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      CHAPTER ONE

      “DADDY!”

      Rick Navarro braced for the impact the instant he stepped through the door, and he wasn’t disappointed when his son launched himself through the air straight into Rick’s arms. This had been cute when Chris was two or three, even four. But he was six now, a big boy for his age at that, and Rick did have to admit that while he hated to break that tradition, Chris’s little flying act now had the potential to knock the wind out of him if he didn’t prepare himself for it. “Easy, sport,” he said, as the boundless bundle of energy hit him dead center in the chest.

      “Johnny Redmond let me ride Toffee today! All by myself! And I didn’t fall off.”

      “You didn’t? Well, that’s great!” he said, sorry to have missed it. But duty called. He couldn’t help it. Such was the life of a single dad and he hoped that someday, when he looked back, he wouldn’t turn out to be one of those parents who could count the missed moments. Because he was trying to find the balance. Working hard at it. Some days succeeding, some days not. Tough jobs, being a dad, being the head of a hospital. Life was good, though. Not perfect, but good. “I hope somebody took some pictures,” Rick said, easing his son to the ground.

      “Lots of them. And a video. Mrs. Jenkins said you should be able to see the whole thing.”

      God bless Mrs. Jenkins for that. “I’m sorry I didn’t get there,” Rick said. “I really wanted to, but I couldn’t leave the hospital. You did thank Mr. Redmond for letting you ride, though, didn’t you?”

      “Yes. And he said I could come back any time. And it’s OK you didn’t get there. You had to take care of sick people.”

      Age six, and Chris was so … wise. He wasn’t sure what he’d done to deserve a kid this great, but there wasn’t a day gone by he didn’t thank God for his good fortune. Christopher Ricardo Navarro was the best thing that had ever happened to him, and he regretted nothing about the way he’d come to be a single dad. Not one single thing. “Did you go for ice cream afterwards?”

      Chris shook his head. “Mrs. Jenkins said she was saving that for you since she’s dia-dia …” He frowned, shrugged.

      “Diabetic. Means she can’t eat much sugar.” Well, at least one bright spot in his day was opening up … a date at the ice-cream shop downtown. He glanced over Chris’s shoulder to the portly older woman who was waving goodbye to him as she scooted out the back door. She was a treasure. Loved Chris, didn’t mind the sometimes odd hours she was called on to take care of him. A literal godsend. But not a mother, and that’s what made Rick feel guilty. Chris had never known a mother, never known the nurturing of another woman besides Mrs. Jenkins. To be sure, it was a loss, but not one Chris even recognized, as it had been just the two of them since the day of his birth. Father and son … “So, how about I go take a quick shower then we’ll head on down to Benson’s Ice Creamery and see what the flavor of the day is?”

      “Chocolate chocolate,” Chris said, resolutely. “That’s what I want. Mrs. Jenkins let me call them and they told me it’s chocolate chocolate. I want mine with chocolate sprinkles.”

      A boy who knew his own mind. Rick smiled with pride as he stepped around Chris and mussed the boy’s curly black hair. “That’s exactly what I want, too,” he said. “With extra sprinkles.” He was a lucky man. If only the lucky man could find a couple more hours every day to spend with his son, his life would be perfect. “Oh, and put on another shirt. That one looks like you’ve already had a little chocolate chocolate.”

      Summer Adair glanced in the front window of Benson’s Ice Creamery, debating the expense. Actually, she was debating whether or not she could buy Alyssa a scoop of vanilla and not succumb to the temptation herself. Pennies counted these days. Especially lately, when there weren’t so many of them coming in, and the ones she had saved were, of necessity, guarded carefully. Grace Corbett had left her a nice sum, enough to help her get by for a while if she was careful. Very generous, considering that Grace had been her employer, not a family member. And there was the cottage … that was a huge blessing. Small, and just on the edge of the Gracie Estate, it was perfect for her and Alyssa. More than that, it was all hers! Another instance of Grace’s generosity. Her very own home … it was the first time she’d ever owned anything of her own outside a few trifles. With this new life and new opportunities simply handed to her, Summer was still a cautious woman in everything she did, including wasting money on a little treat for herself.

      “Do