A House Full of Hope by Missy Tippens

Author:Missy Tippens
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2011-09-19T04:00:00+00:00

When Hannah drove into the clearing, she saw him.

Mark.

He stood near the front porch, working over a sawhorse. Skin tanned. Golden hair gleaming in the sun.

When he heard them and looked up, she over-braked and jarred them all.

“Mom. The seat belt just locked,” Becca griped.

“Sorry.”

As Hannah got out of the car and approached, he dried his face with the edge of his T-shirt. He turned and met her with those penetrating feline eyes.

“Hi. I took you up on your offer to stay late. Almost finished with the sanding.”

Words failed her. How could this man make her pulse jump? Make her wish for so much more in life?

Wish for things she couldn’t have.

She nodded. Cleared her throat. “No problem.” With extreme effort, she dragged her eyes away from him. “Kids, come inside and help with dinner.”

“Can I stay out here and help?” Tony asked, his voice quiet and unsure.

Her gaze darted to Mark, and those wishes suddenly paled in comparison to the wish for him to be tender with her children.

Mark ruffled Tony’s hair. “Fine with me if it’s okay with your mom.”

She sucked in air and resumed breathing. “Sure. Just be careful and do what he tells you to do.”

Tony sidled over beside Mark. “I’m a good painter. Can I do that?”

“Well, buddy, I planned to paint the lower shutters with primer tomorrow if it doesn’t rain. But you can help me finish the sanding.” He squatted down and handed him some fine-grade sandpaper. “You got any protective goggles inside?”

“I have some for swimming.”

“I imagine that’ll do.”

Tony grinned as he ran inside. The other three kids took off, following.

Though trying to guard herself from feelings for Mark, she couldn’t ignore his kindness to Tony. “Thank you.”

In less than a minute, Tony zoomed out the door looking like a goggle-eyed fish.

Mark gave a chuckle and showed him where to start.

Becca trailed behind in pink swim goggles, squinting without the aid of her glasses. “Can I help, too?”

Even though she wouldn’t be able to see for detail work, he gave her a job anyway, showing her how to brush off the largest paint chips and debris from the last shutter.

When the twins showed up a couple of minutes later wearing matching green goggles, Mark burst out laughing and seemed to concede accomplishing much. “Come on, you two. Help me glue the shutter joints back together.”

Eric and Emily’s dark heads bent next to Mark’s blond one as they watched him demonstrate. He held the bottle of wood glue as Emily applied it. He guided Eric’s hands to press the wood together.

As the hot evening sun streamed across the yard heating Hannah’s skin, warmth bathed her insides. Mark would be such a good dad someday. A good husband.

For some lucky woman.

She smiled encouragement at Tony, patted Becca’s shoulder and dragged her gaze away from Mark and the twins.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.