The trip to Fayetteville wasn't as unpleasant as she had anticipated. In fact, Giddon was actually pleasant and entertaining. When they reached the house, she invited him in for a cup of coffee. She had some money tucked away in a cookie jar in the kitchen and she intended to pay him something, whether he liked it or not. He and Sarah had done far more for her than could have been expected.
When she brought his coffee into the living room, she found him holding their family photo. He glanced up as she entered and turned the photo around so that she could see the picture. "I found it upside down and figured it was the boyfriend at the bottom of your troubles. Why didn't you tell me?"
She glanced at the photo in his hand. It was the one the paper had used with the article about the wreck. She shrugged. "Does it matter?"
He frowned. "It does to me." He replaced the photo on the end table. "Now I understand why you were crying. I wish I had known. I could have . . . would have been more of a comfort. I had no idea."
She sighed. "No. I guess I'd be upset, too, if someone barged into my life that way. It was nice of you to help me out . . . even if it was grudgingly."
His color deepened. "I didn't begrudge you. I was glad to have you stay the night. Mom was delighted, and Tammy took to you right off." He hesitated, looking down at his feet as he spoke. "I'm afraid I wasn't very sympathetic, though."
It never occurred to her that he might be embarrassed when he found out. "Well, I've had enough sympathy in the last few weeks. Maybe what I needed was someone to kick me to my feet. I feel much better now."
He looked up and studied her face intently for a moment. Finally he took the cup of coffee from her hand and nodded. "So what are your plans now?"
She repositioned the photo standing up. "I'll get a summer job and start collage in the fall like my parents wanted me to do."
The topaz gaze was intense as he sipped the hot liquid. "What kind of job are you looking for?"
She made a face. "When you're only going to work for the summer, you can't be too picky. There are a zillion fast food restaurants around here. I also have an offer to work at the law office where I worked last summer. The pay isn't that great, but its clean work with reasonable hours."