Page 71 of After You

“I was thinking about lemonade,” he said. “Not kissing,” he added in an actual whisper, to make a point.

“Well, that explains a lot,” Alice told him. “Kissing should always be the first thing on yourmind.”

Yeah well, she had a point.

“Hello!”

Everyone turned to see Hannah’s dad coming in through the back kitchendoor.

“Hi, Dad.”

Kyle felt a catch in his chest at the look of sincere happiness on Hannah’s face as she greeted her father. Crap, he wasn’t supposed to care this much about her pain and her being happy and all of that. She had lefthim.

“You’re just in time,” Alice informed herson.

“Does that mean there are cookies?” Ben asked. He crossed to Hannah and kissed her cheek.

She pointed at the cookie jar. “What a silly question.” He headed straight to the jar. “What are you just in time for?” she asked.

“I’m going to take Mom to York,” Ben said, biting into what looked like oatmeal raisin.

Hannah was really good at oatmeal raisin. Then again, Hannah had always been really good at just about everything.

“You didn’t say you needed to go to York,” Hannah said to Alice.

“I don’t need to go, but I want to. We’re going to shop a little and have dinner.”

“You’re going shopping and to dinner,” Hannah repeated. “You’re feeling up tothat?”

“To having my son help me pick out a new TV and buy me dinner?” Alice asked with a laugh. “Of course.”

“I could take you,” Hannah offered. “That’s why I’m here, right? To help with things.”

“Oh, yes, absolutely,” Alice said. “I was hoping you could do some of the work over at your dad’s that needsdone.”

“What do you need help with?” Kyle asked.

Ben glanced at Alice, and Alice gave him a little nod. Kyle sighed. That wasn’t obvious atall.

“I needed to get the windows washed,” Ben told them. “The outside. I got one of those spray things that go on the hose and my shoulder has been feeling really good, so thought I could get them done.” He glanced at Hannah with a smile. “That treatment you did on me really helped.”

Hannah looked pleased. “I’m soglad.”

So, she’d worked on her dad. That was great.

“I can definitely do the windows,” Kyle said. “No sense in testing your shoulder just yet. Let Hannah work on it a little more before you get too gungho.”

Ben nodded. “Whatever you say, Doc. But the bottom ones will need to be dried. They say that stuff doesn’t leave streaks, but itdoes.”

“Got it. I’ll take care of it,” Kylesaid.

“And I canhelp.”

Kyle glanced at Hannah. Scrubbing cupboards was bothering her neck. He could only imagine what washing windows would do to it. And she’d told him at the Come Again that one of her coping mechanisms was just letting things go and relaxing. She should take advantage of the time to sit back and put her feet up. Or something.

But he was a selfish bastard and he wanted some one-on-one time with her. He’d just make sure that he did most—or all—of the work. She could sit back and put her feet up outside in her dad’s yard. Maybe in a lawn chair. With a bikinion.

“We can do it together,” he said. “Of course. We’re a great team.” Not only would that make Alice happy—which was confirmed by a quick glance in the older woman’s direction—but if Hannah needed any more massages, he would be right there. Willing andable.

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