Page 39 of The Unbuttoned Ranger
And Sharp didn’t disappoint. He lifted them, one in each arm.
“They love him,” Ursula said to CaDee.
She watched and felt…what? A giant of a man was reduced to weakness by two kids. And it touched her.
“Shah, will you come play?” The girl pleaded with her big blue eyes.
“Yeah, Shah. Come play!” the boy joined in.
“I should be angry that you bought them the video game because all they want to do is play,” Ursula gave him a side eye.
“I made sure I bought the educational games,” he said with a wide smile that softened his features.
“Mommy? Can we play?” the girl said anxiously.
“Yes, but first you should properly say hello to our guest,” Ursula said firmly.
“Hi, I’m Sarah.” The girl said, obviously the most outgoing one of the twins. She held out her tiny hand for a handshake.
“Hi, Sarah. I’m CaDee.”
The boy curled into Sharp and peeked up at CaDee coyly.
“This one is Saul,” Ursula said, giving his curls a tousle.
“Hi, Saul. How old are you?”
He gave her a small smile and held up five fingers.
“I have a son. He’ll be turning five soon.” CaDee saw how Saul’s expression changed some.
“Can we go play now?” Sarah asked after fulfilling her obligation to be a proper hostess.
“That’s up to Sharp,” Ursula looked to him.
“Of course. One game,” he said firmly but the twinkle in his eye said he could be talked into two or three.
He set them down and much like windup toys they shot into the house.
“Honestly, I don’t mind. This will allow CaDee and I to get to know each other better.”
"Be polite," Sharp said.
"When am I not polite?" she replied.
“Just keep the stories to a minimum,” Sharp said over his shoulder as he disappeared inside the house.
“I’ll definitely tell you stories,” Ursula said as she welcomed CaDee into her large, inviting kitchen with kids’ artwork hanging in every available space. “Coffee or tea?”
“Tea.”
“So, how are things out there at Piper’s?” Ursula asked as she busily took tea bags out of a canister, heated up water in an electric carafe, and took down a sugar bowl and set it at the table.
“It’s beginning to feel a lot like home.”
Giggles came from the living room and CaDee peeked in. Sharp was sitting on the couch between the twins and he was hunkered down over a controller. She smiled, taking in the cute scene.
“He’s great with kids,” Ursula said from beside her, holding two cups. “I didn’t put any sweetener in. I have honey if you prefer it over sugar.”
