She frowned.Did I say something wrong?
Kallie strained to get down, diverting Amy’s attention. She fished toys from the diaper bag as her gaze roamed the room filled with brown-leather furniture and mahogany shelves, full of glass and porcelain figurines. This house not only screamed wealth, it was not childproof.
What was it about Kallie everyone found so fascinating, and why did it make them emotional?
Hope’s voice from behind the door interrupted Amy’s thoughts. “Does Ben think it’s her? Is that why he wants them to stay here?”
Her? Her who?A crowd of marathon runners raced through Amy’s chest.
The Youngs were upset about something, and it had to do with Kallie; she was sure of it. She picked up James’ lower voice but couldn’t make out his words.
Perhaps staying here wasn’t a good idea. She wracked her brain for other options.
When Ben’s parents returned to the family room, they both wore smiles and apologized for their rudeness.
Hope sat beside her, and James sat in a nearby chair.
Amy sucked in slow, steady breaths, trying to ease the tightness in her chest.
“Tell us a little about yourself, Amy,” James said. His tone of voice, though not harsh, sounded like he expected compliance.
She wasn’t ready to share her life story, but if these people were willing to let them stay in their home, they deserved to know why she was in her current predicament.
Amy cleared her throat. “I’m from Portland, and I was traveling on the interstate when my car broke down. I barely made it to Knight’s Repair Shop.”
“You broke down this morning?” James asked.
Amy nodded. “Around five.”
“Why were you traveling in the middle of the night?” Hope asked. “Were you expected somewhere this morning?”
Amy lowered her gaze to hide her discomfort. “No, I don’t have anywhere to go.” She cringed at her choice of words. She’d never spoken truer words.
“Where were you headed?” Hope asked in a gentle voice.
“I don’t know.” Amy shrugged. “I know it seems irresponsible of me as a mother to take off in the middle of the night with no money, and a car that apparently had problems, but I needed to leave. I needed to get away... from him,” she finished, barely louder than a whisper.
Hope gasped and put a hand on Amy’s arm. “Did he hurt you? Are you in danger?”
Amy bit her bottom lip and shook her head. She wasn’t ready to share with these people all the ways Lance had hurt her.
“Please don’t feel like we’re judging you, dear.” Hope leaned closer. “We’re simply concerned for you and your daughter. We’d like to help you in any way we can. You’re welcome to stay here as long as you’d like.”
The sincerity in Hope’s words stole Amy’s breath. She looked at James. He smiled and nodded, seconding his wife’s words. Unable to speak around the lump in her throat, Amy gave a quick nod. She could see where Ben got his generosity.
Hope took her on a tour of the house, showing her a spacious, state-of-the-art kitchen with granite counter tops and stainless-steel appliances was Amy’s dream kitchen. And the guest bedroom with a walk-in closet and adjoining bathroom was almost as big as Amy’s entire apartment.
“Would you like to put Kallie in a separate room or keep her in here with you?”
“With me will be fine.” Amy wasn’t about to let Kallie out of her sight. Not with the way everyone acted around her.
“I have a playpen stored away somewhere in the basement. I’ll set it up and make sure it’s clean.”
“I don’t want you to go to any trouble. She can sleep on the bed with me.”
Hope waved a hand. “No trouble at all. Besides, I’ve slept with babies in my bed before, and it can hardly be called sleeping.”
When they rejoined James in the family room, he asked, “So Amy, do you have any plans? Have you considered staying in Providence for a while? Until you get back on your feet, at least.”
