Free His Unexpected Family by Patricia Johns Page A

him.
    “You know, Chief,” she said softly, putting a hand on his arm. “On the other side, your mother is going to know what a loving son you were to her. She’ll know.”
    “She’s been getting worse, hasn’t she?”
    “I can’t talk about that. I’m not the doctor—”
    “I can tell.” He sighed and pressed his lips together. “You know, what I wouldn’t give to just hug my mother. But she won’t let me.”
    “Now, that is a lady with boundaries!” Fran chortled, her eyes twinkling. Then she grew more serious, and her eyes filled with sympathy. “Come here, honey.”
    She opened her arms. Greg bent down and she wrapped her warm, soft arms around him, rocking him gently back and forth. He and Fran had become friends over the past couple of years that his mother was in Shady Pines, but they’d never hugged.
    “I’m a mother with a boy your age,” she said, nodding reassuringly. “I’ll pass along this hug just as soon as she’ll let me.”
    He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the maternal love surrounding him. “You’re a good boy, Greg,” she said softly. “I know that your mother loves you. And you’re taking real good care of her.”
    She released him and he stood up, a lump in his throat.
    “Thanks, Fran.”
    “Anytime.” She patted his hand and went back to her cart with the wobbly wheel, moving down the hallway toward the next door. He peeked back into his mother’s room. She was watering the plants. With a sigh, he headed back down the hall toward the outside door and blinding sunlight. He’d do what he always did—go back to work.
    * * *
    “Seriously?” Emily stared at Beth in dismay. “What about a baby shower for you? ”
    They sat outside a little café, Cora sleeping in her car seat in the shade of the table’s umbrella and two tall glasses of fruit smoothie between them. The day was warm and the drinks were chilled—the perfect combination for late June.
    “I’ve got three months to go,” Beth said with a faint shrug. “Everybody likes having the baby shower after the baby has arrived so they can ooh and aah over a little cutie.”
    “I know, but...” Emily sighed, letting her eyes rove out to the street, watching some pickup trucks navigate the four-way stop. “But this is terrible timing. I don’t even know if Cora will be able to stay with me.”
    “I didn’t tell them about that.” Beth stirred her raspberry smoothie with the straw, her eyes on her drink. “I didn’t think it was their business, and they were so eager to do this for you. We’ve both taught at that school for our entire careers. The other teachers feel a little protective. You can’t blame them.”
    “Can’t you cancel it?” Emily asked.
    “Yeah, I’ll tell them to cancel it. Sure.” Beth nodded.
    Emily sighed. She knew they were just trying to be supportive and kind. She’d been teaching at that elementary school for five years now, and the staff had a great camaraderie. Beth looked up, and Emily caught her eye.
    “It’s already planned, isn’t it?” she asked.
    “Yes.” Beth blushed. “Mary Ellen is making the cake, and everyone has contributed one square for a quilt. Nancy is going to sew it up the night before the party. She’s a pro when it comes to quilting.”
    “Oh, my goodness.” Emily closed her eyes for a moment. “You are all so sweet.”
    “We know.” Beth chuckled. “But no pressure, Em.”
    “What do you mean, no pressure?” Emily retorted. “How can I tell them I’m not interested, especially when they’ve already put so much into this?”
    “It was supposed to be a surprise party, but I talked them out of that,” Beth offered.
    Emily shot her friend a wry grin and took a sip of her watermelon-mint smoothie. She looked down at Cora, who lay happily in her car seat, wiggling her bare toes in the summer warmth.
    “When is it?” Emily asked.
    “In a couple of weeks.” Beth reached over and put her hand over Emily’s. “You can back out,