Page 44 of Kissing Her Rescuer

Eliza sat at the kitchen table, with random photographs spread out. He leaned down, kissing her hello. “I figured these would be wedding decoration pictures. That's why you asked me to come over, isn't it?”

“Yes.” She set her chin in her hands. “But Ms. Iris thinks I should enter a contest for my photography. I'm trying to figure out which picture I like best. I printed them out at theDispatch. It's easier to compare them this way.”

He leaned over from behind her, setting his hands on either side of her on the table. The sweet smell of strawberries from her hair drew him closer. “I like that one.” He pointed to a picture of a sunrise as his lips found a small spot behind her ear.

She tilted her head back and looked up. “Do you know anything about photography?”

He grinned. “Even less than wedding decorating.”

Eva walked in, Carrie's hand in hers. “Wedding decorations, huh? I wondered if you two would get married.” Eva asked.

Dewey might have told his sister to butt out of their conversation, but Carrie brightened and looked to Eliza.

Eliza didn't even look up from the pictures. “No. We're decorating my dad’s wedding.”

“We?” Eva glanced at Dewey. “You're letting him decorate a wedding? Have you ever been to a wedding, Dewey?”

Eliza leaned back, her hair brushing against his cheek. “He's probably been to more than me. At least nicer ones. Zach’s friends would get married at the courthouse and then throw a keg party behind someone’s trailer.” She lifted a shoulder. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that, per se. I just don’t envision Ms. Iris cheering on Daddy as he does a keg stand.”

Eva's eyes grew round, the hazel a cat-like yellow as she took both in before shaking her head. “Let me call Marshall and tell him I'm staying a few more days.”

“Why?” Dewey didn't really want her hanging around, messing up their already fragile relationship. She could stir up trouble quicker than anyone else in Statem.

“Because I'm going to help get the wedding decorations planned out. You have two months until the wedding. Some things need to be finalized.” Eva kissed Carrie on the top of her head. “Do you mind going to the living room and bringing me that big blue bag? It has my laptop in it.”

“Sure, Aunt Eva!” She ran out of the room.

Eva pulled out a chair and sat down.

Reluctantly, Dewey stood up and slid a chair over until he was side-by-side with Eliza. “I guess you got the help you wanted after all.”

Eliza patted him on the thigh as he sat beside her, a bright smile on her face. “I'll take all the help I can get.”

14

Eliza loaded the last box of accumulated wedding magazines into the trunk of Eva's car. “Are you sure you don't want any help? I feel bad that I dumped the wedding decorations on you like this.”

Eva set her hand on her hip. “No. You have enough on your hands right now, trying to figure out my brother. That's like another full-time job.”

“Aunt Eva,” Carrie called as she bounded down the steps off the front porch of their house. “Remember about the chocolate.” She swirled her finger in the air and whispered, “You know. The place you said they put chocolate over marshmallows.”

Eva winked.

“I must be a bad mom. All Carrie wants to do is eat sugar.” Eliza bent down and, with a groan, picked Carrie up off the ground to sit on her hip. “Geez, you're getting so long.”

“Dewey grew like a weed at that age.” Eva motioned to herself. “I, on the other hand, seemed to have stopped at a respectable five feet, three inches.” She stepped forward and laid a hand on Eliza's arm. “And you're not a bad mom. I just spent the weekend with the most incredible little girl. She's sweet and polite.” She poked Carrie on the side. “And funny.”

Carrie giggled and squirmed. Her fifty pounds too much for Eliza to hold, so she sat her down. “Thank you. It's strange. Now that I know Dewey is her father, I see the resemblance in their personalities. She can go from serious to goofy and back again in no time.”

Eva closed the trunk of her small car. “I agree.” She hugged Eliza. “If you ever need anything, even just a break for a night, don't hesitate to come to see me. No need to call. I always thought of you and Juliana as my family before. Now, it’s just official.”

She squeezed her back. “Thank you. I might have to take you up on it.”

“If I don’t see you before, then I'll see you both for the wedding.” She hugged Carrie and then climbed inside the car.

Eliza kept one hand on Carrie’s shoulder, out of the way of the car, until Eva made it partway down the driveway.

“Mommy?”

---