He could also keep a better eye on Trinity’s health. Omar had learned to be subtle when checking on her because she didn’t talk about her diabetes a lot. Ever since her diagnosis their freshman year of high school, she’d been pretty mute about her health. Why would anyone want to focus on a chronic illness? Still, he couldn’t keep his concerns at bay. If they lived under the same roof, then he’d have a ladder view of her health. He could stop bugging her with the twenty questions and just enjoy her presence.
My idea is ridiculous, isn’t it?
Yet, fear didn’t strike him. The idea of marrying a friend brought comfort. Did that mean they should get married?
A knock interrupted his musings. He rushed to the front door and opened it, smiling at his visitor. “Hey, Rock.”
His father-in-law shuffled inside, shoulders stooped a bit. “Girls napping?”
“Yes, thankfully. Can I get you something to drink?”
“A Dr Pepper if you have some. If not, I could drink some sweet tea.”
“I’ll grab that for you right away.” Omar took a soda out of the fridge and hurried back into the living room. He handed the can over and sat across from his father-in-law. Should he tell Rock about proposing to Trinity?
It felt weird to ask Christine’s father for advice, but where else would he get it? His parents had moved to Arizona in hopes the weather would be better for his father’s health. His pop had more good days than bad. Omar didn’t really want to bother them for advice. Of course, if he did marry Trinity, he’d tell them first. Just because they didn’t live nearby didn’t mean their opinions didn’t hold weight. He rubbed the back of his neck.
“How’s your day going?” Rock eyed him over the top of the soda can.
“Hectic.”
Rock chuckled, although it sounded more like he needed to cough. “Them girls will run you ragged, I’ll tell you.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.” He paused. “Trinity was by earlier.”
“How’s she doing?”
“Having a little trouble. The school won’t be hiring her back come this fall.”
“That’s a shame.” Rock’s forehead lowered, making his eyes squish. “Does she have any job prospects?”
“None.” And panic had filled her brown eyes. He shifted. “The public library will send someone over when the school needs assistance.”
“Poor thing. I’ll be praying for her.” Rock took a swig of soda. “I’m surprised you don’t have some scheme up your sleeve to help out.”
Ha! “Interesting you should say that, Rock.”
“Uh-oh. Let’s hear it.” Rock raised his barely-there eyebrows.
“I, uh, kind of proposed.”
“Come again?”
Omar let out a nervous chuckle, relieving some of the tension. His father-in-law’s opinion really mattered. Hopefully, Rock wouldn’t think he was foolish or that he had forgotten all about Christine. “She needs health insurance, plus she won’t be able to afford her place without income.”
“Ri-i-ght.”
“And I need help with the girls.”
Sorrow filled Rock’s eyes.
Omar wanted to kick himself. He knew what it was like to lose a spouse. How could he be so insensitive? “I’m sorry. I know how much you must be missing Nancy.” They all missed his mother-in-law.
Rock waved a hand, though the frown lines etched across his face belied another truth. “Don’t worry about it. Those girls need a lovin’ hand.”
“And Trinity does love them.” His voice came out hesitantly. Maybe he really had been too hasty.
“’Course she does. Ain’t nobody who don’t love them girls.” Rock tilted his head. “Y’all gonna pray about it?”
“Yes, that’s what I suggested.”
“Smart.”
Omar’s shoulders sank with relief. “How will we know it’s God’s will and not ours?”
“Match it with His truth.” Rock rubbed his black mustache. It didn’t quite match the graying beard attached to it. “My father used to tell us to pray and read the Word. Then we’d be sure to hear His still, small voice. ’Course, I didn’t often listen.”
“I can’t picture that.” Rock had always been so steady in Omar’s life, and he prayed his father-in-law would be around for many years so the girls could experience his wisdom as well.
“Oh boy, I was a mess. My mama claimed I turned her head gray.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Eventually I straightened out. ’Bout the time I started reading and praying just like my father said.”
“So, you’re saying I have some homework tonight?”
“Sure do.”
“Do you think the idea’s a little backward?”
“No different than seeking out a mail-order bride like they did way back when.”
“But this is the twenty-first century.” Not that he had a problem with it, but if he could come up with counterarguments for Trinity, then all the better.
“Mmm-hmm. Yet people use those dating sites and apps to find a person. I don’t think we’re so removed.”
Counterpoint one. He nodded in concession. “You think it’ll change our friendship?”
“It’s bound to, but if that’s for good or bad remains to be seen.” Rock paused. “How long y’all been friends anyway?”
“My folks moved us out here when I was seven. Trinity was my first friend.”
“Well, moving right next door sure helped things.”
Omar smiled. “I was more interested in her tire swing than anything.” It still hung in her folks’ front yard, and Trinity’s parents had given the girls a standing invitation to use it.
“Faith and Joy love that old swing.”
“Yeah, they do.” Omar steepled his fingers, hesitating to ask the question he really wanted to know. He cleared his throat. “Rock?”
“Yes?”
“Would it hurt you? To see me married to someone else?” He watched his father-in-law, hoping Rock would be honest with his answer and expression.
His eyes drooped a little. “I admit, it’ll be a little uncomfortable. I expected to see you and Christine married for many years to come. But I can’t begrudge you another chance at happiness. Marrying a friend...some say there’s nothing better.”
“I appreciate your honesty.”
“Oh, you’ll always get that from me, Omar.” Rock stood. “I hope I’ll still be welcome if you do get hitched.”
“You’re always welcome. You’re like my second father. And you’ll always be the girls’ grandfather.”
Rock nodded, eyes watering a bit. “I’m gonna mosey on out of here. Just wanted to say hi and hear another person’s voice.”
“You want to stay for dinner?” Omar glanced at his watch. “Or come back for it?”
“Might do that. But if you don’t see me by five thirty, go ’head and start without me.”
“All right.” He followed Rock to the door and closed it quietly behind him.
Omar exhaled and looked up toward the ceiling. For all intents and purposes, Rock had given him a seal of approval. No way would he want any marriage to make Rock feel unwelcome. He was an important part of Omar’s life, and Christine being gone didn’t mean their status as family had been severed too.
Oh, Christine, what would you think of this?
She’d often laughed at his ideas, no matter how ludicrous they seemed. Granted, she had often egged him on to see how absurd they could become. But this was different. It was merging the lives of two people who had no desire to marry.
Jason had crushed Trinity. One day they’d been happy and in love and the next, he’d left her to pick up the pieces of her shattered heart. She’d been inconsolable.
How could Omar promise to never hurt her like that?
He straightened. Easy. She was his best fr
iend and would be forever. That afforded an assurance that most people didn’t have. He’d love her from that friendship and treat her with the respect she deserved as his wife and kids’ stepmom.
Copyright © 2021 by Toni Shiloh
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ISBN-13: 9781488070938
A Home for Her Baby
Copyright © 2021 by Gabrielle Meyer
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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