A Very Special Delivery

Ethan knew her aunt Patsy didn’t surprise Molly in the least. Her father’s aunt still attended Winding Stair Chapel and had a way of collecting friends from every age bracket and walk of life. Naturally, she would draw Ethan and Laney into her fold.
    Though the idea didn’t surprise her, it did bother her. In such a short time, she’d gotten to know Ethan Hunter better than she knew most people after months of acquaintance. But their friendship needed to end here, today. With Aunt Patsy in the picture, staying away from Ethan and his daughter might be harder than she’d thought.
    Staring out the windshield at the piles of dirty snow and ice pushed to either side of the street, she shifted in the seat, moving her bandaged leg with care.
    Ethan glanced her way. “Are you hurting?”
    His concern sent that now-familiar warmth drifting through her. She wished she wasn’t so susceptible to him. “No. The leg’s still numb.”
    “That won’t last much longer.”
    “I know,” she said. But a throbbing leg didn’t worry her. The unsteady condition of her emotions did.
    Ethan’s questions about her family stirred up a much worse kind of pain. And to make matters worse, she yearned to talk to him, to let his cool reason and strong shoulders help her carry the awful load of guilt.
    But Laney’s happy babble from the back reminded Molly that confiding in Ethan was impossible. Totally impossible.
    With heavy heart, she turned her attention back to the restless cat.
    In moments, Ethan pulled the van alongside the curb in front of apartment six.
    The front door swung open and Aunt Patsy’s jolly, apple-cheeked face appeared in the doorway. Molly’s mood lightened. Aunt Patsy was a tonic to anyone’s wounds, be they physical or emotional. She strained forward in the seat, but from her spot on the opposite side of the van Patsy didn’t notice her.
    “Ethan Hunter, where have you been?” Aunt Patsy scolded, but the smile on her face said she wasn’t the least bit angry. “I’ve been worried about you.”
    Ethan gave Molly a wink and shoved the door open with his shoulder.
    “I brought you a present,” he called as he hopped out and went around to the passenger side.
    “Don’t think another of your presents is going to get you off the hook this time, young man. Where’s that baby?”
    “Right here, Miss Patsy. I’ll bring her up first.”
    Opening the storm door a crack, the old lady peered toward the van. “Who’s that you got with you?”
    “The surprise.” Gingerly, he made his way to the apartment and turned the jabbering Laney over to Miss Patsy. “Be right back.”
    Patsy disappeared inside the apartment and returned to the door empty-handed.
    Molly suppressed a giggle at Ethan’s game. She couldn’t cross the frozen yard on her own, so she sat still and waited for his help.
    Sliding a little on the frozen grass, Ethan laughed as he returned to the van. Molly pushed the door open.
    “Easy now,” he said as he looped an arm around her waist and assisted her to the ground.
    With little feeling in one leg, her balance was off and she slid a bit.
    “I’ve got you,” he said, blue eyes shining down at her in a way that made her wish it was so.
    “Thanks,” was all she could manage as they navigated the slick surface.
    The minute they rounded the front of the brown van, Miss Patsy recognized her, saw the bandage, and set up a fuss.
    “Oh, my darling girl is hurt. What’s happened?” She shoved the storm door wide. “Get in this house right now.”
    “I’m okay, Auntie. Don’t fret.” Assisted by Ethan’s strong arm, Molly hobbled through the door to the small mauve couch and eased down. “Ethan took me to the ER and I’m all patched up now.”
    “Ethan did?” Patsy bustled around the sofa, pushing pillows behind Molly. “Don’t suppose that should surprise me any, the way he looks after folks around here.”
    Hadn’t Dr. Jamison said something similar? As she settled back onto the couch, she looked up at Ethan, curious.
    He gave an answering shrug. “Miss Patsy and the other ladies are the ones who do the looking after. I’d starve to death if they didn’t feed me once in a while.”
    Molly could see he was downplaying her aunt’s compliment. She gingerly slid both hands under her knee and lifted her wounded leg onto a pillow.
    “Nonsense,” Patsy said. “A meal now and again is nothing compared with all the handyman jobs he does around here. Last week he fixed my