A Mother for His Twins

by Jill Weatherholt

  She’d given up on having a family...

  until he made her feel right at home.

  First-grade teacher Joy Kelliher has two new students—twin boys who belong to her high school sweetheart. If teaching Nick Capello’s sons wasn’t difficult enough, the widower’s also her neighbor...and competing for the principal job she wants. Now with little matchmakers drawing Joy and Nick together, can they overcome a painful past to build the family Joy’s always wanted?

  “This is our new home.”

  Nick placed his hands on his sons’ shoulders. “We’re renting now, but the owners are thinking about selling.”

  This was getting more unbelievable by the second.

  “Mrs. Buser mentioned yesterday that we’d be neighbors. I guess it’s true what they say about it being a small world.” He scratched the side of his head and crinkled his brow.

  Neighbors? What was that old saying Joy had heard? Good fences make good neighbors—or something like that. That was it—she’d build a fence as high as her homeowners’ association would allow. She was president; she should know the restrictions. She’d have to check the covenants. Even still, building a wall around her property wouldn’t keep Nick out of her heart. “But this is my neighborhood. I moved here after college.”

  “She lives right over there, Daddy,” Tyler announced, pointing in the direction of Joy’s one-story ranch home. “Isn’t that cool? Maybe she’ll invite us over for dinner sometime.”

  This definitely wasn’t cool. Dinner? Absolutely not. How would she avoid Nick when he’d be just outside her door?

  Weekdays, Jill Weatherholt works for the City of Charlotte. On the weekend, she writes contemporary stories about love, faith and forgiveness. Raised in the suburbs of Washington, DC, she now resides in North Carolina. She holds a degree in psychology from George Mason University and a paralegal studies certification from Duke University. She shares her life with her real-life hero and number one supporter. Jill loves connecting with readers at jillweatherholt.com.

  Books by Jill Weatherholt

  Love Inspired

  Second Chance Romance

  A Father for Bella

  A Mother for His Twins

  Join Harlequin My Rewards today and earn a FREE ebook!

  Click here to Join Harlequin My Rewards

  http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010002

  A MOTHER

  FOR HIS TWINS

  Jill Weatherholt

  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

  —2 Corinthians 5:17

  To my beautiful mother.

  Your support, encouragement and constant love have sustained me throughout my life.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Epilogue

  Dear Reader

  Excerpt from Hometown Healing by Jennifer Slattery

  Chapter One

  If the rancid coffee was an indication of the day ahead, perhaps Joy Kelliher should have stayed in bed. Settling into her favorite leather chair in the teachers’ lounge at Whispering Slopes K-12, she leaned toward the frosty window, pushing her thick brunette hair away from her face. She treasured the early morning hours before the school bustled with children. It was the second week in January, and the Virginia mountain community, nestled in the Shenandoah Valley, had yet to experience their first major snowfall of the season. Smiling, Joy eyed a white-tailed deer as it meandered across the playground, leaving its footprints in the dusting of snow that had fallen overnight. Spooked, it raced off into the forest that lined the school grounds. Fear. She knew it well.

  A knock at the open door jarred the first-grade teacher before her mind spiraled down that dark road.

  “Joy, I’d like to introduce you to your two new students.”

  Mr. Jacobson stood in the doorway. A small, thick man with thinning gray hair, he’d taken over as principal after her father passed away when she was only two years old. With his retirement date nearing, her dream to work with and protect all of the children in the school, not just those in her classroom, could finally come true. She’d begun preparing for an interview the moment Mr. Jacobson had announced his retirement.

  “This is Jordan and Tyler Capello,” he said, guiding two brown-haired, rosy-cheeked boys into the room.

  Capello. No, it can’t be. Joy rubbed her eyes. The wood chair screeched as she pushed her slender frame from her seat. Was she seeing double?

  The principal chuckled. “Yes, they’re twins. Identical. You’ll have your hands full.” He turned toward the door. “I believe you know their father.” He extended his right arm. “Nick, don’t be shy. Come on in, son.”

  Heat prickled the back of her neck. She gripped the edge of the chair to steady herself. Nick Capello. This couldn’t be happening. Not after fourteen years of silence—of heartache.

  Her heart pummeled against her rib cage as he slowly approached her—all six feet five inches of him. No longer the boy she remembered. With his Italian good looks, he’d grown into a strikingly handsome man who could still make her knees wobble like a newborn colt’s.

  “Hello, Joy.” He reached for one of her hands, which she kept fisted at the sides of her thighs.

  She swallowed once and then again before risking another glance in his direction. The lump lodged in her throat didn’t budge. “What...? Why...? What are you doing here?”

  The once extended hand raked through his dark hair. His piercing blue eyes locked with hers. “This is my home. It’s always been. My boys are going to experience the joys of growing up in a small town, just like I did. I want that sense of community for them.”

  His home? How could he call Whispering Slopes home? He and his family had moved in the dark of night, leaving a small town asking questions and her heart smashed in a million tiny pieces.

  Her shoulders squared. “This isn’t your home.” Once it had been, but that was a lifetime ago.

  One of the twins with a slightly larger frame stepped forward and flashed a smile that revealed two missing front teeth. “I’m Tyler, and this is my brother, Jordan. He might not talk much, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t like you—he’s just shy, that’s all.”

  Her heart squeezed as she studied the boy with freckles that dotted his nose. He was the spitting image of his father at that age. She would know. She’d known Nick all of her life. They’d grown up together and had fallen in love. During their senior year of high school they’d made a plan. After graduation, they’d marry and have a house full of children. Joy had never been happier...and then it was all stripped away.

  Nick placed his hands on Tyler’s shoulders and eyed Joy. “I’m sorry if I’ve caught you off guard. Maybe I should have called first.”

  In order to maintain her professionalism, she drew in a slow and steady breath. She’d worked too hard to establish her reputation at this school. She forced a smile as she glanced at the twins. “Welcome to Whispering Slopes, boys.”

  Mr. Jacobson cleared his throat. “Nick, why don’t we leave the boys here to get better acquainted with Miss Kelliher? We’ll go dow
n to the office and get them registered. Then we can get your paperwork taken care of so you can start subbing on Monday.”

  Joy’s head spun toward the principal. “Excuse me?”

  “Nick’s going to take over Mrs. Murray’s classroom while she’s out on maternity leave.” Mr. Jacobson smiled at Joy. “I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to have former students teaching at the school. You two will be right across the hallway from each other.”

  Nick’s gaze burned the side of her face. She couldn’t look at him. Not now. The pain from the past bubbled to the surface like cooking oil poured into a pot of boiling water. No. She wouldn’t cry in front of him. Too many tears had been shed over this man.

  Nick knelt in front of his boys. “Are you two going to be okay?”

  “Sure, Daddy,” they replied in unison as their father stood.

  Jordan didn’t look as certain as his brother. Tyler had spoken the truth. He appeared to be more timid than his twin.

  “Okay, then. I’ll be back to pick you up at three o’clock. We’ll go out for ice cream and you can tell me all about your first day.”

  She watched as the boys’ eyes lit up, shaking off the memory of how Nick’s eyes had done the same whenever she’d entered a room. They’d been so in love. She almost smiled at the memory.

  “See you later, Daddy.”

  Nick turned to Joy. “Right across the hall, so I guess we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.” He flashed a crooked smile.

  She remained silent. Fourteen years had passed and Nick had been silent, too. He’d never once called or even sent a letter to explain why one minute he’d been in her life and then he’d vanished. It took years for her to get past the pain. But really, had she ever stopped hurting? Did the constant yearning to feel his arms around her one more time ever really go away? Seeing Nick now, she realized the wounds remained fresh.

  He dropped his gaze to the ground. With his shoulders slumped, he left the room.

  Painful memories surged like a massive lightning bolt on a steamy August afternoon. Lord, how can You let this happen? I can’t teach these boys. Is this some sort of punishment? Didn’t I suffer enough on that night fourteen years ago?

  She watched as the twins peered out the window toward the playground, chattering in whispered tones. I can do this. She exhaled. “So, would you like to go outside and play for a while?”

  They both turned and eagerly nodded their heads.

  “We’ve got half an hour before class starts.” The sun had already begun to melt the dusting of snow. “Make sure you zip up your coats.”

  Outside on the playground, Joy used a paper towel to wipe off the bench closest to the swings and took a seat. Tyler took the towels she’d given them and cleared the teeter-totter before helping his brother climb aboard. She smiled. He definitely was his brother’s protector.

  Inhaling the brisk mountain air, she pulled her phone from the pocket of her jacket to call her twin sister, Faith. Having lost their parents at a young age, they leaned on each other in difficult times. Throughout their lives, Faith had served as Joy’s lighthouse, guiding her through every storm, especially after that horrible night. Her twin was the only one who knew about the attack, but nothing more. Before that evening, Joy had always shared everything with Faith, but what happened weeks later was something she couldn’t bear to tell anyone—not even her closest confidante. As she punched the number for the resort, she kept a close eye on the boys.

  “Thank you for calling the Black Bear Resort. This is Faith.”

  What was formerly a small inn had grown into a larger resort. Her sister was living her dream, running the business along with a wonderful man, Joshua. They’d married last year and now they were expecting twins. Bella—Faith’s daughter from her first husband, who’d died tragically fighting a fire—was thrilled to know two babies would soon join their family.

  “Hey, can you talk?”

  “What’s up, sis?”

  “Well, I’m sitting here on the playground watching my two newest students... Twins.” Joy pressed her palm into the arm of the cedar bench. “They’re Nick’s kids.” Saying it out loud made it more real.

  “Oh, my. I always knew he’d come back, but I didn’t expect him to return with children.”

  Joy hadn’t anticipated either scenario. “Why did you think he’d return to Whispering Slopes?”

  Faith laughed. “Because of you, of course.”

  “That’s crazy. He’s got children, so he must have a wife. Besides, he’s come back to teach.” The thought of working so closely with him seemed like a bad dream. “I can’t believe this is happening. His presence makes everything feel like it just happened yesterday.” Her words sparked a shiver.

  “You need to talk with him and tell him what happened to you, Joy.”

  Her stomach rolled over at the thought. How could she ever talk to him about that night she’d been waiting for him at the pond? “I don’t think I can. Besides, what’s the point?”

  “Talking about it might help with the healing process. It’s been fourteen years... You’ve got to let it go.”

  Sprigs of partially frozen fescue flattened underneath her feet. “I don’t think I can. I’m too ashamed. Besides, it won’t change the past. Can we move on to another subject? I want to forget about Nick Capello.”

  “That’s going to be a little hard given the fact that you’ll be teaching his kids and working together.”

  “I’ll just treat him like any other parent or coworker.” Joy knew convincing herself of that would be easier said than done.

  “But he’s not.”

  The truth in Faith’s words stung. “He’s a stranger to me now.” She spied the boys climbing off the teeter-totter. Once again, Tyler assisted Jordan. “I’ve got to go. Thanks for listening.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Yeah—I’ll be fine.” Joy ended the call just as the twins approached. The knot in her stomach squeezed a little tighter knowing she hadn’t been truthful with her sister. From now until the end of the school year, she’d have a constant reminder of a love lost. But it wasn’t fair to the boys for her to treat them differently. Despite the resemblance, somehow she’d have to forget their father was the love of her life. “It’s a little cold. Are you ready to go inside?”

  They exchanged a quick glance with one another. Tyler spoke first. “We’d rather stay out here with you.”

  She knew that look... Fear. “Don’t you want to meet your new classmates? I’m sure they’ll be excited to welcome you.”

  Jordan kicked his tennis shoe into the wet ground. “They pwobably won’t like us.”

  Joy noticed Jordan struggled with the letter r. She rested her hand on the boy’s shoulder. “What makes you say that?”

  Tyler hopped up on the bench next to her. “The kids at our old school didn’t.”

  What was not to love about these enchanting children? “Could it have been your imagination?”

  Jordan took his brother’s lead and plopped on the other side of his teacher. “No, they didn’t.” He spoke softly.

  Tyler glanced up toward the sky. “They said we were different because we looked alike.”

  Kids could be so cruel sometimes. “You know what I think?” Joy stood and then knelt in front of the bench. “I think maybe they were jealous because they knew you were guaranteed to always have a best friend.”

  Tyler’s eyebrow arched exactly how his father’s always had. “What do you mean?”

  “When you’re a twin, you’ve got a best friend for life. You know someone who always has your back. I’m a twin. Not identical like the two of you, but I know what I’m talking about.”

  Grins washed across their faces.

  “If anyone ever teases you again you tell them you’re so special, God had to make two of you.”

  I
n one swift movement, the twins wrapped their arms around her. She pulled back—frightened by the tug she felt on her heart. “So, you haven’t told me anything about yourselves. Where did you live before you came to Whispering Slopes?”

  “In Chicago.” Jordan answered first.

  “That’s where our mommy was born.” Tyler’s smile faded.

  “She died there, too,” Jordan added.

  Joy had wondered about their mother and why she hadn’t come with Nick to registration. Now she knew. The tear that puddled in the corner of sweet little Jordan’s eye caused her heart to squeeze. She knew the pain of losing a parent at a young age.

  “We didn’t really want to move, but Daddy wants to teach where he grew up,” Tyler explained as he jumped off the bench at the sound of the school bell. “He’s going to be the new principal, too.” The child reached for her hand as they strolled toward the building.

  What? That was impossible. The boys must have misunderstood. Nick couldn’t be here for that job. The knot in her stomach squeezed a little tighter. She’d been studying hard to obtain her master’s degree and had nearly completed the program. There was only one opening for a principal in Whispering Slopes—and it belonged to her.

  * * *

  “Here’s the list of school supplies we need. Miss Kelliher said to go to Buser’s General Store. They’ve got the best prices.” Tyler pulled the crinkled piece of paper from his superhero backpack and handed it to his father.

  Nick smiled at his son. He always liked to be in charge, while Jordan seemed to follow his brother’s lead.

  The twins’ half-eaten ice cream sundaes were turning into milky soup. Since they’d arrived at One More Scoop, they’d chattered nonstop about their first day of school.

  Seeing his boys so excited helped to ease some of the painful memories and the guilt that haunted him. Nick smiled at the familiar chalkboard hanging on the wall behind the register. The menu listed all of the specialty flavors of ice cream. They still made Coke floats. Everything looked exactly how it had when he was a kid. It even smelled the same, like a sugary waffle cone on a boardwalk during the height of summer.