A One-of-a-Kind Family. Holly Jacobs

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СКАЧАТЬ of the dangers of hot water and sharp knives.

      Colm repeated her rules back to her again and again until they set the food on the table.

      Anna surveyed the result and was pleased. “Everything’s beautiful, Colm. Why don’t you go get Liam.”

      “Liii-ammm,” Colm screamed.

      She stifled a chuckle and used her best teacher voice. “Colm, what are the rules about inside voices?”

      “It’s not polite to yell, so we use a quiet inside voice.”

      “Right. If you go into the living room and get your brother, you don’t have to shout.”

      “Okay.” He headed toward the door, but it opened and Liam was standing there. “Hey, see, Anna, the scream worked.”

      “Yes, but it’s not polite.” She looked at Liam, who was frowning. So, what had she done now? Working with Colm was so satisfying. His brother? Not so much. More like a pain in her proverbial…

      “It looks good, bud,” he said to Colm. His genuine pleasure over his brother’s successes robbed her of her annoyance.

      Anna smiled at Colm. “Well, I’ll leave you two to dinner. Now, Colm, when you’re done, you help with the dishes, too.”

      “And wash the wall,” Colm said.

      “Yes,” she agreed, “and wash the wall. I’ll see you the day after tomorrow.”

      “No, Anna!” Colm yelled, stopping Anna in her tracks.

      “Inside voice,” she reminded him gently. “Is there a problem, Colm?”

      He nodded. “Yeah, you helped make the food, you get to eat it.”

      She glanced at Liam who was actively scowling at the thought. “No, you made the dinner for your brother,” she tried.

      “And you,” he repeated stubbornly.

      “No, sweetie. My job is helping you learn things, things that will make your life and your family’s life better. Tonight, we cooked, and you need to share that with your family—with your brother.”

      “And you,” he insisted. “You had a snack with me first time I made it.”

      Anna didn’t know how to get around that, so she looked at Liam, silently asking him for some help.

      “Maybe Anna’s got a date,” Liam said.

      Colm chortled. “Nah, she ain’t gotta date.”

      Ouch. She didn’t have a date, but still—ouch.

      “I think I should be insulted,” she said, quietly. And Liam quite unexpectedly laughed. Not a forced laugh either. This was the first real sign that Liam Franklin had a mood other than guarded or grouchy.

      As he chuckled, Anna saw another side of the gruff man. A softer side. A side she’d glimpsed when he hugged Colm in the past, but this time it was directed at her, and it was sweet.

      “If you don’t have a date, Anna,” he said her name as if it was still foreign to his lips, “we’d be happy to have you share Colm’s first official solo meal.”

      Part of Anna wanted to lie and make up some excuse why she needed to leave, but instead, she nodded. “I’d love to. Though you know what this means, Colm?You need to set another place at the table.”

      He broke out in a grin. “Another place for Anna. Got it.”

      He ran across the kitchen, grabbed a plate and started to run back when Anna called out, “Walk, Colm. We don’t want you to fall and get hurt.”

      “Or break the plate. But if I broke it, it’d be okay, ’cause we’d clean it up, right, Anna?”

      He was so attentive, remembering her comments and instructions. “Right, Colm.”

      When he’d set the plate on the table, he ran and got one butter knife and slowly walked toward the table.

      “Uh, why don’t we sit down?” Liam suggested. “It looks as if this may take a while.”

      He pulled out one of the chairs from the small kitchen table.

      Anna was surprised by the act of chivalry. She’d never been a woman who insisted on such things. She was more than capable of pulling out her own chair or opening a door. But she didn’t find having a guy do them offensive, either. She simply hadn’t expected such a gesture from Liam Franklin. Wasn’t she still the enemy?

      She took the seat and as Liam gently nudged her chair into the table, his hand brushed against her back. There was no bolt of lightning but there was suddenly an awareness for Anna. She’d only ever seen Liam as a—well, a barrier. Yet here, now, as he took his seat and smiled as Colm carefully set a place for her at the table, she again saw the man who cared deeply about his brother.

      “Thank you,” she said.

      “You’re welcome.”

      They sat in silence until it became uncomfortable, but were saved when Colm finished and took his seat. “So let’s eat!”

      He dished some pasta onto his plate enthusiastically and passed the bowl to Anna, who took some and passed it to Liam. The salad and rolls went around in a similar fashion. Anna found herself waiting for Liam to take his first bite. He smiled and said, “Very good, Colm.”

      “Yeah, it is.” Colm’s mouth was full of food, so his words were a bit difficult to understand, but his smile wasn’t.

      That smile was what made Anna’s job so rewarding. There was a pride in it that showed Colm’s growing realization that he could, as Sunrise promised, lead an exceptional life. That’s what she wanted for Colm Franklin—an exceptional life.

      After they’d finished eating, Colm announced, “I’m done,” and made for the door.

      “Uh-uh, Colm,” Anna called. “You cooked, so you get to help clean up.”

      “Oh.” A moment later, he brightened. “Okay, Anna. I can do that.”

      “First we clear the table. The leftovers go in a container in the fridge and…”

      She didn’t expect Liam to stay and help, and when he did, she wasn’t sure what to make of it. He kept giving her odd looks, and she had even less understanding of what they were about.

      “Kitchen’s done,” Colm said loudly half an hour later. “I’m gonna go watch TV. I think my Wizard show is on Disney. Anna, you wanna watch it with me?”

      She glanced at Liam who was frowning. “I should probably be leaving, Colm.”

      “Not yet, Anna,” Colm said. “You could stay longer, ’cause you have no date, remember?”

      She expected Liam to agree that it was time for her to go home. She was sure he’d be polite. СКАЧАТЬ