Jasper raised his brows. “Has Grace been with you the whole time?”
“Where do you think she’d be?”
“Home. It’s only an hour away. The girl has a life of her own, you know.”
“It was her choice.”
“Really?” Jasper drawled, a cool smile of reprimand.
Roman frowned. Had he made her promise to stay? He thought about Grace missing time with her baby. “I could send her home, but she doesn’t have a car.”
“Loan her yours. You can arrange a limo ride home. Or don’t you trust her with your keys?”
“I trust her with my life.”
“Then give the girl a break.”
“She’ll probably call Brian Henley.”
Jasper gave a soft laugh. “The fact that Grace stayed with you through all this should tell you something. The girl cares.”
Roman liked hearing that, but how deep did her feelings go? And how long would they last?
Jasper brought their conversation around to spiritual matters. They fell into an easy exchange as Jasper told him about his childhood, his parents’ religious beliefs that built a foundation for his own, his wife’s faith. He even told Roman what to expect if he ever decided to set foot inside a church. Roman couldn’t picture himself doing that anytime soon. Jasper said it was a good place to learn. It’d be easier to take that first sojourn into foreign territory with someone he knew.
“Someone like Grace, for example.” Jasper gave him a taunting smile. “Who knows? She might take you to Brian Henley’s church. Pastors know a whole lot more about Jesus and the Bible than I do.”
“I’d rather figure things out on my own.”
“You’ve always done things the hard way, Bobby Ray.”
Grace came back before Jasper left. Jasper said he’d stay in touch and probably come down for a visit when Roman was back home. He wanted to make good use of the nice guest room again. He kissed Grace’s cheek before leaving.
Roman decided to take Jasper’s advice and let her know she was free to leave if she wanted to. “You should go home too, Grace. There’s nothing for you to do, but sit around and wait.”
She looked taken aback. “All right.” She took the BMW fob from her purse and put it on his tray stand.
“That didn’t come out right.” He’d meant to sound self-sacrificing, not dismissive. “Keep my car.” She’d been using it to get back and forth from the hotel. “Pick up your son. Go home. Take a few days off.” That brought a look of surprise and relief.
“Are you sure?”
He realized how thoughtless he’d been. “You’ve been babysitting me for days, when you should’ve been with your son. I’ll call a limo service when they check me out of this hotel.”
“Do you need anything?”
Roman said he was fine, then missed her the minute she walked out the door.
Grace sent a text to Roman. Let me know when you’re close. I have your house key.
Her phone beeped with a new message just as she finished changing Samuel’s diaper. Roman. Be there in five.
She pulled Samuel’s blue-and white-striped onesie down and closed the snaps. “Come on, little man.” She swept him up and planted him on her hip.
A black Lincoln Town Car pulled around the circle and stopped beside the main house. Her heart quickened when Roman got out. She met him on the front walk, noticing how he relied on the cane. “It’s good to have you home.” She passed by him, heading for his front door, keys in her hand. Unlocking the door, she handed over the fob and house key. His fingers brushed hers, and she stepped back, holding Samuel closer. “It just occurred to me there’s probably nothing edible in your refrigerator.”
“I can always microwave a frozen dinner. It’ll probably taste about as good as hospital food.”
Grace couldn’t help herself. “You can come over for dinner, if you’d like.”
He grinned. “I knew if I sounded pathetic enough, you’d invite me. What time?”
She gave a nervous laugh, wondering if she was about to make a mistake. “Whenever you’re hungry, I guess.”
“I’m hungry now.”
Something in his tone made her put up her guard. “You’ll have to watch Samuel while I fix something.” She figured that would make Roman run for the hills.
“As long as I don’t have to change his diaper.” Roman closed the front door and walked alongside her. The cottage felt smaller the moment Roman walked in. He left his cane by the door. She put Samuel back on the blanket she’d spread on the carpet and strewn with toys. “Keep an eye on him. He can cover territory faster than you might think.” Roman sat on the edge of her sofa and leaned forward, seeming to take his duties seriously. Grace hesitated. “I haven’t started dinner, but I could make you a sandwich to tide you over.”