Page 34 of Operation: Chosen

Ali helped him sit on his narrow sofa by lowering herself next to him. He cradled his cast close to his body, and he squinted his eyes with pain. He needed rest. “Eric, what do you need? We should help you, then leave and let you rest.”

“I just needed to know that you and Terrell were all right. The whole time we were gone, I kept thinking this seemed like a perfect diversion. Junior, thank you for stepping in and helping.”

Junior pointed to his temple in the same motion of gratitude men did when they were wearing their cowboy hats. “Not a problem. I’m going to go and make sure my wife isn’t worried since I’ve been gone all evening.” He grabbed his hat where he’d left it hanging by the door and left.

Ali suddenly felt out of place in the house shared by Eric and Terrell. She didn’t belong. “I should go. I’m glad you’re back and that you’re almost okay.”

“It’ll be fine. You’ll see. Terrell will help me. We’ll get all the work done, and he’ll learn a lot. Dr. Willis is watching for Skyfall and so is Deputy Blake. Someone will see her.” He sounded so tired that she slid forward to stand in order to leave, and he gently held her shoulder.

“I promised you a supper.”

“Not now. Not when you’re hurt. We can worry about supper another time.” Who was she kidding? He wouldn’t heal enough in the next two weeks to be strong enough to drive her anywhere to eat, and then she’d have to go. Her attempt to rekindle what they’d had was too little, too late. She hadn’t just burned the bridge between them, she’d bombed it and made sure there wasn’t even a river to cross anymore.

“I want to take you to supper. Tomorrow. Don’t argue.”

“I’m really good at arguing.”

“I’m sure you are.” Eric tried to smile, but it looked more like a harsh grimace. “But I’m asking you not to. I can handle this. I just need you to trust me. I can take care of everything.”

She’d wanted to hear those words from him when she was twenty. She’d wanted to hear that he would do everything in his power to make sure she was taken care of and that she could make her dreams a reality. That she could rely on him. How could she fight what she’d waited so long to hear? “Okay, but at least let me drive your truck.”

He laughed. “No way. We won’t need it anyway. You’ll see.”

Terrell gave her a sneaky grin. “I promised to help him with whatever he needs. Don’t you worry one bit. We’ve got this covered.”

Seeing Terrell act like most other sixteen-year-olds she’d known made her heart happy. Maybe there was still hope for him. He could take the broken pieces of his life and make a beautiful picture from them. Hopefully, his picture would look even better than hers. Her life still had a huge piece missing, and she was pretty sure it was in the shape of Eric.

ChapterFourteen

For the tenth time that hour, Ali glanced at her watch. She wanted to go over and check up on Eric. But he would hate that. Or would he? Young Eric had hated to be coddled. His parents hadn’t done it, and the idea was foreign to him.She’dwanted someone to fuss over her, but that wasn’t the way he’d expressed love back then.

But now her needs had changed. She wanted to help people get out of situations beyond their control. She’d made a few sizable donations to shelters and children’s hospitals since she had been too busy to physically help. The distant nature of her donations felt cold now.

With Eric having been injured, would he need her help or was Terrell enough? Would this test Terrell in a way that was good for him? How could she know the answer to that without checking up on him? She squeezed her eyes closed, trying to justify her overwhelming need to see Eric.

Someone knocked on her door, and she rushed to answer because it would give her something else to think about. The moment she got to the door, she held in her disappointment. Instead of Eric, Terrell waited for her.

“Eric asked me to come and get you. I’m supposed to say, ‘Mrs. Wellthorp, would you join us for supper?’”

“Us?” She hadn’t expected Terrell to join them, but maybe Eric would need his help all evening. He was in a cast that kept one arm almost completely immobile.

“Oh, not us. You. And Eric. Not me.” He held up his hands. “I won’t be there.” He chuckled as he held out his elbow, and she realized Eric had probably coached him on what to say and do.

A smile she couldn’t contain swept over her. “Thank you.” She thought they would head for the parking lot, but he turned her toward Eric’s cabin. The scent of grilling meat tickled her senses. She hadn’t had anything cooked on a grill in years. Her husband just hadn’t done that sort of thing. Even going to five-star restaurants didn’t offer that same smoky tang of meat tossed on an outdoor grill.

Terrell brought her to Eric’s front door, then opened it and held it for her, motioning her inside. “I’ll be heading over to Junior’s. Eric wants me to eat in the dining room, but I don’t like sitting by myself. I suppose that makes me a wuss.”

Ali gripped his shoulder to stop him from ducking his head. “No. It doesn’t. Even people who don’t like people at all often have trouble eating alone. I know. I’m one of them. I’ve eaten pretty much by myself for years, and I can tell you, it’s not fun. I’m glad Eric is thinking of you.”

He gave a brief grin. “It’s weird having someone worry about my every move, who isn’t doing it because they think I’ll screw up. I know why he’s doing it. I’ll make myself scarce. You don’t need me hanging around here.” He gave her a wave, grabbed a new baseball hat she’d never seen before, and dashed out the door.

“Eric?” She’d only been in his house one time and never past the living room. She slowly made her way toward the kitchen. “Eric?” Panic hit for a moment. Had he hurt himself while Terrell was out getting her?

The back door opened and Eric came in, his hat shielding his face momentarily while he watched his step. His arm was now in a cast with a sling, so he didn’t have to use his other hand to hold it where it pained him the least.

She suddenly felt nervousness skitter down her back. How could she go into court and face all sorts of issues—even if the issues she usually faced were on paper—and never feel anything but excitement, but this man had her nerves jangling? “Good to see you.”

His head snapped up, and he grinned. “Good to see you, too. Took some work, but I’ve got everything.”

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