Katie thought they got along well, but adoring was something different. Still, she squared her shoulders and walked into the converted library.

Hattie lay on her hospital bed. When she saw Katie she stretched out both her arms, capturing Katie’s hands and squeezing her fingers.

“I don’t even know what to say,” Hattie told her. “Of course you’re welcome for as long as you’d like. We have dozens of empty bedrooms.” She chuckled. “All right, not dozens, but at least five. You and Shane must take whichever you like.”

Katie studied her face. “Are you sure? Nora isn’t going to be very happy about this.”

Hattie wrinkled her nose. “Nora needs to wake up and smell the coffee. What happened between her and your brother David isn’t your fault. Nor is it Shane’s.” Hattie released her hands and sighed. “Families are difficult but worth the trouble. I hope that in time you and your father can come to an understanding.”

“Me, too,” Katie said, although she had her doubts.

“In the meantime, I can pretend I have a wonderful grandson.” She gave Jack a meaningful look. “What with my children refusing to provide me with any.”

“Okay,” he said, stepping away from the door. “Come on, Katie, I’ll take you upstairs and you can pick out a couple of bedrooms.”

“Go on,” Hattie encouraged. “You’ll feel better when you’re settled.”

“Thanks.”

Katie gave her a quick smile, then followed Jack into the hallway. They climbed the stairs in silence. When they reached the landing, he turned to face her.

“Don’t worry about Nora. I’ll call her and explain things. She’ll understand.”

Despite Katie’s concern and the lingering tension from all that had happened in the past couple of hours, she couldn’t help laughing. “Oh, yeah, Nora always was incredibly understanding about anything to do with the Fitzgeralds. She’ll probably want to offer us rooms at her place.”

The corners of Jack’s mouth twitched. “I doubt if she’ll go that far, but I’ll make sure she doesn’t upset things even more.”

“Then you have a whole lot more control over her than my brothers have over me.”

“Hey, I’m entitled to a little wishful thinking. Indulge me.”

She knew how he meant the phrase, but she had several other more interesting ways to indulge Jack. Then she reminded herself he wasn’t interested in her in that way. He’d made his feelings on the subject very plain.

She looked down the long hallway. “Which bedrooms do you recommend? I would like Shane and I to be next to each other. Adjoining rooms would be even better.”

But instead of making a suggestion, Jack moved closer. He tucked a curl behind her ear, then brushed the back of his fingers against her cheek.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “About what happened between us. There were a lot of ways to tell you what I was thinking, and I picked the worst and most hurtful. I can’t even tell you why.”

She was tired and confused about nearly everything in her life. She didn’t want to have to talk about this, too. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Yeah, it does. You were always a good friend to me.” He gazed at her steadily. “I was growing up without a father, trying to learn how to run this place. Sometimes I lashed out or wanted to run away. You were always there for me. You listened and believed in me. I never told you this before, but I wouldn’t have made it without you. So if you’re still interested in being friends, I’d like that.”

She didn’t know what to say. His words touched her in places that had been numb for so long, she’d forgotten they existed. Once again tears burned in her eyes, but this time she was determined not to give in. She managed a shaky smile.

“I’d like that, too,” she whispered, then cleared her throat. “And if you’re real nice to me, I’ll even cook something fresh for dinner.”

“Deal,” he said, starting down the hall toward the bedrooms. “Nora’s great in the kitchen, but I’m getting tired of heating all my meals in the oven.”

He opened a door on the right. It was bright and airy, with large windows and a queen-size bed. The blue and yellow bedspread pattern was repeated in the border print high on the walls. Complementing fabric hung on either side of the window. There was a desk, a small wing chair with a reading lamp and a double dresser.

“It’s very nice,” she said, suddenly conscious of the fact that she and Shane didn’t have any luggage. She’d left without packing.

“There’s a Jack and Jill bathroom,” he said, crossing the room and pushing open a door on the left. It led to a single sink in a vanity. Beyond that was another room with a tub, shower and toilet, then a third room with a vanity and sink.

He walked into a second bedroom, this one a little smaller and decorated in more masculine colors of navy and forest green. The bed was a twin. There were stacks of kids’ books, sports equipment and a race car track set up on the floor.

Katie frowned. “Is this Wyatt’s room?” she asked, naming Jack’s youngest brother, who was in his first year of college.

“No. His is across the hall. This has been sort of a dumping ground for boys’ toys. Hattie keeps everything in hopes of having grandkids come to stay. You said you’d like to be close to Shane and these are the only two adjoining rooms.”

“It’s perfect,” she said glancing around at the sports posters on the walls. “He’s going to love it.”

Jack pointed to the closet. “There’s plenty of room for his stuff. I’ll clear the desk off for his computer.” He hesitated. “You didn’t have any luggage in the car. Do you want me to go get it for you?”

She winced at the thought of the explosion that would occur if Jack Darby dared to darken the Fitzgerald door. “That’s not a good idea.”

“Neither is you going back by yourself.”

“He won’t hurt me,” Katie said, and believed the statement to be true. “He may disown me and yell, but that will be the worst of it.”

His gaze narrowed. “I don’t like the idea of you going there by yourself.”

She glanced at her watch. “Suzanne will be back from the grocery store by now. She’s always been a great buffer for us kids. I’ll be fine.” She hesitated. “Would you mind distracting Shane while I’m gone? I don’t want him to worry.”

“No problem. I’ll give him his next riding lesson.”

She shifted awkwardly, not sure how to thank him. Just saying the words didn’t seem enough, but what else could she do? “You’re being very good to me. I appreciate that.”

“That’s what neighbors are for.”

He crossed the room and pulled her close. She stepped into his hug and had a sense of belonging. He was strong and offered a haven. That it was only temporary didn’t matter.

She felt his mouth brush across the top of her head, much the way she’d kissed Shane earlier. It wasn’t the romantic embrace they’d shared a few days ago, but she didn’t care. Right now comfort was as important as passion.

“If you’re not back in an hour, I’m coming after you,” he said.

“I’ll be back,” she promised. Because her son was waiting. And maybe, a little voice in her head whispered, because of Jack.

Katie closed the last suitcase and carried it out to her car. She’d managed to load Shane’s computer and most of their clothes without being caught by anyone. She prayed her luck would hold.

She’d returned home half expecting the locks to be changed. But the back door had been open and the house apparently empty. If Aaron wasn’t waiting around to confront her, she wasn’t going to complain.

She closed the rear door of her Explorer and reached in her front jeans pocket for her keys. Then she paused. As much as she wanted to be on her way, she also wanted some closure with her father. Maybe if she tried to explain, he would understand.

Even as she called herself ten kinds of fool, she walked into the house and headed toward her father’s study. If Aaron was lurking anywhere inside, it would be there.

She turned the corner and started down the long hallway. The door at the end stood open. It was only when she was halfway there that she realized there were voices coming from the room. Katie slowed her step as she recognized her stepmother’s voice.

“What’s wrong with you?” Suzanne demanded, her normally calm tone filled with frustration and anger. “I’ve lived with you for seventeen years and I still don’t understand you. You’re willing to risk your relationship with Katie because of what?”

“I told you,” Aaron said forcefully. “That bastard Darby is teaching Shane to ride a horse.”

“So?” Suzanne asked, sounding honestly confused. “Aaron, it’s time to let the feud die. It’s been over a hundred years, and no one cares except you. Stop living in the past.”

“This isn’t about you. There are things you don’t understand.”

“Because I’m not a real Fitzgerald,” Suzanne said, sounding tired. “You’ve pointed that out many times.”

Katie told herself to walk away, but she couldn’t. It was as if someone had nailed her feet to the floor. She winced as she thought about all the times her father had closed Suzanne out of discussions, claiming that she wasn’t a part of the family but had just married in late. As if her opinion and feelings didn’t count.

Aaron sighed. “All right. I’ll tell you why I can’t forgive the Darbys. It’s not about the feud, although that’s a part of it. The Darbys are responsible for Gloria’s death.”

Katie bit her lip to keep from crying out her protest. They were not responsible for anything, she thought grimly. Least of all her mother’s death. It had been an accident.

“What happened?” Suzanne asked.

“Hattie Darby was in labor with her youngest. It was spring and there were lots of rainstorms. The doc couldn’t get through because the roads were washed out. So Gloria went over and helped Hattie deliver her brat. On the way home she got caught in a flash flood. Drowned. She never had a chance.”