He grinned. Youre forgetting my mother, with her encyclopedic knowledge of anyone whos ever attended our church. Once I mentioned you, she trotted out everything she knew, including the fact that you were married and living in Philly. She was surprised we havent seen you in church since youve been back.
Siobhan Flanagan had taught her in church school twiceonce in kindergarten, then again in junior high. She had a gentle manner, a warm smile and a love that extended to even the most rebellious of teens.
Still, however warm her memories of Ryans mother, she was not going to defend her failure to attend church to him. Please greet her for me. And really, I can take care of the door.
He shoved away from the counter in a smooth, even movement. Tell you what. You hold the boards and Ill pound. Well have it secure in no time.
That was probably the fastest way to get him out of here, so she set the flashlight and teddy bear down and went to the door. The acrid scent of wet, burned wood from the back porch sent a wave of nausea through her, and she forced it down angrily.
Ryan had apparently brought a few two-by-fours with him, because the wood gleamed new. He put one of the boards against the door, and she braced it with both hands.
He used the hammer with quick, effective strokes. The board vibrated from his force, jolting her hands.
So, after your husbands death, you decided to come home and buy this place. The pounding punctuated his words, and she felt the flex of his muscles where his arm brushed her shoulder.
Not exactly. My husband had bought the building a couple of years ago for some business venture he had in mind, but he never got around to doing anything with it. So I decided to fix it up.
She wouldnt add that this building was the only legacy Jason had left her and Mandy. That everything else hed received from his father had been frittered away on one foolish scheme or another, until his father had finally cut him off, saying Jason would have to pay for his own mistakes. Apparently hed put her and Mandy in the mistake category.
You plan to live here? Ryan propped another board across the door, and it gleamed palely against the blackened frame.
Im fixing it up to sell. I have a buyer who has an option, if I can get the renovation done before she loses interest or finds something better.
Ryan paused, looking over his shoulder at her. Her pulse gave a little jump. Her hands were planted next to his on the board, and his face was only inches away.
And then youll leave Suffolk again? He looked at her as if he really wanted to know. As if it might matter to someone what she did.
Her mouth was dry. From the smoke, she assured herself. Not because Ryan Flanagan had any effect on her.
She moistened her lips. I havent decided yet. Mandy is going to have a cochlear implantat least I hope she is, if all the tests go well. I cant plan beyond that right now.
The implant could give Mandy a chance at a normal life. How could she think of anything else?
At the hospital here? His eyes lit with interest.
Thatd be Dr. Marsh, I guess.
Youve heard of him. She was faintly surprised. Franklin Marsh was well-known to parents of deaf children, but why would Ryan know of him?
My sister-in-law, Gabes wife, trains animals to work with people who have disabilities. She introduced me to Dr. Marsh at a benefit. I understand he does good work.
Hes the best. She wouldnt trust her daughters hearing and her future to anyone who wasnt. If he decides Mandy will benefit from an implant, it will make all the difference in the world to us.
And if he did accept Mandy for the procedure, she somehow had to come up with the over fifty thousand dollars the process would cost. The minimal insurance program she was able to afford would cover Mandys stay in the hospital, but it didnt cover a cochlear implant.
As if he felt all the things she didnt say, Ryan put his hand over hers where it rested on the board. I hope it works out.
Thank you. She cleared her throat. I appreciate that. And really, I can finish up the door. Im sure you have other things to do with your evening.
Im free as a bird. He pounded another nail in place. And anyway, as far as I can see, its finished.
He stood back, smiling at her. He was right. The door was secured.
Hed shaken off her protests and done exactly what hed said he would. And hed gotten more information from her than shed confided in anyone in months.
She raised her eyebrows at him, dusting her hands off. Do you always get your own way?
His smile broadened into a grin. If you remember my family, you ought to know that I grew up fighting a bunch of siblings to get what I wanted. Ive had a lot of practice.
I remember that you used to charm the teachers into letting you get away with murder.
Now why had she said that? The man would think she was flirting with him.
Lies, spread by my brothers, no doubt. His smile assumed an angelic aspect. I was always a serious student.
Somehow I find that difficult to believe. And she also found it difficult to believe that she was standing here smiling at him, after everything that had happened this day.
Why is it no one will take me seriously? He dropped the hammer into a duffel bag and picked up the flashlight.
Maybe because you dont take yourself seriously.
Ouch, that hurt. A woman who sees right through me. Id better watch out. He hefted the bag. Anything else I can fix while Im here?
Everythings fine. Well, it wasnt, but he ought to know what she meant. I guess wed better go out the front door, since youve nailed up the back.
He nodded, and then he unexpectedly clasped her hand in his. His face was very serious in the dim light. I wish you and your daughter the best.
Thank you.
Ryans words had been the kind of simple statement anybody might make. They shouldnt make her throat go so tight.
She turned away quickly, feeling him behind her as she headed for the door to the living room. Ryan Flanagan had a way of slipping through her carefully prepared defenses as if they werent even there.
So it was a good thing she wouldnt be seeing any more of him.
Listen, Ryan, are you sure Laura McKay isnt going to mind our breaking into her house this way?
Ryans brother Gabe paused, leaning on the shovel hed been using to scrape soot and crumbled plaster from the ground floor of Lauras building. Max, the yellow lab who was Gabes seizure-alert dog, sniffed at a pile of rubble, tail waving.
Why would she? Were only trying to help.
Ryan suspected Laura wouldnt see it that way, given her strong streak of independence. But no matter how much she might insist she didnt need help, she was wrong. By the time she got home from the hospital with Mandy, he hoped theyd have much of the fire clean-up done.
A handful of Flanagans had offered to come along today along with several other firefighters. His cousin Brendan had used his clout as pastor to round up some more volunteers from the congregation.
All told, probably twenty or thirty people hustled around Lauras property, sweeping, mopping, carting away fire rubbish. Now if he could just persuade Laura to accept the help they offered, everything would be fine.
Well, hed cross that bridge when he got to it. He clapped his brother on the shoulder. Come on, put your back into it. Theyll be home from the hospital soon.
Gabe shrugged and went back to shoveling.
Their mother looked up from the broom she was wielding. Im sure Laura will be happy to see us. Siobhan Flanagan smiled. And Ill be glad to see her. I remember her from church school, years ago. Laura was always such a sweet, shy little thing.
Shes changed since then, Mom.
Well, of course people change. Being the single mother of a deaf child would make someone grow up in a hurry, Id think. Poor child.
He wasnt sure whether her sympathy was for Laura or Mandy, but it didnt really matter. Mom had enough love to go around for any number of people.
If it came to pitting Lauras stubborn independence against his mothers determination to help, he wouldnt want to guess at a winner.
Even as he thought it, the front door swung open, letting in a shaft of May sunshine. Laura stood there, clasping Mandy protectively against her.
For a moment she didnt move. She just stood, looking around the room as if unable to believe what she was seeing. Then she turned toward him with what looked like an accusation in her dark eyes.
She probably intended to come straight for him, but his mother got to her first. Laura, its so good to see you. She swept Laura into a quick hug. Im Siobhan Flanagan. You remember me, dont you?
Mrs. Flanagan. Laura took a step back. Yes, of course I do. She darted a glance toward Ryan. Youre Ryans mother.
It sounded as if she wanted to follow that up with, Why are you here?
Were helping with the clean-up. His mother wasnt deterred by any reserve on Lauras part. She waved toward the workers. You remember Gabe, my oldest boy.
Mom, Im not a boy, Gabe protested automatically. He lifted his hand toward Laura. Hi, Laura.
And thats Brendan, my nephew. Hes pastor of our church now, you know.
Laura nodded in Brendans direction, not committing herself to any knowledge of his pastorship of Grace Church. Its very nice of you to want to help out, but really, I can take care of this myself.
Ryan had warned his mother that Laura would respond that way, and he waited to see how shed handle it.
She did it with a smile and a gentle touch on Mandys hair. The little girl gave her a shy smile in return, and Laura put her down.
You wouldnt turn us away when were having so much fun, now would you? That wouldnt be kind.
Laura opened her mouth and closed it again. Clearly she didnt want to be accused of being unkind by turning away kindness from others. He tried to hide his expression.
No, Iwell, thank you.
She frowned at him, and he smiled blandly back. Maybe he ought to take lessons from his mother in how to approach someone as prickly as Laura was.
Nolie approached her. Hi, Im Nolie Flanagan. Gabes wife. She bent toward Mandy, her hands signing fluently. You must be Mandy.
Mandy nodded, giving her that shy smile.
Would you like to go upstairs and help me make sandwiches for lunch? She patted the rounded bulge of baby under her sky-blue top as she glanced at Laura. Gabe is getting nervous about every little thing I do, but he agrees that making sandwiches wont hurt me.
I dont know if Mandy will go with you, Laura began, and then stopped. Mandy was already putting her hand in Nolies. Well, I guess she will. Thank you.
She watched her daughter start up the steps with an expression that told Ryan clearly that she didnt want her daughter out of her sight. That caution was natural enough, he supposed, after what theyd been through, but Nolie would take good care of the child, and shed be away from the mess and dirt.
When theyd disappeared toward the apartment, Laura swung around and headed straight toward him. She stopped a scant two feet away and scowled. This is your doing, isnt it? She kept her voice low, apparently not wanting everyone else to hear.
Hey, Im innocent.
She raised level dark brows. Am I supposed to believe its a total coincidence that my house is filled with Flanagans?
Some of them arent. Flanagans, I mean. There are a couple of firefighters here, and some people from the church that Brendan recruited.
Dont you mean you recruited?
Not me. All I did was mention the fire to my mother. She did the rest. He gave a mock shudder.
Trust me on this one. My mother may be soft-spoken, but you dont want to get between her and something shes decided to do.
Do you really want me to believe youre afraid of your mother?
He grinned. You bet.
Well, not afraid of her, but concerned about her opinion. Maybe that was why he hadnt told his mother yet about applying to the arson squad.
I dont believe you. She shook her head. And anyway, thats not the point.
Right. The point is that you want to do everything all by yourself.
He thought her lips twitched slightly. Are you trying to make me sound like a two-year-old?
You said it, I didnt. Before she could respond, he raised both hands. Lets declare a truce, okay? Were here. Is it really so hard to let us help you?
No. Im just
Super-independent. I figured that one out already. What I havent figured out yet is why.
Her dark-brown eyes met his, and for an instant they held so much pain that it took his breath away. Then her usual shield dropped into place and she gave him a polite, meaningless smile.
I guess all I can do is say thanks.
She turned away. He stood watching as she picked up a box and began loading debris into it.
Laura had her game face back on now. But hed seen behind it, and that glimpse into her shook him. A man would have to be crazy to get involved with someone who was carrying that load of grief.
Not that he was even thinking about doing such a thing.
Laura was still wondering what she was doing when she arrived at the Flanagan house for dinner a few evenings later. She was usually quite good at getting out of things she didnt want to do. Unfortunately shed found that Siobhan Flanagan was very difficult to keep saying no to.
Maybe it was because Siobhan had been her church-school teacher, back when shed still had a childs faith, thinking that every problem could be solved by prayer. She was swept with a sudden wave of longing to be back in that church-school room, sitting in the child-size chair and hearing Bible stories told in Siobhans soft, loving voice.
A person could never go back, although the Flanagans seemed to be doing a good job of keeping their lives just the way theyd been.
She held Mandys hand as they started up the walk to the welcoming brick house. Everything about the neighborhoodthe mature trees, the old-fashioned flowerbeds brimming with tulips and irises, the comfortable old two-story homessaid that here was a place where people found safety and serenity.
She smiled at her daughter as they reached the steps that led to the wide front porch. Pansies crowded pots on either side of the stairs, and a cushion-piled porch swing creaked a little in the breeze.
Mrs. Flanagan has pretty flowers, doesnt she?