Falling for the Single Mom

by Mia Ross

  After what felt like forever, he found the door to the girls’ bathroom lying askew on the floor, the painted picture of Little Bo-Peep torn from all but one of its screws. The jamb was cockeyed but more or less intact, and he murmured a quick prayer for Bailey’s safety before stepping inside. The lights had been knocked from their sockets, so the only light came from a small window. Dust and debris hung in the air like a dense fog, making it nearly impossible for him to see.

  Taking out his phone, he turned on its flashlight and swept the room, hunting for a child who was probably scared out of her mind. A huge limb had crushed the stalls, but thankfully no one was in either of them. The shrieking wind died down for a few seconds, and he heard a whimper off to his right. He swung the light around to find a dust-covered little girl cowering under one of the sinks.

  “Hey there,” he said in a purposefully casual tone. “I’m thinking you must be Bailey Fitzgerald.”

  Blue eyes wide with fear, she mutely stared back at him. She was holding her left arm but otherwise appeared to be unharmed. The roof shifted ominously overhead, and he realized that if he didn’t get her out of here quickly, they might be trapped inside when the rafters caved in. He didn’t dare crawl over to her, for fear of disturbing the pile of debris that was currently holding up what remained of the ceiling.

  Since she was much smaller than him, he thought Bailey could wiggle out of her hiding place and over to where he was standing without compromising the stack. Hoping to coax her into the open, he forced a grin. “I’m Josh Kinley, Erin’s little brother. Your aunt sent me in here to make sure you washed your hands.”

  That got him nothing, and panic started creeping up his spine. If she wouldn’t come to him, he’d have to go in after her and risk toppling the pile onto them both. Just when he was beginning to think that was his only option, he remembered what Heather had told him about unicorns. He didn’t know what a safe word was, but he figured he had nothing to lose by trying.

  “Your aunt said that when I found you, I should tell you ‘unicorn.’”

  Like a key to a lock, the single word opened her up, and in a trembling voice she said, “I’m scared.”

  “I know, but you’re gonna be fine. If I hold this beam up, do you think you can crawl over here?”

  She nodded, and he braced his hands on the timber to keep it steady while she shimmied across the floor. When she reached him, he let the beam go and swept her into his arms, backing into the hallway as quickly as he could. Several chunks of ceiling rained down on them, and she shrank against him with a fearful scream. Hunching around her to protect her as much as he could, he hurried from the collapsing building, maneuvering around upended furniture and sections of the roof that were hailing down on him at an alarming rate.

  Each chunk was larger and heavier than the last, and by the time he burst from the side door, every inch of him felt as if it had been bruised in a fight. But Bailey was in one piece, and that was all that mattered. Josh didn’t stop to check her over but ran straight to the church, where an anxious Heather was waiting just inside the entryway doors, her worried gaze fixed on the ruined day care center.

  When she saw them coming, she bolted down the front steps and into the driving rain. She met them in the middle of Main Street, oblivious to the storm still raging around her. Without a word, Josh handed Bailey over to her, watching as they hugged and cried in a touching reunion that might have ended so differently.

  “My arm hurts,” Bailey said as they made their way up the steps to where it was warm and dry. It struck Josh that the small white chapel was serving as a sanctuary for all of them, and he looked up with a grateful smile. He was too exhausted to do more than that, but he was sure that God knew what he meant.

  “Doc Sheppard can take care of that,” Josh assured her, nodding to where the kind man was tending to one of her classmates. “And if you’re brave, he’ll give you your choice of lollipops.”

  “I like grape.”

  “Yeah? Me, too.” Grinning at the resilient child, he shifted his gaze to Heather, whose face was beginning to regain some of its color. “How ’bout you?”

  It was obvious she was still trying to shake off their ordeal, though she looked up as if thinking it over. “I like cherry.”

  “I’ll ask the doctor to give you a cherry one, Aunt Heather,” Bailey suggested. “You were brave today, too.”

  “Thanks, bean. I appreciate that.” Wrapping her in a hug, Heather looked up at Josh with tears of gratitude shining in her eyes. “I know it’s not close to being enough for what you did, but thank you.”

  “Aw, it was nothin’,” he replied, ticking Bailey’s nose with his finger. “Always glad to lend a lady a hand.”

  “You’re a hero,” the girl informed him. “Like Superman.”

  “Well, now, that’s kinda cool.”

  “Yes, it is,” Heather agreed, “but right now, I think we should get you both taken care of.”

  “I’m fine,” Josh assured her. When she nodded at his left hand, he looked down to see that the nice, neat wrapping was now filthy and shredded into several pieces. “Huh. How ’bout that?”

  Tired and half-drowned, the three of them crossed the church to where Doc Sheppard was using one of the front pews as a makeshift office. He gave Josh a proud smile, then turned his attention to Bailey. “And what brings you by to see me, young lady?”

  “My arm hurts. And I like grape lollipops.”

  “I see you’ve been talking to Josh.” The grandfatherly man chuckled as he examined her arm. “He’s one of my best customers, you know.”

  While he chatted with Bailey and assessed her injuries, Heather glanced over at Josh and gave him a sweet smile that warmed him from his dripping hair to his waterlogged boots. He didn’t want to ruin one of the antique oak pews, so he braced his back against the wall and slid down to sit on the carpet runner that stretched the length of the side aisle to wait for his turn with the doctor.

  What a day, he mused, taking advantage of the relative calm to close his eyes. Right now, that plan of watching TV that Doc had mentioned was sounding pretty good to him.

  Chapter Four

  Heather wasn’t sure what to do next.

  The kindly doctor had cleaned and inspected Bailey’s elbow, then checked her over and pronounced her slightly bruised but ready to go. With a grape lollipop tucked in her mouth, Bailey seemed none the worse for wear as they followed Josh out to his pickup, which the day care class was calling the Rescue Truck.

  Heather’s nerves were another story altogether.

  She’d never been so terrified in her life, and when she reached out to tousle her niece’s hair for the third time, Bailey pulled away as she buckled her seat belt.

  “I’m fine, Aunt Heather,” she announced in an overly patient tone that betrayed her annoyance. “You can stop smushing me.”

  “Sorry. I guess I’m not good in a crisis.”

  “Seriously?” Josh teased with a sidelong grin at her. “You’re a vet.”

  “Human crisis,” she clarified, frowning back. “I can’t believe you’re being so blasé about this. If it weren’t for you...” She trailed off, unable to complete the thought. If she was being honest, she had to acknowledge that she hadn’t yet accepted her brother’s sudden death, and she was still learning to navigate her responsibilities as a guardian. If anything happened to Bailey, she’d never forgive herself.

  The twinkle in his blue eyes dimmed a bit, chasing away the smile. “My turn to apologize. You might not wanna hear this, but I know how you feel.”

  Her favorite phrase, she thought bitterly. She’d heard it so many times at the funeral, she’d barely managed not to scream at the well-meaning guests. Smothering that same impulse now, she summoned the tone she’d cultivated for chauvinistic professors who’d dared to question her choic
e of career. “About what?”

  “Your brother,” he replied quietly, staring out the windshield as he pulled onto Main Street. “We lost my dad in a car accident a few years ago. It changes your perspective on things.”

  She gave him a long look, but he didn’t meet her eyes. When she realized that was his intent, she decided it was probably best for both of them. After the scare she’d had, seeing sympathy in the eyes of this selfless, courageous man might just make her cry. She was fairly certain that was the last thing either of them wanted. “Yes, it does. Thank you for understanding.”

  He nodded, then angled a glance down at Bailey. “How’s your arm feeling?”

  “Okay. Can I turn on the radio?”

  “Sure, sweetness. Pick whatever you want.”

  “Sweetness?” she echoed, grinning up at him. “That’s a nice nickname.”

  “Then it’s yours. You were pretty awesome today, so I’m thinking you should get whatever you want.”

  She cast a woeful look through the rain-streaked window at the park. The powerful storm had moved on, but not before dropping several enormous limbs on top of what had been a sprawling wooden playground only a few hours ago. “Mr. Kinley, do you think someone can fix that?”

  He hesitated, and Heather guessed that he was trying to come up with a way to be truthful but encouraging. Most adults would’ve patted Bailey on the head and told her not to worry about it, but not Josh. He was treating her with the same respect he’d shown Heather, and she appreciated his generous attitude toward her niece. She didn’t know him well, but she couldn’t deny that there was a lot to like about this tall, easygoing country boy.

  “I’d imagine so,” he finally replied, “but not for a while. It’ll take some serious cash and a lot of hours no one has to spare this time of year.”

  Bailey sighed. “I saw a bunch of kids playing over there yesterday. It looked like they were having a lot of fun.”

  Josh’s eyes flicked toward Heather, but she had no idea what he was after, so she kept quiet, waiting to hear what he’d say next.

  “Tell you what,” he said as he stopped for an elderly couple in the crosswalk. “I’ll start pulling a crew together to make the repairs on one condition.”

  “What?” Bailey asked eagerly.

  “You and your aunt have to help raise the money we’ll need to replace the materials.”

  “I don’t know, Josh,” Heather said instinctively. “With my new job, I’m going to be awfully busy.”

  “And I’m just a kid,” Bailey added. “What can I do?”

  “Folks need a good reason to donate money to the project. Who better to ask them than a girl who’s going to enjoy the end result?”

  “What if they say no?” she asked.

  “Then you ask someone else,” he replied with a chuckle. “That’s how the Oaks Crossing Rescue Center operates all year long, and they’re doing it well enough to bring your aunt here, aren’t they?”

  “I guess.” Hope shone in Bailey’s china-blue eyes that were so much like Craig’s as she looked at Heather. “Is it okay?”

  After the day the little girl had endured, how could she possibly say no? Besides, Josh was in the middle of planting season, and he’d volunteered time he clearly didn’t have to spare. It wasn’t as if she could claim to be busier than he was. “Of course it is. Maybe some of the kids in your class will help, too. Then you’ll be raising money and making friends at the same time.”

  Josh flashed her a grin of approval that went a long way toward soothing her frazzled nerves. Her last boyfriend had broken things off when Bailey moved in with her, claiming he didn’t have the energy for a child during his residency. Heather had decided that she and Bailey would be better off not relying on someone else who’d leave when things didn’t go his way.

  Since Heather was independent by nature, it didn’t bother her all that much when people disapproved of her choices. Being a woman in a traditionally male field had made her even more adamant about following her own path. But she had to admit, it was comforting to be around someone who seemed to be on the same page she was.

  Josh kept up pleasant conversation with Bailey until they reached the curb outside Pampered Paws. The respite gave Heather a chance to regain her composure, and she realized she had a problem. Clearly, Bailey should be home resting, but their apartment was still a disorganized jumble of boxes and furniture—not the best place for a child who’d been through such a harrowing ordeal.

  Their only option was the clinic, which didn’t seem like a better choice to her. Heather was used to dropping Bailey at day care and then pushing from one end of the day to the other until her work was done. In the month she’d been a full-time parent, she’d never had to cope with anything other than a healthy child. This was completely new territory for her, and she was beginning to understand the dilemma working mothers faced every day when their children’s well-being was at stake.

  Before she could say anything, Josh stepped in. “So, all this rain washed out what I had planned for today. If you ladies would like a little help getting Bailey’s room set up, I’m available.”

  It was as if he’d read her mind, and Heather felt a combination of awe and relief. Even though he was single, clearly he was familiar with kids and how important their treasures were to making them feel comfortable. While he could have benefitted from some rest himself, she was more grateful for his offer than she’d been for anything in a long time.

  “What do you think, Bailey?” she asked in a light voice. “Should we let a boy into our clubhouse?”

  Her niece gave him a quick once-over and grinned. “I guess he’s okay. But you have to do whatever we say, even if you don’t like it.”

  “Aw, man, you sound just like my big sister,” he grumbled, even though his eyes twinkled in fun. “She loves ordering me and my brothers around.”

  “Hey, that’s my boss you’re talking about,” Heather reminded him with a laugh. “I think Erin’s wonderful, so you’d better watch what you say about her when I’m around.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” When she reached out to open her door, he stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll get it.”

  “Really, I can—”

  “I know you can,” he said with yet another warm grin. “But us Southern boys open doors for ladies. Just go with it.”

  She opened her mouth to argue further, until she caught Bailey staring up at him with a hero-worshipping look on her face. She could assert her independence later, Heather decided. For now, she’d humor him and play along. “Okay, then. Thank you.”

  “Anytime.”

  Inside, they didn’t get more than a couple of feet before Erin Stewart hurried over to intercept them near the door. “The whole town’s in a tizzy about what happened at the preschool. Are you guys okay?”

  “Never better,” Josh assured her in a casual tone. “Why?”

  “Oh, you.” She smacked him in the shoulder, frowning when he winced. “When I called earlier, you said you were fine.”

  “He’s a hero, Erin,” Bailey chimed in, going on to relate the whole incident with wide, shining eyes. By the time she was finished, the tall country boy sounded like a knight in faded denim. And quite honestly, Heather didn’t mind admitting that she heartily agreed with her niece.

  A soft mewling sound caught Bailey’s attention, and she ran over to the padded display area in the front bay window. Bracing her hands on the Plexiglas enclosure, she sighed. “These are the cutest kittens ever. Where did they come from?”

  “Someone dropped them off at the rescue center a few weeks ago.” Erin joined her, smiling down at the wriggling mass of paws and legs. “They’re big enough for people to adopt now, so I brought them in here. We usually find homes for them in a couple of days.”

  “That’s ’cause they’re so cut
e,” Bailey cooed, gently petting one between the ears.

  The batch of furry darlings reminded Heather of the litter that had come in on her first day at the clinic. “Do you know how the new ones are doing?”

  “I talked to Sierra about half an hour ago, and she said the larger ones are responding well.” Glancing over at Bailey, Erin leaned in and murmured, “She’s afraid the tiny one’s not going to make it. She’s still dehydrated and sluggish, no matter what she and Bekah do.”

  That was completely unacceptable. This was her first week on the job, and Heather wasn’t about to lose a patient if there was anything she could do to avoid it.

  Then a small voice in the back of her mind whispered Bailey needs you, too.

  A few months ago, that wouldn’t have been a consideration for Heather, and she’d have dashed into the clinic to make sure she was doing everything humanly possible to save the failing kitten. But now, she had someone else to care for, and the decision wasn’t as easy as it once would have been.

  “Aunt Heather?”

  Dragged from her tangled thoughts, she focused on Bailey. “Yes?”

  “Is something wrong? You look sad.”

  Her instinct was to reassure the little girl gazing up at her with worry clouding her eyes. Then she recalled how Josh had handled a difficult question from her earlier and opted for the truth. “There’s a sick kitten at the clinic, and I’m trying to figure out how to give the vet tech instructions for taking care of her.”

  Bailey’s disheveled ponytail bobbed as she cocked her head in confusion. “Why aren’t you going to do it yourself?”

  “I’m staying here with you, silly bean,” Heather replied, hugging her lightly. “You’ve had kind of a tough day.”