Page 2

CHAPTER 2

Rhea felt like her heart was going a mile a minute. It wasn't fear. It was adrenaline.

She loved her job.

She loved helping people.

Getting her toes wet before she even got to town?

That's a first day story for the record books.

Even better, she'd met some good people. And good people aren't easy to find these days.

It was what drew her to Fallport. She'd talked to Joshua Armstrong when she'd applied for the job and it was easy to see that he was a good boss. He had a good family, too. Which he'd mentioned, talking about Brody since she'd be working with him primarily. It was obvious that he loved his cousin and thought the world of him.

And he'd been right.

Since Brody had pulled up at the accident site, he'd done nothing but impress her.

And Chip. Chip who loved the best of everyone and saw even more than that.

Sitting in the back of the ambulance, Rhea kept up a conversation with Avalon, getting to know the woman who was in love with her boss. "You've got a great family here."

Avalon's smile lit up the back of the ambulance. "I do! And I know how lucky I am to have it. I was away from Fallport for a while. Years, really. I came back here and ended up staying." She sighed softly.

"And falling in love?" Rhea responded.

Avalon's eyes sparkled when she looked right at Rhea. "I was already in love with Joshua from the time we were kids. Now, it's a whole new world for me and I love every moment of living it here in Fallport."

Rhea gave her a hopeful smile. "I'm looking forward to making it a home for me and Chip."

Rhea could tell by Avalon's expression that she had found something interesting in her words.

"It's just the two of you moving to town?"

Rhea had a feeling that this was just a curious question. She'd always heard that small towns were a place where everyone was always in your business. What a change it would be from a life where no one in her family or her husband's seemed to care if they were around at all.

So she answered Avalon's question, not just because she was trying to make conversation. But because Avalon looked and sounded like she cared.

Rhea knew she had to give this town and its people a chance to get closer, not just for herself but for Chip, too.

"Just me and Chip."

She saw Avalon nod. "Nothing 'just' about it. Two new people in Fallport is like front page news. You're going to have people just as curious about you as you are about our town."

Rhea shook her head. "I've never drawn much attention. This might be a little overwhelming."

Avalon waved a hand. "I hate to say 'get used to it,' but you're going to be a curiosity for a bit."

Rhea hadn't thought of things that way. "I'm not sure if I'm going to enjoy that, but I'll do anything to give Chip a wonderful life. And I think that this is the perfect place to raise him."

Sighing a little, Avalon shifted on the gurney.

Moving closer, Rhea reached out her hand and touched Avalon's arm. "Are you okay? Is there something I can do?"

Avalon shook her head. "I'm just worried about Misty."

A tear fell onto her cheek and Rhea quickly retrieved a tissue from her bag and gave it to Avalon. "Here."

She almost teared up in sympathy for Avalon. "I can't imagine what you're going through."

Avalon dabbed at her tears. "It's also Gabriel," she tipped her head toward the front of the ambulance, "Brody's cousin and Joshua's brother." She managed a smile. "Misty has really brought Gabriel a lot of joy, although he doesn't discuss those kinds of things. It's impossible to miss if you know him. It's still surprising in some ways. He's a sweetheart with family, the girls especially, but he's just as gruff with the other men. But he's always been a little more serious than the others.”

"That's really changed with Misty and Roya." Avalon continued.

Rhea smiled at the mention of the dog that had been injured. "Looks like Roya's in good hands with Brody's dad."

Avalon brightened at that. "Oh, of course. There's no one I'd rather trust to help her. I've always known him as Doc Armstrong when he was in vet mode. Everyone goes to him with everything from a bird they found in the park to a horse that's a part of a family. He is the best at what he does."

The ambulance came to a stop and Avalon turned her head to look around her. "Are we there?"

Brody called back and Rhea saw his smile. "We're here."

Chip looked up at the sound of his voice and smiled at her. "We're here."

Brody had likely missed the echo of his words, but Avalon didn't.

She gave Rhea a little smile as Rhea got up to open the back doors.

Rhea turned around and stepped down from the ambulance and froze up when she bumped into someone. "Sorry, I-"

A hand touched her hip and instead of pulling away she relaxed and turned her head. "I'm sorry." Brody gave her a smile and even though it was highly inappropriate given that she was technically at work, but damn. The man was gorgeous.

And younger than you.

That nasty inside voice. Which she told to, Mind your own business.

It just laughed at her, well trained at ignoring her.

"I guess," he gave her a one-armed shrug as his hand lifted off of her hip, "we'll get better at working around each other."

She nodded and together they took out the gurney, lowering it gently to the ground. Before they moved, Brody leaned back into the ambulance. "Hey, Chip."

Rhea turned and saw that Chip was already standing beside her, with his bag and tablet. She smiled at her son. He was so sweet and gentle.

Brody held out his hand. "Come on, Chip. I think I need your help."

Chip went right to him, taking his hand before jumping off of the bumper of the rig. "What can I do?"

Brody gestured at the double door just a few feet away. "See that button? Can you push that so your mom and I can take my friend inside?"

"Oh boy! I can totally do that!"

He bounded off, half skipping, half running. And then he jumped and landed with both feet just shy of the button.

Chip looked at Brody and pointed at the button as if he was asking 'Is this it?'

Brody gave him a thumbs up. "That one, buddy."

Chip stood taller as if he'd grown an inch in the few seconds it had taken him to go a few feet.

With an open hand he pushed the button and held it.

Rhea took hold of her side of the gurney and tried to ignore how they were shaking. It had been a long time since someone, anyone beside her, showed Chip that kind of attention or trust.

It felt good.

It felt...

"Baby!"

Brody gave her a smile. "That's Joshua."

Rhea heard footsteps pounding on the pavement.

"Baby, shit."

Avalon looked up at Joshua who'd fallen into step with the gurney. "Josh. Language. There are little ears." She turned to look at the side of the door at Chip, but Joshua didn't look away from Avalon.

Wow.

The look in that man's eyes.

It was love.

Forever love.

Rhea swallowed, fighting back tears. She'd had that before.

And it was gone.

Chip had a dad.

And he was gone.

Rhea saw Brody's concerned gaze and dropped her own to the gurney and then the open doorway.

The staff inside was ready to receive the patient and as soon as they transferred Avalon, Rhea pulled the gurney out of the way. As she did, she saw one of the nurses walk up beside Brody and give him a big kiss on his cheek.

She was young and beautiful and the way Brody wrapped his arm around her said that they were very familiar with each other.

Something odd settled in her chest and her breath caught in her lungs, misjudging the distance to the wall.

The gurney bumped into it with a loud THUMP and Rhea wanted to melt into the floor. "Sorry."

She heard laughter behind her and even though she knew it probably wasn't directed at her personally, she felt even smaller than she had a moment before.

"Hey, hey..." Brody came up on the other side of the gurney. "Let me help. The hallways aren't exactly hospital issue."

She nodded and her gaze moved to the waiting area just inside of the doors.

Chip was sitting there on one of the chairs at a table, his legs kicking back and forth as he was reading.

"Hey, buddy."

Chip looked up at the sound of Brody's voice and grinned. "Hey, dude!"

Rhea winced at that. "Dude?"

Chip looked a little sheepish at that. "Man or Sir sounds weird with 'Hey.'" He shrugged. "So, I tried dude."

Rhea shook her head, but her gaze was filled with love. "What about Mister Armstrong."

If she hadn't seen it herself, she wouldn't have believed it, but both Chip and Brody had nearly identical looks of distaste on their faces.

"No?"

Brody and Chip shook their heads, and she knew she had to get out of that room soon.

"Do you think it would be okay with your mom," Brody looked at her and then turned his gaze to Chip, "if you called me Brody?"

Chip turned his head to look at her and she nodded. "Sure!"

Brody chuckled from his place beside her. "Cool!"

Chip looked at Brody with something akin to hero worship in his eyes. "Coool."

Oh boy.

Not even a day in town and she'd already met a man who'd already lifted Chip's spirits and started to open her heart.

To be fair, the second part wasn't Brody's fault.

She was old enough to be... a mom.

And he... if he didn't already have a pretty brunette girlfriend, there was no single woman in this town who wouldn't be more than eager to date him.

She realized that the room had gone quiet around her and she looked up at Brody. "Sorry."

His look of concern changed to a smile. "You keep apologizing."

She let out a breath. "I'm apologetic."

He shrugged. "You don't have to be around me."

There was something in his eyes.

Something earnest and...

The double doors opened up and Rhea turned her head to see a beautiful blonde walk in, her hair unbound, keys in her hand. "Brody! Hey! How is Avalon."

"We got her stabilized and here." Brody gestured to her. "This is Rhea, my new partner. And that's Chip."

Rhea watched as the woman turned to look at Chip and instantly smiled at him.

"Hi, Chip! I'm Kay. Brody," she jerked a thumb at Brody, "is my cousin."

Rhea was quickly putting the pieces together. "You're Joshua and Gabriel's sister."

"Yep." Kay grinned at her. "I'm also your ride."

Rhea looked up at Brody. "Did you call?"

"Actually it was my uncle. Or, really, my aunt. They brought Roya back to their house to treat her and while Uncle Howard was doing a full exam, Aunt Louise called and said your car was still out at the side of the road." She jingled her keys. "So I have been sent to take you back to your car so you can get back to town."

"Oh." Rhea looked at Brody. "That's really sweet."

Brody held up his hands in surrender. "I wish I could take credit, but it sounds like my mom and dad are the smart ones."

Rhea hesitated. "I... I don't have my car seat."

Kay tilted her head and smiled, her whole expression a little impish. "That's why I volunteered to come and get you."

Brody leaned in a little closer and Rhea had to take in a steadying breath. He was more handsome up close and damn, he smelled good.

"Kay has two kids. One of the car seats can change into a booster seat."

Rhea smiled and looked at Kay. "Great. Chip can fit a booster. That would be a huge help to get me back to my car, I was getting ready to book a Lyft."

Kay's smile deepened. "I think we have maybe one person who does it here and he's also a food delivery guy. So... You might have been waiting for a while."

"I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth. I hope..." Rhea tensed a little. "I hope you don't think I was complaining or anything like that."

She saw a look pass between the cousins, but she couldn't help the way her heartbeat kicked up a little. She didn't want to upset anyone. Not her first day in town.

"No worries, Rhea," Kay grinned. "I love your name by the way. Is it R-E-Y-A?"

Chip answered for her. "R-H-E-A."

Kay looked at Chip and crouched down a little. "That's a cool spelling. And you're a smart boy, aren't you?"

Chip looked at her and beamed. "Mama said I'm super smart!"

She nodded. She's always been proud of him.

"Hey," Kay lifted her hand, like she was about to ruffle his hair, but looked at Rhea first.

Rhea nodded and Kay gave his straight hair a little ruffle.

"I think we should get out of here and get your car. Where are you staying?"

"We have a room at the motel until I have a chance to look around and find something for us."

"Mom said it'll be like that time we went to Disney. Like a holiday!"

Rhea smiled at Chip. Proud of how resilient he was being. They'd already been on the road and staying at motels for a few days. She hoped that it continued to be 'fun' for him and she'd have a chance to get them settled before the motel became boring.

"Awesome! You know," Kay looked down at Chip, "I've never stayed in the motel here. You'll have to tell me what it's like."

Chip lifted his tablet and turned it on with the facial recognition camera and opened NOTES. He typed out something and then closed the app down.

Kay, who was standing at his side had seen the words and looked up at her with a question in her eyes.

Rhea had an idea but asked Chip anyway. No need to wonder when she could ask.

"What was that note, Chip?"

Chip answered her with a grin. "Miss Kay wants to know what it's like at the motel. So, I'm going to write a report."

Yeah. She had a feeling that's what it was. Chip took things very literally.

"Okay then." Kay put her hand on Chip's shoulder and started out the door.

Rhea and Brody followed behind, the gurney between them.

Chip looked up at Kay as they walked out of the automatic doors. "Where's your kid going to sit if I use their seat?"

Kay's steps faltered a little. "Oh! Sarah's at home with the Moms. I have her seat, but she's not in the car."

Brody looked across the gurney at her. "The Moms are what we call our moms. My mom and my aunt. They're almost always taking care of the whole family, so we just call them that."

She smiled and felt a little pang of jealousy inside. She didn't have her parents anymore and Chips grandparents... Well, it was better not to think about them.

Kay had parked on the other side of the rig and while she was switching the seat to a booster with Chip helping, Rhea turned to help Brody and found him watching the whole scene in the back of Kay's car.

"He really is smart."

Rhea felt her whole heart swell in her chest. "He's everything."

She reached for her kit to grab some gloves. "I'll help you prep before I go-"

Brody reached out and touched her arm.

It had been so long since she'd had that kind of reaction to someone touching her. Years.

"I got this, Rhea. You go with Chip and get your car. I'll finish up here."

She wanted to help.

She wanted to be helpful.

Because people want people around who are helpful.

And Rhea didn't want to be on the outside looking in ever again.

She wanted a community like Fallport for Chip.

Her son deserved the world and that's why she was here. She had to keep her focus where it belonged.

On him.

"Okay. But I'll be at work on the next shift. I'm ready to work."

He narrowed his gaze at her. "And I'll be ready for it. You did good work today. Really good work, Rhea." His smile was... amazing. "I can't wait to work with you."

"Mom! Let's go!"

Chip crowed like they were headed for an adventure, and she was thankful for the distraction.

She moved around Brody and picked up her kit. "I'll see you next shift, Brody."

He nodded and murmured something under his breath, but she didn't hear what it was. It was probably just what she said to him. It couldn't be anything else.