“Well, I’ve always thought of Glory as my daughter, too.” As Liz said it, she finger-stroked Glory’s hair, still trying to manage it. Shooting a sharp gaze at Callie, she added, “The daughter wholistened.”
The teasing went on around her, but Glory was blank, thunderstruck by Liz’s sentiment.I’ve always thought of Glory as my daughter, too.Was it true? If so, why hadn’t Liz said something before now?
Coming into the house with PB, Kam glanced her way and then did a double take. He’d already removed his rain jacket and shoes, and he had PB wrapped in a towel. In a single swift glance, he took in the situation and quickly nosed closer. Without an explanation, he handed the dog to Callie, edged his way around Liz, and seated himself beside Glory.
The storm had left his face dewy and his hair damp. Hesmelled of the fresh outdoors, and she wanted to curl into him. Instead, she smiled. “You don’t have to run to my rescue.”
“No, but I missed you.” He leaned in for a kiss, and a second later, said to Liz, “Love the quilt.”
The compliment redirected her from Glory’s hair. “It perfectly matches her decor, don’t you think?”
“It really does. Now when she sleeps out here, she’ll look so stylish.”
Totally missing the irony in his words, Liz beamed. “Exactly.” Chin elevated and smile satisfied, she stated to Kam, “We McCallahans can deal with anything and still look classy.”
From the kitchen, Addie called, “Liz, come in here with me and leave those lovebirds alone while we finish lunch.”
Rushing, Liz explained, “Addie needs me,” and off she went.
“You’re a wizard,” Glory whispered.
“Nah. I just have a way with women.”
She nearly choked on her laugh.
Seeing that they were alone, he asked, “What was the problem?”
The words seemed to lump together in her throat. “You’ll think I’m silly, but Liz made a comment about me being her daughter and it... surprised me.”
That sexy mouth of his curled. “More like it left you gobsmacked—but in a good way?”
“Yes.”
From the distance separating them, the voices of all three women blended together with Callie’s being the loudest and most hilarious. Laughter followed.
Accompanied by a thunderclap, the realization came to Glory. “I’m blessed with an amazing family.”
“We both are. They’re not traditional, but they’re still pretty damned awesome.”
“Until I met you, I never realized—”
His phone buzzed in his pocket. “Sorry,” he said, and lifted a hip to get it out. One glance at the screen and he frowned. “It’s Shara.”
Fear grabbed hold of her. “Oh, no.”
“It might be nothing.” With a swipe of his thumb, Kam answered the call. “Shara, what... Hey, slow down.”
Glory struggled to sit forward, one hand clutching Kam’s forearm. He readjusted the phone and helped her.
“Okay, shh, no, it’s fine. You did the right thing. Yeah...no, don’t go. Lock yourself inside. Yes, I’m sure.” Agitated, he stood. “Is anyone there with you? Call your folks or a friend and have them come stay with you. I’ll let you know what happens. Right. I promise. Okay, you, too.”
The second he shoved his phone in his pocket, Glory knew he was leaving. “What is it? What’s happened?”
“Callie?” he called out, and given the urgency in his tone, it didn’t surprise her that her cousin came running.
He helped Glory from her seat. “I have to go. Right now.”
With her thoughts in a blender, Glory grabbed for the first concern. “Is Shara okay?”
