She inclined her head in response to his greeting. “I’m sorry if the girls disturbed you. I told you they would soon see you as their personal candy store.”
He quirked a brow. “Who knows, maybe they love me for myself.” Before Emma could respond, he tickled under Kendra’s chin. “What do you say, little miss? Do you just love me for my candy?”
Katrina popped her lollipop from her mouth and pressed shiny blue lips against his cheek. His glinting gaze slid to Emma. “Hmm. Interesting response.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to say he might be buying their love, but in the last instant, she refrained. Hadn’t that same accusation been made of her?
“Like I said,” Charlotte said loudly, “at least some females in the Hayes’s household have a lick of sense.”
Emma rolled her eyes, avoiding looking back at what she knew would be the smug expression of Charlotte Evans. The wicked gleam in Travis’s eye told her he was in some agreement with the older woman.
When Charlotte left, Emma eased out a sigh—but her relief was short-lived. Several of the congregates walking past sent interested, speculative smiles in Travis’s direction. Staring at the back of the pew directly in front of her, Emma endeavored to get her reeling emotions under control—and seriously considered finding a new church.
“Emma,” Travis said quietly when most of the sanctuary had emptied. “Look at me.”
After a moment, she turned and raised her gaze to his. His expression had softened, which made her heart lurch in a disgusting way.
“I’m sorry to tease you like that.”
She shrugged in an effort to prove she was unaffected.
Travis shifted Kendra to the other side of his lap. He reached out and took Emma’s hand. Languorous sensations flowed up her arm from the contact.
“I know you’re worried about that custody thing. I shouldn’t have been so silly.
“Oh, I talked to my lawyer and he said there’s nothing to worry about.”
Travis wrapped his fingers around hers and sent her a smile of singular sweetness. “Praise God,” he breathed. “I’ve been worried sick.”
His support meant a million times more than it should have. Emma sat transfixed, unable to sever the contact of her hand in his. “Thank you.”
He tugged on her hand. “Any more trouble from Stephen?”
She shook her head. “I’m hoping he went back to Florida.”
“Well, if he didn’t, you let me know. He seemed like a pretty rotten character. Probably thinks the sun comes up just to hear him crow.”
His words caused a rending in her heart. Once more she felt her keen stupidity at ever allying herself with such a person as Stephen, however temporary. Swallowing, Emma gently slid her hand from Travis’s fingers. “I need to get the girls home and down for a nap.”
She stood and reached for Kendra. Travis held the little girl out. Emma grabbed the diaper bag with her other hand, and when she had it on her shoulder, she wrapped her fingers around Katrina’s hand. Travis stood to one side as they edged out of the pew.
“Emma?”
Pausing for the space of a heart beat, she turned. “Yes?”
“Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow evening? With the girls, of course.”
A myriad of conflicting emotions twisted their way through her. It’s just dinner! Travis is a good man, not the plague! And you can prove it by being civil. “That sounds nice.”
A certain rigidity left his features, and he gave her a broad smile. “Until tomorrow then.”
She watched as he walked out of the sanctuary. Her gaze drifted to a blond man standing at the back of the room, his head averted. She let out a little gasp. Before she could confirm her suspicions, the man turned and went out the door.
A sense of dread settled in the pit of her stomach. Maybe Stephen wasn’t as far away as she’d hoped.
****
Travis stripped off his white coat, shrugged into his jacket, and headed toward the back door of the clinic. Through the sidelight windows, the rain and wind made the parking lot look like it was under water.
He glanced at his watch, mentally calculating how long it would be before he saw Emma and the girls. If he hurried, he could stop at the florist before heading home.
“Travis!”
Stifling a stab of impatience, he turned around. Gary ambled down the hall toward him. Travis pasted a social smile on his face while he itched to be out the door.
“You’re in a big hurry. Off on another hot date?”
He cleared his throat. “Uh, something like that.”
Gary stuck his hands in his pockets and grinned. “I still haven’t heard about your last date with Lucy. My wife’s pestering me for details.”
Travis shook his head in disbelief. Had it been only a month since Emma had erupted into his life and caused a whirlpool of new feelings to suck him in its path? And had he forgotten to tell Gary about Lucy? “Um, well, uh—”
Gary’s brows rose. “That good, huh? Are there wedding bells in your future? Of course, Dottie’s hoping you’ll be getting married. She won’t be happy until all her single friends are married off.” He slapped Travis on the shoulder and laughed.
Travis inched backward, straining for the door. His fevered brain churned for a quick explanation—and found none. He pawed a hand through his hair. “Uh, the thing is Gary, Lucy and I are no longer seeing each other.”
His partner’s eyes bulged. “Why? What happened?”
He shrugged, hating the chafing of the questions. They brought guilt that he hadn’t dealt well with Lucy, especially when he remembered their heated conversation in the church parking lot last Sunday. “I broke up with her because—”
Gary leaned forward. Travis bit back a groan. By saying it out loud, he knew it would sound bad. He took a deep breath. There was nothing for it but honesty—even if it wasn’t pretty. “I’m seeing someone else, or at least have started seeing someone else.”
Gary rocked on his heels, his mind obviously going a hundred miles an hour.
“The fact is I broke up with Lucy because, among other things, a girl from my high school days is back in my life.”
“And that’s where you’re heading now?”
He nodded.
“How did Lucy take it?”
“Not well, I’m afraid.”
His partner scratched his head. “This girl anyone I might know?”
“She was a patient here—my patient, or her twins were.”
Gary’s mouth opened, then closed. “Twins?”
Travis blew out a breath. “Look, I gotta go. I’m already late. I’ll tell you all about it another time, okay?”
“Uh—”
Travis didn’t wait for more of a response. He dashed out the door and headed for his truck, trying to dodge the worst of the rain and wind. With a tinge of embarrassment, he realized Dottie was going to get an earful tonight. He felt bad he hadn’t been more open with Gary. He didn’t want his partner and friend to hear anything through gossip. Tomorrow morning, first thing at the office, he’d tell him everything.
Travis sped home, frustrated that he couldn’t grab flowers first. He needed to shower and change, and get dinner ordered before Emma and the girls arrived at six thirty. He peered through the rain-splattered windshield at the black clouds and storm tossed palms and foliage, wishing the stormy season would hurry up and blow itself out.
At home, he hurried through the front door—and came to a stop. The house was cold and dark. He let out a long pent up groan. His power was out! Travis walked in and tossed his dripping coat onto the kitchen table chair. Perfect! Why can’t anything with Emma go right?
He felt his way to the utility room and opened the breaker box. After flipping the switches, nothing happened. He let out a gusty sigh and went into the living room. From the window he saw the power was out for the whole neighborhood. Travis stomped into the kitchen, hoping the phone lines weren’t out, too. He kept one land-line
phone available for such emergencies. He dialed Emma’s number, discouraged beyond belief at the setback.
“Hello?”
Emma’s soft voice soothed him a little. “Hi, it’s Travis. The storm knocked my power out. I’m afraid I won’t be able to have you ladies over tonight.”
“Oh.”
He held his breath, wondering what she was thinking. Was she disappointed? Relieved? “Uh, are you still there?”
“I’m here. Um, my power is still on. Why don’t you come over here? We can order something in for dinner.”
Travis’s heart skyrocketed. After a moment he calmed down. She was probably just being polite so he didn’t have to sit in a dark house all evening. “That’d be real nice. I’ll pick up dinner on the way.”
“Okay, Travis. See you then.”
He hung up the phone, feeling like a new man. Now, for that shower—even it was a tepid one.
****
Travis dressed in a blue chamois shirt, black jeans, and boots. As he swung into his pickup, he noticed the wind heaving harder than before, creating banshee moans as it swept past the eaves of the house.
He drove to a restaurant to pick up an order he’d called in. Once he was ensconced back inside his truck, Travis saw a toy store next door to the restaurant. Braving the elements one more time, he dashed in to find something for the twins.
Travis was quickly overwhelmed by the selection of toys. A salesgirl helped him narrow it down a bit. He left the store with a teddy bear dressed as a ballerina and another bear dressed as a princess.
He arrived at the beach house a short time later, relieved to see the string of porch lights throughout the neighborhood. Pulling his hat low and hunching his shoulders against the rain, he rushed up the porch steps and knocked on the front door.
14
And the night wind, bleak and wild.
– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Emma spied Travis' truck in front of the house and opened the door the minute she heard a knock. “Come in! Isn’t this weather unbelievable?”
Travis edged past her, a bag and a box of Styrofoam containers in his hands, and stood just inside the door, making a puddle on the tiled entryway. “I really did dry off after my shower.”
She smiled and took the box into the kitchen, little anxious butterflies at work in her stomach. When she returned, she held out her hand. “Let me have your coat and I’ll hang it up for you.”
Travis slid the coat from his shoulders and handed it to her along with his hat. Emma took them into the laundry alcove. When she returned, she found Travis kneeling on the floor, accepting hugs from the girls. Kendra stuck her fingers in his shirt pocket, then patted it when she found it empty.
“Bon bon?”
“Uh oh, now you’re in trouble,” Emma quipped. “I warned you about setting a precedent.”
He flashed her a smile. “Oh ye of little faith.” He pulled Kendra onto his lap and pointed toward the door. “What do you see over there, little lady?”
Emma looked and saw the pink bag he arrived with. Kendra, followed closely by Katrina, waddled to the bag, and in her effort to get to it first, fell down. Katrina saw her advantage, and crawling over the top of her sister, yanked it open.
“Poupee!” she shrieked in delight. She pulled out a white teddy bear with a sparkly tiara and lavender tulle shirt.
Kendra lunged for the bag and collapsed on top of it in her haste. Somehow, she got it open and pulled out another white teddy bear, this one with a purple satin hat and dress.
Emma glanced at Travis, noting his own delight in watching the girls. His gaze caught hers and he winked. “I thought a change from candy might be nice.”
“You didn’t have to bring anything.”
“Yes, I did. I wanted to.”
Emma smiled, more pleased than she wanted to admit. The girls sat next to the door, poking the teddy bears’ eyes and noses, and finding out just how securely the little outfits were sewn on. “I hope those last through the evening.”
Travis stood up and grinned, looking mighty fine in his cowboy duds. “They’ll be okay.” He nodded toward the kitchen. “Ready to eat? I’m starved.”
Emma realized she’d been staring at him with her mouth slightly open. Galvanized into action by his words, she turned and headed for the kitchen. While he pulled containers from the box, she brought a small stack of plates and forks to the table.
“Smells wonderful,” she said, meaning the way he smelled—a mix of soap, cologne, and wind. Emma turned away, wondering at her sudden mushy sentiments about Travis. She must still be shaken up from her encounter with Stephen.
To avoid further alarming thoughts, she went to the living room and picked up the girls, each clutching their new bears. When she had them settled at the table with bibs on, she chanced a look at Travis. He’d sat down after arranging all the containers on the table. Emma slid onto the bench opposite him, hoping her nervousness didn’t show.
“May I ask the blessing?” He held out one hand to her and another to Katrina who sat closest to him. Emma took his hand and Kendra’s, ignoring the stab of pleasure caused by such a simple act. She bowed her head to cover her confusion.
“Dear Heavenly Father,” Travis prayed, “thank You for your goodness and mercy that sustains us. Thank You also for this food and for such wonderful company.”
“Amen!” Kendra yelled, displaying her growing knowledge of English.
Emma smiled at her, enjoying the sparkle in her daughter’s brown eyes. Katrina flung her teddy bear onto her sister’s head, causing a howl of outrage.
Travis started serving up their plates. “I’ll distract them with food while you hide the bears for the moment.” He nodded toward the containers. “I got some mild dishes for the girls.”
Emma nodded, relieved for such quick thinking. “Look, girls, it’s time to eat,” she said brightly.
The twins dropped their presents in exchange for food. Emma eased the bears from sight and whisked them into the bedroom. Things go a lot smoother when there’s teamwork. Her heart rate kicked up the pace at the direction of her thoughts. From the hall, she peeked around the corner into the kitchen. Travis made funny faces at the twins, and she noted their bibs were becoming increasingly stained.
He shot a glance in her direction. Emma straightened and walked as sedately as possible into the kitchen. To be caught spying. How immature! Avoiding his eyes, she filled her plate and took a bite of a steaming enchilada drenched in a red sauce. “This is delicious.”
Travis smiled. “Got it from my favorite restaurant on the Strand. I gave the girls some Spanish rice that’s not very spicy. They like the refried beans, too.”
“Thank you. This is a nice change from the macaroni and cheese and peanut butter sandwiches we’ve been subsisting on.”
“Looks like the twins have perked up since I first saw them.”
Emma nodded, grateful for a safe subject. “They’re eating well and even starting to have more personality. I think they’re feeling secure enough to relax a little.”
“You’re doing a great job with them.”
“Thank you.” Emma took another bite of her dinner, wishing she could absorb the praise as her due. She still worried she wasn’t doing enough for the girls—that somehow she’d overlook something—and cause a lack they might not recover from. She cleared her throat after swallowing. “So, um, how was your day at the clinic?”
Travis set his fork down and helped Katrina with a spoonful of rice. “It was a Friday.” He smiled. “The usual sore throats, rashes, and Well-Child checkups.”
Emma realized she knew very little about what his days must be like. “How often are you on call?”
“Every fourth weekend and two nights a week besides.”
“What do you do in your spare time?”
Travis laughed. “Not much—spare time, I mean. Otherwise, I mow the lawn, trim the bushes, that kind of thing.”
She noticed his cheeks darken a bit an
d decided he must be excluding his time spent with Lucy.
“I um, also attend a few conferences every year and pick up a class now and then to keep my skills sharp. All in all it adds up to about seventy hours a week.”
“Wow! I didn’t realize your career was so time-consuming. I feel honored to get to share any of it with you.”
Travis pinned her with his gaze.
Emma quickly looked away. I was only teasing!
Her cheeks flamed at the memories that had crowded her mind lately. The overall feeling she experienced was shame at leaving Travis in the lurch all those years ago, with only the thinnest of excuses. How can he stand the sight of me now? Maybe he feels sorry for me. Ugh.
Emma looked up to find him staring at her. Her fork clattered to her plate. She inhaled and turned her attention toward the girls. They had rice everywhere and beans smeared the cute designs on their bibs. She scooped the food on their plate into neat little mounds, glad for a chore to distract her from Travis’s disquieting gaze.
Then the lights went out.
****
“Oh, great.” Emma opened her eyes wider, trying to see in the velvety darkness. The girls screamed, whether in fear or delight, she couldn’t tell. She reached out to them, feeling her way, until she gripped their hands and gave them a squeeze. “It’s okay, girls. Momma’s here.”
Travis blew out a noisy breath. “I can’t see a thing. Can you?”
“Nope.”
“Do you have any candles or a flashlight?”
“I think so, in the utility closet.” Emma eased up from the table and held out her hands until she bumped the counter.
“I’ll stay with the girls until we get some light,” he said.
“Okay.”
Emma felt her way across the kitchen and down the hall to the laundry area. She pushed open the louvered doors and reached out to the shelves. By groping among various items, she located a flashlight. When she flicked the switch, there was only a weak beam.
Wonderful, an almost dead battery. She used the feeble light to scan the shelves until she found the packet of emergency candles she’d seen before. Next to it was a big box of matches.
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