A Very Special Delivery by Linda Goodnight Page A

strong nuclear family, he was thankful for the
extended family that would sustain her. Family was everything.
    “Want to talk about it?”
    “No.” Molly turned her face away and leaned down to tap at the
cat carrier on the floor.
    He wondered if her family problems had anything to do with her
anxiety around Laney? Someday he’d find out. “If you’ll tell me your aunt’s
address, I’ll drop you off before I go to the store.”
    “On Cedar Street in the senior citizens’ housing complex.”
    “I know some folks there. Which one is your aunt?”
    “Patsy Bartlett in apartment six.”
    The name and address were as familiar to him as his own. Patsy
Bartlett was one of the many people in this warm and wonderful town who had
taken a single father under their wings.
    “I know her. She’s a great lady. More outspoken than anybody
I’ve ever met.”
    “That’s my great-aunt Patsy. If you don’t want the truth, don’t
ask her.”
    “Well, how about that? You and Miss Patsy are related.”
    The fact that Ethan knew her aunt Patsy didn’t surprise Molly
in the least. Her father’s aunt still attended Winding Stair Chapel and had a
way of collecting friends from every age bracket and walk of life. Naturally,
she would draw Ethan and Laney into her fold.
    Though the idea didn’t surprise her, it did bother her. In such
a short time, she’d gotten to know Ethan Hunter better than she knew most people
after months of acquaintance. But their friendship needed to end here, today.
With Aunt Patsy in the picture, staying away from Ethan and his daughter might
be harder than she’d thought.
    Staring out the windshield at the piles of dirty snow and ice
pushed to either side of the street, she shifted in the seat, moving her
bandaged leg with care.
    Ethan glanced her way. “Are you hurting?”
    His concern sent that now-familiar warmth drifting through her.
She wished she wasn’t so susceptible to him. “No. The leg’s still numb.”
    “That won’t last much longer.”
    “I know,” she said. But a throbbing leg didn’t worry her. The
unsteady condition of her emotions did.
    Ethan’s questions about her family stirred up a much worse kind
of pain. And to make matters worse, she yearned to talk to him, to let his cool
reason and strong shoulders help her carry the awful load of guilt.
    But Laney’s happy babble from the back reminded Molly that
confiding in Ethan was impossible. Totally impossible.
    With heavy heart, she turned her attention back to the restless
cat.
    In moments, Ethan pulled the van alongside the curb in front of
apartment six.
    The front door swung open and Aunt Patsy’s jolly, apple-cheeked
face appeared in the doorway. Molly’s mood lightened. Aunt Patsy was a tonic to
anyone’s wounds, be they physical or emotional. She strained forward in the
seat, but from her spot on the opposite side of the van Patsy didn’t
notice her.
    “Ethan Hunter, where have you been?” Aunt Patsy scolded, but
the smile on her face said she wasn’t the least bit angry. “I’ve been worried
about you.”
    Ethan gave Molly a wink and shoved the door open with his
shoulder.
    “I brought you a present,” he called as he hopped out and went
around to the passenger side.
    “Don’t think another of your presents is going to get you off
the hook this time, young man. Where’s that baby?”
    “Right here, Miss Patsy. I’ll bring her up first.”
    Opening the storm door a crack, the old lady peered toward the
van. “Who’s that you got with you?”
    “The surprise.” Gingerly, he made his way to the apartment and
turned the jabbering Laney over to Miss Patsy. “Be right back.”
    Patsy disappeared inside the apartment and returned to the door
empty-handed.
    Molly suppressed a giggle at Ethan’s game. She couldn’t cross
the frozen yard on her own, so she sat still and waited for his help.
    Sliding a little on the frozen grass, Ethan laughed as he
returned to the van. Molly pushed the door open.
    “Easy