Page 41 of Miss Trust

Tory

We were finally going home after thirty days in Children’s Hospital. Penelope had completed the first phase of induction and would now move on to the consolidation phase, where she’d been before. In this phase, she would receive more intense treatment over the next few months to blast any residual cancer cells left in her body. But at least these treatments would be spaced out and shouldn’t require long hospital stays.

If her chatter was any evidence, Penny was feeling pretty good as we stood outside waiting for our ride home. I swear I could listen to my girl talk about anything. The current topic was how she couldn’t wait for good food and her own bed.

“What are you hungry for?”

“Cheeseburgers.”

“You got it.”

I’d run by the store after we got home. Home. What a weird concept. Of course I didn’t think of Chance’s house as my home, but there was such a deep contentment in knowing my daughter was sleeping in a safe neighborhood where I didn’t wake up to the sound of sirens. It might be temporary, but it would allow me to save up money for what we’d do after.

“Who is picking us up?”

“Mona should be here soon.” Daisy had offered, but I knew she was busy with a street market today selling her soaps. So when Mona had asked what time we’d be available, I assumed she'd be the one to pull up curbside. But it turned out she wasn't alone. Instead, Chance was driving, with Mona in the back seat holding multicolored balloons.

She got out of the car, all smiles. Her thoughtfulness was overwhelming. Every time she’d come by the hospital to give me a break, she’d brought a little something. Homemade muffins, a new card game, and some new books.

“We missed you at the house, Penny.”

My baby was smiling from ear to ear. “I missed you too. Are those balloons for me?”

“They sure are. You want to ride in the back seat with me on the way home?”

“Yes.” She handed over her stuffed dog—a trust exercise of epic proportions. She didn’t trust many with her stuffie.

Chance came around the SUV. For a busy man, he was certainly taking up a lot of time for us. He’d not only been true to his word about bringing dinner each week, but he’d also permitted me to work remotely at night with Carmen doing audits. Now I could feel good about earning the salary being deposited into my account.

I hadn’t taken him up on the offer to use his condo, choosing instead to head to the house whenever I had some free time in order to get fresh clothes and take my showers.

“Hi.” He looked surprisingly casual in dark-wash jeans and a three-quarter-zipper gray sweater.

“You do own jeans.”

He cocked his head to the side while I mentally kicked myself for how rude I’d sounded.

“I meant, I’ve never seen you in anything but a suit. You didn’t have to come.” Dammit. I was being impolite again. “I only meant I’m sure you’re busy.”

He smiled down at Penny. “I’m not too busy for the celebration of you coming home. Let me help you into the SUV.”

He lifted her up to Mona in back before situating her with her seat belt in the booster. Chance glanced at me. “Would you prefer to ride back here with her instead—”

“Mommy, can I please sit with Mona?”

“Of course you can. I can sit in front.”

For a roomy Escalade, I felt awfully close to my boss in the front seat. Mona and Penny meanwhile chatted like old, long-lost friends even though Mona had been by a number of times to see her.

“You look exhausted,” Chance bluntly commented, glancing over.

“Thanks. I was aiming for worn out, but I guess I overshot.”

His grin did something to my stomach. Yeah, I was aware I looked like hell. I had dark circles under my eyes, had lost a few pounds, and I hadn’t seen a drop of makeup in a month.

“I wish you would’ve taken me up on the offer to use my condo.”

“I was fine at the hospital, and had a couple trips out to the house. Which reminds me to return your key.”