Page 5

CHAPTER 5

The rest of lunch passed with a lot of laughter and stories about Brody when he was growing up.

It was a lot of fun and Brody had a good sense of humor. He even offered his own addendum to a story that Missus Hardy told about him.

He had no problem making fun of himself.

A trait that Rhea had difficulty with. She was always trying to prove herself to others. Making a joke about herself was... harder than she liked and she was always worried that her attempts at humor would fall flat.

Sooo flat.

But everything just worked and by the time they finished lunch, Rhea was smiling ear to ear and Chip was enjoying himself, completely at ease with their table mate.

When the check came, Brody gave his card to Sandra and when he saw that Rhea had her card out to pay, he gave her a pointed look and a shake of his head. "Put it away."

She didn't fight too hard. Working together would give her plenty of chances to repay him later.

And this was not the time to argue. Not after all the fun they'd had.

As they got up from the table, Rhea saw Chip's steps slow as his head turned toward the windows at the front of the diner.

"Chip?"

"Mom, look!"

She took a step back to stand behind him and she followed his arm and pointed finger toward the park across the street. "What is it, sweetie?"

"Look at those kids!"

Rhea was relieved that it was a good thing that he'd spotted. In a big city all kinds of things could happen. Some of it was horrible.

In Fallport, she had hoped that things were going to be like this.

More wholesome.

Missus Hardy, who was walking along with them stopped and leaned toward the window squinting. "Looks like Tony Calhoun, Marissa Ross and a few other children." She looked up at Rhea. "I might not be teaching anymore but there isn't a child in town who I don't know on sight."

Chip turned to look at her. "And now you know me!"

"That's right, young man. I know you, too."

Rhea felt a hand on her shoulder and turned. Brody was standing right beside her, his gorgeous face just inches from her.

She realized why a moment later when he spoke in an almost whisper into her ear. "Can I take him across the street and introduce him to the kids?"

She blinked back at him struggling to pull herself together.

It was silly, really.

She was a grown woman.

A widow.

Sure, Brody Armstrong was what women might call a 'snack' but she had just eaten and had to work with him for long, long hours.

"Rhea?"

She snapped out of her reverie and tried to focus.

"I know you want to get going, but he'll be going to school with them soon and it might be helpful-"

"Yes," she agreed, latching onto the thought that it would help Chip in school. Any connection to the other kids would be helpful. "Please."

Brody grinned and his eyes lit up and her heart... Well, her heart squeezed painfully in her chest.

He was handsome every second of the day, but smiling like that?

He was drop dead gorgeous.

"Hey, buddy." He clapped a gentle hand on Chip's shoulder. "Why don't we head across the street, and I'll introduce you to those kids?"

"Oh, boy!" Chip was practically dancing. "Yes. Yes. Yes!"

Chip swung his gaze to her. "Mom?"

She felt a huge sense of relief and nodded at Chip. "Of course." She looked at Missus Hardy. "Do you need a ride home? Is there something I can help with?"

Missus Hardy gave her a measured look. "There's a lovely bench across the street in the park where the boys are going. Would you walk me over there? I'd love to talk to you a little."

"Absolutely." Rhea nodded. "I think that would be fun."

As they made their way out of the diner, she walked along with Missus Hardy, careful to match her stride and speed.

Rhea kept an eye on Chip and Brody, watching as the two stopped at the curb and looked both ways before starting across.

Missus Hardy chuckled softly.

"He's a good one."

Rhea, whose attention was split, nodded. "Thank you."

"Yes, your boy, but I was talking about Brody."

Rhea heard the soft lilt in the other woman's tone.

"Oh."

Missus Hardy gave her arm a little pat. "I'm enjoying this, you know. Seeing Brody and your son. The two are... quite the duo."

Rhea had to admit that she was right. "We just met yesterday."

"Yesterday?" Missus Hardy gasped at that little admission. "I think Brody might have said that, but it feels like you two... you three... fit with each other." Missus Hardy gave her a knowing look.

"Uh..." She shook her head. "We're going to be working with each other. It's not a good idea to... try something like that... and Brody is young." She felt something scratch in her throat. "And there's no saying that he would even be interested in..." She shook her head. "I don't know why I'm even saying any of this. He's not interested."

They'd just set foot on the sidewalk that circled the park when Missus Hardy gave her arm another pat. "That's sweet that you think that, dear."

"It's true, Missus Hardy." They walked together closer to the bench sitting under one of the large trees in the park. "Brody wouldn't see me as... a romantic partner."

"Don't let me hear you saying that, dear."

They sat down on the bench and Rhea loved the shadow of the tree on her face.

"You strike me as a woman who doesn't believe in her own appeal."

Rhea lifted her hand to her hair and grimaced at the waves of her hair that were quickly on their way to making a nest. "I'm fairly certain that I'm not going to be attracting anything here in town and I'm fine with that. I have my hands full raising Chip."

"Well, I'm not going to argue with you on the topic at the moment..."

Rhea had a feeling that she'd hear more on the topic later. She had a feeling that Missus Hardy didn't give up on much.

"But..." she grinned and toed off her ballet flat shoes into the grass beneath their feet, "I will tell you that when you allow someone to help, it just might give you the time you need to live a little."

Rhea nodded in agreement. Her words made sense, but she knew that nothing was going to happen with Brody.

It just wasn't going to happen.

Even if she was attracted to him, she heard enough talk the night before that she knew he was at least a few years younger than she was and a man that age wasn't usually the kind of guy who wanted his own ready-made family.

He could have anyone in town. There were likely women lined up for a chance. Women who didn't have baggage.

As they watched Brody and the kids talking in front of them, another child came up to the group, with a beautiful woman walking with her.

Brody greeted the little girl and the woman with her with smiles and warm hugs.

See? She told herself.

He could have anyone he wanted.

"Now," Missus Hardy touched her knee, "tell me more about what kind of place you're looking to rent. I know a lot of people around here and there just might be something that hasn't been listed yet."

Rhea turned to the other woman with a big smile.

She likely did know more than what was in the ads.

Missus Hardy had lived in Fallport her whole life.

Rhea doubted there was much that happened in town that she didn't know about.

"Well, it's not a long list of wants. It's just me and Chip. I should also ask you about babysitting." Rhea felt her cheeks heat again. "Working as an EMT in town, I'll have long shifts. Where we were living there were day care services that catered to all kinds of hours and shifts. Here? I'm not so sure."

Missus Hardy turned slightly on the bench seat beside her. "My dear, dear girl, you've come to the right woman."

Rhea grinned and felt some of the weight lift off of her shoulders. "Actually, Chip seems to have gone to the right woman."

They both laughed as Missus Hardy started to ask her more questions.

As their conversation went on, Rhea felt more and more relieved about her choice of moving to Fallport.

* * *

Brody looked up at Heather Ross and saw her laughing along with him. "Thanks for coming over with Marisa."

Heather waved off his words. "Are you kidding? I was happy to see you and the kids." She looked at the mixed group of kids, and Brody knew what she was seeing. Both boys and girls, different ages. "It's a hodgepodge of kids and they look like they're having a great time."

He nodded. "See that boy over there? The one in the blue shirt?"

Heather leaned in closer to him and looked through the mass of kids. "The blond boy with the straight hair?"

Brody nodded. "That's Chip Russell. He and his mom just moved to Fallport. Rhea's going to be working with me on the ambulance."

"Oh?" She grinned. "Wonderful! How old is he?"

"Six." Brody nodded, remembering what he'd found out. "He'll be in the kindergarten class."

"Great. The town keeps growing."

Brody chuckled at that. "It's not quite a huge swing in population, but it's building."

They cheered on the kids for a few minutes before Brody looked over at the bench to see Rhea sitting beside Missus Hardy.

Rhea already looked like she fit right into the Fallport community.

"Who's that?"

Heather bumped his arm a little and lifted her chin in Rhea's direction.

"Someone you know?"

"That's Chip's mom sitting next to Missus Hardy under the tree."

"Oh?" She grinned and he saw the sparkle in her eyes. "So... this is..."

"This is me playing with the kids, Heather."

Her shoulders shook with laughter. "Suuure, Brody."

She looked a little too pleased and he rolled his eyes but smiled the whole time.

"She's also going to be working with me in the rig."

"Ah..."

They both cheered as the kids played. She leaned in. "Do you have any idea what game they're playing?"

He shook his head. "Not a clue. But they're having fun."

She sighed and he heard her whole heart in her voice. "It's great. Marisa is everything."

He nodded, agreeing.

Then his gaze shifted over to Chip who was giggling as he tripped over something in the grass.

He went down as the ball moved away and Brody lurched forward to check on him, he was slow to get up, but he was still smiling when Brody reached his side. "Hey, buddy. You, okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah. I'm okay."

Brody narrowed his eyes a little. "You sure?"

Chip looked around at the other kids and smiled at them. "Yeah. Sure. I'm good."

"Okay."

He looked at the group, picking up the ball in his hands. "Just a few more minutes and I've got to go."

The kids groaned in a kind of unison, but they were all joking. Some hamming it up more than others.

* * *

Missus Hardy looked out at the group of kids and sighed softly.

"It's amazing..." She drew in a breath, her shoulders rising and falling. "I watch the kids and feel... younger, you know?"

Rhea turned to look at her, turning on the bench seat a little. "When I watch Chip run around, I feel older."

Missus Hardy turned to look at her and they both smiled.

"Perspective..."

Rhea agreed.

"Rhea?"

She smiled at the older woman. "Yes?"

"What would you say if I offered you two of the bedrooms in my house?"

The words entered her brain but bounced around a bit.

"I'm sorry... I'm not sure I heard you correctly."

Missus Hardy reached out and gave her knee a gentle pat. "I know. You're thinking that I'm making fun or maybe even a little off my rocker, but I'm not. I was just packing and taking my sweet time of it because my grandniece wanted me to put my things in storage and move in with her." Missus Hardy gave a little sigh. "In Richmond."

Rhea felt her heart kick in her chest at the sound of the other woman's heart breaking in real time.

"I don't want to give up my house. To sell it. I don't even want to leave."

"I'm not sure you want two people sharing your space either. Especially a little kid."

She turned to look at Rhea. "Actually. Would it sound worse if I said I'd be the most excited about having your son there? I could use an infusion of youthful energy."

"Are you sure?"

Missus Hardy grinned at her. "There is just the one bathroom. Older homes didn't have so many bathrooms as newer houses. The house was built with three bedrooms. The bathroom. A combined kitchen and living space. The yard is the culmination of nearly four decades of my work. Blood, sweat, and tears. I'm not all that eager to leave it."

Rhea smiled and felt something shift inside of her from panic to a kind of... anticipation. "I've always wanted to learn more about gardening."

Missus Hardy nodded slowly. "I'm a good teacher, or so I've been told."

Rhea turned her head and watched as the kids started chasing Brody around the gazebo. The kids were laughing as much as they were running and she had a feeling that Brody wasn't running full out, giving them a chance to catch him.

She leaned closer to Missus Hardy. "When I'm on shift it's around the clock. I'm looking for childcare that would be able to watch-"

"I'll be there."

Rhea froze for a second, listening to the sure tone of the other woman's voice.

"I don't expect that you'd make me stay up all night..."

"No." She shook her head. "No. Definitely not. It's having someone there so he's not alone. Getting him to bed. And-"

“Making sure he takes care of himself. Gets rest. Gets up and fed. I can handle those things. I'm an early riser. Some folks say it happens when you come to a certain age, but I get up before the birds. I always did when I was teaching. Haven't broken the habit since. And I venture that Chip's bedtime is similar to mine."

She mentioned the hour and Rhea had to agree. The timing worked.

"Of course, I'd pay you."

"You'd be paying me to rent the house-"

"I'd help in the yard and in cleaning the house." Rhea offered. "Laundry, too."

"I line dry outside. Prefer the smell of sunshine on my clothes."

Rhea grinned. "I don't think I've ever tried it."

"I'll show you."

Tears began to well up in her eyes and Rhea felt like she was standing on the edge of the cliff about to jump off and trying to fly with the thinnest of wings.

"Are you sure?" Rhea could feel her voice shaking a little. "It's probably been a long time since you've had a little kid running around underfoot."

Missus Hardy reached out and took Rhea's hand in hers, squeezing gently. "I've never had one at home. Mister Hardy and I tried, but we never had one of our own. So when I tell you that I've always dreamed of it. I'm telling you the truth."

Missus Hardy turned and gave her a watery smile. "Why don't you and Chip come to my home. I'll show you around. We can sit down and have some tea and discuss the particulars." She smiled and nodded her head. "I feel," she drew in a deep, lung-filling breath and let it out with a smile, "I feel like meeting you, here, today, could be the answer to my prayers and hopefully ease some of your worries.”

"And," an impish smile played across her features, "I can tell my grandniece not to worry about cleaning out her guest room. Which is currently her storeroom, I think."

"I can tell you really don't want to leave your house." Rhea chuckled softly to herself.

"I never want to leave that house."

"Mom!" She heard Chip's voice and turned to see him running toward her.

Brody was close behind.

"Mom! Did you see me?"

She nodded and held her hand out toward him. "I saw you and the other kids! Was that fun?"

Chip came to a stop and leaned over, his hands on his knees. "Wow! I'm tired!"

Rhea nodded and looked up at Brody who came to a stop beside Chip.

"That was fun, but yes... exhausting."

Rhea reached into her bag and pulled out a bottle of water. "Here, baby."

Chip looked up and took the bottle. "Thanks." He leaned in closer and lowered his voice into barely a whisper. "I'm not a baby."

She nodded and tried to school her features into a serious expression. It was hard. She just wanted to smile at her son and pull him in for a big hug.

It was Missus Hardy that spoke next. "The elevation here is likely higher than what you're used to, Chip. You're going to need a lot of water."

Chip took a few big gulps of water and Rhea reached into her bag and took her other bottle out for Brody.

"Here." She smiled at him. "It looks like you worked up quite a sweat."

Rhea had no idea what happened next.

Brody accepted the bottle with a grin and twisted the top right off. "Thanks for opening it."

Rhea blushed, realizing that she'd opened the bottle like she did for Chip, breaking the seal on the 'lock.' "Sorry. Habit."

He shrugged and drank the water down.

Chip, watching him from his side, lifted his bottle to drink some more.

"Slow down, Chip."

He heard her softly spoken words and looked up at Brody.

"But-"

"She's right, buddy."

He lowered his bottle, but Rhea saw that it was empty. She'd watched him swallow it down, his Adam's apple bobbing.

It was a purely masculine look. A sight she was going to remember for years.

Yes.

She'd officially reached the age and stage of loneliness where a man drinking water was enough to get her going.

Goodness.

"Drinking water is a good thing. But you want to take your time until your body learns how much it can handle and when."

Chip was listening to Brody with his whole body.

He nodded.

She really felt it then.

Not just the longing that Chip felt but the empty spot in their lives.

She'd done everything she could to be there for Chip as both mother and father, but there really was a difference.

She wondered if or when things would settle down, if she could ask Brody to help her figure out what more she needed to do for Chip.

Sure, he wasn't a father, but he had two good examples in his life.

That had to count.

He'd become a good man. A man that Chip was gravitating toward on instinct.

A man willing to give him time and attention.

She wouldn't expect him to continue giving Chip this kind of one-on-one time for much longer. That wasn't his job.

He barely knew them.

Missus Hardy waved her hand at Brody, and he turned to her immediately. "Brody, dear?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

She gestured to the group. "Do you think you could take us all to my house?"

"Sure."

Rhea loved that he agreed instantly, and she smiled at him.

She stood up and gave Brody a nod. "I want Rhea and Chip to come to my home, because..." She gave Brody what Rhea thought was another impish grin, "I think I might have some roommates if they like it as much as I do."

Chip looked at her and then at Missus Hardy. "Really?"

The older woman nodded. "Absolutely. Want to see what my house looks like?"

"Oh boy, do I? Yeah!"

Missus Hardy laughed and clapped her hands. "Well then, let's get going, young man."

Rhea put out her hand and Chip took it, giving her a happy squeeze.

Some of her anxiety fell away and she was breathing a little easier.

Maybe her lungs were getting used to the slightly thinner air and maybe she was just realizing that things just might work out the way she'd hoped.