LITMIR.BIZ

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stubborn thrust she used to get her own way.

      Joshua prepared himself for battle. But before he could speak a word, she intervened.

      “I’d love to help you, Rosalyn. You’re such a big girl, aren’t you? How old?” Nicole waited for the requisite number of fingers. “Four? And you still fit into this?” She pretended to squeeze it over the little girl’s head. “Oh, dear.”

      “What’s the matter?” Ruthie balanced in the doorway like a stork, one shoe on her foot, the other clutched in her hand.

      “Her head’s too big.”

      Joshua almost smiled as Nicole pretended to twist the dress this way and that, her fingers pressing down on Rosie’s scalp.

      “Way too big. It just won’t fit.” She glanced up at him suddenly, her eyes glowing. “I think we’ll have to operate, Dr. Darling.”

      “Operate?” Rachel turned from her stance by the window to stare at Nicole. “On what?”

      “On the dress, of course. How else can we get a too-big head into a too-small dress? We may have to operate on the arms, too. They look pretty tiny.” Once more she tried to draw him into the game. “Don’t you think so, Dr. Darling?”

      “Hmm. Asking for a second opinion, Dr. Brandt?” He allowed his eyes to indicate his view of this silly game.

      “Oh, I think so. Don’t you? When a case is as serious as this I always—” She stopped speaking abruptly.

      Joshua forced himself to stop staring into her eyes and figure out what she was doing. He glanced down. Rosie had tossed the favorite dress onto a nearby chair and now began to struggle into the cotton one he’d presented.

      “Don’t op’rate on my dress,” she demanded, glaring up at Nicole.

      “We were just teasing, honey. It’s your dress, and I wouldn’t dream of damaging it.” Nicole swept a soothing hand across blond frizz that never quite lay down no matter how often Joshua combed it. “It’s a special dress, isn’t it?”

      “Uh-huh. My mommy made it for me.”

      “Really?” Nicole got up and rescued the tired blue fabric from the chair. “Then we must take very good care of it. One day you can help your little girl into it and tell her about how your mama made this specially.”

      A lump came into Joshua’s throat as he watched her slim fingers smooth the fabric into neat folds until the dress was a small square.

      “There. Now you can put it in your treasures box.”

      “She don’t got one.”

      “Doesn’t have,” Joshua corrected automatically. The girls ignored him, their eyes fixed on Nicole.

      “She can start one. It’s never too late.”

      “Can I get one, Dad?”

      “Me, too?”

      “Me, three?”

      The woman never even let him get a word in!

      “I have an idea. I moved some of my stuff into Miss Winifred’s and I have a whole bunch of boxes. After church perhaps you could each come over and choose one, if your father thinks it would be all right.”

      He almost made a face at the thought of more clutter in those messy bedrooms. But just in time, Joshua caught the yearning looks on little faces and knew he had to agree.

      “I suppose it would be all right. If you promise to keep them put away.”

      Naturally they all solemnly promised. As if!

      “Fine.” He twitched his tie into place. “Now let’s get moving. Church will be starting in twenty minutes.”

      Joshua let them dash off to retrieve whatever it was little girls took to church. When they were gone, he turned back to face his guest.

      “If you’ll excuse us—”

      “Actually, that’s another reason I’m here. Miss Winifred left ages ago, but before she did, she ordered me over here to catch a ride with you.” She smiled weakly, as if the last thing she wanted was to ride in his vehicle.

      He didn’t blame her. He’d rather ride in that red sports car of hers any day. Her words sank in.

      “Aunt Win’s not going? Why not? Is she ill?” Joshua rapped the questions out automatically. “Perhaps I’d better take a look.”

      “She’s fine. I told you she’s already left.”

      The words halted him. He replaced his bag, closed the closet door, then turned around.

      “But why—”

      “She had to get to church early. Apparently they decided to hold an impromptu choir rehearsal this morning and she wanted to be there. I wasn’t ready, so she told me about the casserole and said to ride with you.” She frowned at his lack of response. “I could have walked if I’d known how to get there.”

      “In those shoes?” He eyed her shapely ankles, the narrow heels and shook his head. “Hardly. What happened to your car?”

      Her face grew very pink. “I locked the car keys in. I don’t know how. It’s never happened before. I was certain I’d left them in my pocket.”

      Joshua’s radar went on alert.

      “You don’t have a spare?”

      “That’s the really strange part. I’m positive they were on my nightstand last night, but this morning they’re sitting on the car seat—inside the car. And of course I’d put the roof up. It’s really odd.” Her cheeks remained a bright pink. “I feel like a fool. Miss Winifred said no one would be available to help me until Monday.”

      “Yes, that is weird.” Dismay fizzled up Joshua’s spine as a twinkle of doubt surfaced in his mind about those keys. Not again! He’d warned her about matchmaking before. Surely Aunt Win wouldn’t try to pair him up with Dr. Brandt?

      But in his heart of hearts Joshua knew his aunt would dare that and more if she thought it would help heave him out of what she considered the pit of his despair.

      “Dr. Darling?”

      Joshua sighed. It was pointless to hope for a way out. This was a small town where everyone knew everyone else. If he didn’t offer to take her, they’d all be talking about him. Again.

      “You’d better call me by my given name,” he muttered at last. “Since we’re neighbors.”

      “All right.” She tilted the blue hat forward, just a millimeter. “If you agree to do the same.”

      He hesitated. But what could he say? “Fine.”

      “Dr. Darling, have I done something to offend you?”

      One shoe dangled from his finger as he fought for control and a way to avoid the question.

      “Why do you say that?”

      “Ah, a true debater. Answer a question by asking another question.” She nodded, a knowing light glimmering in her eyes. “I’ll bet you get away with that a lot.”

      “Obviously not enough.” He slipped his other shoe on and tied it slowly, taking his time while his mind whirred. Nothing. “I’ll stand by my question—why do you ask?”

      “Because of your attitude, of course.” She sat perched on the edge of her chair not two feet from where he stood.

      “My attitude?” Joshua frowned. She said it as if he’d been rude. There was nothing wrong with his attitude. “What attitude?”

      She sighed. “Never mind. I know a block when I see one.”

      “Dr. Brandt—Nicole. I have no idea what you’re talking about. I

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