The Twins' Family Wish

by Lois Richer

  Penny chuckled then listened as the twins began telling her about the lake. A shared glance with Rick sent her heart rate thumping with a force that dredged up reminders of what happened when she let herself care too much. Getting too friendly was the path to disaster. She would not go there again. Didn’t she know by now that there would be no happily-ever-after for her?

  Thus chastised, Penny rode to the lake beside Rick but concentrated on the twins, playing I Spy and carrying on conversations that stayed away from personal topics. This wasn’t a date. It was an outing to his parents’ place. He probably considered it as payment for the time she’d spent watching Katie and Kyle.

  He’s just being nice. Don’t forget that, she reminded herself as they curved around switchbacks and finally arrived at a small lake in the valley of the desert. She exited the truck then took a moment to savor the beauty.

  “Welcome, Penny.” Rick’s father looked like an older version of his son—tall and lean, with the same rugged good looks. His handshake was firm, his dark eyes surrounded by laugh lines. “We’re glad you could come.”

  “Happy birthday,” she said, liking him immediately. “I hope you have a wonderful day.”

  “With my munchkins to share it, it will be perfect.” David Granger playfully punched Rick on the arm. “I’m including you in that term,” he said before he swung Katie into his arms. He whirled around with her then placed a kiss on her head. “Hello, sweetie.”

  While he did the same with Kyle, Rick introduced his mother. Eva Granger was the most extraordinarily beautiful woman Penny had ever seen. She had tawny hair that sprang back from her widow’s peak and tumbled to her shoulders in waves and curls. Almond-shaped golden-brown eyes seemed to stare directly into Penny’s heart. The elegant planes of her face showed a woman who loved life and embraced every moment. Tall and lean, she wore a belted sundress in off-white that revealed the toned figure of a woman who’d taken care of herself.

  “I’m pleased to meet you, Eva. Thank you for the invitation.” Knowing she was staring, Penny forced her gaze to span the lake. “This is exactly the place to be when it’s so hot. Oh.” She tried to hide her surprise when Eva pulled her close for a hug.

  “I can’t thank you enough for watching the children for my son,” she whispered against Penny’s ear. “He hasn’t looked so carefree since he took over raising the twins.” She drew away then glanced at Rick with a loving smile. “You’re God’s very special gift to the Granger family, Penny.”

  “Katie and Kyle are delightful.” Penny watched with just a little envy as the doting grandmother knelt to fold her loved ones close, her smile so tender.

  “Hello, my darlings.”

  “Too tight, Gramma.” After a moment the twins wiggled. Eva laughed and set them free. Her elegantly arched brows rose as she caught Penny watching her.

  “Is something wrong? Am I a mess?” She lifted a hand to touch her hair.

  “On the contrary, you look lovely. It’s just that I have this feeling that I know you and of course I don’t because we’ve never met.” Catching Rick’s peculiar glance at his dad, she faked a laugh. “Please excuse my fanciful talk. I guess it’s being in this gorgeous place.”

  “I’m glad you like it.” Eva glanced around the group. “Swimming first or lunch?”

  “Lunch.” The decision from the children and the two men was unanimous.

  “How did I know they’d say that?” Eva smiled as she invited, “Would you like to help me set things out, Penny?”

  “I was just going to ask if I could do something to assist.” She walked beside Rick’s mother to the sprawling building that faced the lake. “A store, a hotel and your home?” she guessed.

  “One building makes it handy for the business, sometimes a little too handy.” Eva beckoned. “Come in.”

  In was a huge open-concept living area added to but separate from the west end of the store. There was a big kitchen, a large table with six chairs and a generous living room whose massive doors led to a patio that overlooked the lake.

  “You must love living here,” Penny murmured, gazing toward the water. “An oasis in the desert.”

  “I came from New York so the isolation took a bit of getting used to. But David talked me into giving it a try and I’ve never regretted it.” Her face clouded for a moment and Penny guessed she was thinking about her daughter.

  “I’m sure your children loved growing up here,” she said quietly.

  “Yes, though Rick more than Gillian, I think.” Eva paused, swallowed hard then forced a smile. “My daughter talked of becoming a missionary from the day she heard one speak at her church girls’ club. She was ten. In the years that followed she never wavered from that goal.” Eva wiped a tear from her cheek.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you sad.”

  “You haven’t, my dear. I love remembering Gilly’s dedication to God. I just miss her sometimes.” She smiled away her sadness then waved a hand. “This morning I baked some rolls for ham and cheese sandwiches. The twins like those.”

  “They seem to like most things,” Penny agreed. “I hope it’s okay that I brought potato salad and some dill pickles. I thought they’d go with whatever you’d planned. They’re in a cooler in Rick’s truck.”

  “My dear, you didn’t have to buy anything,” Eva protested.

  “Oh, I didn’t. I made the salad last night and the pickles are last year’s.” She shrugged. “I have a bit of a dill pickle fetish so I make my own.”

  “How talented.” Eva’s tiger-brown eyes twinkled. She looked so familiar.

  And then the truth dawned.

  “Eva McCallum,” Penny murmured.

  “Granger now. But yes, you’re right.” Eva calmly continued removing dishes from the fridge. “But that was a long time ago.”

  “Not that long. No other fashion model has ever had as many covers as you.” Penny carried the dishes to the table. “Do you miss modeling?”

  “What’s to miss? Standing on six-inch heels for hours? Freezing my face into a smile in icy winds off the Hudson River? Holding my pose for eons under burning hot lights in a Soho studio?” The former model made a funny face.

  Penny couldn’t stop gazing at her lovely face and thinking how little time had changed it from when she’d seen the magazine covers that one of her foster moms had kept as incentives for her own beauty regimen.

  “It sounds like very hard work,” she said.

  “Yes, it was.” Eva laughed then nodded. “And sometimes I do miss that life. But mostly what I miss are the beauty of the changing seasons, the wonderful restaurants and the amazing clothes. None of which I have or need here,” she joked. “A swimsuit, shorts and a T-shirt are pretty much my staples now.”

  “You look beautiful,” Penny murmured.

  “This?” Eva pinched her cotton dress between two fingers and shrugged. “I made it.” She chuckled at Penny’s astonished face. “I learned to sew my own fashions when I first arrived in New York. I used to make Gillian’s clothes, too, until she went into a jeans phase.” A shadow chased across her face before she spoke again. “I still make Katie the odd dress but she’s growing so fast. It’s hard to keep up.”

  “And besides all that, this woman is a brilliant cook, a great businesswoman and the love of my life.” David wrapped his arm around Eva’s waist and kissed her cheek. “I’m very blessed that she gave up her fame and fortune for me.”

  They shared a look that stabbed a pain straight to Penny’s heart. Maybe happily-ever-after was only for other people, people like Eva and David. Sophie and Tanner.

  “I brought in your cooler, Penny.” Rick set it on the floor. “The kids are washing up. I’m hungry.”

  “I wonder how many times I’ve heard that in my lifetime.” Eva ruffled his hair. “Fortunately for you I knew you would
be and prepared in advance. Let’s sit down. Everything’s ready except for the kids, Penny’s salad and pickles.”

  “Penny’s dill pickles?” Katie licked her lips when Penny nodded. “They’re the best, Gramma.”

  “The best,” Kyle agreed.

  Blushing with pride Penny set her salad and the container of sliced pickles on the table, somewhat dismayed to realize that the only empty chair was the one next to Rick. She was already too aware of him but she wasn’t about to make a fuss. So she took her seat and his outstretched hand, trying to ignore her thudding pulse as David said grace. She had to get these silly reactions under control. Maybe that’s what made her yank her hand from his as soon as she heard Amen.

  The meal was everything Penny had ever dreamed a family meal would be. Filled with laughter, teasing, good food and most of all, love, clearly evidenced as the family caught up on their news.

  “Do you have family, Penny?” Eva asked, obviously waiting to serve the cake until the twins had finished their sandwiches.

  “I’m an orphan. I tried to trace my mother but there were very few clues and I never had any success.” Aware that she’d become the center of attention Penny silently sipped her iced tea while wondering how to change the subject.

  “Does orphan mean you don’t gots no fam’ly, Penny?” Katie frowned as she asked.

  “Yes, that is exactly what it means, sweetheart.”

  “I’m sorry. That must be hard for you, Penny.” David’s gentle voice helped ease her discomfort.

  “You get used to it,” she lied.

  “We c’n be your fam’ly.” Kyle glanced first at Rick then at his grandparents, his eyes wide. “Can’t we?”

  “We certainly can. Please do consider us your family, Penny.” Eva reached out to wrap her fingers around Penny’s.

  “We’d love to see you whenever you can come out here,” David agreed with a beaming grin that warmed her heart.

  “Thank you very much.” What a generous family they were. As was Rick.

  Speaking of Rick, Penny suddenly realized he hadn’t added his invitation to his parents’. She glanced his way and saw he was laughing at something Kyle had whispered and had missed the exchange.

  “Now we’re all fam’ly at this table.” Katie looked delighted by that. “Right?”

  “Right.” Eva’s glowing face seemed to say the more, the merrier.

  “Okay so is this fam’ly havin’ birthday cake, Gramma?” Kyle snatched another pickle and grinned at her as he crunched on it.

  “Do we usually have cake at birthdays?” Rick’s eyes opened wide as he pretended surprise.

  “Yep. With lotsa candles.” Katie frowned at him. “’Member, we had a blue cake for your birthday ’cause you said you liked blue best. Hey, Penny has blue eyes.”

  An awkward silence yawned when everyone looked at her, including Rick. Penny shifted uncomfortably under his attention.

  “She sure does,” Rick murmured. His gaze locked with hers and Penny felt a flood of warmth fill her insides. “Very pretty, too.”

  “I remember that your mother spent eons getting just the right shade of blue for that icing on your blue cake.” David laughed when Rick made a face. “First time I’ve ever eaten blue cake,” he told Penny and pretended to gag. “The twins were a mess.”

  “It was scrumpy good.” Kyle smacked his lips.

  “Yeah, and Gramma put things in it. Money and a ring and some other stuff.” Katie’s lips pressed together and she tilted her head to one side. “I forget what else.”

  “I don’t. Uncle Rick got a button,” Kyle said in a gleeful tone.

  “A button?” Penny glanced from Eva to David, looking for an explanation. “I don’t get it.”

  “It’s a silly old wives’ tale. If you find a button in a birthday cake it’s supposed to mean you’re going to remain a bachelor. I sure hope that’s not true.” Eva winked at Rick then explained to Penny. “My mother used to do that to the cake when I was a kid so I continued the tradition.”

  “Because I’m five not twenty-eight.” Rick rolled his eyes. “Thanks, Mommy.”

  Penny couldn’t help laughing with the rest of them. Then, just as if she was part of this family, she joined the others in singing “Happy Birthday” as Eva carried in a huge cake with many candles. And she clapped as hard as Katie when David blew out every one.

  “No candles burning means no girlfriends, Dad,” Rick teased.

  “Don’t need ’em. I’ve got my one and only right here.” David slipped a hand around his wife’s waist and she bent to receive his kiss.

  “Keep it that way, buddy,” she ordered in a very tender voice as she brushed a fingertip against his nose.

  “Yes, ma’am. That won’t be a problem,” David assured her.

  Seeing the love glowing in the couple’s eyes brought a lump to Penny’s throat. This was what she longed for, what made life worthwhile, what she couldn’t seem to find.

  When everyone had eaten a portion, or two in Rick’s case, of the delicious cake, Eva carried away what remained and returned with a small box, which she handed to David.

  “Happy birthday, honey.” She smiled fondly as he tore open the package then jumped to his feet and enveloped her in an exuberant hug. “It’s a gift certificate to get a gizmo for his boat,” she explained to Penny. “He’s been wanting a fish finder for ages.”

  “It’s going to be perfect.” David tucked the paper into his pocket. “Look out, fish.”

  “Good choice, Mom. That will go perfectly with my gift.” Rick handed his father a brown paper bag. “As you know, I don’t do wrapping paper. Happy birthday, Dad.”

  Penny couldn’t swallow past the lump in her throat as she witnessed the obvious love flowing between the father and son. What a fantastic family.

  “It’s a fishing vest!” David thoroughly checked out every pocket and secret compartment before hugging his son. “Absolutely perfect. Thank you.”

  “Is it our turn?” Katie asked Rick. When he nodded she and Kyle raced across the room, opened the door and each lugged in a package wrapped as only a young child could with miles of tape securing the ragged edges of shiny red foil.

  “Happy birthday, Grampa,” they chanted as they handed him the gifts.

  “They’re games,” Kyle said before David could remove the paper. “To play with us.”

  “Uncle Rick!” Katie wailed. She frowned at her brother. “You’re not s’posed to tell. I tol’ you that. ’Member?”

  “I forgot.” Kyle was obviously unconcerned by her irritation as he began a long, involved explanation to his grandfather on the proper way to play Chutes and Ladders.

  Next it was Katie’s turn to explain her game. While Eva served coffee, Penny rose and removed a small package from her cooler.

  “Many happy returns of the day,” she said, holding it toward David.

  “You didn’t need to do that, Penny,” he protested. But he tore off the paper just the same then froze, staring at the photo of Rick and the twins that she’d snapped last weekend when the three of them were swinging in the playground and hadn’t noticed her. She’d had it enlarged and framed. “It’s wonderful,” David whispered, obviously moved because there were tears in his eyes when he looked at her. “I’ll treasure this. Thank you very much.”

  “You’re welcome.” Penny saw Rick lean forward to look. When he turned his head and she met his eyes, an electric current seemed to snap between them.

  “You should have taken it from the other side,” he muttered under cover of the others’ voices, a red flush flooding his face.

  “Why?” She frowned at him in confusion.

  “The scar—” He broke off as his father thanked them all again.

  “Let’s go for a boat ride,” David said. “After we clean up
the dishes.”

  Everyone pitched in, and cleanup was quickly complete. But after they’d all changed into swimsuits and were in the big boat, zipping across the lake, Penny asked herself the question lurking at the back of her brain.

  Why hadn’t she taken the picture with the other side of Rick’s face in view?

  Answer: because she hadn’t noticed his scar.

  In that moment, as understanding dawned, she was very glad she was wearing sunglasses. She’d taken that photo as she had because when she looked at Rick she no longer saw his scar, because she didn’t think of him as a damaged man. When she saw Rick she saw a strong, caring guy devoted to his niece and nephew, a strong son who loved his parents, a dedicated uncle who was focused on making everyone else happy.

  Someone who could only be a friend.

  * * *

  Rick hadn’t water-skied a lot but he knew perfection when he saw it. And he saw it in Penny’s lithe figure as she glided across the glass-smooth water, jumping over the turbulent wake of the motor, twisting and turning across the sparkling surface like an acrobatic water sprite.

  “She’s good,” his father commented when their guest finally signaled the end of her ski. He steered parallel with the shore so she could sink gracefully into the water.

  “She’s very good,” Eva agreed. “I wonder if Penny has skied competitively.”

  “I wanna ski like Penny,” Kyle said as they coasted to a stop to pick up their skier.

  Using the utmost restraint Rick suppressed his groan. They’d been down this route many times before and he had absolutely no desire to go there again because it always ended with the twins in bitter tears when they couldn’t get upright on their skis.

  “Uh, I don’t think—” He was cut off by Katie.

  “Penny can teach us to ski, can’t you, Penny?” she asked as that woman swam up to the boat. Firm conviction underlay the little girl’s words.

  “I could try.” Penny smiled at her then glanced at him. Her brows drew together. “Unless you don’t want me to,” she faltered.