The Caregiver - By Shelley Shepard Gray Page 0,42

a half hour.

Then, just when Lucy wondered if Mattie had finally begun to sleep, Mattie spoke. “Lucy, would you mind going next door to get Graham?”

“Graham Weaver? Why do you need him?”

“Because he’s my best friend in the world.”

“And here I thought your best friend was me,” Lucy teased. “I came all the way here from Michigan, don’t you know.”

As Lucy had hoped, Mattie chuckled. “And I’ll never forget your journey, neither. But I’d still be grateful if you went and got Graham for me.”

Lucy was just going to warn Mattie that her request was foolish. That all Graham could do was everything Lucy could—but then Mattie spoke again, her voice wistful and sweet. “Graham will sit with me for hours.”

“I can sit with you, Mattie—”

“I know. It’s just, he’s a gut friend.” After a ragged breath, Mattie looked Lucy in the eye. “Even if you don’t understand why I want him, would you still go see if he can stop by?”

Lucy got to her feet. “Of course. I’ll go now.” Leaning closer, she whispered, “But be warned. I’m going to tell your mother that I’m leaving you alone.”

A weak smile lit Mattie’s face. “I am willing to even put up with an hour of constant questioning and chatter in order to see Graham. Oh, I hope he’ll be able to come over.”

“He will,” Lucy promised. After everything that Mattie had done for her, Lucy was willing to do whatever it took to bring Graham back over.

Even taking the chance of seeing his brother Calvin again.

Chapter 16

Lucy’s pulse was beating loud, and she found herself checking and double-checking the state of her clothing while she approached the Weaver farm.

And wouldn’t you know it? Her palms were damp, too.

All were signs of one thing: She was near Calvin.

Oh, but this wouldn’t do. She was no innocent young girl. She’d already trusted a man based on charm and good looks—and had regretted that decision almost immediately. Surely that experience had taught her something?

Anything?

Schooling her features, she marched up to their front door and knocked. All she needed to do was relay the message and be on her way.

That was all.

“Lucy? Hi.”

“Hi.” Oh . . . against her best intentions, she was becoming tongue-tied around him again.

Standing in the shadow of the doorway, Calvin Weaver looked exactly as wonderful and handsome as he had every time their paths had crossed. Today his shirt was dark blue and it brought out the color of his eyes. For a moment, Lucy’s breath hitched as she was drawn again to his deep, almost mesmerizing voice.

His head tilted to one side. “Is there a reason you stopped by?”

Instead of standing and staring at him? With effort, she pushed herself back to reality. “Actually, I’m here for Mattie. She asked to see Graham. Is he here?”

His gaze clouded for a moment, then cleared with a new resolve in his eyes. “Graham? Oh, of course.” He stepped forward, joining her on the front porch. “Is Mattie all right?”

“I’m afraid she’s having a tough time of it today. She’s feeling sick and achy and sad. All she wants at the moment is Graham’s company. I’m hoping he’ll oblige her.”

“I know he’ll drop everything if she needs him . . .”

Just imagining such a thing made Lucy turn wistful. Were there men like that? Men who put women’s needs before their own?

Once again, their eyes met. Held too long. As if embarrassed, Calvin finally looked away and cleared his throat.

“Graham is in the barn,” he said, pointing toward his left.

Following the direction of his hand, she prepared to step back and walk away. It didn’t matter how she felt when she was around him, she had a duty to perform and that duty didn’t include investigating her feelings toward Calvin. “Danke.”

“Wait! I, uh . . . I was just heading that way. How about I take you there?”

“You have time?” Oh, but she was grasping at just about anything in order to spend time with him!

“Of course I do. Or I could just tell him to go see Mattie for you. Spare you the trouble.”

Walking the fifty steps or so wouldn’t be much trouble. But being in Calvin’s company a little bit longer might be, Lucy knew. If she left right away, Lucy could return to that retreat she’d built for herself. There in that safe place she would pretend she was functioning just fine. That she didn’t need other people to be happy. That she didn’t need another man in