Page 71 of Mulberry Hollow (Riverbend 2)

Or maybe having Wes beside her gave her peace. She turned her head on the pillow and watched him doze. His dark lashes fanned the tops of his cheeks. His lips were slightly parted, and his chest slowly rose and fell. One hand rested on his stomach, and the other curled beside his face. His fingers bore tiny scars—part and parcel for his trade or remnants of the explosion he’d survived?

She considered all he’d been through. His difficult childhood, the loss of a dear friend. And yet he’d somehow flourished as a human being. Emerged from his trials a good and caring man.

She was thankful God had brought him to Riverbend just when she’d needed him. And now here he was, a man she’d known only three weeks, lying in bed beside her—and waking up next to him felt like the most natural thing in the world. How was that even possible? She thought of what Katie had said a couple of weeks ago, about love creeping up on you when you least expected it.

Is that what’s happening here?

His eyes opened, immediately alert, and locked on hers. They said nothing for a long moment. Just drank each other in as the morning outside awakened with them: a mourning dove cooing outside the window, a ray of sunshine pushing back the night’s shadows.

“You drifted off during the movie,” he said.

The deep sound of his sleep-roughened voice sent a shiver down her arms. “You should’ve woken me up.”

“You looked so peaceful. And you said you were having trouble sleeping.”

She stretched, feeling quite delicious.

Boots, curled up between them, stirred and stretched as well.

“I had the best night’s sleep.”

“Glad to hear it.” He carefully pushed to a sit and stroked the cat. “Boots tried to smother me in the middle of the night. Didn’t you, girl?”

“She likes to sleep on your head.”

“When I pushed her off she came right back.” He slowly stood and made his way toward the bathroom.

“You should’ve put her on my side. I’m used to it.”

“You needed your sleep.”

When he disappeared into the bathroom Avery sat up in bed and checked her phone. It was too late to make the early church service, but there was plenty of time to make the late one.

A few minutes later, when Wes emerged from the restroom, she noted his fluid stride and straight posture. “You’re moving a lot better today.”

“My back was a little stiff at first, but it feels pretty good now. I definitely feel up to navigating the steps.”

“Do you feel up to going to church this morning?” When he hesitated, she added, “My family won’t be there—they go to the early service.”

He tipped a smile at her. “In that case... maybe. Let me get down to my apartment, take a shower, and see how my back feels.”

“Sounds good.”

Chapter30

Avery’s phone rang, pulling her from a deep sleep. She blinked, trying to orient herself. The ring tone for her work line sounded again. She grabbed the phone, sat up in the dark, and cleared her throat. “Riverbend Medical Clinic.”

The sound of heavy breathing came over the line.

“Hello?” Avery said. “Can I help you?”

“I-I’m outside your clinic.” The woman groaned. “I’m in labor. I-I think the baby’s coming.” Panic laced her voice.

“I’ll be right down. I’m Dr.Robinson, and you are...?” Avery jumped from bed and threw a lab coat over her leggings and cami.

“Nadine Reynolds.”

The name was vaguely familiar. “Has your water broken yet, Nadine?”