Made to Order Family. Ruth Herne Logan

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СКАЧАТЬ Mom.”

      Rita grinned at Skeeter, her earnest expression warm and sincere. This was the kid she’d like to see on a more regular basis. Maybe her strategies were working at long last, but Rita had been Skeeter’s mother for a long time. She wouldn’t be banking on it. Not yet, anyway.

      Chapter Six

      “This is wonderful, Rita.”

      Brooks’ voice jerked Rita out of her work zone. Her brush slipped and scarlet paint daubed his benchtop, the bright tone a standout against the clear, sealed wood. “Oops.”

      His easy grin reassured her. “That’s why everything here is washable. Total necessity.”

      His gaze canvassed the painted flowers, perky in their newly enameled finish. “Great effect already.”

      Tootsie nodded. “Isn’t it, Boss? Talk about eye-catching.”

      “As if you needed to catch any more business.” Rita made the observation as she used a fine-tipped brush to accentuate stem and leaf definition. “This place is hopping on a regular basis.”

      “More business is never a bad thing.” Brooks held up her prospectus. “As you pointed out here. This is excellent, Reet.”

      “Really?” Warmth spread through her, inspired by that heart-stopping smile.

      But Rita had already made ginormous mistakes in the happily-ever-after department, and even though Brooks was a wonderful guy who would be Mr. Right for someone, he held himself just a little apart.

      So had Tom.

      Brooks liked his solitude.

      So had Tom.

      Rita had let herself be fooled by Tom’s charm, his brains, his charisma. She’d taken second place to his work, his fun and games, and then his embezzlement schemes.

      Nope, she wasn’t looking for romance, not now. Her current efforts were best concentrated on raising her kids, keeping a semblance of order at home and striving to start a new business. That alone made her way too busy to contemplate silly things like fairy-tale endings with a guy who refused to darken the door of a church. While privacy wasn’t a bad thing, Brooks’ need for solitude sent warning signs flashing Do Not Enter!

      “There are a couple of points I’d elaborate on a little more.”

      “Such as?”

      Brooks angled his chin toward their current project. “Let’s not discuss it now. Tomorrow night maybe? After the meeting? You’ve got Wednesday off, right?”

      She did, but was surprised he remembered since her schedule changed weekly. Surprised and more than a little pleased. “Yes.”

      “Then let’s talk about it after fellowship,” he suggested, his gray eyes thoughtful. “Have you considered where to apply?”

      “I have. I’ll bring the list with me and we can go over it together.”

      “Good.” He hesitated, his look saying he’d like to linger, his body language saying something else, although with a reluctance Rita didn’t often see. “I’ll head back to the workroom.”

      Ah. He wanted to stay, be part of the action. Or maybe direct the action…

      No, Rita decided, he just wanted to join in. Work with them. “Bunnies are next on our agenda. You ever painted a bunny, Brooks?”

      Did he pale under that weathered skin?

      “You’re kidding, right? Rabbits in my window? With the flowers?”

      Rita shared a grin with Tootsie. “And birds,” Tootsie quipped. “You’ve read Bambi, Boss, right? All the little forest creatures hopping about, twitterpated.”

      “Twitter-what? Never mind.” Brooks ran a big blunt hand through his hair and finished the action by rubbing the back of his neck, his face bemused. “You know where I am if you need me.”

      Rita slanted a grin up to him.

      The action stopped him. He contemplated her, his gaze a mix of rough and tender, sweet and strong, his eyes warming at her smile before he pulled himself away. He turned back at the door linking the clean room to the workroom. “Pepperoni and sausage?”

      “Yum.”

      Tootsie nodded, kind of, but Brooks didn’t catch her hesitation.

      Rita did.

      When Brooks had disappeared into his work area, Rita laid a hand along Tootsie’s arm. “What’s going on, Toots?”

      “Nothing. Why?”

      “Are you still feeling sick?”

      “I’m fine.”

      Her ducked chin told Rita otherwise. “You’re not. Have you seen a doctor? Seriously, honey, this has been going on too long. You’ve been sick off and on for the better part of a month.”

      Tootsie swallowed hard, eyes down, then sighed. She averted her gaze, staring at nothing, then dragged her gaze back and met Rita’s eyes. “I saw Dr. Renson last week.”

      One of the area’s busiest and most sought-after obstetricians.

      Rita drew a breath, worked her jaw and reached out to clasp Tootsie’s hands. “When is the baby due?”

      “December.”

      “A Christmas baby.” Rita beamed, trying to lighten the moment, soften the situation. “The time for miracles, Toots.”

      A tiny smile softened Tootsie’s worried features, but just for a moment. Worry redescended, pushing Rita to grab her in a hug. “It’ll be fine, honey. I promise. Does Matt know?”

      Matt was Tootsie’s soldier fiancé, currently deployed to Iraq.

      “No.”

      “You haven’t told him?”

      Tootsie paled. “No.”

      “But why?” Rita wondered out loud, confused. “Toots, you’re engaged, it’s not the end of the world. Why haven’t you told him?”

      Tootsie drew in a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. “Because Matt hasn’t been home since last Thanksgiving.”

      It didn’t take a rocket scientist to do the math. Rita sank back in her chair. “Oh, no.”

      “Exactly.” Tears pooled in Tootsie’s bright brown eyes, their cinnamon tone matching hair of similar color, such a pretty combination. “I don’t know how to tell him what I’ve done. I’m so ashamed.”

      “Does Brooks know?”

      Tootsie shook her head. “Absolutely not. Brooks is a СКАЧАТЬ