Page 50 of A Twist of Faith
Emma’s lips pinched in a sad smile, but her eyes clung to the glimmer. What was she up to?
“That’s awful nice of you. Mama’s been off to Roanoke with Rainey today for her doctor’s checkup about the ribs and all. I’m sure Reese could use a touch of kindness about now? Maybe take him something to help him feel better?”
Emma’s intentions clinked into recognition. A setup emerged, as plain as the chocolate icing on the cake under her nose. “Well, I wouldn’t want to intrude. Maybeyoucould take something?”
“I don’t get off until nine.” An exaggerated sigh pulled at Emma’s shoulders. “Aunt Daphne’s just finished a fresh pot of chicken noodle and rice soup, and ReeselovesAunt Daphne’s soups. It’s never quite as tasty as when it’s fresh.”
Dee drew in another deep breath of the intoxicating aroma and stared over at the plates of freshly baked cookies sitting atop the counter. She hadn’t been around a lot of sick people, let alone a sick, single man.
“I’ll throw in a half dozen chocolate chip cookies.” Emma’s impish grin returned. “And a raspberry scone from my specialnew itemsstash?”
Dee surrendered with a smile. “You’re definitely a saleswoman.”
She laughed. “You should have met my dad. He could have sold milk to a cow. One bat of those coffee-colored eyes of his and my mama was a goner every time.”
Yep, Dee knew all about the intoxication of coffee-colored eyes.
Someone either knockedat the front door or the pounding in Reese’s head had started up again. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so sick. If people listened to him once in a while, everyone would be a lot better off—but no, the womenfolk insisted on a picnic.Insisted.He told them it was going to rain. Checked the Farmer’s Almanac to be sure, but nobody listened, as usual.
And who was suffering for it?
Him. Of course. Blasted females.
The pain hammered in his head again, louder. He squeezed his head to keep it from dancing clean off his neck.
“Somebody’s at the door, Daddy.”
Lou’s words sifted through a tunnel of fog to his brain. Door? Hammer? Person? Yeah, it still didn’t make sense in his head either.
“Daddy,” Lou’s voice got louder, his headache grew meaner. “Somebody’s at the door and I ain’t supposed to answer it after dark, remember?”
His sassy little offspring had one hand on her hip and a finger pointing toward the front door. When he felt better, he’d let her know just how unladylike such sassiness was, but for the time being, her words finally sifted through the sickly mire to comprehension. He stood from the couch and the world took a spin. He’d never liked roller coasters.
“You look all woozy, Daddy.” Lou pushed at his belly. “Just sit back down and I’ll get the door.”
He hadn’t figured his little girl was so strong, but the pressure from her hand and the dizziness from the spinning room pushed him right down on the couch. He pulled the fleece blanket back around him and closed his eyes. “I think I need to feed the fire. I’m freezin’.” The front door opened. “If it’s a salesman, Lou, just tell ’em I have a contagious disease and see if it will run ’em off.”
“It’s Ms. Doc.”
The words entered his thoughts like syrup dripped off of ’em. Mrs. Doc? Dee. He tried to stand back up, but his vision hit the spin cycle again and he collapsed with a moan. Not the best way to impress a lady.
“Oh, Reese, youaresick.”
Her voice split into his fuddled thoughts like a sweet dream. “It’s just a cold or something. I’ll be fine.”
He didn’t know what her new perfume was, but he liked it. Smelled like chicken noodle soup and chocolate chip cookies. He studied her as her steps passed him to the kitchen table, her navy slacks a little too snug for even a sick man not to notice. She deposited whatever she had in her arms and gave the house a quick glance.
He inwardly cringed. Tissue piles left a trail from one room to the next, laundry waited to cause an avalanche on the other side of the wall, and the dishes in the sink probably had enough life in them to talk back to her.
Yeah, he needed a makeover from accent to tissue trail. He wouldn’t have to worry about her wanting to kiss him ever again.
“Whatcha got in them bags, Ms. Doc?” Lou stood on tiptoe. “Smells like it’s from Aunt Daphne’s.”
“Good guess, Lou.” Dee smiled down at his little girl, probably gritting her teeth behind the grin. His house was a wreck. “Emma sent some things to help your dad feel better.”
Reese grinned. Food and a lovely lady? Well, his little sister did know a thing or two about the right kind of medicine for her sick brother. Reese stared up through watery eyes as Dee drew closer, barely raising his head in greeting.
“That was awful nice of you to bring it up.”
