A Very Special Delivery

leaky faucet and cleaned out Margie’s chimney so she’d quit fretting about the house burning. It’s always something around these apartments, and Ethan’s Johnny-on-the-spot if we need him. We old people can’t do everything we once could.”
    Molly’s esteem for the delivery man, already high, went up another disturbing notch.
    “Aunt Patsy, you’ll never be old.”
    “Tell that to my knees.” To prove the point, she shuffled to an ancient recliner, grasped the arms, and sat. “My hinges are plum worn out.”
    “The knees may give you trouble, Miss Patsy, but you’ve got enough heart to go on forever,” Ethan said.
    Patsy chuckled and shook her head toward Molly. “See how he goes on? Got all us old hens clucking over him and his chick.” She stretched her arms out. “Give me that baby.”
    Ethan lifted the kicking Laney from her carrier and placed her in the older woman’s arms. “We ran out of plastic diapers. She might get you wet.”
    “Wouldn’t be the first time. That one there,”
she indicated Molly, “did the same when she was a tyke.”
    “Aunt Patsy!” Molly lifted up, mortified.
    “Oh, sorry. Some things shouldn’t be told.” But the sparkle in her aunt’s eye said she wasn’t sorry at all. She held Laney to her ample bosom and patted the diapered behind while rocking back and forth. “I’ve had you on my mind—and on God’s mind, too—ever since this weather started. Worst ice storm I’ve seen in years. I knew something wasn’t right out at the farm. No phone. No way of getting out there. And no word from anybody. What happened?”
    Between the two of them, Molly and Ethan told the story while Patsy rocked and patted, rocked and patted. Molly envied how natural her aunt was with the child. She had been like that once.
    “I don’t like to think,” Ethan concluded, “what might have happened if Molly hadn’t taken us in that night.”
    Patsy waved the notion away. “I wouldn’t expect her to do any less. That’s the way she was raised. Take care of your neighbors.”
    “I would have been in a fix without Ethan, too, Auntie. The electric line across the garage probably would have killed me if Ethan hadn’t been there to notice the danger.”
    Patsy stopped rocking. “I should have known the Lord would work everything out. And sure enough, he put you two together to look after one another.” She resumed rocking. “What a blessing.”
    For Aunt Patsy, life was that simple. Either something was the Lord’s will or it wasn’t. Molly wished her faith was as strong and trusting. Instead she constantly wrestled with the “whys” and “what ifs” of life.
    Ethan stood and took the now-sleeping baby from Patsy’s fleshy arms, placing the infant in her carrier. “Much as I enjoy you ladies’ company, Laney and I have to make a grocery run.”
    Disappointment stirred in Molly, but she refused to acknowledge the emotion, naming it relief instead. He needed to go, she told herself. To take his precious child as far away from her as possible.
    Patsy pushed out of her recliner and bent to kiss Laney’s forehead before snugging the blankets around her. “You bring that baby back over here anytime she needs a good huggin’.”
    “Only if you promise to call if you need anything.”
    “You got a deal.” She patted his arm and moved toward the small kitchenette where the scent of stewing chicken filled the air. “Gotta check on my dinner. You sure you won’t stay?”
    “Wish I could.” He started for the door, then stopped and turned to Molly. The look in his eyes did funny things to her insides. “I can go to the pharmacy and get your prescription filled if you’d like.”
    She shook her head. “No need. Gary delivers.”
    For the first time since she’d met him, he seemed uncomfortable. An uneasy feeling crept over her. Why didn’t he just go?
    “Look, Molly, I—” He hesitated. “I really appreciate all you’ve done for me and Laney.”
    “We’ve been over all that, Ethan. The relationship was symbiotic.”
    His lips twitched. “Symbiotic or not, I’d like to take you to dinner as repayment.”
    A knot formed in her stomach. “No repayment necessary.”
    His gaze traveled to the kitchenette where Patsy banged pot lids, then came back to rest on Molly’s face.
    “I’d like to see you again,” he said, voice quiet.
    A lump formed in Molly’s throat. She didn’t want him to want to see her. The temptation was great, but the danger was