by Lois Richer
“Your idea to invite her was a good one,” he agreed. “And Penny’s very determined to get her to relax.”
“If anyone can do it, Penny can. She’s a wonderful woman, a blessing for the twins and a much-needed help for you. I thank God He sent Penny into our lives.” Eva leaned back, her gaze on the water as the twins’ laughter carried toward them. “Look at her with the twins. Did you ever see anyone better at mothering?”
“Gillian,” he murmured then wished he hadn’t when his mom’s face tightened with worry.
“How’s that going, son?” she asked softly as her hand curved over his in a touch of gentle comfort.
“Nothing new. They’re still investigating, but the more they do the worse it looks for me.” Rick hated the knot of worry that always formed in his midsection at the mention of his sister. He didn’t want his memories of her to always be tinged with darker ones of the fire.
“I thought you mentioned another investigator had been called in?” His mom’s pale face revealed her worry in faint lines around her eyes.
“There was some holdup in his arriving to look personally at the site so they sent him the photos that had been taken so he could complete a preliminary study,” Rick said, struggling to suppress the bleakness he felt. “Our lawyer says this guy seems convinced that some electrical code violation caused the fire.”
“And?”
“It doesn’t look good for me, Mom.” Why didn’t God do something?
“But Gillian was your sister. You’d hardly practice shoddy workmanship on her house.” Indignant, Eva’s fingers curled in the sand. “Sorry to rant, honey. It just irks me that no one seems able to find the cause of that horrible fire.”
Don’t upset her, Rick’s brain warned.
“Electrical,” he said. “That’s the stated cause. Beyond that?” Rick shrugged. “Let’s forget about it for today,” he murmured as Penny and Molly walked toward them with the twins following.
“We came to see if you’re going to sit on the beach all day or if you’re going swimming,” Penny teased, her blue eyes dancing with fun.
“Molly, you look tired. Why don’t you and I chat while the rest of them swim,” Eva suggested. “Then we’ll have lunch.”
“Hot dogs?” Kyle guessed.
“No. It’s a secret but you’ll find out later,” Eva promised.
Knowing his mom wanted to use this time to talk to Molly about God, Rick rose and stretched. “I guess I could use some exercise. Anybody want to try the water trikes?”
“Penny an’ me against you an’ Kyle,” Katie challenged.
“Okay. But what does the winner get?” Rick asked, tongue in cheek.
“A kiss.” Katie giggled. Her teasing grin surprised him. Apparently Penny, too.
“Uh, I don’t think—”
“I’d like a kiss, Katie. It’s a deal,” Rick agreed before Penny could object any further. He flexed his arms and winked at her. “First one to the buoys wins. Let’s get ready, Kyle.”
His partner raced to the water and dragged a bright green trike to the edge of the shore, facing across the lake. “Ready, Uncle Rick.”
“I am not kissing you, Rick Granger,” Penny warned, cheeks flushed, eyes spearing him like daggers.
“So you give up?” He walked to the water, suppressing his laughter at her indignant snort. “Already?”
“Hardly,” she sputtered, following him. “But it’s not fair—”
“Oh, phooey.” His toes touching the water, Rick faced her. “Life’s not fair. Don’t be a wuss, Penny Stern.”
Her eyes narrowed. Her hands smacked onto her hips. She glared at him, obviously outraged. “What did you call me?”
“A wuss. Sourpuss. Grump. Complainer. All of the above.” He turned his back on her and walked deeper into the water.
“Really?” she demanded.
“Yeah. Really.” Teasing her was so much fun, though Rick quickly lost his grin when he felt two hands on his back, a shove and then his body hit the water. He spluttered upward from the gritty lake bottom with water streaming down his cheeks. “Hey! Not fair.”
“Oh, phooey,” Penny shot back, laughter in her voice. “Don’t be a wuss, Rick.”
“Come on, Penny,” Katie called. “We can get a head start now.”
Rick swiped a hand across his eyes and saw Penny vault onto the trike then begin madly pedaling while urging Katie to do the same.
“I forgot to add cheater,” he yelled before climbing in beside Kyle. “Come on, kid. Pedal. She calls that fair? We’ll show her what’s fair.”
Kyle glanced at him sideways, a frown on his face. When he couldn’t keep up with Rick he gave up and planted his feet flat on the floor.
“What’re you doing, Kyle? Come on. We’ve got to win this,” he urged but his nephew simply sat with his arms across his chest, refusing to pedal.
Accepting that Penny and Katie were so far ahead they’d never catch up, Rick gave up as well, and faced his nephew. The frown on his face said something was up.
“What’s wrong, buddy?”
“I don’t want to win.” Kyle played with a tassel on the handlebars.
“You don’t?” The boy shook his head. “Why not?” Rick asked. Here we go again with this strange world of parenting.
“I don’t like kissing.”
Rick blinked. Well, that was a new one. Now how was he supposed to handle this when he himself actually had a fondness for kissing, provided it was the right person?
“You mean you don’t want to kiss Katie and you don’t want your sister to kiss you?” That brought thoughts of kissing Penny, which sent Rick’s pulse into overdrive.
“That’s not what I mean. I don’t like kissing.” Kyle dipped his hand in the water. “On TV people kiss and then they get mad at each other. I don’t want you and Penny to be mad,” he mumbled, chin against his chest. “I don’t like it when people get mad.”
“Not gonna happen, son.” Chastened, Rick brushed his hand over the boy’s damp hair. “Penny and I aren’t mad. We were just teasing.”
“She sounded mad,” Kyle insisted. He looked up, his dark eyes troubled. “So did you.”
“Then I fooled you, didn’t I?” Rick motioned to the pair out by the buoys who were waving at them, big grins on their faces. “Want to head to shore? We could go for a ride in the kayak.”
“Yeah.” Now Kyle began madly pedaling? Rick just shook his head.
Kids were weird.
That was exactly what he said to Penny half an hour later when they were walking along the shore with the twins racing in front, searching for shells.
“The very moment I think I’ve got this parenting business figured out, they throw me a curveball,” he complained. “It’s getting scary.”
“If they’re telling you why they’re doing something it’s a good thing,” she countered, shading her eyes to look at him. “That’s exactly what you want to happen. It’s when kids don’t talk that problems happen. That’s when you need to start worrying.”
“Boy, thanks for that. Now I have something else to worry about.” They came to some rocks so Rick slid his hand over hers to help her. Seemed only natural to leave it there. “Molly’s really taken to Mom, hasn’t she?”
“Who wouldn’t? Eva’s a darling.” Penny with her floppy sandals couldn’t keep up so Rick shortened his stride. “I hope she can help clear up whatever Molly’s struggling with. Lately that girl has looked so tired.”
“You sound like her mother,” he teased then winced at his gaffe. “I mean—”
“I wish I was her mother. I’d coddle her and tell her a hundred times a day how much I love her and how special she is. I get the feeling no one’s ever done that for Molly.” Tears welled in Penny’s eyes, though she swiftly dashed them
away. “I can’t even begin to fathom how tough her life is.”
“She’s got you,” he said, squeezing her fingers. “And now Mom, who will shower her with love and try to run her life for her,” he added fondly.
“But even better, Eva will give Molly some spiritual direction. That’s what I’m most grateful for,” Penny said, rather forcefully he thought and wondered why. “Her boyfriend is trying to get her to quit working at Wranglers.”
“Really?” Rick frowned. “And do what?”
“Live on the street, I suspect. He hasn’t shown up at work recently, has he?” Penny studied his glower then nodded. “That’s what I thought. Why didn’t you say something before?”
“In the rush of starting Wranglers’ apprenticeship program, I sort of forgot about Jeff’s lack of attendance.” Rick shrugged. “But he isn’t your problem. That kid is old enough to figure out that he needs to show up for work. I told him when he started that there couldn’t be any skipping.”
“I know all that. It’s just—”
“Just that you want a happily-ever-after for Molly, right?” Rick grinned at her surprise. “You think I haven’t heard those stories you’re always telling the kids? Every one of them ends in happily-ever-after.”
“Unlike real life,” she mumbled.
“Oh, I don’t know.” He waved a hand around. “This is a pretty good ending to my workweek.”
“Mine, too. I’m sorry for being so ungrateful.” Penny squeezed his hand in what he figured was apology. “Coming to the lake is the best break I’ve had since the last time I was here. I love this place.”
“Good. You deserve a break for all you do for everyone else.” Rick called the twins and they started walking back to his parents’ place. He was fully aware of the moment Penny pulled her hand away. It was right after his mom called them for lunch. Looking chastened she kicked off her sandals and took off running behind the twins as if she needed to get away from him.
It wasn’t only kids he didn’t understand, Rick decided as he followed. It was women, too. Particularly Penny. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to give figuring her out a good try.
Giving up on a lady like Penny was a dummy move, and Eva Granger hadn’t raised her boy to be a dummy.
Chapter Eleven
“I can’t stop thinking about the campfire we had at the lake with Rick’s parents,” Penny told Sophie the following week as she sat in Wranglers’ kitchen with coffee and an apple tart. “Especially the stories he told about the family and his childhood.”
“Sometimes he talks about Gillian to us,” Sophie agreed, pulling another tray of baked goods from the oven. She switched it off and sank into a chair with a sigh. “Whew. It’s hot today. I don’t know how I’d manage if we didn’t have air-conditioning.”
“Us, either. The kids are much happier when they’re not uncomfortable, especially the babies.”
“So did he say anything about his sister?” Sophie asked then sipped her coffee.
“A lot, and everything he said made it sound like they’d been real soul mates.” A thought occurred to Penny. “Did you know Gillian?”
“We only met a couple of times. What struck me most about her was how much she leaned on Rick. They were very close.”
“That’s what I’d guessed from the stories he told and other things he’s said.” Penny glanced at the clock and rose. “I’ve got to get going. Thanks for sharing my coffee break.”
“My pleasure.” Sophie waved her off.
As Penny walked to the daycare she remembered the twinge of envy she’d felt at the lake over the love the Granger family shared. She recalled, too, how it had increased when David and Eva had included her and Molly in the goodbye hugs they’d shared.
Now, days later, Penny again had that feeling of loneliness, an unsettling sense of isolation, as she thought about her day at the lake. It had seemed to her that she was standing on the outside when she wanted so much to be a real part of the Granger family.
As Penny tried to busy herself filling out time sheets she reasoned that she probably felt left out more acutely now because of Rick’s kiss. She hadn’t expected it and still remained flabbergasted by it. As it had a zillion time since, her brain replayed the video of those moments.
She’d been helping him load the truck while Molly and his parents got the twins into their pajamas so they’d be ready to climb into bed once they reached home.
Now Penny’s fingers lifted to her lips, exactly where Rick’s lips had pressed. The same chaotic storm of feelings rushed through her and in a flash she relived those precious moments.
Rick’s kiss was no mere brush of the lips, but a sensitive, probing caress that gave as much as it asked. Moments into the embrace his arms enclosed her, drawing her closer, as if he needed her touch as much as she craved his. It had seemed so right to melt against him, to slide her arms up to twine around his neck, to let her fingers curl into his hair and delight in the senses he awakened. His kiss had forced her to face the depth of her own longings to love and be loved.
Even now she could feel Rick’s lips pressed against her shoulder, hear the ragged breath he’d inhaled. She’d never felt so utterly content to be in any man’s arms as she had in his. Then he’d cupped her face in his hands, brushed her nose with his lips and chuckled.
“I owed you that,” he’d said, dark eyes glinting.
“For?” Penny still couldn’t get over the way his smile affected her.
“Winning the race. Winner gets a kiss, remember?” Rick’s grin said he was laying claim to that title.
“There was no race so no need for a kiss,” she said, hoping he wouldn’t ask her to forget it. “And even if there had been, you and Kyle weren’t even a distant second. Non-compete ribbon maybe.”
Completely ignoring that, he’d kissed her again.
“Penny?” A hand squeezed her shoulder. “Penny? Are you awake?”
“Yes, I’m awake. Sorry, Molly. Just daydreaming.” She forced herself back to awareness, relieved that two other staff members were watching the children.
“Must have been a very good dream,” Molly hinted with a smile. “Care to share?”
“No.” Suddenly Penny noted Molly’s pain-filled face. “Are you all right?”
“Yes. I stumbled on some roots, that’s all.” Molly rubbed her side.
“You fell?” Worried, Penny led the girl to a chair. “Sit and catch your breath a minute. Is the baby okay?”
“It’s fine. Why does everyone keep asking me that question?” The cranky tone told Penny that this almost-mom was weary and out of sorts.
“Maybe you should be checked—”
“I am not seeing a doctor,” Molly said sharply, cutting her off. “My biggest problem is this kid. He’s constantly kicking me. He’s as strong as a horse. I’m the one who can’t sleep, can’t eat normally and can’t get cool.”
“I want you to go to the nurse’s station, Molly.” Penny remained adamant in spite of the girl’s angry look. “There’s no class on now so there shouldn’t be anyone there. You’ll be able to lie down and relax there.”
“I can’t afford—”
“Wranglers Ranch allows their staff to take sick days. You’re going to take part of one now so you can get your energy back. But first you’re going to eat something. Come with me.” Penny led the way to the kitchen area, where two other workers were preparing lunch for the children. “Some soup and a sandwich. I insist,” she added when Molly started to object.
“Fine.” She flopped down in a chair and studied the soup she’d been served. “What does it matter anyway? This kid will probably end up on the street like me.”
“Is that what you want, sweetie?” Penny used her gentlest tone.
“No! But I don’t know how I can change anything.
My mom sure isn’t going to take him.” Molly fiddled with her spoon. “I keep thinking about adoption but I’m afraid I wouldn’t get any say in the parents or what they did or how the kid grows up.”
“I had a friend who gave up a baby for adoption,” Penny said gently. “She made several conditions that had to be met before she terminated her rights.”
“But that’s just it. I don’t know what conditions to ask for and anyway, I don’t know if that’s what I want to do.” Molly set down her spoon as tears rolled down her cheeks. “I’m the mother so it’s my job to make sure this kid is well looked after all his life, not just when he’s a baby. And I don’t know how to make that stuff happen.”
“Here.” Penny pulled a small notepad out of her pocket and grabbed a pen off a nearby shelf. “Eat your lunch and while you do make notes of all the things you want for your baby. Write down every detail that’s important to you.”
“Why?” Molly asked with a frown.
“Because then you’ll know what to ask prospective parents who want to adopt your baby, if adoption is the route you decide to go.” Penny smoothed a hand over her head. “When you’ve finished go lie down and relax for a while. Why not ask God what He wants you to do? Sometimes when we’re quiet is the best time for God to plant an idea in our head. Okay?”
She waited for Molly’s nod, complimented the cooks on their work then left, needing a few moments of quiet time for herself to think about the idea growing in her mind.
Could she adopt Molly’s baby?
It was well past coffee break time so she chose the patio to sit and think further about the idea. But she’d barely begun praying when Rick appeared.
“Hey, Penny. Are you running late today, too?” he said as he filled a glass with lemonade and took the last two doughnuts from under the glass dome covering them.
“No. I came here to think.”
“And I’m bothering you. I’ll leave.” He turned to go but she stopped him.
“Actually, if you don’t mind listening, I’d like your opinion on something, Rick.” When he nodded and sat down she slowly, hesitatingly, told him her thoughts.
