No One But You

skills on the court. A kid to whom laughter came as easy as breathing. Where had he gone?
    “Hey, it’s Mr. Royce.” Jake’s grin was greeting enough. “What are you doin’ here?”
    “Annoying your mom.”
    “It’s nice to have help with that for a change.” Jake loped out of bounds, snagged the ball and hooked it. It sailed through the air.
    Automatically, Wyatt caught it. He was on the court and halfway to the basket before he realized it. His shoes squeaked on the floor. One of Jake’s friends blocked him and Wyatt pivoted, dribbled, spotted Jake and passed. Wyatt pressed toward the basket and, when Jake shot the ball back, moved in, dodging and feinting. A perfect layup. Two points.
    “Wow, not bad.” Jake rescued his duffel and slung the strap over his shoulder. “You and I oughta go one-on-one sometime. I’d like to see what you’ve got.”
    “You’re pretty good yourself. You have some moves, kid.”
    “Thanks. So, you really played college ball?”
    “All four years. We made it to the playoffs twice.”
    “Cool.” Jake’s eyes widened in admiration.
    Uh-oh, Mariah thought, feeling herself tense. This couldn’t be a good sign—the two of them getting along so well. Jake’s best friend, Dan, joined in the conversation, bantering easily, three sport-loving males conversing away.
    She sipped her coffee, letting the flavors roll across her tongue as she trailed behind the trio. Wyatt caught the door, the boys going through first. He turned to her then, his dark blue eyes inscrutable as he stepped into the cool evening beside her.
    “Thanks for letting me hang with you.” He lingered to talk with her while the boys surged ahead.
    “No problem. You mentioned you were looking for a house tonight?”
    “Can’t live in a hotel room forever. I’ve been searching for a while, but I haven’t found the right place.”
    “Don’t worry. You will. You’ll know it when you see it.”
    “That means a lot, Mariah. Thanks for listening. Old friends are hard to come by. I ought to know. I’ve lost track of all of mine, and I regret it.”
    “So do I. I hated the way we left things back then.”
    “Me, too. The good news is that I’ve mellowed. I’ve learned a few lessons.”
    “Haven’t we all?” She dug for her keys as her car came into sight. There were memories she’d never forgotten. Such as the time she’d shown up for dance team practice and spotted the handsome new boy shooting hoops after school. His gaze had met hers and her heart had skipped three beats.
    Maybe it still did. Perhaps his “old friends” comment had got to her, that was all. She well remembered when Jasper had tried his darnedest to keep her from her friends. So many of them hadn’t understood her situation or had been so busy with their lives they had lost touch. You needed your support system the most when times were tough.
    “You’ve been divorced.” He opened the heavy car door for her. “You must know what it’s like to start over, at least in some ways. It isn’t as easy as it looks.”
    “You’re right. I deal with new starts all the time.”
    “Sure, with your job.” He leaned back against the open door. “You help people. It’s impressive.”
    “Mary’s Place has a great staff. We do our best to make a difference.”
    “One day I’d like to be able to say the same. I admire what your shelter does.”
    “We patterned Mary’s Place after Nellie’s, a shelter in Toronto.”
    “Folks you know?”
    “People I love.” She bit her lip, not ready to tell him the truth. She didn’t want him to know, and she couldn’t say why. “Nellie’s is a full-service shelter that offers more than emergency housing. They do everything from education to counseling to advocacy. They provide an environment of compassion and support that assists a woman and her children from their first contact with the shelter and beyond, including their transition into the community.”
    “I’m impressed with that kind of commitment.”
    “I was, too. They help everyone with an attitude of love, acceptance and respect. You have no idea how incredible that is to a woman whose self-esteem and identity are in pieces after abuse. That’s my vision for Mary’s Place.”
    “Your organization is one of the best around. It’s why Ella Jean selected you for the land donation.” Wyatt’s baritone was rich and warm. “You have the heart for the work.”
    “Wyatt, that’s the nicest thing anyone has said to me