The doorbell’s ring sent Ashley’s pulse on the rise. She grasped her crutches and made her way to the front door. When she looked through the peephole, her heart flipped. “Come in.” She eased back to make room.
The door inched open, and Devon peeked around the corner, his smile brightening her dull day. “I brought you dinner.”
“Dinner.” His announcement registered surprise in her voice.
Joey rose from his pile of toys and dashed toward Devon, a big smile pulling his cherub cheeks, but with his hands full, Devon only greeted him while clutching the casserole.
“Ashley, this is Kaylee.” He leaned closer to his daughter. “Kaylee, this is Joey’s mama. Remember I told you about her accident.”
The girl nodded and clung to his side, a questioning look on her face.
Devon took a step into the room and paused. “I hope I’m not being presumptuous.”
“Not at all. I’m surprised. But it’s a nice treat.” Ashley pushed the door closed with her crutch and waved him forward, wondering how Kaylee felt about the visit.
* * *
Devon stepped farther in, Kaylee quiet at his side, her eyes shifting from Devon to Joey. “In case you’ve already eaten, it can be tomorrow’s dinner.”
The unexpected visit unsettled her—though pleased her—and she found her manners. “No, I can’t thank you enough. Neely spent the day bringing me home. She set some canned goods on the counter and promised a home-cooked dinner tomorrow night, so we’re open for a meal.”
“Great. I’ll take this to the kitchen.” He motioned in that direction with the casserole. A grocery bag hung from his hand. “Spaghetti and garlic bread. Is that okay?”
“Okay? It sounds wonderful.” She captured Joey’s hand and gave Devon a wink. “Do you like spaghetti, Joey?”
“Sketti. Yum.” His piping voice was followed by the usual grin spreading ear to ear.
Devon paused in the archway, loving the boy’s smile but wishing Kaylee could look at life that way. “The food is still warm, so take a seat at the table, and I’ll pop it into the microwave for a minute.”
She made her way to the table with Joey and heard Devon push the timer. Her frustration mounted as she looked at his booster seat and at her hands clinging to the crutches. “Joey, I—I don’t know how I can—”
“You’ll need help until you can put some weight on that leg.” He swooped Joey into the air and settled him in the chair. “See, that was easy.”
“For you.” She lowered herself to the seat and propped her crutches against the table edge. Fighting her frustration, she turned her head a moment to get a grip on her emotions.
“It’s not going to be easy. But you’ll learn, and people will help.” He rested his hand on her shoulder.
Warmth wrapped around her heart. Gentle, kind, thoughtful. Her mind flooded with the day they met. A horrible experience fated their meeting, and here he was again, caring enough to bring her dinner. The control she had managed earlier failed as tears dripped to her cheeks.
“I’m sorry if I said some—”
“It’s not what you’ve said.” She shook her head, seeing the concerned look in his eyes. “It’s what you’ve done. You barely know me, and here you are with dinner and wisdom and—”
“And doing a neighborly deed.” He gave her shoulder another pat. “Now, tell me where I can find dishes and silverware, and you and this young man can eat dinner.”
As she directed, he pulled plates and forks from the cabinets and even thought to pour milk for Joey. “What would you like to drink? Coffee, tea, milk—”
“Water, please, with ice and maybe some coffee afterward.” She motioned toward the counter. “Mrs. Wells brought over a cake.”
He looked around the kitchen.
She motioned again. “It’s on the far end of the counter. It’s Joey’s favorite. Chocolate.”
“Not only Joey’s.” He gave a wink and proceeded to carry in the water and milk. Kaylee stayed beside him, shifting as he moved around the kitchen to keep out of his way. Finally he stopped. “Sweetie, why don’t you sit, too. You can have some cake later. Okay?”
She didn’t move for a moment and finally pulled herself away and slipped onto a chair as far from them as she could. She didn’t make eye contact, and Ashley wasn’t sure if she should try to engage her in conversation or let it go. Her motherly instinct prodded her to act. “Kaylee, do you like chocolate cake?”
The child only shrugged.
She didn’t let that discourage her. “I like chocolate, but I like carrot cake even more. Have you seen it with the little carrot decoration on top?”
Kaylee nodded.
Devon slipped into the room with a pot holder for the table and set the casserole on it. He handed her a large serving spoon. “Dig in, and I’ll bring in the garlic bread.” He turned again to the kitchen.
Struck by how comfortable he seemed preparing her meal, she turned to Kaylee again, who didn’t look at ease at all. While wishing she could get a response from the child, she shifted her attention to the pasta covered with tomato sauce and thick with hunks of ground beef. The scent rose on the air and her appetite that had been dulled awakened.
“Sketti, Mama.” Joey sat with his fork standing on end against his tray.
She smiled and emptied a large spoonful onto his plate, then piled two spoonfuls on hers as Devon carried in the fragrant garlic bread.
He offered her a piece and then set the plate on the table and slipped into a chair. “I spotted your coffee so I started a short pot.”
“Thanks.” She struggled to pull her gaze away from his intriguing face. He wasn’t what people called classically handsome, but he had pleasant features with deep brown eyes that looked into hers with a tenderness that befuddled her. His full cheekbones eased to a rounded chin with the hint of a dimple. Catching herself, she managed to pull her eyes away and looked at Kaylee. She had his chin and probably his smile, though she’d never seen it, and though the shape of her eyes were the same, the color must have been her mother’s, a deep sapphire blue.
“More.”
She heard the ting of Joey’s fork and eyed his empty plate, although a few noodles had slipped to the tray. “Whoa. You loved that, didn’t you?”
He nodded, red sauce clinging to his cheek. She slipped a smaller spoonful onto his plate and took another dab for herself.
“I haven’t eaten this well in days.” Ashley grinned as she twined the spaghetti onto her fork.
Devon shook his head. “You can’t give this meal too much credit. You were eating hospital food.”
He made her chuckle. It felt wonderful. “Not only do I get a free dinner, but I’m entertained by a comedian, too.”
“Only the facts.”
But she could see he was pleased with her compliment. “Do you cook at the firehouse?”
“Not often. I’m a better dishwasher, but I’ve helped on occasion.” His gaze swung from her to Kaylee. “Why so quiet?”
“I want to go home,” the girl said.
Ashley’s heart broke seeing Devon’s disheartened expression. “That’s the same way I felt, Kaylee. Just exactly like that.”
The child tilted her head and studied her with a quizzical look. “When?”
“When I was in the hospital. All I could think about was getting home and being with Joey.”
“Me.” Joey patted his chest.
“That’s right, but you know what?” She gave Kaylee a searching look.
“What?”
“Now I realize I can’t do things by myself, and I’m frustrated. Do you know what that is?”
She nodded. “Mad.”
“Not really mad. I feel like I’m a big girl and I should be able to do things for myself, but I can’t.”
The tightness in Kaylee’s expression opened up. “I’m a big girl and I can do things by myself.”
“You are. But you’re probably like me. Some things you can’t do all alone.”
“I’m big,” Joey piped up.
Kaylee giggled and her face lit with the smile. “You’re still little, and you—”
“He’s not little.” Devon jumped into the conversation. “I told you, he’s only a year younger than you.”
“But...” Her voice trailed off at her father’s look, and the smile faded.
Ashley spotted the problem. She’d decided not to defend Joey as Devon had done. Evidence so far showed the hope she’d had for Kaylee and Joey to be playmates looked grim. She diverted the conversation. “Who’s ready for cake?”
Three voices filled the air. “Okay, then. I guess our waiter better get busy.” She winked at Devon and hoped he understood her tack.
“Aye, aye, Captain.” He stood and put the plates and silverware into a pile. “Kaylee, can you help me?”
The girl slipped off the chair and accepted the dishes while he grasped the casserole and bread. “I’ll cover this dish, and you’ll have another meal.”
His look let her know he did understand. She used a napkin to wipe off Joey’s smears of tomato sauce, and within a minute, the cake and pot of coffee appeared on the table. Kaylee arrived with four dessert plates, and Ashley took them from her and set them on the table.
Devon returned with more milk for Joey and silverware, and they settled down to enjoy the creamy chocolate cake from Mrs. Wells.
Wiping the chocolate from her lips, she refocused on Kaylee. “Do you like puzzles?”
“Uh-huh.” She nodded her answer. “I need harder ones.”
“Good for you. Maybe you could help Joey with his puzzles. He’s pretty good, but once in a while he has trouble.”
Kaylee seemed to have blossomed. “I can show him.” She licked her fork and set it on the plate.
Hearing puzzles, Joey started to squirm, and Devon rose and lowered him onto the floor while Kaylee carried her dish to the kitchen and reappeared.
“Thank you, Kaylee.” Ashley had second thoughts but went ahead anyway. “Can I give you a hug?”
Kaylee hesitated only a moment before walking to her side and embracing her.
“You’re a pretty girl. I can’t wait to see you smile again.” As she watched the girl’s face, she saw the flicker of a grin and finally a full-blown bashful smile. “Gorgeous.”
Kaylee giggled, then turned and skipped away to the living room.
Devon leaned back in the chair, his face showing his surprise. “Wow, you have a way. I need to learn that.”
“You can’t. It’s a mother thing.” She gave him a wink while a prickle of excitement rode on her spine. “It’s pure taking a chance. I’m not always successful.”
“But you were this time.” He scrutinized her until the tingle grew.
Taking a drink of her coffee, she watched him over the rim. She saw something special about him but couldn’t put her finger on exactly what it was.
He leaned forward on his elbows. “Let’s form a plan. What can I do to help make things easier for you? I noticed you have a low table by the sofa. You can have Joey eat his breakfast and lunch in there so you don’t have to hoist him into the chair. Put a rug or something you can wash under him to catch spills.”
“Good idea.” His suggestion pleased her. Simple things she should have thought of herself.
“How about his bed?”
“It’s a youth bed.”
“We can put a stool nearby so he can step up and crawl in if he needs it. You can balance on your good foot with one crutch to give him a hand.”
Another solid idea. “You’re a genius.”
“Firemen occasionally have time on their hands, and we’re called to homes for many crazy reasons. In our spare time, we brainstorm solutions to problems.”
“Daddy.” Kaylee’s voice split their conversation. “He won’t let me have any puzzle pieces.”
“Joey.” Ashley turned around the best she could and gave her son a frown. “Share. You get a piece and then Kaylee gets a piece.”
Joey studied the two pieces in his hand and put one in Kaylee’s.
Ashley grinned. “Problem solved.”
“And you’re not even a firefighter.” He slipped his chair back and rose. “Now, do you have a stool. Let me help you with the bed and get things ready for him, and then I’ll get home. Kaylee needs a bath, and you need to rest.”
Her heart swelled. “Devon, you are a treasure. Do you know that? You’re one of the nicest people I know.”
“Sorry my mom’s not here to hear that.” He tucked his hands in his pockets. “Stool?”
She figured him out in only a second. He was a guy who couldn’t be complimented without making a joke about it. One day she’d help him see her compliments were the truth.
With no plan to educate him tonight, she gave him details on finding the stool while her mind churned with thoughts she definitely wanted to avoid. Already she knew she was in trouble.
* * *
Devon sat at a worktable filling out another report of the latest fire. Earlier, he’d reeked of smoke before taking a shower, and since cleaning up, the warm water made him sleepy. Another long night left him drained but grateful the fire was in a warehouse and not a residence. The place was empty of employees, and they’d saved the main building.
Today he’d been distracted. He hadn’t checked on Ashley for a few days, and thinking about her kept ruining his concentration. He’d wanted to go more than once, but he didn’t want to be a pest. If she needed him, he hoped she’d have called. He’d given her his number. Still, he could picture her struggling on her own. She seemed like one of those independent people who hated to ask for help.
A sound caused him to look up, and Clint slipped into the chair beside him. “Good job tonight.”
He nodded. “My thoughts exactly.”
“Want a soda?” He rose from the chair.
“Sure, if you’re getting one for yourself.”
Clint strode away, and Devon stared at the paper in front of him, scratching out details and reviewing what needed to be included. When Clint’s footsteps sounded behind him, he dropped the pen and leaned back. “Thanks.” He grasped the cold can and took a swig.
“How’s life?”
Devon wondered what that meant. He eyed Clint a moment before commenting. “What’s on your mind?”
Clint’s grin couldn’t be hidden. He shrugged. “Wondering about your patient, I suppose.”
“She’s home and struggling.” He told her about Joey and the crutches, and then thought of the situation with Kaylee. “I had a little surprise from Kaylee—nothing I would have anticipated—but she’s jealous of Joey, I think.”
“In what way? He’s just a toddler, isn’t he?” His brow furrowed.
“It’s not so much the boy as it is my attention to him.” He ran his fingers through his hair, still feeling dampness from his shower. “I wasn’t expecting her to act that way.”
Clint rubbed his jaw. “Kids are possessive when it comes to things and people that belong to them.” His gaze captured Devon’s. “You are an important one to her. Her dad. And you don’t have a lifetime with her. You have days when she’s worked into your schedule.”
Devon’s chest tightened, startled by Clint’s comment. Days she was worked into his schedule. It sounded so crude.
Clint grasped his shoulder. “Hey, friend, I’m not criticizing. Not at all. You have no choice. It’s your job, but she’s with her mother more than with you, and once she’s in school... Well, think about it. Scheduling visitations will get more complex.”
He blew out a stream of air. “I’ve thought about that, and I don’t have an answer. I wish I did.” And he also wished he knew if she actually spent time with Gina. Or was Renee her main caregiver?
“What you need is—” Clint gripped his shoulder tighter and gave it a pat “—a wife. That’s what you need. Problem solved.”
“Whoa. I’m not looking for a wife to solve my problems.” He rubbed the tension in his neck. “I know you’re joking, but... You are joking, aren’t you?” He did a double take and then grinned, seeing Clint’s expression.
Clint grinned back. “Yes, and no. If you fell in love and married, that’s what I mean.”
Devon studied him a moment, wondering how to tell him some of his deepest worries. The guy really listened, and he usually offered good advice. But opening his heart. He couldn’t. “I’m not ready for that.”
“You’ve been alone for more than three years. Do you still have feelings for Gina?” Clint’s expression grew serious. “I didn’t think—”
“She’s Kaylee’s mother. I care about her for that reason. My love died when she turned her back on our marriage. One person can’t keep a fire lit when the other one is pouring water on it.”
Clint nodded. “That’s what I thought.”
The comment hung in the air, and Devon became tired of waiting. “What do you mean?”
“What’s the problem? Do you think Kaylee couldn’t handle a woman in your life, or are you afraid of marriage now?”
“I don’t know how Kaylee would react. If her attitude with Joey is any sign, she could be resentful. But no, it’s not her. It’s me.” Whether he wanted to open up or not, Clint was dragging his feelings out of him. “I failed a marriage. How do I know I won’t do it again? I believe when we stand before God and vow to love someone forever that’s what we do, but...” No words came to him.
“I think we all feel that way, Devon.”
His head jerked upward. “Are you serious?”
“I sure am. Do you think that I don’t question whether I can be a good husband. I have no idea how I failed my fiancée. I’ve racked my brains with a cootie comb and nothing comes other than my work. That’s what she blamed the breakup on.” He shrugged. “I can’t see that as failing. She knew that when we became engaged.”
Hearing Clint’s honest confession helped alleviate some of Devon’s fear. Maybe everyone asked these question when they failed. Can I do this again? Can I be successful? He asked himself these questions when they battled a fire. Can we succeed? Can we save people’s lives? The answer was more often yes than no. Why not apply that concept to his life? “You’ve made me think, pal.”
“Good.” Clint chuckled and leaned back against the chair, taking a long swig of his cola. “I made myself think, too.” He set down the can. “It all comes down to hope.”
“Hope?”
“That’s what the Bible teaches. We know the Lord is on our side. We look to Him for guidance and then we hope we heard Him right. That’s all we can do.”
“That and pray.”
“Sure enough, pal. Prayer is the source.” He slapped his leg and rose, grabbing the cola. “And I better let you finish that report, or you won’t be able to leave on time.” He gave Devon’s shoulder a squeeze and ambled away.
Devon sat a moment, staring at the report in front of him, but his mind was on the conversation. Sometimes he let important tasks slip while he took care of less important things like laundry and grocery shopping. He could do those with his eyes closed, so why not be that close to prayer that it became second nature?
Somewhere along the line he’d let his faith take a backseat to everyday life. Faith had to be part of life, not an addendum. He could only guess prayer was a premier event in Ashley’s life or how else did she get through the sorrow of losing a husband and raising a tiny son on her own? That took courage and strength. Those were things the Lord could give through prayer. All he had to do was ask. He needed to teach Kaylee about prayer, too...and about Jesus. He wondered if her mother still attended church.
Or Renee. Gina’s sister had come into the conversation with Kaylee and that was another bug in his brain he couldn’t let go. How much time did Kaylee spend with her aunt rather than her mother? He needed to know the truth.