amusement.
Eric wanted to be angry. He wasn’t sure whether to smile or frown. He chose the latter. Ashley had an interesting sense of humor. “Guess not.” He turned and gestured toward the living room. “Mind if I check out the ball game?”
“No, Kylie and I can clean up,” Ashley volunteered.
“Thanks, honey, but you should be resting,” Louise said as she joined the growing crowd.
“I appreciate the kindness, ma’am, but I been cooped up for too long. I like being active,” Ashley explained as she called to Kylie.
“Okay,” Lu agreed. “I bought some groceries. Cold cuts, breakfast stuff, detergent, and soap. I’ll show you where everything is.”
Eric passed Kylie as he headed to the living room and found the remote. After ten minutes of quiet talk, soft laughter, and the sound of dishes being washed and dried, Lu rejoined him. She sat on the opposite end of the couch and watched Eric.
“I know it’s not my business but…” she said hesitantly as he turned toward her.
“Go ahead. If anyone has a right to question what’s going on, you do.”
“Did you pay Ashley’s hospital bill?” It was blunt and to the point. Lu’s style.
Eric nodded and raised his eyebrows. “Guess I feel responsible for her.” He didn’t mention Elaine’s insurance settlement. She would have wanted him to do some good with it. He was sure Louise would feel the same.
“That’s nice, son. But remember, there’s no blood relationship.” She continued watching him closely.
“I know.” She had a point. Was his mother-in-law thinking about the unguarded moment he and Ashley had shared before dinner?
Eric followed Lu with his eyes as she stood and headed to the kitchen to check on the clean-up. He wondered how she felt about this strange turn of events. She was kind and compassionate to a fault but still this—a mysterious, attractive young woman and her daughter occupying the home Elaine had cherished—was quite a leap of faith.
He heard more chatter, punctuated by casual laughter. Part of Eric felt compassion, even affection for the little family he’d inherited. He closed his eyes, thinking of Ashley. She’d felt warm and safe in his arms. The loneliness and despair that had consumed him and been his constant companion since Elaine’s death vanished for the few moments he held her.
Was it possible that Ashley and Kylie had given him something to connect with? More likely it was his need to be where the action was. Adrenaline junkie. That was Elaine’s name for it and a cliché, Eric knew. But his wife had hit the target—dead center. Eric never met an action situation he didn’t enjoy. And while no immediate threat had materialized, the girl’s appearance on his doorstep seemed to fit that description.
But whatever the cause of this sudden and newfound state of mind, part of him wanted to stay in the sad, lonely isolation he’d grown to embrace. Self-pity fed on itself. It clung like a parasite, reluctant to abandon its host.
Louise, Ashley, and Kylie returned, full of conversation.
“Kylie needs a bath, if that’s okay?” Ashley asked.
Eric nodded. “Of course. You live here now. Kylie knows where everything is.”
“Oh. I left some things in the bathroom upstairs for you two.” Louise called out. “Shampoo, toothbrush, a couple of other things. We can go shopping tomorrow after my shift if you need to exchange anything. Maybe we can pick you up some more clothes.”
“Thank you, ma’am. I mean Lu.” Ashley smiled. “You’ve been wonderful.”
“Now, I need to get home. I’ve got an early shift and I have to get to bed,” Louise crossed the room. When she reached the girls, she gave each a hug. “I’ll be back tomorrow,” she promised. She winked at Kylie and kissed her cheek.
Eric rose and walked his mother-in-law to the door as Ashley and Kylie laughed, heading up the stairs to the second floor bathroom. “See you tomorrow.” He shook his head in gratitude. “I
Eric wanted to be angry. He wasn’t sure whether to smile or frown. He chose the latter. Ashley had an interesting sense of humor. “Guess not.” He turned and gestured toward the living room. “Mind if I check out the ball game?”
“No, Kylie and I can clean up,” Ashley volunteered.
“Thanks, honey, but you should be resting,” Louise said as she joined the growing crowd.
“I appreciate the kindness, ma’am, but I been cooped up for too long. I like being active,” Ashley explained as she called to Kylie.
“Okay,” Lu agreed. “I bought some groceries. Cold cuts, breakfast stuff, detergent, and soap. I’ll show you where everything is.”
Eric passed Kylie as he headed to the living room and found the remote. After ten minutes of quiet talk, soft laughter, and the sound of dishes being washed and dried, Lu rejoined him. She sat on the opposite end of the couch and watched Eric.
“I know it’s not my business but…” she said hesitantly as he turned toward her.
“Go ahead. If anyone has a right to question what’s going on, you do.”
“Did you pay Ashley’s hospital bill?” It was blunt and to the point. Lu’s style.
Eric nodded and raised his eyebrows. “Guess I feel responsible for her.” He didn’t mention Elaine’s insurance settlement. She would have wanted him to do some good with it. He was sure Louise would feel the same.
“That’s nice, son. But remember, there’s no blood relationship.” She continued watching him closely.
“I know.” She had a point. Was his mother-in-law thinking about the unguarded moment he and Ashley had shared before dinner?
Eric followed Lu with his eyes as she stood and headed to the kitchen to check on the clean-up. He wondered how she felt about this strange turn of events. She was kind and compassionate to a fault but still this—a mysterious, attractive young woman and her daughter occupying the home Elaine had cherished—was quite a leap of faith.
He heard more chatter, punctuated by casual laughter. Part of Eric felt compassion, even affection for the little family he’d inherited. He closed his eyes, thinking of Ashley. She’d felt warm and safe in his arms. The loneliness and despair that had consumed him and been his constant companion since Elaine’s death vanished for the few moments he held her.
Was it possible that Ashley and Kylie had given him something to connect with? More likely it was his need to be where the action was. Adrenaline junkie. That was Elaine’s name for it and a cliché, Eric knew. But his wife had hit the target—dead center. Eric never met an action situation he didn’t enjoy. And while no immediate threat had materialized, the girl’s appearance on his doorstep seemed to fit that description.
But whatever the cause of this sudden and newfound state of mind, part of him wanted to stay in the sad, lonely isolation he’d grown to embrace. Self-pity fed on itself. It clung like a parasite, reluctant to abandon its host.
Louise, Ashley, and Kylie returned, full of conversation.
“Kylie needs a bath, if that’s okay?” Ashley asked.
Eric nodded. “Of course. You live here now. Kylie knows where everything is.”
“Oh. I left some things in the bathroom upstairs for you two.” Louise called out. “Shampoo, toothbrush, a couple of other things. We can go shopping tomorrow after my shift if you need to exchange anything. Maybe we can pick you up some more clothes.”
“Thank you, ma’am. I mean Lu.” Ashley smiled. “You’ve been wonderful.”
“Now, I need to get home. I’ve got an early shift and I have to get to bed,” Louise crossed the room. When she reached the girls, she gave each a hug. “I’ll be back tomorrow,” she promised. She winked at Kylie and kissed her cheek.
Eric rose and walked his mother-in-law to the door as Ashley and Kylie laughed, heading up the stairs to the second floor bathroom. “See you tomorrow.” He shook his head in gratitude. “I
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