me?”
Exasperated, she all but snorted. “Are we back to that again? Are you a total control freak?”
“Not any more than you apparently.”
She counted inwardly to ten. “I know I’m not like Julia. I’m sure she deferred to your every comment and dictate. But I don’t operate that way. I do have opinions. And while I don’t always insist they’re right, I intend to express them.” Cindy paused. “Well, unless they hurt someone’s feelings, of course. But I’m not retiring and complacent. I have ideas. I make my own decisions.” She met his gaze, feeling her chest tighten. “And I’m not going to try to be someone I’m not.”
“I don’t recall asking you to,” he replied mildly. “But I would appreciate a heads-up when you send someone like Michael over.”
She frowned. “Didn’t you like him?”
“That’s not the point.”
“Everybody likes Michael,” she responded in instant defense, never forgetting how happy he had made her once-lonely best friend.
“Are you being deliberately obtuse?” Flynn asked. “I’m only asking that you not blindside me.”
“Then you did like Michael?” she asked hopefully. She knew Flynn needed to broaden his circle of acquaintances. And Michael was one of the nicest people she knew.
“He was all right,” Flynn replied.
Cindy took a deep breath, remembering that men didn’t verbalize their feelings, that Flynn had probably revealed all that was masculinely possible. “He and Katherine have been my anchors since I came to Rosewood. They’re good friends to have.”
“Hmmm.”
She sighed inwardly. “I mean they could be good friends for you, too, Flynn.”
“I’m not especially looking for a wild social whirl.”
For a moment the past hung between them, the gregarious, fun-loving social circle they’d once traveled in, the one that had brought the Thompson sisters together with Flynn. Cindy fiddled with a bluebonnet she’d plucked from the grass. “No, but everyone needs friends.”
“I don’t need to borrow yours.”
She wondered if it was Julia’s death alone that had created such intense barriers. “They’re not trinkets to be lent. One of the best things about a small town is getting to truly know people.”
“But it seems most of the ones you know are connected with the church.”
She frowned. “And that’s so bad?”
“It’s not for me.”
“Have you considered getting to know them before judging their value as friends?”
The negative motion of his head was reluctant. “Cindy, I appreciate all you’ve done for the girls…for me. But like the office, or sending Michael Carlson, it’s not necessary. You’re doing too much already. I’m used to calling my own shots.”
Unwanted compassion shadowed her thoughts and her voice. “But isn’t that a lonely way to live?”
He raised his brows. “Seems I could ask you the same thing. After all, you moved to a town where you knew only one person, and you live alone in a house big enough for a huge family. Doesn’t that seem a bit lonely to you?”
Pain, both past and present, assaulted her. He would never know just how lonely she’d been. How difficult her life had been since he’d pilfered her heart. And meeting his eyes, she wondered how she could continue hiding that from him.
Chapter Five
By Sunday morning, however, Cindy was ready to put that aside. She’d invited Flynn to attend services with her, but he had curtly refused. She had nearly expected the same response when she told him she wanted to take the girls. He’d hesitated, but finally agreed, telling her the social part of Sunday school probably wouldn’t hurt as long as she didn’t fill the girls’ heads with unrealistic ideas. In her opinion, nothing taught at her church was unrealistic, so she took him at his word.
And she chose to ignore the look on Flynn’s face when they left. One that said this, too, was simply a fad Cindy would outgrow.
The girls loved Cindy’s classic bright red convertible Mustang. Since she had left their curls loose and free, she didn’t care that the breeze mussed their soft hair.
“What’s at church?” Beth asked.
“That’s where we go to learn about God and Jesus.”
“Daddy says there’s no God,” Beth replied innocently.
Still the pain shot straight to Cindy’s heart. There was no easy answer, none she could offer that wouldn’t confuse Beth. “Not everyone believes the same way, sweetie. As you get older, you’ll learn about lots of new things.”
“Is God new?” Beth asked.
Cindy smiled despite the pain still squeezing her heart. “No. He’s older than the sky and the grass and the flowers and the trees.”
“Is He older than Daddy?”
Another trickle of amusement sprouted at the child’s guileless words. “Sure is.”
“Real old, huh?”
“Yes, sweetie. Real old.”
When they arrived at church, Cindy felt the welcoming fellowship like a balm to the wound that was Flynn.
Once the girls were happily ensconced in their class, Cindy was awfully glad she’d insisted on bringing them, despite Flynn’s reservations. Again she remembered the look on his face any time she mentioned church. The man knew so little about her, it was pitiable.
It came as no surprise to Cindy that the triplets charmed everyone with their identical heart-shaped faces. It was difficult to withstand twins, impossible to resist triplets. Luckily, they were too young to let all the fawning go their heads.
Katherine popped into the classroom, her eyes lighting up when she saw Cindy and the girls. Crossing to Cindy’s side, she lowered her voice. “So you were able to make off with them?”
Cindy nodded, her brows raised in a matching mock conspiratorial motion. “It wasn’t exactly the great heist, but I’m happy they’re here.”
“Any chance Daddy will be joining them?”
Cindy shook her head.
“Has he just fallen out of the habit?”
“I’m afraid it’s much more than a broken habit.”
“It isn’t an unbreachable problem,” Katherine reminded her, alluding to her husband’s once-lost faith.
“I’m glad it worked out for you and Michael,
