Because Faith was so friendly, Amy decided to do a little probing.
“Can you tell me why everyone seems sad when they meet Kallie?”
“You’re referring to Ben and his parents?”
“And Charity, although her sadness seemed to be for Ben.”
“We’reallsad for Ben.” Faith let out a deep sigh and grew quiet.
Amy thought the talkative woman wasn’t going to say anything more.
Then Faith spoke through a watery smile. “Kallie reminds us, and especially Ben, of what he lost.” She paused again and fiddled with her napkin.
Amy’s chest grew tight.What had Ben lost?
“He lost his wife and daughter in a car accident almost a year ago. His little Cassie had beautiful blue eyes and blond curls, just like your Kallie.”
Heaviness filled Amy’s chest, stealing her breath. Tears blurred her vision.That poor man.
* * *
Ben strainedto loosen a stubborn bolt on the engine of Amy’s car. Without warning, the wrench slipped, and his hand slammed against the sharp metal edge of the car’s frame. He swore under his breath as the wrench clattered to the floor with a loud, metallic clang and blood oozed through the hole in his rubber work glove.
“Stupid gloves.”
They kept the oil and grease from soaking into every crack and crevice of his hands, but they also affected his grip. Stripping off the gloves, he picked up the wrench and tossed it on the workbench. Casting Amy’s car a final glance, he shrugged. He’d done all he could until the new parts arrived, so he may as well stop torturing himself.
He rarely took a lunch break, but he’d taken one today to take Amy’s luggage to his parent’s house. If he saw her and Kallie and assured himself they were okay, then he’d be able to stop worrying and focus. But they hadn’t been there, so he’d jumped at his mom’s dinner invitation.
Why am I so anxious to see them again?
What had he been thinking when he’d promised to take care of them? True, he’d never been able to walk away from someone in need, but he’d done a good job this past year of ignoring other people’s needs. Why did he have to start today?
Because they need me.
No. They needed help, but they didn’t need him. Except to fix their cars, no one had needed him in a long time. The surprise on everyone’s face in the diner proved that. Or maybe they were surprised to see a pretty stranger in town.
“I’m calling it a day,” he called to Scott as he headed for the door. “Lock up, will you?”
He let himself into his apartment. Small and sparsely furnished, it could hardly be called cozy, but it had served him fine for the past five months. Small and sparsely furnished, the one-bedroom apartment felt especially dark and quiet today.
He washed his hands in the bathroom sink and inspected the cut on his finger. Good. Not as bad as he’d first thought. His gaze shifted to the mirror, where he studied his reflection.I look like a mountain man with this thick beard and shaggy hair.No wonder Amy was reluctant to accept his help.
He couldn’t remember the last time he shaved or got a haircut. With no one to impress anymore, and no desire to draw attention to himself, he hid behind his beard. It’d become his way of telling people to keep their distance.
It worked with most people. Too bad it wasn’t more effective on Debbie Wheeler.
He ran his hands through his hair.Maybe I should visit the barber.Amy was dealing with enough, she didn’t need to be frightened of him.
* * *
Amy stoodin front of the fireplace in the Young’s family room, studying the photos spread across the mantle. She’d offered to help with dinner, but Hope shooed her out of the kitchen and told her to relax. Relaxation was slow in coming, however.
This morning, Amy had felt helpless, but now, she felt hopeful. Having a safe place to stay and a job, not to mention a nap and shower, had changed her perspective. An uneasiness settled over her, though. Despite feeling grateful for the Young’s generosity, she felt like she didn’t belong here. Amy had never known such luxury. When she’d called Celeste earlier, she’d told her she was safe and comfortable, but comfortable felt like an understatement. Even the expensive soaps and hair products in the bathroom screamed wealth.
That wasn’t the only thing making her tense; she was uneasy about seeing the bearded mechanic again. Trust never came easily to Amy, so why had she trusted him?
His eyes.
