by Lois Richer
“They are here, darling.” Sam’s heart blocked his throat as Kelly crouched down to the twins’ level. “Your mom and dad are right here in your heart.” She tapped Sadie’s little chest. “They’ll always be there because they loved you so much and because you loved them.”
Sadie frowned. “Are you sure?”
“Yep. Positive,” Kelly said with no hesitation. Sam could have hugged her for that when Sadie’s sad tears immediately stopped.
“Oh.” Sadie leaned forward until her lips were next to Kelly’s ear. “I like talkin’ ’bout my Mommy an’ Daddy but it makes Grannybell cry.” The not-quite-whispered words pierced the room’s sudden silence.
Sam winced at Arabella’s indrawn breath and tensed. Now Kelly’s mother would take offense. She’d done a lot of that lately. To save everyone’s nerves he prepared to intervene, but once again Kelly spoke first.
“Your mommy was Grannybell’s daughter, Sadie. That means she was Grannybell’s little girl, just like you and Emma are Mommy’s very special little girls.” Kelly’s voice lost its composure for an instant, but she swallowed and quickly regained her poise. “You loved your mommy very much, right?” Two blond heads nodded. “Well, so did Grannybell.”
“She doesn’t like it that our mommy’s with God?” Emma asked in the soft, hesitant voice Sam had begun to hate, because he hadn’t been able to figure out how to cure it. Eyes wide, Emma risked a sideways glance at Arabella. “Why?”
“She likes Mommy to be with God,” Kelly assured her. “But she misses Mommy very much, and sometimes that makes her cry. But it’s okay for Grannybell to cry, and it’s okay for you guys to talk about your mom and dad.” Kelly nodded at their wide-eyed stares. “Talking about Mommy is how we remember her.”
“Are you gonna talk ’bout her?” Sadie, the chatterbox, asked. “Uncle Sam tol’ us you and Mommy were twins like me an’ Emma.”
“We were, only we didn’t look like each other, like you two do.” Kelly’s voice wobbled. She cleared her throat then held out one hand. “I’m Auntie Kelly. Pleased to meet you, Miss Sadie. And you, Miss Emma.”
Sam’s lips twitched as the girls, bemused at being called Miss, each shook hands with their aunt.
“What about Jacob Samuel?” Emma asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “Don’t you gotta shake hands with him, too?”
“He’s just a baby. He doesn’t shake hands,” Sadie scolded.
“How do you do, Master Jacob Samuel Denver?” Kelly performed a bow in front of the little boy then took his tiny hand and shook it. “I’m very pleased to make your—ooh.” She glanced at her hand, made a face then wiped her fingers on her pant leg amid the twins’ giggles.
“Jacob Samuel drools,” Sadie informed her.
“A lot,” Emma added.
“Thank you. I’ll remember that.” Kelly looked around, taking in Marina’s kitchen, her home. She suddenly looked so lost, Sam felt a rush of pity.
“Do you two want to see what I brought for you?” he asked the twins.
Sadie yelled “yes” and both girls jumped up and down with excitement. No doubt he’d hear about their unseemly behavior from Arabella later, but for now their happy excitement sounded like music to Sam’s ears. He handed them each a box, received a hug and then watched as the girls opened their gifts, dolls he’d bought in the airport store, oohing and ahhing over them as they lifted them free of the tissue paper while Kelly stood watching with a smile on her face.
“Arabella, this is for you and Neil. A small token to say thanks for helping my parents with the kids.” He took the baby from her in trade for a huge box of the brand of candy he knew she favored. “Where are my parents, by the way?”
“At your father’s medical appointment. Your mother thought it best to keep to his schedule,” Arabella said in quiet tones, her gaze on Kelly.
“I think so, too,” Sam agreed, relieved to see that nothing had happened while he was away. “So what’s been happening?”
“Oscar said we got two new babies in the barn, Uncle Sam.” Emma was entranced by the ranch animals.
“Where did you see Oscar?” he asked sharply. Hadn’t Arabella been watching? Surely the twins hadn’t gone out to the barn—fear crept up his spine.
“I seed him when me an’ Sadie builded our snowmen,” Emma murmured. “We got carrots for the noses an’ I used one of your hats. Grannybell said it was ’propri—” She frowned and turned to her twin. “What was that word?”
“I dunno.” Sadie was too busy removing the clothes from her doll to even look up.
“Appropriate?” Kelly asked with an amused wink at Sam.
“Yeah.” After Sam told her he had indeed noticed their snowman’s hat, Emma crouched down beside her sister, and the two immediately launched into playtime.
“What do they call your mother?” Kelly asked curiously.
“Gran,” he said and winked. “As opposed to Grannybell for your mom.”
“Cute.” As Kelly glanced around, he noticed her backpack still lay at her feet.
“Come on. I’ll show you where you can stow your stuff.” He picked up the pack and led the way to the back bedroom, next to the twins’. “Is this okay?” he asked, wishing he’d thought of dusting the spare room. “Your parents have the master bedroom. Marina thought it was easier for them with the attached bath.”
“This is fine.” She glanced around once, then her gaze returned to him. “You said your parents are staying here, too?”
“No, they’re at my place.” He walked to the window, drew back the curtain and pointed. “Over there. See?” he said with a burst of pride swelling inside at the log structure he’d built mostly by himself from felling the trees to choosing the admittedly masculine decor. “They were in a place in town, sort of a practice run before buying a condo in the city, but it was too far away. This is better. I can check on them anytime.”
“Good idea.” Kelly’s focus seemed to be on the empty walls.
“Something wrong?” he asked.
“Just wondering why Marina never hung anything in here.” She shrugged. “The walls are all blank. I remember she always used to like to hang her pictures everywhere.”
“They were full of Marina’s pictures. She’d become an excellent photographer.” Sam chose his words carefully. “Your mother’s had a hard time dealing with her death. I came back one day to find she’d taken everything down. She said she couldn’t bear to look at the wasted potential of her talent. That’s partly why I suggested they move upstairs. No memories there because Jake and Marina just had it renovated.”
“But Mom removed other stuff, didn’t she?” Kelly’s pointed look made Sam realize there was no point in prevaricating. Her next words confirmed that. “I noticed the living room has discolored paint where I’m guessing a family or wedding picture used to hang.” Her lips tightened. “She shouldn’t have touched them. I’ll ask her not to do it anymore.”
“I’ve already told her not to,” he admitted.
“Really?” Kelly stared at him. “You told my mother—” She stopped, a dazed look stretching her eyes wide.
“I had to. I want her to feel comfortable here, but I also want this to remain the kids’ home,” Sam explained. “Too many changes all at once aren’t good for them. Your mother disagrees. She thinks they should forget as fast as they can.”
“It’s what she did with her own parents’ deaths when we were little. We couldn’t talk about our grandparents at all, though we had some very good memories.” Kelly’s sad face made Sam want to reassure her just as she’d reassured the twins. “That’s how she deals with life’s problems. Or at least it was when I lived at home.”
“Maybe she’ll get better,” he soothed, doubting it.
“Thank you for understanding.” Kelly’s smile made it clear she knew he was s
oft-pedaling her mother’s indignant reaction. “I’m sure she hasn’t made it easy for you. I’m surprised she didn’t push to have the funerals before I arrived.”
“We need your input,” was all he would admit. He smiled. “I was hoping you’d agree we should have them at their church, the one I showed you in town, and fairly soon. We all need the chance to say goodbye.” He touched her arm, hating to cause her pain, but knowing it was inevitable. “I’d like to have one funeral for both of them on Saturday. Is that okay with you?”
“That’s only two days away.” He saw the tears well, but Kelly gulped, lifted her chin and nodded. “What do you need me to do?”
“Exactly what you just did, which is to take care of the kids. Listen to them when they want to talk. Comfort them, reassure them that they are loved and cared for.” He had to say it. “I don’t want Sadie and Emma to hear one word from anyone about not staying here on the ranch.”
“Why aren’t me and Emma stayin’ here, Uncle Sam? Don’t you want us no more?”
Sam wheeled around with a silent groan. Sadie stood in the doorway, her face drawn up in a frown.
“You’re gonna send us away, aren’t you, Uncle Sam?” she asked and then began to howl as if she was seriously injured.
Sam looked at Kelly and silently begged, Help me!
* * *
Kelly recognized grief, weariness and sadness in Sam’s silent appeal. Poor guy was swamped with trying to keep the world going for everyone, including her. Kelly had to act. She scooped Sadie into her arms, set her on the bed then sat down beside her.
“Hush now. I want to ask you something, Sadie.”
“’Kay,” was the hiccupped response.
“Do you know Uncle Sam very well?” Kelly asked.
“O’ course. He’s Daddy’s brother.” Sadie frowned at the obviousness of that, but at least she’d stopped crying, and now her blue eyes widened with curiosity.
“Yes, but is Uncle Sam mean?” Kelly waited for Sadie to shake her head. “Does he do bad things?” Again the shake. “But I guess he sometimes yells at you.”
“No. Uncle Sam loves me and Emma,” Sadie insisted.
“Then why would he send you away from your home?” Kelly waited for her to puzzle it out. “Uncle Sam wouldn’t do that, right?” Sadie shook her head. “Of course not. But you heard us talking and wondered why he said what he did.”
“Uh-huh.” Sadie’s pigtails bobbed with her nod.
“Well, honey, it’s like this. People are curious and sometimes they say silly things. I think Uncle Sam must have heard some of those folks talking, wondering about you and Emma.”
“’Bout our mommy and daddy going away, you mean?” she said calmly, leaving Kelly to marvel at the quickness of this child’s brain. “I think they said it ’cause Uncle Sam hasn’t got a mommy.”
“But—oh, you mean he doesn’t have a wife who could care for you?” Kelly clarified.
“Uh-huh.” Sadie frowned. “Who’s gonna look after Emma ’n me?”
“Uncle Sam’s going to look after you, honey. And I’m going to help him. If anyone asks you, you tell them that.” She hugged Sadie close, somewhat surprised by how quickly love for these precious children had swept into her heart, a determined and protective love that refused to let Marina’s beloved kids suffer unnecessarily.
“Okay now, darlin’?” Sam drawled as he crouched in front of Sadie.
“I guess.” Her freckled nose wrinkled. “But who’s my fam’ly?”
“Darlin’, you got family coming out your ears.” Sam tickled her earlobe then began listing people. “You have two grandmas, two grandpas, Uncle Sam, Auntie Kelly, Emma, Jacob Samuel and Oscar—”
“Oscar’s my fam’ly?” Sadie’s eyes peered at him in surprise.
“Oscar’s our right-hand man,” Sam explained to Kelly. He handed her the baby before turning back to Sadie to cup her cheeks in his palms. “He lives on the Triple D, doesn’t he?” He grinned when she nodded. “Well then, Oscar must be family. Right, Kel?” he asked, holding her gaze with his own.
Kel. The nickname he’d given her the night of the wedding. Sam was the only one who’d ever called her that. Kelly couldn’t help a thrill of pleasure at the familiarity. It made her feel part of the group, as though she belonged. Not even the memory of her mother’s frosty reception could ruin the burst of warmth that sprang up inside.
Dear Sam. How kind of him to make her feel so welcome. Of course she was going to stay and help him, for as long as she could.
“Kel?” He was still watching her with that intent stare that saw too much.
“Right, Sam,” she agreed, snapping out of her reverie. “Oscar must be family.”
“See, Sadie Lady? What did I say?” He chuckled at Sadie’s surprised look, but his attention returned to her. “Auntie Kel knows who’s family.”
His gaze held, probing, reassuring, warm. It felt as if Sam saw deep inside her to the secret childhood yearning to be loved unconditionally that had never quite gone away.
“Do ranch people eat dinner?” Kelly blurted, shifting under his stare. She rose, careful not to jostle Jacob Samuel, who was now sleeping. “I’m starving.”
“It’s not dinnertime yet,” Sadie chided. “First Uncle Sam has to do chores.”
“Tonight Oscar’s going to do my chores,” Sam explained as he took her hand on one side and Kelly’s free one on the other then drew them both beside him toward the kitchen. “Kelly and I were rushing so hard to get here we only had a bit of breakfast and we missed lunch. I’m starving. Let’s get a snack.”
“Me an’ Emma could make you our shake-’em-up pudding,” Sadie volunteered as she swung his arm.
“Would you do that for us, darlin’?” Sam asked in a voice so tender, Kelly was nearly moved to tears. “I’d sure appreciate that. Wouldn’t you, Kelly?”
“Shake-’em-up pudding sounds just right to me,” she agreed. “Only I don’t know what it is. Can you show me how to make it, Sadie?”
“Sure.” The little girl turned and bellowed, “Emma! Come an’ help me. We gotta cook. Uncle Sam and Auntie Kel are hun-gry.”
Sam barely smothered his laughter and winked at Kelly, who faked a cough to hide her own mirth. When Sadie frowned at her, Kelly made a big deal of pretending to regain her breath until the child finally turned away.
“Thanks.” Sam’s breath brushed her ear.
“That’s why I’m here.” Kelly smiled at him, enjoying the cozy feeling that being part of Sam’s team brought. Until she caught a glimpse of her mother’s face over Sam’s shoulder.
“So that’s how you think it will be, is it?” Arabella was clearly furious.
“Mom? What’s wrong?” Kelly frowned when Arabella snatched Jacob Samuel from her arms, waking the little guy, who howled angrily at the disturbance.
“You’ve never bothered to make connections, to be there when you’re needed, but now you think you’ll waltz in here and take your sister’s place, in her home—”
“What?” Stunned, Kelly stared at her, unable to believe she was hearing this. But Sam was not frozen by Arabella’s bitter, angry words.
“Stop it,” he ordered sternly. In one fluid move, he lifted Jacob from Arabella’s startled grasp and handed the child back to Kelly before gripping Arabella’s arm and firmly drawing her from the room, speaking over her angry protest. “I need to talk to you. Privately.”
“Grannybell’s mad,” Sadie stated when they’d left. “You’re in big trouble.” She shook her head at Kelly then turned to order her sister to pour milk into a bowl.
Big trouble? Kelly stared into Jacob’s scowling face and jiggled him just in time to stop a yowl of anger or making strange or whatever he was doing.
“You’re right, Sadie,” she muttered with a sigh. “Almost
ten years’ worth of trouble. I guess the time’s come to pay the piper.”
“We don’t have a piper.” Sadie gave her a long look of pure pity before she turned back to her task, knocking over the milk jug as she did. Fortunately, Emma caught it. Sadie regally thanked her twin then returned to directing the pudding making.
A snicker from the doorway drew Kelly’s attention. Sam stood just out of the kids’ view, shoulders shaking with laughter. Kelly gave him a severe look. That was when she realized Jacob’s diaper had leaked onto her shirt.
No piper to pay? Wanna make a bet?
* * *
As Sam tucked Jacob Samuel into his crib, he tried to remember the last time his sides had ached simply from laughing so hard. For a few moments he was overwhelmed by a pang of guilt. How could he laugh when his brother would never laugh again? But Jake and Marina would want their family to be happy. He’d have to keep reminding himself of that and of his Godsend, as his mother would put it, in finding Kelly.
Kelly had asked him what he’d said to her mother earlier, and so far Sam had managed to put her off by saying the matter was handled, but he knew perfectly well that Arabella would cause more trouble. She seemed very angry at her daughter, and Sam wasn’t sure exactly why that was.
Fortunately, Kelly and his mom, Verna, had hit it off immediately when his parents had arrived a few hours earlier. While Arabella, claiming a migraine, stayed in her room, leaving Kelly’s father, Neil, with Sam and the kids, Kelly and his mom had prepared a meal with the twins’ pudding for dessert. They all worked hard to keep the atmosphere light when Kelly’s mother finally came to the table. Jock Denver was a born peacemaker, and Sam could have hugged his dad when he drew Neil and Arabella into a conversation about downsizing.
While the men cleaned the dishes, Kelly helped Verna bathe the children under her mother’s disapproving stare. Then Kelly snuggled in a chair with the twins for a bedtime tale about a princess who traveled on a big boat to faraway places. Enthralled by her soft voice and her descriptions of the same sights Sam had longed for years to see, the twins begged Kelly to keep going when she said it was bedtime. She assured them that installments would follow each night if they didn’t fuss about going to bed.
