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“Hey, you want me to look at that handrail?”
“Oh, thank you so much, Dylan. I’m not sure who told you to come, but I was worried about how we were going to get Aunt Marla up the stairs without it.”
Mandy took him to inspect it and then sat on the step above him.
“It’s worn the screws are loose, I need to put longer ones in this time.,” Dylan said, taking out his tools.
“They’re always running up and down the stairs and it terrifies me.”
Dylan laughed. “They make me feel tired.”
“You should try being related to them.”
They chatted about Grace and Piper as he worked. Dylan loved his girls. Mandy made herself stay there and talk to him, where before she would have left that to her aunts.
“Are you nervous about the baby, Dylan?”
He was different to Ted. Taller, definitely, but nowhere near as big.
“A bit, but we have Grace, and that’s gone a long way to preparing me. I’m excited mainly, and I don’t mind adding that Piper will be a whole lot happier when the baby’s arrived.”
“She’s an awesome mom, just like you’re a great dad.”
Dylan finished the last screw, then sat on the step below to look up at her.
“Thanks. You want kids?”
“I’ve not really thought about it. I guess I didn’t think it would factor into my life.” Mandy went for honesty.
“And now?”
“Small steps, Dylan.”
“Change is hard when you’re the one doing it all. How are you really doing, Mandy?”
Her response would normally be “good, thanks.”
“Ted said something today,” Dylan went on before she could speak, “and it made me realize that I’ve never really taken the time to talk to you. So here’s my chance.” He gave her a gentle smile that she was sure had had Piper falling in love with him.
“I’m okay, thanks, Dylan.”
“You’ve had a rough time, is my guess, before coming here?”
His words surprised her into silence.
“I don’t mean to pry, just wanted to let you know that I know.”
“How do you know?” She had to ask. Was it written all over her that she’d been through what she had?
“I’m a profiler, we see stuff.”
Right. She’d forgotten that. He was usually building these days.
“You don’t do that at all now… the FBI stuff, I mean?”
“I consult sometimes, and I’ve flown out for a few cases. But my life is here.”
He was a nice man, she thought. Like so many of them in Ryker. The problem for Mandy had always been that she didn’t want to take the time to really get to know them. She’d isolated herself.
