His Ideal Match. Arlene James

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      Chapter Four

      “It’s all right,” Phillip said, slipping an arm about her. “Everything’s going to be all right. You’ll see. It’s going to be a surprise for the kids, though.”

      The kids. Carissa gasped, looking up. “What are we going to tell them?”

      “We’ll just say that we talked it over and decided that Chatam House is the best place for everyone after all.”

      Carissa frowned. We, he’d said.

      “They’ll want their own things,” Phillip went on, “toys, books... Nathan said something about a pillow the other day.”

      “He’s had it since he was a baby,” Carissa murmured, her mind awhirl with all that had to be done. “It’s hardly even a pillow now, more like a pillowcase with some feathers in it.”

      “Whatever. He wants it, so he should have it with him. Don’t you think?”

      Carissa nodded, hardly aware of what she was doing. The utilities had to be cut off, the mail forwarded, bills paid.... What were they going to do with the furniture? The door opened behind her, and the manager briskly stepped out.

      “Sorry. Phone always rings when you’re busiest.”

      “No problem,” Phillip told her. “We appreciate your cooperation.”

      “Oh, I’m happy to help,” she said, setting off. “Wish I could do more, but it’s out of my hands, you understand.”

      Glumly, Carissa fell in behind her. Phillip kept pace, his hand hovering in the small of Carissa’s back as if he feared she would turn tail and bolt. The kids were plucking leaves out of the shrubbery and pelting one another when they got back to her father’s apartment. The manager unlocked the door but didn’t enter.

      “I can just wait, if you won’t be too long, or you can stop by when you’re done, and I’ll come back and lock up then.”

      Phillip looked to Carissa. “Give us thirty minutes.”

      “I’ll just visit the tenant in 307, then. She always welcomes an unexpected chat. You can pop over and knock on the door when you’re done.”

      “Thank you.”

      As soon as the manager left, Carissa took the children into the living room and sat down with them, explaining that they wouldn’t be staying after all.

      Little Grace looked around her before commenting solemnly, “I don’t want to stay, not without Grandpa.”

      Nathan glared at Phillip and declared, “I’m not going back with him!”

      “We’re going in our car,” Carissa said huskily, too exhausted to argue with him, “back to Uncle Chester and Aunt Hilda.”

      Tucker rose and wandered about the room, touching this lamp and that photo. “Grandpa would want us to go,” he said sadly. Phillip went over to him and patted him on the shoulder.

      “Your grandfather wanted you to have a safe, comfortable home, Tucker. That’s all he cared about.”

      “I wish he could go with us,” Tucker whispered in a choked voice.

      “I know,” Phillip replied gently, “but his house is in Heaven now.”

      Tucker glanced around. “It’s probably nicer than here.”

      “Much nicer.”

      “It’s probably even better than Chatam House, isn’t it?” Tucker said, looking up at Phillip.

      Nodding, Phillip told him, “The Bible says that where your grandpa lives now, even the streets are paved with gold.”

      “Oh, that’s just a story,” Nathan scoffed.

      “I don’t think so,” Phillip refuted blandly. “It’s written in the Bible.”

      “Where?”

      “I’m not sure,” Phillip admitted, “but we can look it up.”

      Nathan rolled his eyes to demonstrate his skepticism.

      Carissa СКАЧАТЬ