Harlequin Special Edition February 2023--Box Set 2 of 2 by Nancy Robards Thompson

Author:Nancy Robards Thompson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

“Is Ms. Selena coming?” Pammie asked, holding Trent’s hand and craning her body to look into the crowd. “She said she was coming to hear me sing and to help me with my makeup.”

He looked at his watch and scanned the area. Angels, stars and snowflakes hung from the ceiling and large cutouts of the nutcracker and drummer boy graced corner aisles. With Christmas six days away on Sunday, most people showed their holiday spirit by wearing red or green and donning Santa hats or reindeer ears.

Spotting Mindy in the second row, Trent gave a small wave. He was so glad she was back for good and that her mother was doing well. Mindy had made a couple of trips to the hospital in Brooklyn. Each time, Trent had sent bouquets of flowers for both her and her mother and had taken care of Ms. Wanda’s hospital expenses. He had also increased Mindy’s wages because she wouldn’t accept money otherwise.

Seeing Pammie’s furrowed brow, Trent sought to reassure her. “She’ll be here.” He just hoped Selena wouldn’t arrive fifteen minutes before curtain call.

They were backstage of the auditorium of the School for Unique Populations, an educational center for adults with special needs that Trent was instrumental in funding. Pammie had graduated from a specialized private high school and he had needed somewhere for her to go during the day. The only choices out there had seemed to cater to the elderly, so he’d worked with educators and social workers to create interest programs for special adults in their twenties. Pammie took cooking and singing classes. There were also computer, arts and theater classes, as well as a transition program, but he wasn’t ready for her to move yet. If ever.

A young man walked up to them. He was about Pammie’s height and had bright red hair. “Hi, Pammie,” he said, rocking back on his heels. The young man had a wide grin on his face. “What do you plan to sing?”

“‘R-e-s-p-e-c-t,’” she breathed. She, too, wore a wide grin. And was she batting her eyes at this boy? Trent’s brows creased. It jarred him to see his sister flirting. Like she was grown. Er, well she was, but she didn’t know anything about being in a relationship.

Trent’s stepped between them. “And what is your name?” he asked, placing a hand on one hip.

“Franco. Franco Jones,” he said, a mini James Bond impersonator, hair slick, wide smile, holding out his hand and looking up at Trent. “I like Pammie.”

“I like you, too.” Pammie giggled and placed a hand over her mouth. Then she tossed Trent a glance, begging him to accept Franco. Be nice.

Ignoring the innocence that he saw reflected in the young man’s hazel eyes, Trent wrinkled his brow. “Head on back to your parents. Pammie has to get ready.” His tone sounded gruff, but Trent didn’t care. With a jerky nod, Franco bounced away to join his parents.

Pammie poked out her lip. “Why’d you do that?”

“What?” Trent drew shallow breaths and tried to smile.

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