eternally grateful that Erin was a believer.
“You’re pretty smart, you know that?” Ali complimented Erin. “You’ve given your favorite sister some good advice. Got any for your favorite therapist?”
Erin snapped her fingers near the phone as if she’d just had a light-bulb moment.
“As a matter of fact, I might. One of the ways I got Dana to let down her defenses and just be herself was over pizza and Scrabble.”
“You know, it may take all night, but it’s worth a try.”
“Better keep him away from those red triple-word squares and get the latest version of Webster’s.”
“Yeah, this kid could do some damage with stuff like ‘metamorphosis’ and ‘geochronology’ in his vocabulary.”
The conversation ended on a humorous note as Erin headed off to be with her family and Ali pointed the Land Rover toward home. Her exhaustion and aggravation were forgotten as she tried to remember where she’d last seen the big, fat dictionary she’d used in college to prop up a thrift store sofa that was missing one leg.
“What on earth is she doing here on the weekend?” Ben muttered to himself, surprisingly pleased when the big tires of Ali’s SUV crunched on his driveway. Maybe she’d left something behind during her visit the night before. Or maybe his home was simply where she wanted to be on a Saturday evening. Yeah, right.
From his position at the stovetop Ben could make out the boxy vehicle through the slatted shutters on the kitchen window. The tailgate slammed as she undoubtedly released her shadow. Ben continued to whisk the sauce in the iron skillet while waiting for the doorbell. After several more minutes he poured the fragrant gravy over the seared pork loin and returned the mouth-watering dish to a hot oven.
With Mrs. Alvarez still on vacation Ben was practicing one of the recipes he’d learned from many hours of watching the Food Network. It seemed to be the only cable channel where he could be certain the celebrities would keep clothes on their bodies and a pleasant tongue in their mouths.
Ben glanced toward the breakfast nook where he’d set one place for himself and added a mason jar filled with fresh flowers from the back yard. He had to eat alone, but there was no reason he couldn’t be civilized. He dried his hands on a dish towel, then slung it over his shoulder. Opening the window shutter gave him full view of the front drive and yard.
“Where’d they go?” He craned his neck but didn’t see any sign of the pretty redhead or her dog. He moved to the back of the kitchen, glanced out the bay window and spotted the pair. Their backs were to him as they walked the depth of the property.
It was still natural for him to compare all women to his late wife who’d been a classic, willowy blonde. Alison Stone couldn’t have been more different and he was glad of it. It was odd enough having a female visit his home on a weekend, let alone a number of days in a row. If she’d borne any resemblance at all to Theresa it might have been difficult. But Ali was unique with her auburn twist of hair trailing down a rounded backside that was dressed once again in blazes of colorful cotton, denim and Southwestern silver. Her blue jean skirt grazed the top of her western boots as she walked. Polished conchos on her belt glinted in the afternoon sun.
Ben stepped away from the window before Ali hada chance to turn and catch him staring. He opened several cans, dumped the contents into a large bowl along with eggs and spices and then whipped the mixture vigorously as he launched into his usual, one-sided conversation.
Lord, give me something to work with here, some encouragement in one direction or the other. I need more than my worry for Ethan to occupy my life. If I’m not going to be campaigning, then I’d like to get back on the speaking circuit. But if I can’t even coax my son out of his room, why would anybody pay me to teach them the principles of positive thinking?
With
“You’re pretty smart, you know that?” Ali complimented Erin. “You’ve given your favorite sister some good advice. Got any for your favorite therapist?”
Erin snapped her fingers near the phone as if she’d just had a light-bulb moment.
“As a matter of fact, I might. One of the ways I got Dana to let down her defenses and just be herself was over pizza and Scrabble.”
“You know, it may take all night, but it’s worth a try.”
“Better keep him away from those red triple-word squares and get the latest version of Webster’s.”
“Yeah, this kid could do some damage with stuff like ‘metamorphosis’ and ‘geochronology’ in his vocabulary.”
The conversation ended on a humorous note as Erin headed off to be with her family and Ali pointed the Land Rover toward home. Her exhaustion and aggravation were forgotten as she tried to remember where she’d last seen the big, fat dictionary she’d used in college to prop up a thrift store sofa that was missing one leg.
“What on earth is she doing here on the weekend?” Ben muttered to himself, surprisingly pleased when the big tires of Ali’s SUV crunched on his driveway. Maybe she’d left something behind during her visit the night before. Or maybe his home was simply where she wanted to be on a Saturday evening. Yeah, right.
From his position at the stovetop Ben could make out the boxy vehicle through the slatted shutters on the kitchen window. The tailgate slammed as she undoubtedly released her shadow. Ben continued to whisk the sauce in the iron skillet while waiting for the doorbell. After several more minutes he poured the fragrant gravy over the seared pork loin and returned the mouth-watering dish to a hot oven.
With Mrs. Alvarez still on vacation Ben was practicing one of the recipes he’d learned from many hours of watching the Food Network. It seemed to be the only cable channel where he could be certain the celebrities would keep clothes on their bodies and a pleasant tongue in their mouths.
Ben glanced toward the breakfast nook where he’d set one place for himself and added a mason jar filled with fresh flowers from the back yard. He had to eat alone, but there was no reason he couldn’t be civilized. He dried his hands on a dish towel, then slung it over his shoulder. Opening the window shutter gave him full view of the front drive and yard.
“Where’d they go?” He craned his neck but didn’t see any sign of the pretty redhead or her dog. He moved to the back of the kitchen, glanced out the bay window and spotted the pair. Their backs were to him as they walked the depth of the property.
It was still natural for him to compare all women to his late wife who’d been a classic, willowy blonde. Alison Stone couldn’t have been more different and he was glad of it. It was odd enough having a female visit his home on a weekend, let alone a number of days in a row. If she’d borne any resemblance at all to Theresa it might have been difficult. But Ali was unique with her auburn twist of hair trailing down a rounded backside that was dressed once again in blazes of colorful cotton, denim and Southwestern silver. Her blue jean skirt grazed the top of her western boots as she walked. Polished conchos on her belt glinted in the afternoon sun.
Ben stepped away from the window before Ali hada chance to turn and catch him staring. He opened several cans, dumped the contents into a large bowl along with eggs and spices and then whipped the mixture vigorously as he launched into his usual, one-sided conversation.
Lord, give me something to work with here, some encouragement in one direction or the other. I need more than my worry for Ethan to occupy my life. If I’m not going to be campaigning, then I’d like to get back on the speaking circuit. But if I can’t even coax my son out of his room, why would anybody pay me to teach them the principles of positive thinking?
With