Finding Amy. Carol Steward

limit.”

      He caught the waitress’s attention and changed his order, asking for a bowl of fresh Colorado peaches for Amy, instead.

      “Think she’ll buy it?”

      Sam’s sly expression turned her heart to mush. He was a dangerous man. “Probably not, but it was very nice of you to try.”

      The pie and dish of peaches arrived, and Amy devoured them before Sam had two bites eaten. Amy reached her fingers across the table and again pinched her fingers and thumb together.

      “One bite, Mom?” he whispered to Jessica.

      “Only if you’re willing to keep her busy later,” she threatened.

      “Not a problem. Amy, say ‘please,’ and I’ll give you a bite.”

      She motioned “some” with her fingers.

      Sam backed away. “No, say ‘please.’”

      Jessica held up her hand. “Sam…”

      “Say ‘please’…”

      “That’s not a good idea, Sam.” Jessica tried to warn him, but it took even less time than usual for Amy to lose her patience and pitch a royal fit. “Amy, no.”

      Sam looked terrified of what he’d done and started to give her the bite anyway. “I’m sorry.”

      Jessica held out her hand and blocked the spoon with the bite on it. “Don’t reward negative behavior, Sam. No matter how desperately you want her to quiet down. Finish your pie and we’ll meet you outside.”

      She dropped a few bills onto the table, lifted Amy and her bag and made a beeline for the exit. Amy kicked and screamed all the way to the pickup, where Sam met them minutes later.

      “I’m so sorry, Jessica.”

      “Amy has no patience. It’s not your fault.”

      Amy lifted her head from Jessica’s shoulder and reached out her dainty hand. “Pwease,” she sobbed.

      “It’s all gone, sweetie.” He opened both hands to show her, and Amy dove into them. “Whoa, got her.”

      Jessica let go and winced in pain.

      “Are you okay?”

      She nodded while her eyes filled with tears. Sam quickly helped Amy into her car seat, then made his way around the pickup.

      “By the way, here’s your money. I didn’t expect you to pay. I invited you out tonight.”

      “Invited me?” He had considered this a real date? She couldn’t think about that now—her back was beginning to burn. She motioned to the truck. “I think I’m going to need help…maybe I could stretch out in the back seat.”

      He tilted her chin. “I know you’re upset, and I heard your back pop, but the last thing you need tonight is to have the rescue unit using the jaws of life to get you out of there.” He waited until she mouthed okay before he picked her up and set her onto the leather seat, helping her slide to the middle. “I bet you’re wishing we’d brought your car now.”

      She got nervous even when a police officer drove behind her. She couldn’t imagine having had to drive with one in the seat next to her. Especially Sam. “Right now, I’m very glad you’re here.”

      “Why don’t we take you to the hospital and let a doctor check it out?”

      “There’s nothing more they can do. I have surgery on Thursday. That’s the soonest they can get me in. Just take us home and I’ll get ice on it.”

      “Will you at least let me stay and help until Amy’s asleep?”

      Jessica took a deep breath and let it out very carefully. “But you have to go back to work.”

      “That can wait. You need help now.”

       Chapter Five

       S am seemed to be hitting every red light in town. The good part of that was that Amy had fallen asleep. The bad side was, Jessica’s back had her cringing in her seat belt. “Don’t you have pain pills you can take?”

      “Not until I get Amy to sleep. The medicine knocks me out.”

      “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of her.” The light changed and Sam hurried through the college campus, then turned the corner to Jessica’s house.

      “Amy…” Jessica let the excuse drop when she looked at Amy, her head drooping in the car seat.

      “…is asleep,” Sam finished for her. “I’ll carry her in to her bed and come back to help you.”

      “I’ll be fine,” Jessica argued.

      “What kind of louse do you take me for? I’m not leaving you in this condition.”

      “I don’t think you’re any such thing. I don’t want to be a bother.”

      “She’s three, I’m thirty-two. It’s no bother to get her into bed so you can take care of yourself, especially when I should really be taking you to the hospital.”

      Jessica shook her head in exasperation. “You think you know everything. Children just aren’t that predictable.” The pickup filled with silence. “If you’re staying, you should park around back in the driveway. I’d hate for you to get a parking ticket.”

      Sam laughed. “Not a chance.” Despite his remark, he followed her directions to the back alley and shut off the engine. Sam immediately walked to the passenger door and took Amy into his arms. “How difficult can getting one child to bed be?”

      “I have but one regret.” Jessica turned to him, a look of delirium quickly taking over her eyes.

      “And what’s that?” Sam asked.

      The corner of her rosy lips turned up. “That I won’t be awake to see this.”

      Surely she was joking, trying to make him feel incompetent. Jessica handed Sam the keys to her apartment. “Go ahead and take Amy inside and lay her on her bed. She’ll be awake soon enough to change clothes.” Jessica moved gingerly to get out of the truck.

      “If you’ll just wait, I’ll help you.” Sam turned to Jessica. “What can I do?”

      Jessica declined his offer, insisting she’d make her way.

      “Leave your bags, I’ll come back for them.”

      Sam climbed the stairs to the apartment. While Amy wasn’t big for her age, he couldn’t imagine Jessica carrying her daughter up these stairs. He walked through the tiny kitchen and headed for what appeared to be a bedroom, startled to find a twin bed in what looked nothing like a little girl’s room. He turned the corner to the other bedroom, comforted to find another twin bed, toy box, and a pile of dolls. After laying Amy on the bed, Sam pulled her shoes off and Amy pulled her bear to her chest. His niece came to mind, though Natalie and Amy looked nothing alike. Travis’s daughter had brought an unbelievable amount of joy to his family’s life. It had been Natalie that made Sam realize how much he wanted kids.

      He was about to head back to help Jessica when Amy woke. “Day-ee.”

      Sam stopped and turned toward Amy. Maybe Dayee is the bear’s name. He had the family bug bad, he knew, but imagining little girls calling him “Daddy” was a bit much.

      Jessica walked into the apartment. “Mommy’s here, Amy. Let’s find your pj’s and get you into bed.”

      “DaDa.” There was no dispute now. He’d clearly heard “DaDa.” Amy reached for Sam, and his heart swelled.

      “I’ll help her, Jessica. Where are her pajamas?” He lifted Amy into his arms and she rested her head on his shoulder.

      He could see Jessica’s agony. Not only