mention of Julia. The girls spoke of her less and less often, their young memories fading already. Yet, each comment was a new wound. However, it was a wound of guilt—one that came from the reminder that he wasn’t thinking enough of Julia.
Flynn was appalled that he, too, was beginning to forget little things, that days passed with little or no thought of her. He wondered if the progression was normal, or if he was as unfeeling as his own mother had been.
The front door opened just then and Cindy stepped onto the porch.
“Cinny!” In unison, the girls shouted their name for her. Breaking away from him, they hurried up the sidewalk and then the wide steps. Reaching the porch, three compact bodies hurtled toward his sister-in-law.
Laughing, she caught them, exchanging huge hugs and kisses. “Hello, darlings! I thought you’d never get here!”
“Us here,” Beth replied, grinning.
“And you’re so tall,” Cindy continued. She cocked her head, studying them in mock amazement. “By next week you’ll all be as tall as me!”
The girls giggled madly.
“Uh-uh!” Alice protested.
“I don’t know,” Cindy teased, shaking her head. Then she reached down, picking up the toddler.
Immediately, the other two clambered to be picked up, as well. Still laughing, Cindy scooted over to the swing, reaching for the other two, lifting them up to sit beside her.
“Now there’s a picture,” Flynn told her as he neared the porch, realizing as he spoke it was true. Cindy looked as unaffected and natural as the triplets. It was a warm and fuzzy image that could have graced a magazine layout.
“Daddy sit, too!” Beth demanded.
But he shook his head as he bent automatically to kiss Cindy’s cheek.
The startled response in Cindy’s eyes surprised him. But then it seemed to surprise her, as well.
Cindy spoke quickly to fill the gap. “Why don’t we go inside and get you all settled in?”
“Swing!” Beth demanded when Cindy stood up.
Flynn plucked his daughter from the swing, preempting her demand. The more malleable Mandy moved toward the door without protest. Alice, somewhere between mild Mandy and belligerent Beth, seemed to realize it was best to comply, as well.
“Why don’t I show you where the bedrooms are?” Cindy told him as she led the way. “Let’s grab the girls and head upstairs.”
Flynn obliged, picking up Beth and Alice. Mandy was content to latch on to Cindy. Upstairs, Cindy pointed out the room she’d chosen for Flynn. Although small, it was the least feminine one in the house. And directly next to it, she led them into a large bedroom, outfitted with three kid-size beds and an overflowing toy chest.
Squealing, the girls wriggled free and hurried over to the new bounty.
Overwhelmed, Flynn stared at her. “Cindy, you shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble. This is too much.”
She shrugged nonchalantly. “I do a lot of volunteer work and I bring home kids all the time so I had a lot of stuff.”
“In threesomes?”
Cindy grinned. “Well, not exactly. But it wasn’t that difficult to do a little rearranging.”
He stared at the freshly painted pink walls, a captivating also newly painted mural, ruffled lace curtains and a newly upholstered window seat that matched the mural. “A little rearranging?”
“Okay. Guilty as charged. But I enjoyed doing it. And, really, cross my heart, I had the other kid paraphernalia.”
Despite her protests, gratitude flooded him. Julia had lavished attention on her children, but they’d sorely missed a woman’s touch since then.
“Look, Daddy!” Alice shouted, bringing him a bright pink-and-silver unicorn. The soft stuffed toy was toddler safe with no plastic eyes or nose for little ones to swallow.
He knelt down beside her. “That’s nice, baby.”
Happy with her treasure, Alice scooted away. Just as suddenly, Flynn felt exhausted. The past year had been an endless succession of trials and emotions. And now, without warning, Cindy had opened her life and home to them. It was as overwhelming as it was gratifying.
To his surprise, when he rose, he saw unexpected understanding in Cindy’s expression. But she didn’t comment on it. Instead, she smiled before turning to the triplets. “Okay, girls, we have tofu tacos for dinner. Who wants to eat?”
But the triplets were practically headfirst into the toy box.
“Probably should have told them about the tacos first,” Cindy mused. “No matter.” She glanced at Flynn. “Unless you’re hungry?”
“I’d kill for some coffee.”
She grinned. “You won’t have to get that drastic. I could use some myself. Why don’t we put up the safety gate at the top of the stairs and find our caffeine fix?”
“Won’t get any argument from me,” Flynn replied. But he made sure the safety gate was secure before he joined her in the farm-style kitchen.
He glanced around appreciatively. She had incorporated new appliances that resembled ones of yesteryear next to original freestanding cabinetry. She’d kept the integrity of the original structure, yet updated it enough to make it workable. He wondered what all the fronds of hanging dried herbs were for. Mixed among the bluish and sage green were also dried bouquets of roses and heather. It reminded him of a potently fragrant garden that had been preserved from past summers. “This is some kitchen.”
“Thanks. It’s one of my favorite rooms. I’m reworking them one at a time.”
“You’ve got a pretty big house, Cindy. Planning on filling it up soon?”
For a moment she froze, her hands filled with a pitcher and carton of cream. Then she laughed, a nervous sound in the otherwise relaxed kitchen. “What makes you ask?”
“Just a comment on your home. I didn’t mean to pry. Just thought maybe you were dating someone special.”
Her fingers clenched the handle of the pitcher before she relaxed enough to pour the cream. “You have a vivid imagination.”
“I thought maybe that was why you moved here.”
Suddenly breathless, she made a production of looking for the sugar. “Excuse me?”
“I couldn’t see any other reason for a young woman to move to the boonies. I thought it must be love.”
“Love?” she asked, her voice sounding strangulated.
“I am prying. Sorry.”
She fussed with the coffee cups, then added a plate of cookies to the tray before finally bringing it to the
