A Family For Easter. Lee McClain Tobin

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       Chapter Four

      “Hey, Mom, they’re here already!” Ryan burst into the kitchen, where Fiona was making Saturday-morning pancakes. “And they’re carrying stuff inside. Can we help them move in?”

      Maya slid off her chair and headed toward the window. Lauren shoved away her plate. “Can we, Mom?”

      Fiona glanced up at the clock. Eight o’clock, a full hour before she’d expected Eduardo and his mover-friends to arrive. Briefly, she regretted her makeup-free face, ancient concert T-shirt and ripped jeans.

      She went to stand behind Maya, looking out into the sunny yard. Sure enough, a midsize rental truck sat in front of the carriage house beside Eduardo’s overloaded pickup. A couple of unfamiliar cars were parked along the edge of the alley road, and six or seven people milled around, along with Sofia and Diego.

      Two men opened the back of the rental truck while another fumbled with the hinges of the carriage house’s front door. Eduardo climbed into the back of the truck, then emerged a moment later holding a long metal ramp. He set it down, leaped nimbly to the ground and moved it so it made a walkway from the back of the truck. Diego and Sofia pulled boxes from the piled-high back of Eduardo’s pickup.

      Standing easily a head taller than the other men, Eduardo called out instructions as he moved to take a too-heavy box from Diego and steady a tall plant Sofia was carrying.

      Even from here, Fiona could see his wide smile. Her mouth suddenly felt dry.

      “Can we go out, Mom?” Now all three of her older kids clustered around the window.

      Poppy banged her sippy cup on the table and pointed at her empty plate. “More pancakes first!”

      Fiona clapped her hands. “Back to your seats, everyone.” She hurried to the stove to flip pancakes that had gotten just a shade too brown. “We’ll give the Delgados a chance to get started moving in. Once we’ve finished breakfast...”

      The kids all started shoveling pancakes into their mouths.

      “...and cleaned up, we’ll stroll over there and see how they’re doing. It looks like they have a lot of helpers, so maybe Sofia and Diego could come play here while the men work.” She brought the last plate of pancakes to the table and sat down. She considered pouring herself a bowl of low-calorie cereal, but the pancakes smelled way too good.

      Half an hour later, she followed the kids over to the carriage house. As they greeted Sofia and Diego, Eduardo approached her. Though the morning was still cool, sweat had gathered on his brow.

      “We got started early,” he said. “Hope we didn’t wake you guys up. Some of the men have to work this afternoon.”

      “No, it’s fine. We were up,” she said. “In fact, the kids were ready to come out and offer their assistance the minute you pulled up. It’s exciting for them.”

      “For us, too.”

      Diego and Ryan dodged in front of a pair of guys lifting a couch, and both Fiona and Eduardo spoke simultaneously with words of caution.

      “Hey, careful there.”

      “Stay out of the men’s way.”

      The men set the couch down in front of the carriage house’s little porch and conferred, pointing at the door, obviously discussing how to get the couch inside.

      “Come over here and meet my buddies,” Eduardo said and started over toward the two men.

      Fiona followed, feeling self-conscious in her Saturday-morning finest. She’d considered changing into better clothes, but that would have evoked notice from her kids. And she had to get used to the idea of being herself around Eduardo, who was, after all, renting her carriage house, not taking her out on a fancy date.

      The men greeted her and one of them lifted an eyebrow and grinned, then said to Eduardo, “I see why you liked this place.”

      Eduardo opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Fiona gave the man a wide vacuous smile. “Tim! I remember you. I’ve done some of the food banks with your wife.”

      “Right.” The man’s expression changed to bland friendliness.

      “I’m Tony,” said another man. “Pleased to meet you. I’d shake your hand, but mine’s pretty dirty. I think I’ve seen you at the soccer field.”

      “That’s right, you’re Hailey and Kaylee’s dad, aren’t you?” The presence of another parent eased her discomfort.

      “Hey, you guys letting me do all the work? How’s that fair?” A young woman, pretty and muscular and dressed in Hinton groundskeeper garb, put down a box and marched over. “That’s what you get, working with a bunch of guys,” she said to Fiona with mock-disgust. “I’m Angie, and I’m guessing you and I could finish this move-in in half the time while these guys stand around shooting the breeze.” She gave Eduardo a friendly nudge.

      Fiona’s senses went on high alert. Was Angie Eduardo’s girlfriend?

      And what business was that of Fiona’s? Why did she care?

      Angie grabbed the other two men’s arms. “Come on, I don’t know about you, but he’s paying me by the hour. And not to stand around.”

      “Fine, fine.” The others grumbled and left.

      Which left her alone with Eduardo.

      “Sorry about Tim,” he said.

      “I know him. It’s not your fault. Look, how about if your kids come play at our house? They’d be out of your hair, and my kids would love it.”

      “That would be a huge help,” he said gratefully. “Just while we’re moving the big stuff. But, Fiona,” he added as she started to turn, “I don’t expect you to babysit my kids on a regular basis. It’s a nice offer for today, but in the future, I’ll either return the favor or keep the kids over here. That’s not part of the contract.”

      “Um, okay.” She felt unaccountably hurt. Was that what this was? A contract?

      * * *

      Late in the afternoon, Eduardo stretched as he watched the truck drive away. Between his friends and his coworkers, they’d finished the move on schedule. Not only that, but the beds were all set up and the furniture in place. Someone had even unpacked some of his kitchen boxes so there were dishes, pots and silverware ready to use. He sent up a prayer of thanks СКАЧАТЬ