“I think I’m going to faint,” she told him.
“Seriously? Are you sitting down?” he asked, his immediate panic yet more evidence that a change was taking place, an astonishing one.
“I was just teasing, Dad,” she reassured him. “I’m fine, just a little startled by the new you.”
“I’m afraid I’m a work in progress, Gabriella. I imagine there will be a few setbacks when I’ll revert to my familiar, self-absorbed ways.”
“I hope not,” she told him. “Emily, Samantha and I need you in our lives, exactly the way you’ve tried to be the past few days.”
“Do you know, I don’t think any of you has even so much as hinted at that before,” he said. “Even your mother got used to doing things on her own.”
“Sure, we’re all independent, Dad, but that doesn’t mean we don’t need you. Remember that, okay?”
“I’ll definitely keep it in mind.”
“Thanks again for what you tried to do.”
“No problem. If you change your mind and want me to make some more calls, just let me know.”
“I will,” she promised.
Relieved by how well that had gone, she placed the call to Amanda. When she reached Amanda’s secretary and was told she was in a meeting, Gabi asked for her voice mail.
Knowing it was cowardly, she left what she hoped was a gracious and mostly sincere message. “Amanda, this is Gabi. Thanks so much for reconsidering, but I think it’s better if we just leave things alone. I’m not interested in coming back. I want to move forward, not backward.”
After she’d hung up, she shoved the phone back in her pocket and uttered a sigh of relief. It might be only temporary, this feeling of serenity that was stealing over her, but for now she knew she’d done exactly the right thing.
* * *
“My dad got a call from Dr. Cole last night,” Jimmy told Wade excitedly. “Mrs. Castle must have talked to him, because he told my dad he’d arranged for him to get all the rehab he needs. At first Dad was, like, ‘Oh, no, I can’t afford that,’ but whatever Dr. Cole said next convinced him.”
“That’s fantastic, Jimmy.”
“You know the best part? My dad was actually smiling when he got off the phone. It’s been a long time since he looked really happy. I owe all of you guys for that. He’d thank you himself if he knew.”
“Hope will put a smile back on a man’s face,” Wade said, smiling himself. “How are you doing with all those papers Sam Castle gave you to fill out?”
“I’ve done everything but the essay part,” he said, making a face. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Aren’t you supposed to tell them why you’re interested in college or in this particular field?”
Jimmy nodded. “But it sounds dorky when I put it on paper, like I’m just trying to suck up or something.”
“Here’s my experience,” Wade told him. “If what you write is sincere, if you tell them what’s really in your heart, it won’t sound dorky at all. I heard your passion for this field when you were talking to Sam Castle. We all did. Just try to put some of that in writing. I’ll read it for you when you’re finished, if you want me to, or I’ll bet Mr. Castle would.”
Jimmy shook his head. “He’s going to be giving this to the selection committee. I don’t want him to feel like I’m trying to get an edge on the other kids or something.”
Wade gave him an approving look. “And that shows the kind of integrity you have,” he told the teenager. “You are such a shoo-in for this scholarship. You have all the traits of someone who’s going to succeed.”
“You’re just biased,” Jimmy said, though he looked pleased by Wade’s assessment.
He hesitated a moment, and his expression faltered just a little. “Do you really think Dr. Cole and the rehab can help my dad so he can work again?”
Wade tried to be reassuring without making promises. “You know Dr. Cole lost a leg in Afghanistan, right?”
Jimmy nodded.
“And you’ve seen him getting around, running in a marathon even?”
Jimmy’s eyes brightened. “And if he can do that, then my dad can get better, too,” he concluded.
“I’d say he has a real good chance,” Wade confirmed. “When’s his first appointment?”
“He’s getting an evaluation this afternoon. He’ll start rehab tomorrow.” Jimmy regarded Wade hopefully. “I was thinking maybe I should go with him. Do you think Tommy would mind if I took off a couple of hours?”
“I don’t think he’d mind at all,” Wade said, proud of Jimmy for being so considerate of his father. “Go on and check with him.”
Jimmy started off, then turned back. Shyly, he held out a hand. “Thanks, man, okay?”
“No thanks necessary. I didn’t do any of this.”
“You introduced me to Gabriella.” A grin broke across his face. “Even though you knew she might fall for me.”
Wade laughed at his impudence. “Go on, kid, before I change my mind and tell her she made a terrible mistake.”
Jimmy didn’t look even slightly worried about the threat. “I think it could be too late for that to matter.”
“I think you’re probably right. Now, go.”
He shook his head, watching with amusement as Jimmy went to Tommy, his expression serious as he explained about needing time off. Tommy glanced over in Wade’s direction, then nodded.
When Jimmy had left, Tommy came over to Wade. “Are you responsible for costing me one of the best young workers I’ve taken on in years?”
“Sorry about that,” Wade said. “He has all this potential. How could I let it go to waste? Besides, if he told you about his dad, there’s a good chance Rory will be ready to go back to work full-time long before Jimmy takes off for college. He’d be a good fit for you. He’s both experienced and eager to get back to work.”
Tommy’s expression turned thoughtful. “No wonder you and Cora Jane get along so well. You
