“You almost walked in front of that car. What were you thinking?”

Beth Ann fought her fingers, which wanted to reach up and rest on the buttons of Robert’s coat. Keeping them clenched at her sides, she imagined how he’d react if she shared the thoughts weighing on her heart.

Knowing he deserved an answer to his question, she said, “I guess I was lost in my thoughts.”

“You need to be more careful. What would have happened to the Henderson kinder if you ended up in the hospital or worse?”

“I guess you would have become their sole temporary guardian.”

“This isn’t a joke, Beth Ann. Don’t you realize how important you are to—” He coughed hard. “Don’t you realize how important you are to them? Without you, they’ll be sent to separate foster homes.”

She nodded as she wished she could be sure she’d heard what she thought she had. Had he been about to include himself in the question about her being an important part of their lives? Had his cough been a way to disguise his
near slip?