An Act of Love. Marion Ekholm

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СКАЧАТЬ says I need to do something about my nails. Can you imagine me strumming away with false nails?”

      Poppy shook his head and grew thoughtful. “So I hear you’re next in line...” Good, the rumor mill was already working. “...if your mother doesn’t beat you to it.” He chortled. “You going to show me that ring?”

      Marley hesitated. If her mother didn’t beat her to it? Was her mother seeing someone? Maybe so. Marley hadn’t seen much of her since she arrived.

      Marley kneeled in front of him, lifting her hand so that he could grasp it.

      He nodded several times before releasing her hand. As she stood, he said, “Sure hope you found someone stable.”

      Marley was momentarily unable to speak. She hated deceiving her grandfather. He had always been forthcoming and honest with her. Finally, she said, “I certainly hope so.”

      “What’s he do? Heard he had a horse ranch. Those things cost a pretty penny. Sounds like you’ve found yourself someone with money.” Visions of Brant in his threadbare clothing momentarily clouded her thoughts. But then he did have a unit in her high-rise condo building, and those didn’t come cheap. Hers had cost every last penny of the inheritance from her grandmother.

      “He manages.”

      “Well, you bring him around here so I can check him out. I can tell if he’s a prowling alley cat.”

      * * *

      MICHELLE ARRIVED MONDAY before lunch, and after a busy day Marley and Michelle went to bed early. Sleep was a sometime thing with a four-year-old kicking and squirming through the night in Marley’s double bed. A crack-of-dawn riser, Michelle was already up, poking and pulling Marley’s hair to get her attention.

      Marley dragged herself to a seated position, barely able to open her eyes. Since Chloe had dropped Michelle off the day before, Marley had spent every hour with the girl, playing games, puzzles, hopscotch and anything else she could think of. Again she cursed herself for forgetting her guitar. If Brant hadn’t distracted her...Marley playing the guitar had always worked at occupying her sisters’ attention.

      “Let’s play hide-n-seek,” Michelle said and bounded for the bedroom door.

      Didn’t Michelle ever tire? Marley wondered. “Wait. Wait till I’m up,” she told her niece. “Go down and see Granny and get breakfast. We’ll play when you come back.”

      When Michelle took off, clunking down the stairs to the kitchen, Marley flopped back on the bed. At least she’d have a few minutes of undisturbed sleep...

      She awoke to someone screaming in the hallway.

      “I could kill you!” Lindy yelled.

      When Marley made it to the hall, she found Lindy staring at Michelle, who was sitting crying on the floor in the spare bedroom. The room Lindy had her wedding dress in. A room that was usually locked.

      Lindy turned on her in fury. “Aren’t you supposed to be watching her? She just ruined my wedding dress!” A bright red blotch ran down the back of the gown where the plastic covering had been ripped away. An empty pink child’s cup decorated with princesses lay on the floor.

      Marley rushed in and picked up the child.

      “I tripped,” the little girl said, burying her tear-streaked face in Marley’s neck. “I’m sorry.” Lindy came into the room, and Michelle tensed in Marley’s arms.

      “Sorry doesn’t cut it.” Lindy turned to Marley. “Why is she here, anyway?”

      “I’m...” What was the reason? “I wanted to see what it would be like taking care of children...now that I’m getting married.”

      “Well, my solution is don’t have any!”

CHAPTER FOUR

      THE NEXT TWO DAYS didn’t improve as tempers ran hot, especially the bride’s. At least the woman at the cleaners promised to do her best and return the dress by Saturday morning in time for the wedding.

      Marley’s babysitting assignment turned into several days of dealing with Michelle while Chloe suffered through bouts of nausea. And her mother, who usually could be found in the kitchen when she wasn’t serving meals to clients in her catering business, had disappeared. Maybe she was dating someone.

      Lindy avoided her and Michelle, and everyone else managed to disappear into their own activities. On Wednesday morning, Michelle again woke Marley by pulling her hair.

      “We have to get ready.”

      Marley opened one eye. “Why?”

      “We’re going to Kenny.”

      Instantly, Marley felt revived. Kennywood Park. Her sisters and their children had planned a day trip to the park, including Chloe, provided she was up to it. As much as Marley adored her niece and enjoyed the park, she wouldn’t have to go. And that meant she’d be free! After several days of watching the munchkin, she’d have some time to herself, even if it only meant catching up on her sleep.

      Marley pawed through the girl’s clothes that she’d washed the night before. “Shorts?” Marley held up the red ones and saw a frown settle immediately on her niece’s face. “Great! I’ll put on my red shorts, and we’ll be twins.” Magically, Michelle’s expression brightened. Marley packed all the girl’s cleaned clothes into her Dora suitcase.

      Was it only Wednesday? Four more days, not counting today, to go before she could take off for home. Home. She missed Phoenix and its low humidity. Marley forced a comb through her hair, endless curls that had assumed a life of their own. Her constant companion started to laugh and pointed at the uncontrollable bush on top of her aunt’s head.

      “You look funny.” After some tickles, the giddy girl dropped the subject.

      The rain had subsided for the present, and the dreaded daytime heat hadn’t started yet. Marley dressed in red shorts, a sleeveless T-shirt and her sandals, grabbed Michelle’s hand and headed for the kitchen staircase. They passed the assortment of gifts stacked in the playroom on the second floor while Michelle pulled her pink suitcase with Dora emblazoned on the side.

      Buster, the family’s old mixed-breed dog, bounded over, and Marley leaned down to pet him, roughing his neck and ears the way he liked. Michelle went to her knees and wrapped her arms around his neck. “He’s glad to see me.” After the watchdog wagged his tail and pulled out of the embrace, he rambled toward the stairs that led to the living room, where he usually stayed.

      Michelle started after the dog, and Marley had to rush to reach her. “Come with me. We’ll get some breakfast.” She pulled the girl in the opposite direction and headed toward the stairs that led to the kitchen. Having two staircases had provided easy access and escape for her and her sisters but had often proved a bane to their parents and grandparents.

      Michelle pulled back. “I don’t want to. I want to go to Kenny.”

      “Your mother will take you later.” Marley sighed. This experience with her niece had been a wonderful revelation. Children were tolerable in small doses.

      As СКАЧАТЬ