LITMIR.BIZ

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woman behind the counter. “I’m sorry I’m late. Doug Billings gave you my name, I think. I’m here for Kimmy. He had to work overtime today.”

      The woman gave her a frown and checked a list near the phone and nodded. “You are?”

      “Nina Jerome. Doug and I are neighbors.”

      The woman nodded. “We have to be careful, and we also ask that you be on time.”

      “Yes, I know. It won’t happen again. I guarantee.” She meant every word.

      The woman gave a faint nod. “Kimmy, you can leave now and have a good weekend, okay?”

      Kimmy grinned. “Okay.”

      “And do you have all of your belongings?”

      She nodded to the woman while Nina stepped away, wanting to escape before the woman had her scrubbing boards or banging erasers.

      Kimmy caught up with her in the hallway “This weekend I have to find different kinds of leaves and things that grow on trees and bushes.” She adjusted her backpack. “Can we find them in your yard?”

      “We sure can.” Nina slipped her arm around Kimmy’s shoulders and guided her outside.

      When Kimmy spotted the car, she bolted ahead, and Nina had a hard time keeping up. Like a father, Doug had put the booster seat into the back of her car, and Kimmy slipped in and locked the seat belt. Captured by the image of Doug with his arms embracing a child of his own, Nina’s heart grew heavy. If only... Not wanting the thought to ruin her day, she headed for the driver’s seat and turned the key.

      On the way home, she thought about the cookies she’d saved for Kimmy, but other than those, she had no after-school snacks for her. Her mind drifted until Kimmy broke her train of thought.

      “Can we plant your flowers when we get back? Carly got to help Angie plant the flowers. She told me.”

      Competition. Nina grinned. Though she liked the idea, today it wasn’t practical. “It’s late today, but let’s plan it for another day—maybe tomorrow—and you can tell Carly you helped me plant flowers. Instead, let’s do your homework. That will be fun, but first we’ll stop at the store for a treat.”

      Kimmy’s face brightened. “I like treats.”

      So did she, except for the calories. Again an image of Doug entered her mind, his smile the best treat she’d had in years.

      She shook her head and pulled into a grocery store. Kimmy unhooked her seat belt, slipped outside, and they headed into the store. She guided Kimmy to healthy snacks and was pleased when she thought of string cheese. Kimmy liked those and peanut butter crackers. She selected multigrain. Another good choice.

      In minutes, they were back in the car and pulling into her driveway. Kimmy lugged the grocery bag from the backseat, and they hurried inside for the snack and then the homework project.

      Once in the yard, Kimmy slowed, her expression thoughtful. “Do you like my uncle Doug?”

      Like? The question startled her, and her chest tightened. “I think he’s a very nice man, and I like you, too.” Her heart thudding, she studied Kimmy’s expression. “Why do you ask?”

      “He’s happier since he met you. I’m glad you like him ’cuz I think he likes you...a lot.”

      Heat rushed up her neck and warmed her cheeks. “Thank you, Kimmy. It’s always nice to be liked. I’m sure lots of people like you.”

      Kimmy looked thoughtful. “But I think you make Uncle Doug happier.”

      She made Doug happier? He made her happier, too, but this topic had to stop before she lost it. “Look there, Kimmy.” She pointed to the grass, grateful she’d spotted the pinecone. “Do you know what that is?”

      “An acorn?” Kimmy eyed the cone a moment before shaking her head. “It’s the other one. A...”

      “Right. It’s a pinecone. People make Christmas decorations out of them.”

      Her eyes widened. “They do?” She picked up the cone and studied it. “How?”

      Her brain went into gear. “I think they spray them with gold paint and tie a red bow on top. They can add artificial holly berries or other little Christmas symbols.”

      “Can we make some for Christmas?”

      “Christmas?” Nina’s heart weighted, doubting Kimmy would still be with Doug then. The old familiar loneliness spread through her. She drew in a breath. “We’ll have to wait and see. You might be home and busy with your mom.”

      A shadow slipped across Kimmy’s face. “But I could come and visit Uncle Doug.” Hope washed away the gloom. “Then we could make them.”

      “We probably could.” Nina stepped away, needing to avoid the emotions barraging her. She’d never given the future much thought, and she didn’t want to start now.

      Her mind bogged with Kimmy’s questions and especially her earlier comment. If a child noticed Doug seemed happier when she was around him, wouldn’t everyone spot it? She hadn’t known him long enough to notice a change in his behavior. Her heart pressed against her chest as if it were paper and could tear through. One thing she couldn’t do was offer Doug empty hope. She bit the edge of her lip unable to face her own emptiness.

      Kimmy dashed around the yard collecting leaves from shrubs and plants, even two blades of crabgrass that Nina needed to attend to. She watched the girl, caught up in her excitement and energy. Though she was only thirty-four, her energy had dropped a couple of notches each year. She’d be bedridden by fifty if she didn’t perk up and find enjoyment in life.

      A sound drew her attention, and she felt her pocket. She dug into it and pulled out her cell phone. This time she recognized the phone number. “Hi, Doug.”

      “How’s it going? Did you pick up Kimmy?”

      “Sure did.” Her pulse kicked into a high gear. “We had healthy snacks, and now we’re doing her homework.”

      Doug chuckled. “What is it this time?”

      “Here, you can ask Kimmy.” She beckoned to her, and she bounced forward, a smile brimming on her face.

      “Hello.”

      Whatever Doug asked or said, Kimmy rattled on about the snacks and homework, along with a list of what she’d found.

      Nina’s cheeks warmed again, seeing joy in the child’s face. She amazed her, rolling with catastrophes better than most adults. While her mother was miles away, badly injured, Kimmy had dealt with the situation like a professional, making the best of her time with Doug without complaint. Even without fear.

      She longed to cope with upheaval as well as Kimmy. If she’d done so, today she would be ready to make changes in her life, to move on and find happiness once again. Instead, she’d clung to her pitiful past and feelings of abandonment in the way someone would cherish old pictures.

      Kimmy returned the phone to her, and she lifted it to her ear. “We’re doing fine, Doug.”

      “Good. I hope to get out of here by seven-thirty. Eight at the latest.”

      She pictured his face, his eyes crinkling at the edges as he talked, the lock of hair that sometimes dipped to his forehead, the five o’clock shadow she found so appealing. “We’re fine, Doug. Really.”

      “I owe you one, Nina. Ask and it’s yours. Anything.”

      His offer sent prickles up her arms. “You might be sorry you said that.”

      “Never. I’ll see you later.”

      They disconnected, and she approached Kimmy with Doug’s offer ringing in her ears.

      Angie’s insistence that she have an escort for the wedding had bugged her, and naturally Angie thought

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