His Brown-Eyed Girl by Liz Talley

Author:Liz Talley
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-09-10T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

WHEN FRIDAY MORNING ARRIVED, Lucas rolled over and blinked at the alarm clock. Six o’clock. He pressed the snooze and contemplated going back to sleep, but then thought better of it and struggled from the bed, marveling he’d actually been able to sleep the whole night through.

Tuesday night after Lucas had switched the lamp off, preparing to block his mind and catch some z’s, Chris had thrown up all over the hall floor. And then he’d been up all night sick. When morning had come, Michael joined his brother, clinging to the porcelain throne between the boys’ bedrooms.

The stomach virus had arrived for a spring visit.

Wednesday evening Charlotte started throwing up and the misery had lasted until Thursday night.

Lucas had never prepared for anything like three sick children, especially ones apt to launch their stomach contents all over carpet, bedding and, once, the cat. Mean Mittens probably deserved it, but Lucas hadn’t deserved bathing a cat. Hadn’t been pretty.

He’d found cleaning solution and had done his best to scrub the carpets. Washing quilts and comforters was a new challenge but he managed, and Addy was nice enough to get ginger ale and disinfectant spray, delivering them with a comforting pat.

“You want me to help with the kids?”

“No, I’m doing okay. No need for you to be exposed to the sickness.”

“So what do you think about this weekend? I can take the whole day Saturday...”

A sweet piece of satisfaction sank into his bones. “They should be okay by then, but we’ll play it by ear.”

Dear God, please let the kids feel better by Saturday. He wanted to spend time with Addy. Who knew how much longer he’d be in New Orleans. He’d hate to miss even a minute with her. But barfing kids kinda put a lid on his plans for spending nights in Addy’s kitchen, with or without “tea.”

And he’d kicked DeeAnn out why?

Of course, he knew that answer was twofold—he wanted to stay close to Addy and he cared about his niece and nephews, even though two weeks ago they’d been strangers to him.

Lucas padded toward the shower, turned it on and went to wake Chris and Michael who had recovered enough to go to school.

“Wake up.” He switched on Chris’s bedside lamp.

Chris groaned, tossing the covers over his head. “I’m still sick.”

“No, you’re not. And you can’t go on Uncle Lucas’s Weekend Extravaganza if you don’t get up and go to school.”

The covers flipped back and a burr-headed Chris peeked out, blinking owlishly in the light. “Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.”

Chris’s feet hit the floor. “I’m up.”

Next was Michael’s room.

“Wake up, buttercup,” Lucas trilled in a falsetto voice.

Michael, wrapped like a burrito, didn’t move. Lucas tapped his shoulder while turning on the lamp. “Come on, Mike. Up and at ’em.”

“Go away.”

“If you don’t go to school, you won’t be able to go on Uncle Lucas’s Weekend Extravaganza.”

“You promise?” Michael rolled over and grabbed at the lamp.

“Let me try this again. If you don’t get up, I’ll tell Chris your new phone pass code.

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