He gave her hand a squeeze and said, “Drive carefully.” And he closed her door.

Then he watched the most superficial, manipulative woman he’d ever known leave his orchard.

* * *

When there was a knock at Nora’s door, it took her a while to answer. She had Fay on her hip. And there stood Maxie, holding a large container of something. “Oh, Maxie, why are you here?” she asked.

“A couple of reasons,” she said. “May I come in?”

“Sure,” she said, standing back.

Maxie went straight to the kitchen, just a few steps really, and put her soup on the counter. “I wanted to check on you, of course. And I brought you soup, though I really want you to come to the house for dinner tonight if you can… And I needed to leave the orchard—Tom was on a mission to send Darla away. I didn’t even want to be in the house.” She shook her head. “That girl…”

“Oh, Maxie, she’s a beautiful girl!”

“She was pushing herself on Tom and it should have been more than clear to her that he wasn’t ready for that. She’s the most annoying person I’ve met in years, but it’s not my business. I’m counting on Tom to do the right thing there.”

“I just have to ask—what would the right thing be?” Nora asked.

“Make sure she doesn’t trick him into more visits or whatever. He doesn’t like her.”

“How can he not? She told me it was just a matter of time before they got married.”

“I pray she was hallucinating when she said that. But—this is not up to me. Tom is intelligent. I have to believe in him. Now, darling, how are you? You had quite a scare!”

“My God,” she said. “I’m still shaking. I kept my girls home from preschool and day care—I just need to be with them. When they nap later, I’m going to have a long, hot soak in the tub. I’m frazzled, I admit it. I climbed up my ladder and picked a dozen apples before one of those cubs took a swipe at me. They had been there the whole time.”

“Ah, that’s what happened—you got between the treed cubs and the mother. You know they’d been in the orchard all night? Tom was out with Junior till three in the morning trying to find them and get them out. I’m sorry, Nora—this is our fault. You should be safe in our orchard.”

“There’s only so much you can do. I’d say hunting till three in the morning is a worthy effort, wouldn’t you?” Then she let her eyes close just briefly as she remembered the sight of Tom coming through the trees, half dressed, looking a bit wild and warrior-like, holding that big gun. She hadn’t known about the tattoos on his chest and biceps. She opened her eyes. “Tom was amazing. He saved my life.”

“Possibly. Those black bears are usually passive and don’t like to be around people, but when cubs are involved…”

“What will happen to the cubs?”

“Out of our hands,” Maxie said. “Let me warm you some soup. Berry and Fay will like it—lots of soft veggies and noodles.”

“Please don’t go to any more trouble.”

“I have to kill a couple of hours. I could watch the girls while you relax in the tub or nap?”

She just laughed. “Let’s have soup together, all of us. Then I’m going to take it easy and get to bed early tonight.”

“I wish you’d come to the house and let me spoil you a little. I could make your favorite meal.”

But Nora had things to figure out, like what she was going to do without a home. And she was loath to ask for more help from anyone—so many had already given to her. “Everything you cook is my favorite,” she said. “But I’m seriously exhausted. I’m sure it was the fright. I want to be alone with my children tonight. Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Good enough,” Maxie said. “Now find me a pan so I can warm up some soup for you.”

They not only enjoyed a lunch of soup, they actually laughed together and reminisced about some of the more entertaining events of the past weeks. But when Maxie left her house a while later, Nora had come to a few conclusions. She was losing her home and there was no one among her acquaintances she could possibly ask for shelter. Noah had offered, but it was rather offhand and she wasn’t about to stuff herself into his home. She knew Adie didn’t want to lose her and would put up with anything to keep her and the girls near. Maxie and Tom would no doubt offer, but her common sense told her that Tom was simply not ready for that much—he was still wondering what to do next with her. He wanted what they shared to be casual. As far as she knew, there were no available houses in Virgin River that she could afford.

And winter was fast approaching. She’d done blistering winter here before.

There was only one place she could turn. After weeks of testing the waters it was time to let her father help her as he so wanted to do.

Friday night, after the girls went to bed, she dialed the phone. He answered and she said, “Hello, Jed? I mean… Hello, Dad?”

* * *

Tom wanted to see Nora. Not only was he running on about two hours of sleep, but she had told Maxie that she was tired and wanted to be alone with her children. Reasonable, he thought, as long as Maxie could assure him that she was all right. So he barely slept on Friday night and on Saturday morning was up early, working the orchard. That Nora wasn’t there didn’t faze him—he hadn’t asked her to work. But the strangest thing happened—he saw his grandmother come out of the house carrying a small suitcase.

He made fast tracks to her. “What’s this?” he asked.

She didn’t answer until she had plopped the suitcase in the backseat of her car. “Well, Nora called this morning and said she’d like to come over later to speak to us so I talked her into dinner. She said it would just be her. Adie is going to sit with the girls and put them to bed. I’ve left you a casserole to warm and a small salad in the refrigerator. You know where the bread is—and for that matter, Nora knows, too. I’m going to my friend Phyllis in Ferndale. I’ll spend the night, we’ll have brunch in the morning and I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon.”

He was completely confused. “Has this been planned?”

“No, Tom,” she said patiently. “I’m giving you the house. Warm the casserole—it’s one of your favorites—chicken enchilada casserole. You have an opportunity to be alone to talk to Nora. Things have been a little crazy around here. I might be an older woman, but one thing I know—when children are involved, it can be a challenge to have an entire conversation. This is your chance.”

“Why isn’t she bringing her kids?” he asked.

“Tom,” she said impatiently. “I don’t know, but possibly she has things to say that shouldn’t be interrupted. Or things to ask that should be asked privately. Just warm the damn dinner and listen.”

And he thought—there were many advantages to living with a bossy, energetic grandmother. She took very good care of him and of countless details. But there were many problems with it, as well. Like this, for example. He felt flushed at the idea of being completely alone with Nora. And a little irritated at being set up to be.

* * *

Nora arrived at six looking exactly as she had on their one and only date, which he thought was beautiful. He could feel his eyes grow hot and dark. He held the door open for her, not able to say a word.

“Hi,” she said, stepping inside. “Thanks for letting me come over.”

“Letting?” he asked. “I wanted to see you yesterday, talk to you, make sure you were doing all right. Maxie said you asked to be left alone. I’m glad you’re here.”

She looked around. “Where’s Maxie?”

He pulled out a kitchen chair for her. He’d gone to some trouble to set a nice table just for the two of them. “She’s visiting a friend in Ferndale for the night. She’ll be back tomorrow. We have dinner. Will you have a glass of wine tonight?”

“I guess so, sure. Why didn’t Maxie just tell me she wouldn’t be home? I wanted to explain something to both of you.”

“Maybe it was last minute, but don’t worry about that. I don’t think I’m real clear on why you didn’t bring the kids,” he said, opening a bottle of pinot grigio for her.

“It’s a little complicated, but I didn’t want to be distracted.” She waited while he gave her the glass. He sat across from her and waited expectantly. “Are you going to have wine?” she asked.

“Oh,” he said. “Right.” And he poured himself a glass though he wasn’t the least bit interested in wine right now. He wanted her. Again he waited. And waited. “Should we toast something?”

She shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. Maybe this is the best way to explain,” she said, reaching inside her vest and withdrawing a folded piece of paper. She passed it to him.

He opened it, keeping his eyes on her face. Then he looked down and saw a notice of auction on foreclosed property—and the address was hers. He looked up. “Nora, what is this?”

“It was posted on my front door. I think we both knew something like this would happen eventually—I didn’t own that house. I didn’t even rent it. It was probably abandoned a few years ago.”

“Auctioned next Friday?”

She nodded. “I’m sorry I can’t give you notice on leaving my job. Will you be able to get by without me?”

He was on his feet. “Where are you going?”

“Well, the notice forced a decision and maybe that’s a good thing. I’m going to take my dad up on his offer. I’ll move to Stanford. Well, I’ll move in with him until he can secure family housing for me, which might take a couple of months, given the holidays and everything. I’ll go back to school. It’s a very generous thing for him to do.”

He was standing over her. “And what about us?”

“Us?” she asked. “I’m not sure what there is about us. I don’t think you’re ready for an us, Tom.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Please, sit down, you’re making me uncomfortable.” When he went back to his chair, she continued, “You were pretty worried about me taking all that kissing too seriously.”

“Come on,” he said. “You must have felt what I felt.”

She reached across the table and touched his hand. “Listen, it’s okay. I understand—my situation and all, it’s a lot to consider. Kissing without commitment—that’s much easier to handle. I’m okay about that.”

“Okay, look,” he said, rubbing his hand over his face, completely unsure what he was going to say next. “It’s a little intimidating, I admit that. Not because there’s anything wrong with having a couple of kids—they’re nice kids. It’s not about you—more about me. Like I should take some time to really consider whether I’m up to handling them. I don’t mean handling…you know what I mean.”

“I know what you mean,” she said with a smile. “I understand. And I don’t want you to think I was expecting anything more. I’m being honest.”

“You weren’t? Expecting more?”

She shrugged. “If by some twist of fate we ended up knowing each other longer, much longer, things might have evolved, but we haven’t known each other long and—”

“A few months, Nora. Not like a day…”

“I know,” she said. “I know. I really enjoyed it.”

He leaned back in his chair. “I don’t know what to say. All of a sudden you’re leaving. Without warning.”

“I’m afraid that’s how it is, not really my idea. But I’m grateful, you know? At least I don’t have to be afraid—Jed’s a good man. The more I get to know him, the more I realize how lucky I am that we found each other after all these years. My girls will have a grandfather and I’ve watched them together. He’s good with them. He’s like he was with me. He’s so gentle. He has the patience of a saint.”