LITMIR.BIZ

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swam. She didn’t want to know, couldn’t face the question pounding her brain or dodge the dollar marks blowing into her mind like a thousand wayward leaves. She swallowed. She could barely afford to keep oil, gas and wind-shield wiper fluid in the car, much less pay for repairs. Or worse, another car.

      A sigh escaped, challenging the grit she’d garnered within to make it no matter what, and do it without complaining. She’d always faced whatever life brought her head-on without whining, breaking or backing down. For the first time in her life, the pressure threatened to do her in.

      “What am I gonna do?” Had she said that aloud? For sure, she was on the verge of losing it. Folding under pressure. Just like her parents predicted she would.

      “Let me help, Amelia.”

      Ben’s soothing voice pulled her from the mental mire. She studied him. What she interpreted as deep concern emanated from his eyes.

      Even if the remote possibility existed that he honestly cared…“You must have an ulterior motive.”

      “I care. Period.”

      If that were the case and she caved and accepted, that meant losing. And she wasn’t about to let the naysayers win. It wasn’t that she cared about losing as much as she feared losing Reece if her parents’ predictions came true.

      “I can’t. Period.”

      Chapter Three

      Ben held his tongue when Reece stirred. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, yawning. The transformation in Amelia mystified him.

      Her face lit with an incalculable amount of love when she scooped up the girl as if she were a long-sought-after, newly found treasure. “Hey, Reece’s Pieces. Have a good nap?”

      Reece hugged her mom back, then scuttled beside her to eye the tubing in Amelia’s arm. “Is that the medicine that fixed your electric lights, Mommy?”

      Amelia blinked and eyed the IV, then Reece. Confusion crossed her features.

      Fighting frustration at Amelia’s reticence to his help, Ben picked Bearby off the floor where he’d fallen when Reece sat up. He set the toy in her lap. “Yes, that medicine is fixing your mom. Only they’re called electrolytes. Something that when you get too dry, can cause your heart to go haywire.”

      Amelia’s throat muscles constricted, letting him know he got his point across. Fear and remorse in her eyes told him she realized how life-threatening her lack of intake had become.

      Silent, Reece watched the nonverbal exchange between her mother and Ben before wringing Bearby like a wet dishrag. No wonder the thing looked so tattered and misshapen. Kid never let it out of her sight. She clearly used it for comfort and apparently needed its remedy a lot.

      God, please put some stability in this child’s life.

      Forcing a smile, Ben adapted a lighthearted tone. “But your mom’s better now, so there’s no need for you and Bearby to worry.” Ben ruffled Reece’s hair, then tickled Bearby beneath where he thought the chin might be.

      Amelia’s eyes went wild all of a sudden and darted over every surface in the room. “My wallet—”

      “Is locked in the safe at the nurses’ station along with all your money,” Ben said.

      “Did the doctor say when I could get out? I have to start my new job in another state—” her head tilted toward the wall clock “—a week from Tuesday.”

      Eyebrows up, Ben said, “You might want to call them. You’re gonna be a few days late.” Didn’t the girl realize her car wasn’t drivable? “The mechanic said two weeks minimum.”

      Amelia’s face paled. “Two weeks?” She threw off the covers and let down the metal rail. “I can’t wait that long. They might not hold the job.” Snapping to her feet, she tried to reach for the IV stand but tottered sideways.

      Arms snaked out, Ben lunged forward and steadied her. The contact startled them both. Frozen, they stood face-to-face, staring. Neither moved for the longest instant. Ben couldn’t shake the thought that she felt so right in his arms.

      Oh-kay. He definitely needed sleep.

      “Take it easy. You’re not leaving Refuge tonight. Certainly not in the next five minutes.” He relaxed his grip on her arms, which were surprisingly more toned than he’d anticipated.

      Expression dazed, she slid back to the bed. “But—I need to get to Missouri. We need time to get settled.” Her eyes glazed with moisture but she turned away from Reece and bit her lip. Hands steepled, Amelia pivoted from Reece’s line of sight and unleashed luminous eyes on Ben. “Did you bring me here?”

      He shook his head. “Ambulance.”

      Her eyes widened. “How much will that cost without insurance?”

      “Two or three grand.”

      She swallowed, shuttering her expression when she found Reece watching. “Okay, that’s doable.”

      Tremors repossessing her hands told a different story. Able to assess body language with microprecision, Ben knew her weak smile was forced. He deducted that a couple grand would devastate their current financial situation. Not counting the cost of car repairs. Again, the urge to help seized him.

      In Ben’s experience, when thoughts grew this persistent, God was usually behind the nudging.

      Amelia turned on cartoons for Reece then faced Ben. “I need to get something from my car.”

      “It’s impounded.”

      Head dipped, her lips parted, letting loose a gasp. “Wha—”

      Ben leaned in, keeping his voice low on account of Reece. “Registration isn’t in your name. Nor is the insurance up to date.” He’d discovered that while searching the glove compartment to find her parents’ names, which he’d given to Officer Stallings.

      “But I gave the money for insurance to my dad and he said he—” She drew a deep breath and fumbled for the call light. “I need to get out of here.” Her thumb pressed the button numerous times as if firing a stream of torpedoes out of a submarine weapons hatch.

      “Yes?” A voice broke through a speaker above her bed.

      “I’m awake. I need to talk to my nurse, please.”

      Crackle. “I’ll send her in.” Click.

      “Thank you.”

      Crackle. “Welcome.” Click.

      Ben checked his phone for a message from Joel, who’d promised to call after getting Hutton’s prescriptions filled. Joel would read the labels and know Hutton had to take his meds with food. His own stomach rumbled at the thought.

      Maybe if Stallings was still on duty, he’d let Ben retrieve the items Amelia sought from her car. Question was, would Amelia trust him with the task? His stomach growled audibly this time.

      “Hungry?” Amelia stared at his midsection.

      “A little.”

      She waved a dismissive hand toward the door. “Feel free to go get something to eat. I—I mean, not that I think you have to come back—”

      He grinned. “Trying to get rid of me?”

      Her eyes widened. Pretty color of brown, like Reece’s. Far lighter than his.

      “Of course not. I—I just meant—”

      His hand circled her arm gently. “Kidding. Take it easy. I’m here because I want to be. That all right with you?”

      She leveled Ben with a look. “Not sure yet.”

      He smiled. “Least you’re honest.” She’d gotten so flustered, she was downright adorable.

      Her eyes

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