and life will go on. I’m not sure about building a house, though. I’ve been thinking about Mr. Bailey’s place. I don’t know if it’s for sale, but I’m going to check it out. It already has a house on it, and the land backs up to ours. It would be a good addition to our farm, and all that extra land would be an opportunity to build up the herd.”
“That house is old,” Jack said.
Duke grinned. “No, it has character, and that’s what I like about it.”
“You have been thinking about it, haven’t you?” Jack said.
Duke nodded. “Yes, and long before baby Talbot was on the way.”
Hope sighed. “Okay. I can accept that reasoning, but only if you promise you still call this place home. If you don’t feel free to come and go as you’ve always done, you’re going to hurt my feelings.”
“And mine,” Jack said.
“It’s all good, guys. I just wanted you to know now, so you can start renovations to the downstairs and be done long before the baby arrives.”
“Fine, but we’re not messing with anything inside the house until after the holidays,” Hope said. “I have plans, and they include all of us and our guests, including Cathy Terry, remember?”
“I’m not forgetting anything,” Duke said. “Look at it this way. After I’m gone, you two have the run of the house. Hell, you can run naked anytime you want to.”
Hope rolled her eyes. “I’m about to lose the running-naked body and turn myself into a big fat baby incubator.”
Duke grinned. “I know I’m notorious for always saying the wrong thing, but right now I got nothin’.”
It made both Jack and Hope laugh, and when bedtime finally rolled around, the shock of the news had worn off, and Duke was thinking about calling Rhonda Bailey the next morning to see if her dad’s place was for sale.
Phone calls between Duke and Cathy continued through the next few days along with a couple of quick trips to her house. Once to bring her fresh eggs again, and once to bring her flowers, because Duke liked to watch the dimple come and go when she smiled.
* * *
Finally, the swelling in Cathy’s ankle was gone. It was still a little tender if she was on it too much, but it felt good to have her feet back under her again, and she rolled the walker back to Phillips Pharmacy on her own.
LilyAnn saw her coming and held the door open for her as she entered.
“Out shopping?” she asked.
“Yes, but I’m also returning this,” Cathy said.
“You know it’s paid up for the month, right?” LilyAnn asked.
“Yes, but I really don’t need it anymore and someone else might.”
“Okay, I’ll register it as having been returned. You should have seen Duke Talbot when he first came to rent it for you. He was such a sweetheart. So concerned for your welfare and that you were so hurt and lived alone.”
“Really?” Cathy said.
“Oh yes! He went back into the storage room with Mr. Phillips to try them all out, and then I thought it was so sweet when he also thought of the ice packs and the painkillers for you. You can tell he’s used to taking care of people, can’t you? I mean…he stayed on the farm and made sure Jack got to finish college after their parents died. He had to step up and take charge, and I think that is what kept him from ever marrying. He just wouldn’t take the time away from responsibilities to devote to building a relationship.”
Cathy nodded to indicate she was still listening as she picked up a basket and began going down an aisle to get some shampoo. And all the while, LilyAnn followed her, still talking.
It wasn’t lost on her that the day of her accident, a total stranger had been more considerate of her than her own husband had ever been, and it was already a given that he was good-looking. And he was calling her every morning, and then again every evening before she went to bed. It was an amazing feeling to know that someone alive on this earth actually cared what happened to her.
Hearing LilyAnn bragging on him, too, was reassuring in a whole other way. Cathy had to keep reminding herself that everybody in Blessings knew everybody, and they knew all about the residents’ character and honesty. She was the outsider. But instead of distrusting her, like she’d been inclined to distrust all of them, they’d made