“It would take a long time, especially now that we’re having a baby.” She rubbed her stomach. “It would be years before I could actually help anyone, and we could never afford it.”

“Is it what you want?”

She sat up a little straighter as the truth struck her. “Yes.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do.”

“But—”

“I’ll visit every single business in Ponderosa looking for clients. I’ll work extra hours.”

A low, tremulous buzz of excitement started in her chest and worked its way up to her brain. She thought of her grandparents and Earl and all the other people in Moose Creek and even more remote places who had to find someone to drive them an hour or more just to see a doctor. Who needed help buying groceries or figuring out their health-insurance paperwork but had no idea what kind of resources were available. She could help them.

“But—”

Jeremy laughed. “No more buts. You can apply for scholarships, and I’m sure you’ll qualify for grant money. We’ll figure it out.”

A sharp sliver of dread jabbed at her growing excitement. She looked down at her belly. “But I’m going to be very busy soon. What if it’s harder than I thought? I’d have to research programs and fill out a bunch of applications, and you know how slow I type. It’ll take forever.”

“I didn’t say it was going to be easy.” He gave her a playful grin. “But it will be worth it. And I know a guy who’s willing to help out.”

“You do, huh?” Bea’s shoulders relaxed under the gentle weight of possibility. She smiled back. “Does this guy happen to take kisses as payment for all his help?”

Jeremy pulled her over until she was sitting on his lap. “He sure does.”

Maybe he should’ve taken one day to himself before trading Bea and Jeremy for his mom and dad like Marge had suggested, but Mitch couldn’t bear the thought of one more sleepless night, worrying that his father wouldn’t hear it if his mom woke up and wandered off. Or fell down the porch steps. Or who knew what else?

It didn’t hurt that it gave Mitch an excuse to miss the chili feed, either. He was ready to start facing the world again, but he wasn’t ready for that. Marge was never going to let him hear the end of it.

He pulled up in front of his house and drummed the steering wheel. “Here we are.”

Rand made no move to open the passenger door. “Are you sure about this, son?”

Mitch knew his dad wasn’t a fan of the whole moving-in-with-him thing. Knew it was a blow to his pride. He had protested the possibility at first. But Dad’s love and concern for his wife had eventually overshadowed his doubts.