Page 44 of Her Summer Hope

“Ah, well…that’s too bad,” she said with mock commiseration. “Well, gentlemen…dinner is served. Let me know if you need anything—”

Uh-uh,” she said, spinning and pointing a finger at Wyatt, who had just opened his mouth.

John and Aiden cracked up and Wyatt pouted, sitting back in his chair.

She left the room, went straight to the cabinet, and pulled out a tray and a plate. She added a few slices of corned beef and two servings of vegetables. On the side, she added pickles, cornbread, butter, and a variety of sauces. She cut a square of the frosted cake and put it on a small plate in the corner. She finished it off with a small glass of milk, forks, and a napkin.

It was heavy, but she would manage. It was no different from lugging an unwilling kid to the bathtub, or a heavy hamper of clothes to the washer.

She pushed through the employee hall door, skipped the dining room completely, and went out to the main living room.

She ascended the stairs and from the corner of her eye, she caught Kyle watching her from the head of the table in the next room. Nobody else had noticed her.

She knew Jace had been placed in the room next to Aiden. His door was closed. She shifted the tray precariously to one arm and knocked.

There was no answer.

“Jace? It’s Madison,” she said.

She waited several moments. He wasn’t going to answer the door. She turned away, upset and wondering what she could do to help if he didn’t want help. How would he get along if he walled himself off?

As she was turning to go, the door was yanked open. Jace stood there, frowning down at the tray of food.

“I didn’t want you to miss a meal,” she said gently, but firmly.

He didn’t offer to let her in, but she held her breath and decided to be bold.

She walked forward and he moved out of the way to let her pass. He watched in silence as she placed the tray on the small table near the wall. It had been moved away from the window to a nearby corner. The blinds were cracked enough to let the light in without allowing anyone to see in, but it was still dim.

She turned, wringing her hands, and didn’t know what else to say. She had no reason to stay or invade his private space now that her mission was accomplished. She stopped at the door.

“I hope you like it. I’ll come back later to get the tray.”

He said nothing as she left.

∞∞∞

Back downstairs, Kyle was waiting for her in the living room.

“That was kind,” he said, studying her.

“It’s my job to make sure everyone gets a meal,” she said simply.

“Jace is having a hard time, but I think he’ll give this place a chance once he gets used to it.”

He pushed away from the sofa and came to the stairs where she had stopped. He looked up at her.

“He needs to feel safe,” she said quietly.

Kyle smiled gently. “We all do.”

She had a feeling that he didn’t just mean Jace. He was a perceptive man.

What did he see in her? What did he make of her life? Could she trust him with the truth or at least part of it?

The part that wouldn’t get her fired?

“I have—”

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