The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox

The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox

Author:Amanda Cox
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction;Adoption—Fiction;FIC042000;FIC044000
ISBN: 9781493426577
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2020-07-30T00:00:00+00:00


CHAPTER

TWENTY-NINE

OCTOBER 17, 1994

Pearl worked in the kitchen, elbow-deep in suds, listening to Harvey’s sweet tones as he babbled with Ivy. It was funny how a person’s voice altered when they spoke to a baby. Awkward and abrupt Harvey chattered away like it was second nature.

He’d changed over the past few weeks. He met her eye when he spoke to her now. Instead of a staccato word spillage as anxiety twisted him into knots, Harvey became expressive, using actual sentences.

Warmth filled her at the idea—that he could be at home here. She balanced the bowls and spoons on the tray and nudged her way out to the front porch.

Harvey wasn’t far behind, cradling Ivy as she drank her bottle. He lowered into one of the yellow rockers. “Don’t wait on me. I’m going to enjoy this little one while she has her dinner.”

“You’re going to spoil her rotten.”

“I plan on it. Everyone needs a little spoiling.”

Like him. She hoped she was spoiling him rotten, because she got the feeling he’d never had that. How she craved the story behind the man who shied from human contact, skulking about as though he didn’t deserve ground to stand upon. Yet, he nurtured a child with the tenderness and care of one who’d spent a lifetime receiving love.

He looked up at her. “Pastor Thomas said you used to be a hairdresser.”

She nodded. “In my younger days.”

“This weekend, he’s sharing with the board about me working. He thought it might be good if I got a trim, and he thought you might . . . but you don’t have to.” He flicked a glance over her blue-gray bouffant.

She laughed. “I’d be happy to. And don’t worry. I didn’t do this to myself. I let this lady in beauty school do my hair even though she makes a mess of it every time. She needs the practice, and she’s earned a bit of a reputation. I’m the only one brave enough or crazy enough to keep going back.”

“I’d appreciate it. I want to look my best.”

When Ivy finished her bottle, he placed her on the blanket. He scrounged in his pocket. “I have something for you. It’s stupid, now that I think about it. But I found this and thought of you.” He held out his hand with the shyness of a boy giving his teacher an apple. In the center of his palm was a black button.

He glanced at her feet. “Your left bunny is missing an eye.”

She pressed her hands to her cheeks. “Did I ever tell you the story of my slippers?”

“No, ma’am. Just thought you were partial to ’em.”

“They were an accidental gift from my son. He was on a deployment and wasn’t going to make it home for Christmas. He called Elliot to ask him to pick up a gift for me, but the satellite phone must have had a bad connection. When Marshall came home, I made sure to have them on. I was so confused when he teased me about them.



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