CHAPTER SIX #2
Dinner was over. Not an ounce of Elisabeth’s macaroni and cheese with hamburger meat and tomatoes remained.
Henry had helped himself to three servings and kept saying how delicious it was.
Funny, but the way he acted made her think he’d never tasted macaroni and cheese before.
At least he enjoyed it, and that pleased her. More than it should.
As she dished up berry pie à la mode at the counter, tonight felt like a typical Saturday night. The air vibrated with giggles and singing. Arguments erupted from the table behind her. Things seemed so normal, until she glanced back and saw Henry.
Nothing was normal this evening. Nor would it be as long as Henry Davenport was there. She was as certain of that as rain falling in Oregon’s wine country during the month of July.
She placed his dessert in front of him and passed out the other plates.
“We have a tradition that my daddy started,” Abby explained. “On Saturdays, we take turns telling everyone our favorite thing that happened during the week.”
“You do this every Saturday?” Henry asked.
Sam rolled his eyes. “Not only on Saturdays.”
“Weekdays, we talk about how our day went,” Abby clarified. “On Sundays, we say what we are thankful for.”
Elisabeth glanced over at Henry. “You don’t have to participate.”
“I want to.”
He smiled, one of the most dazzling, genuine smiles she’d ever seen, making her lightheaded. She must be more tired than she realized. That was the only explanation for her reaction. She sat, vowing to get more sleep tonight. “Whose turn to start?”
“Mine.” Caitlin placed her spoon on her plate. “My favorite thing was the tea party I had with my baby dolls and Sam. We ate cookies and drank iced tea. I like when we have real food. Sam does, too.”
“Only if it’s cookies.” Sam’s face was tomato red. Elisabeth was tempted to thank him for playing with Caitlin, but he looked too embarrassed as it was. No need to rub it in. She could talk with him later in private.
“You’re lucky to have such a nice big brother, Caitlin.” Henry scooped up another bite of pie and ice cream. “I don’t have any brothers or sisters to play with.”
Sam squirmed in his seat. “I just did it for the cookies, sheesh.”
“You can come to my next tea party.” Two lines appeared above Caitlin’s button nose. “Sam, is it okay if he comes?”
Sam shrugged. “Whatever. As long as there are enough cookies for me.”
He focused a little too hard on the dessert in front of him, trying to play it cool in front of Henry. Maybe having another male around would be good for Sam.
“I’m looking forward to it.” Henry smiled at Sam. “Like you, I’m always up for cookies. Especially chocolate chip.”
His sincere tone made Elisabeth believe he was being honest. Sam stopped shifting in his chair, so he must have believed Henry, too.
For a man who didn’t think he was father material, he sure had a way with kids.
And it wasn’t only that. She’d never met anyone like Henry.
Nothing seemed to faze him. Oh, that grin of his faltered when he saw Sam’s room, but within seconds, it had returned.
He seemed to enjoy whatever life threw at him.
At least he had so far. Tomorrow, when he had to work, might be a different story.
“You’re next, Sam,” Abby said, then shoved a spoonful of ice cream into her mouth.
“My favorite thing was seeing Aaron’s skateboarding accident. Blood was everywhere.” Sam mimicked the crash. “It was so cool.”
Boys. Elisabeth grimaced. Maybe if she were eleven… She didn’t think so. “No one repeat this to Aaron, okay?”
Everyone nodded.
“It’s my turn,” Henry said. “My favorite thing was meeting a nice family who lives on a farm in Berry Patch.”
“Do we know them?” Caitlin asked.
“He means us, dorkface,” Sam muttered.
Elisabeth narrowed her eyes. “Language, Samuel.”
He nodded.
“I’m happy to be here, and I can’t wait to get to know all of you.” Henry looked at each of the kids, then his gaze rested upon Elisabeth.
Especially you.
She thought he’d spoken the words out loud but realized his mouth hadn’t said them, his eyes had.
She wanted to look away but couldn’t. She’d never felt anything like it, not even with Toby, and she wasn’t sure if she wanted to feel it ever again.
Uncertain, excited, nervous. Her emotions were as varied as the lunch menu at the bistro.
Heat spread through her. It burned, and she didn’t like it. She took a bite of ice cream. Not that one spoonful would help. She would need the entire half gallon to cool herself down.
And once she cooled down, she could not allow this to happen again.
She would have to be careful where Henry was concerned.
Her life wasn’t her own. She had no time for romance or fanciful thoughts.
No time to chase her own dreams. Her responsibility was to the children and the farm.
It was what her parents would have wanted and expected.
So why was the truth suddenly so disappointing?
“I’m next.” Abby’s eyes danced with excitement. “My favorite thing was being the second person picked for Madison Patrick’s team. I was the right fielder for most of the game, but I got to pitch at the end and struck Danielle McLean out.”
“That’s great.” Elisabeth forgot about her own troubles and clapped her hands. “Now tell us everything that happened. Don’t leave out any details.”
As Abby described the game and events leading up to it, Elisabeth relished her sister’s success.
Abby’s biggest wish was for her athletic ability to match her intellect.
She wasn’t the most coordinated kid, but she gave it her all.
Some kids didn’t care about that. To them, Abigail Wheeler was simply the class brain with glasses and the last one to be picked for a team—any team.
“Why didn’t you tell us before?” Elisabeth asked.
“I wanted to save it for tonight.” Abby grinned. “You’re next.”
“Let’s see.” Elisabeth was tempted to say finding Henry, but she didn’t want to give him the wrong impression.
Not that he thought that way about her. Still, she couldn’t forget how he had stared at her a few minutes ago.
Her pulse raced thinking about it. That was warning enough.
Henry should not be her favorite thing. She had to remember what was most important—her brother and sisters.
Toby had said no man would want all the extra baggage she brought into a relationship.
And so far, he’d been proven right. But Elisabeth didn’t care.
She wanted her siblings and loved them more than anything. And would continue to do so.
Henry might say he loved children so long as they weren’t his while being charming to them, but the charm would fade. And he would leave. At least the kids hadn’t really liked Toby.
“My favorite thing happened tonight,” she said, finally. “It was sitting here listening to all of you.”
Sam groaned. “You always say that.”
“It’s the truth.” And it was. More than anything, Elisabeth wanted to make this a happy home for her brother and sisters. Nothing gave her more pleasure than listening to their favorite things, even if it turned out to be seeing Aaron Eliot’s blood.
“And sweet.” The look in Henry’s eyes was anything but sugary and sweet. “Just like you.”
“And the pie,” Caitlin added.
He laughed. The deep, rich sound rumbled its way straight to Elisabeth’s heart. Forget about more ice cream. She needed a tall glass of water with lots of ice. He winked at her. Her blood started to boil. Make that a pitcher or, better yet, a water tower full.