“Her risk for another stroke is higher.” There, he’d said it, voiced what had been weighing on him since the first stroke. He took a deep breath. “Another stroke could kill her or completely disable her.”
“True, but a million other things could happen and do the same thing. To your mother, to you.” Kelsey squeezed his shoulder and then let go. “You can’t worry about what-ifs. That’s not good for your mother or for you.”
But the risk was real, too real. “If anything happens to her…”
“Something already did. She had a stroke and survived. Your family has survived, too.”
“No, we haven’t. We’ve been floundering like a ship lost at sea without its captain and no rudder. We had to bring in a hired gun to help with the wedding.”
Kelsey arched a brow. “I’ve been called a lot of things in my life, but never a hired gun.”
“It was a compliment.”
“Thank you.” The look in her eyes softened. “Will, not every family can handle a wedding on their own. Lots of people use…hired guns.”
“It’s not only the wedding.” Will wished Kelsey would touch him again. Her touch reassured him, made him feel stronger. “My mom’s the one who holds this family together. She always has. Even my dad admits she’s the glue. Whenever there’s a problem or something needs to be done, my mom’s the one to do it or to see that it gets done. And now there’s no one.”
A thoughtful smile curved Kelsey’s mouth. “There’s someone. A co-captain, so to speak.”
Will furrowed his brows. “Who?”
“You.” Her smile widened. “You came to get me. You’ve worked on Faith’s wedding. You made travel arrangements for Hope and her family. You keep tabs on your mother’s progress. Make sure your father doesn’t get overwhelmed.” The warmth in Kelsey’s eyes touched Will’s heart. “Those are all things your mother would have done, right?”
Her words had such a profound effect on him. He wasn’t used to feeling this way and wasn’t sure if he liked it. “So, I’m turning into my mom. Just what a guy wants to hear.”
Kelsey chuckled. “You’re simply stepping up, taking her place for now, like a…pinch runner. I think that’s what it’s called. I’m not much into spectator sports like football.”
He laughed. “It’s baseball.”
“Same difference.” She flipped her hair behind her shoulder. “Two teams, a ball, a score, and lots of commercials.”
He smiled. “Thanks.”
Her forehead wrinkled. “For what?”
“For making me feel better.”
All of a sudden, he was very aware of his surroundings. The crackling fire. A seductive jazz CD playing on the stereo. The wine, cheese, and crackers. The only things missing were candles.
What was he doing?
Will motioned to the coffee table. “I, uh, put out some food in case you were hungry.”
Her eyes widened with appreciation. “I’m starving. I skipped lunch and dinner.”
“There was a plate for you in the fridge.”
“I, um, forgot.”
He sat on the couch. “You must have been really busy today.”
“I had a few things I needed to do.” She sat on the opposite end of the couch. It was better this way, he told himself. “But I failed to get to the most important thing on my list. Maybe food is what I need to fuel my creativity. I’ve procrastinated way too long.”
“You?” He poured the wine into glasses. “I don’t believe it.”
“Believe it.” She took the glass he offered. “The wedding vows have to be ready by tomorrow. Which leaves tonight. It’s just…”
“What?”
