A McCabe at Heart. Cathy Thacker Gillen

bring the photos?”

      Sam sobered. “Because Molly can’t go forward not allowing herself to get close to anyone—or anything. It doesn’t matter whether it’s her previous foster families. Or you. Or even a litter of puppies. She’s got to let down those walls.”

      Robin sighed. Figuring, as long as they were baring souls, they might as well discuss the elephant in the room… “I failed big time today, didn’t I?” Her first day as a foster mom, and it had been terrible.

      “On the contrary.” Sam reached over and squeezed her hand. “You were great with Molly. Patient. Caring.”

      Tingling from the casual touch, she met his dark, sexy eyes. “It’s so hard to connect with her.”

      A corner of his mouth quirked as his voice dropped. “You didn’t really think it would be easy, did you?”

      Robin flushed. Defiantly, she lifted her head. “It was easy for Claire, when she took my brother and I in after our parents died.”

      Sam frowned. “This is a different situation, Robin.”

      “Not really,” she replied. “Both Molly and I lost parents suddenly, in car crashes.”

      One evening her folks had been there, getting ready to go out to dinner, the next they were gone. Molly’s mother had been hit by a train, on the way to work.

      “It’ll get better,” Sam promised.

      Her heart aching, Robin brushed aside her earlier decision to keep her emotional distance from Sam. She reached over and clasped his hand, needing the strength he offered. “I can’t fail this little girl, Sam.”

      His fingers tightened over hers. He looked deep into her eyes. “And you won’t,” he promised.

      Robin wished it were that simple. Unfortunately, she knew it wasn’t.

      “What is it you don’t think you have?” Sam asked after a few moments.

      Robin tensed, then admitted, “The heart of a McCabe.”

       Chapter Five

      Sam stared at Robin in shock. “You’re serious.”

      Robin jumped up and began to pace. “I remember what it was like after my parents died, and my brother and I went to live with Claire. I was six at the time, Brad was three. Claire was only fostering us temporarily, until they found my Uncle Zach, but from the first moment we arrived at her place, even in the throes of grief, we felt safe and cared for.”

      Wishing he knew how to comfort her, Sam stood, too. “And your point is?”

      “Claire is a McCabe, and McCabes know instinctively how to build and honor family. My dad—and former uncle Zach—was a Taylor. Claire had to teach him how to emotionally connect with us. It didn’t come naturally to him.” Briefly, she shut her eyes. “I guess it doesn’t come naturally to me, either.”

      Sam took her by the shoulders, determined to talk sense into her. “Bull.”

      Robin shrugged him off. “You say that now but you know how badly I failed today. Molly was as aloof with me as she was with those puppies. If it had been Claire there, or any one of the McCabes, it would have been a whole different story.”

      Sam folded his arms. He could see she was spoiling for a fight, but he wasn’t sure why. “So you’re saying I’m lacking, too?”

      Robin shrugged. “You’re not a McCabe, either.”

      Sam frowned. “Navarros know how to connect with kids, too.”

      An elegant brow rose. “Not today you didn’t.” She pointed an accusing finger his way. “You messed up as badly as I did.”

      Sam spread his hands and made a prediction. “Tomorrow will be better, and the day after that even more so. For both of us, Robin.”

      Her luscious lower lip trembled. “You don’t know that.”

      Sam stepped closer, resisting the urge to take her in his arms again. “Yeah. I do. And what’s more, I’ll prove it.”

      She tilted her head and narrowed her pretty blue-green eyes. “Now I’m listening.”

      He grinned at her quiet parody of his earlier words. He stepped closer still. “Bring Molly by tomorrow around dinnertime. But this time don’t act like it’s for her benefit. Tell her you’ve agreed to help me care for the puppies. Hopefully, she’ll be unable to resist their cuteness and will eventually join in on the fun.”

      Robin paused. “You really think that will work?”

      Sam nodded. “I know it will.”

      ***

      Robin was skeptical. But she decided to give it a try anyway.

      Unfortunately, Sunday evening was a replay of Saturday. Monday was only slightly better. Tuesday, Molly was visibly engaged in watching everything that went on, though she remained on the sidelines. Wednesday, she briefly knelt down on the floor with the puppies. Thursday, she actually allowed a puppy to lick her hand. Friday, she petted one gently. By the end of the weekend, she’d even gone behind the sofa to rescue Yellow and bring him out to the dinner bowl.

      Molly still wasn’t saying a lot to Robin, but she was clearly interested in the puppies.

      So, Monday morning, after putting Molly on the school bus, Robin called Sam and asked him if he would mind stopping by to see her on his way to work. She was in the barn, starting her own work day, when he arrived.