“I’m never dating again.”
Hank grinned, thankful that Tracy couldn’t see it. “I doubt you’ll feel that way by next weekend. You stay put, honey. I’ll come get you.”
“You don’t have to do that,” she said bravely, but her voice was still thick with tears. “I can call Ann.”
“Stay put. I’m on my way.” He took down the location of the gas station and hung up, then turned to find Liz and Todd regarding him intently.
“You heard?”
They nodded.
“I have to go get her.”
Liz reached out and touched his arm. Until he felt the gentle brush of her fingers, he hadn’t realized how tense he was. “She’ll be fine. She’s just scared.”
He felt himself beginning to relax. “I know.”
He headed for the door, then turned back. “Thanks.”
“Any time.” Before he could close the door, she called out. “Hank.”
He looked back.
“You’ll make a wonderful father.”
He shook his head, but as he climbed back into his truck and headed south, he realized that was exactly how he felt: like a father.
It scared the hell out of him.
Chapter 8
Tracy was waiting exactly where Hank had told her to wait, inside the office at the gas station. Sitting on a chair, shoulders slumped, her expression glum, she looked like an abandoned waif, rather than a beautiful young woman just emerging into adulthood. Seeing her like that scared him. He didn’t have any experience at handling something like this. What if he said the wrong thing? What if he only made matters worse? How had Todd survived all the years he’d been a single parent to Kevin? How did Ann cope on her own with the steady stream of kids she’d taken into her home and heart? He wished he’d taken the time to call her for some quick advice on parenting before barreling down here, but he hadn’t. He was on his own.
He opened the door to the office and stepped inside.
“Tracy,” he said quietly.
Her gaze shot up and her eyes filled with tears. She launched herself into his arms and clung like a frightened child. He held her tight. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Everything’s okay,” he soothed.
He turned to the attendant. “Thanks for letting her stay inside.”
“No problem, mister. I just wish more girls used their heads these days and called home when things got out of hand.”
When they’d gotten into the car, Hank handed her a tissue. “He’s right, you know. You did the right thing by calling. Don’t ever be afraid to turn to Ann or me when you’re in trouble.”
Tracy fidgeted nervously. She glanced sideways at him.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“You’re not going to tell Ann, are you?”
He hesitated, torn. Finally he sighed. “Not unless you say it’s okay.”
“Thank you.”
“Wait a minute. I think you should talk to her about it yourself.”
“But she wouldn’t understand.”
It was the cry of teenagers about their parents from time immemorial, but still Hank stared at her in astonishment. “Ann? Sweetheart, she’s the most understanding woman around. Of course she’d understand.”
“But she’s so perfect. She never makes any mistakes, at least not really dumb ones like this.”
Hank thought of the story Ann had told him just last night about her own youthful error in judgment. If only she would share that story with Tracy. It would bring the two of them even closer, bridging the gap that even Ann was all too aware of.
“Talk to her,” he urged again. “I think you could be surprised.”
An hour later when they walked into the house together, Ann looked up from her book, her expression welcoming until she spotted Hank with Tracy. Alarm warred with dismay. Hank could read the entire gamut of emotions in her eyes. As always, concern for one of her kids won out over her own feelings.
“Is everything okay?” she asked, looking anxiously from one to the other.
“Fine,” Tracy mumbled, not meeting her gaze directly. “I’m going to sleep. Thanks for picking me up, Hank.”
When she’d gone, Ann stared hard at Hank. “Is she really okay?”
He nodded. “Just a little shaken.”
“What happened? Was there an accident? Why was she with you?”
“I gave her a ride home.”
“Don’t be deliberately obtuse. Why?”
“Ask her.”
“Dammit, Hank. She’s practically my daughter. If she’s in some kind of trouble, I ought to know about it.”
He knelt down beside her so he could gaze directly into her worried eyes. He placed a reassuring hand on her knee, but removed it when he felt her go tense. “She’s okay, Annie. I swear it, but I promised her I wouldn’t talk about it. I think she’ll tell you herself once she’s had some time to settle down a bit.”
She frowned at him, then asked furiously, “Where the hell do you get off deciding what’s best for one of my kids? I’m responsible. Whatever happened, I should have been there, not you.”
He recognized the frustration and guilt in her voice and wanted more than anything to put her fears to rest, but he’d made a promise and he intended to keep it. He knew enough about teenagers to understand that Tracy would never trust him again if he betrayed her now, no matter how well-intentioned he might be.
“She called me,” he reminded her gently. “What was I supposed to do?”
After a long silence, she finally let out a deep breath. “I’m sorry. You’re right. You had to go. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you, but, Hank, I’m really worried about her. She was acting funny all day long.”
“She really is fine.”
“I’m not so sure. I’m not just talking about whatever happened tonight. I’m talking about how she handled it. She insisted on calling you earlier today, too. I’m sure that was part of the same thing. I think she’s developing a full-scale crush on you.”
The comment hit him from out of the blue. It rocked him back on his heels. “Come on, Annie. Don’t be ridiculous.”
“It’s not ridiculous and you know it. You may well be the first man who’s ever treated her with respect and tenderness. Why wouldn’t she
