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thigh muscle with his hand. How he hated showing her this weakness. Hated for her to ever know how he’d gotten to this point.
    “Davie, get a cup of water,” she said.
    While the boy raced inside, she knelt beside Matt, her hands clasping the armrest. “Do you need me to call 9-1-1? What can I do?”
    He looked at her anguished face and gritted a smile. “You’ve done it already. Just give me a moment.”
    Davie returned, looking serious as he sloshed water over the brim of a red sippy cup minus the lid. Matt chuckled as he accepted the boy’s offering.
    “Thanks, Davie.” Matt drained the small cup in two long swallows. The pain eased by small degrees and his breathing calmed. In spite of the chilly air, sweat dripped from his forehead and he brushed it aside. Andie must have noticed because she stood, her expression severe.
    “Do you feel well enough to come inside? I have a recliner where you can elevate your leg.”
    Davie retrieved Matt’s cane and handed it to him.
    “Sure. I’m fine.” He smiled at the boy, doing his best to reassure them both.
    Andie took Matt’s arm and helped him inside while Davie held the door wide.
    At the threshold, Matt hesitated. “I don’t want to play on your sympathies, Andie. I won’t come in unless you really want me here. My injury has nothing to do with our marriage.”
    She bit her bottom lip and looked away, a dead giveaway to her apprehension. He’d learned to read her body language long ago and figured she hadn’t changed that much in the years he’d been gone. She didn’t want him here.
    “Come inside for now. Davie invited you.”
    Okay, that set some limits. She would honor Davie’s invitation. At least for now.
    “How did you hurt your leg?” she asked.
    “Just an accident. I’ll be fine.” He wasn’t about to tell her the story of the wildfire and the death of his crewman. Not when the guilt still ripped him apart every time he thought about it.
    Davie retrieved the packages Matt had dropped in the flower bed and set them on the coffee table. “Is one of these for me?”
    Matt smiled. “Yep. The blue one. The pink one is for your mom.”
    “Why don’t you two chat while I get dinner on?” Andie ignored the gifts as she opened the drapes wide. Then she disappeared into the kitchen, leaving him and Davie alone. Easily within earshot. Now and then she peered around the corner, making Matt self-conscious. Obviously she didn’t like leaving him alone with the boy. Matt was determined to win her trust.
    Davie tore open his gift like a rabid wolf. Matt laughed, pleased by the child’s enthusiasm.
    “What’s this for?” Davie asked as he shredded the delicate paper.
    “Your birthday.”
    “But my birthday isn’t for weeks. Mom said I can have a party and invite friends over for cake. You can come if you want to.”
    Matt would love to be here, but he’d wait for an invitation from Andie first. “This gift is for your last birthday I missed.”
    “A baseball glove. Thanks!” Davie dug the glove out of the box and put it on his right hand.
    “You wear it like this, hotshot.” Matt pulled the glove off and put it on the boy’s left hand. “Now you can catch with your left hand and throw with your right. You are right-handed, aren’t you?”
    Matt used his own hands to show the motions in the air.
    “Yep. I’m a righty.” Davie sat on the sofa and scooted back, smacking his right fist against the palm of his new glove. He watched Matt with intense, wide eyes.
    As Matt eased himself into the recliner, he couldn’t help wondering if Andie had told Davie who he really was. He eyed the wrapped gift he’d brought for her, wishing she’d open it now. He’d leave it here, and hopefully she’d open it after he left.
    “My dad’s name is Matt. He’s a hotshot,” Davie said.
    “Is that so?” A lump formed in Matt’s throat, and he tried to swallow.
    “Yep. He plays baseball like me.”
    “I love baseball.”
    The child heaved a