Raising Honor by Jill Lynn

Author:Jill Lynn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-05-08T19:46:02+00:00

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Charlie had assumed picking out a pumpkin would be a short-lived activity. She’d assumed incorrectly. Honor had spent as much time inspecting, holding and analyzing pumpkins as most women would allot for choosing a wedding dress.

She was currently distracted by the gourd section. “It’s so cute.” Her whisper, directed at the small green one she held, was filled with far too much longing for a garden vegetable not grown for consumption.

“Why don’t you pick out a few gourds plus a pumpkin? We can put the gourds out for fall decoration.”

Honor’s eyes grew wide at Charlie’s offer. “Okay.”

Charlie sidled up to Ryker, keeping her voice low enough that Honor wouldn’t overhear. “Do you think she’s never picked out a pumpkin before?”

His shrug and the concerned pucker claiming his brow said he’d been asking himself the same question.

Honor examined each gourd as if she was choosing a puppy instead of a perishable decoration. At this rate they would be here all night. But getting to see the joy on her face over such a small thing was definitely worth it. Ryker had been right—this was way more fun than schoolwork. And he’d also been right that tutoring Honor in small chunks of time made a lot more sense. As opposed to jumping into the deep end and forcing Honor to swim until exhaustion pulled her under—like Charlie had done when she’d heard from Honor’s teacher and immediately determined to fix all the things.

She thanked God that Honor’s uncle had barreled into their lives when he had. What would Charlie have done without him during these last two weeks? It was crazy to think that it had only been half a month since their lives had crashed into one another’s. With all the time they’d spent together, Charlie felt as if she’d known Ryker much longer.

“I like this one.” Honor handed the white gourd to Charlie. “And this one.” The next had green and yellow stripes.

“What about this little guy?” Ryker held up a gourd that resembled a miniature pumpkin.

“I already pickeded two.” Stress bogged down Honor’s whisper.

Oh, sweet girl. You can have a million gourds if it helps you understand that you’re loved and noticed and not alone.

“I think you should choose a third so that we can put them in a bowl. And two wouldn’t be enough.”

Honor nodded. After copious amounts of deliberation—and some prompting from Ryker—she chose a third. The same one Ryker had previously suggested.

Charlie met Ryker’s matching smile as the girl skipped outside to deliberate over pumpkins. Cooler air met them when they followed, the breeze picking up speed as it rustled the leaves still clinging to branches.

The small shop sold some local vegetables along with plants and small trees. Charlie had never visited before, but the quaint place made her want to return. Though next year at this time she likely wouldn’t have need of a pumpkin. She highly doubted she’d do any carving without Honor to instigate.

Unless I foster again. An ache grew and expanded at that.

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