9. West
WEST
W est walked slowly toward his parents’ house that evening, holding Elizabeth’s hand. Beside them, Dulcie’s new boots crunched in the snow.
It was strange how connected he already felt to her, in spite of their differences and the fact that they were hardly more than strangers.
He suspected it had a lot to do with how she acted around his daughter.
For all that Dulcie put on a brave face for everyone else, she wore her heart on her sleeve when it came to Elizabeth.
West had seen her go from heartbroken to lighthearted and silly over the last day.
It was only during these last few hours since coming back home that he started finding her hard to read again. In fact, Dulcie had been quiet pretty much from the moment they left his office, and he couldn’t help but wonder if something had happened there that bothered her for some reason.
As far as he was concerned, it was just a normal consultation. Sure, he had handled it casually, but that wasn’t such a bad thing, was it? It was what the situation called for, and his patients seemed to leave feeling happy enough.
Maybe she pictured me as a surgeon or something, showing off my power and knowledge with a lot of big words or fancy equipment. Maybe she’s disappointed that I’m just a regular small-town doctor.
Somehow the idea of disappointing her tugged at his heart, even though he had no reason to crave her approval. He had never been particularly worried about what other people thought about him in the past, so he wasn’t sure why he felt this way now.
It’s because she’s so beautiful, a little voice whispered in the back of his mind. You want to impress her. You’ve been alone too long.
He stole a glance over at her.
The new clothing brought out what he had already known—she was a lovely girl who held herself high, in spite of what he guessed had been a life filled with struggle.
Now that she wasn’t drowning in a too-big coat, she looked like any young woman in her twenties, until she glanced over and mesmerized him with that arresting blue gaze.
Willa at the shop had known what she was doing, the princess scarf definitely played up Dulcie’s big, blue eyes.
Any man would probably be a little distracted.
Not me, West told himself sternly. I’m too old for her, and I know she’s in some kind of situation. Falling for her would be taking advantage.
But he couldn’t help but think about the way she had been looking at him up until this afternoon.
Of course there had been nothing inappropriate in her expressions, but earlier she looked at West like she couldn’t get enough of him, like he was special.
Her eyes told him that she thought he was strong, and kind and generous, a good person and a good father—all the things he aspired to be.
It was addictive being looked at like that, and he was only human.
Well then I’ll just have to be better than human , he told himself firmly.
Seeing her go quiet like this only confirmed his reasoning. She was young and she had clearly been through a lot. The last thing she needed on her thin shoulders was the weight of someone else’s feelings or expectations.
“Swing me,” Elizabeth said suddenly.
He looked over to see her waving her free hand at Dulcie.
Dulcie’s eyes lit up immediately, instantly expelling whatever shadows had been haunting her.
“Are you sure about this?” she asked as she moved closer and took Elizabeth’s mittened hand.
“Yes,” Elizabeth said. “Swing me.”
Elizabeth had seen other kids getting picked up at preschool and walking off with two parents, sometimes swinging between them just like she wanted to now. It hurt West to think that she’d been wishing to do the same.
“Okay, then,” Dulcie said. “Is that okay with you, West?”
“Fine by me,” he told her.
“ One, two, three, ” Dulcie sang out.
Elizabeth hopped just as they lifted her up and she let out a squeal of delight that seemed to echo in the frosty air as she swung between them. It was such a happy sound that West could only smile.
Dulcie was smiling too, her eyes a little misty, though maybe it was just from the cold.
“I hope you’re hungry,” he told her, bringing up what he knew was one of her favorite topics.
“Do you know what we’re having?” she asked, looking just as excited about the idea of a big meal as he had hoped.
Whatever the reason for her scrawny state, it definitely wasn’t because she didn’t like to eat.
“I think it should be a surprise,” he told her.
“Is it a cake?” Elizabeth asked excitedly.
“Probably not for supper,” West told her. “But you know your grandpa loves dessert, so I’ll bet he’s got something sweet in the house to share.”
Elizabeth laughed and launched herself again, and there was just time to swing her up. By the time they got to the stone farmhouse they were all pink-cheeked and smiling.
“Uncle Tripp,” Elizabeth yelled.
West glanced up to see his brother standing on the porch, observing them curiously.
“Hey, Elizabeth, West, beautiful stranger,” Tripp said, looking Dulcie up and down with an absolutely wolfish expression.
West felt his chest stretch as if he were about to roar at his brother .
“That’s Dulcie,” Elizabeth said brightly. “She’s a helper.”
“I’ll bet she is,” Tripp said, smiling his obnoxiously handsome smile again.
“Stop smiling at the poor girl and get me some firewood,” Mom said to Tripp, giving him a whack on the shoulder on her way out of the house to greet them.
West could have kissed her.
“Hello, my darlings,” Mom said when she reached the edge of the steps. “I’ll wait until you get up here for my hug, Elizabeth. I don’t want to get snow in my slippers.”
For some reason the phrase snow in my slippers cracked Elizabeth up and she giggled her way up the steps to her grandmother, repeating it to herself as she went.
West suspected she was drunk with happiness from being swung half the way here, and also a little sleepy from missing the afternoon nap she still liked to take most days.
They were off their routine with the preschool closed and Dulcie here.
It was amazing to see the little one so relaxed and silly, but he made a mental note to make sure she got her nap tomorrow.
“Help me with the wood,” Tripp said as he jogged past.
Dulcie was already hugging his mom while Elizabeth tugged at her sleeve—frantic to show her new friend the toys at her grandma’s house. He figured she’d be just fine without him for a few minutes.
“I’ll be right in,” he called up to them, then headed off with his brother.
“What’s the story there?” Tripp asked, waggling his eyebrows. “Is that your new babysitter? Are you trading in Mrs. Webster for a newer model?”
“What?” West asked. “No, no, she wrecked her car on her way through town and she needs work. She’s staying in our spare room for now, and she’ll do some odds and ends on the farm.”
“I’m just playing with you,” Tripp said. “Mom and Dad already told me. They didn’t say she was such a looker, though.”
“For Pete’s sake, Tripp,” West said, shaking his head. “She’s a young woman in trouble. We’re supposed to be helping her, not noticing that she’s attractive.”
“She doesn’t seem to have any trouble noticing that you’re attractive,” Tripp laughed. “Mom said she thinks she’s got a little crush.”
That stopped West in his tracks. He couldn’t think of anything to say, so he just cleared his throat while he tried to cover up his shock.
“Don’t tell me you’re surprised,” Tripp said. “You’ve got eyes, don’t you?”
“I think she’s just grateful for food to eat and a safe place to stay,” West said, trying to remind himself that what he was saying was true. “She’s a good kid. She looks up to me, maybe. That’s all.”
“I don’t know about that,” Tripp said. “And she’s definitely not a kid.”
“She’s only twenty-one,” West said firmly.
“Yeah, and you’re only thirty-three,” Tripp said. “You’re not dead yet, Doc. Wake up and join the living. Tell a joke. Flirt with a pretty girl. Enjoy yourself. ”
That was easy for Tripp to say. He didn’t have a failed marriage and a four-year-old to worry about.
Besides, Tripp had always been lighthearted and full of mischief. He’d gotten away with more wild behavior than West had ever even considered getting involved with.
They each grabbed an armful of wood from the pile, and Tripp put the tarp back in place, using a bungie cord to secure it.
“Elizabeth seems happy,” Tripp said, as if he were changing the subject.
But West knew his brother better than that. Tripp was just messing with him about Dulcie in a different way. He’d seen how Tripp had been looking at them playing with Elizabeth only a few minutes ago.
“She’s a happy kid,” West said mildly, deliberately not engaging.
But it only made his brother roar with laughter.
“So, you really won’t admit you like her, huh?” he asked after a moment.
“She’s great,” West said patiently. “But I’ve got a career and a kid. And she’s got challenges of her own. Besides, she’s too young for me.”
But this time when he said it, he felt a pang of doubt. Was she really too young for him, or was he just telling himself that?
“So, you don’t mind if I take a shot then?” Tripp asked.
White-hot fury shot through West’s chest, and he spun on his brother.
But Tripp was already cracking up again, practically howling. He probably would have slapped his thigh if it weren’t for all the wood he was carrying.
West rolled his eyes and kept on walking.
“The look on your face,” Tripp gasped as he trotted to catch up. “You really like her, don’t you? Don’t bother to answer that, because I know you won’t let yourself be honest.”
“I guess I’m just a little protective of her,” West admitted.
Because I like her so much. But I don’t mean to.
“Well, it sounds like that’s just what she needs,” Tripp said, his tone serious now. “Mom thinks it’s a sin that she doesn’t seem to have family to look out for her. Says she’s sweet as pie.”