THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

shouldn’t have come.”
    He put his hands on her shoulders, then hugged her to him. “It’s okay. You have every right to be a basket case. It’s exactly why you should call on your friends.”
    She cried into his shirt, then backed away. “The time is dragging by, and today is probably going to be even worse than yesterday. I just didn’t know what to do with myself. I’m sorry.” She sniffed and wiped her face with her sleeve.
    “It’s okay. I talked to my friend last night. We can look at the evidence from the crash site tomorrow. He’ll have it all worked out for us, so we’ve got that to look forward to.”
    “You barely know me and you’ve done so much.” Kasey cleared her throat and nervously ran her hand through her hair.
    “I know. That’s how we heroes roll.” He dipped a little to look her in the eye. “Not even a little smile at that?”
    She smiled and let out a sigh.
    He wiped a tear from her cheek. “Let’s make the best of today. They say water relaxes you.”
    “It better be a huge-ass river then, because I’m about as far from relaxed as you can get.”
    Scott smiled. “I think it’s big enough. Come on.” He pulled the door behind him and guided her toward the dock. They stopped in the boathouse to pick up the gear. Scott selected fishing poles from a rack while Kasey watched Maggie’s family frolic in the kiddy pool. The puppies snarled and yapped, still clumsy. They rolled over each other as they wrestled Maggie split up a couple of sibling fights and nudged the puppies underneath her.
    “She’s such a good mother,” Kasey said as she watched them, her back to Scott.
    Scott pulled down another rod, and then went to the refrigerator to get some bait. “She should be. It’s her fourth litter.”
    He closed the refrigerator and, when he turned, he saw Kasey’s shoulders rising and falling. He put down his stuff, walked to her side, and wrapped his arms around her.
    “I was a good mother,” she said softly.
    “I’m sure you’re a wonderful mother, Kasey.” He put his hand behind her head and rocked her in his arms. “Shhh, it’s okay.” He rested his chin on the top of her head. “You’re going to have Jake back soon. We’re getting close.”
    She nodded against his chest. “I know.”
    He looked into her eyes. “Repeat after me. Jake is coming home.”
    “Jake is coming home.” Her words were tight, her voice raspy from crying.
    “I know it in my heart.” He tapped her chest. “And in my mind.” He tapped on her forehead.
    “I know it in my heart and mind,” she repeated.
    “I’ll pray for his safe return, and know that God will bring him home.”
    “I pray for his safe return. God will bring him home,” she said, squeaking out the last few words, her voice trembling.
    “And in the meantime, Scott is really hot and such a great guy. How could I go wrong?”
    She laughed and punched him in the gut playfully.
    He feigned injury and let out a hearty laugh. “Can’t blame a guy for trying. You okay?”
    She nodded. “Yeah. For now.” She shook her head. “You’re not funny.”
    “Yes, I am. Come on, admit it. And by the way, tears don’t scare me away. So just let them fall. They make your eyes sparkle pretty, anyway.”
    And one did fall, right down her cheek to her lips.
    “Let’s go.” He tugged on her sleeve. “The fish are waiting on us.”
     

 
    Chapter Thirty
     
    Scott loaded the fishing gear, then steadied Kasey as she crossed from the dock into the glittery boat and settled into the red-and-white leather seat.
    “Am I going to be scared? You aren’t going to go real fast, are you?”
    “This isn’t a speedboat. It’s a fishing boat.”
    “It’s got a huge motor.” She cast him a suspicious glance.
    “Relax, that’s just for tournament speed. We’re just going to chill. Today is all about relaxing.” He tossed her a hat and she tugged it down on her head.
    She leaned back and prepared for the ride. He used the quiet trolling motor until they got out to open water, then he started the big engine. As they paraded slowly along the river, the birds seemed to chirp a hello as they cruised by, and the ripples the boat splashed against the shoreline sounded like applause.
    “I’m going to take you to my favorite cove.” He steered the boat toward the center of the river that widened, then snaked off down small tributaries left and right. In some places, Spanish moss hung soft and gray from the winter trees. A