Page 26 of Season of Mercy
“Read on the internet,” Ethan mouthed back.
Huh.
She hadn’t thought of reading up on the animals before heading to the zoo.
“Daddy, can you read me a book about a kangaroo?” Stevie watched the animals jump around with obvious fascination.
“Already bought it.” Ethan fished his phone out of his pocket and took several pictures of the kangaroos and helped Stevie take pictures.
Just as Ethan was about to take a picture of her and Stevie with the animals in the background, a blonde woman of about forty years old volunteered, “Would you like me to take a picture of all of you?”
“That would be great.” Ethan handed her his phone.
Mercy’s heart did a flip-flop as his arm slid around her waist. She put her hand on Stevie’s shoulder and leaned into Ethan. She shouldn’t get used to this, to his closeness, his caring ways, his smile. But she couldn’t help herself.
After snapping several pictures, the woman returned the phone to Ethan and walked away with the words, “Such a beautiful family.”
A deep longing entered Mercy’s heart again. Even though they hadn’t started this way, she, Ethan, and Stevie were a family. Would they stay that way? She chased her doubts away.
“Let’s go see the chimpanzees!” Stevie interrupted her thoughts. “Bye, kangaroo!”
“That way.” Ethan pointed the direction.
“Daddy, up.” Stevie tugged on his hand.
“Sure.” Ethan lifted him.
Stevie tucked his face into Ethan’s shoulder. “I love you, Daddy.”
The expression on Ethan’s face was priceless. “I love you, too, buddy.”
Mercy’s heart nearly melted.
She gave silent thanks to the Lord.
“Are you feeling okay, sweetie? Not tired?” She touched her son’s shoulder.
Stevie shook his head vigorously. “Not tired! I’m okay.”
She rolled the empty stroller, and the three of them marched toward the area with the chimpanzees. Things were so easy when Ethan was around. She’d learned early in her marriage to Cole she couldn’t rely on him. She could rely on Ethan.
Once they made it to the area, Stevie stirred. “Down.”
Ethan placed him in the stroller. “If you start feeling tired, let us know, and we’ll go home.”
“Okay.” Her son watched the chimpanzees with obvious fascination.
She shifted closer to Ethan. “Why are you so nice to us?”
He could be spending the weekend with his buddies like Cole had done, or working, like her father or Ethan’s dad had done for years. Instead, Ethan was spending his spare time with the boy who, in reality, wasn’t his son.
“Tell me honestly, are you happy right now?” The gaze of Ethan’s dark eyes was thoughtful, inquiring.
“Of course.” Especially if she stayed in the moment, not thinking about the past or the future.
“Making you and Stevie happy makesmehappy. You and Stevie mean so much to me.” He smiled at her.
How could she resist losing her heart to this man? “Really?”
