Dreaming 0f You (Christian Romance)

by Marie Higgins

  The adorable child laughed, and Katelyn thought she’d never seen a sweeter little girl.

  “The leaves and grass don’t want to be outside,” Cori said.

  Katelyn shook her head. “Do you blame them? The way the weather has been lately, I wouldn’t want to stay outside for very long, either.”

  “Miss Palmer?”

  “Yes, Cori.”

  “Do you have kids?”

  Katelyn smiled down at the child as she flipped the jacket in the air. “No. I’m not married.”

  “So nobody calls you Mommy?”

  “No, but I have some nephews that call me Aunt Katie.”

  Cori giggled. “I have an aunt.”

  Katelyn nodded. “Aunts are fun.”

  “I bet your nef-ews think you’re fun.”

  She laughed over the little girl’s mispronounced word. “Yes, they do. In fact, I’m going to take them to Disneyland next week.”

  Cori’s eyes widened. “Where Mickey Mouse lives?”

  Katelyn laughed again. “Yes, Mickey Mouse and all of his friends.”

  “Cinderella, too?”

  “Yup.”

  “Even the Little Mermaid?”

  Katelyn nodded. “Even Ariel.”

  “I wanna go,” Cori whined.

  Crouching down to the little girl’s level, Katelyn stroked her soft blonde hair, curling a lock around her finger. “I’m sorry, honey, but this time I’m just taking my nephews.”

  Cori pouted. “I wanna go with you, too. Can I?”

  “Only if your mommy and daddy say it’s all right.”

  Cori frowned as a different kind of sadness coated her eyes. “I don’t have a mommy. She died. I live with my daddy now. I know he won’t let me go with you.”

  Katelyn’s heart dropped for the sad girl. “Why won’t he let you?”

  “Because my auntie says my daddy doesn’t love me and Casey. My auntie says that is why Daddy de—de—devorst us.”

  Heartache tightened Katelyn’s chest and she gathered Cori in her arms, hugging her tight. “Oh, sweetie, your daddy didn’t divorce you.”

  Cori looked up at her, big brown eyes dripping with moisture. “But my auntie says he doesn’t love us.”

  Tears gathered in Katelyn’s eyes, not knowing what to tell her. She didn’t know the little girl’s parents or the aunt, and so she really didn’t know if Cori’s daddy loved her or not. But she wanted to believe their father was a good man.

  “Cori, I’m sure your daddy loves you very much. How could he not? You are the prettiest, funniest, and most loving little girl I’ve ever met.” She hugged her again then withdrew to look down into Cori’s sad eyes. “I’m sure your aunt just doesn’t realize how much your daddy loves you.” She took hold of Cori’s hand and walked back into the building. “You know, sometimes when mommies and daddies get divorced, their children are very sad and they feel like nobody loves them. But Cori, I know your father loves you and your brother. He’s probably just too sad over your mother’s death to show how much he loves you.” She paused, and then asked, “Do you understand?”

  Cori shrugged. “Yeah, but I miss my mommy.”

  Emotion clogged Katelyn’s throat. She knelt in front of Cori and took hold of her hands. “I’m so sorry. Do you love your daddy, Cori?”

  Her gaze dropped to her hands as she clutched them against her stomach. “Yes, but it makes my auntie mad when I want to live with Daddy. That’s when she says Daddy doesn’t love me.”

  Suddenly, Katelyn wanted to meet this woman who proclaimed to be Cori’s aunt, and give the misguided woman a good talking to—maybe shake her up a little. What kind of aunt tells her nieces and nephews their father doesn’t love them? Perhaps this was information Katelyn needed to tell Stacey. Mental abuse was worse than physical abuse in her book!

  From the other room, Katelyn heard the voices of the parents as they came to collect their children. She gave Cori a hug and pulled away. When the little girl looked up at her, Katelyn smiled. “It sounds like it’s time to go home. Who is picking you up today?”

  “Daddy is picking us up.”

  “Well, let’s go find him, okay?”

  Cori nodded and tugged on Katelyn’s hand, pulling her behind. Katelyn loved the way the little girl hurried to see her father now. As they entered the large room, Cori pointed over to the door. “There’s Daddy,” she squealed.

  Katelyn looked in that direction, and when she recognized the man talking to her sister, Katelyn’s stomach dropped to her feet and dizziness consumed her. Shane Hunter? As pieces started fitting together, she glanced down at the little girl and saw the resemblance. Although she didn’t have her father’s dark hair, Cori had her father’s eyes, and especially his smile. Katelyn’s heart leapt, and at the same time, it took a nose-dive and crashed. This was all she needed. If Shane knew she’d been talking to his twins, his suspicion of her would grow by leaps and bounds.

  Why hadn’t she realized Shane was Cori’s father before now? She knew he had twins and that his wife had died. Oh, why hadn’t her mind been working properly? Yet, since he kissed her the other day, she had been a mess. On second thought, ever since meeting him at the pancake house, he’d turned her world topsy-turvy.

  When Cori slipped away from her and ran to her father, Katelyn rushed into the other room and flattened herself against the wall. There was no way she wanted Shane to see her here. He’d only accuse her of stalking him. Again.

  Peeking around the corner, she spied on Shane. He looked so incredibly handsome, and even more when his face lit up. She didn’t know why he seemed surprised when he picked up Cori and she hugged him. There were even tears in his eyes when Cori leaned over and kissed his cheek.

  Casey ran to his father and gave him a hug, too. It shocked Katelyn to see the genuine love on Shane’s expression as he talked with his children. This was certainly different from what Tori had told Katelyn several years ago about her brother-in-law.

  Cori said something to Shane, and they both looked across the room, searching through the crowd for someone. Katelyn quickly ducked back behind the wall to block their view, since she figured she was the one Cori was looking for.

  Katelyn’s nerves caused havoc to her body as she waited. She didn’t dare peek to see if they’d left, so she remained glued to her spot until the voices dimmed to two or three. Katelyn relaxed slightly. It had been at least fifteen minutes. Surely Cori and Casey had left with their father by now.

  Taking a deep breath, Katelyn stepped around the wall and back into the room. When the only ones in the room were her sister and their nephew Luke, Katelyn breathed a sigh of relief.

  Stacey gave her a grin and laughed, adjusting her six-month-old daughter, Gracelyn, on her hip. “Trying to hide, Katie?”

  Katelyn’s cheeks grew warm from embarrassment. “Why would I hide?”

  “Because you didn’t want Shane Hunter to know you were here.”

  Gracelyn smiled wide and reached her chubby arms out for Katelyn. She took her niece and cradled her. “I told you about him, so why should you blame me for hiding? In case you’ve forgotten, let me refresh your memory. He’s the man I wrote about in my book.”

  “Yes, I know. And I can see now why that book was a big seller.”

  Katelyn rolled her eyes. “That’s not the reason. Besides, I’ve made him a better person in my book than he is in real life.”

  “I don’t think so. From what I’ve seen of him so far, he’s a genuinely caring person.”

  Katelyn rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

  Stacey bent to pick up a toy, chuckling noticeably. “He asked about you.”

  Katelyn literally felt her heart stop beating. “What?” Panic seized her.

  Stacey walked by her to put the toy away. “A little while ago when you and the kids were outside playing animals, he stood by the fence watching. He asked who you were and I told him you were my sister. He admitted to recently meeting you.”

  Katelyn hurried t
o her sister, holding Gracelyn tighter. “Did he seem mad?”

  Stacey laughed again, louder this time. “No, just the opposite, in fact. I’d say he was pretty excited to see you. He couldn’t take his eyes off you, and he for sure couldn’t stop smiling.”

  Huffing, Katelyn shook her head. “Quit teasing.”

  “I’m not. He looked surprised to see you at first, but the longer he watched you play with the kids, the more pleased he looked.” Stacey nudged Katelyn’s side. “I think he likes you.”

  Katelyn’s face felt ready to combust at any second now. “No he doesn’t. He probably thinks I’m stalking him.”

  “The way I see it, Shane is stalking you.”

  Katelyn threw a glare at Stacey before she kissed her niece on the cheek and handed Gracelyn back to her mother. Turning, Katelyn stomped out of the room. But as angry as she wanted to feel, she couldn’t convince her fluttering heart that her sister wasn’t being serious. Shane didn’t like her, although three days ago, he certainly acted like he desired her when they’d kissed.

  She picked up Luke’s jacket and helped him put it on. “Come on, let’s get you home.”

  “Aunt Stacey,” he called, “I’m going with Aunt Katie.”

  “See you later,” Stacey called back.

  On the drive to Luke’s house, Katelyn couldn’t stop thinking about Shane’s expression when Cori gave him a hug, especially after the conversation Katelyn had with the little girl. Katelyn could say without a doubt that Shane did love his daughter. If Cori and Casey’s aunt was as selfish as the little girl made her sound, then Shane needed to know. Katelyn wondered if he knew what his ex-sister-in-law was doing. Was it Katelyn’s obligation to tell him?

  Just the thought of talking to him again made her palms sweat. Beside her, Luke rattled on as if he didn’t know she wasn’t listening. But right now she had more serious things to think about. As much as she didn’t want to see Shane again, she felt like she needed to tell him about Cori.

  No. She could not see him again. Look at the way she’d responded to him the last time they were together. True, she finally experienced what it felt like to be kissed by Shane Hunter. Even though she would never forget it, she vowed she’d never put herself in that situation again.

  “DADDY, GUESS WHAT?”

  Shane’s heart was so full of happiness it threatened to burst from his chest. He still couldn’t believe Cori had hugged him—and kissed him first without being told. The smile stretching across his face was definitely permanent and he never wanted it to leave. “What is it, my little sweetheart?”

  “Miss Palmer said she was going to take her nef-ews to Disneyland where Mickey Mouse lives.”

  He glanced down at his daughter sitting next to him at the dinner table. “Oh, really?”

  “Yup.”

  “When are they going?”

  She shrugged. “Don’t know. She said next week.”

  “Well, what a coincidence.” Shane chuckled. “We just might see her when we go.”

  Casey joined in the conversation with an enthusiastic cheer. “We’re going, too?”

  Cori grabbed hold of Shane’s arm. “Oh, please Daddy. Let’s go to Disneyland.”

  Although he hadn’t planned on it, the idea did sound good, and he couldn’t stop himself from promising. “Yes, we’re going.”

  After his son and daughter finished with their cheering and clapping, Cori tapped his shoulder. “Are we going with Miss Palmer?”

  Shane hesitated before answering. It would be nice to be there the same time as Katelyn, but he couldn’t promise his children it would happen that way. It might be fun to enjoy a little vacation with her, especially since she was so good with his children.

  “I can’t be sure if we’re going there the same time as Miss Palmer, but I’ll try.”

  The kids whooped loudly with happiness again, nearly deafening him, but he just laughed and joined in their shouts of hurrah. Once they quieted down again, he said, “But don’t tell Miss Palmer. I want it to be a surprise.”

  His excited children nodded. “We won’t say a thing. We promise, Daddy,” Casey spoke.

  “Oh, Daddy,” Cori said, wrapping her little arms around his elbow and burying her face in his arm. “Miss Palmer was right. You do love me and Casey.”

  His chest clenched. Why would Cori think he didn’t love them, unless... He gritted his teeth. Tori was feeding them lies, he just knew it.

  “What else did Miss Palmer tell you?”

  “She says that even though you divorst Mommy, you still love us.”

  He wrapped his arm around his daughter, pulling her closer to his side. “Miss Palmer is right. I will always love you and Casey no matter what happens.”

  “She also said,” Cori continued, “that you are sad about Mommy dying like we are.”

  Tears welled in his eyes. “Miss Palmer is correct again. I was very sad when your mommy died. I’m still sad.”

  Tori had something to do with that last remark his daughter made, he was sure of it. He needed to tell Tori he wouldn’t put up with her brainwashing tactics. He’d reluctantly allowed her to take the children over night or during the day on occasion, mainly because he didn’t want to disrupt the twins’ life any more than it already was. But now all that would change. The more he thought about how Katelyn had talked to his daughter and convinced her that he loved her, the more his heart softened. He’d definitely have to thank Katelyn. Hopefully, it would be in private.

  He smiled wide again. Yes, he’d certainly plan for that.

  FOR TWO DAYS SHANE hadn’t been able to stop thinking of Katelyn. Good grief, even at night she was in his dreams, for heaven’s sake! During the day while he was at work, he found himself staring out the window and actually planning on when he would see her next.

  Shaking his head, he drove his truck into the sandwich shop and stopped. Today for lunch, he wanted his favorite sub—meatballs drowning in marinara sauce, wrapped in a bun and topped with all the veggies. Too bad this place didn’t deliver or he wouldn’t have left the office.

  He hurried inside only to stand in line behind several groups of teenagers. Perhaps he should have picked a different time to take lunch instead of when the high school let their students out.

  After several, agonizing and boring minutes, the line moved again. The front door to the sandwich shop opened again, and in walked someone with a familiar face. He grinned as she dug through her purse, coming toward the end of the line. When she finally stopped and lifted her gaze to him, her eyes widened and a lazy smile touched her face.

  “Well, hello again, stranger.”

  “Hi, Mags. Fancy meeting you here.”

  She shrugged. “What can I say? I love sandwiches.”

  “And salads with lite dressing.” He nodded.

  Laughing, she placed her hand on his arm. “I can’t believe you remembered.”

  “Hey, we were very close a few years ago as we worked long hours together getting the Montana office up and running.”

  “Ah, yes, the good old days.”

  The line moved again, so they stepped closer to the counter.

  “So how long do you have for lunch?” he asked.

  “An hour. How about you?”

  “Since I’m the boss...” He shrugged. “Two hours.”

  She laughed. “You sure haven’t changed much.”

  “What are you saying? That I took long lunches back when you worked for me?”

  “Yeah, something like that.”

  He shook his head. “Then you don’t remember me at all.”

  “So what do you say?” She nudged him with her elbow. “Want to share a table today and eat our sandwiches together?”

  “Sure, why not. It’ll give us time to catch up.”

  He finally reached the counter and gave his order—and just like he used to do several years ago—he also paid for Margaret’s meal. They found a table for two and sat.

  “Well, since you know about what happe
ned to me since we last worked together, why don’t you tell me what you’ve been doing since you came back from Montana,” he began.

  She explained how she struggled to find work at first, but then after four months, she found a good job and was able to move out of her friend’s apartment and afford a place of her own. Then she told him about the several men she’d dated, but just as always, the relationships were doomed from the beginning.

  In the years he’d known Mags, he realized something about her. She flirted with all men, and she never really wanted to settle down with just one. If she dated a man for more than six months it would be a record. Shane didn’t speak his mind, he just let her talk while he ate his mouth-watering meatball sandwich.

  When he took the last bite, she tapped him on the hand.

  “Now it’s your turn to talk while I eat.”

  He laughed. “There’s not much to tell.”

  “Oh, I don’t think so. You need to tell me why your marriage broke up. What happened?” She frowned, although the emotion of her sadness didn’t quite reach her hazel eyes. “The last time we talked, you and Amber were still acting like it was your honeymoon.”

  Shane’s thoughts drifted back to that time. Actually, his marriage had just started to get rocky just before Mags left, but he didn’t let anyone know. Amber was beginning to whine constantly about his late hours—and especially working with Margaret. He knew they were just friends and would always be friends, but for some reason, Amber couldn’t trust him. Of course now, Shane realized it was Tori putting negative thoughts into Amber’s head.

  He opened up to Mags about how he and Amber drifted apart, due in part to Tori’s influence, until she finally moved out and filed for divorce. Then he explained how Amber’s wild life had led her to her death.

  “That’s just awful,” Margaret whispered. “I’m so sorry you and those adorable twins had to be put through all of that.”

  “Yeah, it’s been hard on all of us, but we’re slowly adapting.”

  She finished her sandwich and wadded up the paper. “Well, I suppose I should get back to work now.”

  “Me, too.” He stood, took their trash and threw it away. As they headed out the door to their vehicles, he smiled at her. “Thanks for having lunch with me. It was nice catching up.”