Mom in the Middle Read Free Page A

blocking Guy’s view of her private emotions.
    â€œOh, no.” He spoke softly, understanding the implications, sending up a silent prayer for God’s healing mercy. He knew from the experience with hispaternal grandfather that the injury could be a long painful recovery, a permanent disability or even worse if complications set in. The outcome for her family could be dire.
    â€œAnd they’d moved her around so much it was obvious she was suffering. That was hard to watch.” Her voice was a whisper.
    If she’d been one of his sisters, Guy would have wrapped Abby in his arms and rocked her along with the sleeping toddler. But she was a customer whose mother had just suffered a major injury on his family’s property. He didn’t dare touch her for fear of further complicating an already difficult situation that could potentially impact the lives of his family, the H&H shareholders and their employees.
    He sat straighter in his chair, pushed aside his own concerns. His worries were insignificant compared to Abby’s.
    â€œDid they give her pain meds?”
    She glanced up, nodded. “Something really strong so she’d rest. But she was rattling off instructions for me and the nurses when she fell asleep.” A sad smile flickered across her face and Guy mirrored her expression, imagining his mother doing the same, ordering the hospital staff about if the situation were reversed.
    â€œWill she need surgery?”
    â€œDr. Cabot doesn’t think so. He says she’ll be in the hospital for a few days and if everything goes well she’ll be released to a rehab facility for extended physical therapy. As usual, she’s moreworried about Daddy than she is about herself.” Abby sighed and rested her head against the back of the chair. “In forty-eight years of marriage my parents have never spent more than a few days apart. I don’t know how I’m going to keep them both occupied for six weeks with everything else I’ve got to do, but I’ll manage somehow.”
    â€œAbigail?” A heavyset woman in a floral-print housedress hurried toward them.
    â€œOh, thank you for coming, Mrs. Eller.” Abby rocked forward and used momentum to swing Dillon onto her shoulder as she stood. Guy hopped to his feet as he was introduced to Abby’s neighbor. The two women exchanged a quick hug over the sleeping boy.
    â€œWhat room is your mama in? I’ll sit with her so you can go tell your daddy.”
    â€œYou didn’t say anything to him, did you?” Abby sounded worried.
    â€œGoodness, no. Now you hurry on home before he gets suspicious about what’s taking so long.”
    Guy lifted Abby’s blue fabric bag sprinkled with dozens of fuzzy yellow chicks and slung it across his shoulder then followed her through the hospital’s emergency exit.
    â€œWould you like me to take you straight home?”
    â€œI appreciate the offer, but I’ll need my van to bring Daddy back to the hospital.”
    â€œI can give you both a ride,” Guy offered as he held open the door of the Hearth and Home SUV.
    She shook her head, blond curls bobbing. “Dad’sin a wheelchair and the side door of the van is outfitted with a lift.”
    Guy grimaced at the new information. Another hardship for this small family. How would Abby cope with the situation? You never knew the true measure of someone until their back was against the wall and their only choices were to crumble or come out fighting.
    No matter the circumstances of the injury, the corporation bore certain liability for accidents on their property. In this case it would be Guy’s responsibility to do everything possible to avoid litigation. The fact that the potential threat came in such a charming form would have nothing to do with his desire to help a woman out of a crisis.
    Or would it?
    He glanced at Abby Cramer. The sheen in her brown eyes said she needed more than