As much as I want to rush right to the hospital to be there with Avery and Lucy, I know they need this time with their mom. I was surprised when I received the call from Lucy that she’d woken up and a little annoyed that Avery didn’t reach out. We’re developing a friendship to go along with all the pent up attraction. Why is she so stubborn all the time?

Tucking thoughts of Avery away, I finish my work, focusing on what needs to be done. Being distracted and handling a chainsaw is a bad combination and a good way to get hurt - lose a limb kind of hurt.

On the way home, I swing by the after school program Jeremiah goes to a few days a week. Lucy asked me to pick him up and hang out with him until they get home later. She doesn’t want him to know his grandmother is awake yet until she has a better grasp on what kind of condition she’s in. The doctors made it clear she could be physically or mentally impaired as a result of the stroke. I hope for all their sakes, she’s not. I don’t know if Avery or Lucy are really prepared for that possibility.

I grill burgers, dogs and make mac and cheese for dinner, before we play some catch. Jeremiah is getting pretty good at putting some power behind his throws. When he tires of that, we decide to take a swim. We race from one end to the other doing the dog paddle, which is a lot harder than I remember as a kid. He nearly beats me on the first two laps and the third time I quit halfway across instead, picking him up and throwing him through the air. It’s Jeremiah’s favorite thing to do and the peals of his laughter have me grinning from ear to ear.

“Jeremiah, it’s time to get out,” Lucy calls out to him, surprising us. Neither of us even heard her sneak up in that special way that only mothers can.

“Aw, mom. I don’t want to get out. Pleeease can I stay?”

She stands unaffected by his begging, with her hands on her hips, shaking her head.

“Please, please, pleeease, mom?” Jeremiah holds his hands up like he’s praying. The kid got his aunt’s dramatic gene, that’s for sure.

Speaking of Avery...my eyes sweep the area, searching for her. I scowl when I don’t find her anywhere.

“Okay, bud. Time to get out. We can continue this tomorrow night.” I usher him out of the pool in front of me.

“Mom, you’re no fun,” Jeremiah announces as he takes the towel she holds out, wrapping himself inside.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ve heard that before. Let’s go buster. Get moving. It’s almost nine o’clock and way past your bedtime.”

“Night, Wes,” he calls out as he’s about to enter the house.

“Night, Jer,” I say and then turn to Lucy. “How’s your mom?”

She smiles. “Good, thanks for asking. She’s in better shape than we expected. They’re going to send her to a rehab facility in a couple of days.”

“That’s great. I’m relieved for you guys.” I pick up my towel, running it over my face and hair.

“Yeah, tell me about it. I’m going to get Jer to bed.” She gives me a tired smile and runs a hand over her ponytail.

“Luce, where’s Avery?” I ask running a hand through my overgrown hair.

“I’m not sure. She was quiet all the way back from the hospital and she wouldn’t tell me why. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Sounds good.”

Once Lucy is gone, I finish wiping my chest down and wrap the towel around my hips. I slip my slides on, then grab my shirt, phone and keys from the chair. Once inside the house, my mission is to find Avery and see how she’s doing. When I don’t find her in the kitchen or the dining room, I move on to the living room. She’s sitting in the middle of the couch, curled into a ball. I can tell even in the dim lighting with only one lamp switched on that something’s bothering her. I take the seat next to her, dropping my things on the end table. Patiently I wait for her to say something to break the silence, but she doesn’t.

“What’s wrong, Avery?” I need to know so I can make her feel better.

She shrugs her shoulders and sighs.

“Tell me what’s on your mind,” I encourage.

She chews on her bottom lip and then glances in my direction. Her eyes are shining with unshed tears. “I’m relieved my mom woke up and I had a chance to talk to her again.”

“And that’s got you upset?”

“No, that’s because of all the time I’ve been away. I haven’t been home in eight years and I’m drowning in guilt thinking about it. What if my mother had died?” she whispers, a tear slowly trailing down her cheek.

I catch her tear with my thumb and wipe it on my towel. “She didn’t die, though,” I say, then lift her into my lap. She collapses against me with a sigh, wrapping her arms around my neck. I cradle the back of her head as her cheek rests on my chest. “Your mom’s going to be fine, Avery. There’s nothing for you to worry about. She needed you and you came.” My fingers slowly move up and down her spine in a soothing manner. Her breath is warm on my skin. Holding her like this, comforting her is strangely satisfying.

“I don’t know how I’m supposed to return to California. She’s not getting any younger and it’s not fair to dump everything on Lucy. She has her hands full with Jeremiah as it is.”

“You’re worrying about things that you don’t need to. Why don’t you take it one day at a time and

see what happens. I bet you’ll know what to do when the time comes.”

“I hope so,” she murmurs, nuzzling her soft cheek against me. My chest squeezes with longing. I wish she’d stay here and never return to California. We could continue to get to know each other better. Maybe something romantic would develop between us.

Unfortunately, that’s never going to happen. She’s not the type of girl who’d be happy living here. She needs the bright lights and excitement of the city, not the simple pleasures of country living.

Sinking back against the cushions, I pull her with me, keeping her close in my arms. The silence only broken by the sound of our breathing is oddly comforting. I don’t want this moment to end.

Avery’s breaths slow and I can tell by the way she’s relaxed into me, she’s asleep. Knowing she’s comfortable in my arms does peculiar things to my stomach. I’m on a roller coaster with her and I never want to get off.

After holding her for another hour, I know it’s time to put her to bed when my leg begins to tingle from sitting in one position too long. Sliding an arm under her knees, I rise to my feet with her secure in my arms. My towel falls to the floor and I kick it out of the way. Carefully, I climb the stairs, then move down the hallway to the guest room at the far end.

Avery, doesn’t even stir as I flip the lamp on next to the bed or as I pull her comforter down, not

even as I gently place her on the sheet. My eyes trace over her, hungrily drinking in her slumbering form. What would it be like to go to sleep beside her - to wake up with her beautiful eyes the first thing I see? I hope I get the opportunity to find out. Even if it’s only temporary, I’ll take it. I’ve never wanted anything so much.

Leaning down, I brush a kiss on her beautiful lips and then her forehead. “Sweet dreams, Ave.”