“The field is over two miles away, Patrick. I don’t want you—”
“I could ride my bike and—”
Their mother held up her hand, cutting him off. “I’m not having you ride your bike, especially on busy streets.”
Patrick dipped his head in frustration.
Reaching across the table, Maisy patted her youngest brother’s hand. “We’ll work something out,” she assured him, and they would. Patrick loved baseball. If he wasn’t out riding his bike, then he’d be throwing his baseball with whomever he’d wrangled into playing catch.
“Maybe I can help,” Chase inserted. “I could have a driver…” He paused mid-sentence at the fierce glare Maisy and Sean sent him. His gaze shot between the two before he said, “I can see that wouldn’t work.”
“We appreciate the offer,” Sean said, “but we don’t need you stepping in.”
“Sean,” their mother said softly in warning. “Chase was only being thoughtful.” Then, looking at Chase, she added, “It’s kind of you to offer, however, this is a family issue, and as a family we’ll resolve it.”
Properly chastised, it seemed, Chase nodded. “Understood.”
The discussion flowed around a way to get Patrick to and from practices and games. Everyone seemed to have a suggestion, and before long it was sorted out. By trading cars and rearranging their work schedules they should be able to make it happen, especially if they were able to find another family to carpool with.
Chase appeared to be listening intently to the banter as the family exchanged ideas.
After dinner, Maisy and Patrick cleared the table while their mother put away the few leftovers. Nothing was wasted. Maisy was busy with her task and didn’t realize Chase had disappeared with Sean.
This wasn’t good.
Chapter Fourteen
Maisy’s older brother led Chase onto the front porch. Chase didn’t need a crystal ball to realize that Sean Gallagher wasn’t thrilled with his interest in Maisy.
“S-o-o,” Sean said, as soon as the front door closed behind them. He drew out the lone syllable, as if formulating his thoughts as he spoke. “What’s up with you and my sister?”
Chase gestured with his hands, unsure on how best to explain his feelings. “Not much until recently. We’ve spoken a couple of times on the phone, and I flew in today and we had lunch.”
“You met how?”
“On a flight from Chicago to Seattle.” It surprised Chase to learn Maisy hadn’t mentioned any of this to her brother.
Sean mulled this over. “Why are you here?”
Chase wasn’t sure how much to share or if it was evennecessary. “Maisy did me a huge favor, which has helped open my eyes to certain things for which I’m grateful.”
Sean folded his arms and studied him as intently as any government official who’d come to inspect the bank records. “I love my sister, and I don’t want to see her hurt.”
“I have no intention of hurting Maisy,” Chase was quick to assure him.
“Maisy is a gentle soul and a bit naïve. You seem like an upfront kind of guy, at least I hope you are. It’s clear you’ve got money, which leads me to wonder why you’re interested in my sister.”
“I think Maisy is amazing.”
“She is,” Sean agreed. “And kind and giving and a whole lot too trusting. I don’t mean to be blunt…Then again, maybe I do. Do you intend to see her again?”
Now it was Chase’s turn to feel uneasy. He carefully considered his words.
“Initially, I flew into Seattle for other reasons and arranged lunch for Maisy on the off chance she’d be available. As it happened, she was.”
Sensing Sean’s attitude, he didn’t feel Maisy’s brother would be interested in hearing how heavily his sister had played in Chase’s thoughts.
“That doesn’t answer my question. You live in Chicago and Maisy is in Seattle. Unless you have another reason to be in town, it doesn’t seem likely you’ll be here often, right?”
