The Family Plan. Cathy McDavid

many of each?”

      “One. A brother.”

      Jolyn started walking the perimeter of the pad again, checking for defects. Mandy and her small parade of dogs kept pace alongside her.

      “Does he live here in Blue Ridge?”

      “No. Pineville.” Jolyn cast furtive glances at the back door, hoping Chase would appear and give her a reason not to talk about her brother. When he didn’t, she improvised. “Hey, I’ve got an idea.”

      “What?”

      “Is there a stick around here?” She scanned the nearby ground.

      So did Mandy. “Why?”

      “You’ll see.” They found a short stick that would work for what Jolyn had in mind. “Come on.”

      She led Mandy to a three-by-five rectangular area jutting out from the concrete pad. It would become the patient entrance when the building was complete.

      Jolyn stooped over and, using the end of the stick, scratched the date and Mandy’s name in the lower right hand corner of the rectangle.

      “There. Now place your hand below your name and press really hard.”

      When Mandy did as instructed, Jolyn laid her own hand over Mandy’s and applied more pressure. The print came out perfect, and Mandy squealed with delight.

      “Can we do the dogs’ prints in the other corner?”

      “Sure. What are their names?”

      “Buzz and Lickety.”

      Jolyn scratched the dogs’ names beside Mandy’s. Buzz and Lickety were less enthused about being immortalized in concrete than their young owner but eventually submitted. Jolyn figured if Chase objected, she’d grind out the names and prints and patch the area.

      “What’s going on?”

      Jolyn spun around to find Chase watching them. She’d been so absorbed with Mandy, she hadn’t heard him approach.

      “We were—”

      “Daddy, look!” Mandy chimed in while Buzz hobbled off, shaking his foot and whining indignantly.

      Chase inspected his daughter’s handiwork and smiled. “Very nice.”

      “If you want, I can fix it later,” Jolyn whispered.

      “Are you kidding? It’s great.”

      “Daddy, let’s do your handprint, too.”

      “That’s okay, kiddo. Three’s enough.”

      Mandy jumped up and threw her arms around her father’s waist. “I’m going inside to get Mrs. Payne and show her.” In the next instant, she was tearing toward the back door, the dogs on her heels.

      Chase turned to Jolyn. “Thanks.”

      “I didn’t do anything.”

      “Yes, you did. Mandy’s been having a tough go of things since her mother left. Each time I think we’re making headway, something happens to set us back again. Last night SherryAnne called to say she wasn’t sure she was going to be here for Mandy’s birthday next month.”

      “Oh, Chase. I’m sorry.”

      “Me, too. I figured today was going to be a difficult one for all of us. Now it’s not.” He glanced down at the hand and dog prints. “Because of you.”

      Giving her no warning whatsoever, he bent and kissed her on the cheek.

      Jolyn went utterly still as his lips brushed her skin. She resisted curling her arms around his neck—barely—but couldn’t keep her eyes from drifting closed. When he finally straightened, Jolyn’s breath fled her lungs in a slow whoosh.

      She had no chance to recover before he said, “I’ll call you later tonight,” and made for the barn.

      The back door banged open, cutting off Jolyn’s reply. Not that she had one. The kiss, despite being chaste, stole her ability to think coherently.

      Mandy came darting across the yard, Mrs. Payne in tow. They gave no indication of having seen Chase kiss Jolyn.

      If only the same could be said about everybody else there.

      When Jolyn finally collected her scattered wits, it was to find a half-dozen construction workers staring at her, most of them wearing silly smirks.

      Great. Her face and neck burned with embarrassment. Getting cozy with her client was hardly the way to earn the respect of employees and subcontractors.

      She, of all people, should know better. From now on, she’d have to act more professionally in Chase’s presence.

      It wouldn’t be easy—not when she could still feel his lips on her skin.

      DOTTIE SUTHERLAND doodled on the small notepad in front of her while waiting for her caller to return and interrupt the lame song playing in the background. Shifting the phone to her other ear, she gripped her pen tighter. More curly, swirly clouds became sharp-cornered boxes the longer she waited.

      Finally, a living, breathing voice came on the line. “Sorry to keep you holding.”

      “That’s all right.” It wasn’t all right but objecting would be an exercise in futility.

      “Can you be here this Thursday at four-fifteen?” the caller asked in a clipped, neutral voice.

      Three days. Dottie’s stomach gave a small, uncomfortable lurch.

      She scribbled the date above one of the doodles, wondering what excuse she could give her family for the trip to Pineville. Shopping, she supposed.

      “Mrs. Sutherland?”

      Dottie cleared her throat. She almost said no, but knew she couldn’t postpone the appointment. Not again.

      “That’ll be fine. Thursday at four-fifteen. Thank you.”

      She disconnected the portable phone and set it on the kitchen table. Tears stung her eyes. She tried to wipe them away but all at once there were too many. Thank goodness Milt and Jolyn were both at work.