was already talking to the driver, so Ty contented himself with watching. The noise must have alerted his guests because they appeared at his side. He couldn’t help but notice the contrast between the shadowed concern in the mother’s pretty eyes and the bright excitement in the boy’s.
“Cool. I want to go see the truck.” Elliot started forward, only to be yanked back by his mother’s firm grasp.
“You’ll do no such thing. Stay right here.”
Ty ruffled the boy’s hair, nodding at Ginger. “Go ahead. We’ll sit here on the steps and watch.” He lowered himself onto the top step, gesturing for the boy to join him.
“But I can’t see from here.”
“Are you kidding?” Ty nudged the boy’s shoulder with his own and grinned. “This is the perfect spot. You can see everything, and you don’t have to breathe in any of those stinky diesel fumes.”
Ty watched the proceedings, unable to take his eyes off Ginger as she went down to talk to Nels and the truck driver. Her body language revealed her distress. Her arms were wrapped around her waist in a protective posture. Several times she reached up to toy with a loose curl that bobbed against her right cheek. Even across the distance he could see her chewing her lip and the deepening frown on her forehead as her car was loaded onto the flatbed to be hauled away.
As she came toward him, he looked into her eyes and saw fear. His throat tightened. He recognized that look. It was the same one he saw in his own eyes each morning. Fear of the future, fear of what the next moment might bring. A fear that held you captive and challenged your belief in yourself and your ability to function. Being shot had left him paralyzed with fear. What had caused Ginger’s?
He cleared his throat so he could speak. “What did he say?”
“Not much. They’ll call when they know what’s wrong. Oh.” Her frown deepened. “My phone is out of minutes. How will they contact me?”
“Don’t worry. They know me. And I’ll check with them.”
“Mom, look. There are ducks out there.”
With the tow truck gone, Elliot had returned to the deck, looking for new diversions. He leaned against the rail and pointed at the lake. Ty joined him. “Would you like to feed them?” The boy turned to look at his mother, his expression filled with hope. Ty smiled at Ginger. She could probably use some time to herself. “I keep feed near the boathouse. I won’t take my eyes off him, and we’ll stay on the pier. Promise.” He saw the hesitation in her eyes and knew the moment she decided he was trustworthy enough for the task.
“All right.”
* * *
Ginger finished cleaning up the kitchen, then went out onto the deck to check on her son. She’d taken advantage of Ty’s offer to help Elliot feed the ducks to grab a shower and straighten up. Leaning against the deck railing, she smiled at the sight of her son tossing food into the water. His giggles lifted on the morning air, landing in the middle of her heart with a warm swell. Elliot was always so serious. Hearing his laughter was an answer to her prayers—something she was relearning how to do. After years of being angry at the Lord, it wasn’t easy to ask for His guidance. She was making progress. One small prayer at a time.
Another laugh captured her attention. A deep, throaty laugh. Her gaze shifted to Ty Durrant, who was now hunkered down beside her son pointing to the water. Elliot leaned forward. Too far. Ginger started to shout for him to be careful, but before she could speak, Ty took hold of his shirt and eased him back. He glanced up, and his blue gaze collided with hers. He nodded, then tapped her son on his shoulder. Elliot waved and raced toward the cabin.
“Mom! I fed the ducks, and the fish ate some, too. And there’re turtles everywhere.”
Her son’s joy brought tears to her eyes, and a ray of hope to her spirits. Maybe they could find a new beginning. One where joy and laughter ruled, not anger and fear.
Ty came up onto the deck, leaving Elliot in the yard.
“Stay away from the water.”
“I will, Mom. I’m going to look for more turtles.”
Ty joined her at the railing. He’d removed his hooded jacket and pushed up the sleeves of the well-worn maroon T-shirt, revealing strong forearms. A sturdy black watch strapped across his wrist highlighted his nicely sculpted hands. She tore her gaze back to her son. “He shouldn’t be down there alone.”
“He’ll be okay. I told him not to go on the pier without a grown-up. Does he know how to swim?”
“No.”
“Well, the water’s not deep at the edge. A foot or so. Worst he would get is wet and muddy, but I’ll see if I can find a small life vest for him if it’ll make you feel better.”
“It would. He’s all I have left.” She could sense Ty’s probing gaze assessing her.
“He’s a great kid. He reminds me of my nephew. Maybe I’ll get them together soon. Give Elliot someone his age to play with.”
“You have family here?”
Ty smiled and nodded. “I was raised here. My dad owns the local hardware store. My brother and his family live in Dover, and my sister has her own construction company. I’m the only one who lives out of town. And I haven’t been home in a long while.”
“I’m sure they’re glad you’re back now.”
Ty rubbed the side of his neck. “They would be if they knew I was in town.”
Ginger turned to face him. “You didn’t tell them? Why?” He turned away, resting his forearms on the railing and staring out to the water. Obviously he didn’t want to discuss the issue.
“I have things I need to sort out. I can do that best alone.”
“But maybe your family could help.” If only she’d had someone to talk to, to comfort her when she’d felt so abandoned and alone, her world filled with anxiety and hopelessness
Ty shook his head, a slight smile on his face. “My dad would heap advice on my head, my mom would bake a pile of cookies and my brother and sister would harass me beyond endurance. I don’t need that right now.”
A sudden thought erupted in her mind. “You’re not estranged from your family, are you?” She laid her hand on his forearm, acutely aware of the warm strength beneath her fingers and the steady pulsing of the blood through his veins. She told herself to remove her hand, but for some reason she didn’t want to. “Because if there is, you need to sort it out immediately.” Memories of the years separated from her parents because of anger and stupid pride flooded her mind. “Don’t let another day go by, Ty. Don’t waste time on petty grievances and misplaced pride. I know what kind of sorrow that can bring.”
Ty turned to face her, his blue eyes filled with a tenderness she hadn’t expected and didn’t understand. He took her hand in both of his, enfolding her in a sense of warmth and security.
“I’m not at odds with my family, Ginger. I love them. I depend on them.”
“So why don’t you want them to know you’re
