Chelsea slipped it over her head and put it around the little girl’s. “You can have it. My grandmother gave it to me, and now I’ll give it to you.”
Jordan beamed. “See what Mama gave me, Daddy? It’s a locket from her grandmother. And it says stuff on it.”
Theo admired the locket and the enthusiasm in his daughter. Their daughter.Get used to saying that.
“A joyful heart is good medicine,” Chelsea said. “You fill my heart with so much joy, Jordan, that I’ll have to get better. Won’t I?”
Their daughter’s eyes grew wide. “Are you still sick, Mama?”
“I don’t think I am anymore. You’re my good medicine.”
Chelsea’s expression said she still wasn’t sure. There was more to her story than she was telling. What exactly did she mean when she said she’d been sick? Holy cow. Did she have something fatal, like cancer or…? God, he couldn’t even think. Another conversation had to happen and soon. Again, not in front of Jordan.
“We should probably get going, peanut. Let your mom have some time to herself. It’s been a long day together.”
“It’s been a wonderful day,” Chelsea said as they trooped down the stairs.
“We should—oh, wait. I said I’d check the heat for you, didn’t I?” Shuffling toward the basement door, he glanced back at Chelsea. “Do you want me to show you what to do in case you need to adjust it later?”
Her eyes got wide, and she twisted her hands together. “No, I trust you.”
“Have you been in the cellar yet?’
Her head shook back and forth. “I heard noise down there. I didn’t know what it was. I don’t honestly want to know what it is.”
“I’ll check it out. Jordan, stay with your mom and keep her safe, okay?”
The little girl hugged her mother’s leg and nodded.
In the basement, he found several large piles of rags and leaves. Definitely a nest of some sort. As he approached, something rustled and skittered up the side of the wall and out an open window. Squirrels. They’d had a nice dry place for the winter, but it was time for an eviction notice. He kicked at the piles and found nothing else there, so he closed the window and shoved a piece of wood in front of it to keep it from opening again. Another thing for the list of repairs to this place.
After turning the heat on, he checked the water pump and heater. The water heater had been turned off. Chelsea had been here without hot water for a week. Why hadn’t she said anything? He’d have to check in with Mike Gomez, the inspector he’d recommended to Chelsea, and make sure she got the right help to get this place in better shape.
“You’re all set,” he said, closing the cellar door after him and locking it. “I found a few little friends down there, but they’re gone now. The window needs to be replaced. I put a temporary fix on it for the moment.”
“Thank you.” Her expression still seemed anxious.
“The heat’s on and the hot water. You didn’t tell me you didn’t have hot water.”
Her shoulders lifted and lowered. “I didn’t want to bother you too much.”
Shaking his head, he said, “Jordan, give your mom a hug and a kiss before we go.”
The child’s eyes narrowed. “She’s not coming to put me to bed tonight?”
“Not tonight, but we were together all day today, right? We’ll see her again soon.”
Chelsea gathered her up and clung to her. More reminders that they’d been kept from each other for too long. How would he have coped had the situation been reversed?
When Chelsea eased back, Jordan whirled around. “Daddy, it’s your turn for a hug and kiss.”
He laughed. “I can give you those when we get home, peanut.”
“No, Daddy.” Her hands plopped on her hips. “You needa give Mama a hug and kiss.”
Would Chelsea allow that? He’d held her earlier but mostly in comfort. Taking a step forward, he checked her expression. Was it hopeful?
“Thanks for coming with us today,” he whispered as he reeled her in. Her body trembled when he held her. Was that good or was she afraid of him?
