“And I think she’s happy when she’s here and when we’re together. I missed her while she was away, and she’s said she missed me.”

“And . . .”

“My mind is calmer when I hold her.”

Her look shifted into one of almost maternal urging. “And . . .”

“And I think she feels that too.”

“You’re close as razors to the heart of the matter, Doc.” She eyed him pointedly.

“And . . . I don’t want to lose her again, because I . . . I love her.”

On a whisper, Mrs. Simms said, “There you are.”

“That’s me betwattled, it is.” He lowered himself onto a chair, mind spinning with surprise. “I love her. When did—when did that happen?”

“I’d wager a bit over three years ago,” Mrs. Simms said.

He shook his head, but not really in disagreement. “She asked me—asked me directly—if I loved her. I told her I didn’t. I didn’t think I did. Heavens, I didn’t think I could. It’s not something I’ve . . .” He didn’t even know how to finish the explanation. Too many thoughts spun in far too fast a swirl.

“Have you ever been in love before?” Mrs. Simms asked.

“I didn’t know I was in love now.” He rubbed his temples with his fingers. “She left because of this. She asked me if I thought I could fall in love with her, and I told her that wasn’t the person I was or the type of marriage we had.”

“Oi, but she’s here now. Seems to me you could clear that fog out right quick.”

He stood and began pacing. “Except she isn’t here. She’s living with the Donnellys instead of living here. I even invited her back. And she hasn’t asked me again if I loved her. She hasn’t said she loves me. Only that she’s leaving shortly and doesn’t mean to come back.”

“‘Shortly’ isn’t ‘immediately.’” Another very pointed and very wise look from Mrs. Simms set Barnabus’s feet under him once more.

“There’s still a possibility of making things right between us.” It was almost a question.

“If you want my advice,” she said, “you ought to do what should have been done to begin with. Court her. Give her a chance to decide if there’s more between you than either of you believed.”

“I’ve never courted anyone.” He offered the warning as much to himself as to her.

Mrs. Simms shook her head. “Obviously.”