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He wiped away her tears with the pad of his thumb "Devon, I’d walk into hell for you, I love you that ether Can you trust ainst his cheek "Do you have any idea how special I felt with you? Curled up on the couch, just watching ayou train or coach your teaain, I promise I’ll be there for you, I swear"

"One day at a time? You’ll let me relearn that I can count on you?"

"Absolutely I won’t rush you, but I’ive us a try"

He grabbed her and kissed her again, deeply, passionately, holding her against hihtly he was surprised she didn’t break

There was a tapping on his shoulder and he broke away to stare into Mercy’s beautiful blue eyes

"Why you always kissing?" she asked

"Because I love your mommy," he said

"Oh," she said And she turned and went back to her bucket and pail

He chuckled Then he looked at Devon and said, "The first thing we’ll do is spend so you to a jewelry store so you can pick out a ring"

"Spencer," she said in warning

"You don’t have to wear it until you’re ready, but I want you to have one I want to spend oing to rush me," she said

"Go easy on me, honey I almost lost you"

"I alot a call fro to come to the house to have a chat with her and her husband Here it coiving theive hi his possible full-ti to do He didn’t expect her to be happy with such a decision After all, it brought into focus so otten pregnant by soone to prison What woular reood piece of property, one that he could easily renovate It wasn’t a rich town and he hadn’t expected to turn a big profit on gas and repairs, however some of his customers had come from far away for his custom restoration work and if he added space and equipment to any property, many of theood business, most of his customers collected cars--it wasn’t usually a matter of one or two, but many To that end, Eric had looked atthe investors’ eood

When he arrived in Gina’s neighborhood at the edge of town, he felt an odd kind of happiness knowing that she’d settled herself so well Life couldn’t have been easy for her, living with her hter alone But nohile she was still young, she had a fine husband, a good hoave him a sense of comfort, if not relief, to know he hadn’t co job with Ashley--she was as fine a young woman as any he’d ever met

He had to park across the street and down the block He walked to their house, up the walk and knocked on the door Gina answered, sht on time"

"You said four o’clock Listen, I hope you know I just want to be considerate of your feelings Yours and Mac’s"

"I know That was thoughtful And I want you to knoe discussed it at great length and you will have an honest response"

"Thanks, Gina I understand, I really do I know I asked a lot Ashley doesn’t really understand what it’s like to have ghosts and hard h "Ashley understands that better than just about anyone"

"Right, I guess that’s right," he said, re she’d had, terrible breakup with a serious boyfriend, so on meant only to cause her hurt "And I sure wouldn’t want to cause her any more"

"We’re in the backyard, Eric Follow h the house He passed by the kitchen and saw a couple of wo food in there Then out the sliding doors onto the deck and there, in the backyard,at picnic tables were ers and children and older couples

"I’hed "No, Eric You’re definitely not"

Mac broke away fro his spatula to a man beside him He approached with his hand outstretched "Welco on?" Eric asked, immediately uncomfortable

Gina put a hand on his arood business in this town and this is a place you’d like to settle, we’d be happy to welcoht we’d introduce you to so fool, he thought Not only was this one of the last things he ever expected, it was one of the kindest things anyone had ever done for him "I don’t knohat to say"

"Well, say hello I’ll make some introductions Then you can tell etting it right," Mac said "Most of these folks have been here forever, but there are a feco in"

"If you decide this is the right place for you," Gina said "We just thought we’d find a way to let you know--it would make us happy to have a new business and responsible citizen coood way to deht If these people had any lingering hope that he’d give up this opportunity, they were going to be disappointed

He wanted to be a part of a community that behaved with compulsive kindness