Page 74 of Dancing in the Rain

Peyton nodded and helped adjust Sara’s position.

“And we may need to insert a catheter. If she’s not getting enough fluids, we don’t want any blockages.”

Peyton sucked her trembling lower lip. “Is it time to move her to the hospice facility?”

“That’s up to you. But yes, it may be.”

“She wanted to make that decision herself, but I’m not sure she’s lucid enough. Dammit, she had such a good day yesterday!”

“It can happen. Maybe she overdid it a bit when she was feeling energetic. We’ll see what she’s like tomorrow. But you may have to make that call for her.”

She nodded again. “She didn’t want Chloe to see her like this.” Her throat ached and she struggled to control her emotions.

She found herself listening for the sound of a car or the door of the house opening as the time neared five o’clock. She so hoped everything had gone well today. Sara had still been hesitant about letting Chloe go out alone with Drew, but Peyton had convinced her that it would be fine.

And it wasn’t because she didn’t want to go with them. Yes, it would probably be smart to spend as little time with Drew as possible, given the potent attraction to him she felt and how things had exploded between them last night. But she genuinely believed that Chloe was safe with Drew. “He’s not going to kidnap her,” she’d said with a cheeky grin, earning a reluctant smile from Sara.

The sound of a car door closing out front had her head turning toward the window. Yep, Drew’s Porsche.

She went to the door to let them in, Chloe laden with a bunch of equipment, her face glowing. Drew, too, looked wind-blown and happy.

“Here she is, delivered safe and sound, no broken bones,” he said.

“You should see Drew skate,” Chloe said. “He’s amazing. And we had Red Lobster for lunch. I had three kinds of shrimp.”

Peyton smiled at Chloe. “Awesome.”

“You should seeChloeskate,” Drew said. “She did great for her first time.”

“I’m not as crazy as you,” she said. “He wasjumping. Inskates.”

Peyton turned to Drew, a strange stiffness in her body. “Thank you again.”

“Please. Don’t thank me.” He paused, his smile fading. “I should thank you for letting her come. It was…” He bent his head and rubbed the back of his neck. “Good. It was good.”

“I’m going to see Mom,” Chloe said and disappeared.

“You could have come,” he said in a low voice. “What happened last night…it won’t happen again.”

She wrapped her arms around herself. “I didn’t stay home because of that. I talked to Sara last night and convinced her it would be fine for Chloe to go with you.”

He gazed back at her, his jaw tight, his eyes stormy. His throat worked as he swallowed, and he gave a short nod. “Thank you. It means a lot to me.” He paused. “Is Sara doing any better?”

“No.” She related what she and the nurse had discussed. “I’m going to have to make the call…we’re going to see how she is tomorrow. The nurse said maybe she just overdid it yesterday.”

“I think…” Drew paused. “I think she made a huge effort yesterday for Chloe. Because it was her birthday and she wanted her to be happy. And like you said, she knows this is the last birthday she’ll see.”

She gazed at him. “You could be right,” she said slowly. Her nose prickled with tears and she scrunched her face up briefly.

At the sound of footsteps hurrying down the hall, they turned to see Chloe, but she ignored them, swung herself around the newel post, and ran up the stairs.

Drew’s gaze swung back to Peyton. “Is she crying?”

Peyton, too, had glimpsed the tears. “Oh, God.” She covered her mouth with her hands.

The ligaments in Drew’s neck corded and his hands curled into fists. “Fuck. Should I go talk to her?”

“Let’s give her some time.” She sighed. “Come in. Would you like a drink?”

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