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

Rod gave the boy a hug. “Night, pipsqueak.”

Josh’s heart swelled with love for his boy. Some said Griff looked like Josh. Josh didn’t see it. His son had lighter hair, his eyes were more the color of moss than hazel and he had his mother’s smile. Sadly Josh hadn’t seen Andrea smile much toward the end. He should have tried harder to make her happy. A well-aimed stab of guilt twisted in his gut.

The phone rang.

Rod suggested, “Probably the station again. David Mackafee called earlier, wondering when you were coming back in.”

Josh shrugged. He’d written out his schedule for the crew. Because of Mrs. G.’s illness, he’d been taking some personal leave from his duties as District Ranger for the Forestry Service of Tuolumne County. He would be going into the station in the morning, after he checked on Mrs. G.

He picked up the phone. “Hello?”

“Hello, Josh.”

His brows rose in surprise to hear the female voice on the other end of the line. “Rachel?” His heart contracted painfully in his chest. There could only be one reason she would call him. “Is Mrs. G…..?”

“No, no,” she said quickly. “She’s holding her own.”

The tightness in his chest eased. He glanced at his father and son who both stared at him with anxious expressions. “Hold on,” he told Rachel. “She’s fine,” he said to his family. Both Griff and Rod sagged in relief.

Then Rod arched a brow. “Rachel Maguire?”

“Who’s that?” Griff questioned and moved to stand next to Josh, the top of his head reaching the middle of Josh’s chest.

Josh shook his head and pointed upward.

Griff groaned and shuffled out of the room. As for his father, Josh said, “Do you mind?”

Rod grinned. “Not at all.” And he sat back down in his recliner.

Josh rolled his eyes. Talking to Rachel on the phone while his father casually listened from his chair took him back to the past. But back then they’d had plenty to talk about—school, love, their future. The only thing they had in common now was Mrs. G.

“Sorry about that,” he said into the receiver as he turned his back to his father.

“That’s all right.” Her voice sounded hesitant. “Mom G. would like to see you in the morning.”

“I’d planned on coming by.”

“But she wanted me to call and make sure. She…uh…hmmm…well, she wants to see us together.”

Josh frowned. “Really?” He didn’t want to see Rachel again.

“Yes. I don’t know why, but I hope we can be civil to make her happy.”

“I’ve never been uncivil to you, Rachel.”

A moment of silence passed.

“Well, I mean, we could refrain from fighting. I—I want to apologize for earlier,” she said in a rush.

The corner of his mouth lifted. At least one part of her hadn’t changed. The old Rachel had always accepted responsibility for her actions.

“Forget it.” He didn’t need her apology. He thought about what she’d asked, then made a decision. “I’ll be there tomorrow morning and I can be friendly for Mrs. G.’s sake.”

“Excellent.” She sounded pleased, but he couldn’t be sure. “Goodbye, Josh.”

“Bye.” He slowly replaced the receiver. He hadn’t wanted to see her, but he couldn’t let Mrs. G. down. He’d tolerate Rachel if it killed him.

And when he thought about it, the best way to annihilate any feelings he harbored for Rachel was to be around the woman she’d become. She was so aloof and distant. Much different than she’d been in high school. Then she’d been open and friendly. Always looking for someone she could help. She’d needed to be of use.

Being a doctor must fulfill that need for her. But had becoming a doctor made her so cold? He supposed life in the big city could change a person, take warm people and turn them into an icy reflection of their former selves.

“You’re going to be friendly with Rachel, huh?” Rod broke into his thoughts.

Josh shrugged. “Mrs. G. wants to see us both.”

Rod looked pleased. “I might come with you.”

“Fine.” He didn’t want to discuss Rachel with his dad. Didn’t want to hear Rod’s opinion that he shouldn’t have let her slip out of his life. He’d had no choice. She was determined to go. “I’ll see you in the morning.” Josh turned to leave but stopped at Rod’s soft chuckle. “What’s so funny?”

“I have a pretty good idea what Olivia is up to.”

“You want to let me in on the secret?”

Rod smacked his lips and grinned. “No. I’ll let this one play itself out.”

Josh frowned. His father and Mrs. G. were up to something. Rachel was the only girl Rod had ever approved of and Mrs. G., of course, loved her. But no amount of matchmaking was going to work. “You’re a nut.”

Rod wiggled his brows. “Takes one to know one.”

Josh smiled. He loved his father and was thankful he’d agreed to live with him and Griff when they moved into this house. “Dad, what am I going to do with you?”

Rod laughed. “Hey, don’t forget to call the station.”

“Thanks.”

“Sleep well, son. I have a feeling you’ll need your strength tomorrow.”

Josh shook his head in exasperation. He didn’t relish disappointing Mrs. G. and his father, but nothing could bring him and Rachel back together. Their needs, their wants in life were too different. Rachel wanted success, prestige and a position of power. He wanted a stable, secure life with a woman who loved him enough to commit to him.

And Rachel wasn’t that woman.

Rachel shielded her eyes against the sunlight streaming through the curtains of Mom G.’s hospital room. She blinked several times, trying to moisten her gritty eyes. She’d spent the night sitting beside Mom G.’s bed, too afraid to leave. She didn’t want to get a middle-of-the-night call or find an empty bed in the morning. By staying, Rachel hoped she could keep death from claiming Mom G.

She listened to Mom G.’s labored breathing. Helplessness swamped her, making her head pound and her chest hurt. There had to be something more she could do.

She heard the door open. Expecting Josh, she fortified her nerves against his powerful presence and slowly turned around. The sight of a tall, older gentleman dressed in faded jeans and a dark patterned flannel shirt sent surprised pleasure coursing through her.

“Rod,” she exclaimed softly. She glanced at Mom G., who still slept, then stood and went to the man who, for a time, had been the closest she’d ever come to having a father.

His infectious grin filled her with fondness. He hugged her for a long moment and she savored the steady comfort.

“Here, now.” He drew back to look at her. “It’s good to see you.”

“And it’s good to see you.” She noticed his hair had turned a very distinguished gray and the crinkles around the corners of his hazel eyes had deepened. “How are you?”

“As ornery as ever.”

“Some things never change,” she teased.

He looked past her toward the bed. “How’s she?”

“She had a rough night. The chemo took a lot of her strength.”

He shook his head. “Such a shame.”

“It is.” Rachel knew Mom G. would be going on to a better place, but she didn’t want her to go. She didn’t want to think about the hole Mom G.’s death would leave in her life. Even though they’d been physically apart, Rachel took strength from both the knowledge that Mom G. loved her and from her weekly phone calls. Mom G. had always been there for her.

“Olivia’s very proud of you, Rachel.”

His words brought her pleasure. Mom G. had always encouraged and supported her goals. But the little girl she kept locked inside shook with dread. She was scared to be alone. “What am I going to do, Rod?”