and still failing Reece.
He leaned up slowly, keeping his fingers splayed on her table. “And I won’t leave you alone until I know you’re not going to go off again and do something unwise and unsafe.”
Her jaw dropped. “You have no idea—”
“I have every idea. You could have been in traffic when you passed out Sunday. Or on the interstate careening toward a semi doing sixty. Need I say more?”
Panic and remorse waylaid her at the images his words conjured up. Yet no trace of anger resided in his tone.
The urge to explain herself seized her. She hadn’t meant to let it go this far.
Who was he to judge her? He probably had lots of money and no children, and certainly no idea of the kinds of things desperation to meet a child’s most basic needs could drive a parent to do.
“There’s sense in everything, Amelia. No reason not to let me help you and Reece out.”
For three days, he’d shown up voicing this same argument. For three days, she’d rejected his help.
But today, something in her gave way.
No idea how, but the velvet in his voice soothed some deep wound inside.
He’s right. She knew to the depths of her being.
No matter what disdain wafted from his dark, impassable eyes, Amelia had a daughter to care for. She couldn’t afford to concern herself with anxiety over what Ben thought of her.
Resigned to her fate, Amelia drew in a deep breath and tried not to let the flicker of kindness in his eyes affect the twitch she felt escalating in hers. She’d steel her heart, swallow her pride and she’d be fine.
There had to be a catch.
“You expect nothing in return?”
“Nothing. I simply want you to let me help you. For starters, let me get you some groceries, gas and phone cards.”
“What, no cash? Afraid I’ll blow it on drugs or alcohol?”
Ben shrugged. “No. I don’t think that. Your drug screen came out negative and you didn’t smell soused when I found you.”
The edge of her hospital bed sank when Ben sat on top of the blanket. “Cops found a Bible in your floorboard, not a bottle of bourbon, so I’d say your only problem is you’re too stubborn for your own good.” He grinned.
“What do you want, other than to squish my toes?” It took considerable effort, both mental and physical, to tug her feet from beneath the warm weight of his thigh.
He moved to the chair, draping his arm across her side rail in a casual pose. “I want you to use the good sense you’ve been given and get yourself healthy before you go on the road again. Which reminds me, I dropped by Eagle’s Nest.”
“How’s my car?”
“Critical condition. Mechanic’s fast. Making your car a priority.”
“How expensive is he?”
“Depends.”
“On?”
“Whether he has to order parts and how fast you want the work done. If he expedites it, I’m sure it’ll double the price.” He rested his chin on his forearm and studied her.
“Think I could access it once I get out?”
He straightened up. “Why? You’re not sleeping in it. Too hot. And I can tell you had been. She’ll die of heatstroke. The inside of a car can heat to over a hundred degrees in fifteen minutes here. It’s summertime. And little kids can’t survive that kind of heat.”
“I wasn’t thinking of sleeping in it. There’s something I need to get out of it. I could be discharged any time. Do you have shelters here in Refuge?”
“Yes, but it’s comprised mostly of homeless men who are known drug users and it wouldn’t be safe. Their security is not tight. Too dangerous. I can hook you up with a place to stay near where I live if the doctor releases you.”
He was right about the shelter. She had Reece’s safety to think about. But why would this stranger help her? What did he have to gain by it?
As if sensing her questions, he handed her a brochure with what looked like a sprawling Victorian mansion on it. “It’s where I’m staying. Refuge Bed and Breakfast. Real nice place. Safe neighborhood. I’ll
He leaned up slowly, keeping his fingers splayed on her table. “And I won’t leave you alone until I know you’re not going to go off again and do something unwise and unsafe.”
Her jaw dropped. “You have no idea—”
“I have every idea. You could have been in traffic when you passed out Sunday. Or on the interstate careening toward a semi doing sixty. Need I say more?”
Panic and remorse waylaid her at the images his words conjured up. Yet no trace of anger resided in his tone.
The urge to explain herself seized her. She hadn’t meant to let it go this far.
Who was he to judge her? He probably had lots of money and no children, and certainly no idea of the kinds of things desperation to meet a child’s most basic needs could drive a parent to do.
“There’s sense in everything, Amelia. No reason not to let me help you and Reece out.”
For three days, he’d shown up voicing this same argument. For three days, she’d rejected his help.
But today, something in her gave way.
No idea how, but the velvet in his voice soothed some deep wound inside.
He’s right. She knew to the depths of her being.
No matter what disdain wafted from his dark, impassable eyes, Amelia had a daughter to care for. She couldn’t afford to concern herself with anxiety over what Ben thought of her.
Resigned to her fate, Amelia drew in a deep breath and tried not to let the flicker of kindness in his eyes affect the twitch she felt escalating in hers. She’d steel her heart, swallow her pride and she’d be fine.
There had to be a catch.
“You expect nothing in return?”
“Nothing. I simply want you to let me help you. For starters, let me get you some groceries, gas and phone cards.”
“What, no cash? Afraid I’ll blow it on drugs or alcohol?”
Ben shrugged. “No. I don’t think that. Your drug screen came out negative and you didn’t smell soused when I found you.”
The edge of her hospital bed sank when Ben sat on top of the blanket. “Cops found a Bible in your floorboard, not a bottle of bourbon, so I’d say your only problem is you’re too stubborn for your own good.” He grinned.
“What do you want, other than to squish my toes?” It took considerable effort, both mental and physical, to tug her feet from beneath the warm weight of his thigh.
He moved to the chair, draping his arm across her side rail in a casual pose. “I want you to use the good sense you’ve been given and get yourself healthy before you go on the road again. Which reminds me, I dropped by Eagle’s Nest.”
“How’s my car?”
“Critical condition. Mechanic’s fast. Making your car a priority.”
“How expensive is he?”
“Depends.”
“On?”
“Whether he has to order parts and how fast you want the work done. If he expedites it, I’m sure it’ll double the price.” He rested his chin on his forearm and studied her.
“Think I could access it once I get out?”
He straightened up. “Why? You’re not sleeping in it. Too hot. And I can tell you had been. She’ll die of heatstroke. The inside of a car can heat to over a hundred degrees in fifteen minutes here. It’s summertime. And little kids can’t survive that kind of heat.”
“I wasn’t thinking of sleeping in it. There’s something I need to get out of it. I could be discharged any time. Do you have shelters here in Refuge?”
“Yes, but it’s comprised mostly of homeless men who are known drug users and it wouldn’t be safe. Their security is not tight. Too dangerous. I can hook you up with a place to stay near where I live if the doctor releases you.”
He was right about the shelter. She had Reece’s safety to think about. But why would this stranger help her? What did he have to gain by it?
As if sensing her questions, he handed her a brochure with what looked like a sprawling Victorian mansion on it. “It’s where I’m staying. Refuge Bed and Breakfast. Real nice place. Safe neighborhood. I’ll
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