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“It’s been a few years but I do recall you ordered twice as many brushes as I needed and not enough paper. You need omega-3’s.”

“See Max, I told you Moon would have an answer.” She leaned into his affectionate touch and I had to look away. So much love and admiration, respect between the happy couple that I felt a pang of longing for something I wasn’t even sure I wanted.

Men had proven a disappointment in the long run so when I happened upon one, I never kept them for very long. It was easier that way. For everyone. A buzzing sounded in the distance and it took me a moment to realize I still had

guests inside the gallery.

“Moon are you all right? Did you hear me?” Jana’s hand grabbed my shoulder and I looked down at her. “Your phone, it’s ringing. Has been for a while,” she added with worry in her voice.

“Sorry I must have zoned out for a minute. Excuse me?”

“Take your time.”

I hit redial on the unfamiliar number with a frown. “Hello, someone just called from this number?” I was prepared for an unsolicited sales call but I wasn’t prepared for the frightened woman on the other end of the line.

“Are you Moon Vanderbilt, Beau’s mother?”

Oh God, not Beau. “I am. What’s wrong? Please just tell me, no sugarcoating.”

“Beau is having an asthma attack, a pretty bad one. His inhaler isn’t working and the nurse is unfamiliar with the portable machine in his backpack.”

“He needs—”

“An ambulance is already on the way Ms. Vanderbilt. It’ll be much faster for you to meet him at the hospital.”

My heart raced like I’d just run a marathon and for several seconds, I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t focus on anything at all. “Oh. Okay. Thank you, Miss…?”

“Charles. Charlene Charles. Good luck with Beau.”

The call ended. I don’t know how long before I finally got my feet moving across the gallery and toward the door.

“Beau is having another attack,” I explained and tossed the shop keys to Max. “Lock up?”

“We got it. Go take care of my little man,” Jana insisted with a worried smile. “Call us if you need anything.”

With a brief nod, I pushed through the doors and quickly made the trip back home to pick up my purse and my car but I was brought up short after re-locking the front door. “Cross, what are you doing here?”

“What’s wrong?” Big strong hands landed on my shoulders, deep blue eyes looking at me like he was genuinely concerned.

“Nothing. I can’t talk, not now.” Keys fell from shaky hands but Cross was there picking them up. “Sorry. Thanks. I have to go…Beau.”

“What’s wrong with Beau?” His question was straightforward but there was tension in his voice like my little boy mattered to him.

“He had another asthma attack at camp today and they called the ambulance. I need to be there when he gets to the hospital.”

“Of course you do,” he said easily and put one hand against my lower back, guiding me forward as he slipped the keys from my hand. “I’ll drive.” Cross pulled the passenger door open and nodded for me to get in.

I stared numbly at his delicious backside when he jogged around the front of the car. “You don’t have to do this.”

“I know I don’t. But I’m doing it anyway.”

“Thanks.” It had been a long time since I had someone to lean on or even to drive me while Beau was in the middle of an attack. “Did you stop by for something, Cross?”

He grinned over at me, blue eyes twinkling. “To see you, Moon.”

“Oh.” What else could I say?

Chapter Nineteen