Then another thought crashed in on her like a giant weight. Could they take Kallie away from her? To try to prove she was Ben’s missing daughter. Would someone question her competence as a mother, because of her current situation?
Gray spots filled her vision, blurring Ben’s face. Her legs weakened, and she feared they might give out. She reached out to steady herself against the cool brick of the house, pressing her free hand to her chest.
Staying at the Young’s house no longer mattered. She wanted to rip Kallie from her bed and run for the second time in twenty-four hours. But she couldn’t leave town without a car.
Ben must have read the fear on her face because he stepped closer. “It’s okay. I’ve no doubt Kallie is your daughter. She got your sky-blue eyes and platinum-blond hair. My Cassey had... has deep-blue eyes, like mine, and golden-blond hair. I haven’t seen her for almost a year, but I know I’d recognize her in a heartbeat if I ever saw her again.” The words came out tight and tortured.
Amy heaved a sigh of relief, but she reeled from the insinuation someone suspected her of being a kidnapper. “But...”
“My parents thought I offered to help you because I thought Kallie might be my daughter.”
“Your father insisted I take her to the sheriff’s office with me, so the he could check me and Kallie out.” Amy started putting the pieces together and couldn’t help taking offense.
“Yes, but Robert was certain Kallie is not my missing daughter. When he informed my dad, he asked for more proof. So, Robert called Charlie. He planned on calling him anyway, to check your references. But as he questioned Charlie about how long you’d worked there, he confirmed you’d been pregnant and raised your baby from birth.”
Amy silently processed this information. She’d met one friendly person after another in this town, never once thinking they might suspect her of being a kidnapper. Were all people in small towns this suspicious of strangers? Or was it simply because of the magnitude of the loss they’d suffered?
“When you went to put Kallie to bed, Dad told me they’d verified Kallie wasn’t my daughter. I told him I never thought she was.” His voice was tight as he continued, “I’m sorry he was suspicious of you and went behind my back, instead of talking to me or you about it.”
He’s angry with his parents, not me.Amy lowered her hands to her sides. No one had asked her to leave. In fact, the sheriff had offered her a job.
Amy stared at the deep red roses surrounding the porch. The darkness made them appear almost black. Was that how Ben felt? Like darkness had overshadowed his life with no prospect of light. Ever.
How could he find any light, while his daughter was missing?
She considered all his parents had lost. A granddaughter, daughter-in-law, and in a way, even their son. Grief and pain caused people to act irrationally. If she’d been the one to lose her daughter, she was certain every blond-haired, blue-eyed toddler would remind her of Kallie and spark hope. They must carry the hope that someday Cassey would be found. Understanding this made it easy to forgive their actions.
Amy stepped closer to Ben, again fighting the urge to reach out to him. “They’re concerned for you. They probably thought they could spare you more pain by doing what they did.”
“I suppose you’re right.” He sighed and shoved his hands into his pockets again. “Unfortunately, one thing I’ve learned this past year is that no amount of good intentions from family and friends can take away the pain.”
He was right. No matter what anyone said or did, they couldn’t take away his pain. But the desire to comfort him was so strong, she touched his arm. He stared at her hand, and for a moment, Amy thought he might pull away.
He didn’t.
“It’s my own fault, I guess. I shut them out. I shut everyone out. They didn’t dare talk to me about it for fear of driving me away again.”
Again?Though curious about what he meant, Amy didn’t feel it her place to press him for an explanation. She dropped her hand. “If my staying here with Kallie is a problem... I mean, if she’s too much of a reminder... of what you’ve lost... I can find another place to stay.”
“No. It’s fine. It might be a little hard at times, but it will be good to have her around.”
Is he trying to convince me, or himself?
He turned to leave, then abruptly turned back. “I almost forgot...” Pulling out his wallet, he took out a fifty-dollar bill and extended it toward her. “I’m glad you found a job, but I want to make sure you have enough to see you through until you get your first paycheck.”
Amy held up her hand palm out and stepped back. “You’ve already done enough.”
Ignoring her protest, he took her hand in his large, calloused one and pressed the folded bill into her palm. He closed her fingers around it, brushing the inside of her wrist. A tingle of warmth shot up her arm.
Wide-eyed, she pulled her hand back, still gripping the money. She rubbed her wrist against her hip willing the tingles to subside.What is wrong with me? I hardly know the man.
Ben’s blue eyes bore into hers, and their intensity stole her breath. “I promised I’d take care of you and Kallie. Make sure she doesn’t go without.”
His concern for Kallie touched her. Lance had never shown such concern for his own daughter. Wanting Ben to know how grateful she was, she stepped forward and grabbed his hand. “You’re a lifesaver, Ben. I can’t thank you enough.”
Less than a foot separated them, and the proximity stole her breath. Warmth emanated from him, and his earthy, spicy-with-a-touch-of-citrus scent filled her nose. She liked his smell.
Ben sucked in a sharp breath and she felt him stiffen.
