through the parlor, into the fountain room, and turned left to enter the large music room. Windows along three walls let in a flood of daylight and revealed the plush landscape of the nine-acre estate just beyond the wavy glass. The Mississippi hugged the back side of the property and sparkled off in the distance.
It wasn’t hard to find Kinsley. Her muffled giggles revealed that she was hiding behind an ornate sofa, her chubby hands covering her mouth.
Chase couldn’t help but smile at the laughter and glee this child possessed—even if her parents were trespassers. How long had it been since he was so happy and carefree? “I found you,” he said.
“You hide!” She jumped up and put her hands over her eyes. “One...two...”
“Who is Grandpa Asher?” Chase asked, crouching down. “Is he your grandpa?”
She uncovered her eyes and nodded. “My grandpa.”
“Does he live here in Timber Falls?”
Kinsley shrugged.
How did he expect to get a straight answer from such a young child? Where were her parents?
“Can I help you?” A woman’s voice pulled his attention away from the child.
He turned—and his heart stopped beating at the sight of Joy Gordon.
She stood at the top of the steps leading into the music room, Harper hugging her leg. A baseball bat was in her right hand, but when she met his gaze, it fell out of her hand and ricocheted off the wood floor. “Chase.”
“Mama!” Kinsley ran around Chase and went to Joy, tugging on her T-shirt. “I’m hungry.”
It took a minute for Chase’s brain to catch up with the facts. Joy had children?
Twins?
He could hardly believe it.
“Go into the kitchen,” Joy said to her daughters, disentangling Harper’s hold on her leg. “Mrs. Thompson should have the afternoon snacks ready.”
Chase used the distraction to rise and take a steadying breath.
He never expected to see Joy again—let alone here, in the very house where he’d fallen in love with her and then left her without an explanation. He thought she’d be long gone.
The girls ran off and Joy came down the steps. Distrust was written all over her face, and rightfully so. She had no reason to trust him again.
Her blond hair was pulled back in a messy bun and she wore a wrinkled T-shirt, but she was more attractive than he remembered. He had measured every woman he met in the past four years up against Joy’s beauty—and found all of them lacking.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice shaky.
“What am I doing here? I was just about to ask you the same question.”
She didn’t come close, but kept a considerable distance between them. “I live here.”
“Since when?”
There was a quiet pause and then she said, “I never left.”
“I thought you were just working here that summer. Uncle Morgan let you stay?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Her eyebrows came together. “He wanted to help me.”
Four years ago, Joy was going to a local college to be a school social worker. Uncle Morgan had hired her for the summer to do light cleaning to earn money for tuition. Chase had always assumed she graduated and went on to get a different job, maybe get married and start a family. By the looks of it, at least that part was true.
“Why did he want to help?” Chase wished he wasn’t so confused right now. His father had told him the house was empty. Why hadn’t someone informed him that Joy was still there?
She tugged at the hem of her T-shirt self-consciously. “Two years ago, I became a foster mom to three brothers. Since I was still living here helping, Uncle Morgan asked if I would like to live in the main house while he moved into the carriage house. He said the mansion was meant for a growing family to enjoy.” She lifted a shoulder and shook her head. “I never asked him to move into the carriage house. He insisted.”
Just like Uncle Morgan to give his home to a family—Joy’s family.
Chase pointed toward the entrance, incredulity tinting his words. “Are the twins yours?” It was hard to think of Joy falling in love with someone else and starting a family.
Joy nodded, her dark brown gaze lowering to her hands. “They are.”
A quiet pause punctuated their awkward conversation, but Chase finally managed to say, “They’re beautiful.”
She lifted her eyes again and studied him. “Thank you.”
“Mama!” a boy called from the front of the house. “We’re home!”
“School’s all done for the summer!” cried another.
“Excuse me,” Joy said as she walked away from Chase. “The boys are home.”
He followed Joy out of the music room and back into the foyer. The boys were dropping backpacks, tennis shoes, folders and sports equipment on the Oriental rug, all talking at once.
“I’m hungry,” the oldest one said. “Does Mrs. Thompson have cookies?”
“Yes.” Joy picked up the things the boys were tossing on the ground. “But there will be no snacks until you’ve put all your things away. I want backpacks, folders and other school supplies on the dining room table so I can sort through them later.” She handed the things back to the boys. “Your sporting equipment needs to go on the back porch—”
The boys grabbed their things and started to run off.
“I’m not finished,” Joy said with the authority of a mom. “I want it all organized. Don’t just throw it in there.”
The boys all had blond hair and blue eyes, and were stair steps in height, each coming up to the chin of the next one older. They nodded that they understood, but continued on to the dining room.
“If you have any dirty laundry, please put it down the laundry chute. And wash your hands!” she called out.
The shortest boy, maybe six years old, stopped and frowned at Chase. “Who are you?”
“This is Mr. Asher,” Joy said.
The boy looked up at Joy. “Did he know Grandpa Asher?”
“Who is Grandpa Asher?” Chase asked impatiently, recalling what Kinsley had said earlier.
“That’s what they called your uncle,” Joy said, a sad smile in her voice. “He was a grandpa to the kids in
