backed away, recognizing a danger there. And he’d invited her to his home for a month. Was he crazy? No, just desperate. He had to protect his mother. Since his father’s death eighteen months ago the not-yet-sixty-year-old had aged. She leaned on him, so needy in many ways. Now she had to deal with her daughter’s death and the regrets she had.
How could she deal with an eight-year-old boy? And the child was frightened, since he didn’t know them. Molly was the answer to both those problems. He’d made the right move hiring her.
“Uh, I really appreciate your help, Molly,” he said again, preparing to set the tone for her visit.
“It’s all right, Richard. I’m glad I could help.”
“Yes. What I wanted to say is my mother is weak. She won’t be able to deal with Toby. I’ll need you to shield her from the boy’s energy, as well as care for Toby. Will that be a problem?”
She seemed taken aback. But she raised her chin and said coolly, “No, that won’t be a problem.”
He’d upset her. Too bad. He had to protect his own. “Good. I work long hours, so I won’t be there to make sure she’s not disturbed, so I will appreciate your help. If there are problems, bring them to me, not my mother.”
“Certainly,” she said, her voice crisp.
“Are we finished?”
“Yes, of course.”
He picked up the two big bags and she grabbed the overnight bag where she packed Toby’s things for tomorrow. She also picked up the bag that held the valuables.
“I can get that,” he hurriedly said.
The sympathy that had prompted her to come with Richard tonight was drying up. Molly glared at him and set the bag on the floor. Did he think she was going to steal something? “Fine.”
She walked back into the living area of the house. The Christmas tree looked forlorn in the darkened room. Suddenly Molly stopped. “The presents. Should we—”
“We don’t have room,” was his clipped response.
Molly forced herself to keep moving to the front door. Every step she took was a betrayal to Toby. She could feel him protesting. The presents under the tree would be something he needed, not for what was in them, but for the memories associated with them.
“When will their belongings arrive in Dallas?” she asked.
“I don’t know. I’ll have to make arrangements tonight.”
He sounded irritated.
Molly mentally shrugged. She’d done her best for Toby. She couldn’t do any more because the man behind her didn’t want her to.
She’d thought perhaps he was sad and exhausted at the hospital. Now he seemed surly and difficult. And she was going to live with him for a month? She must be crazy. At least he would be at work most of the time.
Poor Toby, in a house with a grandmother who needed to be protected from him, and an uncle who was never there. He’d gone from a loving home to what? A museum? She would only be there a month, but she’d do everything she could to make a warm home for Toby.
She squared her shoulders as she marched out to her car. She wasn’t going to worry about the man behind her, carrying most of the luggage. That was his choice.
After putting the small case in her car, she turned to look at Richard Anderson, who was loading the rest of the luggage in the trunk of his car.
“I’ll see you at the hospital in the morning,” she called.
“At nine o’clock. Please be on time. We don’t want to run late getting to the airport.”
With disdain, she replied, “I’m always on time, Richard.”
Then she went back to her car, got in and drove away, leaving him standing there. So what if he didn’t like her abrupt withdrawal. He shouldn’t have been so snippy.
Immediately she felt remorse for her attitude. The evening had to have been difficult for him, even if he hadn’t seen his sister in a while. And it must’ve been a long day, as she’d guessed at the hospital. She chastised herself for not showing more patience.
But Toby was a little boy. The man and his mother hadn’t shown much compassion to him. Richard’s concern had been for his mother.
The next few days would be difficult for Toby. But at least he would have her so he wouldn’t feel alone. Richard might regret his invitation, but he wasn’t going to get rid of her now, even if he wanted to.
She was going to be there for Toby.
For just a little while, and regardless of the heartache when she had to leave, she and Toby would be a family.
Molly was used to getting up early, but apparently her patient was not. She had to practically dress Toby without any assistance from him. “Toby, you’re not helping me, you know.”
“But I don’t want to go,” he said in a low voice. “Mommy and Daddy are—” He cut off on a sob.
Molly put her arms around him. “Sweetie, your mommy and daddy’s bodies are buried here, but they will always be with you, in your heart. You just have to think about them and they’ll come to you in your heart and in your memory.”
“Really?”
“Yes, and one day, when you’re older, you can come back to visit their graves. But they won’t be there, because they’ll be with you, in your heart.”
Toby patted his heart. “Do you think they’re here now?”
“Yes, I do. And they want the best for you.”
“So you think they want me to go with my uncle?”
“Yes, because he’ll take care of you. That’s important.”
“Okay,” Toby agreed with a sigh.
“Good. Let’s get your shirt on. I like it. It matches your eyes.”
“That’s what Mommy said, but I like it because it’s easy to wear.”
Molly smiled. “I see.”
Once she got his shoes on him, she helped Toby get down from his bed. He had a cast on his left collarbone that ended on the upper part of his arm and the cast on his lower arm started just below his elbow. At least he was mobile.
She managed to get him discharged from the hospital and down at the front door five minutes early. She already knew Richard would be irritated if they were late.
Her bags were down by the door. She’d left them with one of the greeters so she wouldn’t have to drag them upstairs and down. She sat Toby down in one of the chairs for visitors and hurried over to get her bags.
“Molly!” Toby cried urgently.
Molly
