Rory: Hope City, Book 7 by Maryann Jordan (uplifting books for women txt) 📕

child in his mind. He wondered if the mother was conscious enough to miss her child yet.

“That was a good one,” Bobby said as they made their way back to the station.

“Good one?” Shania barked. “There’s a scared, neglected, hungry child with a druggie momma. What the hell good is that?”

“The good is that we got him out. He was rescued from death, and now someone who can take care of him will be able to, and his mom can have a chance to get her shit together,” Bobby argued.

Rory looked over at Shania and spied a smile playing about her lips. Shooting a grin at Bobby, he backed into the bay at the station. Once the ambulance was cleaned and re-packed, he pulled out his phone, seeing a text from Sandy.

Got the flowers. How sweet! How about dinner at my place again?

He’d ordered flowers to be delivered to her office and hoped she liked them. He typed back an acceptance but thought about his living arrangements. When he moved out of his parents’ house, he’d moved in with a few other first responders. No one had the same shift so most of them were never there at the same time. It worked but now seemed more like a combination of a frat house and Army barracks.

An hour later, he was sitting in the break room, scanning through affordable housing, growing more frustrated. Hearing his name called, he twisted his head around to see Blay and Bill walk into the workroom.

“What brings you to the station?”

“There’s training this afternoon. Our captain needed a couple of volunteers to come, so we figured it was a way to get off the truck for a few hours.” He nodded toward Blay, then glanced up as Bill peered over his shoulder.

“I thought you had a place to stay,” Bill said. “Didn’t you move out of your parents’ house when you made paramedic?”

“Yeah, but now I’m trying to find something on my own. Tired of living with a bunch of stinkin’ guys.”

“Sure it isn’t because you’re dating Sandy?”

He opened his mouth to warn Bill off again, but Bill quickly said, “No, no man. I’m not trying to stir up shit. But let’s face it, she’s got money, so it’s gonna naturally make you want something more.”

“Have you ever actually been to her place?” He pinned Bill with his glare, seeing the man open his mouth and close it several times. “That’s what I thought. And if you had been, you’d know she lives a simple life. So yeah, I’m starting to look for a place of my own because I’m out of the fuckin’ Army and don’t want to feel like I’m in a barracks.”

“Sorry, man,” Bill said. Sighing heavily, he added, “Look, Rory, we got off on the wrong foot and I’m sorry. I’ve known Sandy for a couple of years, and she, me, and Harper used to hang out all the time.”

“That’s it, isn’t it? You’re feeling left behind and taking it out on the women. Grow the fuck up, man. Harper’s married, and I plan on me and Sandy seeing how far this thing we’ve got going on will last. And if I have anything to say about it, it’s going to last a long fuckin’ time.”

Bill nodded slowly. “I hear you.” He looked over at Blay and said, “I’ll meet you downstairs.” He made it to the door, then turned and looked over his shoulder toward Rory. “And for whatever it’s worth, I’m glad Sandy has a good man in her life.” With that, he rapped his knuckles against the doorframe and headed into the hall, his boots sounding on the stairs.

“Good for you, bro,” Blay said. “Proud of you.”

Chuckling, he shook his head. “Well, if you hear of any cheap places that aren’t in rat-infested neighborhoods, let me know. Because right now, my real estate endeavors aren’t looking too promising.”

Throwing his head back, Blay laughed. “Yeah, I’ll keep you in mind. By the way, I think my mom and your mom are itching to have a big family get together. I’m already having to clear my calendar, and I’m just giving you a warning you’ll have to, also.” He turned to walk out as well, then twisted his head and called out, “Hey, at least your girl has already met the families at Sean’s wedding. You can avoid that embarrassing introduction time.” Laughing, he continued down the stairs.

Remembering Harper, Carter, and Kimberly’s introduction to the families, Rory breathed out a sigh of relief. Blay was right. Thank God Sandy and I don’t have to go through that. A wrinkle settled in his brow as he realized that his mom had met Sandy as Harper’s Maid of Honor—not his girlfriend. Thinking of his mom’s reaction when one of her children found a significant other, he sucked in a deep breath. Great… just fuckin’ great.

20

“Where on earth did that man of yours get sunflowers this time of year?”

Sandy looked over the tall vase of beautiful yellow flowers and grinned at Todd. “I have no idea, and I hope he didn’t spend much, but they’re gorgeous!”

“They are beautiful,” Barbara said. “I wonder why he got sunflowers?”

“He said they reminded him of me.”

Todd and Barbara stared at each other, clutched their hands together, and “awwed” at the same time. Laughing, Sandy looked down as her phone rang. “Oh, dear, it’s my dad.”

“Time to leave,” Todd quipped, and with Barbara’s hand still in his, they headed out of her office, shutting the door behind them.

“Hey, Dad,” she greeted.

“Sandra, how are you?”

“I’m good. Busy. How’s Martha?”

“She’s itching to have you come for dinner. She was going to call, but I told her that I would since I haven’t talked to you in a while.”

Martha was her father’s wife, one he married long after Sandy’s mom walked out when she was a child. For all the tales of a wicked stepmother, they were completely wrong when it came to Martha. She was as nurturing as Sandy’s