Apprentice Father. Irene Hannon

Despite the harsh, unfair blow life had dealt her, she’d managed to make her peace with it and move on. And she didn’t let it stop her from living as normal a life as possible.

      That’s why he was worried. If she wanted to fly a kite, Clay was certain she’d find a way to do it.

      But he didn’t want her to get hurt in the process.

      

      Cate knotted the last piece of colorful cotton cloth onto the kite’s tail and held it out for the children to inspect. “What do you think?”

      “It’s pretty.” Emily touched it with reverence. “Do you think it will fly?”

      “There’s only one way to find out.” She handed it to Pop. “Are you ready to do the honors for this inaugural flight?”

      “I haven’t flown a kite in years, but I don’t think I’ve lost the touch. Emily, why don’t you hold the kite. Josh, you take the tail.”

      Caution suppressing their enthusiasm, they did as he instructed in silence. Cate was glad she’d asked Pop to help today. Clay had assured her the children’s father hadn’t hurt them, and her own gentle probing with them had led her to the same conclusion. But it was clear they’d been afraid of him. And they’d transferred that fear to all men.

      They were better now with Clay. She could see their tension slowly easing when they were around him. Enough that she’d decided it was time to expand their horizons. And Pop was the perfect next step.

      “Okay, I think we’re all set,” he declared.

      He led the way to the open field, positioning Emily with her hands aloft, lifting the kite into the wind, while Josh took up the rear, holding the tail above the ground. Unwinding string as he walked, he moved a few feet away.

      “Okay. On the count of three, let the kite go, Emily. You too, Josh. One, two…” Pop started jogging, “three!”

      As Cate watched from a bench, Emily and Josh released the kite and tail, and it soared for a brief glorious moment.

      Then it crashed to the ground.

      Pop stopped and rewound the string as he worked his way back to the kite. “Don’t worry,” he assured the disappointed children. “They don’t always fly the first time. Let’s give it another try.”

      Their second attempt produced the same results. Three tries later, after adding some additional tail and moving to a different spot, they were no closer to getting it aloft. But their less-than-successful efforts had broken down the barriers between the children and Pop. The three of them were now chatting like old friends.

      Cate watched as Pop examined the kite. He was in great shape for his age, but she didn’t want him to overexert himself.

      “Maybe it’s not a good kite.” Josh examined it in disgust.

      “Kite’s fine,” Pop declared, huffing as he checked it over. “Must be the pilot.”

      Stepping in, Cate reached for the kite. “Go rest for a minute while I take a look at it.”

      He handed over the kite, shook his head and planted his fists on his hips. “Can’t figure it out. Wind’s good. Kite’s strong. Should have flown.”

      “Go sit.” Cate grinned and gave him a firm push. “Let the expert take over.”

      The twinkle in his eye mitigated his indignant tone. “Expert, huh? I’ll have you know I was a champion kite flyer in my younger days.”

      “Okay, okay, you can try again in a minute. In the meantime, go sit.”

      “I’ll be back,” he told the children. “We’ll get this baby up yet.”

      As he headed for a nearby bench Emily leaned toward Cate and spoke in a whisper. “I don’t think it’s going to fly.”

      Cate considered the kite. In general, she didn’t attempt any activity that required her to run, but her leg felt strong today. She wouldn’t have to go far. A few steps, at the most. She was sure she could get the kite to soar with very little effort. The temptation to give it a try herself was too strong to resist.

      Ignoring the warning that began to flash in her mind, she turned to the children. “Emily, you hold the kite again. Josh, you take the tail. Let’s show Pop who the real champion kite flyers are.”

      The children’s eyes lit up. Cate saw Pop rise from the bench, but she ignored him. “Okay. One, two,” she began to run, “three!”

      Emily and Josh released the kite, and Cate ran as she hadn’t run in years. Not with her old grace or speed. But she was running. And it felt great!

      Until she stepped onto an uneven spot in the ground and pitched forward.

      As Cate fell, she released the kite string and tried to brace herself for the impact. But the new spring grass didn’t offer much cushion from the hard ground. When her hands connected with the earth, a shaft of pain shot up her left arm.

      And she knew she’d made a big mistake.

      

      Clay consulted his watch, took off his hard hat, and stuck his head in the door of the construction trailer. “I’m taking an early lunch today, Becky. I should be back in an hour.”

      The office manager grinned. “Hot date?”

      “Yeah. With a kite.”

      “Huh?” She sent him a puzzled look.

      “The kids got a new kite yesterday. They were going to fly it before lunch. I thought I’d run over to the park and surprise them.”

      “They must be getting under your skin.” She gave him a smirk.

      He quirked a brow and ignored her comment. “See you later.”

      But she was right, he acknowledged as he drove to the park. The kids were getting under his skin. He enjoyed their innocent questions, took pleasure in eliciting their smiles. And it gave him a good feeling to watch their haunted look fade day by day—thanks in large part to Cate’s gentle ministrations.

      He hadn’t had a chance this morning to talk to her about reimbursement for the kite, or quiz her about how she planned to get it aloft. He’d had an emergency page from the job site as she’d arrived and had flown out the door the instant she’d stepped inside. The crisis had kept him busy all morning. But he’d blocked out time to take an early lunch and go fly a kite with them instead of letting Cate put herself at risk.

      As he pulled into the park, he slowed his speed, scanning the grounds. He didn’t see Cate, but the movement of an older man rising from a bench caught his attention. His tense posture put Clay on alert, and he followed the man’s line of sight—to Cate and the children.

      She was holding the kite, and as he pulled into a parking space he saw the children grasp it. They backed up, and a tingle of apprehension raced down his spine. He set the brake and climbed out of his truck, striding toward the small group as Cate started to run.

      Considering her lameness, he was surprised at how fast she could move. His step slowed as his appreciative gaze followed her willowy, jeans-clad form across the spring grass. And the radiant joy on her face took his breath away.

      But in the next moment, what little breath remained in his lungs came out in a whoosh as she stumbled and fell. Headlong and hard. His heart stopped for an instant, and then his adrenaline surged, propelling him forward.

      Seconds later he was beside her, well ahead of the children or the older man he’d noticed earlier. She had rolled to her side and lay curled into a ball, cradling her hand.

      Dropping down on one knee, he touched her shoulder. “Cate?” Her name came out in a hoarse whisper.

      She blinked up at him in confusion. “Clay? What are you doing here?”

      “I was going to help you