11
After a week, Glory felt better. Not fully recovered, but she’d adapted enough that she desperately wanted to reclaim part
of her normal routine.
With Callie’s help, she managed a regular shower. Her hair, while not styled exactly the way she preferred, was clean and
soft. Her shoulder still ached but she’d learned which moves to avoid and found a regimen of OTC pain meds and ice that kept
it tolerable.
Her ribs were another matter, but even they had lightened up. Unfortunately, her bruising had turned several ugly shades of
green and yellow. No matter how it shocked Aunt Liz, she wasn’t about to attempt makeup. Kam didn’t seem to care, and no one
else mentioned it.
“Well,” said Aunt Liz, as she fretted around her. “If you’re sure there’s nothing I can do for you . . .”
It still surprised Glory that Liz came by every other day to sit with her for an hour.
That first day had been horrid, with Liz nearly falling apart.
Streaming tears—which had destroyed her own makeup—Liz wanted to embrace her, but everyone stopped her.
She’d tried to dramatically drop down beside her, but Kam quickly cautioned her to go easy.
Finally, Liz had gone behind the couch to lean down very closely. She’d stroked Glory’s bloodstained hair, carefully kissed
her cheek, and begged to know if there was anything she could do.
It had unsettled Glory enough that she’d scrambled for a task, ultimately settling on asking her aunt to figure out some prettier
clothes that she could easily get on and off.
Her aunt had nailed it. The very next day she’d come by with three outfits, and since then, she’d brought over three more.
“You’ve already done so much, Aunt Liz.” Glory glanced down at the cotton wide-legged drawstring pants she wore. Nothing could
be more fashionable and comfortable for her injuries. The roomy buttoned-up tops certainly looked better than any other choices
she had. “Thank you again for the clothes.”
“Of course. You’re like a daughter to me,” Liz stated. “I don’t cook as Addie does, and I know you prefer for Callie to help
you with your showers.”
“You’re all wonderful to me, and I appreciate it.”
Liz gave her a funny look, then very delicately sat beside her and took her hand. “You do realize that we all love you?”
Never before had Liz spoken like this. Glory wondered if it was Addie’s influence, or if the wreck had upset her that much.
“I do know it, and I love you, too, Aunt Liz.”
They both smiled, and then Liz asked, “Does the padded brace around your torso help? The pharmacist told me that many people
with broken ribs use it when sleeping.”
“It helps a lot. I’m still sleeping on the couch—” she didn’t know when she’d be able to fully recline without pain, only that it wasn’t in her immediate future “—but now I don’t wake up as often.”
“Excellent.” Touching her face, Liz frowned. “You’re sure you don’t want any makeup? Maybe just enough to cover the horrific
bruising?”
And there was the aunt she knew and adored. Smile widening, Glory said, “You’ve all already seen me like this, and I don’t
plan to venture out anytime soon. Putting on makeup would just mean having to take it off.” Brushing her teeth was enough
of an ordeal. “Plus, we both know nothing is going to cover all this discoloration. I’ll just have to look wretched until
it fades.”
Liz bit her lip, her brow creased. “It’s just that you look worse now than when I first saw you.”
Poor Addie had just entered from the kitchen and she gasped. “Liz, what in the world are you telling her?” Frustration and
worry brought her rushing forward. “Don’t listen to her, Glory. You look fine.”
Glory and Liz both snorted—then looked at each other and laughed.
Okay, yeah, that hurt—the snort and the laugh. But how could she have resisted?
Her grimace was enough to have both women suddenly fussing over her.
And in came her own personal hero. “Can she breathe?”
Addie twisted around to face Kam. “Well, of course, she can breathe. Why would you ask such a thing?”
“With you two smothering her, I wasn’t sure.” His gaze met hers and he smiled. “Pretty sure we need to give her some room,
okay?” To help accomplish that, he added, “Liz, would you mind getting her some juice? Addie, how about you grab her ice pack?”
After both women jumped to do his bidding, Kam eased down beside her. “You look worn out.”
“You and Aunt Liz, full of compliments today.”
In reply to that, he kissed her forehead near her healing cut, then her cheek, and finally, the corner of her mouth. In a
whisper, he asked, “Want me to clear house?”
“Is that possible without hurting feelings?” While Kam had worked, she’d had visitors on and off all day.
Once the women finished their tasks, Kam managed to get them on their way with little fanfare.
“I’ll be by again soon,” Liz said. “I ordered you a beautiful quilt, one that will match your living room since you’re practically
living in here now. It should arrive soon.”
“That’s so nice of you, Aunt Liz, but you don’t have to—”
The kiss Liz landed on her cheek wasn’t quite as gentle as Kam’s, but it didn’t hurt much.
Next, Addie said, “I hope you enjoy your dinner. Now that you’re able to move your arms a little more easily, I fixed you
something hardier. Roast pork and dressing with all the sides. Don’t hesitate to have Kam cut up the meat for you.”
“Thank you, Addie. I’m sure it’s delicious.” Everything she made was amazing. “Please don’t go to so much trouble, though.
I don’t mind ordering from a restaurant every now and then.”
“When I love cooking for you? Don’t be silly.” Lightly, she touched Glory’s right shoulder, gave Kam a big hug, and then she
walked out with Liz.
Kam locked the door behind them. “Alone at last.”
This was her favorite part of the day, when she had Kam all to herself. How long that could go on, she didn’t know. “Everything
go okay at work today?”
“Yup.” He headed into the kitchen, saying, “I’ll get our food together.”
While he was occupied, she worked her way up from the couch. “Let’s sit at the table. I’m tired of the couch.”
He straightened from the oven where Addie had left the food to warm. His gaze swept over her, tracking her progress. “I thought
you were going to ice your shoulder?”
While carrying the ice pack and her juice, Glory did her best to make her walk smooth and easy. “I don’t need it right now.
I really am feeling much better.”
Stepping around the bar, he relieved her of the juice to set it on the table, then took the ice pack from her and put it on
the bar.
When she reached for a chair at the dining table, he pulled it out for her. “Can I at least get a pillow to put behind your
back?”
“That’s okay. It feels good to move a little.” Not a lie. So far, her views had been from the couch or the bathroom. Every
day she felt stronger, though that probably had as much to do with her emotions as it did her healing injuries.
“I was thinking about that. I wonder if you could manage a lounge chair outside? Not for long, but for a bit of fresh air.”
“That sounds like Addie talking, and yes, I’d love a break from being cooped up indoors. I’ll order one online today. Never
in my life have I watched three movies in a single day, but now it’s becoming a habit. I’ve read two books, listened to an
audiobook, and I’ve become a pro at online solitaire.”
He grinned as he set the table. “I watched two of those movies with you, and I enjoyed it. A lazy day on the couch is good
sometimes.”
Did he really feel that way? “Wouldn’t you rather be fixing up your new apartment?”
Pausing in the middle of serving the food, his smile paled to enigmatic scrutiny. “Is this your way of saying you want some
time alone?”
“Not exactly.”
That answer didn’t appease him. “Am I crowding you?”
Absolutely not. She was so glad not to be alone that it scared her, especially at a time when she really needed to learn to
stand on her own.
What scared her more was hogging his time, stealing him away from his obligations, interrupting his plans. Kam was a good
man with a busy life—a life he’d put on hold for her. “I like having you here,” she offered, as a way to ease into things.
“I’ve moved in on you.” With the food on their plates, he took a seat across from her. “I didn’t really give you much of a
choice, though.”
Moved in when he still had an apartment? “It’s not a problem for me.”
“You’ll get a break tomorrow, though.”
His set expression kept her uneasy. “Oh?”
“I know it’s Saturday, but I have to head in to work for a few hours to finish up a custom order, then I’m taking a bunch
of kids to play Putt-Putt golf. Liam and Nell are going along.”
How ridiculous was it that she felt left out? She didn’t begrudge the kids having some fun, and she respected Kam so much
for the time he spent with them. “Liam is still involved?”
He nodded. “Nell, too. It helps, because the teens know them and trust them, at least to a point.”
Liam was nineteen and Nell was seventeen, but they were remarkably mature for their ages. They were also a couple, though
not everyone knew that. Until Nell had turned seventeen, Liam had viewed her as hands-off.
“Nell still spends some nights at the halfway house.” Kam’s mouth firmed. “I worry about her, but it’s better now that she
and Liam are together. At least when she needs a place to go in the middle of the night, she’s comfortable with him.”
“I think they’re in love.” Using only her right hand, she forked a few peas on her plate. “She had to grow up fast, didn’t she?”
“Afraid so. Her grandma tries, but . . .” He shook his head and changed the topic. “How did your visit with Callie go?”
There remained a cautious distance between them, but Glory wasn’t sure what to do about it. “PB was with her. Nell gave her
a clean bill of health, by the way.”
“She took her to the clinic where she works?”
“Yes. PB is now up-to-date on her shots and Tanner got her a very pretty collar.” For the next few seconds, they both stayed
busy eating. “Mmm. Addie has outdone herself.”