Page 17 of Gifts

Liking what I see, I feel a slow smile spread across my face and announce, “Dinner.”

“Dinner?”

I fold my arms across my chest. “Yeah, dinner. I thought you might have your kids, so I brought Emma.”

She shakes her head and her eyes shoot to Emma, trying to find her words. “Yes, Emma. Hi. How are you?”

Emma shrugs and stuffs her hands in the front pockets of her hoodie and mumbles, “I mean, I’ve been less embarrassed, that’s for sure.”

Keelie gives Emma a small but genuine smile. “I can only imagine.”

“Mom!” Another voice comes from around the corner. “I’m hungry. When are we gonna hav—”

A boy appears and stops in his tracks when he sees us. Bigger than his sister, he has Keelie’s deep blue eyes, but he’s dark headed.

Keelie sighs. “Guys, this is Mr. Hollingsworth and his daughter, Emma. She’s one of my students. They just stopped by to say hi, but they’re leaving.”

“I’m hungry,” Saylor adds as her goat squeals.

“So am I,” I announce. “Where should we go to dinner?”

“We’re not going to dinner,” Keelie argues.

“Brooklyn Brothers!” Saylor sings, making her goat shriek even louder. “Pizza!”

“No—” Keelie tries again.

“Pizza sounds good,” the boy adds.

“It’s decided then. We’re going for pizza,” I say and offer my hand to her son. “I’m Asa.”

Forcing himself to move forward, he gives me his for a small shake. “Um…I’m Knox.”

“Good to meet you, Knox.” I look back to Keelie, whose eyes are wide. “Clean up your paint brush and we’ll go.”

She frowns and looks down at herself. “I’m covered in paint.”

She’s not lying. She even has some in her hair and on her cheek. “Get cleaned up. We’ll wait.”

“You wanna come see the rest of my goats?” I look down to see Saylor talking to Emma.

Emma shrugs. “I guess.”

I clap my hands once, causing Keelie to jerk. “It’s settled. You go get ready and we’ll hang out with the animals.”

Keelie looks down at herself again before glaring up at me shaking her head.

“Can you hurry, Mom? I’m starving,” Knox pleads as he moves past us toward the barn. “Come on, Saylor. You need to put Buffy back before you drop her.”

Saylor follows her brother, and it shocks me when Emma follows them both.

When they get out of earshot, Keelie lowers her voice. “What do you think you’re doing?”

I look to the kids who are distracted by the animals and couldn’t hear us if they tried.

Taking a step, I look down into her blue eyes as I bring my hand up. She tenses, but I don’t stop and brush my thumb over the paint smudged on her cheek. She pulls her lips in and shuts her eyes. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think she was in pain.

This takes me by surprise. Instead of saying what I wanted to say, or touch her hair, or even pull her to me the way I did yesterday, I drop my arm. When she opens her eyes, they’re strained and full of something I can’t pinpoint.

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