Protecting the Widow's Heart

She hugged him to her side. “Barney?”

Elliot pointed to the fish on a stick that usually sat on the dresser in the fish bedroom. Elliot had brought it into the kitchen this morning. “Well, his brother anyway, but I threw him back.”

Ty stopped at the end of the island. The delighted smile on his face made his blue eyes sparkle. His straight white teeth flashed against his tanned skin and deepened the creases that bracketed his mouth. She had to force herself to look away. There was something solid and dependable about Ty Durrant. Helping others seemed to come naturally to him.

“He’s going to be a good fisherman. He picked it up like he was born to it. Did he and his father fish together?”

Her warm feelings faded. “No. Never.”

“Mom, I have a new name. Ty gave it to me.”

“Oh? You mean like a nickname?”

“Yeah. It’s EJ. Isn’t that cool?”

“How did you come up with that?”

“Ty asked me about my middle name, and I told him it was Joseph, and he said EJ sounded more grown up than Elliot.”

Ty wiped a hand across the side of his neck, a sheepish look on his face. “I hope that was okay.”

Her heart swelled with appreciation. How could she object? He’d made her son feel special. “It’s fine. Really. I’m fixing a chicken casserole for supper. You’re welcome to stay.”

“Thanks, but on one condition. I help with the meal.”

“You cook?”

Ty grinned and walked around the counter to where the cutting board lay. “I know my way around the kitchen. Surprised?”

“Yes. I figured a bachelor like you would eat everything out of a microwave or a fast-food place.”

“Guilty on all counts. At least for a while. But that got old. Mom taught each of us kids to cook the basics. Once I started experimenting, I discovered it was a great stress reliever, and I actually enjoyed it.” He leaned one hip against the counter and spread his hands. “So, show me where to start.”

With Ty’s help, the meal was ready quickly. Elliot, who insisted he be called by his new nickname, even declared the casserole “good.” High praise from her picky eater. Given the Bible she’d seen this morning, she’d expected Ty to offer a blessing, but he merely closed his eyes briefly before eating. His consideration left her feeling ashamed. Her mother had been saddened when she’d learned Ginger had ignored her faith, but John had scoffed at those who followed organized religion. It had been easier to go along with his wishes. Her greatest regret was that she’d never taken EJ to church.

Ty kept the conversation going during the meal with bigger and more outrageous tales of his days spent at the cabin growing up. As Ginger carried the dishes to the kitchen, she tried to recall the last time she and her son had enjoyed such a happy, relaxed meal. She couldn’t.

Ty came to her side and turned on the faucet, rinsing the dishes, then handing them to her to place in the dishwasher, as if cleaning up was expected of him. “You’re pretty handy in the kitchen. Tomorrow night, you can cook.”

He smiled at her. “Actually, tomorrow is already taken care of. I have an invitation for you. I’d like to take you and EJ to church in the morning.”

His invitation caught her off guard. The thought of church filled her with anxious dread—like being called into the principal’s office for misbehaving. She was still sorting through all her feelings, reaching out tentative fingers to touch the Lord again. “I couldn’t impose.”

“It’s not an imposition.”

Ginger didn’t want to appear rude. Ty had done so much for them already, but she wasn’t strong enough to face the Lord’s disapproval yet. “We’ll be fine here.”

His eyes narrowed, but he didn’t press the issue. “Church was only half of the invitation. You’re invited to my parents’ home after the service for dinner. My mother has sent her personal request. She’s anxious to meet you and EJ.”

“I don’t know.”

Ty tilted his head and smiled. “I promise you’ll get a real feast. Plus, we can all put our heads together and come up with job ideas. I know EJ would love to play with my nephew, Kenny.”

“Please, Mom. Ty says Kenny is fun. I want a friend to play with.”

Dinner with Ty’s family? Not a good idea. She had to keep her walls up. She couldn’t withstand any more emotional upheaval, like making connections she’d have to sever soon. “I don’t think so.”

“Come on. It’s only dinner.”

He just didn’t understand. She had to stay focused on her goal. All she wanted was to get out of Dover and to Arizona. Then she and Elliot could put the past few years behind them and start over.

“Mom?”

The excitement in her son’s eyes was so wonderful to see, it weakened her resolve. Ty had a point. It was only dinner, and it would do Elliot good to have a friend to play with. “All right.”

Ty and EJ exchanged fist bumps with explosions.

“Time to get ready for bed, Elliot. Go get your bath.”

EJ’s shoulders slumped, and he uttered a long, low groan. “A bath? Do I have to?”

His pitiful plea didn’t faze her. “Yes. That means washing your hair, too.”

“Mom.”

“Go. You can watch television in your room for a while if you hurry. I’ll even bring you some hot chocolate if you get really clean.”

“TV? Really? Cool.”

Ginger offered an explanation to Ty, who looked puzzled by EJ’s excitement over the TV. “We haven’t had a television for over a year.”

Ty nodded his understanding, and leaned down to place the last plate into the dishwasher.

Ginger noticed him wince, her gaze landing on his neck and the ugly scar that ran along the side, ending near his collarbone. She sucked in sharply. “Ty? What happened to you?”

He froze in place, then slowly straightened, a strange, forced smile on his face. “I didn’t duck fast enough.”

His flippant remark sparked anger. “What?”

“I was shot.”

Her heart stopped beating. Memories flared. “Why? What happened?”

“My partner and I were caught in an ambush. He died. I took three rounds.”

Her brain was processing the information in slow motion. “Partner?”

“I’m a detective with the Dallas P.D. I’m on medical leave. Recuperating.”