The Forever Husband. Kathryn Alexander

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СКАЧАТЬ but his daughter was usually good at telling everything she knew about a subject without being prodded. So, he waited.

      Cassie coughed several times. “Well, maybe not real soon, I guess.”

      “What does that mean?” Eric asked. He reached for a nearby pitcher of water and poured some of it into the plastic cup on her lunch tray.

      “Nothing. It’s just that Mr. Shelton, the principal, has been talking to her about the future, and they have eaten lunch together at school. Does that count as anything?” she asked in between sips.

      It counted. But Eric wouldn’t let any emotion register there in front of his daughter. Not even surprise, and that wasn’t all he was feeling.

      “Dad, you didn’t answer me.”

      “Lunch in a school cafeteria with dozens of other people wouldn’t be much of a date now, would it?” Eric said.

      “I guess not,” she replied.

      But it was enough to bother Eric. Shelton. He didn’t recall anyone by that name at Cassie’s school, and he’d been there quite a few times. “I thought you had a female principal. Mrs. White, wasn’t it?”

      “That was last year, Dad. Mrs. White had a baby, and she wanted to take some time off.”

      “So Mr. Shelton replaced Mrs. White?”

      “Yes, and he’s a—what’s the word? His wife died, and he’s a—”

      “Widower?” Eric finished.

      “Yes, that’s it. He has a son and a daughter, younger than me. Grandma says he needs a wife. I heard her and Mom talking about it.”

      Eric watched Cassie push her food away, only half-eaten. “Why don’t you at least eat that applesauce, Cass. You love applesauce.”

      “I used to love it. Now, it tastes gross.”

      Something else he hadn’t known. Suddenly, Eric felt very alone. He wasn’t around enough to keep up with the changes that were happening with his children—or with Hope, apparently. Was she really interested in this Shelton guy who supposedly “needed” a wife? Or could it possibly be some kind of potential “arrangement”? No, she would never settle for something like that. Not Hope. Not after having known how good a real marriage could be. He glanced out the window. And theirs had been good, for a very long time.

      “Dad, what’s wrong?” Cassie’s question drew his attention back to her, and he studied her pretty blue eyes so similar in color to her mother’s.

      “Nothing, hon. What were we talking about earlier? Mom being on the golf team, wasn’t it?”

      “Yeah,” Cassie replied. “I wonder if those boys teased her about being the only girl?”

      “In the beginning they did. But then she hit a three wood two hundred yards down the fairway to help them win a championship. That brought an end to the teasing.” Eric thought of the strong-willed attitude his wife often displayed. Hope wouldn’t have stopped playing on that team even if the teasing had continued. If she wanted something, she went after it. At least, she used to. Surely, life hadn’t changed her so much that she’d consider a relationship of convenience with a widower she barely knew. Had it?

      “Can’t you and Mom stop being mad at each other? I know it was all because of me that you—”

      “Cassie,” Eric gently interrupted her. “You know we’ve talked about this before. And your mom has talked about it with you, too. The problems between your mother and me have nothing to do with you. And we’re not really mad at each other. Not anymore.” At least, he wasn’t. But he knew it might take a little time to learn Hope’s feelings.

      “Finished with your lunch?” a nurse asked as she entered the room. “How are you doin’ today, Mr. Granston?” she added when she noticed Eric sitting in the chair beside the bed.

      “Fine, Trudy. Thanks,” Eric answered while watching her take away Cassie’s plate, still half-full of her noon meal. The dinner roll and the gelatin were all that had interested her.

      “Now, look here, Cassie. You’re going to have to do better eating these meals or I’ll have to come in here and feed you. You got that?” Trudy threatened with a friendly grin.

      “Are you going to be here tonight?” Cassie asked. “I like it best when you’re here.”

      “I’ll be here for sure, hon. I’m working a double shift today. Now, you lie down and rest for a while. I’ll be back to check your temperature.” Then she turned to Eric. “Mr. Granston, why don’t you go on down to the cafeteria? I’ll keep an eye on your daughter for you for a while.”

      Eric stood up and stretched his long legs. “I could use a sandwich and a cup of coffee. Cassie, maybe you can get to sleep if I’m not in here talking to you.” He ran a hand through his dark hair before leaning down to kiss Cassie. “I’ll be back in about twenty minutes, princess.”

      Then he slipped out the door, stepped into an empty elevator and pushed the button for the lobby. Happy memories of wintry days and warm kisses in the snow had momentarily taken the edge off reality. He’d lost Hope, and getting her back was going to be difficult. If not impossible.

      The elevator stopped, the doors came open and Eric came face to face with the very object of his thoughts.

      “Hello,” he said and stepped out.

      “Hi. I didn’t realize you were coming here,” Hope replied, looking startled to see him.

      “This morning’s closing finished quickly, so I stopped by,” Eric replied. “Where’s Beth?”

      “She’s still at school,” Hope answered as she tucked some hair behind an ear. “I only had to teach until noon today.”

      Eric nodded. Then there was awkward silence between them. Now what? Eric wondered. Lunch, he suddenly remembered. “I’m going to get some lunch. Cassie is finished eating, and she’s resting right now.”

      “Oh, well, maybe I’ll wait a while before I go up.” Hope readjusted the slipping shoulder strap of her canvas tote bag before it could slide down her arm. “She won’t rest at all if I walk in right now.”

      “That’s probably true,” Eric said. “I’m on my way to the cafeteria for something to eat. Want to come along?”

      Hope looked at him in what she knew was probably an amusing combination of surprise and skepticism. She couldn’t quite believe he was making the offer.

      “You can go on up if you’d rather. I won’t be offended,” he added, then paused.

      Hope smiled. “Actually, I’d like to talk to you about something. Maybe this would be a good time.”

      Oh, no, Eric thought, what did she want to discuss? Did it involve a guy named Shelton? He pointed toward the nearby cafeteria. “Let’s go,” he said, and they walked down the hallway together in an uncomfortable silence until they entered the à la carte line.

      “Coffee, СКАЧАТЬ