Page 41 of Sew Matcha in Love
“Daddy, why did you stop? The car is over there.” Isla tugged on my hand.
“Huh? Oh.” I fished for a reason. “I think I have a rock in my shoe.”
She huffed. “You can fix it at the car. Amelie and Wynnie are way ahead of us. Let’s go!”
Yes, they were. My feet began walking again, and my eyes found the other half of our group, about five yards ahead of us. Arwyn walked as elegantly as she looked. She carried herself with an air of importance, like a queen, but she wasn’t arrogant. Just … poised. Confident.
But Viki had carried herself confidently, too. I’d learned that the more put-together she was on the outside, the more of a mess she was on the inside. On the days she felt the worst, she wore more makeup or tried a new hair technique. She’d dress to the nines, force smiles, and exude grace. Then, as soon as we walked through the door to the condo, she’d fall apart. Straight to bed with a heating pad and a muscle relaxer, insisting she’d be fine.
Only she wasn’t.
Was Arwyn hiding pain underneath her carefully composed exterior?
And why was it suddenly so important to me that I knew if she was?
CHAPTER 13
Arwyn
Adler Lansing was just as I’d remembered. Nice but unremarkable.
That sounded mean to say, but for an ER doc, I’d have expected him to have an easier time carrying a conversation. One might think talking to people all day or night might teach you some conversation skills.
Obviously, he had them. Conversations. He had friends, and they spoke. Maybe he was shy around people he didn’t know well. I could empathize with that. But trying to keep the conversation going today strained my patience and drained my energy. I’d learned over the years to seek out those with energy to give, not take.
It occurred to me that Zaki Marsch had more than enough energy to give.
I was glad when the girls were ready to leave. There wasn’t anythingwrongwith Adler, per se. And I did feel for the guy. He was over thirty, and according to Shanna, he’d been ready to find someone to settle down with and grow a family for a long time now. I was sure his person was out there, but it wasn’t me.
At least I didn’t think so. Maybe having dinner with him would be different. In a quiet spot, with no distractions, we couldtalk about important things instead of trying to make small talk about soda or the weather or the priest’s homily.
“Daddy? Can we go to your game tonight?” Isla asked from the back seat as Zaki parked the van in my driveway. We’d driven to church since it’d been snowing lightly when we left.
“You girls have school tomorrow, Isles,” he reminded her.
“But Wynnie’s never been to a game, Daddy,” Amelie said. “She doesn’t know what she’s missing.”
She had a point. I’d never been to an Edge game.
I’d also never had thedesireto go to an Edge game.
But maybe … maybe I should check it out. Take the girls. See what it was like. Penny would be there, and Tasha. Penny had mentioned it was Monty’s birthday, so the whole family was going. I wasn’t sure if Kami would bring Ryleigh and Conner, as itwasa school night, but I could always bring Isla and Amelie home early if they got tired.
“Let me talk to your dad about it inside,” I said. We climbed out of the van and crunched into the snow that had fallen on the brick walk leading up to the house. It was beginning to snow again, and although I was interested in going to the game, I didn’t want to drive in a storm.
I unlocked the door and ushered them all inside. Laffy and Vennie greeted us like we’d been gone for a week, sweet things. I was glad they had each other to play with while we were gone.
After we removed our outerwear, Zaki sent the girls and dogs upstairs and motioned for me to follow him into the kitchen.
“Please don’t feel pressured to take them tonight.” He leaned back against the counter and slid his hands into his pockets.
He was still wearing his suit and tie.
I mentally cursed my eyes for lingering on him.
But, darn it, he lookedso good.A far cry from his earlier years with the dyed blond hair and clean-shaven face.
I couldn’t picture a more handsome man if I tried, and I didnotlike these thoughts and feelings.
