September Love by Virginia Myers

Author:Virginia Myers
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2003-07-08T16:00:00+00:00

Kayla didn’t come out until after all the guests were gone. Beth was on her way up to do the bedrooms. Adam followed along contentedly, bringing a bright book from the toy box.

“Hi, Beth,” Kayla said, not meeting her eyes. “I’m so sorry about yesterday,” she added humbly.

“Well, I guess these things happen,” Beth said. She made an effort to be understanding, but couldn’t help but wonder how anyone could lose control of her life as completely as Kayla had. “Why don’t you go and have some coffee and muffins? There’s juice in the fridge. I’m going to do the beds.”

“I’ll…I’ll help you,” Kayla said, starting for the stairs. “I can’t even think of food yet. Okay?” Then she added, “Where’s Dad? I guess he’s going to be furious.”

“He’s going to deliver the Shilshole Bay painting to the bank. I think you’d better at least have some juice and coffee.”

“Okay,” Kayla agreed listlessly.

She joined Beth upstairs a few minutes later. Beth tried to keep up a friendly conversation, but Kayla only answered absently, and finally Beth fell silent. When the last bed was made, Beth felt a rush of relief as she heard the front door shut. Doug was back.

Kayla gave a deep sigh. “I guess I’ll go down and face the music. Was he very mad last night?”

“He was…disappointed,” Beth hedged. “But I guess he does want to talk to you.” When was this bad dream going to end?

Kayla grimaced. “That’s the understatement of the century. Wish me luck.” With dragging steps, she started downstairs, and Adam was pulling at Beth’s skirt, holding out his book. He had waited patiently through the bed making and tidy-ups for her to read to him. With a surge of affection, she couldn’t resist picking him up and hugging him. She chose to read him his story in the big chair in the back bedroom. In case voices were raised again in the bed-sitter, he needn’t be upset about it. There was a feeling of contentment and quiet joy in feeling his little body nestle into her lap, intent on the adventures depicted on the colorful pages. He made a point of being ready to turn the page each time she came to the end of one and paused. When the third story had been read, it was past noon. Beth regretfully shut the book.

“We’d better go downstairs now, Adam.”

“Okay, Gamma Beff.” And he scrambled down from her lap. Had he felt just a little bit heavier this time? Had he perhaps started to gain some weight?

She found Doug in his basement workroom. Kayla was nowhere to be seen.

“Where’s Kayla?” she asked, putting Adam down. He scurried over to Doug, watching him intently. He was becoming more secure with them by the day. Doug finished putting away some leftover bits of framing and brushed his hands together.

“In the bed-sitter,” he said slowly. “She took it rather well. She agreed to talk with Pastor Cooper. I felt like a bully. That ‘tough love’ is tougher to apply than I thought.

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