“That’s enough, Daniel. Leave Leslie alone and play quietly until we get home.”
It wasn’t a long drive. Remembering that Lucy had said she would be spending that evening at the church decorating for an upcoming Christmas pageant, Renae invited Evan in for coffee. It seemed only polite to do so, and he accepted immediately.
While she made the coffee, the twins insisted on showing Evan their Christmas tree with the growing stack of wrapped presents beneath, their rooms and toys, and their backyard swing set. Excited by having someone new to admire him, Boomer yapped and bounced around their feet, wagging frantically when Evan rubbed his ears. Daniel was almost as demanding of Evan’s attention as his puppy.
She sent the children off to play while she and Evan drank their coffee in the kitchen. Though he didn’t actually say so, she suspected he appreciated the peace that fell over the room.
“It was your idea,” she reminded him with a slight smile.
“I know. It’s been...interesting.”
She was amused by his choice of adjective. “I’m sure it has.”
“You’ve got good kids, Renae. Compared to some of those little monsters at the arcade, yours are almost angels.”
She laughed wryly. “Not quite, but thank you. Lucy and I have worked hard to instill good manners in them.”
“Um. Yeah. Where is she, anyway?”
“She’s working at the church this evening. Her Sunday school class planned to have dinner out, then decorate for the Christmas pageant this week. Which, by the way, is Wednesday evening, so I won’t be able to see you then. The kids are in the pageant.”
He nodded, looking at her steadily across the table. Was he waiting for an invitation? Though she knew she should extend one, she bit her lip, the words trapped inside her.
“I’ll miss seeing you,” he said when her silence continued.
“I’ll miss you, too,” she admitted with a sigh.
Those simple statements were hardly earthshaking, but she sensed their significance. They were becoming entangled in each other’s lives in more ways than the no-strings fling she had initially thought she was entering into. Introducing him to her children was a huge step. Integrating him into family holiday traditions with Lucy was much more problematic. And perhaps way too soon.
A burst of childish laughter came from another part of the house. Renae cocked her head to listen, but relaxed when she decided the kids were just playing in the living room. She looked back at Evan, noting that he was watching her closely. Was he aware that her attention was always divided when her children were nearby?
“Is there any other evening this week when you’d be free to see me?” he asked.
She hesitated, thinking of the busy weeks ahead. “It’s going to be pretty hectic around here between now and Christmas. The kids are out of school after next week. They have several parties to attend, and I have a few functions, myself—my office Christmas party and a baby shower for one of my friends.”
Evan was frowning now. “You’re saying we can’t see each other again until after Christmas?”
“I didn’t say that, exactly,” she murmured. “I just said it’s going to be a little tricky finding extra time.”
“Well, let me know when you find a few minutes to work me in.”
She supposed she couldn’t blame him for sounding peevish—she was sure he was busy, too. Still, she added, “You knew about my obligations when we started this, Evan.”
He nodded somewhat grimly. “I’m not trying to make your life any more difficult. I just want to be with you when we can.”
“I know.” He had complicated her life, but not entirely in a bad way, she mused, softening. And he had been very patient with her when she’d stalled and dithered about their relationship in much the same way her daughter had deliberated over arcade prizes.
Leslie skipped through the kitchen door, a book in her arms. She plopped it down open in front of Evan and pointed with one chubby finger. “This is you and my daddy.”
Renae hadn’t expected Leslie to unearth the photo album, and Evan obviously hadn’t, either. He looked at Renae for a moment, then almost reluctantly turned his attention to the photograph. His smile was a little strained when he spoke to Leslie. “Yes, that’s right. That’s an old picture. My hair looked pretty funny then, didn’t it?”
“It was kind of long,” Leslie agreed solemnly. “But you look the same ’cept for that.”
“You think so, huh?”
Leslie nodded. “You were my daddy’s friend.”
“Yes, I was.”