The social worker spoke first. “Helen, this is Devlin Marlowe. He’s helping us on Christina’s case.”
“Thank you for seeing me, Mrs. Carpenter.”
Her smile was warm but her gaze worried. “You’re here to meet Christina?”
Dev knew he could only put them at ease by his actions, not his words. “Yes, ma’am. Please.”
Around the doorway, a strawberry-blonde head appeared. Huge dark eyes followed. Slowly and shyly, the little girl made her way into the room.
Dev lowered himself to his heels and smiled. “Hello, Christina. Lacey’s told me a lot about you.”
She studied him carefully. Dev didn’t try to avoid her uneven features. He looked at her, straight on.
There is nothing so discerning as a child’s impulse toward honesty. “Did she tell you my face is crooked?”
His heart filled. “Yes.” He continued in a neutral tone. “My face is crooked, too. See my nose?” He pointed toward the bump.
“Did somebody hit you, too?” she whispered.
At that moment, Dev would have liked to tear the guy limb from limb. How anyone could harm a child—
“Yep.” He nodded. “You know what else Lacey told me?”
Christina took another step toward him. “What?”
“She told me about your beautiful heart. Crooked faces can be fixed, you know, but ugly hearts never mend. Looks to me like you’ve got what’s important.”
The little girl cocked her head and studied him. Finally, she spoke up. “Is Lacey going to be all right?”
I hope so. God, I hope so. But Dev didn’t voice his worries. “She’d feel better if she could see you. Mrs. Wardlow says she would take you, if it’s all right with Mrs. Carpenter.”
Christina leaned over and whispered, “Hospitals are scary.”
Dev hadn’t thought about that, about her past experiences. “Lacey would understand if you didn’t want to come.”
The big brown eyes looked conflicted. “Would you be there?”
“Would you want me to?”
Blonde curls bounced. “Please.”
Dev held out his hand. “It’s a deal.”
Lacey lay back in the bed, drained from the day’s exhausting round of tests. Her doctor’s warnings still rang in her ears.
I don’t care if you have to walk away from every person you know, young lady. You have to get squared away inside yourself. Diet, rest and medication will help, but they’re only bandages on the wound. What you really need is to change your life so you’re not so wound up all the time, trying to please everyone but Lacey.
You won’t be so lucky next time. You’ve never seen a patient die before your eyes from a bleeding ulcer, but I’m telling you, that’s where you’re headed. Whatever is going on in your life, you make peace with it. Do you hear me?
Not so easy. But he was right—it was time for some choices.
Someone knocked on the door.
“Come in,” she answered.
Dev poked his head around. “Is this a bad time?”
She wanted to banish this Dev forever, the one who was so polite, who had lost all devilment in his eyes. “No. I think they’re through poking and prodding.”
He walked inside, casting a quick glance behind him before the door shut. “What did the doctor say?”
“You want the whole lecture or just the highlights?”
His quick grin touched something deep inside her. If only his eyes matched it. “I might need some pointers for my own lecture.”
She tried to smile at him, wanting so badly for him to come closer, to be the reckless Dev who’d dare anything. “Go ahead. I’m beaten into submission already.”
He scanned her face. “You look tired. I can come back.” He made as if to turn.
“No—please. Stay.”
Dev settled into an uneasy stance. The silence between them was awkward as never before.
“Dev, I—”
“I have a surprise—” Both spoke at once.
“Go ahead,” he gestured.
“No, that’s okay—a surprise?” Then she pulled herself back just a fraction. “What is it?”
“I think you’ll like it.”
“All right.”
Dev moved toward the door and pulled it open. A beloved blonde head peered from behind him.
“Oh, Christina—” Joy leapt inside her.
Christina reached for Dev’s hand and glanced at him for reassurance. He nodded, and walked her to the bed. Louise Wardlow stepped into the room, nodding at Lacey and smiling widely.
Lacey returned the nod, but quickly shifted her gaze to the little girl.
“Dev said you wouldn’t be so sad if I would come see you,” Christina offered.