Free Heart's Haven by Lois Richer Page B

great. But I won’t live in fear just because there are bad people around. I’ve already wasted enough time living like that.” She clamped her lips closed, refusing to expose any more of her battered soul.
    “I’m sorry,” he apologized. “I’m not trying to run your life. I’m just—worried.”
    “That surprises me,” she admitted, flicking her fingers over the handmade afghan her last boss had given her. “I never took you for the worrying type.”
    Ty’s eyebrows lifted. “What type did you take me for?”
    “You’re always talking about God to Jack.” Cassidy shrugged. “I didn’t think Christians were supposed to worry.”
    “Touché.” The corners of his lips lifted, but he was not amused.
    “So?” She waited for an explanation.
    “I guess I worry more since Gail died.”
    Cassidy knew that wasn’t all of it, but she also sensed that Ty needed to say more. So she sat quietly and waited.
    “It’s not that I don’t trust God to handle things, I do. It’s just that—her death was so unexpected. I felt like I lost control of things. Like the world was spinning wildly around me and I couldn’t find anything to grab on to. I still feel like that sometimes. I guess my faith isn’t as strong as it should be.”
    “Well, you don’t have to worry about me. I’ve been taking care of myself for quite a while.” Without his or God’s help.
    Ty studied her, a funny look washing over his features.
    “And you don’t want me messing up your system?”
    “I think you’ve got enough on your plate with Jack and the Haven.” She leaned forward. “He’s a good kid, Ty, but if you feel your world’s spinning, he must certainly feel the same, don’t you think?”
    “Of course. But I don’t want his grounding to come courtesy of Red and her gang.”
    “You said your sister spent a lot of time here. Did Jack ever come with her and help out?” She waited for his nod. “Then I’m sure he met some unsavory types, but he seems to be a very centered kid. I don’t think Red or anyone else will persuade him to do something he doesn’t want to. I think he’s just trying to find his way in his new world.”
    “Maybe.” Ty stared into the flames, his face highlighted by their dancing glow. “He doesn’t talk much, you know. I was hoping that time would ease his grief, that we could talk about her. But with everything so wild at the Haven, there’s hardly a moment.”
    “Then make one.” Her heart ached for him. “The Haven will be around next year and the year after, but Jack won’t and he’s your primary responsibility. He needs to know you’re there, that you love him and care about him. That you want what’s best for him.”
    Cassidy suddenly realized that she was advising a psychologist on family matters.
    “Sorry,” she apologized, embarrassed by her outburst. “I’m sure you know exactly how to treat your nephew. I should mind my own business.”
    He didn’t contradict that, but a cute little grin fluttered across his mouth. “Like that’s going to happen.”
    She lifted one eyebrow. “Touché.”
    They spent some time discussing the programs for the coming month. Ty shared some ideas he’d been pursuing, stunning her with the scope of his plans.
    “Wow. These are big ideas. Are you sure—”
    “Rest assured I haven’t been pursuing dead ends,” he snapped, setting his cup down hard on the coffee table. “I want things well under way before the spring.”
    “What happens in the spring?” Ty seemed suddenly intense and Cassidy didn’t understand why; a few days ago she’d had to push him to allow a single meal to be served.
    “Sooner or later we’ll have a grand opening. Before that happens I want to make sure the Haven is doing everything my sister intended it should.”
    “I see.” Cassidy opened her mouth to ask another question, saw his glance fall on the picture she’d hung above the settee.
    “What’s that?” he asked, rising to take a better