Austin watched as she paused in the doorway to pull the key from the lock with trembling hands. His gaze followed hers when she looked up at the hook near the top of the door frame. He still couldn’t believe Noah had climbed up there.
Debbie closed her hand around the key so tightly her knuckles turned white. When she didn’t move, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and guided her toward the house.
“Make sure the door’s locked, Savvy.”
With a shivering Noah on his hip soaking his own clothes, Austin guided a trembling Debbie down the hall, becoming more aware by the second how thin the pale pink t-shirt was that clung to her body.
He paused outside the master bedroom waiting for Debbie to enter.
She didn’t move.
Austin shook her shoulder and looked into her eyes. “Hey, it’s okay. Noah is fine. You saved him.”
Tears spilled onto her cheeks. “But it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have taken my eyes off him.”
“You have to turn your back sometimes or you’d never get anything done.”
“Tell me about it.” She brushed a wet lock of hair out of her eyes with a hand that still trembled. “He dumped out a whole container of rice while I showered yesterday.”
Noah’s little body shivered in Austin’s arms. “You’re both freezing. Go get warm and dry, and I’ll take care of Noah. You can tell me more about his crazy antics over dinner.” He smiled, hoping to distract her from the heavy thoughts weighing on her mind.
She didn’t smile, but thankfully, she walked into her room and closed the door.
Twenty minutes later, Austin had Noah dressed after giving him a warm bath. He’d put pajamas on him, figuring it was almost bedtime anyway.
Ten more minutes passed, and Debbie still hadn’t come out of her room.
After the third time of pulling Noah off the counter and out of the pantry, Austin finally gave the kid a sippy cup of milk and a package of Goldfish crackers.
Dallas and Cody walked into the kitchen.
“I’m hungry.” Cody held his stomach in a dramatic fashion. “Is dinner ready?”
“Um…” Austin wanted to say yes, because something smelled amazing, but there was nothing on the stove, and the ovens only showed the time. No temperature or timer.
Savannah rounded the corner from the dining room and pointed her paintbrush toward a crock pot on the counter. “I’m sure dinner is done, but shouldn’t we wait for Debbie?” She looked toward the hallway.
His gaze followed hers. Did Debbie always take this long to get ready? Or was she still upset over what happened with Noah?
Austin put the boys to work setting the table, hoping to buy some time. By the time Savannah finished washing her brushes, Debbie still hadn’t appeared. Feeling awkward, Austin carried the crock pot to the table and started dishing up the boys plates.
The pot roast and potatoes smelled heavenly, and Austin’s stomach growled so loud Dallas and Cody laughed. On the days he worked late, he was always famished by the time he got home.
He paused his actions when Debbie walked into the dining room, wearing leggings and an oversized red t-shirt. The woman looked beautiful no matter what she wore. It didn’t matter that her thick hair was still wet and she wore no makeup on her red-rimmed eyes.
Were they still red from crying at the poolside? Or had Debbie shed more tears behind her bedroom door?
“I hope you don’t mind us helping ourselves. The kids were hungry.”
“That’s fine. I’m glad you did.” She waved away his apology. “I’m sorry I took so long, I just needed…” She wrapped her arms around herself and shrugged.
Austin studied Debbie. He’d seen a glimpse of insecurity in Debbie’s eyes before, but now, her whole posture screamed self-doubt and uncertainty. She looked so different from the confident woman who showed up at his house last week, offering Savvy a job and a scholarship.
She looked vulnerable.
Austin set Cody’s food in front of him and turned to Debbie. “Is everything okay?”
“It’s fine. I’m fine.” She slid into her seat and smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
