Page 11

CHAPTER 11

Dinner was going great. At least if Rhea wasn't considering the way Brody was watching her across the table.

And it didn't help when Kay's daughter Sarah had climbed up in his lap and was fast asleep against his chest.

Seeing him holding a little girl wasn't a shock to her. She'd seen him with Chip and even with Sarah asleep in his arms, Brody wasn't ignoring Chip. Instead, he'd been talking to Chip throughout the meal, and it felt like... It felt good to see how Chip responded to Brody's attention.

"Rhea?"

She had to pull her attention away from Brody to look at Bea sitting beside her.

Her housemate had been having a great time at dinner, regaling them all in stories about the Armstrong kids. No one had escaped unscathed, but no one was unhappy. The whole family had shared laugh after laugh about their childhood antics.

"Are you okay?"

Rhea turned to look at Missus Hardy. "Me? I'm fine. Are you okay?"

She nodded but leaned in on the arm of her chair. "I'm just fine. I was curious about where you and Brody went when we arrived. You looked a little shaken."

Rhea hesitated to explain because she didn't really understand it much herself. "He helped me with a cool cloth. I think it must have been all of that running around I did before coming here for dinner."

Missus Hardy gave her a look that said she wasn't buying it. Not at all.

She raised a silvered brow in Rhea's direction.

Rhea understood that look.

That look said that they'd be talking about this later.

Bea might be older, but she didn't shy away from asking questions or giving her opinion.

Something down at the other end of the table caught Rhea's attention.

Joshua was fussing over Avalon.

It wasn't something unusual or unexpected. Joshua was so sweet around Avalon.

While she hadn't seen much of her former patient, she'd had a chance to see her around town and everyone in Fallport loved her.

As she watched Joshua and Avalon, she saw him rub his hand over her stomach and Avalon put her hand over his.

The look in their eyes as they looked at each other?

She'd seen that look before.

She'd had that look on her face, too.

As she looked at them, she could feel a tear slide down over her cheek and a smile tickled her lips.

Chip appeared at her elbow, leaning his weight against the arm of her chair. "Mom? Are you okay?"

She looked down at Chip and touched her nose to his. "Yep. I'm fine. I'm just... I'm happy."

Chip nodded. "Okay."

She looked back up and saw Avalon was looking back at her.

Joshua put his hand up in the air and one by one, the conversations around the table slowed and stopped until they were all looking down at him. "Avalon and I have an announcement-"

Helene, Joshua's mother, gasped out loud and clapped her hands together. "Oh my."

Avalon laughed and gave Joshua a look. "I told you that you wouldn't even have to say it and they'd know."

Michael, Joshua's father, was already out of his chair. "Are you serious?"

Joshua got halfway out of his chair, holding his hand up toward his parents. "Now, before you rush over here for hugs, remember that she has a cast on her leg, okay?"

The whole family was suddenly in motion.

Sarah was startled awake by all of the noise and started crying, prompting Brody to stand up and rock back and forth with her. Rhea felt partly responsible for the sudden announcement and walked around the table to take Sarah from her 'uncle.' Sarah wrapped herself around Rhea and put her head down on Rhea's shoulder.

"Thanks," Brody leaned in and kissed her on the cheek before walking off to Avalon's end of the table.

Rhea almost froze in horror as he walked away.

Surely, he had no idea what he'd done, right?

And hopefully, no one else had seen the intimate moment.

"Mom?"

"Hmm?" She looked down at Chip. "What is it, sweetie?"

Chip looked down at the end of the table and then back up at her. "What's going on?"

Letting out a relieved breath, she put her hand on his head and mussed his hair. "Everyone's excited because Avalon and her husband are having a baby."

"Oh." Chip moved in closer to her and wrapped his arm around her leg as he watched everyone crowd around the happy couple. "That's cool."

Rhea smiled. "Yes, sweetie. It's very cool."

Chip nodded his head and then his brow furrowed, and he tipped his head back and looked at her. "Then why did Brody kiss you if it's their baby?"

Rachel, who was on the other side of the table, turned her head and stared at Rhea with wide-open eyes.

Rhea shook her head, but Rachel only lifted a knowing brow.

"Oh boy." Rhea felt like she'd just stepped in a big pile of dog poop.

Rhea rocked Sarah back and forth in her arms, speaking softly to the little girl. Chip happily held onto her, leaning against her side.

Kay stepped in and smiled. "Do you want me to take her?"

Rhea shook her head. "I've got her. She's beautiful."

Kay put her hand on Rhea's shoulder. "You're so good with her."

Rhea reached up a hand and brushed Sarah's fine hair from her face. "I have a little experience, I-"

"Mom?"

She looked down at Chip. "What is it, sweetie?"

"Can I go pet Misty's dog?"

Rhea looked up and over at Misty.

She was seated beside Avalon. The two women were healing quickly but both of them were still relaxing in their chairs with their men hovering over them.

It was Kay who answered. "If you're okay with him near a dog, he can go over and ask Misty. She'll let him know what to do."

Rhea looked at Chip and he grinned. "I'll be gentle."

Almost as if he was trying to prove it, he lifted up his hand and gave Sarah's foot a gentle pat.

Rhea nodded and lifted her chin in Misty's direction. "As long as you listen carefully and follow her instructions, you can ask."

Chip barely controlled his excitement. "Thanks, mom."

He was gone a moment later, leaving Rhea with Kay and her daughter.

"Thanks, Kay. I didn't know how Misty is about people asking to play with her working dog."

Kay grinned. "Misty is great. She's easy going but she also lets kids play with Roya. She just sets some ground rules and sticks to them."

Rhea nodded slowly.

"Ground rules are great."

Kay nodded. "I'm glad you came today with Chip and Missus... I mean Bea."

Rhea nodded. "I'm getting how difficult it is for all of you. You've known her for years. For me, she's Bea and so very sweet."

"I'm curious how you're both getting along here in Fallport."

Rhea looked over and saw Rachel hogging the space close to Avalon, holding her hands.

"We're both loving it. Working with Brody is great. We both have similar styles and-"

"And the kiss?"

Rhea stopped speaking, her lips parted in shock and her eyes widened. "Did Rachel say something?"

"Rachel?" Kay shook her head. "What did I miss?"

Rhea closed her eyes and wished that the ground would open up and swallow her whole.

She shook her head. "Nothing. Not a dang thing."

Kay snorted. "I doubt that. But I did see that little cheek kiss. What's going on?"

"Nothing." Rhea shook her head again, trying to make her brain start working. "He was distracted."

"Rhea?" Kay leaned in and whispered to her. "If my husband got distracted and kissed another woman, that wouldn't be a valid defense."

"Well, Thomas thinks you hung the moon."

Kay sighed happily. "I think he's awesome too. Together, we're amazing."

Rhea nodded. She agreed.

She'd had something similar in her life.

And even though it had been a couple of years, it still felt like an empty hole in her life.

"Hey," Kay leaned closer, meeting her gaze, "this is a good thing, you and Brody."

Rhea could only stare at her. Then she whispered. "It's not a me and Brody thing. We're working together."

Kay gave her a look that called bullshit, but she didn't say it. Likely because of the kids.

Thankfully.

"Okay," Brody's cousin smiled. "But fair warning. Men in this family? They fall hard and fast."

"And Thomas?"

Rhea was half-joking, but Kay wasn't.

"If you want to talk," Kay gently rubbed her back, "I'm here."

Rhea nodded and watched as Kay moved away, taking her son from Thomas.

It was nice, Rhea realized, seeing a family where everyone cared about each other.

She looked over at Chip and saw him laughing as Roya licked his face.

Misty caught her eye and waved her over.

Of all of the family, Misty was the one she'd seen the least.

Besides her recuperation from her kidnapping and injuries, she hadn't been around as much.

Misty reached out and put a hand on the open chair beside her. The chair that Gabriel had been in.

When Rhea hesitated, Misty smiled at her. "Come and sit."

Rhea hesitated again, looking down at Sarah. She was out like a light, but she was worried that if she sat down, she'd jostle the little girl and wake her up.

"Here, honey," she shivered when she felt Brody's heat against her arm, "I'll take her, relax."

Rhea's cheeks heated up at the tone of his voice and his words.

Apparently, he wasn't choosing to listen to her words at all.

Turning slightly, she relaxed her arms, and Brody took Sarah into his embrace with a practiced ease that made her lady bits remind her that they were still very, very alive.

The smile he gave her as Sarah's hand lifted up and wrapped around his neck made her weak.

Damn it.

Rhea sat down in the chair and smiled when Misty's hand touched her arm. The other woman was gorgeous. Her curly bob of dark hair was full around her chin. She looked athletic and tall if she was standing, and there was a healthy flush to her skin. "Chip is so sweet."

"I'm glad you think so. He has so much energy."

Misty looked down at Chip and Rhea leaned over to see him playing gently with Roya. "He's very gentle with her."

Rhea nodded. "He was there when I stopped to help Avalon. I haven't been trained to work with animals, but we tried to keep her calm. Brody came moments after that."

Misty nodded, her expression softening. Still, Rhea could see some of her sadness.

"I'm sorry, if I brought up bad memories."

Misty looked up at her, her eyes shining with tears even though she was smiling now. "I'm just thankful that you were there. Talk about the universe coming together to help out."

Rhea smiled, her cheeks heating. "I don't know about that. But I was happy to help out. It was an unconventional meeting, but I felt like I'd almost met the whole family before I even got into town."

Misty laughed. "You did!"

"Thank you for letting Chip play with Roya. I'm always nervous."

Misty's brow furrowed with concern. "About Roya?"

"No!" Rhea covered her mouth. "No... Roya is a sweetie. She didn't lash out when she was hurt. I just don't know much about working dogs and I wasn't sure what the rules were."

"Well, Gabe told me that you heard we're getting another dog in the family."

"Yes. How is that going to be."

Misty shook her head. "It could be awesome, or it could be chaos."

Rhea laughed. "Sounds like kids."

Misty nodded. "Roya is my baby. I'm sure it'll be the same with Gabe and his dog." Misty looked up and Rhea turned in her chair to see Brody and Gabriel talking to each other. Sarah was in a blissful slumber on his shoulder.

"I hope you'll keep coming to these dinners."

Rhea's head swiveled around to look at Misty. "Me?" She shook her head. "I'm not family."

Misty's laughter was soft, but the look in her eyes was focused on Rhea's face. "Careful. Those are some famous last words around here."

"Oh, I've already had Kay tell me... never mind."

Misty leaned closer, her arm heavy on the arm of the chair she was sitting in. "I'm guessing Kay's seen what I've seen."

Rhea didn't want to ask her what it was she thought she saw, but she should have known that the Armstrongs probably didn't keep their thoughts to themselves, even the people who joined the family.

"I'm not... This attraction I feel for him," Rhea tensed up and shook her head, mentally kicking herself for saying anything, "is natural. He's handsome."

Misty lifted a brow at her. "Is that all there is? A physical thing?"

Rhea wanted to escape, but at this point, Chip was happily giggling with Roya and Missus Hardy who was Avalon's teacher in school as well, was crying happy tears as they spoke about her pregnancy announcement. She couldn't leave.

Shaking her head, she looked at Misty and lowered her voice. “The only other man that I've loved died years before his time. He left a gaping hole in my heart and Chip's. What I feel for Brody... it's friendship. And he's my partner. I can't make the mistake of hurting anyone by opening my heart to someone I just met."

Misty moved her hand down from Rhea's arm to her hand, squeezing it in support.

"You know what love is like," she nodded. "I don't know what it's like to love someone like you loved Chip's father and to lose him."

Misty gasped in a breath and Rhea lifted her free hand to cover Misty's where their hands were already holding each other’s.

Misty swallowed hard. "I can't imagine what I'd do if Gabe was taken from me, but here? Now? I think you have a chance at happiness again. I just don't want you to miss out on that."

"I don't know what I feel, right now. I just know that I made the right decision to move to Fallport. Chip is happier here. We don't have the constant reminders that his father's family walked away from us as soon as Charles was... was gone. He's lost so much more than I did. Charles' family was never all that accepting of me. They played nice because of Charles. Once he was gone... they just stopped pretending, I guess. I just thought," Rhea dropped her chin down toward her chest, "that they'd still care about Chip. But I was wrong."

"Rhea?"

Her head shot up and she turned to her side.

Brody was standing beside her, his arms free.

A quick look told her that Thomas and Kay were headed across the yard toward their house.

It was harder for kids at events like this. All that energy.

"H-how much did you hear?"

Brody crouched down beside her chair, looking up at her. "Honey, I wasn't trying to eavesdrop."

She looked around when he called her honey, but with the exception of Misty, who was looking everywhere but at them, no one was within earshot.

"I didn't know. I didn't know about your family."

"They're not my family." It made her ache to say the words, but Charles' family had made it clear that they wanted nothing to do with Chip. That couldn't be denied. "It's their loss."

"Yeah." Brody smiled up at her. "Definitely their loss."

Howard, Brody's father stood up beside his wife at the end of the table. "I've got to head in and check on a few of my patients, Chip?"

Rhea saw Chip sit up, getting to his feet to look at Brody's dad. "Yeah?"

Rhea caught his eye and Chip grimaced a little. "Yes, sir?"

The family chuckled a little as Howard held out his hand. "Want to come and see them with me?"

"Oh boy! That's super cool!" Chip started to move and then turned to look at his mom. "Mom? May I?"

Rhea's heart swelled in her chest. She nodded. "Listen to Doctor Armstrong."

"Of course!" He stopped short and looked at Misty next, lowered his gaze to Roya. "Um..."

Misty reached out her hand and gave Chip's arm a gentle squeeze. "Go ahead. I have to get Roya back home for bedtime anyway."

"Thanks, Misty! Roya's super cool!"

"You are too, buddy. You are, too."

Chip was off like a shot, almost tripping over his feet to get to Howard's side.

Brody stood up and called out to his dad. "We're going for a walk. Call me when you've done your rounds."

Howard nodded to his son. "We'll be a bit."

Brody nodded and looked at Rhea. "He means it. He'll spend time with each of his patients and I'm sure Chip will hang out for quite a bit of time. Come on." He held out his hand to her as his parents headed inside. "Let's go for a walk."

Rhea stood, but she shook her head. "I'm going to help put things away."

"Oh, shush." It was Bea waving a hand at her. "I'll take care of this. Rachel and the boys will help me." She cast a sweeping look at the Armstrong table. Helene, Brody's aunt, added her two cents. "Go. Take a walk, you two. We've been doing this for years."

Rhea still hesitated and opened her mouth to disagree.

"You can help next time, Rhea."

Rhea gasped in a breath. "I don't know when I'll be back."

Helene, with her gentle eyes and sweet smile, shook her head. "You will, dear. You will."

Brody's hand wrapped around her arm just shy of her elbow and drifted down toward her hand.

His skin, trailing against hers...

"Okay." She turned to him. "Let's walk."