Finders Keepers by Sala Sharon

Author:Sala Sharon
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, General, Contemporary, Fiction
ISBN: 9780061743610
Publisher: Harpercollins
Published: 2007-04-01T22:00:00+00:00

“It’s bedtime, buddy,” Joseph said, as Joey made a mad dash through the living room, rolled across the throw pillows on the floor, and jumped to his feet and yelled, “Taa-daa!”

Molly rolled her eyes and tried not to laugh at the look of utter disgust on Joseph’s face.

“No more taa-daas,” Joseph said. “Pick up your toys and I’ll be in to help you bathe and put on your pajamas.”

Joey stuck out his lower lip and glared at his father’s hard stare.

“Want Momma to do it,” he said.

“Now, Joey. You know what—”

“It’s all right,” Molly said. “If it’ll make things easier on both of you, I’m willing.” She looked to Joseph for permission.

He shrugged and nodded. “I owe you,” he said.

Molly smiled, slowly. “I’ll collect later.” Then before Joseph could respond, she turned toward his son and clapped her hands. “Race you,” she shouted, and darted down the hall with Joey right behind her, squealing and shouting with every step.

Joseph didn’t know whether to be glad that Joey loved Molly and had accepted her without batting an eye or worry that Molly was so taken with his son.

He told himself that he was being foolish, but he couldn’t forget what she’d told him about not being able to have any more children.

What if she only loves me for my son? he asked himself. Yeah, and what if you’re just making excuses for yourself? he thought. You know that Molly cares for you, too. You’re just jealous because she’s going to give Joey a bath instead of giving one to you.

He shoved his hands through his hair, then pivoted, unable to stay alone in the room with the feelings he couldn’t control. He walked out of the house and onto the flagstone terrace, staring into the darkness and seeing nothing but an occasional night moth dive-bombing the yard light, remembering when he’d wished for someone to love and gotten nothing but another set of foster parents, then trying to forget that they’d been more of the same. As far as Joseph had been able to tell, most of his foster parents had considered him another paycheck rather than another child to help reach maturity with some illusions intact. Shadows darkened the yard—and his eyes—as he tried not to remember anything else at all.

A siren sounded somewhere off in the distance. A dog barked in a backyard three houses over. And the sun set on another day in Oklahoma.

Molly leaned over, kissing Joey’s soft cheek and smiling to herself at the way he snuggled his stuffed rabbit beneath his tummy. When he was asleep, she slipped quietly out of his room.

Joseph was nowhere to be found. It took a few minutes for her to think to look outside, and when she did, she stood unobserved, watching the play of emotions sweeping across his face as the sun disappeared from view.

Her heart ached for his uncertainty, and for an instant, she saw the child in the man. It was enough to end her observation and send her outside and into his arms.

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