Page 35 of An Unexpected Match

Sometimes these girls were too quiet and lacking in an adventurous spirit. Children should be spontaneous and full of excitement, clamoring for new escapades.

A few minutes later they were settled in the shade of the large old oak. Arden told them stories as they gazed up through the leaves at the clear blue sky while dappled sunlight brushed their cheeks.

Before long, all three were sound asleep.

Arden awoke first. She hadn’t meant to sleep away the afternoon, but after working on her end-of-the-year art projects after the girls were in bed, and then lying awake long afterward each night thinking about Brendan Ferguson, it was no wonder relaxing in the peaceful afternoon air produced such a result.

Refreshed, she still lingered, enjoying the soft melody of birds in the late afternoon, the caress of the air as it moved gently along in a sweet breeze, the closeness she had with these adorable little girls.

The sound of a car door in the driveway had her sitting up suddenly.

She checked her watch. It was later than she thought. Brendan was home, and she hadn’t even thought about supper, much less started something. Scrambling to her feet, she hurried to the house, trying to come up with an idea of what to prepare that would be quick. She couldn't let him find her sleeping away the afternoon.

She dashed into the kitchen just as Brendan entered from the dining room. She stopped short and looked at him, sure her guilt was clearly obvious.

“Is there a fire?” Brendan asked lazily, taking in her flustered look.

She shook her head, took a deep breath, and smiled brightly.

“I was just checking on the children. They’re napping in the yard.”

He glanced around the kitchen. “No dinner started?”

Arden looked around, stalling. So much for following his routine.

“Um, I thought we could have a picnic tonight. Grill burgers on the barbecue. Make ice cream,” she improvised.

“Make ice cream?”

She nodded.

“You have an ice cream maker, don’t you?”

He shook his head. “Not that I know of.”

“Oh. I thought everyone did.”

He stared at her, and she wondered if something was wrong. Did she have grass in her hair? Or a leaf tangled in it? She knew she probably looked a mess. It wasn’t fair. Even after a full day at the office, he looked cool and immaculately turned out.

“Is this a spur-of-the-moment plan?” he asked.

She nodded. “Spontaneous. Children need spontaneity in their lives. Grown-ups, too, for that matter.”

He stepped closer. “All grown-ups?”

She nodded. “I believe so, don’t you? It gives an extra fillip to life. Think how boring things would be if we did nothing but the same old thing day after day.”

“Routine things, you mean?”

He stepped closer.

Arden felt that familiar flutter inside. Her mind was starting to short-circuit. How close did he plan to come?

“Yes. No. I don’t mean routine is boring, necessarily.”

Wasn’t he the one proposing a schedule for his children? She couldn’t insult him.

“But if there is routine, then it’s even more important to have some spontaneity.”

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