At the huge discount hardware store, Heather cautioned the boys. “You need to stay with us. This place covers three city blocks, and you could get lost.”
“Don’t worry, they will.” Brad crossed his arms and looked from one younger boy to the other as if giving a threat.
“I’m glad they have carts here.” Becka lifted Kristi into the child seat. “Candace, can you be a big girl and sit in the back?”
Candace tried to climb on the cart so Heather lifted her in. By the time they purchased paint and carpeting for the room plus a few extras, Heather realized something was going on with the kids. If one of the younger ones grew restless, either Brad or Becka stepped in to distract them or to whisper something that brought immediate control.
They stowed everything but the carpet, which Matt would get later, in the back of the van and went to eat. Heather and Matt couldn’t have asked for better-behaved kids. When Ricky couldn’t decide what to order, Brad leaned toward the younger boy and Heather heard him say, “You’d better decide what’s important, food or…”
Although he let his sentence dangle, what he left off seemed to help Ricky make up his mind. Ricky glanced toward Heather and smiled. “I want hamburger and fries.”
That afternoon when Matt pulled the van to a stop in front of Heather’s house, the older kids scrambled from the back. Brad and Becka took the two little girls out before Heather or Matt could help. All six children stood in a group facing their parents.
Brad stuck his hand out for Matt to shake. “Thanks for a fun day and for lunch. We all enjoyed it, didn’t we guys?”
As Brad gave a pointed glare at Gary and Ricky, Becka nudged her younger brother with her elbow. Ricky jerked to attention and said, “Oh yeah, thanks, Dad. And you too, Heather. We had a lot of fun.”
“Me, too.” Gary followed his older brother’s example and shook Matt’s hand.
Heather wondered if Matt understood what the kids were up to. They’d been entirely too good all day and now they were thanking them? If only she could bottle this behavior and take it out when she wanted. They had an ulterior motive. Every sweet, adorable one of them wanted something, and she had a good idea what it was. If only she understood her own feelings as well.
Brad picked Candace up and ushered Gary toward the house while Becka pushed her younger siblings toward their dad’s SUV. When Matt turned toward her, Heather expected him to laugh at their children’s antics.
Instead he frowned. “Can you get away later? I think we need to talk.”
She glanced toward the house. “In Brad’s present frame of mind, I have a feeling he’ll be glad to watch the kids for a few minutes.”
“I’ll pick you up as soon as I get my gang down for the night.”
Heather nodded agreement then watched Matt drive away before she went inside.
~*~
Matt kissed Kristi on the forehead as her heavy eyelids closed in sleep. He smiled at his sweet baby before turning to Becka who lay propped up in bed with a paperback.
“Is it good?” He lifted the book from her and read the title. “Double Trouble. Is that something you should be reading?”
She giggled. “It’s a Christian romance, Daddy. That means it’s G rated, and it has a Christian message.”
“Romance?” He picked up on the one word meaning she wasn’t his baby anymore. “Are you old enough for romance?”
“Oh, Daddy, I’m a teenager. It happens, you know.”
Yes, he knew. But that didn’t make him ready for his little girl to grow up. Best he could do was ignore the obvious. “If I go out for a few minutes, can you handle things here? Kristi’s asleep, and I think Ricky isn’t far behind. I’ll check on him again before I go.”
“Sure, we’ll be fine. Just lock the door.”
“Will do.” He turned to leave, but she stopped him.
“Daddy.”
“What?” He stood in the doorway watching a smile play across her lips.
“I like Heather a lot. So do Ricky and Kristi. We like her kids, too. Brad feels the same way. He helped me keep the kids in line today so you and Heather could see that six kids aren’t too many. You can tell her if you like. And you don’t have to hurry back. We really will be all right.”
Matt didn’t know what to say. He nodded, feeling as if he might be rushing toward something better approached with extreme caution. “Thanks for telling me, Becka. I’ll keep it in mind. I’ll be back within an hour.”
Matt drove across town and stopped in front of Heather’s. He stepped from the Bronco as she emerged from the house and hurried down the sidewalk toward him.
Ten minutes later they sat in his Bronco at a drive-in restaurant sipping hot chocolate. He shifted to speak to her over his steaming cup. “Did Brad tell you what he and Becka did today?”
Heather gave him a quick look before she smiled. “You mean making the younger kids behave so we’d see that six kids are not too many?”
“Yeah.”
“Brad has changed so much.” Heather took a sip of her drink and looked out the windshield as a carhop walked past with an order. “I give you credit for a lot of it.”
“Me?” Matt frowned. “I haven’t done anything. His involvement in church with the puppeteers is more likely what’s helped.”
“Maybe.” Heather gripped her hot chocolate with both hands and blew lightly into the steam. “I don’t know what to think about so many things. About church and the kids and…” Her voice trailed off before she added, “other things.”
“You mean us?” Matt held his breath, waiting for her answer.
She whispered, “Yes.”
Matt waited until she looked up and her eyes met his. He smiled. “You know friend isn’t enough, don’t you?”
She nodded and looked away. “I know. But is anything more too much?”
Matt’s breath rushed from his lungs before he realized he had been holding it. “Let’s take things slow and easy. Will you pray with me for God’s will? We’ll see what happens in His time.”
He recognized hesitation in her eyes as she nodded. Did she hesitate because he asked her to pray or because she didn’t want more than friendship? Or because she did?
Matt started the engine and drove to Heather’s in silence. He didn’t know if they’d accomplished anything more than enjoying a cup of hot chocolate and a few minutes alone, but he was glad she knew his feelings went deeper than mere friendship.
He walked her to the door. When they stepped on the porch, she turned as if to speak, but he stopped her with a hand on each of her shoulders. His heart slammed against his chest as he memorized her features. Giving her time to stop him, he moved in, closing the distance to her upturned lips.
~*~*~*~
~Sixteen~
“Only one more to go.” Heather closed the door after exchanging “Have a nice evening” with Jacob and Lisa Johnson and their mother.
Becka stared through the window toward the street. “Isn’t that Taylor’s mom now?”
“Yes, great.” Heather turned away, lifting a small pink coat from the hook on the wall. “Taylor, your mom’s here.”
As Taylor and her mother left, Heather released a sigh and headed toward the kitchen. “It’s been a long day. I’m making homemade tacos for supper.”
“Yum, does that mean we get to eat with you?” Becka followed her. “Can I help?”
“There’s a head of lettuce in the frig. Why don’t you tear it into a bowl? Your dad said he’d start painting the new room tonight, so I figured we all might as well eat here.”
The front door opened and closed. Heather smiled as Brad sauntered in. Maybe he hadn’t fallen back into his old habits after all. She hoped not. “Hey I missed you after school.”
“I went home.” He ripped some lettuce from the head and stuck it in his mouth before Becka could stop him.
She laughed as she turned toward the sink. “Yuck, I hadn’t washed that yet. Besides it’s for supper, so keep your hands off.�
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Brad shrugged and turned to his mother. “I figured we’d eat here. Matt said he wanted to start painting tonight.” He watched Heather stir the browning hamburger. “That’s why I went home. So I could do my homework and change into old clothes.”
Relief swept through Heather as she noticed the stained shirt Brad wore. He hadn’t been out with his buddies. He’d been acting in a responsible manner. Her heart swelled with pride for her son.
“Do you think Matt would care if I start painting now? This won’t be ready for a while, right?”
Heather glanced at the clock. “Maybe twenty minutes.”
Becka set the bowl of shredded lettuce aside. “I want to paint, too.”
“Sure you know how?” Brad smirked.
Becka stepped through the gate that separated the cooking area from the rest of the kitchen and smacked Brad’s arm. “Hey, of course I know how. My dad’s the carpenter, isn’t he?”
Heather called after them. “Don’t make a mess, you two.”
Their voices drifted back in unison. “We won’t.”
With a quick shake of her head, Heather smiled as they went back to tossing insults just as if they were brother and sister. The thought slammed into her mind, momentarily stunning her. What had she done? Would the kids eventually be hurt? She hadn’t considered their feelings when she let Matt into her life. Not that she had sought his attention. One thing led to another until now… Now what? She didn’t know how to finish the sentence. She could only guess at his intentions, and hers were growing more confused by the day.
“Mom, can we paint, too?” Gary and Ricky skidded to a stop in front of her with determined expressions.
Ricky gave a disgusted sound. “Brad and Becka said we had to go away. They said we’re too little. We can paint as good as them.”
Heather opened her mouth to say no when the front door opened, and Matt stepped in with both hands full.
“Hey, guys,” he called. “Come and give me a hand here. I brought some extras in case we need them.”
Standing at the stove, Heather watched down the short hall to the front door as Matt handed Ricky several paintbrushes. Gary took a couple of rollers and a tray. Matt followed them into the kitchen with a gallon of paint and a wide smile.
His eyes met and held hers while his smile faltered for a moment before returning. “Hey, whatever you’re cooking sure smells good.”
Before she could respond, the two little girls ran to Matt with their hands lifted. Kristi called, “Daddy, uppy.”
Not to be outdone, Candace tugged on his pants. “Daddy, me up, too.”
Heather gasped, but Matt laughed. He set the paint on the floor and bent to scoop both little ones into his arms. He straightened and grinned from one to the other. “What have you two little angels been doing today?”
Kristi patted his cheek. “Doggy comed.”
“Kyle’s mommy bringed him’s puppy.” Candace’s eyes grew wide. “We touched him.”
“Who did you touch?” Matt asked. “Kyle?”
“No.” Candace put both hands over her mouth and giggled. “We petted Kyle’s puppy.”
Heather’s heart melted as she watched Matt give his undivided attention to the two girls until a door slammed in the back of the house. He set the girls down as Ricky and Gary ran into the room.
Matt straightened. “What’s the problem, guys?”
“Brad and Becka shoved us out and told us not to come back.” Ricky folded his arms across his chest and frowned.
“Why don’t we discuss this over dinner?” Heather slid the refried beans and hamburger from the burners. “Aren’t you guys hungry? Matt, would you mind telling Brad and Becka we’re ready to eat? You’re probably the only one they’ll let in right now.”
“Sure.”
As Matt headed toward the back, Heather called to the boys before they could follow. “Stop right there.”
She took a stack of plates from the cupboard. “If you set the table, we can get eating out of the way, and then maybe Matt will let you paint.”
After a meal that felt too much to Heather like one family gathering around the table, Matt and the older kids left her to clean up and entertain Candace and Kristi. She let the little girls carry dishes to the kitchen while she stored left-overs in the refrigerator. Then together they put the rinsed dishes in the dishwasher.
Heather closed the door and turned the machine on. “Shall we go see what’s going on in our new room?”
Both girls took off in a run, and she hurried to catch them at the door. Brad and Becka had one wall almost finished. Gary and Ricky stood at another wall drawing stick figures with paint.
When Heather turned toward Matt, he grinned and shrugged. “At least they’re getting paint on the wall. It could be worse, you know.”
“Uh oh.” Ricky stood beside the paint can watching another drop of paint fall from his brush to join the one on the floor.
Matt hurried across the room to show his son how to wipe the excess paint from his brush against the rim of the can.
Heather grabbed Kristi’s hand inches from the open paint. “I think we need a distraction.”
With a small hand in each of hers, Heather took the two little girls into the adjoining room, found a child gate to place in the open doorway, and set several new toys on the floor to keep them busy. Determined to paint and watch the girls at the same time, she stepped back over the gate and found a roller and tray
She had no sooner left a swipe of paint on the wall than Becka called out, “Daddy, they aren’t really painting. They’re just goofing off, and we’ll have to repaint their wall.”
Brad added his agreement. “Yeah, it really isn’t fair for them to play when we’re working. Look at the mess they’ve made on the floor.”
The two younger boys had drawn a couple of silly faces with the names Brad and Becka underneath. Heather stifled a smile as she waited to see what Matt would say.
Matt stood with one hand near his mouth as if in thought while he looked the situation over although Heather was sure he also hid a smile. Finally he spoke, “I’ll have to agree you boys have more paint on the floor than anyone else does, so it’s a good thing we’re putting carpeting down tomorrow. The wall can’t be covered though, and we don’t want anyone’s picture painted on it. Think you can figure out how to go up and down with those brushes and smooth your art work out?”
Gary gave Ricky a nudge before he answered. “Yeah, we can fix it.”
“Good.” Matt let his smile show then. “Because I have an idea. If you get serious and make that wall look real good, and it’s all right with your mom, we’ll have us a water gun fight before we put the carpeting down.”
“For real?” Gary’s eyes shone. “Mom, can we?”
Four pairs of eager eyes met Heather’s and she laughed. “If it won’t hurt the paint. It’s too cold outdoors for water.”
“Yea!” Her agreement met with approval. Gary and Ricky set to work with enthusiasm and more ability than she expected. Within minutes their wall was painted as high as they could reach. Matt joined them to paint the rest of the way to the ceiling. In less time and trouble than she expected, the room sported a new coat of paint.
Matt and the kids took the tools to the outside hydrant to clean. Heather stepped back and admired their work, glad no artwork showed through the smooth, light blue surface.
She smiled at Matt when he came back in. “I’m amazed it looks as good as it does. Somehow you even kept paint off the ceiling.”
He grinned. “At least you won’t have to paint the ceiling. The covering I sprayed on should be all that’s needed.”
She looked up at the rough white texture and nodded. “It looks great. The whole room does. Thank you.”
The tender expression on Matt’s face captured and held Heather’s attention. Her heart pounded and she swayed toward him.
“Mom! Candace fell down.” Footsteps pounded down the hall moments before Gary stuck his head in
the door. “She’s crying for you.”
“Oh, I’ve got to…” Her breath rushed out. Why was she explaining to Matt? He heard. He probably welcomed the interruption. She ran from the room.
~*~
All day Tuesday Heather relived the evening before. A flush moved through her body when she remembered how she had practically asked Matt to kiss her before Gary rushed in, keeping her from making a complete fool of herself. She fought the truth she could no longer ignore. As much as she loved Matt’s children, she loved him even more. How could she have fallen in love with a man who struggled to make a living? More important, what could she do about it?
Jan returned from school with a dozen noisy grade-schoolers with energy to spare. Brad followed them inside. He stopped beside Heather as she helped supervise storing coats and backpacks.
“You got a quiet place a guy can do homework?” He grinned. “Figured I’d get ready to douse Gary and Ricky tonight.”
Heather laughed. “You’re really looking forward to that, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, they deserve it.”
“Becka’s in the new room. Why don’t you join her? Maybe you can help each other with your homework.”
“Don’t need help.” He spoke over his shoulder. “Just have to read.”
Thank you, Lord. Heather breathed the prayer as she watched Brad dodge a couple of little boys. Lately Brad’s earlier attitude seemed like a bad dream she never wanted to return to. She had so much to be thankful for. Yet even with gratitude warming her heart, an annoying prick to her conscience reminded her God demanded her all. All her trust, all her love, and all her commitment to Him. How long would she be allowed to straddle the fence, withholding faith in His supreme goodness and care? On one level she believed in God’s unlimited power, but deep in her heart where it mattered, she could not trade faith for the security of her savings account and insurance coverage.
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