the pie filling prepared, Ben turned his attention to the homemade crust that waited on a dusting of flour over the cool, granite counter. Following Paula Deen’s example, he scooped up the pastry, positioned it in a deep baking dish, then began to crimp the edges. As he pinched the dough, he continued his words with God.
It just seemed like common sense to me that Ethan would be in hog heaven surrounded by all those incredible rock formations in Big Bend. Nobody ever appreciated Your sculpting skills more than that kid. I’m not surprised he slipped out to get a closer look, but I didn’t expect him to feel like he’d been abandoned. Father, how could I have misjudged this so completely and undone all the good we’d accomplished up to that point? Show me a sign that we’ll get back on track and move forward with our lives again.
The chimes above the front door echoed in the entry hall. Alison Stone. Ben glanced upward.
And please, please don’t let that be the sign, Lord.
Ben shook the excess flour off his hands and stepped to the edge of the kitchen.
“Ali?”
“Guilty.”
“It’s unlocked.”
The door inched open. “Benjamin?” she called, evidently reluctant to let herself in.
He appreciated that.
“In the kitchen.” He shouted above water running in the sink. “Sorry for being so informal, but I didn’t want to keep you waiting on the step while I washed up.”
“Good afternoon,” she greeted him.
Ben dried his hands. As he turned toward Ali’s pleasant smile he struggled not to do a double take. She’d been so lovely from a distance, but that was usually an optical illusion, right? Didn’t everybody look better from fifty yards? But now, standing five feet away she was a vision.
She twitched her nose and sniffed the air, drawn as if against her will to the top half of the oven. “What smells so wonderful?”
“It’s not much, just a pork loin in au jus and some roasted vegetables,” he exaggerated modesty. “A little something I threw together after a week of nonstop cooking shows.” He tipped the bowl of filling into his pie shell.
“A true Renaissance man.” She sounded impressed.
He waved away her praise with the spatula he’d used to scrape the bowl. “No, just a really hungry man who hates to eat alone. There’s going to be plenty if you’d like to join me later. The meat still needs to roast for a while.”
“Oh, no, I hadn’t intended to invite myself to dinner on a Saturday evening.”
“Now that you mention it—” he held up his hands in a what gives gesture “—shouldn’t you be out with your steady guy on Saturday night?”
She shook her head. “God’s never put the right man in my life. And at thirty-seven I’m starting to think that’s not part of the plan. Right now it’s okay because I work seven days a week with my kids.”
Ben opened the bottom oven, slid the pie inside and set the timer. “That’s how it was with me and football. I wasn’t around much when Ethan was a baby.”
“Speaking of Ethan…” Ali produced the box that had been tucked beneath her arm. The contents rattled as she presented it, her expression hopeful.
“Scrabble?” Ben read the title. “Gosh, I haven’t played that in thirty years.”
“I thought I’d give it a try. Maybe he’ll go for it.”
“There’s only one way to find out. He’s upstairs, like always.”
She stopped at the doorway. “Aren’t you going to ask me where Simba is?”
“I’m sure she’s just around that corner, close enough to be at my throat in a moment’s notice.”
“Oh, I thought maybe I’d fooled you into thinking I’d left her at my place.”
He shook his head. “Nope, I saw you both out back earlier.”
She lowered her gaze, seemingly embarrassed. “I’m sorry we didn’t ask permission. But we’re kinda pressed for space at the condo, especially since I took in aroommate. I just couldn’t resist a look around your yard. It seems huge compared to our
It just seemed like common sense to me that Ethan would be in hog heaven surrounded by all those incredible rock formations in Big Bend. Nobody ever appreciated Your sculpting skills more than that kid. I’m not surprised he slipped out to get a closer look, but I didn’t expect him to feel like he’d been abandoned. Father, how could I have misjudged this so completely and undone all the good we’d accomplished up to that point? Show me a sign that we’ll get back on track and move forward with our lives again.
The chimes above the front door echoed in the entry hall. Alison Stone. Ben glanced upward.
And please, please don’t let that be the sign, Lord.
Ben shook the excess flour off his hands and stepped to the edge of the kitchen.
“Ali?”
“Guilty.”
“It’s unlocked.”
The door inched open. “Benjamin?” she called, evidently reluctant to let herself in.
He appreciated that.
“In the kitchen.” He shouted above water running in the sink. “Sorry for being so informal, but I didn’t want to keep you waiting on the step while I washed up.”
“Good afternoon,” she greeted him.
Ben dried his hands. As he turned toward Ali’s pleasant smile he struggled not to do a double take. She’d been so lovely from a distance, but that was usually an optical illusion, right? Didn’t everybody look better from fifty yards? But now, standing five feet away she was a vision.
She twitched her nose and sniffed the air, drawn as if against her will to the top half of the oven. “What smells so wonderful?”
“It’s not much, just a pork loin in au jus and some roasted vegetables,” he exaggerated modesty. “A little something I threw together after a week of nonstop cooking shows.” He tipped the bowl of filling into his pie shell.
“A true Renaissance man.” She sounded impressed.
He waved away her praise with the spatula he’d used to scrape the bowl. “No, just a really hungry man who hates to eat alone. There’s going to be plenty if you’d like to join me later. The meat still needs to roast for a while.”
“Oh, no, I hadn’t intended to invite myself to dinner on a Saturday evening.”
“Now that you mention it—” he held up his hands in a what gives gesture “—shouldn’t you be out with your steady guy on Saturday night?”
She shook her head. “God’s never put the right man in my life. And at thirty-seven I’m starting to think that’s not part of the plan. Right now it’s okay because I work seven days a week with my kids.”
Ben opened the bottom oven, slid the pie inside and set the timer. “That’s how it was with me and football. I wasn’t around much when Ethan was a baby.”
“Speaking of Ethan…” Ali produced the box that had been tucked beneath her arm. The contents rattled as she presented it, her expression hopeful.
“Scrabble?” Ben read the title. “Gosh, I haven’t played that in thirty years.”
“I thought I’d give it a try. Maybe he’ll go for it.”
“There’s only one way to find out. He’s upstairs, like always.”
She stopped at the doorway. “Aren’t you going to ask me where Simba is?”
“I’m sure she’s just around that corner, close enough to be at my throat in a moment’s notice.”
“Oh, I thought maybe I’d fooled you into thinking I’d left her at my place.”
He shook his head. “Nope, I saw you both out back earlier.”
She lowered her gaze, seemingly embarrassed. “I’m sorry we didn’t ask permission. But we’re kinda pressed for space at the condo, especially since I took in aroommate. I just couldn’t resist a look around your yard. It seems huge compared to our
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