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before entering Josh’s room. Would it seem forward of him to have brought Dorie coffee? He wasn’t a relative, nor anyone special in the kid’s life. Yet Jamey had tossed and turned all night with worry. He imagined Dorie hadn’t slept either.
    He peeked into the hospital room. She sat by Josh’s bed watching him sleep, looking every bit the guardian angel.
    She turned as he entered and handed her the coffee. “Thought you could use this. How’s the patient?”
    “He seems to be doing better.”
    “You look beat. Did you sleep at all?”
    Dorie shook her head. “Dr. Wellington thinks Josh can go home this afternoon.”
    “Gabe’s a good man.”
    “Do you know him from the theater?”
    How should he explain his friendship with Gabe, one that spanned more than classrooms and sports? A friendship bound as much by mischief as accomplishment. “Lots of places. We made Order of the Arrow together—”
    “Is that some kind of club?”
    “You might say so. It’s one of the highest levels a scout can achieve.”
    “Oh.”
    “Gabe and I and our brothers were close in age, so the four of us hung out together. Gabe went to Harvard, you know. He could have practiced anywhere he wanted but chose to come back to Midville. This town’s lucky to have a surgeon of his caliber.”
    Josh stirred as Jamey positioned his chair at least a leg’s length from Josh’s bed. Might as well play it safe. “Glad to see you’re doing better, Josh.”
    “Hi, Jamey. I’m sorry I kicked you at the pizza place. I didn’t mean it.”
    “I know. Forget about it.” He turned to face Dorie again. “If you want, I can bring you and Josh home.”
    Dorie smiled. “I’m not helpless—”
    “I know, but it snowed six inches or more overnight. I noticed your tires are bald. I want to be sure you get out of the parking lot.”
    “I do know how to drive, Sir Lancelot.” Her smile belied her tone and gave him hope. She lifted her cup. “Thanks for the coffee. You’re an angel.”
    “Far from it.”
    She stood, perhaps too quickly and lost her balance. Instinct prompted him to catch her before she tripped. Their eyes met, and in that instant something like an electric spark sizzled within his heart, like jump-starting a stalled engine.
    Did she feel it too?
    ***
     
    Take that, Jamey Sullivan .
    Not to be unkind, but Dorie huffed with pride in making it home without sliding as he predicted. Once inside, she helped Josh off with his coat and put him to bed.
    Mom said she’d keep Emma over one more night so Dorie could sleep. As if she could. She went into the kitchen and hauled out the cookie dough she’d bought from Josh’s school fund raiser. Might as well make a batch while Josh slept.
    Coffee.
    She started a fresh pot, and her mind shifted to that moment Jamey stopped her fall. For the few seconds he held her she’d felt an odd connection, as if somehow she were meant to be there, an echo of the security she’d found in Devon’s arms.
    The memory of their last embrace still crept into her dreams. Did Devon know he would not be coming back? When he had between he and turned his regiment, and shot a salute toward Josh. “Take care of your mother, sport.”
    Josh, two pant sizes shorter then, stood tall and proud as he saluted back. “Yes sir, Daddy, sir.”
    How much of that memory had seeped into Josh’s heart?
    Jamey had commented that her son seemed unusually protective of her. Was that the reason Josh seemed mature beyond his years? A six-year-old shouldn’t be burdened with the care of a parent. If she had a man in her life, maybe Josh could go back to being a little boy again.

Chapter Six
      
    Dorie paced the living room, her coat draped over her arm. Should she hang it back up or put it on? Mom had joined them for dinner, and Dorie had changed her mind about going to rehearsal six times already. With only a few days since his surgery, Josh needed her home more than she needed the diversion. What if he got sick