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.She had colleagues rather than friends and, until lately, that hadn’t bothered her.But Nicolas’s exposure to Sasha and Daisy’s large, close family and their very-involved grandparents had made him question why his grandparents and his father weren’t part of his life.The truth—that none of them wanted anything to do with him—was too horrible to admit, even to herself.Graham’s parents hadn’t acknowledged any of Nicolas’s birthdays or Christmases since his diagnosis, no doubt taking their cues from Graham.To protect both her and her son from hurt, she’d cut herself off from everyone who should matter to Nicolas.Yet the O’Malleys had managed to worm their way into her heart, forcing her to confront issues so long buried she hadn’t thought of them in years.“Mom?” Nicolas’s query brought her back to the present.“Why are you crying?”She sniffed and dabbed at her eyes with the backs of her hands and tried to smile.“I’m just happy.The tree’s pretty, isn’t it?”Nicolas looked back at the tree, and Becky glanced at Will.His frown told her he suspected her tears weren’t only about the tree in her living room.“Let’s have some eggnog, to celebrate,” she said and, without waiting for an answer, strode toward the kitchen, needing to escape Will’s assessing gaze.NICK FOLLOWED, leaving Will to ponder her tears.They’d been more than the tears of joy she claimed.Those were big, fat tears of sorrow coursing down her cheeks.He studied the tree to see if it would reveal her secrets.It looked like every other Christmas tree that had graced his childhood home, brimming with color and light and the promise of Christmas.It said Joy.Family.Home.Love.He could see Becky in the kitchen, blowing her nose.Yup, they definitely weren’t tears of happiness.Something in her past had put them there.Something about Christmas…Chapter FifteenThe next evening, Will and Nick set off on a shopping trip.Becky was banned from it, since they were choosing her gift.Two hours later, Nicolas bounded in the door, full of energy.“Will told off the bullies, Mom! They even shook my hand and said sorry.”“What?”Will perched on the sofa.“We ran into them at the store and had a little heart-to-heart.I don’t think Nick will have any more trouble from them.”Becky wanted to weep with joy at the incredibly wonderful feeling of having a man around to stand up for her son and “tell off” bullies.The issue had been tearing at her guts since she’d heard Johnny Cooper was still terrorizing Nicolas.She hadn’t spoken to Nicolas about why he was keeping secrets from her and mentally added that to her to do list.“I’m on vacation tomorrow!” he cried, breaking into her thoughts.“Can we have pizza?”Becky loved seeing his excitement.“Sure, sweetie.”“Cool!” he said and dashed into the kitchen.Becky noticed he was more stable on his feet and moved more fluidly.She smiled up at Will.“Thank you for doing that.I couldn’t get an appointment to see his teacher until after the holidays.”“Nick told me.” Lowering his voice, he said, “Between you and me, I don’t think this is over, but Nick’s going into the holidays feeling happy.I still don’t trust that Cooper kid an inch, but you should’ve seen the look on Nick’s face when Johnny shook his hand.He was so relieved.”“But what about January, when he’s back at school? He might come after him again.”Will placed a calming hand on her shoulder.“I’ll talk to Nick and help him with some strategies for dealing with bullies.But for now, I want him to relax and enjoy himself.I’ll be with him all the time, so he’ll be safe.”Becky released her breath.Will was right; Nicolas should be allowed to enjoy his holidays without any fears.“Thank you for everything.You’ve exceeded my expectations of a caregiver in every possible way.”“You’re welcome.It’s all part of the service.”Becky knew it was much more than just “part of the service.” “I’ve set aside time to come to the pool tomorrow to watch him swim,” she said.Will rewarded her with a grin so wide, her heart turned over.NICOLAS KEPT GLANCING at her to make sure she was watching as he did his therapy.Becky waved back enthusiastically and gave him a thumbs-up.“Hi, boss,” Will said as he joined her, rubbing a towel through his wet hair.“The little guy sure loves the pool, doesn’t he?” He stretched out his long legs as he sat on the bench.Becky concentrated on keeping her eyes trained on her son and not on Will’s half-naked body.Nicolas became even more animated once Will arrived.He began to show off a little and she couldn’t help smiling at his obvious hero worship.Her son was thriving—and Will was responsible.“Catch you later.I do my laps while the little guy does his therapy,” Will said and strode through to the pool.Becky watched him leave, her throat dry.AFTER NICOLAS’S THERAPY session, it was time for his swimming lesson with Will.Tears sprang to Becky’s eyes.Her precious son could swim! Okay, he wasn’t going to be winning races anytime soon, but he had the basics.His breathing was good, his arms thrashed the water and propelled him along, while his legs trailed behind.He looked so proud of himself as Will towed him back to the pool’s edge.“I’m really impressed with you, sweetie,” she said as Will lifted him out of the water to sit on the pool’s edge.“You’re doing great.”“Really, Mom?” His eyes shone with happiness.She knelt down to hug his wet body, uncaring of what the chlorine might do to her clothes.“You’re a much better swimmer than me already.” She wrapped his towel around him.“Wow! Did you hear that, Will? Maybe you can teach Mom to swim so she can keep up with me.”Will hauled himself out of the pool in one easy movement to stand in front of her, his hair dripping wet.Lord, he was magnificent.All rippling muscles and sinewy strength.She’d have to get through her cases faster so she could make it to the pool more often.Will grinned and Becky’s legs nearly gave out under her.“Sure,” he said, looking into her eyes.“I’m happy to teach your mom anything she wants.”Heat suffused her face.It sounded as if Will intended to teach her something altogether different from swimming….THAT EVENING, NURSING a glass of wine as she rested on the sofa while Will and Nicolas cleaned up after dinner, Becky knew she’d made the right decision in employing Will.The difference in Nicolas was astounding.He seemed stronger every day, his appetite had improved and his complexion glowed with health.Instead of being shut up in her chambers after Jessie dropped him off following hydrotherapy, he now went with Will on a circuit of the town, Dugald in tow.I could get used to this, she thought and smiled at Dugald having doggy dreams on his bed in front of the fire, his tiny legs making running motions in the air.She could get very used to getting home to delicious aromas from the kitchen and the sound of her son horsing around with Will.Although she’d come here reluctantly, she was beginning to feel a part of this community and regretted her initial attitude, which had clouded her opinion of Spruce Lake.Many of the problems—drunk driving, drugs, traffic violations and so on—were perpetrated by outsiders, hence the reason court was so busy this time of year.Thankfully, the town’s number-one public nuisance, Louella Farquar, and her outrageous antics, were nearly a distant memory.And the way the community had rallied behind the cause of saving the old buildings was impressive
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