But there was no one else. He took one more glance at Miss Meg, whose arms were crossed as her gaze scanned from Davey’s classroom to Paul. And then he made the call.
CHAPTER FIVE
THAT NIGHT, AMBER pushed her plate back, admired the darkening sky through the big dining room window of the Healing Heroes cottage and rubbed her too-full stomach. “That was delicious,” she said to Paul. “You’re a good cook.”
Paul shrugged. “Spaghetti with meat sauce isn’t exactly gourmet.”
“And salad,” she reminded him. “Pretty healthy.”
“Healthy dinner means dessert!” Davey pumped his fist in the air.
Paul frowned. “Sorry, buddy. I didn’t have the chance to stop at the grocery store today. No ice cream.”
Davey’s lower lip thrust out.
Uh-oh. “I think I can solve this problem,” Amber said. “Davey, do you like chocolate?”
“My favorite!” He nodded vigorously.
“Mine, too,” she said. “And I have some yummy brownies at my house. You help Dad clean up, and I’ll run over and get them.” She grinned at Paul. “See what I did there? Now I don’t have to help.”
“Tricky.” He smiled back at her, his face more relaxed than it had been earlier today. When he smiled—when he wasn’t looking like he carried heavy weights on both of his shoulders—he was very appealing.
And she didn’t need to be thinking about that. “Be right back,” she promised, and headed to her place.
Paul’s softer side was a surprise, but not as much of one as getting that call from him had been. He’d sounded desperate, and she’d dropped everything and come to the Coastal Kids School right away.
There, she’d reassured Miss Meg that she would help Paul and Davey get home and settled, and then driven them to the cottage in her car.
Two high red spots on his cheekbones had showed Paul’s embarrassment as he’d apologized and thanked her. She’d thought that would be the end of it, that he’d probably avoid her now that she’d seen his weakness, but on the contrary, he’d invited her over for dinner as an apology.
Come to think of it, the man was very skilled at apologies. First flowers, now a home-cooked dinner. Had he had a lot of practice apologizing in his life, and to whom?
She pulled out the pan of brownies she’d made for Hannah’s care package. Like always, she’d made way too many. She loaded up a plate, covered it with plastic wrap and headed back over.
Twilight had given way to full darkness, but the moon cast silver light across the water, illuminating the lapping waves. She paused, breathed in the fragrance of salt water and autumn leaves, that unique combination she’d only ever smelled here on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Grateful. She was grateful for the natural beauty around her and the chance to share a meal with new friends. When life’s big milestones and pleasures seemed out of reach, it was best to concentrate on the small, everyday blessings.
She tapped on the door and walked back in to find Davey on the couch under a blanket, watching a movie featuring talking dogs and cats. “Here, buddy,” she said, and handed him a big brownie. Only when crumbs fell onto the blanket did she realize her error. She hurried to the kitchen and found a napkin to spread over him.
Paul came down from upstairs and raised an eyebrow.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “You probably don’t allow him to eat on the couch, but by the time I’d thought of that, I’d already given him a brownie.”
“They’re good, Daddy,” Davey said around a mouthful, dropping more crumbs.
Amber winced and went for another napkin, but Paul stopped her with a hand on her arm, stepping backward until they were out of Davey’s hearing. “Don’t worry about it. I appreciate your bringing dessert, but mostly, I’m sorry about today.”
“You more than made it up to me with that dinner.” She waved the plate of brownies under his nose. “Want to try my contribution, so I don’t feel like such a freeloader?”
He picked one up, took a bite and nodded approvingly. “Excellent.”
Amber felt an absurd sense of pride that he liked her baking. What was wrong with her? Everyone liked brownies.
He went back into the kitchen and poured a small glass of milk, then held up the carton. “Want some?” When she shook her head, he carried the cup to Davey. “Drink up, buddy, and then you can finish this movie before bedtime.”
“’Kay.” Davey obediently gulped the milk and then handed the empty cup to Paul.
“He’s fading,” he said in a quiet voice as he carried the glass and napkins back to the kitchen.
She followed. “Big day for him.”
Paul nodded. “The other thing I have to apologize for is my in-laws. Former in-laws. Wendy’s parents.” He sighed, leaning back against the counter. “I’m sorry they’ve been so rude to you.”
“Yeah, what’s that all about?” she asked as she sat down at the table, propping her feet up on a chair. “Usually, it takes at least a couple of encounters before people take a dislike to me. Your in-laws don’t even know me.”
He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Yeah, I wondered that, too, but after talking to Georgiana, I think I know the problem.” He looked to the side.
“What is it?”
“They’re afraid I’ll replace Wendy and they’ll lose Davey.”
She tilted her head to one side and looked at him while she processed that. “They’re afraid you’ll replace Wendy with me?” Thinking about that made Amber uncomfortably aware of the secret she was keeping from Paul.
“I know. It’s ridiculous.”
His words were like a bucket of cold water poured over her. Why was it so ridiculous? Was it entirely out of the question that he’d be attracted to someone like her?
He was still looking off to the side as if he were uncomfortable. It gave her the chance to study him, to notice his one-day growth of beard that had made him look a bit disreputable at the school today, the careless cowlick in his hair, the way his shoulders stretched his polo shirt.
Oh,
