Carolina Moon

tell you the truth, Tory, I’m thanking God right now she didn’t want to come home with me, that I don’t have to bring that sickness into my house. I’m ashamed of it.” His voice broke, and he dropped his forehead to the wheel.
    Because he needed it, Tory unsnapped her seat belt and leaned into him, her head on his arm, her hand rubbing circles on his wide back. “There’s no shame in that, Uncle Jimmy, no shame in wanting to protect your home and Aunt Boots, to keep all of this away. I could’ve done what she asked me to do. I could have given her that. But I didn’t, and I won’t. I’m not going to be ashamed of it.”
    He nodded, and struggling for composure sat back again. “Hell of a family, aren’t we, baby?” Gently, very gently, he touched his fingertips to the raw spot on her cheek. Then he shifted back into first, eased on the gas. “Tory, if it’s all the same to you, I don’t have the heart to go by and see your gran just now.”
    “Neither do I. Let’s just go home.”
    When her uncle dropped her off, Tory didn’t go into her house, but transferred to her own car and drove directly to her shop. She had hours to make up for and was grateful the work and rush would keep her mind off how she’d spent her morning.
    Her first call was to the florist, clearing them to deliver the ficus and the flower arrangement she’d ordered the week before. Her next was to the bakery to confirm the cookies and petits fours she’d selected would be ready for her to pick up first thing in the morning.
    It was late into the day before she’d satisfied herself that all the arrangements were in the most attractive spots. For a celebrational touch, she began to string fairy lights through the graceful branches of the ficus.
    The little bell on her door rang, reminding her she’d forgotten to lock it after the last delivery.
    “Saw you as I was passing by.” Dwight stepped in, scanned the shop, then gave a low whistle. “I was going to see if everything worked out for you, and if you needed any last-minute help. But seems like you’ve got it under control.”
    “I think so.” She straightened, standing with the end of the string of lights still in her hand. “Your crew did a wonderful job, Dwight. I couldn’t be happier with the work.”
    “Just make sure you mention Frazier’s if anyone compliments your carpentry.”
    “You can count on it.”
    “Oh now, this is nice work.” He walked over to a cutting board fashioned of narrow strips of various tones of wood, and sanded smooth as glass. “Beautiful work. I do some woodworking in my hobby room, but nothing as nice as this. Almost too pretty to use.”
    “Form and function. That’s the key here.”
    “Lissy’s happy with that candle thing she bought in here, and shows off the mirror every chance she gets. Said it wouldn’t hurt her feelings if I took a look at the jewelry and found her something to brighten her mood.”
    “Isn’t she feeling well?”
    “Oh, she’s fine.” Dwight waved at the question as he wandered the shop. “Gets the baby blues now and then, that’s all.” He tucked his thumbs in his front pockets and gave her a sheepish grin. “While I’m here I guess I ought to apologize.”
    “Oh.” Since he appeared to be staying awhile longer, Tory continued to thread the lights through the branches. “For?”
    “For letting Lissy think you and Cade were enjoying each other’s company.”
    “I don’t mind Cade’s company.”
    “Now, I don’t know whether you’re letting me off the hook or stringing me like you are those little lights. The thing is, well, Lissy just gets the bit between her teeth on some things. She keeps trying to match Cade up with someone, and if it’s not him, it’s Wade. She’s got some wild hair about getting my friends married off. Cade just wanted to wiggle out of her last matchmaking attempt and told me to tell her he was …”
    He flushed now as Tory simply studied him silently.
    “That he was what you could say involved with someone. I told her how it was you, figuring since you’d pretty much just gotten back to town she’d believe it, and let things alone for a while.”
    “Uh-huh.” Finished, Tory plugged the lights in, then stepped back to gauge the results.
    “I should’ve known better,” Dwight went on, frantically digging the hole deeper. “God knows I’m not deaf and know Lissy tends to talk. By the time Cade got back to me to ring a peel over my head, I’d