Free PARADISE COVE (PARADISE SERIES Book 1) by Patrice Wilton Page B

Walgreen’s bag to give to their new guests. Juanita's tee she considered leaving behind, but Brit had bought it and it was big and roomy—besides, the funny image might make the woman smile.
    She rapped on the door, then opened it. "Hey! Is everybody ready?" Kayla glanced at Sean, who was also showered and dressed. His hair was clean and slicked back, his face freshly shaved. He wore khaki's and a beige, collared, short-sleeved shirt. He looked nice. Professional. Doctor-ly.
    Her eyes swept over to Miguel and his son, standing nervously next to the sofa where Juanita lay covered by an afghan.
    Miguel had on an old T-shirt of Sean's that was much too large, and a pair of shorts that came below his knees, cinched tightly around his waist. She opened the bag with a flourish, and made a big deal out of handing over the purple T-shirt with the shark. She waved it in front of him, and placed it next to his chest.
    Understanding that it was a present for him, Miguel grinned and bobbed his head. " Gracias. " He tore the plain gray shirt off and slipped Brittany's choice over his head, his chest pumped with pride.  
    She smiled and walked slowly toward Raul, bending to his height. "We have one for you," she said and removed the shirt that Sean had so nicely given him. She showed him the smiling dolphin face, then tugged the lime green shirt down his body.
    Next she walked to Juanita, and displayed the oversized pink shirt with the shapely woman splashed on the front. "Now you all look American."
    Raul ran into the bedroom to look at his shirt in the mirror, and came out beaming.
    Juanita smiled happily, and pointed to her robe. She patted the soft cotton at her throat. " Americano too. Gracias."
    The family now had clean clothes, but no shoes. She turned the bag upside down, and three pairs of flip flops fell out. She handed a pair to each one, and dropped to her knees to slide a pink pair onto Juanita's feet.
    "There! Now you have shoes." She was embarrassed to see the tears of joy in each of their faces, and ashamed that so little could mean so much.
    Sean winked at her, and her heart skipped several beats. Oh, my. What was she getting herself into? She remembered the words her mother had spoken. Love finds you.
    Well, not if she could help it. She had enough on her plate, and now with this new crisis, well, love would just have to take a back seat and damn well wait. Although an affair might be tempting. Three months of sex in the sun and a whole lot of fun. She shook her head hoping to put some sense back in it.
    She helped Juanita sit up. "Can you walk?" she asked gently.
    " Si. Si." Holding on to Kayla's shoulder, she pushed herself off the sofa.
    Miguel looped his arm around his wife’s waist, while Sean took her arm on the left side. Kayla reached out for Raul’s hand and followed the others out to the car. The little hand was small and warm inside hers, his brown skin darker than her own. For all of their differences, they were the same. Human beings who deserved love and kindness. A good life. She ruffled the straight dark brown hair on his small head and in return he gave her an adoring look, his eyes twinkling.
    Once they were all settled, Kayla climbed into the driver’s seat, backed the car around and headed out to the Overseas Highway, south to Key West. She pulled the visor down, having forgotten her sunglasses.
    “Want mine?” Sean asked, handing her a pair of black aviators.
    “No, thanks. I’m fine.” She liked that he was relaxed in the passenger seat. A lot of guys had a hard time not taking the wheel.
    She put the music on low. "The hospital asked about insurance," she told him quietly.
    "That's fine. I'll cover it, and anything else they might need. I'm sure things will get straightened out soon. Thanks for calling, Kayla."
    "Sure. The woman I spoke to said she'd get in touch with the local Cuban Refugee center. Did you know that once they're approved, this agency will assist with their resettlement?