The Fix-It Man by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Author:Vicki Lewis Thompson [Thompson, Vicki Lewis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781940515144
Publisher: Vicki Lewis Thompson
Published: 2015-03-01T08:00:00+00:00

Eight

Diana gulped. “That’s—that’s wonderful,” she said, sneaking a glance in Zach’s direction. He looked as if he’d been struck by lightning. They’d never considered the possibility that both girls might be gone overnight. Diana racked her brain for a similar circumstance and decided this hadn’t ever happened before. Laurie’s friends hadn’t included Allison or vice versa.

Allison gazed at her sister in disbelief. “Jenny wants me to come?”

“Sure. Besides, I asked her if you could.”

Allison’s mouth dropped open. “You did?”

“Why not?”

“Uh, I dunno,” Allison hedged, obviously afraid she might ruin the entire miracle.

“So then you’re coming, right? That is, if Mom says we can go. Can we, Mom?”

Diana’s mind whirled. “Next weekend? Let me see. I don’t think we have any plans.”

“Of course we don’t have any plans,” Laurie said. “I mean, we don’t exactly have an active social life.”

Diana smiled in an attempt to hide her distraction. “True.” After the first flurry of invitations following Jim’s death, the calls came less and less frequently. She and the girls kept to themselves. She occasionally had lunch with some of the wives of the couples she and Jim had known, but that was about it.

“So we can go?” Laurie persisted.

“Yes, you can.” Diana didn’t dare look at Zach as a mixture of excitement and fear coursed through her. How would she handle this unexpected turn of events? Could she handle it?

“Wow! That’s freaky!” Allison exclaimed, racing for the house. “Come on, Laurie,” she called over her shoulder. “What’s Jenny’s number? We have to tell her right away we’ll be there.”

“I’ll dial it,” Laurie answered, running to catch up with her sister.

“Are we supposed to take sleeping bags or will a pillow be enough?” Allison’s excited voice grew dimmer as the girls disappeared into the house. “I hope everybody brings music, and then we can…” The sound of her animated chatter faded away, leaving Diana and Zach alone in a deep well of silence.

Zach cleared his throat. “Allison sure is happy about being included.”

Diana stared at the screen door that had banged shut behind the two girls. “Yes.”

“Diana.” His voice compelled her to turn and face him. “I’m not made of steel, and neither are you. How in hell will we—”

“We just will, that’s all,” she interrupted, not wanting to hear their dilemma stated out loud.

“You’re going to stay in your room, and I’ll stay in mine, for the entire night? Diana, I have enough trouble keeping my hands off you when the girls are here. My God, sometimes I imagine I can hear you breathing down there below me, and I think of that thin nightgown you wear and that ripe body underneath—” He clenched his fists. “The girls are the only reason I’ve held back. If I know they’re gone…” His blue eyes blazed with frustration.

“We can’t sleep together, Zach, and chance ruining everything,” she said, her shoulders tense.

“Or gaining everything,” he said. “Is this slumber party a gift to us? The girls would never have to suspect what had gone on while they were away.

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