Page 49 of Sew Matcha in Love
“What is it, boys?” I asked. As I stood, they jumped off the sofa and ran to the front door. I wasn’t expecting any guests, and Zaki wasn’t due back until later this afternoon, so I was surprised to see that he’d returned early.
I opened the door, and he hurried inside. “Is everything okay?” I asked.
He replied as he peeled off his jacket and hat. “Big storm coming in from the mountains. The guys that live on the other side of Denver left early, so Coach called it.”
“Do you think we’ll get it bad here?” I asked. I hadn’t checked the weather since last night.
“We might.” He walked past me into the front room and flicked on the TV to the Weather Channel. “I checked the radar on my weather app and listened to predictions on the way home. There.” He pointed to the screen. “Seventy percent chance it’ll turn toward Colorado Springs. We’ll keep watching it. But the girls might have a snow day tomorrow.”
His grin at the prospect of a snow day melted my heart like wax over a flame. The flashes of the little boy inside of him always warmed my heart. His girls were lucky to have a fun dad.
I’d been lucky, too. My dad had been my hero.
“I love snow days,” I said. “And I know the best spot within walking distance to go tubing. There’s a big hill behind the businesses on the east side of Main Street, and the steepest part is behind the police and fire stations.”
His smile widened. “Do you have tubes or sleds?”
I shook my head sadly. “If I do, they’ve been deflated in the basement for a long time.”
“I’ll run to the sporting goods store and pick up the girls on my way back. Need any groceries?”
I shook my head. “Chef has us stocked through Friday.”
His smile faltered. “I leave for another long road trip Friday afternoon.”
“I can cook, you know,” I reminded him.
“I know. And I appreciate it. I just want to help out as much as I can.”
“I appreciate that, but you forget, I’m the hired help. It’s my job to take care of your girls, even if it doesn’t feel like one.”
He nodded, and when he spoke, his voice was low. “You’re so good at it, Wynna-bun. You’re going to make a great mother someday. Trust me on that.”
I swallowed. “Thank you.”
CHAPTER 16
Zaki
There was enough snow to cancel school and our game Tuesday night.
After a morning of tubing down the hill with other local families, we trekked home and warmed up with hot chocolate while Arwyn read three more chapters ofAnne of Green Gables.I got the fire going in the old fireplace, and the girls snuggled up on either side of me on the sofa, with Laffy and Vennie snuggled into them. Isla’s tablet leaned against the lamp, pointing at us so Viki could see the girls.
In the armchair, Arwyn seemed content bundled up in a blanket and the fur collar she liked to wear. She looked cold, though, and I couldn’t help but think she would be warmer with us on the sofa.
I hadn’t dated at all since Viki and I broke up. There wasn’t anyone I knew or had met who lived up to the impossible standards a stepmom to my girls would have to meet. Someone who’d love them as if they were her own, was gentle and kind but knew when and how to discipline, was patient and serious but knew how to have fun. Someone who, by just being a quiet presence, could flood me with the peace that I craved but couldn’t create on my own.
Someone like Arwyn.
If I planned to stay in Colorado, I would?—
But I didn’t.
I couldn’t.
I had to put my girls first.
So why was it so hard to get the idea of pursuing Arwyn romantically out of my head?
