Handful of Heaven by Jillian Hart Page B

before. “I’m gonna ground you for that.”
    “Empty threat.” He grinned even more widely, sure of himself. If nothing, her son was confident and steady. He was going to make a fine man one day, and that made her proud.
    And sad. She had so little time left with her son. She wanted to hold so tightly to him and never let go. But that wasn’t good for him.
    So, instead of grabbing him close, she settled for ruffling her fingertips through his hair, the way she’d done since he was a little guy. “I don’t want you to get all worried. Mr. Thornton is coming to our Bible study for the first time and I told him I’d introduce him around.”
    “It’s not a date?” He looked crestfallen.
    “No. You know me. I’m too busy keeping up with you and this place to find time to date. Do you need anything else before I go?”
    “Mom, dating might be good for you. You know, to round out your life.”
    “I wasn’t aware my life needed rounding out.”
    “Sure. I saw it on Dr. Phil . You don’t have enough balance.” He flashed her “The Eye,” as if he had the power to charm her into seeing things his way. “And Pastor John said that you’re going to have a hard time when I go, with the empty-nest thing, so I have to be understanding. So I’m being understanding. Go. Date. I want to support you in your life choices.”
    Yeah, he thought he was so funny with that glint in his eye, so confident and young. “Those are my lines, and I—”
    The bell over the door chimed, announcing a new customer. Why did she automatically spin to see if it was Evan walking through her door?
    “He’s here.” Alex waggled his brows. “And he brought flowers. Yeah, this is so not a date.”
    “He just has good manners.”
    “Sure, Mom, whatever you say.” Alex gave her a knowing look as he took a long pull on his milkshake. Like any teenager, he thought he knew everything.
    And he would be wrong. Evan wasn’t interested in her. How could he be? Like her, he was probably work-weary and, since he’d never remarried, he probably liked it that way. She understood about wounds that no one could see, and they had a profound influence on the way someone lived their life.
    “Paige.” Evan held out the wrapped bouquet of yellow tulips and daisies, small and modest and friendly. “I noticed you always keep fresh flowers by the cash register, so when I saw these I thought you could use them.”
    See? Good manners, just as she’d thought. “They’re lovely, and that’s thoughtful of you, considering I’m the one who owes you a favor.”
    “After tonight, we’re even.” He handed her the flowers with a good-humored grin.
    “Unless something else comes up and you help me out again.” She brushed the edge of a daisy’s silken petals with her fingertips. “Brianna, could you put these in water? And you can handle things until I get back?”
    “Yeah, and Dave’s, like, in charge. So chill and have a good time with Mr. Thornton.” Brianna cracked her gum and waggled her brows.
    It was probably hard for a teenage girl to understand. Paige knew, because she’d once been like that, too, filled with ideas of romance. But no more. She fetched her book bag from beneath the front counter and grabbed her jacket from the rack by the door. It surprised her when Evan caught hold of the sleeve and helped her into her coat.
    He was only being a gentleman, which he proved again as he held the door for her. She listened to the delighted goodbyes from Alex and Brianna and rolled her eyes.
    “At least it’s a nice enough evening that we can walk.”
    “It is.” Was that his attempt at starting a conversation? Paige listened to the echo of their shoes on the concrete. “It looks as if your back is doing better.”
    “I’m happy to say I made a full recovery.”
    “Now that there’s no snow to shovel?”
    “Yep. I want you to know I’m fit and hearty, and that was only a momentary weakness.”
    “I never doubted your vitality.