Page 40 of Unbreakable Love

“I’m well.” My mom coughed, belying her words, and chuckled after. “I’m well enough, anyway. I promise. Bring Josie over anytime you’d like.”

“Okay, if you’re positive.”

“Gavin Kelley. If I wasn’t up to it, I’d tell you. When have you known me to hold my tongue on anything?”

Fine. She had a point. Opinionated was one of my mom’s top five main character traits. “All right. But if it gets too much or you get worn out?—”

“We have animals and a new puppy for her to chase in the snow. That isn’t likely. I could sit and do nothing, and Josie will find a way to stay busy all day.”

It was my turn to laugh. “Fine. I’ll see you soon, and then I’ll be back after I go help Bryce.”

“I’ll have chicken and dumplings ready for dinner.”

“Thanks, Mom. See you soon.”

I ended the call and stared out my back door. It was early, the sun starting to crest over the horizon shooting off pinks and oranges that made the fresh snow sparkle. It was peaceful. Perfect. It was a much better start to the day than last night’s ending had been, anyway.

Today would be busy, filled with some of Josie’s favorite things—animals and helping my mom in the kitchen—that I was hoping it’d be enough to soothe over yesterday’s pain. I also needed to get moving because Bryce had texted me before I was awake, asking for some help at his brewery.

I turned to go head to Josie’s room to get her up and moving, only to come to a stop. Penny’s dishes were packed in her shopping bag, sitting nicely on my island.

I still had to get that back to her, along with the leftovers.

Shower first. Then Josie. Then Penny. The rest of the work I had to do would come after.

Fortunately, Josie was easy to wake and as soon as I mentioned going to see Goldie, she bounced out of bed like last night’s event hadn’t happened at all. I showered while she got herself dressed.

Twenty minutes later, I had her at the kitchen table with a steaming bowl of oatmeal and an extra helping of brown sugar to heal any lingering hurts.

“I need to go return Miss Pesco’s things to her. Will you be okay here for a few minutes?”

“Sure, Dad.” She scooped her oatmeal into her mouth and then spoke over it. “That’s fine.”

“All right. Be good and stay inside, okay?”

“Yup.”

I turned on the television and gave her the remote so she could find one of her favorite shows. My boots were at the door to the garage, so I gathered Penny’s things before slipping into them and grabbing my coat. It was morning, early enough she could have still been sleeping, so I hesitated at her door before knocking, but the hum of what had to be a vacuum filtered out from inside, so I took my chance she was awake and rang her doorbell.

The vacuum sound stopped immediately.

I should have done a better job preparing myself. Should have thought about the crestfallen look on her face last night when I kicked her out or the pitiful expression she wore when Josie began shouting about wanting a mom.

I should have taken a second and considered my apology and explanation that was required.

And I definitely should have remembered how gorgeous the woman was.

The door flew open and there she was, hair piled on her head, held back with a band of fabric in a red and white swirl. Her large doe eyes blinked as she took me in and her full, pouty lips pressed together.

She wore an oversized T-shirt that was so large that if she was wearing shorts beneath it, I couldn’t see them. All of it exposed her legs, tanner than I’d expect them to be and beautifully shaped.

“Good morning, Mr. Kelley.”

Ahhh… so we were back to that. Couldn’t necessarily blame her.

The sadness in her tone sparked me to action, to the memory of why I was there. I forced myself to stop thinking about her legs and how gorgeous she was, without makeup, in a completely natural and relaxed state.

“I’m sorry,” I blurted, and she jerked back in surprise. “About last night. Asking you to leave so quickly like that was rude.”

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