them quite often.”
He let himself enjoy her praise, let himself hold her gaze while her warm look filled his heart. If only the afternoon could last forever. But he’d waste none of it.
With wood he’d brought with him and kindling gathered from the trees, he built a fire then carried the lunch basket and a knapsack to one of the benches. Kathleen followed with a jug of cocoa.
He’d brought a scoop shovel and headed for the pond. “Who wants a ride?”
The three boys scrambled to his side, slipping and sliding. “Youngest to oldest.” Mattie sat on the scoop and Buck pushed him about the ice.
An hour later he was ready for a break. They trooped toward the fire, where Kathleen poured cocoa into mugs for each of them. Rosie handed out sandwiches and cookies.
He sat next to Kathleen, Joey on his other side, and Buck thought life couldn’t get any better than this. A son he loved, a woman he—
He stuffed half a cookie in his mouth. Better to stick to what was possible.
“I used to come here with some friends when I was much younger.” Kathleen’s voice carried notes of regret and sadness.
Wishing to erase those notes, Buck shifted to study her. “Why did you stop coming?”
Her eyes filled with surprise. “You know, I can’t say. Part of the reason, I suppose, is the neighbors who took me with them moved away, and I felt conspicuously alone when I came on my own. Then I got involved in other things.”
The children finished their lunch and went back to play. Rosie followed them, leaving Buck and Kathleen alone. There were so many things he wanted to know about her. What she’d been like as a girl. The dreams she’d had. Which ones remained. “Tell me what types of things you’re involved in.”
“Up until this past fall, I spent three years attending a girls’ boarding school, where we were strictly supervised. My father would expect nothing else. Of course there were those who found ways to disobey the rules.” She shrugged. “I never felt the need. I loved my studies. I took on some extra projects.” Her eyes glistened with pleasure at the memory. “One of the teachers led us on a study of the life of Christ. She urged us to see Him at work in this world and base our lives on how He would live.”
“You really liked that, didn’t you?”
“It was exactly what I needed to find purpose in my life.”
“So you became a do-gooder?” Was that her only reason for befriending Rosie?
Her expression flattened. He wished he could bite back the words and bring the joy into her face again.
“I hope not. I wanted to live my life with purpose and meaning, not selfishly or with judgment. I want my life to reflect my gratitude for all God has given each of us.”
He touched her hands as they lay still and peaceful in her lap. “Forgive me for speaking so harshly. From our first meeting, you have made me aware of my need to open myself up to God. Both Rosie and I were raised to love Him, but over the years I’ve neglected my faith.”
Her eyes shone with happiness and she turned her hands into his. He twined his fingers through hers.
“Nothing would make me happier than to know you’ve returned to your faith.” Her soft words felt like a benediction.
“Why is that?” If only he could allow himself to think it was because she cared about him in a personal way. But why was he even contemplating such a joy? He blocked from his mind the way he pictured her looking if she found out the truth about him.
Enough. He would not allow anything to mar this afternoon.
Rosie returned, Mattie at her side. “Play here with Lilly.” She shifted her attention to Buck. “The bigger boys are too fast for him. They’re having a great time out there.”
Further conversation between himself and Kathleen was impossible. Except he had a plan. He spoke to Rosie. “Would you mind watching Joey while Kathleen and I go for a skate?”
“But I didn’t bring skates.” Kathleen looked so disappointed, he
He let himself enjoy her praise, let himself hold her gaze while her warm look filled his heart. If only the afternoon could last forever. But he’d waste none of it.
With wood he’d brought with him and kindling gathered from the trees, he built a fire then carried the lunch basket and a knapsack to one of the benches. Kathleen followed with a jug of cocoa.
He’d brought a scoop shovel and headed for the pond. “Who wants a ride?”
The three boys scrambled to his side, slipping and sliding. “Youngest to oldest.” Mattie sat on the scoop and Buck pushed him about the ice.
An hour later he was ready for a break. They trooped toward the fire, where Kathleen poured cocoa into mugs for each of them. Rosie handed out sandwiches and cookies.
He sat next to Kathleen, Joey on his other side, and Buck thought life couldn’t get any better than this. A son he loved, a woman he—
He stuffed half a cookie in his mouth. Better to stick to what was possible.
“I used to come here with some friends when I was much younger.” Kathleen’s voice carried notes of regret and sadness.
Wishing to erase those notes, Buck shifted to study her. “Why did you stop coming?”
Her eyes filled with surprise. “You know, I can’t say. Part of the reason, I suppose, is the neighbors who took me with them moved away, and I felt conspicuously alone when I came on my own. Then I got involved in other things.”
The children finished their lunch and went back to play. Rosie followed them, leaving Buck and Kathleen alone. There were so many things he wanted to know about her. What she’d been like as a girl. The dreams she’d had. Which ones remained. “Tell me what types of things you’re involved in.”
“Up until this past fall, I spent three years attending a girls’ boarding school, where we were strictly supervised. My father would expect nothing else. Of course there were those who found ways to disobey the rules.” She shrugged. “I never felt the need. I loved my studies. I took on some extra projects.” Her eyes glistened with pleasure at the memory. “One of the teachers led us on a study of the life of Christ. She urged us to see Him at work in this world and base our lives on how He would live.”
“You really liked that, didn’t you?”
“It was exactly what I needed to find purpose in my life.”
“So you became a do-gooder?” Was that her only reason for befriending Rosie?
Her expression flattened. He wished he could bite back the words and bring the joy into her face again.
“I hope not. I wanted to live my life with purpose and meaning, not selfishly or with judgment. I want my life to reflect my gratitude for all God has given each of us.”
He touched her hands as they lay still and peaceful in her lap. “Forgive me for speaking so harshly. From our first meeting, you have made me aware of my need to open myself up to God. Both Rosie and I were raised to love Him, but over the years I’ve neglected my faith.”
Her eyes shone with happiness and she turned her hands into his. He twined his fingers through hers.
“Nothing would make me happier than to know you’ve returned to your faith.” Her soft words felt like a benediction.
“Why is that?” If only he could allow himself to think it was because she cared about him in a personal way. But why was he even contemplating such a joy? He blocked from his mind the way he pictured her looking if she found out the truth about him.
Enough. He would not allow anything to mar this afternoon.
Rosie returned, Mattie at her side. “Play here with Lilly.” She shifted her attention to Buck. “The bigger boys are too fast for him. They’re having a great time out there.”
Further conversation between himself and Kathleen was impossible. Except he had a plan. He spoke to Rosie. “Would you mind watching Joey while Kathleen and I go for a skate?”
“But I didn’t bring skates.” Kathleen looked so disappointed, he
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