Twice Upon a Time. Lois Richer

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СКАЧАТЬ we go jump on the trampoline, Mr. Woodward?” Emily had each child by the hand, holding them back as they strained to pull her inside the house.

      “Sure.” Reese nodded. “Sure. But make sure the netting is fastened around the side.”

      “I always do.” Her giggles burst out as the twins pulled hard on her arms. “I’m coming, Brett. I’m coming!”

      “Hold on a second, guys. Don’t I get a hug before I go?”

      Olivia’s heart gave a bump of longing as Reese’s big strong arms gathered his sons’ wriggling bodies to his chest. Her arms ached to hold her own child again, to feel the bliss of baby-soft skin against hers, to breathe the sweaty aroma of a busy child on a warm day, to hear a certain voice chirp, “I love you, Mama.”

      “Olivia?”

      She blinked away the mist of the past and found she was alone with Reese.

      “Sorry.” Her mocking half-laugh sounded shaky in her own ears. “Guess I zoned out. Any last-minute directions?”

      “More like warnings. Tons of them.” His eyes held hers, a question in their depths. “But I haven’t got time right now.” He rasped a hand across his jaw. “I didn’t even have time to shave this morning.”

      “I believe that stubbled look is very fashionable.” The way he kept watching her told Olivia something else was going on. “There’s nothing wrong, is there?”

      “What’s with Emily?”

      “I don’t know yet. She asked, no make that begged, to come.” Ordinarily Olivia wouldn’t have shared her concerns, but as Nelson worked for Byways, and since Reese was head of the board, she felt it important to go on the record with her suspicions. “I think she and Nelson were arguing about something. Their relationship troubles me.”

      “Because?” He frowned.

      “It’s too early to be certain and I’d just be voicing suspicions, but next time you’re at Byways, watch their interaction. I’ll be interested in your opinion.”

      “I’m not sure my opinion is worth much lately,” Reese muttered.

      “Want to explain that?” It wasn’t only her emotional reaction to him. Olivia knew something else was going on with him.

      “Not right now.” He dragged a hand through his hair. “I’ve got to get to work. I’m sorry to dump this on you and run. It’s a lot to ask.”

      “It’s fine. Besides, I have Emily to help me.”

      “Yeah.” His cell phone rang. “Yes, Grandmother. I realize I have two clients waiting. I got hung up, but I’m on my way now. Thanks.”

      She saw the way Reese glanced wistfully toward the house as the children’s laughter carried toward them.

      “They’ll be fine,” she said softly.

      “I know. Thanks.” He turned toward his car.

      “Wait!” Olivia grabbed his arm then dropped her hand when he turned to stare at her. “Sorry, but there’s this little problem. May I?”

      Reese said nothing, simply inclined his head, granting permission. She moved in front of him, lifted her hand and touched the rock-solid edge of his jaw.

      “Is this blob of ketchup part of your fashion statement?”

      He groaned, pulled a tissue from his pocket, dampened it and rubbed it against the offending area. Then he looked at her, raised his eyebrows in a question.

      “Gone. You are good to go.”

      “They wanted pancakes and sausage for breakfast,” he explained.

      “Which would explain the flour fingerprints on your knee.” Olivia couldn’t stop her laughter when he groaned and bent down to dust off the offending marks.

      “Anything else?”

      “You do have some green on your shirtfront, but if you put on a jacket it won’t show.”

      Reese muttered something grumpy as he found the mark.

      “Pardon?” She couldn’t help giggling.

      “I said, my jacket’s in the car. Hopefully, it’s clean.” He threw her a disgusted look when she snickered. “You will lose that smile when you see the inside of the house. Promise you won’t take it out on me later?”

      “No promises.”

      “I was afraid of that.” He shrugged. “Don’t try to straighten, okay? It’s enough that you’re looking after the kids. I have a cleaner coming tomorrow. They’ll take care of it.”

      “Go to work, Reese. Stay as long as you need to. We’ll be fine.”

      He stood silent a moment, then nodded.

      “Thank you.” He climbed into his car.

      “Have a good day.”

      “It’s looking better all the time, Olivia.” He met her gaze and held it for a moment. Then he drove away.

      Olivia watched his car disappear from sight before she walked inside the house. Her eyes bugged at the mess.

      An old adage about idle hands flickered through her mind. No way was she going to have to worry about that today.

      Eight-thirty.

      Reese rubbed the back of his neck and wondered if he should phone Olivia again.

      To say what? That he was going to be even later than he’d promised the last time?

      “What are you still doing here, son?” Winifred stood in the doorway looking almost as fresh as she had when he arrived this morning. “Shouldn’t you be at home, tucking those little sweethearts of yours into bed?”

      Yes, he should be. But instead Reese was stuck here, digging for a solution to a problem he’d created.

      “Hi, Grandmother. You’re here rather late yourself, aren’t you?”

      “I had an afternoon nap, doctor’s orders.” She chuckled. “Whereas you look like you didn’t even get a full night’s sleep.”

      “Brett had a nightmare.” Reese scrambled for a way to find the answers he needed without telling his secret. “You know the chapel you wanted to include in the Chicago store? Are you still certain about it?”

      “More than ever. If there’s a chapel on-site, people will want to use it for their weddings. If they do, we get a chance to talk to them about the giant step they’re taking and maybe the opportunity to mention God’s plan for marriage. The chapel is integral to the new store.” Winifred’s excitement lit up her eyes. “For so long I’ve prayed for a chance to share my faith more openly and I believe a chapel is something God will use. Why are СКАЧАТЬ