Allen, get back here.”
“Whoa there.” Shep Patterson appeared from behind a vehicle and put his hands on Josh’s shoulders to stop the sprint.
Relief flooded through her that Shep had stopped Josh. Even in the church parking lot, people tended to drive too fast or back up without looking. She increased her pace, reaching her son in a matter of seconds.
“Thank you,” she told Shep.
Before she addressed Josh, she took two deep breaths. “You know better than to run off like that. Do you know what could have happened?”
Josh tucked his chin to his chest. “I’m sorry.”
“There will be no cookies for you tonight.”
“But I want one.” His eyes scrunched and arms crossed.
“Maybe you’ll remember that next time you run from me in the parking lot.”
“I want a cookie.” To Lyndsey’s embarrassment, Josh raised his foot and slammed it down in an ambitious stomp.
Right onto Shep’s boot.
Heat flood her face. “I’m so sorry.” She brought Josh in front of her, tightly gripping his shoulders.
“Don’t worry about it.” He shrugged and flipped a hand. “My nephew’s around Josh’s age. I understand.”
“The tantrums just started a few weeks ago.” Keeping one hand on Josh’s shoulders, she ran the other through her hair until it caught on her ponytail. “Maybe I’m not paying enough attention to him.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re doing a great job with him.” Shep laid a hand on her shoulder. “Mark would be proud of you.”
“Thanks.” The beginning of a smile formed on Lyndsey’s face. Then she became all too aware of his touch, which made her uncomfortable in a way she didn’t understand. She looked around the parking lot. “Guess we should get inside. Looks like everyone else already has.”
Shep lowered his hand to his side. “The parking lot cleared of people fast. They must be hungry.”
Twisting his small frame, Josh looked at Shep. “Mommy didn’t bring anything because the oven broke.”
“Shh,” Lyndsey started to hiss, then stopped. He’d done nothing wrong in telling Shep about her problem, and her own embarrassment didn’t warrant the sharp words.
“Need me to stop by and check it out?” Shep asked as they walked toward the church. “My last appointment for tomorrow cancelled, so I have the time.”
If only Shep hadn’t done all the work on her house since Mark and she bought it, it would be so much easier to find an excuse to say no. “There’s no rush. Maybe next week sometime.” Or next year when there’s more of a chance I can pay you.
“Plan on microwaving meals all week?” Shep raised a brow before offering a brief wink.
“No, it’s just that I hired someone else.” Her pride spit out the lie before she realized what she’d said.
“Oh.” Surprise and hurt registered in Shep’s crystalline blue eyes, but he blinked them away.
They reached the door, and Shep opened it for them.
“Go inside Josh, I’ll be right there.” She released her son’s hand and watched him until she saw Mrs. Tisdale lead him to a table. He’d be in good hands for the next few minutes.
Shep tilted his head, watching her with an unreadable expression, probably wondering why she wasn’t going in yet. Or why she’d hired someone else—which she hadn’t, nor would she. When it came to repairmen and contractors, Shep was the best around, in quality and trustworthiness. Not to mention, he was a good friend. Back in the day—before Mark and Miranda, Shep’s late wife, passed—they’d spent a lot of time together with their respective spouses. Double dates, summer cookouts, even a trip to the shore one year.
If nothing else, she owed him an apology. She glanced around, ensuring there was no one within hearing range. Taking two steps backward, she moved from the door and leaned against the bricks.
“Everything okay?” Shep joined her along the wall.
She crossed her arms, focusing on the field behind the parking lot. If only
“Whoa there.” Shep Patterson appeared from behind a vehicle and put his hands on Josh’s shoulders to stop the sprint.
Relief flooded through her that Shep had stopped Josh. Even in the church parking lot, people tended to drive too fast or back up without looking. She increased her pace, reaching her son in a matter of seconds.
“Thank you,” she told Shep.
Before she addressed Josh, she took two deep breaths. “You know better than to run off like that. Do you know what could have happened?”
Josh tucked his chin to his chest. “I’m sorry.”
“There will be no cookies for you tonight.”
“But I want one.” His eyes scrunched and arms crossed.
“Maybe you’ll remember that next time you run from me in the parking lot.”
“I want a cookie.” To Lyndsey’s embarrassment, Josh raised his foot and slammed it down in an ambitious stomp.
Right onto Shep’s boot.
Heat flood her face. “I’m so sorry.” She brought Josh in front of her, tightly gripping his shoulders.
“Don’t worry about it.” He shrugged and flipped a hand. “My nephew’s around Josh’s age. I understand.”
“The tantrums just started a few weeks ago.” Keeping one hand on Josh’s shoulders, she ran the other through her hair until it caught on her ponytail. “Maybe I’m not paying enough attention to him.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re doing a great job with him.” Shep laid a hand on her shoulder. “Mark would be proud of you.”
“Thanks.” The beginning of a smile formed on Lyndsey’s face. Then she became all too aware of his touch, which made her uncomfortable in a way she didn’t understand. She looked around the parking lot. “Guess we should get inside. Looks like everyone else already has.”
Shep lowered his hand to his side. “The parking lot cleared of people fast. They must be hungry.”
Twisting his small frame, Josh looked at Shep. “Mommy didn’t bring anything because the oven broke.”
“Shh,” Lyndsey started to hiss, then stopped. He’d done nothing wrong in telling Shep about her problem, and her own embarrassment didn’t warrant the sharp words.
“Need me to stop by and check it out?” Shep asked as they walked toward the church. “My last appointment for tomorrow cancelled, so I have the time.”
If only Shep hadn’t done all the work on her house since Mark and she bought it, it would be so much easier to find an excuse to say no. “There’s no rush. Maybe next week sometime.” Or next year when there’s more of a chance I can pay you.
“Plan on microwaving meals all week?” Shep raised a brow before offering a brief wink.
“No, it’s just that I hired someone else.” Her pride spit out the lie before she realized what she’d said.
“Oh.” Surprise and hurt registered in Shep’s crystalline blue eyes, but he blinked them away.
They reached the door, and Shep opened it for them.
“Go inside Josh, I’ll be right there.” She released her son’s hand and watched him until she saw Mrs. Tisdale lead him to a table. He’d be in good hands for the next few minutes.
Shep tilted his head, watching her with an unreadable expression, probably wondering why she wasn’t going in yet. Or why she’d hired someone else—which she hadn’t, nor would she. When it came to repairmen and contractors, Shep was the best around, in quality and trustworthiness. Not to mention, he was a good friend. Back in the day—before Mark and Miranda, Shep’s late wife, passed—they’d spent a lot of time together with their respective spouses. Double dates, summer cookouts, even a trip to the shore one year.
If nothing else, she owed him an apology. She glanced around, ensuring there was no one within hearing range. Taking two steps backward, she moved from the door and leaned against the bricks.
“Everything okay?” Shep joined her along the wall.
She crossed her arms, focusing on the field behind the parking lot. If only
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