Jean and Lizzy were giddy with excitement over seeing her. As Cody once again cooked pancakes, each girl took turns to share stories about their trip with their grandparents. They also got out the things they had brought home with them. A rock, a pine cone, a special cup, and every one Stacey treated as if it were made of gold.
Stacey presented the girls with the book she had bought them. They were happy to get it, even wanting her to read it to them. She did so while Cody continued to work on the food. She shared the inscription she’d written on the inside cover: “‘To two very special girls. I’ll always hold you and our time together in my heart.’”
They wouldn’t understand that at their young ages but they would as adults. Maybe they would think about her when they read it to their own children. Wherever she was, it would be nice to think someone was thinking about her on occasion.
She looked at Cody after she’d read it. He was watching them with shadowy eyes. What feelings was he hiding there? Did he think it was too much? He’d been cool, even standoffish when she had arrived.
He seemed as resigned to her leaving as she was determined she would go. That was good. She didn’t want a scene. There shouldn’t be one anyway—she had told him all along that she wouldn’t be staying. Why she was even worrying about it, she didn’t know. Not once had he suggested that she should stay. There was no job here for her now. Cody had certainly not offered her a position in his life.
They’d had their fun and games while they’d had the chance and now it was over. They could part as friends and their time together would be a nice interlude she’d remember fondly. Sadly, despite trying to pretend, she wasn’t sure it would be that simple for her.
* * *
Cody looked across the table at Jean and Lizzy. They were growing up fast. Right now they were all smiles and lively conversation, each one trying to talk over the other in an effort to hold Stacey’s attention. She, as always, was listening raptly to each word. She would make a wonderful mother.
He had to stop that line of thought. It would get him nowhere. He wasn’t even sure he could offer anyone that role ever again. Bringing her into their life permanently was another issue completely but, heaven help him, he would ache for her for a long time to come.
Cody had to stop himself more than once from holding her hand under the table. He just wanted to touch her for as long as possible. Instead, he resisted and tried to keep the meal moving on a light note.
It wasn’t until they were all through with their meals that the atmosphere became gloomy. Stacey reached across the table and took the hands of Jean and Lizzy. “I wanted to come here today to tell you both I was leaving this afternoon.”
The girls’ smiles dropped.
“Can’t you stay longer?” Lizzy asked mournfully.
Stacey’s lips drew into a thin line and she shook her head slightly. “No. Remember I told you that I have a job waiting for me. They need me.”
“But who is going to help us with our dance costumes? Daddy is no good at it.” Jean looked from her to him and back again.
Stacey glanced at Cody giving him a weak smile before her attention returned to the girls. “Maybe you can use your imaginations and help him.”
This was just what Cody had tried to guard against. Once again someone Jean and Lizzy cared about would no longer be in their lives. He’d been unable to stay away from Stacey and now Lizzy and Jean were caught in the fallout.
“But we like you,” Lizzy announced.
“And I like you both too. Me leaving won’t change that.”
“Do you have to go today?” Jean asked.
“I do. My mother is expecting me for a visit and then I’m off to Ethiopia.” Stacey sounded as if she was trying to put an excited note in her words but it was falling flat.
The girls’ eyes glistened with tears.
“Will you come back?” Jean asked.
Cody was devastated. This was the daughter who had taken time to warm up to Stacey and now that she had, Stacey was leaving. This was far worse than he’d imagined. He had to defuse the conversation. “Girls, we want to wish Stacey well, don’t we? So let’s smile and be happy for her. Since you have finished eating, how about putting your dishes in the sink. It’s a nice day so why don’t you go outside and play? Stacey doesn’t have to leave for a little while. She can come out and say a final goodbye later.”
As the girls scrambled to do as he’d asked, Stacey gave him a resigned look. “I didn’t think it would be this hard. Never has been before.” She said the words more to herself than to him.
Neither one of them said anything for a few minutes.