“Sounds like they’re doing well.”

  “They are. They’re happy.”

  “How is it having a younger brother that’s so much younger than you?”

  “It’s fun, though most people think he’s my kid if I’m out and about with him on my own. That’s okay, though. He’s a cool kid.”

  A pounding sounded on the front door and they both jumped at the interruption. Clare fumbled her beer before rising to her feet and rushing to the door. “Theo? What are you doing here?” Her stepdad panted, a hand over his heart as his eyes scanned the room and landed first on the shotgun propped against the wall and then on a surprised Teddy. “Theo?”

  “I’m sorry. I’m out of breath. I saw… I was headed home from a diaper run and saw a car by the road. Door open, headlights on… your driveway. I… panicked. Thought maybe you were in trouble.”

  Clare smiled tenderly, thankful for a dad who would sprint to her rescue. She slipped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. “It’s Teddy’s. He scared the bejesus out of me earlier when I was taking out the trash. Guess he forgot to close his car door when he took off after me.”

  “Took off after you?” Theo’s gaze hardened.

  “I didn’t realize it was him. It was a whole thing.” Clare waved away the worry and patted Theo’s shoulder. “I’m alright, big guy. Trooper defended me, as did the driveway. He twisted his ankle.” She grinned at that, and Theo nodded in approval at his dog’s protectiveness.

  Teddy cleared his throat as he stood to his feet. “Mr. Theo.” He extended his hand and Theo shook it. “Good to see you. Sorry to cause such a mess tonight. For you and Clare.”

  “Right. Well… I’ll close up your car, so your battery won’t run down, and then I’m headed home.” He turned back towards Clare, ignoring Teddy. “If you’re good?” he asked her.

  “I’m good,” she assured him, and then held his serious gaze a moment longer so he knew she was fine.

  “Okay. Alright. Y’all have a good night,” he mumbled, and then patted Trooper on the head before making his exit. “Lock up when he leaves,” he ordered on his way out.

  “Gotta love him.” Clare smiled as she made her way back to her chair. Teddy continued to stand.

  “Either he doesn’t like me, or I just ticked him off.” Teddy eased back onto the couch.

  “I think it’s both,” Clare replied, forcing a smile to her face as she noticed his eyebrows lift in surprise at her answer. He didn’t say anything in response. “It’s getting late, though.”

  “Yeah. I guess I’ll head back to the house. My parents are probably wondering where I ran off to. I’d hate for them to sound the Piney alarm. Thanks for the beer. Sorry to scare you.”

  She watched as he set the empty bottle on the dining table and limped towards the front door.

  “Teddy, wait.” She growled in frustration, and at his curious stare she pointed to a dining chair. “Sit. Let me take a look at your ankle.”

  “Oh.” He shrugged. “I’m sure it’s fine. Just throbs.”

  “Sit,” Clare demanded, Trooper’s ears perking at the familiar command and he and Teddy both obeyed. Clare knelt in front of him and lifted his pant leg. She looked up at him, and his bright eyes, always one of his best qualities, stared down at her. “You better not report Trooper for jumping you. Because I’m not putting him down for defending me.”

  “I wouldn’t do that. You know I wouldn’t.”

  She didn’t know that about him. Not anymore. But she was glad to hear he wouldn’t cause her trouble.

  “It’s pretty intense. Let me get you an ice pack.” She walked to the freezer and came back a few seconds later. She rolled up his pant leg and rested his leg across her lap as she sat.

  “Oh boy.” Teddy’s eyes widened at the site of the swelling around his ankle. “Man, should I go have it checked out, you think?”

  Clare shrugged. “Does it feel broken?”

  Teddy leaned forward, their heads close as they studied his leg. “Geez.”

  “Yeah, it’s hurt pretty good.” Trooper hunkered onto the floor looking ashamed. “Good boy, Trooper. Good boy.”

  “Good boy?” Teddy’s eyes lifted to hers. “He attacked me and knocked me off the stairs.”

  “Yes. Because he thought you were a bad guy, and he was protecting me. I don’t want him to feel like he didn’t make the right decision. When he realized it was you, he stopped. That’s a good boy.”

  “I guess you’re right. Still hurts.”

  Clare giggled and noted the small tilt to Teddy’s lips at her response. “Well, I doubt it would tickle.”

  “Let’s just ice it for a bit.”

  “I can do that. Probably won’t be able to tell how bad it is until tomorrow. They say a break is better than a sprain.”

  “Not sure I want either one. Guess I won’t be running for a few days.”

  “Probably not.” Clare pressed the ice pack around his ankle and Teddy hissed. “Save that for when you’re back in Fayetteville.”

  ῀

  “You ever been?” Teddy asked. Clare shook her head, and he wondered if she ever really left Piney. He knew she and her mom had travelled a lot before coming to Piney. She probably didn’t have any desire to travel much because of it. “It’s a pretty cool place. More to do.”

  “Sounds nice.” Clare’s polite but disinterested tone irked him as she worked on wrapping the ice pack with a flexible bandage around his ankle.

  “You seeing anyone?” Teddy nonchalantly asked. Her eyes flicked up to his and he tried to keep his face neutral. “I mean, being in Piney, I wouldn’t assume there’s many choices for dates. But wasn’t sure if anyone new had moved in over the last several years.”

  “No one that I can think of,” Clare replied. “And no, I’m not seeing anyone. You?”

  “No, not at the moment. I was seeing a girl named Jess for a while, but—” He realized he was chatting about things as if they always talked, and he cleared his throat. They were as good as strangers now. “No, I’m not.” he corrected.

  “Must have lots of choices in a bigger city.” Clare tucked the end of the bandage into one of its folds.

  “Some,” He admitted. “Anybody else from high school move back to town?”

  “There’s a few scattered about. Bethany Clay lives in Hot Springs. Joseph Conners lives on the outskirts of town on his family’s property now. His dad passed a year ago and he moved home.”

  “Wow. I didn’t realize that. Do you hang out with Bethany? You guys didn’t hang much in high school did you?”

  “No, I barely know her.” Clare placed his foot back on the floor and took a sip of her drink.

  “So who do you hang out with these days?” Teddy asked, curious as to what kind of life Clare had in Piney.

  Her lips quirked, but her eyes sparked a moment as if she were insulted by the question. “People.” She shrugged. “It’s getting late.” She tossed her empty beer bottle in the trash can as she tidied up her small kitchen.

  “Right.” Disappointed that their time together was over, Teddy stood to his feet. He hissed as pain shot up his leg. “While I’m in town, I’d love to see you again, Clare. Continue catching up.”

  She shook her head. “I’m pretty busy this week. Sorry.”

  “Oh.” He was stupid for thinking this little meeting meant she’d want to see him again. She had a life here. He wasn’t quite sure what it entailed since she’d been rather cryptic, but it didn’t involve him, and it seemed she didn’t want it to. “Well, then I guess I’ll see you around. Maybe. Thanks for the beer.”

  “No problem.” Clare walked him to the door, and he clenched his teeth with each step as pain sliced through him. He was definitely going to have to get his ankle x-rayed tomorrow.

  “Be safe headed home.” Clare waved before closing the door, almost in his face.

  What was with her cold shoulder? Sure, it was late, but not that late. Teddy hobbled down the steps and then groaned. He had to walk all the way to the end of her driveway to get back to his car. Holding his breath, he took one cautious step after another over the uneven path, praying he didn’t trip or mess his ankle up even worse. She could have given him a ride to his car. He spotted the small electric buggy parked next to her house. Probably meant for her to ride to her mom and Theo’s house when she wanted. She could have offered him a ride on that to help him out. The old Clare would have, but she wasn’t the old Clare. The old Clare had been treated poorly by him. The new Clare had been. He’d single-handedly ruined their friendship. His current circumstance was on him. “Reap what you sow, Teddy,” he murmured to himself. A rumble sounded behind him, and he turned to see a bright light shining on him. Relief washed over him, and he smiled.

  “I just realized you had to walk back on a busted ankle. Want a ride?”

  He didn’t deserve her kindness. “I would love one.” He climbed into the passenger seat of her buggy and sighed. “Thanks.” Old Clare for the win, he thought. “You never changed, did you, Clare?”

  “What do you mean?” The wind blew her hair into her eyes as she briefly turned to look at him and see what he meant.

  “You’re just… nice. You always have been. Even after all the crap I pulled in high school… when I was a jerk to you…”

  “That was a long time ago, Teddy.” Her face softened as she turned back to the front, the wind whipping her hair behind her.

  “Not really. And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.” Clare drove in silence, pulling to a stop by his car. “Thanks again.” He climbed off the seat and limped to his door.

  “Take care, Teddy.”

  As quickly as she’d come to his rescue, she was off again and headed towards her cabin, leaving him in the dark.

  He sat in his car for a few minutes, his ankle throbbing, his eyes stinging as he burned with regret at letting a girl like Clare slip out of his life. She was his best friend, and he’d completely tossed her to the side. For no reason other than he wanted to be liked by other people. People he never even spoke with anymore. And yet, here she was, kind to him despite his abhorrent treatment of her. He didn’t deserve her kindness. But he was glad she extended it his way, because maybe that meant he could repair the damage he’d caused back in high school. Maybe they could be friends again. He turned the key in his car and the click of a dead battery had him growling in frustration as he banged his hand against the steering wheel. “You have got to be kidding me!” He pulled out his cell phone and dropped his head in defeat at the dead battery on it as well. It wasn’t his night. How much more humiliation could he take? He opened his door and started the uneven trek back towards Clare’s cabin. At some point, he was going to wear his welcome out. He was pretty sure he already had.

  After what seemed like an eternity, he knocked on her door. He was done. Tired and in severe pain. He had no idea what time it was, and here he was, pounding on Clare’s door to bail him out again. Trooper barked on the other side, and the porch light flicked on.

  Clare eased open the door until she saw his face. “Teddy? What’s going on?” She eyed him curiously.

  He held up both his hands in flabbergasted frustration. “My car battery is dead, and my phone is dead.”

  Her lips twitched before a small laugh escaped her lips. “You’re pathetic.” She opened her door wider. “Let me get my keys and I’ll give you a jump with my truck.”

  “Thanks. Seriously, sorry about bothering you again.”

  “So much for that ankle.” Clare nodded towards his foot as they walked towards her 1951 vintage pickup. He’d helped Charlie work on it for a bit in the early days of its restoration, before he’d ditched Clare for his new friends.

  “It’s pretty much on fire at this point.”

  “I imagine so.” She giggled and then tried to sober her face as she climbed behind the wheel.

  “I’m not laughing, Clare.”

  She stifled another laugh, and he grinned. “You’re secretly evil, laughing at a guy who’s down on his luck.” He loved to see her loosening up and the old Clare shining through. “Haven’t sat in this truck in a long time,” Teddy commented, rubbing his hand over the supple leather seat. “I’m impressed you still have it.”

  “Why would I get rid of it?”

  “Just figured you’d be driving something newer since this doesn’t really move up and down the highway at lightning speeds.”

  “If I make a trip to Hot Springs, I just borrow my mom’s car. Otherwise, this one does just fine.” Clare’s cell phone rang, and she fished in her pocket as she parked in front of Teddy’s car. “Speaking of.” She answered the call. “Hey, Mom, what’s up? Kind of late, isn’t it?” Clare gasped. “What?! Now?!” She ran a nervous hand through her hair. “Yeah, I’ll call Billy Lou. I’ll meet you at the hospital. Bye.” She hung up and hurried to make a call. “Hey Billy Lou. It’s time… Yep, I’m headed there, too.” She hung up. “Sorry, we’re going to have to make this quick. Jamie is having her baby, and I’ve got to go.” She jumped out of the truck and opened her tool chest that stretched across the back of it to grab a set of jumper cables. “If you’ll just wait for my signal and then you can crank her up.”

  “I’m going with you,” Teddy said.

  Clare’s eyes shot to his and she paused in placing the cables on his battery. “Why would you go with me?”

  “I like Jamie and Jason. I want to go.”

  “Absolutely not.” Her back stiffened as she continued attaching the cables beneath his hood.

  “Why not?”

  “Because.”

  “Because why? I’m already with you, it would be quicker if you left now.”

  “No.”

  “I’m going.” Teddy crossed his arms. “Besides, I’m assuming she’s having the baby in Hot Springs, your truck will take forever to get there. We could take my car and get there quicker.”

  “Your car isn’t even starting on its own.”

  He shrugged, and on her signal turned his key. His car jutted to life, and he motioned towards her. “It would be quicker.”

  Clare removed her cables and began winding them up. “You aren’t family, Teddy.”

  Her comment stung, but he wasn’t backing down. “Get in Clare. I’m driving. Get over it.”

  She huffed as she tossed her cables in the back of her truck and grabbed her purse. She hopped in his passenger side and waved him onward as she buckled her seatbelt. “Just get there, please.”

  He pulled out on the road and hurried towards Hot Springs.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “How is she?” Clare rushed into the waiting room as Reesa, Theo, Billy Lou, and Charlie glanced in her direction. Surprise at Teddy’s presence clearly marked their faces. He limped towards Billy Lou, and she embraced him in a big hug.

  “My, my, my, sweetie. It’s good to see you.” Billy Lou smiled at him as Charlie shook his hand. “And with Clare to boot,” she whispered under her breath.

  “A chance encounter,” Clare called over her shoulder. “So do we have a baby yet?”

  “Not yet,” Reesa replied. “Good to see you, Teddy.”

  He walked over and hugged her mom. “You too, Mrs. Whitley.”

  Reesa beamed. “I still love hearing that. Mrs. Whitley. Just has a nice ring to it.”

  “That it does.” Theo, holding a sleeping Jude on his shoulder, nudged her with his elbow before he nodded his own welcome towards Teddy.

  “Okay, forget Teddy’s presence for a minute.” Clare, annoyed that everyone was distracted by him and not giving her details about Jamie, stood in the middle of the waiting room. “What’s the status?”

  Billy Lou chuckled. “Honey, she is doing fine. A perfectly normal birthing experience. Her water broke about forty minutes ago, Jason sounded the alarm and here we are. Nothing to be concerned about. The baby is just taking his time getting here.”

  Clare’s eyes found Jarin, Jamie’s stepson, sitting quietly to the side in a chair, his face worried. “Hey, kiddo.” She slid into the chair next to him. “How are you doing? You excited?”

  Jarin’s fear-filled eyes looked up at her and she hugged him towards her. “She’s going to be just fine, buddy. Don’t you worry.”

  Teddy limped towards them and Clare glanced up. “This is Teddy. He’s known your mom and dad a long time.”

  Jarin eyed him curiously. “Hi, Jarin,” Teddy greeted. He sat on the other side of the boy.

  “Your foot hurt?” the boy asked.

  Teddy nodded towards Clare. “She beat me up.”

  Clare reached behind the boy to shove him and smirked. “He’s kidding,” she assured Jarin, the little boy smiling at Teddy. She stood and walked towards her mom and Billy Lou, leaving Jarin and Teddy to get to know one another.

  “Okay, I’m trying not to be nosy,” Reesa assured her. “But Theo said Teddy had been outside your place earlier. That was three hours ago, and he’s still with you, so…”

  Billy Lou’s brows lifted at the news and Clare rolled her eyes. “It’s a long story.”

  “So, are we team Teddy again, or do I need to act aloof?” Reesa asked with a wink towards Billy Lou.

  Sighing, Clare glanced over at her old friend as he had Jarin giggling over a magazine they looked at together. “I don’t know. He… I think he wants to be friends again,” Clare replied. “But I think it might only be because I’m the only person he really knows in Piney now or because there’s no other option.”

  “What happened to his foot?” Billy Lou asked.

  “He messed it up running up my driveway.” She held up her hand. “Don’t ask. Pretty sure he’s broken it or twisted it.”

  “Well, bless his heart, darlin’. He needs to see a doctor. We’re here at the hospital, surely we can get the boy some x-rays while we’re here.” Billy Lou set off on a mission and Reesa eyed Clare closely.

  “Talk to me,” Reesa ordered.

  “Not the time or place, Mom.”

  “Why did he come?”

  “He insisted. His car was faster than my truck. He likes Jamie and Jason.”

  “Okay, all valid points.” Reesa credited that to him.

 

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