Jeff and Grey hopped easily out of the SUV and went to unload the wrecked car. Leah stroked Emily’s hair and watched them.
“That’s our stuff, honey,” she told Emily, who was looking out the window with a curious gaze. “And that’s our car. Hopefully someone can fix it for us.”
God, it was going to cost so much money. Even getting the window replaced would probably be more than she had. Let alone whatever was wrong with the engine.
Maybe there’d be financing options. Leah had tried so hard not to accumulate credit card debt—she had a little bit, but that, at least, was one arena where she’d been smart. She’d tried to only spend the money she had, and once she knew she didn’t have any more money to spend, she’d started packing.
But if she needed to go into debt to fix the car, so that she and Emily could get where they need to go...she’d do it. She’d make it work somehow.
Her mom had said
that there might be a waitressing job at her local diner. If Leah could get that job, she’d be the most cheerful, pleasant, friendly waitress the place had ever seen, and get as many tips as she could. And if she made enough friends doing it, maybe she could find someone who’d offer her childcare for less than an arm and a leg, so she could keep working, pay off her car repair, and eventually start saving.
It was going to be hard, she knew. But she’d do it. She’d make it work.
Then Emily decided she didn’t like being in the car seat anymore, and Leah’s attention turned to cheering her up.
She was kept occupied with that for most of the drive back—she got Jeff to hand her up the diaper bag from the trunk, and handed Emily toys and read her a book.
Meanwhile, the men chatted up front. From what Leah caught of the conversation, they were going over things that needed taking care of at the park. The unexpectedly severe snowfall had caught a lot of tourists by surprise, and the rangers had their hands full keeping everyone safe and secure.
Leah thought guiltily about her own ill-planned expedition. She honestly hadn’t known it was going to snow at all, let alone storm. Yesterday had just been the day that her landlord had stopped taking excuses and insisted that she get out and take her baby with her.
But she still felt bad for taking up Jeff’s time and resources, when he could have been helping someone inside the park like he was technically supposed to be doing.
After a long drive down the mountainside, they entered what looked like a pleasant little town. “This is where most of the rangers and their families live,” Jeff said, twisting around in his seat to see her. “I grew up here. It’s a really nice place for a kid to live.”
“I just moved here not too long ago,” Grey put in, “and my wife and I are really happy to be here.”
“Do you and your wife have any kids?” Leah asked.
Grey smiled. “Not yet.”
The SUV came to a halt in what looked like a residential neighborhood. “All right,” Grey said. “Jeff told me neither you nor Emily need medical attention, so the question is where you’re going to stay, since your car’s going to be a little while fixing.”
Leah sat up, leaving Emily with the book she’d been reading. “That’s right. I’ll need to call a tow truck—what’s the closest company, is there someone local? And if you could recommend somewhere inexpensive to stay, I’d appreciate that very much.”
Jeff undid his seatbelt and turned around immediately. “I thought you were going to stay with me?”
Leah opened her mouth, and then closed it. She’d—well, she’d accepted his dinner invitation. But he hadn’t said anything about staying with him. She’d definitely remember that, if so.
She’d already told herself she’d refuse him if he asked, but it seemed like he wasn’t even asking, just assuming. Like it was the most natural thing, like there wasn’t even a question that Leah and Emily belonged with him.
“You’re also welcome to stay with my wife and me, Leah, if that makes you more comfortable,” Grey murmured. “I’m sure Alethia would love to have the company.”
Leah’s head was spinning. She’d been so sure she’d have to find the money for a motel somehow, and now she had two different offers to host her and Emily free of charge.
But really, she couldn’t impose on someone she’d just met, not to mention someone else she hadn’t met at all. Grey seemed nice, but that didn’t mean she had to right to invade his home.
Back at the cabin, she’d had this fantasy of saying goodbye to Jeff for his sake, and for the sake of her own emotions, but here in the harsh light of day, she was realizing she didn’t have that luxury. There just weren’t that many options.
And she’d rather take advantage of Jeff, who she truly believed didn’t mind that much, than dump herself and her baby on a poor unsuspecting ranger’s wife who had no idea they were coming.
“I didn’t want to assume,” she told Jeff, who immediately relaxed. The worry faded from his face, and Leah guessed he really did want them in his house, or at least wanted to know that they were okay.
“Assume,” he told Leah with a smile. “I still have to cook you dinner, after all.”
Leah shot a quick look at Grey, whose face was impassive. But was that a little quirk at the corner of his mouth, a twinkle in his eyes? It was hard to tell.