Page 27 of Sweet Home

“I think it should be a surprise,” he told her.

“Is it a cake?” Elizabeth asked excitedly.

“Probably not for supper,” West told her. “But you know your grandpa loves dessert, so I’ll bet he’s got something sweet in the house to share.”

Elizabeth laughed and launched herself again, and there was just time to swing her up. By the time they got to the stone farmhouse they were all pink-cheeked and smiling.

“Uncle Tripp,”Elizabeth yelled.

West glanced up to see his brother standing on the porch, observing them curiously.

“Hey, Elizabeth, West, beautiful stranger,” Tripp said, looking Dulcie up and down with an absolutely wolfish expression.

West felt his chest stretch as if he were about to roar at his brother.

“That’s Dulcie,” Elizabeth said brightly. “She’s a helper.”

“I’ll bet she is,” Tripp said, smiling his obnoxiously handsome smile again.

“Stop smiling at the poor girl and get me some firewood,” Mom said to Tripp, giving him a whack on the shoulder on her way out of the house to greet them.

West could have kissed her.

“Hello, my darlings,” Mom said when she reached the edge of the steps. “I’ll wait until you get up here for my hug, Elizabeth. I don’t want to get snow in my slippers.”

For some reason the phrasesnow in my slipperscracked Elizabeth up and she giggled her way up the steps to her grandmother, repeating it to herself as she went.

West suspected she was drunk with happiness from being swung half the way here, and also a little sleepy from missing the afternoon nap she still liked to take most days. They were off their routine with the preschool closed and Dulcie here. It was amazing to see the little one so relaxed and silly, but he made a mental note to make sure she got her nap tomorrow.

“Help me with the wood,” Tripp said as he jogged past.

Dulcie was already hugging his mom while Elizabeth tugged at her sleeve—frantic to show her new friend the toys at her grandma’s house. He figured she’d be just fine without him for a few minutes.

“I’ll be right in,” he called up to them, then headed off with his brother.

“What’s the story there?” Tripp asked,waggling his eyebrows. “Is that your new babysitter? Are you trading in Mrs. Webster for a newer model?”

“What?” West asked. “No, no, she wrecked her car on her way through town and she needs work. She’s staying in our spare room for now, and she’ll do some odds and ends on the farm.”

“I’m just playing with you,” Tripp said. “Mom and Dad already told me. They didn’t say she was such a looker, though.”

“For Pete’s sake, Tripp,” West said, shaking his head. “She’s a young woman in trouble. We’re supposed to be helping her, not noticing that she’s attractive.”

“She doesn’t seem to have any trouble noticing that you’re attractive,” Tripp laughed. “Mom said she thinks she’s got a little crush.”

That stopped West in his tracks. He couldn’t think of anything to say, so he just cleared his throat while he tried to cover up his shock.

“Don’t tell me you’re surprised,” Tripp said. “You’ve got eyes, don’t you?”

“I think she’s just grateful for food to eat and a safe place to stay,” West said, trying to remind himself that what he was saying was true. “She’s a good kid. She looks up to me, maybe. That’s all.”

“I don’t know about that,” Tripp said. “And she’s definitely not a kid.”

“She’s only twenty-one,” West said firmly.

“Yeah, and you’re only thirty-three,” Tripp said. “You’re not dead yet, Doc. Wake up and join the living. Tell a joke. Flirt with a pretty girl. Enjoy yourself.”

That was easy for Tripp to say. He didn’t have a failed marriage and a four-year-old to worry about.

---