Page 5 of Just One Kiss

"Can I have a cookie now?" Brett pointed to the bag of chocolate chip cookies on the counter. "I always get a cookie when I eat my dinner."

She didn't think cereal and cookies were the best meal, but at least he wasn't going hungry. At this moment, her first priority was to keep him happy. She got him a cookie and brought it back to the table.

His smile made her heart melt. He had a sweet, angelic face, a trusting innocence that made her want to do everything she could to make sure he was safe. In some ways, he reminded her of her little brother Tyler. She'd been thirteen when her father had died, when her mother had fallen apart, and Tyler had only been eight. She'd fed him cereal and cookies, too. Or she'd made him jam sandwiches because it was all she could find in the fridge. And sometimes there had only been enough for one of them to eat. Not because there hadn't been money for food—just no one to get it.

Her heart hardened at the memories, and she felt a rush of anger toward the unknown woman who had left her son to the mercy of strangers.

What if she hadn't been the one to come to the cabin? What if her mom had sent the handyman?Old Blain wouldn't have known what to do with a small child.And how could the unknown mother trust someone she didn't know with her child?

Some people really shouldn't have children.

"When is my mommy coming back?" Brett asked, drawing her attention back to him.

"I'm not sure."

"Are you going to read me a story?"

"Maybe later. Do you know how old you are?"

He held up four fingers.

"Four. You're a big guy. Do you know where you live?"

"In a yellow house. It looks like the sun."

"That sounds nice. Is it here in the mountains?"

"No. It's far away."

"Do you live there with your mom and dad?"

"My mom lives there."

"Do you know her name?"

"Mommy."

She smiled at his pragmatic answer.

"What about your last name? Do you know that?"

He gave her a blank look, then said, "Can I play?"

"Sure."

As he slid off the chair and ran into the living room to play with his puppies, she got to her feet and took the cereal bowl to the sink. With Brett caught up in some imaginary game, she took out her phone and called her mother. She wanted to know more about the repair request before she contacted Adam.

"Did you get the water heater fixed?" her mom asked.

"The water is fine. I need to know who called you about the problem."

"I got a text on my phone from the tenant. Why?"

"What exactly did it say?"

"I don't remember exactly. Why are you asking me these questions, Hannah?"

She didn't want to get into it just yet. Her mom always complicated matters, and she needed to keep this situation as simple as she could. "Just tell me what the text said. Can you look on your phone?"

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