Harlequin Love Inspired October 2018--Box Set 2 of 2 by Carrie Lighte

Author:Carrie Lighte
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

“Emma, I’m not so sure this is a good idea,” Zach said. His voice sounded hollow and dull to his own ears. He gripped the steering wheel with one hand while he stared at the modest farmhouse in front of them and willed his pulse to slow.

“Zach, you’re parked in their driveway and they’re peeking out of the front window at us. You can’t turn around now.”

“Sure I can.” He nodded firmly. “Absolutely, I can.”

Train in advance. Prepare in advance. He was failing on all fronts. His mental preparedness for surviving and enduring any life-threatening situation went down the tubes the minute they pulled into the Clarks’ gravel drive.

“The twins will provide a buffer,” Emma said. “Everyone likes babies.”

Terrific, now he was hiding behind toddlers.

When Emma placed her small hand over his, he held his breath but didn’t answer.

She gently pried his fingers free from the steering wheel. “We’ve got this, Zach.”

His lip curled in what started as a smile and ended up as a snarl. It didn’t escape him that he was a former navy SEAL being comforted by a petite cowgirl. He could chalk today up to a good initiative but bad judgment. His own doing.

It was time to face the sad reality that today was the day he’d been dreading.

Man up, pal, he told himself.

Zach glanced into the back seat. “The girls are asleep.”

“And they’ll stay that way if we’re very careful. The church nursery followed by lunch always conks them out. Plus, Pastor Parr was a bit long-winded today.” She nodded toward the house. “You bring in their play yard and they’ll probably sleep through the entire visit.”

Zach eased out of the truck and stretched his legs. He moved through Emma’s instructions by rote and walked up to the front door with the twins’ gear in one hand and a shopping bag with items for the Clarks in the other.

For a few moments, he stood on the threshold looking around the welcoming yard. This was Ian’s house.

Ian, who would never come home again.

Zach had been hospitalized during Ian’s memorial service. Never gave his buddy a proper goodbye.

A wave of emotion gripped him like a vise. It was Steve’s funeral all over again.

Zach raised his head. Except, maybe this time he could ease someone else’s pain. He wouldn’t let the Clarks down like he’d let Emma and the twins down.

He rang the bell.

Ten minutes after being ushered into the house by Mary and Joe Clark, he realized Emma was right. Again. The Clarks were thrilled to have children, sleeping or awake, in their farmhouse. The mood in the home was nothing short of joyous as Ian’s parents stood over the play yard admiring the sleeping toddlers.

“We don’t have any grands to fuss over. This is a real treat,” Mary Clark said. “And it sure doesn’t hurt that they’re simply adorable times two.”

Joe Clark stood behind his wife with his hands on her shoulders, peering down at the twins. “Can’t hardly remember when Ian was that small.

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.