Terri Reed - Love Comes Home and A Sheltering Love - Love Comes Home / A Sheltering Love

“Why are you crying?”

Rachel wiped at the tear coursing down her cheek and gave a shaky laugh. “I…don’t know.”

“Are you sad because Mrs. G. died?”

She nodded, surprised and relieved he understood that Mom G. was gone. She’d underestimated the child.

“She’s in a better place now, where there’s no pain.”

“Did your daddy tell you that?”

“Yes. Mrs. G.’s in heaven with my mom.”

Rachel hurt for this little boy, for what he’d miss. She hurt for herself, for the hole Mom G. left in her life. She hurt for Josh.

In an unfamiliar moment of need, Rachel hugged the boy. He smelled clean, like sunshine and fresh air. And when his little arms wrapped around her neck, she couldn’t stop the sob that broke free.

“Shh, its okay,” Griff said, his voice so grown up, so like Josh’s.

Rachel forced herself to let go. “I’m sorry. That was inappropriate.”

Griff cocked his head to one side. “Why?”

“You don’t know me.”

“Sure I do. You’re Mrs. G.’s daughter. She talked about you all the time.”

She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Did she?”

“Yep. Hey, will you come to church tomorrow?”

That the next day would be Sunday hit her like a blast of cold air. Her normally ordered and scheduled life was in disarray. With all the emotional stress of the past few days, she’d lost track of time. Attending a church service would be soothing. Josh would be there, but she could handle that. “Yes, I will.”

“Will you sit with us?”

Taken aback by the invitation, she struggled for an answer. “I don’t know. We’ll see.”

“Aw, that usually means no. Please? You can sit next to me.”

“Well…” She bit her lip. She didn’t want to disappoint Griff, but…

“Griff, don’t badger her.” Josh’s voice interrupted her thoughts and warmed her senses.

“He’s not badgering me,” she said.

“But he will until you say yes,” he countered with an amused twinkle in his eyes.

“Aw, Dad.”

Josh raised a brow and Griff rolled his eyes. Rachel smiled at the father-son exchange. Josh was a good father. His love for his son was evident in the way he looked at the boy, the way he displayed affection to Griff so freely. She’d always known Josh would be a good dad.

She sighed, feeling suddenly more alone and lonely than she’d felt in years. Josh had his son; she had no one. But she’d made her choice. A family wasn’t part of her world, couldn’t be a part of her world. Her job came first, would always come first. She doubted any man would accept that.

“You look tired,” Josh said abruptly. “We should take you to the hotel.”

Rachel stood. “You really don’t have to do that. I’m sure Mr. Finley can take me there.” She glanced around for the balding lawyer.

“No, we will,” he stated. “Mr. Finley can stop by later after you’ve had a chance to rest.”

She didn’t like being told how she felt. “I’m not tired.”

His expression became speculative and his tone softened. “Humor me, okay? Let us take you.”

Griff slipped his hand into hers. “You can sit with me.”

“Now how can you refuse an offer like that?” Josh asked.

She was sunk. How could she refuse Griff anything?

But Josh was another story. She couldn’t decipher what she felt for him. The confusion left her wary and upset.

She wanted to go back to Chicago, far away from Josh and the jumbled mess of emotions he so easily stirred.

“Fine,” she relented, only to have her nerves strung taut by the pleased look on Josh’s face. Pleasing him shouldn’t feel so good.

The tall, white-tipped, pointed steeple of the historic Red Church, its red paint gleaming in bright contrast to the clear blue sky, rose high above the maple and oak trees in the parklike setting of the church grounds. White-painted woodwork outlined beautifully etched stained-glass windows. The melodic strain of the church organ drifted out with the people as they exited through the open, wide double doors.

Rachel made her way toward the street, intent on walking back to her hotel without being waylaid by Josh.

The sound of pounding feet behind her drew her attention. She turned to see Griff skid to a halt before grabbing her hand. “Will you go get ice cream with us?”

Rachel laughed. “Don’t you mean lunch?”

Griff shook his head. “Nope, ice cream.”

His little face beamed and she felt tightness in her chest she’d never experienced before. He looked so adorable in his navy slacks with a checkered button-down shirt coming untucked at the waist.

She glanced up as Josh approached. His tawny hair was combed back and the green stripe in his tie brought out the green in his eyes. A warm flush flowed over her skin. “Ice cream after church?” she asked.

He shrugged sheepishly. “It’s tradition.”

“Will you come? Will you, huh?” Griff tugged on her hand.

“I don’t think so.” The numbness she’d allowed to seep into her soul after Mom G.’s passing seemed to retreat every time this child was present, only to be replaced with a tender yearning.

The new feeling worried her; confusion was not something she allowed herself. She always knew exactly what she wanted and how to get it. Except when it came to Josh and now his son. She didn’t like the out-of-her-control feelings spinning around her heart and mind.

“Please,” he wheedled. “You can get any flavor you want. Right, Dad?”

“Sure she can.” She heard the challenge in his tone.

Rachel tried to discern what was going on inside Josh’s head. His expression gave nothing away. He looked decidedly…neutral, but his voice told her otherwise.

“I have things to do….” She stopped as Josh cocked one brow and Griff tightened his grip on her hand.

“You have all day to do stuff,” Griff complained. “Please, please? I really want you to come with us.”

Her mouth twisted in a half smile. She understood now what Josh had meant about being badgered. Ice cream did sound good, if only because it was a decadence she rarely indulged in. “Well…”

Griff pounced on her momentary indecision. “Yay!”

To Josh’s amused expression, she said, “What? I like ice cream. Besides, he can be convincing.”

“There’s no doubt about that.” Josh’s mouth quirked up at the corners. His gaze narrowed slightly. “I went to the hotel this morning to pick you up.”

“I told you not to,” she countered.

He smiled with wry humor. “I went anyway.”

She’d hoped he wouldn’t. She didn’t want him to think she’d deliberately stood him up. “I came early to spend a few moments of quiet before the service.”

He nodded, but she could tell he wasn’t truly convinced.

“Rachel?” a female voice called.

She turned to a see Jennifer Martin hurrying toward her. They’d been best friends in high school. Very different, not only in looks—Jennifer, blond and olive-skinned contrasted to Rachel’s own dark hair and fair skin—but also in temperament. Jennifer was outgoing and confident. Rachel had envied that about her friend.

They’d spoken briefly at the funeral, but Rachel hadn’t been in the mood to play catch-up on the locals. Jennifer had understood.

“Hi, Jennifer.”

To Rachel’s surprise, Jennifer hugged her again, as she had the day before at the graveside. Rachel wasn’t accustomed to displays of affection from anyone other than Mom G. And Josh. Though she couldn’t say that he’d held her at the hospital with any amount of affection, more like obligation. She stiffly hugged Jennifer back.

“We’re going to get ice cream,” Griff piped up.

Jennifer’s speculative gaze traveled from Griff, to Josh and then settled on Rachel. “That’s wonderful.”