Page 51 of Unexpected Gifts

She and Grace, with a little help here and there from Sophie and Jack, had spent several hours together in the kitchen, making a lasagna, a macaroni and cheese casserole, and a batch of chili, all of which they put in the refrigerator for the week to come. For Sunday dinner, Grace had invited them over, but Abby had declined, feeling it would be better for the children to have a quiet night at home.

Grace had then suggested Abby make miniature pizzas on English muffins and a salad for Sunday dinner instead. “The kids can help spread the sauce and sprinkle cheese and put the pepperoni slices on top. They’ll love it.”

Abby had taken her advice, running back to Max’s store to get what she needed. As usual, Grace had been right. The children were thrilled with their thrown-together dinner. They ate at the kitchen table together, with Rufus at her feet, hoping for a dropped piece of pepperoni.

“Are you excited to return to school tomorrow?” Abby asked.

Both nodded their heads but pointed out they only had two weeks before they were off for the rest of the year.

The idea filled her with dread. How in the world was she going to start a new job and take care of the kids at the same time? Although Grace had assured Abby that she would happily watch after them at her house during the break, she still felt uneasy. She was not accustomed to accepting help, and lately, it seemed all she did was take and take some more from the Hayes family.

Regardless, if she wanted it to come or not, Monday morning arrived. Abby was up at six to shower and brew coffee, plus make the children’s lunches. Sophie had informed her on the way back from church yesterday that she and Jack hated school lunch and that their mother always packed a meal for them. Sophie had shown her their lunch boxes, which had several compartments and small thermoses for hot or cold liquids.

Jack liked peanut butter and jelly, whereas Sophie wanted tomato soup in a thermos and a cheddar cheese sandwich. Just as she had the lunches packed, the kids came downstairs.

Abby was pleased to see they’d already dressed and combed their hair. Even Jack looked tidy.

“You guys look great,” Abby said. “Sit. I’ll make you some breakfast.”

She whipped together some scrambled eggs, one of the things she could actually make with no worries, and toasted several pieces of bread. The children ate and then went back upstairs to brush their teeth. When they were ready, the three of them donned jackets and headed to the car, with Rufus following. Apparently, he didn’t want to miss out on anything that happened in their new family unit.

Their bus stop was at the end of their shared dirt road. The weather had warmed and the snow had started to melt, leaving everything muddy and slushy.

The yellow school bus arrived a few minutes after they’d arrived. She got out with them, walking up to the bus to introduce herself to the driver.

“I’m Abby Parker. The children’s guardian. I’ll be with them most mornings, but Grace Hayes will meet them some afternoons.”

The driver’s name was Macy. A gray-haired woman with a gap in her two front teeth and a gruff voice that sounded like she was a smoker, Macy seemed friendly enough. Not at all like some of the bus drivers she’d known as a kid.

“Kris already told me about you taking the kids, so I expected you,” Macy said, leaning forward to address Abby through the open doors of the school bus.

Kris?It took Abby a moment to realize she was talking about the gossipy postman, aka Santa.

Abby thanked her and stepped back from the bus as the doors closed, making a whooshing sound. She glanced up to see Sophie and Jack sitting together in one of the seats near the front. Sophie had told her earlier that this was one of the last stops, which explained why the bus was already packed with kids. Jack waved to her from the window, but Sophie had immediately started talking to a friend.

Abby waved back at Jack and waited until the bus had pulled away before heading back to her car. She sat for a moment, feeling uncertain and lost. What would her day be like? She hoped Doc Ford would keep her busy so her nerves didn’t take control.

The answer came faster than she’d expected. It was a call from Doc Ford, asking if she could meet at the Nelsons’ farm. There was something wrong with their goats, and he’d welcome a second opinion. He gave her the address, which she typed into her phone. “Also, wear rubber boots. It can be muddy.”

“I’ll run back to the house and change into boots and be there as soon as I can,” Abby said.

Finally, something she knew how to do.

When she returnedto the house, she was surprised to see Walter and Luke already working to repair the front porch. They’d torn apart the stairs, leaving a pile of rotted wood.

She parked in the driveway instead of the garage, knowing she needed to head out quickly, and greeted Walter and Luke with a smile. “You boys are getting an early start.”

Both men stood, hammers in hand. Abby’s heart raced at the sight of Luke. He looked utterly delicious with his tool belt buckled around his waist, wearing a thick flannel shirt and jeans. Work boots and a blue knit hat pulled over his ears completed his outfit. This was a man. A man who knew how to do real work. Who knew it would be such an attractive quality?

Why did he have to be so gorgeous? Not to mention, he was fixing her run-down house, as he’d promised. How could any woman in her right mind refuse him?

Walter apologized for showing up unannounced. “We had a slow day at the farm and thought we’d knock the porch out this morning.”

“Please, don’t apologize. I’m very grateful you’re here.” She told them Doc Ford had called and needed her to meet him at the Nelsons’ farm. “I have to go, or I’d stay to help.”

“No need. We have this covered,” Walter said.

Luke held his hammer aloft, his gaze on her. “Did everything go okay with the drop-off at the school bus?”

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