Hometown Proposal by Merrillee Whren

the doctors and your wife.”
    â€œThe name is Bud Norman.” Chuckling, the man gestured toward Olivia. “And who is this young lady?”
    â€œThis is Olivia, Seth’s daughter.” Elise patted Olivia on the shoulder. “And I’m Elise Keller.”
    â€œHi, Olivia. Hi, Elise.”
    Elise turned at the sound of Seth’s voice. As the little girl raced to greet her daddy, Elise tried to get her wildly racing heart under control. Why had she let her heart fool her again?
    But the part of her heart that had never let go of Seth betrayed her as he put aside his crutches and settled in the nearby chair. He picked up Olivia and gathered her into his arms. Elise closed her eyes against the sweet picture. When they were together, she used to wonder what Seth would be like as a father. The reality was better than she’d imagined—except that in this reality, she had no part in the little family.
    Why did her feelings about Seth have to be so con fusing?
    â€œElise, are you okay?”
    Opening her eyes, she forced herself to smile. “I am.”
    â€œGood. For a minute there, I thought maybe you were going to faint.”
    Laughing halfheartedly, Elise shook her head. “Just gathering my thoughts.” Thoughts about you.
    She had to remember that she and Seth were better off apart. He certainly wasn’t pining over her. Bud’s comment about Seth’s flirting with the nurses proved that. He was acting like the same old Seth she’d known—the charmer who loved to have women eating out of his hand.
    Why was she bothered anyway? She had no claims onSeth, but those old feelings lingered in her heart—feelings that could only lead to hurt if she acted on them. Too many unresolved questions about Seth needed answers before she could even consider giving him access to her heart again.

Chapter Seven
    â€œI ’ve got something in my car that Olivia is going to love.” Elise’s smile grew into a grin.
    â€œWhat did you bring her?” Taking in Elise’s happiness, Seth maneuvered on his crutches as he followed her down the walk to the driveway where she’d parked her car. Olivia followed close behind him, almost as if she were watching to make sure he would make it down the walk. Although he wasn’t as mobile as he’d like to be, he was thankful that after two weeks of rehab in the nursing home he was finally in his own house. Little by little he was getting better. While his body mended, he prayed he could mend his relationship with Elise, as well.
    â€œYou’ll see in a minute.” Elise opened the trunk of her car. “Be careful on those crutches. I don’t want to be responsible if you fall down and break something else.”
    â€œI’m not going to fall down. This is good for me.”
    â€œI suppose, but you make me nervous.”
    Did that mean she cared about him? He wanted to ask in the worst way, but he didn’t dare to put her on the spot. He should just be glad for her help. During the two weeks he’dspent in the nursing home, Elise had taken care of Olivia by spending the night at his house.
    Now that he was home, would Elise’s visits end? She hadn’t said anything about it, and he didn’t want to make her feel obligated to help. Even though she’d brought Olivia to the nursing home every evening, he’d sensed the barrier she’d erected—the barrier that clearly indicated she was there for Olivia, not him.
    Putting the troubling thoughts from his mind, he hobbled over to the car and looked inside the trunk. A box containing a little wooden kitchen set lay nestled on an old blanket. He glanced at Olivia, then back at Elise. At least if she didn’t have much use for him, she obviously cared for his daughter. “Olivia is going to love this.”
    â€œI’m sorry, but we still have to put it together. It would’ve been too hard to transport if it was