with Stella and developed an easy, natural rapport with her. Landon noted the almost incandescent joy in Amanda’s eyes every time she looked at her daughter, which was often. However, the joy was tempered by the horrific reality of Kelly’s unrelenting illness.
Landon woke on the third day in New York with a feeling of dread. He had to go back to Vermont because he was due to work the next day at the firehouse. With Lucas still out on medical leave, he had to go, but he didn’t want to.
Because Amanda could use Kelly’s car, the plan was for him to take the rental back to Vermont and turn it in there. All the arrangements had been made. Now he just had to work up the wherewithal to actually leave.
He held Amanda close to him in bed in the guest room at Kelly and Stella’s cozy home, wishing he could stay for as long as they needed him.
“You’re awake early,” Amanda said, yawning.
“I hate that I have to leave today.”
“I do, too, but I understand you have to work.”
“I’ll be back on my next four-day break.”
“You have the farm to think about.”
“I can get help there. It’s fine. If there’s one benefit to having a big family, that’s it. My grandfather would tell you he can still cut grass. Don’t worry. We’ll make it work.”
“It’s a lot to ask.”
“No, it’s not. I just hope you’ll be okay during all this. I worry about you being so focused on Kelly and Stella that you won’t take care of yourself.”
“I will. I promise. I have to so I can be there for them.”
“I’m going to make sure you do, but I sure wish I could be here to take care of you while you take care of them.”
“I wish you could, too.”
“I love you, and I’m so proud of you for stepping up for them the way you have.”
“I love you, too, and that means so much to me. Thank you for all your support. You’ve been my rock. I know it’s a lot…”
“Don’t spend one second worrying about me or us. We’re solid, and we still will be after this. You’ve got much bigger things to focus on right now.”
She made a slight move that put her ass snug against his erection.
“Sorry,” he muttered. “That tends to happen when you’re close by.” They hadn’t had sex since the hotel in Boston.
“Don’t be sorry.” She turned to face him and snuggled into his embrace, moving against him in a suggestive way that made him groan. “Before you go…”
“We don’t have to.”
“What if I want to?”
“In that case…”
She laughed as her hands worked their way under his T-shirt, her touch setting him on fire like always.
Then her cell phone rang, and her hands were gone as she turned toward her side of the bed to retrieve her phone. “Hey,” she said, listening. “No, that’s fine. I’m up. Just give me a few minutes to get dressed. Are you okay?” She listened some more. “I know, sweetheart. I’ll see you in two minutes.”
“What’s up?”
“Kelly had another seizure. The hospital called Stella.”
“She shouldn’t be getting those calls.”
“She insisted on being their point of contact.”
“It’s too much.”
“She says it isn’t.”
“It would be for me, and I’m more than twice her age,” Landon said. “She’s an awesome kid.”
“I’m glad you think so, and I’m sorry about leaving you high and dry,” she said, kissing him before she got out of bed.
“Don’t apologize to me. Please don’t. What you’re dealing with is just…”
She turned toward the bed as she pulled on jeans. “It’s life, Landon. Isn’t that what your grandfather would say?”
“Yeah,” he said, smiling. “That sounds like him.”
“It’s life—and it’s beautiful and messy and painful and dreadful and joyful and everything else,” she said as she finished getting dressed. “That’s one thing I’ve figured out since the twelve-year numbness wore off and I started to feel things again. You have to take the bad with the good. That’s just how it goes. And if you’re really lucky, there’s more good than bad.”
“There will be far more good, if I have anything to say about it.”
“That gives me something to look forward to.”
Landon got up, brushed his teeth and pulled on clothes so he could see them off.
Stella was waiting for them downstairs. “Are you still going home today?” she asked Landon.
“I have to, unfortunately. I’d much rather be here with you ladies.”