moved next to the woman standing at the sink, her back to him.
    â€œA break would be good. But you don’t have to stay. We’ll probably eat sandwiches and go to bed early.”
    â€œAre you saying you want me to go?” He waited, not pushing. She turned on the water and ran her hands under it for a few seconds, splashed her face, then reached for a paper towel. “Oregon, it’s going to work out.”
    â€œI know it is.” She tossed the paper towel in the trash and looked around, as if seeing the kitchen for the first time. “This is perfect, really. You can spend time with Lilly. We’re in the country, and her dog is obviously much happier. Everything is perfect.”
    Then she started to cry.
    What did he do with a woman standing in his kitchen, falling apart in front of him?
    He took a chance and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. She didn’t object; instead she leaned into his shoulder and sobbed against him. He kept her close, brushing a hand down her back, rubbing until the sobs lessened.
    â€œWe’re going to make it through this, Oregon. We’re going to give our girl what she needs to be happy. She’s going to have us both.”
    She nodded, but he could tell from the damp warmth seeping into his T-shirt that she continued to cry.
    Then the back door slammed. Followed by a startled “Oops.”
    He smiled back at Lilly as she raised a crutch to wave, and then she backed out the door again. Her dog and his went with her. He watched from the window as she settled on the bench glider in the yard. Her dog, Belle, climbed up next to her, stretched out and rested her head on Lilly’s lap.
    â€œI have to stop being so emotional.” Oregon finally sniffled and stepped away from him. She reached for another paper towel. “I didn’t come to town for myself. I came here for Lilly.”
    â€œRight, of course. And just so you know, it isn’t wrong for you to need someone. And I think you’ve done a lot of that in your life, with no one ever there to help.”
    â€œI’m good at taking care of myself.”
    â€œYeah, I know. But let me be here for you. And for Lilly. Stop worrying that I’m going to take her away from you.”
    â€œBut you could.”
    â€œI think you know better. The two of you are a team. If anyone should be jealous, it should be me.”
    â€œSo now we’ll be a team of three.”
    He hugged