Page 29 of Candy Cane Dreams
"If you give me your number, I'll text you the address. GPS will take you right to it."
She rattled off her number. He had to admit, it did not make him sad to have it.
"Thank you," she said.
She pursed her lips, as though thinking about something, and then she said, "Would it truly be okay if I worked with Lilly some? I mean, in an unofficial capacity. I don't actually start at the school until after the holidays, but Lilly is special."
"I'm glad you think so," he said, her words bringing a smile to his face. "And yes. Absolutely. She seems to like you a good bit, and if you think there's anything you can do to help..." He allowed his words to trail off. He couldn't deny that his heart skipped a few beats, thinking that someone would be able to help Lilly. He had done everything he could think of, and most of the time when he took her to specialists, they said to just allow her to heal in her own time. But surely there was something he could do to help his daughter through the trauma of losing her mother. It thrilled him to know that there was someone who was willing to help.
"Any time you spend with her can be put toward the rent."
She waved her hand in the air. "Don't worry about it. I... this is what I do. It's what I love."
He sighed an internal sigh of relief. He had been afraid that he wouldn't be able to afford it.
"I can't allow you to do that for free."
"I insist. And you're helping me out of a huge bind. I don't have enough money to continue to stay at a hotel, but I also don't have enough money to come up with a down payment, security deposit, and pay rent on a house or apartment. And there's nothing here anyway. The closest place I've been able to find is an hour and a half away."
"I guess we're even then."
"I haven't done anything yet. I haven't helped you in the shop, and I haven't done anything for Lilly either."
"Just the fact that you're interested makes me happy."
She smiled at him, and they shared a look that seemed a little longer than strictly necessary. He didn't know if she was feeling anything like what he was, but he wanted to reach out, to touch her, to share more than just smiles and looks. To share a physical touch, something that connected them in a tangible way. But instead of reaching out, he fisted his hand and nodded as she said, "I better get going. Thanks again."
"Text me when you get there, and let me know that everything's okay."
"I will. But as long as there's some kind of bed, even if it's just a couch or a blanket on the floor, I'll be happy."
"I want to know if there's heat, running water, and electricity. Okay?" He lifted his brows until she nodded. He could just see her going out there and not even being able to get in and sleeping in her car in the driveway. That seemed like something Kate would do. She didn't seem like a fussy, particular kind of person, but the kind that rolled with things and did her best with whatever was set in front of her. He liked that.
He didn't want to, but he watched her as she drove away and her tail lights faded out of sight down the street. There was something about Kate.
Chapter Twelve
"And who is this?" Kate said, as she pointed to what was obviously a person in Lilly's drawing. Kate had decided to do art therapy, trying to draw Lilly out a little, figure out what was going on in that head of hers.
Lilly looked up at her with sad eyes. Because it looked like there were earrings in the person's ears, Kate guessed that it was a woman.
"Your mother?"
Lilly's eyes widened in surprise, and then she nodded.
"She was very beautiful—that's what gave it away," Kate said, looking again at the picture that Lilly had drawn.
"Would you like to write a sentence about your mother at the bottom?" Kate asked gently, hoping that she could stir a little bit of something else in Lilly, but Lilly shook her head.
"That's fine. You don't have to. The picture is beautiful the way it is. Your mommy was a very special person."
Lilly nodded slowly and looked down at the picture, her mouth twisting a bit, but she still didn't say anything.
Slow, baby steps, Kate reminded herself.
"I think that's enough for today. You did an excellent job, and I'd love to be able to hang this picture up somewhere, unless you would like to hang it on your refrigerator?" Kate asked.
Lilly nodded eagerly.
