A Future for His Twins

by Susanne Dietze

  Tom remained at the store until kindergarten pick-up and then worked on financials and stock at home until the doorbell rang at 5:30 p.m. “Miss Faith’s here,” Nora announced, followed by the sound of the front door opening. Tom hopped up and followed her, Logan and Roscoe outside to meet Faith.

  “Hi, guys.” Faith wrapped an arm around each twin and squeezed.

  “How’s Bet-teeny? We haven’t seen her in ages.” Nora took Faith’s hand.

  “She’s fine. She says meow.”

  Logan cracked a half grin. “Tell her meow back.”

  “Will do.”

  A quick pat for Roscoe, and Faith joined them in the house. Tom was the only one she didn’t hug, which was...appropriate, wasn’t it? Friends like them didn’t hug.

  Although the day before the city council meeting, he picked her up and whirled her in a circle, which was way more than a hug, but that was different. And it couldn’t, wouldn’t happen again. “The pizza was just delivered. Wanna eat while the food’s hot?”

  “Sure. I’m really hungry. But I didn’t come empty handed.”

  He’d assumed the canvas tote over her shoulder held the grand opening flyers she’d made up. “What is it?” Logan hopped up as if it would help him look inside.

  Along with a manila folder—the flyers, no doubt—Faith pulled out two plastic-wrapped bundles, one purple, one teal. “I saw how much you two enjoyed the kite at the daffodil spot, so I thought you should have your own. These are just like the blue one hanging in my shop window.”

  “Are they an-teek?” Nora snatched the purple one.

  “No, they’re new.”

  “Can we fly them now?” Logan tore open the plastic.

  “First of all, how about, thanks, Miss Faith. And second, we’re about to eat. But soon.”

  “Thanks, Miss Faith.” His kids hugged her so hard she stumbled a half step back.

  Faith met his gaze and grinned. “Hope it’s okay I didn’t ask you first.”

  “It’s great. Really thoughtful.” He should’ve remembered the whole kite thing, but the gift coming from Faith meant something special to the kids. And to him. His stomach warmed, watching them all.

  Faith set her tote down by the couch. “Since the pizza’s hot, I’d better wash up.”

  “Me, too.” Logan pulled her free hand, leading her and Nora down the hall to the guest bathroom. Tom listened to their chatter and running water while he set the pizzas and a tossed green salad on the kitchen counter, along with plates. The table was already set with napkins, forks and water with lemon wedges for Faith.

  After grace, they dug into the steaming pizzas. A few bites later, chatter started about their days. Faith dabbed her lips with her napkin. “Someone came into the store today looking for interesting teacups. She said it’s a tradition in her family to give one to each girl when she turns eighteen. Isn’t that sweet? But she’s had trouble finding something unique for this particular granddaughter.”

  “Did anything work out for her?”

  “An art deco piece, mint green. Really cool item.” Faith helped herself to another piece of pizza.

  “What’s a tradition?” Logan picked a piece of sausage off his DeLuca’s special.

  “Something families do time after time or for birthdays or holidays.” Tom stole Logan’s abandoned bite of sausage. “Like it’s a tradition for us to eat enchiladas on Thanksgiving instead of turkey.”

  “You do?” Faith smiled at his nod. “Yum.”

  “Eating pizza with Faith is a tradition,” Nora noted.

  Tom swallowed the sausage. “It’s not quite the same thing.”

  “We do it over and over, and we all like it.” Nora was insistent, and Tom didn’t see the point in arguing that having pizza with a friend a few times didn’t make it a tradition. Not that he couldn’t get used to this. Time spent with Faith was fun for all of them.

  The familiar tune of his cell phone ringtone interrupted Logan, whose mouth was open to speak. Tom hopped up. “Sorry. I’ll silence it.”

  “No phones at the table,” Nora explained to Faith. “Not since we moved to Widow’s Peak Creek.”

  “Good policy.”

  Tom was about to silence it when he saw the name on the screen. It was after work hours, but he’d been playing phone tag with a product representative for three days. Wincing, he turned around. “Actually, this is kinda important. I’m sorry, do you mind?”

  “Of course not.” Faith shooed him with her hand. “Sometimes things like this happen,” she said to the kids while Tom answered the phone.

  He took the phone into the office so he could jot down notes, and when the call finished, a sense of satisfaction coursed through his veins. He was still grinning when he returned to the trio at the kitchen table. “Sorry, but that was a representative I’ve needed to talk to.”

  Faith set down her water glass. “What’s the product?”

  “Will you kick me if I say a rock climbing wall?”

  “Very funny. You know that’s not allowed.”

  “Yeah, yeah, but I’m keeping it a surprise. It’s an interactive display, let’s put it that way. Kids will love it.”

  “One of those big net things you hit golf balls into?” Faith guessed.

  “Or bikes,” Nora offered.

  “We’re selling and renting bikes, sweetie, but no, that’s not the surprise. Nor is it a golf net.” Tom leaned back in his chair. “You’re just going to have to wait and see.”

  Faith lowered her crumpled napkin to her plate. “I know I was skeptical at first, but I’m glad you’ll have something interactive for kids. Kids need wholesome activities and outlets.”

  Following the direction of her napkin, it dawned on him every plate was clear. They’d finished eating while he was gone. “Sorry, I thought I was faster than that.”

  “It’s okay.” Faith shrugged. “We’ll wait while you eat.”

  It wasn’t okay, though. Not to Tom. He ended up excusing the bored kids so they could examine their kites. “This is the sort of thing I swore I wouldn’t do again.”

  “Devouring pizza like a college student?” Faith’s delicate brows lifted.

  “Handling business during off hours. Leaving the kids to their own devices.”

  “What am I, chopped liver?” Her lips twitched.

  “You know what I mean. I’m supposed to be here one hundred percent with them.”

  “You took a business call that was sort of urgent. Grand opening is coming up fast. It’s okay you handled it.”

  “I thought it wouldn’t take me that long, though.”

  “A lot of things will take longer than you want them to, Tom. The store’s security system will have false alarms, your cleaning service will quit, an employee will get sick and leave you hanging. It’s all part of running your own business. Having to step away from your kids for a few minutes while you do doesn’t make you a bad parent.”

  “It did in San Francisco.” He stood and stacked the plates less gently than they deserved.

  She followed him into the kitchen, carrying the salad bowl. “I wasn’t there, but from what you’ve told me, this is totally different.”

  “How? Because I’m not traveling? I still wasn’t with the kids just now.”

  “No, things are different because you’re aware of how busy you are. Because you’re paying attention. That’s huge. You realize things will take you away from the kids on occasion, but it’s not your everyday way anymore.”

  “What if it is?” He couldn’t meet her gaze. “I’m accustomed to working all the time. Like, all the time.”

  Salad bowl on the counter, she faced him, hands on his shoulders. “Not since you’ve been back in town, you haven’t. I’ve seen you, Tom. Leaving work to get the kids from school, being with them, loving them. It doesn’t sound like the old
Tom did that.”

  “Because I had Lourdes.”

  “And a totally different way of living, from all you’ve said. But that’s changed. Tell me, do you have other business you could have attended to this evening?”

  “Yes.” Loads.

  “But you didn’t. You passed this test, don’t you see? You handled one call and you came right back to your kids.”

  Her hold on his shoulders hadn’t lessened. It was emphatic, not romantic, but it burned all the way down his arms. “Are you sure, Faith?”

  “Yes. I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it. I know what a struggle this has been for you.”

  He shut his eyes. “Thank you.”

  God was working in him, then. He wasn’t entirely out of the woods when it came to keeping work from creeping into his family time, but he’d improved enough that someone noticed his efforts.

  And unlike his parents, Faith wasn’t chastising his failings. She was encouraging his victories.

  Her hands slid away and he opened his eyes. She was still within the radius of his arms, if he were to reach out for her. Still near enough for him to see the green flecks in her eyes, the movement in her throat as she swallowed.

  Four pounding feet approached from the living room, making Faith move to the sink, turning on the water. She’d squirted soap into the sink when the kids burst in. Nora’s eyes were wide and her hands spread, making emphatic gestures. “We want cookies.”

  “Cookies? What? We don’t have cookies,” Tom teased, glad his voice sounded normal after being in close proximity to Faith.

  “Yes, we do.” Logan hopped like a pogo stick.

  “We have to clean up first.” Faith dunked the salad bowl in the soapy water. “Come on, many hands make lighter work.”

  “What does that mean?” Logan’s nose scrunched.

  Faith turned off the faucet. “The more people pitch in, the faster we get finished.”

  “I don’t want to touch the plates.” Logan grimaced at the smear of tomato sauce on Nora’s used plate. Then he sputtered as a splotch of soap bubbles hit his neck.

  What on earth?

  Faith held soap bubbles in her palm and puckered her lips, like she was about to blow some on Nora. Nora squealed and ducked for cover behind Tom.

  “No, Faith, no.” His hand went up. But he was smiling so broadly it hurt his cheeks.

  “I promise not to get any on the floor.” She sounded so sweet, saying it. “Just you.”

  He lunged, pinning her arm to his chest, getting soap all over his T-shirt in the process. “You want a little clean fun, eh?” He dipped his hand into the sink and swiped a palm-full of bubbles on her head.

  He let her go and dropped a blotch on Nora. Then something cool and wet trickled down his spine.

  Faith’s belly laugh was a new sound. “You needed some, too, Tom.”

  He feigned outrage as he swiped the back of his neck. “I invite you to pizza and this is what happens.”

  “Can we wash Roscoe?” Logan alerted Tom to the fact the dog had joined the chaos.

  “He just had a bath.”

  “And there are dishes to do.” Faith fisted her hands on her hips and adopted a serious expression that didn’t match her laughing eyes. “Come on, guys, who started this craziness, anyway?”

  “You did.” Nora poked her in the thigh with a soapy finger.

  “You’re right. And I’m going to clean it up. Tom, where are your rags? I don’t want anyone to slip on a slick floor because I’m a weirdo.”

  “I’m a weirdo, too, because I liked this.” Logan took one of the towels Tom pulled from a bottom drawer. “I want to soap fight again.”

  “Maybe this summer we can have a water fight outside. If—well, never mind.”

  What did that mean? If? If what? If she was still here this summer? Was she thinking of taking Chloe up on her offer to move to San Francisco?

  He couldn’t read an answer in her eyes once she dropped to the floor, mopping the tiny blob of soap bubbles by the oven.

  “Faith?” Tom took her hand and lifted her to her feet.

  As she looked up at him with questions in her eyes, he didn’t want to ask her what she meant by that “if” anymore. He wanted to pull her into his arms and—

  Kiss her. Like he’d wanted to do for a long, long time now.

  Fortunately, Roscoe bumped into him, breaking their eye contact and his stupid train of thought. He had to take a few good breaths before he could talk again. “Let’s do these dishes so we can have cookies, yeah?”

  He couldn’t do that again—think about kissing Faith. Nothing, nothing would wreck their friendship faster than him giving in to temporary feelings. He had to shove that dangerous thought right out of his mind.

  Besides, She might be leaving Widow’s Peak Creek to focus on her furnishing business. Maybe there was more to it than that, too. Like she resented him for getting the space she wanted for her museum.

  He couldn’t ask her about it now, not with the kids listening in. Instead he tried to focus on making the rest of the evening a pleasant one.

  He did pretty well, too, as he praised the flyers she’d made for him, and they discussed the grand opening while the kids watched a cartoon movie. Faith was all in, helping him with the party. Food, timing, everything. She was much better at this type of thing than he was, but he couldn’t help but notice an underlying sadness in her eyes.

  Was it because she’d lost the store to him? Was it hurting her to help him, which she did out of the kindness of her heart?

  They joined the kids for the rest of the movie, and both kids slumped against Faith on the gray couch. Even Roscoe lay at her feet.

  It didn’t hurt Tom’s feelings that they chose to snuggle with her. It was nice to have a good female role model in the kids’ lives.

  Faith left after the movie, and the kids bathed and got into their pajamas. They had separate bedrooms, but their custom was to switch rooms for story time. Tonight, they piled on Logan’s twin bed, surrounded by stuffed animals, with a book. When Tom read the final page, he asked the usual question.

  “What should we pray about tonight?” He set the book on Logan’s nightstand.

  “A mommy.” Logan snuggled a plush superhero to his chest.

  “Not just any mommy.” Nora nodded sagely. “We want Miss Faith.”

  Tom couldn’t speak for a moment. Faith? Their mom?

  “Guys, we’ve talked about this. Our mommy is in Heaven.”

  “And we want a new one. Miss Faith.”

  Logan nodded. “We’ve wanted her since daffodil day.”

  Tom’s brain sparked with a memory. That day, Faith tripped, and they’d pushed him to help her the whole way back. He’d assumed they were concerned about her hurting her knees again.

  But his sneaky kids had been trying to get him and Faith together.

  His kids had blindsided him, but he should have noticed their machinations. Paid better attention. His parents had warned him about the kids getting too attached to Faith. He’d shrugged it off, maybe because he was getting attached to her, too.

  He wouldn’t analyze the emotions wreaking havoc in his chest. Instead, he took the kids’ hands. “Let’s pray, okay?” He wouldn’t chastise them for their choice of prayer request. But he couldn’t discuss this anymore with them right now.

  Once both kids were tucked into bed, Tom staggered to his bedroom, rubbing his face. What was he going to do?

  His kids wanted Faith as their mom.

  Tom was in no position to give his kids a mother, much less date. His kids didn’t need a woman stepping into their lives. They needed him.

  He’d promised his parents. Himself. God.

  Besides, he’d sensed Faith was harboring sadness tonight. Not in the way she spoke or acted, but he’d noted it in her eyes. Sh
e had to be hurting over losing the store to him. And if she did indeed move away to live with Chloe? That would devastate the kids.

  It didn’t take much prayer to figure out what he had to do. He had to step back from his friendship with Faith, before the kids grew more attached.

  Before he did, too.

  It felt like his heart cracked down the middle, but he had no other choice.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Miss Faith!” Logan and Nora rushed into the antiques store on Tuesday, fresh from kindergarten judging by their backpacks.

  “Hello.” Faith stopped finagling an oversize chair into place and extended her arms for hugs. Their presence seemed to fill up an empty reservoir inside of her. She glanced up at Tom, who lingered in the doorway, before returning her attention to the kids. “How was school?”

  “Good.” Nora pulled something from her pink backpack. “Another thank-you note!”

  “I wrote it all this time,” Logan pointed.

  “Except for my name,” Nora corrected. “I drew my purple kite and a cat.”

  “I drew the big boulder by the creek.” Logan gestured to the gray lump in the corner of the card.

  “I love it all. And you’re most welcome for the kites.” Without thinking about it, she dropped kisses on their heads.

  “What are you doing?” Logan looked around.

  “Moving things around, boring stuff. I should just wait for Miss Angie to return from lunch to help me. But anyway, I sold another fixed-up desk today.” Her gaze met Tom’s. “One of Chloe’s friends is a designer. She thinks a desk like the one I sold to Willa at the Cordova would be a fresh seasonal look.”

  “That’s awesome, Faith.” He smiled, but he didn’t step farther into the store. He must be super busy today, getting ready for the grand opening. It was in less than two weeks.

  She wouldn’t keep him, then, but she had to give credit where credit was due. “It’s all thanks to you and your idea.”

  Tom shook his head as his kids meandered to the corner of the shop where she kept the cabinet of historical artifacts. “Ideas are a dime a dozen, but you’re the one who did the work and added your own creative spin on it. Your sister was right. There is a huge market in the city for your work. Maybe you should visit Chloe and check out options.”