Mermaid Moon by Colleen Coble

Author:Colleen Coble [Coble, Colleen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4016-9029-8
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2016-01-12T05:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-ONE

The credits for Peppa Pig were flashing across the TV screen when Kevin stepped into the living room. He’d remodeled the place after DeAnn left, and he glanced at her to see if she noticed how different it looked. Her focus was fixed on Sadie though, and she didn’t even look around at the new leather sofas or the nice rug on the hardwood floors.

Maybe he was wrong. Maybe she really was here because of all the reasons she’d stated and none of the reasons he feared. He glanced across the living room and sent a silent plea to Mallory, who stood at the kitchen island. The trepidation on her face matched that in his heart.

“Sadie, this is my friend Mrs. Blake who has come to town for a few days.”

Sadie turned sightless eyes toward him and DeAnn. “Hi, Mrs. Blake.”

DeAnn knelt on the rug by their daughter. “Hi, Sadie. You have a nice dog. What’s her name?”

“Fiona. She’s my best friend. Do you have a dog?”

“I do.” Her voice trembled. “She’s a sweet Yorkie named Scarlet. She’s not as smart as your dog though. All she likes to do is play with a ball.”

“Fiona likes to play ball too.” Sadie scooted closer to DeAnn. “You smell nice.”

“Thank you. I like the smell of your shampoo too. Like the perfect little girl.” Tears shimmered on her lashes when she glanced up at Kevin and mouthed, Thank you.

He forced himself to smile encouragingly and turned toward the kitchen. They could use a little privacy. Maybe their interactions would be more natural without him looming over DeAnn’s shoulder.

He joined Mallory, Kate, and Carol in the kitchen. “She says she’s sorry.” He pitched his voice low in hopes that it wouldn’t carry to Sadie. He motioned to the women to follow him to the back deck.

The breeze from the woods behind the house was chilly. He stood so his bulk would block the wind for the women. “I don’t quite know what to believe. She says she wants a relationship with Sadie.”

Kate rolled her eyes. “Come on, Kevin, you know how selfish and self-centered she is. She’s got a reason for being here, and it has nothing to do with being a mother.”

“I’m afraid of that too. Her husband is running for the Senate, and I wonder if she intends to use Sadie to help him win.”

Kate nodded. “I knew it!”

Mallory shook her head. “I’m not so sure. She was desperate to win Sadie’s favor. You could see it in her actions and her tone. I think it’s right to give her a second chance, Kevin. I can’t even imagine life without Haylie in it. Maybe DeAnn finally figured out what she was missing.”

“She said her mom has cancer and is dying. Maybe she also wants her daughter to know her mom before she dies.”

Kate hugged herself against the chill in the air. “I’m not buying it. She has an ulterior motive. Be on your guard, Kevin.”

“I am. I told her not to tell Sadie who she is yet, and she agreed.

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