Page 16 of Falling for Brody

If Brody's father was shocked to see her, he didn't have any reaction to it. He seemed like he did this kind of thing all of the time. Have random people showing up.

He looked back at Helene. "I'll have Louise talk to you about dinner."

Helene gave him a plastic container of cookies. "Do you need more dog treats?"

He smiled. "We can always use more dog treats." He gave Helene a wink. "I'll even let the dogs have them once in awhile."

"See you soon, Rhea." With kisses for Sara and mussing up Jack's hair, Howard left the house.

Chip kept his gaze studiously on the plate before him and Rhea took one of the cookies off of her plate and put it on Chips.

She had a feeling she knew what it was.

Chip had always loved his dad. And by extension, his dad's family, but Charles' parents were barely affectionate with Chip while Charles was alive. After he passed, they'd disappeared. Like fucking fog.

It was like they'd forgotten they had a grandchild at all.

And Chip.

He'd felt it.

The therapist that Rhea had seen explained it to her. "Something, as crappy as it was, was better than nothing at all."

And she wanted better for Chip. She wanted him to be swimming in love.

Howard, Brody's dad, had a relationship with Sarah and Jack. He might not be their grandfather but he loved them. He was openly affectionate with them.

Chip saw it. He felt it. And rather than see them get the affection he wanted from people, he'd looked down.

He didn't want to see it happen and not have it himself.

Lifting a hand that felt like lead, Rhea touched the back of his neck and rubbed her thumb across his skin, feeling the prickly ends of his hair that they'd cut just before they started driving to Fallport.

She didn't say anything to him.

She wasn't sure he wanted to talk at the moment.

So she just left her hand there, wanting him to feel her love.

"You know," Helene spoke again, softer this time, "we have extra rooms here. Instead of checking into the motel while you look for a place to rent. Stay here."

Rhea had balked at that. "I... I don't want to be a problem. Or inconvenience to you. Your family."

"Nonsense." Helene's smile was warm and inviting and to Rhea, it was hard to admit how much she wanted that kind of warmth.

Not just from another person, but another woman.

"At least for tonight. Michael and Kay went to pick up your car, so you'll have your things soon. And we're all having dinner tonight," she hesitated, "except for my sons and their wives."

"And Brody's family?"

She winced as she asked the question. She didn't really know why.

Helene gestured at the front door that Howard had left through less than a minute or two before. "We'll likely send food over. Howard likes to stay with his patients and Louise? She likes to stay with Howard. Brody should be done with his shift before dinner."

Rhea had to slow her breathing to keep herself from blushing hot and pink across her cheeks.

She hadn't felt that way for a long time. Certainly not since she'd met Charles, but her heart had kicked up again by the side of the road.

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