Page 12 of Falling for Brody

Chip looked up at Kay as they walked out of the automatic doors. "Where's your kid going to sit if I use their seat?"

Kay's steps faltered a little. "Oh! Sarah's at home with the Moms. I have her seat, but she's not in the car."

Brody looked across the gurney at her. "The Moms are what we call our moms. My mom and my aunt. They're almost always taking care of the whole family, so we just call them that."

She smiled and felt a little pang of jealousy inside. She didn't have her parents anymore and Chips grandparents... Well, it was better not to think about them.

Kay had parked on the other side of the rig and while she was switching the seat to a booster with Chip helping, Rhea turned to help Brody and found him watching the whole scene in the back of Kay's car.

"He really is smart."

Rhea felt her whole heart swell in her chest. "He's everything."

She reached for her kit to grab some gloves. "I'll help you prep before I go-"

Brody reached out and touched her arm.

It had been so long since she'd had that kind of reaction to someone touching her. Years.

"I got this, Rhea. You go with Chip and get your car. I'll finish up here."

She wanted to help.

She wanted to be helpful.

Because people want people around who are helpful.

And Rhea didn't want to be on the outside looking in ever again.

She wanted a community like Fallport for Chip.

Her son deserved the world and that's why she was here. She had to keep her focus where it belonged.

On him.

"Okay. But I'll be at work on the next shift. I'm ready to work."

He narrowed his gaze at her. "And I'll be ready for it. You did good work today. Really good work, Rhea." His smile was... amazing. "I can't wait to work with you."

"Mom! Let's go!"

Chip crowed like they were headed for an adventure, and she was thankful for the distraction.

She moved around Brody and picked up her kit. "I'll see you next shift, Brody."

He nodded and murmured something under his breath, but she didn't hear what it was. It was probably just what she said to him. It couldn't be anything else.

CHAPTER3

The rest of his shift,the next few hours, went by the same way many of his shifts did.

More of a house call almost-doctor. It was part of the fun of living in a small town. Mister Jenkins's bad aim on his hammer. Tina Carter, who was a marathon runner, had fallen down her stairs over her cat and needed help off the floor and to bandage her sprain.

The basics.

It was good, but it gave him a lot of time to think.

To think about his new partner.

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