“Never is a powerful word, Nina.”
“But it takes two people with strong love and healthy bodies to bring a child into the world, El, and I realized that Todd and I didn’t have the gift of love, and then I—” The admission raked through her being.
“That was one relationship. What about another one? Two people whose love is strong and two people who think of a child as a bonus package of love from the Lord.”
She bit her lip. “I never expected to find a relationship that strong, El, and even if I do, it doesn’t change the fact that I’m physically unable to carry a child. I’m not sure that I will find a man who has enough love for that.”
Though he shook his head, a faint smile curved El’s mouth. “But you know a man like that, Nina.”
Doug. El’s expression gave the answer without question. “Yes, but I don’t see our friendship heading in that direction.”
Though Birdie had been silent throughout, she released a long sigh. “You’re seeing with warped eyes, Nina. Take a fresh look. I never thought my life would change or I would find a person with patience enough to like me as a friend, but look at my life now. El is a man who knows how to bring the best out of people and to make them see that they have better inside. My life is different, and I see things differently. Maybe one day you will, too.”
“Very wise, Birdie.” El reached across the table and slipped his hand over hers. “I’m proud of you. You said that very well.”
Nina hadn’t expected to take much stock in anything Birdie said, but at the moment, her attitude had altered. Letting someone bring out the best in her could change how she saw things. Birdie had a point. But how did that happen? She needed to think about it, but she wanted to do that alone.
* * *
“Stop, Uncle Doug!”
Kimmy’s voice ripped through Doug’s thoughts with a blast. He pulled to the edge of the road and stopped, his heart banging against his chest. “What’s wrong? Are you sick?”
She gave him a look as if he was stupid. “No. I thought we would stop at Nina’s?”
He shook his head instead of shaking hers. “Kimmy, you scared me nearly to death. Don’t do that, okay? I thought something was wrong.” He stared at his niece, realizing how her heart had wrapped around Nina’s. “Can I park the car at home first?”
“Can I get out?”
“No. It will only take a minute.” He’d refused her something, one of his rare moments, but she had to learn that life didn’t revolve around her as much as he knew it had for some time. And it wasn’t just him. Nina jumped at her commands, too.
Though a wonderful little girl, Kimmy’s situation had motivated him and Nina to try to make her life better. She’d done well with her mom’s illness, but he needed to get her back to real life. When she returned home to live with her mother again, she wouldn’t be the center of attention. Her mother would be, since she still had many needs.
A sigh escaped from his depths. Even thinking about Kimmy leaving ripped through his heart.
He turned off the motor and looked into the backseat. “Now, was that so bad?”
Though she wore a frown, she shook her head and opened the passenger side. “I guess not.”
Instead of responding, he remained quiet. He had to be patient with her. Life was changing, and Kimmy was old enough and smart enough to recognize it. As she rounded the car, he met her at the back and put his arm around her shoulders. Without a word, he guided her down the driveway to the sidewalk, heading for Nina’s.
He noticed her head shift, and when he looked, she gave him a smile.
Tension lifted from his chest, but he knew the situation had to be addressed. “Are you sad about saying goodbye to your mom again?”
She shrugged. “I miss her, but...” She lowered her head as if counting cracks in the concrete sidewalk.
“But?”
“But I’ll miss being here, too. Carly is my new friend and so is Nina. And you are the best uncle in the world.”
Though he opened his mouth to speak, emotion lodged in his throat. He gulped down the sob and gave her shoulders a squeeze. “That was a sweet thing to say, Kimmy. You are the best niece in the world, too. I will miss seeing you every day, but I know your real home is with your mom.”
“I know.”
Her comment reached him as a whisper, and she, too, dealt with the emotion of change. Children also felt the pangs of sorrow and loneliness. As they walked up Nina’s sidewalk, he spotted her at the window. She opened the door and held it wide as they entered.
“Did you have a good visit, Kimmy?”
From Nina’s expression, she seemed to sense a mood swing in Kimmy, who usually skipped up her driveway. She gave Kimmy a hug and then drew back. “How about some lunch or—”
“We ate after we left the facility. Thanks, though.” He gave her a smile and settled into the easy chair she motioned toward. “How was your day?”
“Good. I had a nice visit with El and Birdie. They seem to be quite a couple lately.”
“Is that good?” He recalled hearing about the infamous Birdie when he first moved in.
She looked thoughtful a moment. “I think it is. She’s not the same Birdie I met when I moved in. She’s more positive. She listens, and when she talks, she has something worthwhile to offer rather than the street gossip or her misconstrued situations.” She chuckled. “I think she likes herself now.”
He loved hearing her voice lilt without the weight of worry.
“Kimmy, tell me about your visit.” Nina drew Kimmy closer and eased her beside her on the sofa. “I bet your mom was happy to see you.”
“She was, and you know what Uncle Doug did?”
He drew back, his heart in his throat.
Nina gave her a playful frown. “What?”
“He bought my mom a vase with flowers in it. They were pretty and my mom loved them.”
Nina’s frown vanished. “I’m sure she did. Every lady I know loves bouquets of flowers. They’re bright and cheerful, and they say I love you.”
Kimmy giggled. “Flowers don’t talk.”
“No, but that’s what they mean.”
Kimmy appeared to toss that around in her head. “Then I would like flowers, too.”
“We all do. It’s a girl thing.”
“And you know what else?” She leaned closer. “My mommy wants you to come and visit her.”
Nina’s head drew back. “She does. Why?”
She glanced at him, and all he could do was shrug. He’d only caught the end of the conversation when he returned with the flowers.
Kimmy giggled again. “’Cuz I told her that Uncle Doug is happier when he’s with you.”
Her revelation struck him with the blow of a jackhammer.
Nina glanced his way but without an ounce of surprise on her face, and then he knew. Kimmy had already revealed this to her. No wonder she dropped a barricade between them on occasion. Yet even that thought sent an ache through him. He’d hoped she, at least, enjoyed their friendship. Though needing to respond in some way, he searched his mind and came up empty. How could a person dissuade the honesty of a child?
Kimmy eyed him waiting for something.
He finally grasped a response. “Maybe you make me happy, Kimmy? Is that possible?”
She tittered, her head swaying like a bobblehead. “It’s not the same. You look different with Nina. I see those looks on TV.”
“You aren’t watching adult programs with me, Kimmy.”
“I know, but I do at home sometimes when Mom finally takes a break.”
This time he became a bobblehead, unable to push away her comment without it bobbing back and making him look a fool. He eyed Nina, who had got quiet since Kimmy’s declaration. “I admit I’ve enjoyed meeting a neig
hbor who is so kind and a lot of fun. So maybe I am happier.”
Kimmy nodded her head. “See, I told you.”
Changing the subject was the only way to go. “By the way, I looked at the extended weather forecast. We’re supposed to have another break in the weather. I think we’ll have a sunny day for Angie’s wedding. The temperature is supposed to be back in the midseventies. That should be nice.”
“I hope you’re right. I’ve been trying to think of something to wear, but I guess that’s something only girls care about.” Still beside her, Nina gave Kimmy a playful poke.
“Can I help you find a dress?” Her eyes brightened as she gazed at Nina.
“Not today since it’s getting dark already, but maybe tomorrow. I need to find something soon or I’ll have to go shopping.”
Kimmy slipped forward on the sofa and clapped her hands. “We can go shopping. Yeah.”
He shook his head. “Kimmy, she didn’t say anything about we.”
Her eyes filled with pleading turned to Nina. “Can I?”
“Maybe I own something already, sweetie. We’ll see after we look.” She turned an arched brow to him. “That’s if your uncle Doug doesn’t mind.”
Angie had mentioned the darkness and she was right. He hadn’t noticed. He rose. “If you have to go shopping and want to take this young lady with you, it’s fine with me.”
“Yeah.” She stood and jigged around Nina. “I hope you have to shop.”
From Nina’s expression, he guessed she didn’t, but Kimmy would deal with it.
“We’d better get home. Tomorrow is a school day, and it’s time for a young lady to take a bath and think about bedtime.”
Kimmy looked around. “What young lady?” Then she giggled.
He slipped his arm around her shoulders. “Good night, Nina. Sleep well.”
Kimmy slipped from his arm and hurried over to Nina, drew her down and kissed her cheek. “Good night. I’ll see you tomorrow after school.”
Doug drew in a deep breath. Tonight had been a revelation. He had no idea what Kimmy had been telling Nina or what she thought about it. He could only pray that Kimmy’s prattle hadn’t done any damage to the friendship they had cultivated. It still needed a lot of hoeing and maybe a few fresh seeds of hope.
Chapter Seven
Nina plopped on the edge of her mattress, her frustration tightening her shoulders. She had scoured her closet for something special to wear to the wedding and found nothing. Going alone to the wedding she wouldn’t have cared, but she had sort of a date.
She caught her image in the vanity mirror and shook her head. Her sort-of-a-date thought had twisted her mouth to a pitiful grin. How could someone have a sort-of date? It either was one or it wasn’t one. Since Angie had influenced the situation, she had a difficult time thinking of it as a normal date.
She threw her hands into the air and gave up. Date or no date, she had an escort and wanted to look nice. Doug was good-looking in jeans and a polo shirt. She could only imagine how striking he would be in a suit, his broad shoulders above a trim waist.
The thought rippled down her chest, making her too aware of the growing feelings she could no longer deny. Asking herself what she could do had become pointless. She’d read enough of the Bible to admit that the outcome was not totally in her hands.
She eyed the dark red dress she’d stretched across the chair and curled her nose. The dress didn’t suit her, especially since she’d lost a few pounds after she’d moved to Lilac Circle. Life had become more active and filled with toting, flower planting and entertaining Kimmy. The experience had been good for her.
Kimmy would be there for a while longer, and since she could do nothing about her returning home, she’d recognized her useless worrying.
She rose and hung the dress back in the closet, admitting she needed a new dress. That would make Kimmy ecstatic. The image aroused her smile.
Grasping her cell phone, she wandered into the kitchen and sat at the table as she called Doug. When he answered, her pulse skipped as it did each time she heard his voice. “Tell Kimmy the shopping event is on.”
“I’m glad to hear it since I heard about nothing else this morning before school. I’ll drop her by when I pick her up from school.”
“See you then, Doug.”
He hung up after telling her he was dealing with a new client. She understood, having those situations, too. But thankfully so much of her work could be done at home that an episode of impatience was witnessed by no one.
She eyed the clock to validate she had time to put a dent in one more job before Doug dropped off Kimmy. She made a quick mug of her favorite tea and settled in front of the computer. With work her focus, time flew and before she knew it a door slammed outside and she suspected her shopping partner had arrived. She saved the work and rose.
When she reached the living room, she heard Kimmy’s piping voice before they rang the bell. She opened the door, and Kimmy’s beaming smile warmed her heart. “Come in a minute.” When she pushed back the screen door, Kimmy sailed in with Doug in her wake.
Doug gave her one of these eye-roll looks. “Someone’s excited.”
“I noticed.” She slipped her arm around Kimmy’s shoulder. “I looked at all my dresses and didn’t like any of them for the wedding so...guess who’s going to be my helper.”
Kimmy poked her finger into her chest. “Me.”
“Right.” She eyed Doug, waiting with a grin. “Are you coming, too?”
He chuckled. “Not unless you need a man’s opinion, and I don’t think you do.”
“Right again.” She managed a lighthearted smile, but part of her would love to spend more time with him. Obviously this trip wasn’t an appropriate time. “I’ll get your opinion on Saturday.”
He nodded. “I can’t wait.”
She located her bag and returned. “Ready, Kimmy?”
She rushed to her side. “I’m ready.”
Doug headed for the door with Kimmy on his heels, eagerness shining on her face. She locked the door and headed for her car. Doug followed and helped Kimmy buckle her seat belt, then closed her door and watched as she drove away.
When she reached downtown, Nina spotted a couple of consignment shops but decided to keep those for later. Instead she drove to a store she knew had numerous choices of women’s evening wear. Kimmy jiggled in the backseat ready to make her escape, and when they finally reached the parking lot, she charged from the car and waited for Nina to round the car and meet her.
Inside, she headed for the women’s department and then for the dresses. Kimmy began pointing to dresses before she could get a good look. “Hang on and let me find my size.”
“But Uncle Doug said you would look pretty in purple and this one is purple, isn’t it?”
Her chest knotted, and she tried to imagine how the conversation might have occurred between Kimmy and Doug. She shifted through the rack and pulled out a teal dress that she would have loved but the dress was too short and the neckline dipped too deep for her taste. She rejected a black dress that seemed too plain but spotted another one with a rounded neck, straight skirt with an embossed texture that added an interesting effect. She laid it over her arm and headed back to Kimmy’s find.
The dress was indeed plum with a scoop neckline embellished with stones that glittered when the light hit them. A nice touch. The bodice and skirt were formfitting in a flattering way and the skirt looked as if it would touch her knees. The sleeves were short, but she already owned a black bolero-style jacket she could wear if the room was cool. In the same rack she spotted a similar black dress that looked more practical and she could wear a strand of pearls, but then did she want to be practical?
“Nina, here’s one.” Kimmy tugged at another dress in a hunter green, fuller in the skirt but with a lon
ger sleeve and a bit of ruche in the bodice.
She saw Kimmy’s excitement, and since it was a possibility, she selected that, too. “Okay, we have four dresses. I’ll try them on. What do you say?”
“I say yes.” Kimmy nestled close and followed her into a nearby dressing room. She settled on a bench and watched wide-eyed, as Nina tried on each dress, turning this way and that with Kimmy’s oohs and aahs with each pose. After trying them all on, she tried to decide between the plain black and the plum color dress that Kimmy had spotted. She held up the two dresses. “Which do you like best?”
Kimmy stood and studied both dresses as if she were a high-fashion designer. “The black one is too plain.”
This time she couldn’t stifle her laugh. “That’s what I thought. You have a good eye for dresses. You’ll be a beauty when you grow up.”
Her eyes widened. “I will?” Kimmy turned to look in the mirror and studied herself. “I guess I have to wait until I grow up.”
“That’ll come soon enough, sweetie.”
She eyed the other three again, pressing her lips together and touching the material, then ran her finger over the sparkling stones. Nina managed to muzzle her chuckle. “I like the purple-colored one and not just ’cuz I picked it out. It’s pretty and I like the color and Uncle Doug likes it, too. Buy the purple one.”
Nina grinned, but she liked that one best, too, so Kimmy’s opinion worked. She gathered the dresses, hung the three on the return rack and took Kimmy’s hand as they headed back to the cashier. On the way, she spotted children’s clothes, and as she drew closer, she saw a long-sleeved turquoise knit T-shirt with a rounded neckline and the word cute printed in block letters on the front. She grasped size seven and held it up to Kimmy. “Do you like this?”
“For you?” Her eyes sparkled.
“No, for you.”
“I love it. It’s so cute.” Then she pointed to the block letters. “It says so right here.”
“Then I think it’s yours and you’ll be cute in it.”
“Uncle Doug will think you look beautiful in your new dress. I know he will.”
A Husband for Christmas Page 9
