"Sure," CeCe said, her thoughts returning to Nate, his ex-wife, and his lack of children. She wondered if different opinions about children had led to their breakup, but she couldn't imagine Nate leaving his wife. He didn't seem the type. The wife probably left him, and if that was the case, he was probably still in love with her. CeCe told herself she shouldn't care since she wasn't interested in Nate. But she did care.
"OK, I'm ready," Anna Mae said, pulling CeCe's thoughts back to the task of returning the classroom to its before-workshop state.
"Me, too." CeCe gathered her purse and the toys and books she'd brought for David and followed Anna Mae out of the meeting room.
Both women headed for the doors, but they stopped when they saw Shay standing in the foyer looking out one of the windows at the main entrance. Anna Mae chatted with them for a couple of minutes, then made her excuses and headed for home.
"Take care," CeCe said to Anna Mae. "And tell Danita I said hi. I'll see you next week." CeCe had met the teenager a couple of times now, and she didn't think Anna Mae had anything to worry about. Danita seemed much more mature and grounded in her faith than CeCe had been at her age.
When CeCe turned back to Shay, the tears streaming down the woman's face replaced all thoughts of Danita. Shay had to have been on the verge of tears the entire time they'd been talking with Anna Mae. Why didn't I notice? CeCe asked herself.
"What's wrong?" CeCe asked. She looked out the window and guessed that Shay had been watching Nate and David fly a kite. CeCe pulled Shay into her arms and tried to calm her. She chastised herself for not thinking about the effect David would have on her. Anna Mae had told her of the despair Shay and Marvin had fallen into after the death of their son. She should have considered her friend's feelings. Shay had sat in on a couple of CeCe's and Anna Mae's planning meetings, and CeCe suspected she would show up today. She should have planned for that possibility.
"I'm so sorry, Shay," she said. "I wouldn't have brought David if I'd known he'd have this effect on you."
Shay sniffled some more, then said, "No, no, I'm glad you brought him. He's such a wonderful little boy. The two of them out there now remind me so much of Marvin and Marvin Jr. Oh, CeCe, I miss my little boy so much."
CeCe just held her friend. She had no words to give her. As a mother, she knew platitudes would do more harm than good, so she just let her friend cry her way through. When her tears seemed to subside, CeCe asked, "Will you tell me about Marvin Jr., Shay? I want to get to know him."
Shay smiled a trembling smile and began. She told of the joy she and Marvin had experienced when they'd found out she was pregnant, how protective Marvin had been during her pregnancy, and how proud they'd both been that their firstborn had been a big, healthy boy. "He was such a bright boy, CeCe, so happy, and so in love with his father. The two were inseparable. Oh, I miss them both so much. It's as though I've lost Marvin too. I don't know if we'll ever get over losing Marvin Jr."
CeCe listened with an almost envious heart. While she couldn't bear to allow herself to even consider the possibility of going through such a tragedy, she was envious of the intimacy Shay and Marvin had shared. Shay's story made her relive the anguish and aloneness she'd felt when she'd learned she was pregnant. How she'd gone through her pregnancy in a state of near depression. The shame she'd felt. And the guilt. Her dreams of pregnancy had always included the doting father and loving husband that Shay had in Marvin. Her reality had been much different.
"Thank you, CeCe," Shay said, gripping her friend's hand tightly. "Thank you for bringing David here today. You know, I haven't really allowed myself to enjoy a child since Marvin Jr.'s death. It was time, and I'm not sure I would have figured that out had you not brought David."
CeCe didn't have a response, so she just pulled Shay into a warm embrace. When they separated, Shay said, "Why don't you go on. I'm going to go freshen up before I go home. Marvin's waiting for me, and I don't want him to know I've been crying. Tell Nate I'll lock up, and he can head home too."
"Are you sure? I can stay with you."
Shay squeezed CeCe's hand. "You've done more than enough. Please go and enjoy your son before I feel even more guilty for crying all over you."
CeCe studied Shay's face, trying to determine if her friend was really OK. Her smile was wobbly but sincere. CeCe nodded. "OK, I'll go, but you call me if you need to talk."
* * *
"Mama, Mama," David called to her just as she stepped outside the Center. He ran toward her, his little legs pumping furiously.
"Slow down, David, I'm right here," she called to him. "I'm not going anywhere."
By the time he reached her, he was nearly breathless. "Guess what, Mama? Mr. Nate's taking me to a ball game. He said Timmy could come, too."
CeCe looked from her son to Nate, who'd just walked up behind the little boy. "Is that right?" she asked Nate. She couldn't help but notice that he looked as fresh now in his jeans and polo shirt as he had when she'd first seen him—a true sign that he was experienced with children. An inexperienced person would look a bit worse for the wear after spending the morning with three rambunctious little boys and a huge, playful dog.
"Hold on a minute, sport," Nate said. "Remember I said we had to ask your mother, not tell her."
"Ask her, Mr. Nate. Ask her."
CeCe grinned at the sheepish expression on Nate's face. Leave it to David to embarrass the man. "That's right. Go ahead, ask me, Nate."
"OK, I'm caught. I admit it. I coach this Little League team at church—the guys are a little older than David—and I thought he might enjoy seeing them play. Of course, you're welcome to come, too."
"Please?" David begged. The hopefulness in his bright eyes told CeCe that Nate had completely won over her son.
She grinned at her child and then at the man who'd brought him such joy. "If you're sure."
"Positive," Nate said.
"Yeah," David said. That battle won, he went for a second one. "I'm hungry, Mama. Can we go get the pizza now?"
CeCe looked down at her son. "We sure can."
"Can Mr. Nate come, too?" David asked.
CeCe's gaze skittered over to Nate, then back down at her son.
"We can't tie Mr. Nate up all day, David. It was nice enough of him to watch you while I taught my workshop. You'll see him again at the ball game."
David looked up at Nate. "But you want to come, don't you, Mr. Nate? You want to see me play the pinball game. You remember, don't you, Mr. Nate? I told you about the pinball."
Nate smiled down at the boy. "Sure I remember, sport. And I am getting a little hungry." He rubbed his stomach as if to prove his point. "I could go for a large pizza about now." He looked over at CeCe. The expression he wore bore a remarkable resemblance to the one David had worn when he was pleading to go to Nate's ball game. "That is, if your mother doesn't mind me tagging along."
She looked at Nate and wondered if thoughts of her personal-slash-professional proclamation were floating around in his mind, but his face gave away nothing. How could she say no? Both of them were giving her puppy-dog looks. After all, Nate had been so nice to David, and David wanted him to come. Besides, what could happen over pizza with a four-year-old chaperone? "Of course, I don't mind," she said in what she hoped was a relaxed tone. Inside, her heart was thumping. She hadn't forgotten her internal warning to guard her heart around this man. "We're going to Kids' Pizza. I hope you're ready for more kids."
Nate grinned at her. "Like I always say, a man can never get enough of kids."
CeCe returned his banter. "And like I always say, spoken like a man who doesn't have kids."
Nate's expression sobered, and he gazed into her eyes. She would have sworn that those probing eyes of his read every thought on her heart. "How would you know whether or not I have kids, Ms. Williams? Been checking up on me?"
CeCe held Nate's gaze, and the dance of flirtation reflected in his eyes made her question the safety of the pizza lunch they were about to sha
re. He was definitely flirting with her. Had he misread her invitation to lunch as something more than it was? She hoped not, but... He meets David and immediately he starts flirting.
She put the pieces of the puzzle together in her head as she'd done many times in the past. In those cases, she'd been disappointed to find out the men were so shallow. With Nate, she was more than disappointed. She was hurt. She'd wanted him to be different.
Chapter 5
Good going, Richardson, Nate chided himself as he followed along in his truck behind CeCe and David to the pizza place. Why'd you have to get all cute with her? The first time you flirt with a woman in over five years and you blow it. CeCe told you she wasn't up for anything personal, and what do you do—you flirt with her. Her big brown eyes had gone dark at his comment, and he'd been at a loss for how to extricate his foot from his mouth. She probably thought he was a lecher or something. OK, maybe lecher was too strong a word, but he could tell that his comment had hurt her. Even though he thought she might have been a bit oversensitive, he didn't want to see her hurt—or to be the one to hurt her.
The thing was, he liked her. Really liked her. Of course he found her attractive. That didn't surprise him. That he liked her did surprise him. He liked her outlook on life, the little that he knew of it. He liked the way she had jumped in with both feet at Genesis House, the loving care and acceptance she'd shown the people of Robinwood, the relationship she had with her son. He even liked her shy smile. And he especially liked how easily embarrassed she was. In fact, there wasn't anything about CeCe Williams that he didn't like. Everything about her, and now her son, tugged at his heart in a way he had not expected.
He'd felt a similar tug when he'd first seen Naomi. That time, he'd gone into full Nate mode and set out to win the heart of the one who'd so easily grabbed a part of his. Of course, he'd told himself that he was only following God's lead. Now he wasn't so sure that's what he'd been doing. Naomi had been elusive, very much a challenge, and he'd never been one to run away from a challenge. One of the many mistakes he'd made with Naomi was to pursue her so relentlessly. He'd gone straight from the chase to the altar with very little time spent getting to know her or allowing her to get to know him.
He didn't want to do that with CeCe. He wanted to get to know her, to be her friend, and to have her as a friend. He knew that going into full Nate mode wouldn't win her friendship. This time he was going to follow the pace she set. "Lord," he prayed, "show me how to walk in this new way. I know how to do things my way, but I want to do them her way, because I believe her way is also your way. I've searched my heart, and I believe that you placed this woman in my life. I'm not sure yet what to expect, but I want to follow you. Please show me how."
By the time they made it to the pizza place, Nate knew he owed CeCe an apology. He made quick work of getting out of his truck and heading for her car. She and David were out before he got there. He gave her what he hoped she'd recognize as an apologetic smile as David slid one small hand into his and the other into CeCe's, and they made their way into the restaurant.
Before Nate could say anything to CeCe, David had dropped his mother's hand and was trying to lead him off to play pinball. "Give the man time to catch his breath, David," CeCe admonished.
"You got your breath already, don't you, Mr. Nate?" David asked, as though his mother had said something ridiculous.
Nate gave CeCe a smile and said, "Who can argue with that logic?"
He was relieved when she returned his smile. "I know I can't. You two go on. I'll get a table and order for us. We tend to keep it simple—just cheese and pepperoni. Does that work for you?"
"Sounds good. Toss in a salad and I'll be good to go."
Nate heard her soft laughter and her murmured, "I'll do it," as David dragged him off to play a challenge match of pinball.
* * *
CeCe smiled after the two males as she watched them fold into the crowd in the game area of the restaurant. The drive over here had given her enough time to calm down. For the second time, Nate had made her feel silly. To be honest, the truth was that for the second time, she'd overreacted to something he said, and that overreaction made her feel silly. She'd known, even as she'd walked away from Nate to her car back at the Center, that he hadn't meant anything beyond a harmless flirtation. Had she not been conditioned to think the worst of the men she met, she would have realized that truth before she turned away from him. Any doubts she had about his sincerity had been wiped away when he'd joined her and David in the parking lot. His smile told her that he realized his comments had upset her and that he wanted to make amends.
A waitress finally seated her at a booth big enough for the three of them and took her order. Afterwards, CeCe headed for the game room in search of David and Nate. She knew David's favorite game, so she wasn't surprised to find them at one of the programmable machines that based game difficulty on the age of each player, making competition between an adult and a child relatively fair.
"Not like that, Mr. Nate," she heard her son say. "Let me show you."
David was standing on a platform in front of the machine. Nate stood next to him, the controls in his hand.
CeCe bit back the laughter that bubbled up in her as Nate stepped to the side and proceeded to take instruction from her four-year-old son. As she watched, he nodded appropriately at David's somewhat jumbled instructions. When her son decided that Nate was sufficiently trained, he stepped aside and let Nate at the controls.
David cheered. "That's it, Mr. Nate."
"I think I've got it, David—," Nate began. "Uh-oh, it's gonna get me."
"Get out of the way, Mr. Nate, get out of the way!"
"Oh no, it got me," Nate said in a voice that sounded much too wounded to be entirely for David's benefit. Apparently, Nate was a competitor.
"Well, you'll do better next time," David said, taking the controls. "Watch me and I'll show you again."
"So who's winning?" CeCe asked, deciding the time was right for her entrance. She stood a step behind the two males, peering between them at the screen.
"He is," Nate said, looking back over his shoulder at her. "But I'm going to ask for a rematch after I get in some practice." He placed his hand around David's neck and squeezed affectionately. "How about that, sport? Will you give me a rematch?"
"Sure, Mr. Nate. But you're going to have to practice a lot. I can help you, though."
"Why, thank you." He gave CeCe a private grin.
David looked at his mother. "Do you want to play, Mama?"
Before CeCe could answer, Nate said, "Yeah, how about if you play me, CeCe? I probably stand a better chance against you than against your son."
"But—," David began, but she cut him off with a smile and a wink that Nate missed. Her son got her message and stepped off the platform and out of the way.
"Who's going first?" she asked Nate.
Nate gave an exaggerated bow and slid a secret smile to David. "Ladies first, madam."
David found Nate's antics hilarious, but CeCe just raised her brow and stepped up to the controls. "If you're sure?" she queried before starting the game.
"I wouldn't have it any other way, my lady."
CeCe took the controls without feeling the least bit of guilt. It was Nate's own fault. He'd blithely assumed that she played about as well as—make that as poorly as—he did, but he'd soon find out he was wrong. She felt him as he pressed close to her right side, while David positioned himself at her left.
She was not surprised when, forty-five seconds into the game, a loud groan sounded in her right ear. She grinned.
"I've been scammed," Nate complained. "You're a professional. I bet David's been giving you lessons."
CeCe winked at her son, who was now giggling, before saying to Nate, "Who do you think taught David?" CeCe wanted to laugh at the surprise in Nate's eyes. "Watch it," she said instead. "I'm beginning to think you aren't the modern man that you claimed to be."
Nate leaned behind CeCe
and said to David, "Why didn't you tell me she was so good?"
"I was gonna tell you, but Mama made me be quiet, didn't you, Mama?" CeCe nodded, her concentration on the game. She was going to show Nate her best. Then she'd gloat about it while they ate their pizza. "She winked and everything," David continued.
Nate moved back to stand next to CeCe. "A pinball shark. I don't think I've ever met one before."
CeCe turned to him and whispered, "Be careful, Mr. Richardson. I'm teaching my son the importance of being a good sport. You wouldn't want me to use you as an example of how not to be a good sport now, would you?"
Nate's grin told her that he knew she was teasing. "Yes, ma'am," he whispered to her. "I'll be on my best behavior from now on." In a louder voice, he said, "Your mama's really good, David. I'm going to have to challenge both of you to a rematch. Before that, though, I'm probably going to need both of you to give me some tips on improving my game."
David moved to Nate's side and began telling him about the game, just as CeCe was wrapping up. She stepped back and relinquished the controls to Nate. "Not on your life," he mouthed. Louder, he said, "Don't you think our pizza should be ready by now?"
"Yeah, pizza," David chanted.
CeCe shook her head in mock dismay. "Poor sport," she mouthed to Nate. Then she led the two boys to their table.
* * *
At the tug on his sleeve, Nate looked down at the picture David was coloring in the book provided by the waitress. The boy had talked more than he'd eaten, starting with the blessing and continuing until CeCe had bidden him to rest his mouth for a while, but Nate had enjoyed him. Now David held up his book for Nate to see his picture.
"Let the man eat, David," CeCe chided.
Nate murmured something to the boy, then looked up at her. "It's not a problem. I'm probably having as much fun as he is."
CeCe lifted a brow at the man seated across from her. "So you like to color, huh?"
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