“HOW’D YOU SLEEP?” BEN ASKED, POURING TWO MUGS OF COFFEE AND handing one to Macey, who was lounging next to Keeper on his bed.
“Okay,” she said, taking a sip, “you know me—too busy worrying to get any decent rest to speak of. How ’bout you?”
“Oh, I’ve slept better, but Keep had a good night, and that’s all that matters.” They both listened to him snoring contentedly, just as he’d done all night.
She looked down and stroked his silky ears. “Those are some awfully nice steps Dad made for you to get up on the bed.”
Keeper opened one eye and thumped his tail, and Ben smiled. “We’ll have to move them back to Harper’s room when she gets home.” Macey pressed her lips together and Ben searched her eyes. “You can’t lose faith now . . . she’s going to come home. Isn’t that what your grandmother would say?”
“It is what Grandy would say, but she had a much stronger faith than me.”
“Well, your faith has taken some serious hits in the last few years, Mace. It’s understandable if it’s a little shaky.”
“Says Mr. Worrywart himself.”
“You’re right. I do worry, and I am worried, but I’m trying to keep the faith. Besides, you heard the doctor—he said she might even be able to play sports if the transplant comes through. That little spitfire could be your basketball protégé someday.”
Macey chuckled and started to roll her eyes, but stopped and smiled instead. “I hope you’re right, Ben. That would be something.” She sighed and gently lifted Keeper’s head off her lap. “I better get going. Are you going to stop by?”
Ben looked out the window. “I am . . . a little later, though. I’m going to take advantage of this nice day and get some work done around here. It’s starting to look a little neglected.”
“Maybe you could fix the drippy showerhead?” she suggested hopefully.
“Maybe,” he said, smiling and putting his arm around her, “but I’ll probably spend some time outside first, doing a little yard work. All the rain we’ve been having brought down a million willow branches.”
“A million?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Grandy always said if you leave a willow branch on the ground, it’ll become a new tree.”
“All the more reason I need to get out there. Last thing we need is more willow trees. So, between the branches and the other sticks and leaves, I have my work cut out for me.”
“So, nice day equals yard work. I’m sorry, my brain wasn’t operating at full throttle yet.”
“That’s okay. That’s why I made Fog Buster this morning,” he said, gesturing to her mug.
She took another sip. “And that’s why I’m taking it upstairs to my drippy shower.”
“Better drippy than no shower at all!”
Macey rolled her eyes.
“Thank you,” he teased. “That’s what I’ve been waiting for.”
She laughed. “Now, your morning’s complete.”
“Not quite,” he said softly, leaning down to kiss her. “Now, it’s complete.”
“Good,” Macey said, smiling. “Can I take my shower now?”
“You can indeed, missy. Get going . . . someone’s waiting for you.”
Macey nodded and headed up the stairs. She put her mug down on the bathroom counter, turned on the shower, and went into their room to find some clothes. She pulled out every drawer, hunting for her favorite pair of jeans, then turned and groaned when she spied them peeking out of the mountain of clothes overflowing from the laundry basket. She pulled them out, along with a long-sleeve T-shirt she decided could be worn again, grabbed some clean underwear from her drawer, hurried into the bathroom, and closed the door. As she undressed, she stopped to look at her reflection and ran her hand slowly over her flat abdomen. She bit her lip. “Maybe being a mom isn’t going to happen in the usual way . . . and maybe that’s been the plan all along. If so, I’m fine with it, but please don’t take this little girl from us. Please find her a really strong heart that will beat in her chest till she’s a hundred!”