Page 61 of Your Soul to Keep

“Are your babies tired?” Gabe challenged, holding out his hand.

She slipped her tiny hand in his and allowed him to lead her down the hallway. “Them tired, not me.”

My heart caught in my throat.

What I would have done to have had that for myself.

In a perfect world, to have been the one to give that to him.

He looked for me over his shoulder.

His smile faded just as I slapped mine back on my face.

“You okay?”

I cleared my throat. “I’m good.”

He grinned though his eyes remained watchful. “Well, come on, then. May as well witness me at my most masculine.”

Never in all of my life had I seen any man as strong, sexy, and viral as Gabe when he painstakingly tucked tiny blankets over a selection of baby dolls, teddy bears, and that over-mauled, bedraggled, Barbie.

For just a moment, I imagined I could slip into their lives, fill the place so obviously empty in their home. And maybe they could fill the hollow ache in my heart.

Was it possible?

I stepped away.

It was too soon.

Walking forward briskly, I hunkered down on my haunches and smiled at Dylan. “I’m going to go home to my bed, too.”

She cocked her little head to the side. “You tired?”

“Very tired. Sleep well, Dylan,” I said softly, daring to reach out my hand and brush a curl off her forehead. “May the dreams you hold dearest be those which come true.”

Nan’s words came unbidden, but sincere.

I wished her every dream come true.

16

Bunny Slippers

TwohourslaterIcuddled into the corner of the couch with a blanket and a book. After the second false start in as many days, I’d be breaking out the toys tonight. Cozy in my flannel pj’s with my cold feet tucked into my fuzzy bunny slippers, I had just lifted my hot cocoa off the coffee table when the doorbell rang.

My heart thumped erratically in my chest. If Nan had been there, I wouldn’t have been bothered. Funny how the mere presence of that tiny woman infused me with courage.

Without her, I reverted back to the scared little girl who came to her feeling all alone in the world.

I tiptoed closer to the door. With the hallway light off and the porch light on, whoever was there would not be able to see me. I edged toward the sidelight to see if I could steal a peek.

Too risky.

Just as I decided to ignore it, I heard Gabe’s impatient voice. “Shae, it’s me. Open up.”

My first thought was something had gone terribly wrong. I ran to the door and swung it open.

His face was dark as thunder, his lips pressed together tightly as he pressed his palm to my chest and pushed me further back into the house before kicking the door closed with his foot.

---