LITMIR.BIZ

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Fraziers to become her neighbors, her hunger reminded her of Sunday’s sermon about feeding a needy brother or sister. She didn’t know how needy Zac and Justin might be, but it was long past her suppertime and she was starving to death. So why not invite them to eat with her?

      Because it was a stupid idea, she argued. It was also a perfect opportunity to make them feel welcome and begin to educate Zac about children.

      Hurrying back with the cleaning tools, she made her decision. “Why don’t you two stay for supper? We can have a picnic in the backyard. I keep lots of hamburgers and hot dogs in the freezer, so I’m ready for any emergency.”

      Raising one eyebrow, Zac regarded her quizzically. “Is that local cuisine?”

      “Not unless we wrap the whole sandwich in dough, dump it in a pan and deep fry it, too,” Tina said with a light laugh. “Even some of the pies are fried around here.”

      “So I’ve heard. The thing that surprises me is how these people can live to be so old when they eat so much food that’s supposed to be bad for you.”

      “Clean living— Was that a yes?”

      “I think we could both use a break from restaurant food,” Zac said, looking to his son for confirmation. “How about it, buddy? Want to eat at Miss Tina’s tonight?”

      “Yeah!”

      Pleased, Zac nodded. “That makes it unanimous. We’ll be over as soon as I get this mess…” His jaw dropped. Instead of clinging to him the way he usually did, Justin had raced back to Tina’s side and immediately grabbed her hand.

      “We’ll wait for you,” Tina said, careful to consider his feelings. He had been the boy’s only refuge for a long time, and she didn’t want him to think she was trying to take his place. “I’d rather cook outside in this kind of weather, and I’m probably going to need your help lighting the barbecue.” Her grin widened. “I’ve heard that men are especially talented at getting cooking fires to burn properly.”

      “You heard right,” Zac quipped. “We pass the secret down from generation to generation.”

      “I’d always suspected it was something like that. I hope you paid attention to your lessons. I don’t want to use my stove unless I absolutely have to. Summer or winter.”

      “Spoken like a truly modern woman. Personally, I’ve found I like to cook. It’s kind of a challenge.”

      “You’re joking.”

      “No. Not at all.” Bending over, he stuck his head and shoulders inside the van and continued to brush crystalline shards into the dustpan. “For instance, Justin and I love Mexican food. Around here, if you want a decent meal like that, you have to make it yourself.”

      “Boy, no kidding. I haven’t had a good chili relleno since I left—” The color drained from her face.

      Zac glanced up from his task. “Since you left where? Sorry. I didn’t catch everything you just said.”

      Another close call! What was the matter with her? “Never mind. I was just rambling.” All Tina wanted at that moment was to get away from him and restore her waning composure. “If you don’t mind, I think Justin and I will go dig around in my freezer for something good to eat.” She pushed aside her anxiety to smile down at the child.

      “I’ll come with you,” Zac told her, straightening. “I’ve done about all I can with this broom. After dinner, maybe I can borrow your vacuum to finish the job.”

      “Sure. Always willing to be neighborly. Especially since the mess is my fault.”

      Feigning nonchalance, she led the way across the adjoining lawns to her house. On the outside she was calm. Inside, her thoughts whirled madly. What had lowered her defenses and loosened her tongue? It had been over a year since she’d moved to Serenity and gone to work for Mavis, yet until recently she’d never mentioned anything that might accidentally lead someone to discover her secret shame. Now, all of a sudden, she was turning into a regular fountain of information. Why in the world was that happening?

      Tina felt her pulse pound in her temples. When she’d first come to Serenity, she’d purposely adopted a new last name, a simple, traditional persona; kept to herself and had never so much as jaywalked, for fear of exposure. Her current life was an open book: Tina Braddock, volume two.

      It was volume one she didn’t want anyone to know about.

      Justin lost interest in the adults as soon as he met Zorro, Tina’s eccentric black-and-white cat. Its body was too long in proportion to its legs, it had the distinctive yowl of a Siamese and its favorite game was hide-and-seek. The game was in full swing on and around the back porch by the time Zac had the barbecue fire going.

      “That animal is crazy.” Scowling, he watched the outlandish cat hide behind the crossed legs of a picnic table and pounce on Justin’s shoes as soon as the boy got close enough. “You’re sure he’s not dangerous?”

      “Positive. I’ve even taken him to the preschool with me to show the children. He’s never laid a paw on any of them.”

      “How about his claws?”

      “He doesn’t have any front ones.” Tina took note of Zac’s look of disapproval. “I didn’t have his claws removed, if that’s what you’re thinking. It had already been done when I adopted him.”

      “You didn’t get him as a kitten?” Listening, he leaned down to blow more air on the fire.

      “No. He used to belong to one of the Whitaker sisters. When they sold their property they were desperate to find homes for Miss Prudence’s cats, so I said I’d take one.”

      Zac arched an eyebrow as he watched the cat-versus-boy game progressing. “You picked him?”

      “Not exactly,” Tina said. “Zorro was the only one they had left by the time I got there. I took him because I felt sorry for him. If I’d known what a character he was, I’d have chosen him, anyway. They told me he got his name because he always zigzagged when he ran.” She placed a finger in front of her lips. “Look. He’s hiding under the wicker chair. See his tail twitching out the back? Watch what he does when I sit down there.”

      Justin raced by. Zac reached out to slow his progress. “Miss Tina wants us to watch something. Over there—” He crouched down beside the boy and pointed.

      Still barefoot, Tina sauntered up to the chair, carefully sat down and began to swing her feet. In seconds the mischievous feline launched his attack. Wrapping his forelegs around her ankle, he pretended to bite it while his hind feet raked at her defenseless foot. If Zac hadn’t seen her giggling, he’d have been certain she was being hurt.

      She bent over and began to tickle the cat’s tummy. It leaped to its feet and sprinted off in a blur of black and white, followed by the little boy.

      “Zorro can dish it out but he can’t take it,” Tina remarked, grinning. “He loves to play that game. Especially when I act like I don’t know he’s there. I think he’s a frustrated predator. I suppose all indoor cats are.”

      “Indoor? Uh-oh. You should have said something when Justin let him out. I never thought about it being a problem, or I’d have stopped him.”

      “It’s fine as long as I’m here,” Tina assured him. “Without his front claws, Zorro would be helpless if he had to defend himself, though. He acts ferocious but he’s really a marshmallow.” Her smile broadened. “Hey! That reminds me. I think I have a bag of marshmallows in the pantry. Want to roast them for dessert?”

      Justin’s loud “Yeah!” startled the cat and sent him on another wild lap over and under the raised wooden porch. On the final pass he disappeared into the shadowy recesses beneath the steps.

      “Speaking as a guidance counselor,” Zac gibed, “it’s my professional opinion that your cat is severely disturbed.”

      “Oh?

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