finally softened against him.
He felt the first sob ripple through her. “You must hate me!”
The emotion coming from her made him flinch even though he had known it was likely. “I don’t hate you. I love you,” he said calmly. “You’re just tired, honey, that’s all,” he reassured quietly, threading his fingers through her hair. She was exhausted way past the point she could function.
It took a focused effort of all his own reserves, but he leaned down and picked her up. Upstairs was out of his possibility, so he carried her into the living room. He held her through the bout of tears, until the emotion ran its course and she finally cried herself to sleep.
He made her as comfortable on the couch as he could, quietly reassured Justin, and went to fix himself a sandwich. He wasn’t going anywhere.
The phone rang. James caught it before the second ring, checking carefully to see if it had woken Rae. It was Dave. James carried the phone with him to the kitchen. “What’s up?”
“I’m at Lace’s place. How’s Rae doing, James?”
“She’ll be fine,” James assured him with a confidence he didn’t totally feel. “She just got overtired and her ribs are really hurting.”
“Lace said Rae tripped on the stairs when she was carrying in the groceries. That was what triggered the argument, apparently. I gather she’s still refusing to see the doctor?”
James’s hand tightened on the phone. “Rae didn’t mention she fell,” he replied. His voice was level, but he could feel the anger building inside him. That lovable, crazy, irresponsible lady. She could be really hurt and she hadn’t said anything.
He left the phone on the counter after saying goodbye to Dave and strode with purpose back into the living room.
“Rae, there are times I really regret you are so stubborn,” he whispered softly, tucking the afghan around her. He sighed and debated what he should do.
Let it go. It wasn’t worth a fight.
She stirred shortly after 10:00 p.m. Without being asked, he handed her two aspirin.
“Thank you.”
He sat down beside her on the couch and gently brushed her hair back from her face. “You need to eat something, Rae. Feel up to it?”
She seemed surprised when she nodded. “I’m hungry.”
He smiled. “Good.”
She moved to get up, winced.
“Ribs hurt?” he asked.
She looked up at him sharply and reluctantly nodded. She wanted to know if he knew about her fall but she wasn’t going to ask him. He slid a hand under her elbow and carefully helped her sit up.
“I’m sorry it’s so late.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve been reading a good book.”
She looked over to the chair he had been sitting in, looked back at him. He had been reading her recently written chapters of the manuscript.
“Are they any good?”
He smiled. “Yes.”
He resumed fixing the dinner that had been interrupted hours before. He soon heard her move through the house, and then he heard water running in the bathroom.
She came back with her face washed, her hair brushed. She helped him set the table.
He broiled the trout to the point it flaked apart, found sour cream and chives for the baked potatoes. It was a quiet meal, Rae asking only a few questions about his day. James was content to sit and watch her when he finished his dinner before her. He was glad to see she had meant it when she said she was hungry, and especially glad to see she ate a decent amount.
She helped him carry dishes from the dining room back to the kitchen when they were done eating.
He was reaching for the dish soap to clean the broiler when she paused his movements, resting her hand against his forearm. “Thank you, James.”
He studied the serious expression in her eyes, then he smiled. The mood needed to be lightened around here. He ruffled her hair. “You’re welcome.”
He hummed softly as he washed the pans and she cleared the rest of the table.
“I didn’t crack a rib, I’m sure of it.”
He looked up from the pan he was rinsing off. “An X ray could tell you that for certain.” He didn’t know what he wanted to do, accept her opinion or push the matter.
She shrugged. “I’m clumsy these days, I pick up bruises.”
He understood instantly, the moment he saw that shrug.
She was embarrassed.
She was embarrassed about the fact she was not as steady on her feet as she had been before.
“I’ll buy you a cane,” he replied lightly. “What’s your favorite color?”
She wrinkled her nose at him.