Wyatt's Ready-Made Family. Patricia Thayer

smiled at her. “I hope you don’t mind. I’m having another cup of your good coffee.” He stood and offered her a chair. “Care to join me?”

      So polite, but so had been Darren…at first. “I really should get to bed.”

      “I know, but I only want a few minutes.”

      Maura made her way to the table and sat down. “Is there a problem?”

      “That’s what I want to know, Maura. Did I do something to upset you? I mean, if it bothers you to have me at the dinner table, I can eat in the cottage.”

      “No, of course not. You’ve been so generous letting us stay here. I mean, you could have insisted we leave.”

      He shook his head, blue eyes piercing into hers. “I couldn’t do that.” He took a breath. “I don’t want to pry, Maura, but it’s obvious that you’ve had some hard times. I don’t want to make them worse. So you take your time. I promise I won’t get in your way.” The chair scooted against the worn floor when he stood. Then he headed out the back door.

      Maura wanted to call after him, tell him the truth, but she couldn’t, not yet. She still had a long way to go before she trusted a man.

      Maybe never.