Sand Castle Bay. Sherryl Woods
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he’d disconnected the call, he drew in a deep breath and said a little prayer thanking God that B.J.’s injury hadn’t been worse. He understood that accidents could happen anytime, anyplace to anyone. But this had been his boy, and B.J. had been in Emily’s care. He wondered if he had it in him to forgive that, despite the logic that told him no forgiveness ought to be required.
* * *
“Daddy’s going to be really, really mad at me,” B.J. said, looking dejected as Emily drove him and Cora Jane home.
“He’s just worried, that’s all,” Emily assured him, though he’d certainly sounded angry on the phone. She hoped that had been the fear talking and that Ethan’s reassurance had settled him down. The last thing B.J. or Cora Jane needed was to have Boone storming in on a tear.
They’d barely pulled into the driveway at home when Boone turned in behind them, tires squealing as he hit his brakes. He was out of his car practically before the engine cut off. He yanked open the back door of the rental Emily was driving, his expression easing only when he saw for himself that B.J. was essentially in one piece.
B.J. held out his bandaged arm. “Dr. Cole says I’m going to have a scar,” he said excitedly. “I had to have stitches. I didn’t even cry.”
“He was incredibly brave,” Cora Jane confirmed, giving Boone a warning look.
Emily watched Boone blink back a tear as he forced himself to give his son a congratulatory high-five.
“You’re not going to ground me, are you?” B.J. asked worriedly. “Or yell at anybody? Or keep me from going to Castle’s?”
“You might need to take a couple of days off till your arm’s healed up,” Boone said. “But, no, I’m not going to ground you.”
“How about the yelling?” Emily asked quietly. “I imagine you’d like to direct a few pointed words at me.”
Boone glanced up at her, his eyes filled with emotion. He looked as if there was plenty he wanted to say, but he managed to censor himself.
Cora Jane seemed to sense that the two of them needed to talk privately. She put an arm around B.J.’s shoulders. “Come on, B.J. Let’s get those cookies and the milk I promised you. I’ll bet Samantha has them on the table waiting for us.”
“All right!” B.J. enthused, then took off running.
Boone shook his head as he watched him. “That boy never slows down. I’m sure that’s how he fell in the parking lot.”
“It is,” Emily confirmed. “I’m really sorry, Boone.”
“Intellectually, I know it wasn’t your fault.” He tapped his chest. “But in here, I’m looking for somebody to blame.”
“I get that, and it did happen on my watch, right after I’d assured you he’d be safe with me.”
“And I was standing right here when he took off running across the lawn just now, oblivious to all the branches that could trip him up. He’s a rambunctious kid.”
“That almost sounds as if you’re letting me off the hook,” Emily said.
“Trying to,” he admitted, grinning. “Ethan gave me an earful. That helped to put things in perspective, too.”
“You two are still good friends?”
Boone nodded. “Ethan didn’t make it easy when he first got home from Afghanistan. He was angry and bitter and pretty much hated the world after he lost his lower leg.”
Emily’s eyes widened. “He lost his leg? I had no idea.”
“He’d be delighted to hear that. The truth is that most people don’t even notice. He’s mastered the prosthesis, had a huge attitude adjustment and finally seems to be on track again.”
“That’s amazing. Good for him.”
“It really is good for him,” Boone said. “There’s nobody around I admire more.”
“Wasn’t he engaged? Is he married now?”
Boone hesitated, then said, “That didn’t work out. And, word of advice, don’t bring it up around him.”
Emily stared at him. “They broke up because of his injury?” she guessed.
Boone nodded. “Talk about being bitter where women are concerned? Ethan wrote the book on it.”
“That’s a shame,” she said.
Boone nodded.
Emily met his gaze. “You coming in for cookies and milk? Or would you rather have something stronger? I think we have some beer.”
Boone looked torn. She had a hunch if it hadn’t been for B.J., he’d have taken off right then. He surprised her, though, by suggesting she get a couple of beers.
“Maybe we could sit down by the water,” he said. “Catch up?”
“Sure,” she said, eager to accept the olive branch he was extending.
When she went inside to retrieve the beers, she found her sisters doting on B.J., exclaiming over his bandaged arm and his bravery.
“Where’s Boone?” Cora Jane asked.
“Outside. I’m going to grab a couple of beers and join him for a little while, if that’s okay.”
The three women at the table exchanged amused looks.
“I win!” Samantha said, holding out her hand.
“Win what?” Emily asked with a narrowed gaze.
Cora Jane and Gabi each put five dollar bills into Samantha’s outstretched hand. The sight of her sister gloating grated.
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