Divine Phoenix(Divine Creek Ranch 10)(23)

Go to work? He shook his head as she came in the back screen door.

“Dad said to tell you hello and thank you for taking care of his little girl.” Her cheeks were flushed and she avoided direct eye contact with him, but she didn’t appear upset. He remembered her dad being a kidder. Maybe he’d been teasing with her.

“Is he still in Durst?”

She took her seat at the table across from him. “Yes. I think he would have come with me but his health is failing. He has melanoma. Too many years of working unprotected in the sun. It’s spread.”

He placed his hand over hers. “Lil, I’m sorry. Does he want to be here with you?”

“No. I asked him. He said he wants to be buried next to Mom.”

“It’s that bad?” At her sad nod, he continued, “He could move into assisted living or a nursing center here and…we could always take him back to Durst if that’s where he wants to be laid to rest.”

Lily looked up at him, and tears pooled in her amber eyes. “You’d do that.” The faint smile and nod of her head told him she was making a statement and not asking a question. She shook her head. “He’s stubborn. I’ve told him he has other options besides living the rest of his life there. He insists he’d be a burden and his coffee shop buddies are there. Who would help them sit around all day drinking coffee, solving the world’s problems without him there?” She shook her head ruefully and dragged a finger beneath her eye to wipe away a tear. “It’s one of the reasons I stayed in Durst as long as I did. I was afraid if I left it was unlikely I would see him again.”

Bullshit.

“Lily, we’ll make sure you get to see him again. What does his doctor say?”

“I don’t know. He always insisted on going to his appointments alone. The doctor has told him that his time is limited. Clay, you don’t need to worry about this. I can handle it, if I’m called back to take care of…things.”

He twined his fingers with hers, enjoying the feel of her delicate hand clasped with his. “You’ve been handling everything on your own a long time, Lily. Let me help, okay? You let me know what you need. Agreed?” At her noncommittal nod, he asked, “Now, what’s on your agenda for today?”

“Do I have time for some phone calls before we go to the shop?”

Clay’s eyebrows shot up. “Yes, you can use my phone to make whatever phone calls you need. Who’s this ‘we’ going to the shop?”

“I’d like to get started right away. Strike while the iron is hot. I need to pay you back for my car repairs. I need to learn my job so you don’t change your mind and decide me working for you is a bad idea.”

Clay smirked at her attempt to use mild humor to deflect his real question. He pointed to the couch. “Your only job today is staying on that couch, or in bed, and recovering from your trauma and recent major surgery. I can’t believe you thought you were working today.”

“I’m anxious to get started. I feel good.” She looked out the back door, clearly at war with herself as she wrung her hands together.

“I’m glad you feel better but it’s still early in the day. You don’t need to spend that much time on your feet, not this soon. You’re not indestructible and there’s no longer any reason for you to operate under duress. Lil, look at me,” he murmured when it seemed as though she was disregarding his words.

When she turned her gaze on him, his heart clenched in his chest. She was like a wounded doe, waiting for the next blow. She really was afraid he’d change his mind. He crouched down in front of her and lifted her chin so he could see her amber eyes.

“Lil, the job is yours. Period. End of discussion. I’m not going to get impatient, or demanding, or angry because you can’t start right now.”

“I’m sorry, Clay. I’m not trying to be difficult. I need for this arrangement to work out. I don’t want to risk you changing your mind.”

“I’m not going to change my mind. As a matter of fact, I need to have a little time before you start to set things up. I’ve had just one employee in the showroom for years. I need to work out your new responsibilities and…” Where do I begin on dealing with Tabitha? She’ll blow a gasket for sure.

Lily frowned. “And what?”

“Your coworker. I’ll need to smooth things over for her. Tabitha’s worked for me for a few years, and she’s a little set in her ways.”

Boy, now there’s an understatement. In quick succession, Clay pictured a large angry cat with its fur standing up on end, a chicken with its feathers all ruffled, and a riled up wolverine defending its nest. This is going to call for diplomacy, Cook.