A Family for Luke by Carolyne Aarsen

Author:Carolyne Aarsen
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 1426827008
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2008-12-02T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“Thanks for making dinner. It was really tasty.” Janie smiled at her children, who were squirming with pride.

“Did you like the biscuits?” Todd asked. “Suzie made them.”

“I used your recipe.” Suzie gave her mother a shy smile, then glanced at Luke sitting across from Janie. “Luke helped me.”

Though Janie kept her eyes on Suzie, she was fully aware of Luke sitting directly across from her. Having Luke working in the kitchen had been disturbing enough. Seeing him actually seated at the table, in the same place Owen would sit the few times he was home, created a tantalizing possibility…and served as a tangible reminder that men don’t stick around.

“I measured the oil,” Autumn added loudly, not willing to be outdone.

“And everything is just right,” Janie said.

As she looked at the happy faces around the table, she wondered why she hadn’t ever gotten the kids to help in the kitchen before.

Because you can’t let go of control.

Luke’s voice in her head annoyed her with its truth. She had deliberately sat with her back to the kitchen counter so she couldn’t see the mess. And she tried to ignore Luke, who seemed to be laughing at her, as if he knew exactly what was going on in her head.

“And you’re not cleaning up,” Todd announced as he started clearing the dishes from the table.

She caught Luke’s warning glance. She could do this, she thought as she settled back in her chair.

“This is hard for you, isn’t it?” Luke said with a cocky grin as Suzie, Autumn and Todd carried the dirty dishes from the counter to the table.

Her only answer was a vague shrug as she took a careful sip of the coffee Luke had poured for her. Everything would be fine. The kids were old enough to do the dishes.

A sudden crash behind her made her jump, and she twisted in her chair in time to see Suzie juggling a haphazardly stacked set of pots.

“Suzie, you should put the little one inside—”

“I think your mom and I will drink our coffee on the porch,” Luke announced, pushing his chair back with a screech, which drowned out Janie’s instructions.

“But the kids have never—”

Luke held up his finger to stop her. “Let’s go,” he said, taking her by the arm and helping her to her feet.

She wanted to protest but Luke didn’t give her time. He escorted her through the living room, past the bag of defrosting corn, and helped her into a wooden chair.

“Okay. Foot up,” he said, pulling a chair close. He ducked into the house and returned with a pillow from her couch in one hand, her cup of coffee in the other. Janie didn’t even bother to object and obediently dropped her foot on the intricately embroidered pillow her mother had made for her. “Comfy?”

She nodded, cradling her mug in her hands as she forced herself to relax.

“I’m going to supervise the kids,” he said, poking his thumb over his shoulder. “Are you going to be okay? Do

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