Page 50 of Sweet Home

And coming home to the two of them today, well, it felt like coming home to a family, not to a babysitter.

What if this were our life? What if we could do this every single day?

He knew it wasn’t realistic. She wasn’t here to stay. But he could hardly blame himself for thinking about it. Any red-blooded man would kill for the chance to come home to a happy child, a home-cooked meal, and a woman wholooked like she wanted nothing more than to be there, maybe even to be his.

She sure didn’t seem like she wanted to be mine after the tree lighting.

He replayed the moment in his mind, the softness of her cheek, the way she leaned into his touch, like a flower to the light. But when her phone buzzed, she had pulled back and scurried away like she was glad for the interruption.

Maybe there’s a boyfriend back home…

The thought of it made his blood boil.

Shaking his head, he changed clothes quickly. What had gotten into him? He’d spent the years since Milly left feeling like he was done with women, at least until Elizabeth headed off for college.

Now he was playing house with this innocent young woman, doting on her publicly, and storming and raging privately at the mere thought of her having a boyfriend.

Get it together, Lawrence,he told himself.Good men don’t act like this. And you’re trying your best to be a good man.

Once he was dressed, he grabbed his phone and called his mom. She picked up on the first ring.

“West,” she said happily. “What’s up?”

“Elizabeth and Dulcie made chicken soup and a cake today,” he told her. “We were wondering if you and Dad might want to have supper with us.”

“Oh, we’d love to,” she said with a smile in her voice. “How wonderful. That girl is a gem.”

“Elizabeth had a great day with her,” West heard himself boast. “When I got home, she was giving her toysa bath in a bowl of water, happy as could be. They even organized the shelves in her room.”

Mom was quiet for a moment.

“What?” West asked.

“Oh, nothing, sweetheart,” she said lightly. “What time should we come by and what should we bring?”

An hour later,they were all sitting around the table, finishing their soup.

It was dark outside already, making the glow of the lamplight feel all the more cozy in the dining room.

The meal was delicious and the company even better. West couldn’t remember the last time he’d had anyone over for dinner. He saw plenty of his family, but it was usually at his parents’ house. It was nice to have them here for a change, and to listen to them chatting with Elizabeth and Dulcie. Dad was regaling her with all his favorite funny stories, happy to have a fresh audience. With it full of voices and happy laughter, the house felt more like a real home than it had in a long time.

“That was the best soup I’ve ever had,” Dad said, patting his belly and smiling at Elizabeth. “What a great job you did.”

“Dulcie helped me,” Elizabeth pointed out.

“Dulcie did a lovely job too,” Mom said.

Dulcie’s face brightened under his mother’s praise, and West’s heart throbbed helplessly.

“Now it’s time for cake and milk,” Elizabeth yelled happily.

“Maybe some coffee too,” Mom said with a smile.

“I’m so sorry,” Dulciesaid, looking stricken. “We used the last of the coffee this morning. I forgot to tell you, West.”

“That’s fine,” West told her. “I’ll run out and get more. You guys relax a little.”

“I wish I had my car, and I could just get it so you could unwind with your family,” Dulcie fretted out loud.

---