A Time to Protect Read Online Free PDF Page B

wanted to help him.
    “This is yours?” Kyle gaped as he took in the black SUV.“I’ve never ridden in one like it before.” He began listing the vehicle specs. “It must handle pretty well. What made you choose it?”
    “My mom.” Brendan chuckled at the kid’s open-mouthed stare. “She knows everything there is to know about automobiles. I just took her advice.”
    “She must give better advice than mine, then,” Kyle muttered as he climbed inside and fastened his seat belt. “All she ever says is ‘someday’.”
    “I’m sure your mother does the very best she can for you, Kyle. I don’t imagine it’s easy for her to do her job, take care of you and fit all the other things she has to into her life. Sometimes we forget that moms are people, too.” He didn’t want to alienate the kid, but he wasn’t going to sit there and let him disrespect his beautiful mother.
    “My mother doesn’t understand.” The words brimmed with pain.
    “Did you talk to her about what you’re feeling?” Brendan glanced sideways, saw the reddish-brown head shake. “Well then, how could she possibly understand what’s going on inside your head?”
    “She’s the one who left.”
    Left what, or was it who—her husband? Brendan chewed on his thoughts before offering a comment. “Maybe she didn’t have any other choice.” He pulled up alongside a large contemporary colonial.
    Chloe’s minivan in the driveway completed the mental picture he’d drawn whenever he’d thought of her. Nice neighborhood, nice house—definitely not new, but something about this home screamed comfortable. Maybe it was the handmade willow chairs on the front porch.
    “Aren’t you coming in?” Kyle shoved his door open, frown in place.
    “I’m coming. I hope having me here doesn’t make your mom late for work.” Maybe he should have refused the invitation?
    “It won’t.” Kyle was through the front door in a flash, backpack thudding into a closet. “She’s always got everything organized.”
    Organized wasn’t exactly how Brendan would have described the interior of the Tanner home, though it wasn’t a mess. More like a jumble of life. He stared at the huge treadmill that occupied a large section of the living room and wondered if that was the secret behind Nurse Tanner’s long legs.
    “Come on in,” Chloe called from somewhere to his left.
    Brendan followed Kyle, his nose twitching at the mingled aromas of turkey, apples and cinnamon.
    Madison was setting the kitchen table. Kyle had the fridge door open in a quest for juice. Chloe, cheeks pink, hair seized in a scarf and tumbling down her back, was placing a salad on the table.
    “Have a seat,” she offered. “I’ll get the casserole in a minute.”
    “Thanks.” He glanced out the patio door and noticed a cleared area bounded by boards. “Are you building something?”
    “Mom, build something? Are you kidding? She’s allergic to hammers.” Madison giggled. “Kyle built that. It’s for my hockey rink. If it ever gets cold enough, that is.” She took pity on Brendan’s confusion and explained. “We flood that section between the boards so we can play hockey. If it’s too warm for ice, we play on the ground. The boards are the edge of the rink.”
    “You may have guessed that Madison loves sports.” Chloe sat down, heaved a sigh and smiled. “Now, let’s say grace.”
    The children bowed their heads and she said something about being blessed. Then the food was passed around. Silence reigned momentarily as everyone enjoyed the tasty meal. Brendan savored each mouthful. A gorgeous woman who could cook like this while holding down a full-time job and managing two kids—no wonder she was organized.
    “Mrs. Mills will be here as soon as we’re finished. Kyle, it’s your turn to scrape the dishes and load the dishwasher. Mrs. Mills shouldn’t have to do it. Then you can do your homework. You, too, Maddy. No television tonight.”
    Their mingled moans were