“You know what?” She squeaked in pleasure when he moved his hand to her neck muscles. “You’re going to make some woman very happy one day.”
“Who me? Nah, I wouldn’t know the first thing about it.”
He was glad she was responding to the back rub. As Connor worked his fingers into Elaine’s scalp, she moaned. Only the more relaxed she grew, the tenser he became. He couldn’t stop thinking of ways to make Elaine’s life easier, but none of them seemed good enough.
None of them came close to fixing a broken heart.
* * * *
“You do know I’m going to whoop your ass, right?” The phosphorescent lights hit Connor’s features at odd angles, making him look like a devil.
Elaine wielded her putter. “Says who? Didn’t anyone ever tell you I play a mean game of mini putt?”
In an attempt to entertain Elaine and the kids, Connor had taken them to the local glow-in-the-dark mini putt facility on the mainland the day after the doctor appointment. He seemed determined to keep them amused. She had to admit as soon as they stepped off the dock, she’d breathed a bit more easily. She was happy to be home, but distractions were always welcome, especially ones that took her away from the cabin and her thoughts.
She wasn’t so much worried about her heart condition as she was about her kids. However, she’d seen the concern in Connor’s eyes when she told him, and it made her wish she hadn’t. Even still, she couldn’t keep it from him. He would have fished it out of her anyway. He was good at digging his heels in when he wanted to do so.
Having spent much of her evening rehashing what Josh had said in the appointment, she needed a change of scenery. She didn’t even have to say anything. Connor had just known. He’d turned to her after breakfast that morning and said, “That’s it. We need to play mini putt.”
Of course the kids had hooted in agreement. She couldn’t argue even if she’d wanted to.
Connor’s demeanor had lightened, no doubt to keep the rest of them happy and stress-free. He’d been joking and teasing all morning, keeping the conversation going with the kids whenever Elaine had a quiet moment. She couldn’t help making comparisons. When they’d gone to visit Toni and Fred in Alaska, the children had retreated into themselves, confused with the changes in their young lives. Now that they were back and under Connor’s wing again, they were coming out of their shells, especially Andy. The little guy stared openly at Connor all the time, in awe of his hero. As for Layla, she remained shy, but she’d been smiling a lot more. Every time Connor told a joke, she paused, mulling over his words and her mouth would turn up in a slow grin. Elaine could tell Layla thought Connor was especially clever.
He made Elaine want to recapture her playful side as well. It had been so long since she’d allowed herself to be silly and carefree.
When they arrived at the mini putt place, he helped the kids choose their neon balls and putters. He then picked a bright blue ball for himself. “My lucky color.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Elaine whispered in his ear, catching the mischievous bug. “I’m going to beat you.”
Connor arched an eyebrow and tweaked her biceps. “I don’t know about that. Not a lot of muscle definition here.”
“Hey!”
He held up his hands in front of his face. “I’m kidding. I think highly of your…definition.”
Smartass. “Just because I’m not studded with muscles doesn’t mean I can’t take you at minigolf.”
He turned to Layla. “Your mom thinks I’m studded with muscles.”
“What’s studded?” demanded Andy.
“It means ‘covered’,” Connor explained. “Your mom thinks I’m covered in muscles.”
“That’s because you are,” said Layla.
“This is a game of skill, not muscle.” Elaine tossed her head. “And I’m still going to beat you.”
“We’ll see about that, lady.” He put their names down on the small card. “Okay, youngest to oldest. That means Andy goes first, followed by Layla. I’ll go third, and seeing as you’re the oldest, Elaine, you will go last.”
“You’re older than I am,” Elaine argued, laughing. “I’m only thirty-three. You’re thirty-five.”
“You can’t prove it. You have no documentation to support your bizarre claim.”
“I’ve been at your last five birthdays, so yeah, I can prove it. Face it, Connor. You’re old and tired.”
“Old and tired?” He whooped in pretend outrage and stomped in his place like an ornery old man. “Dagnabbit! I’ve never been so insulted! Young whippersnappers.”
The kids fell over themselves at his antics. Elaine bit her lip and tried not to smile.
