Page 108 of Sycamore Circle

“All you can be is yourself and try your best. The rest is up to God,” Lincoln said. “You can’t change fate and you can’t change His will.”

Swallowing hard, Bo nodded.

Lincoln placed a heavy, reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Chloe and her dad were visiting with the cops and a social worker but now they’re here. You need to go see that girl, Bo.”

He wanted to, but he didn’t want to put his needs before hers. “Are you sure?”

“If you want a relationship with Joy and Chloe, her ex-husband is in the picture. Might as well deal with it, yeah?”

“Yeah.” Before he gave himself another excuse to back out, he got to his feet and started across the room. He could practically feel all of his buddies watch him. But instead of feeling awkward, it felt reassuring. They had his back.

Both Tony and Chloe were staring at him too. Tony looked ravaged. Not a trace of the confidence that had been so present in his eyes when they’d first met still lingered. He got to his feet.

“I’ll never be able to thank you enough,” Tony said as he clasped Bo’s hand. “I owe you.”

“We were all looking for her. You don’t owe me anything.” Thinking of Lincoln’s words, Bo added, “I hope we can all get along. I love Joy.”

“It’s obvious that you do,” Tony said. “These last couple of hours have taught me a lot. I... I’ve been selfish where she’s concerned, but no more.”

“I feel the same way.” Bo turned to Chloe then. She had her legs up on the chair and her arms wrapped around her knees. Her eyes were swollen from crying, but she was also gazing at him intently.

He crouched down in front of her. “Chloe, honey. You okay?”

Instead of answering, she launched herself into his arms. “I... I was so afraid,” she said.

He caught her easily, wrapping his arms around her body and holding her tight. “I know. I was afraid too.”

“Everyone says that that man was really mean to her. And that she was really cold.” Tears dampened his shirt. He rubbed her back. After glancing at Tony, who gave him a nod, Bo stood up with Chloe in his arms. Without thinking, he carried her over to a chair in a corner and sat down with her on his lap. She was in a tight ball. Unbidden, he realized that she was positioned the way Janie used to be when she’d yell “Cannonball!” so Bo would toss her in the lake.

“You’re just a little thing, Chloe.”

She hiccupped. “What?”

“I was just thinking back to when one of my little sisters used to love for me to toss her in the air so she’d land in the lake. I was just thinking that you’re like her. Tiny but strong.”

A hint of a smile formed on her face. “I like that idea.”

“Me too.”

Chloe moved to the seat next to him but continued to gaze at him intently. “Do you think Mom is going to be all right?”

“I do. She’s strong. But she’s also got you and me and your dad and everyone else to be strong for her when she isn’t. We can help her out when she needs it.”

“Grandma said she’s going to stay with us as long as Mom needs. That way she can take care of her.”

“That’s good. You’re momma’s going to need all of us being strong so she won’t have to be.”

Chloe nodded. After a second, she said, “Hey, Bo?”

“Hmm?”

“You... you’re not going to go away, are you? I mean, you meant what you said to my dad?”

“About me loving your mom? Yes. I love her and I’m not going to let her go.” Finally feeling like the weight of guilt that he’d placed upon his shoulders was easing, he straightened and kicked his legs out in front of him. “Truth be told, one day, I’m going to figure out a way to weasel into your lives so well you forget what it was like to not have me there.”

She smiled. “Good.”

When the doctor came out, he looked around the room, seemed to find him, Chloe, and Tony, and walked directly to their sides. “You’re Joy Howard’s family, yes?” When they all nodded and got to their feet, the doctor smiled. “She’s out of surgery. We sewed up her wounds and repaired the damage that the bone shard did to her lung. The good news is that it was better than we feared. She’s going to need to stay here a couple of days, but I expect her to make a full recovery.” He smiled at Chloe. “She’ll be ready to go home in no time. A nurse is going to come out in a half hour or so to tell you when she can see family. Take care, now.”

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