Ever Loving by Carolyne Aarsen

Author:Carolyne Aarsen [Aarsen, Carolyne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Misty Ridge Publishing
Published: 2020-04-29T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

“Nico, honey, let me tuck your shirt in.” Mia crouched down beside her son on the carpeted floor of the church foyer, letting other people flow past her as she tidied him up. She had just brought the girls away to the nursery and had a chance to check him over. She fingered his hair away from his face and gave him a gentle smile of encouragement, stifling her own disappointment when he didn’t return her smile. This morning he had been acting up, sulking and then hiding when it was time to go to church. Mia could see he was frustrated but he couldn’t say anything. Trouble was, she was frustrated, too.

How would Nico react when Nate left?

Mia stood, banishing that thought. For now she clung to the little bit of progress she saw with Nico. She couldn’t think further than that. Yet, even as her pragmatic self thought that, the romantic part of her, buried beneath loads of laundry, endless cleaning and feeding, clung to every interaction she shared with Nate. Every touch, every look. When Evangeline had mentioned that Nate simply needed a reason to stay, the lonely part of her was tempted by the possibilities.

He’s not sticking around for a woman with four children and you can’t allow yourself to entertain that thought.

Much as Mia disliked Other Mother, sometimes she was right.

She caught Nico’s and Josh’s hands in her own, reminding herself that Al had ditched her because he couldn’t imagine being with a mother of four. How could a man who had no biological connection even be remotely interested in taking all that on?

Mia squared her shoulders, firmed her resolve, sent up a prayer for strength and started up the stairs. Then she felt Nico tug her hand and she looked up.

There Nate stood at the top of the stairs in profile, hair falling across his forehead, mouth quirked in that who—cares smile that she was sure had made the hearts of others flutter, hands tucked into back pockets, his weight shifted on one booted foot. His broad shoulders were enhanced by a white shirt tucked into blue jeans. His features were animated as he spoke to some woman. He pulled one hand out of his jeans, his smile growing.

Her heart did an annoying flop in response to seeing him so unexpectedly. She hadn’t heard him say he was attending church.

Then, as she took those last few steps up, Nico still tugging on her hand to hurry her along, she discovered the target of Nate’s captivating smile.

Young Lacy Miedema stood at the entrance to the sanctuary.

Her sugary-pink dress shimmered in the subdued lighting of the entrance; her blond hair shone and her young smile sparkled. The epitome of all that was young and cute and fun.

Mia glanced at her own dress. It was pretty, but practical. For a moment she wished she had taken Evangeline up on her offer to spruce up her outfit with a scarf or necklace. Then she mentally laughed at herself.

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