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blossomed here that she savored.
    So she scurried to the courtyard in front of the community house where Kevin crouched along the line of a short, curved pathway. Presently he tilled in smooth strokes through a layer of top soil that formed a dark border against the even, gray stonework. Flats of flowers awaited planting, and at the end of the path, a small gazebo stood sentinel. That was new.
    When she approached, openly admiring the white wood structure, Kevin looked her way, shading his eyes with a hand. Jodie delivered a smile and dropped to her knees, propping her hands on her thighs. “I see the spot for the ceremony is ready to go. It’s beautiful.”
    Kevin slid his sunglasses into place. “Yep. The installation crew just left. You should have seen Uncle Andy. He kept peppering them with questions and squawking about every move they made. He’s become more and more protective, and watchful. Since the gazebo is going to be a permanent addition to the complex, he refused to back off.”
    “Good for him. He cares.” She sensed there was more to the story, but before she could say anything further, Kevin cleared his throat in a gruff manner.
    “Seemed to me like he was making it clear he’d defend himself and everything he’s done here at the Haven.”
    He really was bothered, though he masked it as best he could with a genial tone and relaxed posture. Jodie wanted to help Kevin move past the layer of sadness that covered his observations, but she wasn’t sure how far she should go with someone she was only just now getting to know.
    She fingered the petals of a tall, sturdy snapdragon. “Andy sounds kind of like my dad. He was doing the same type of thing today at my sister’s house while we helped her pack.”
    He stopped working and looked up. “That’s right. They leave this weekend. Did you enjoy today’s first round of physical labor?”
    Jodie chuckled. “It was fine. Like I said, Dad wanted to be active and do more, but he just couldn’t. We ended up diverting him.”
    “How?”
    “Grandkids. Best remedy ever for grouchy behavior.”
    He peeked at her over the top of his sunglasses. “Nicely played.”
    Jodie fell into the moment of ease and ran with it—for the time being. Rather than push him for more about Andy, she tucked her hands into gardening gloves. “OK, coach, tell me what you need.”
    “Well, the space around the structure is pretty much set, but we’ll need to plant those two yellow rose bushes—” Jodie bumped his shoulder and gave him a wide-eyed stare, complete with raised eyebrows. Kevin shook his head and sighed with mock exasperation. “Sorry. I mean those butterscotch rose bushes.”
    “Any true Texan would want to throttle us right about now.” Jodie’s heart went light, and she bobbed her head. “Still, bravo. You catch on quick.”
    “Something like that. I hope you catch on quick as well, because planting these other beauties is going to be quite a job.”
    His gesture toward the fragrant carpet of packaged blooms didn’t intimidate Jodie in the least. “I’m all in, and it’s going to be gorgeous.” She breathed deep, lifting her face to the sun. “You know, this spot just sings the word romance.”
    Kevin shot her a raised-brow glance. “It certainly has potential.”
    OK, that quip came at her like an unexpected tickle to the sides, and it wasn’t the sun that caused her cheeks to burn against a crest of heat. Quick, she thought. Shift this conversation to safer ground. She reached for a flat of flowers and slid them close. Before she could push her spade into the earth, Kevin beat her to the conversational punch.
    “So, tell me more about the preparations to move. Are your sister and her family handling everything OK?”
    Jodie thought about her answer for a second. “As well as can be expected, I suppose. I mean, yeah…they’re not doing bad.”
    She left it at that, knowing she was being vague, but Tracee had been stressed, keeping a handle