Page 9 of Luke

“Same here. Thanks, Connie.” Beau grinned.

Luke looked around the bustling diner. He sighed again.

“I just don’t know how to help her.”

“That’s a tough situation. I know I teased you about her staying with you, but with a newborn...” Beau trailed off.

“Who has a newborn?” Connie asked as she set their drinks on the counter.

Luke smiled and explained Bryce’s situation and how she had nowhere to stay now.

“She’s welcome to stay upstairs. The apartment is empty,” Connie offered.

Luke stood up and placed his hands on Connie’s cheeks, giving her a quick kiss on the lips before sitting back down.

“Connie, you are a godsend,” he said with a grin as a blush spread across her cheeks. She playfully swatted at him.

“You, Luke McCallister, are a charmer.”

“If you’re serious, I’ll call her to let her know.”

“Of course, I am. Why else would I mention it?”

“You’re the best, Connie.”

“Of course, I am. I’ll be back when your lunches are ready.” She winked at them, then walked around the diner filling drinks, and taking orders. The woman never seemed to stop and everyone in Clifton, Spring City, and Hartland loved her and her husband, Owen.

“Beau, I’m going to step outside and call Bryce.”

“Sure.”

Luke got up, walked out the door, and walked around to the side of the building to get out of the blistering wind. He found Bryce’s number in his phone and called her.

“Luke?”

“Hey, how are you doing?”

“Where’s my car?”

“It’s there at the hospital. I left your keys with a nurse. I had it towed there for you.”

“Oh, okay. Uh, I’m being released tomorrow,” she said with a catch in her voice.

“I found a place for you.”

“Wonderful! Where? No, that doesn’t matter. Thank you so much.”

“You know, you shouldn’t drive, and you have no idea how to get to where I am. Damn.” He knew what he had to do. “I’ll pick you up. When can you leave?”

“Tomorrow after noon. I’m in room three-twenty. But what about my car?”

“I’ll take care of it. Let me tell my brother and we’ll be there tomorrow around one.”

“Thank you, Luke. You’re my hero.”

He chuckled and hung up then entered the diner and sat down beside Beau again.

“Did you tell her?”

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