by Arlene James
“Yeah, yeah, just like last time, Dad,” Cory assured him, moving toward the steps. Tammy hurried after him, a spring in her step, but Royce lifted a hand as if to hold them back. “Kids!” They both paused, Cory almost at the head of the stairs. Royce swallowed. “Be careful.”
Tammy blinked, and for an instant the old shadows flitted across her eyes, but then she smiled and reached down for her brother’s hand. “We will,” she promised, opening the gate.
They began sedately, taking the steps one at a time. Royce turned slightly, wrapping his arms around Merrily, holding her against him. With a sigh he propped his chin on the crown of her head. For a long moment they simply held each another. Then Royce murmured, “Ah, angel, you know what you’ve done, don’t you? You’ve put it all back together, starting with my bones and then my heart and now my family.”
“Our family,” Merrily corrected, turning her face up.
He grinned down at her. “How long do you think they’ll be, Mom? If we hurry we can get the cocoa on and sneak in a little necking before they’re back.”
Merrily smiled. “Oh, I hope so. I think kisses are a necessary for good cocoa, don’t you?”
“I think kisses are the perfect sweetener,” he said, planting a quick one.
“Mmm, you are so right,” she agreed, “but if kisses are the sweetener, then love must be the binder, the essential ingredient that holds it all together.”
“Oh, yes,” he said, “and with glue as strong as our love, this marriage will hold forever.”
“And the family will never come apart again,” she promised.
“I found one!” a triumphant little voice cried, and they both turned to see Cory at the edge of the trees, waving a golf ball over his head. They smiled and waved back in congratulations.
“I think we’d better hurry if we’re going to get that cocoa properly sweetened,” Royce murmured through his smile.
Merrily laughed, and arm in arm they went inside, a family, whole in body and spirit, bound in love and knowing that whatever came, the glue would hold.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-3668-4
HIS PRIVATE NURSE
Copyright © 2002 by Deborah Rather
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*This Side of Heaven