Page 28 of Two Hearts Reunited

“Not you too,”Ashley said, before scowling at the guy who was with her, laughing. Most likely it was Eric’s brother, Brian, whom she hadn’t seen in years. Just like Eric, he’d sure grown up.

Turning back to Anya, Ashley smiled again after Brian punched her lightly in the shoulder. “Okay, so what nasty thing did I do as a teenager that you were witness to?”

Anya blinked. “How did you know that’s what I was thinking?”

Ashley rolled her eyes. “Apparently, it’s a common thought for a lot of people who used to know me years ago.”

Anya gave her an impish grin. “I saw you in action one day. There was a condiment fight at the concession stand at the beach.”

Ashley groaned, frowning fiercely. “No one seems to think about the fact that I’vechanged.”

When Brian’s eyes met Anya’s and they both started laughing, Ashley stared at Brian with what was most obviously pretended indignance.

Brian wrapped an arm over her shoulders and kissed her gently on the lips. “I believe you, my sweetest heart.”

“Alright, already,” she muttered, snorting. “You don’t have to get sappy on me.”

Everyone laughed.

“Anyway, Anya,” Ashley said a few moments later. “Eric has filled us in on your, uhm…circumstances. I wanted to make sureto let you know that you’re invited for Christmas. Okay? Both Christmas Eve and Christmas. We were just going to have some lunch now too, before we have to go back in front of the camera. How about joining us?”

Anya smiled. “Sure. I’d like that.”

“Come on, then, girls,” Brian muttered. “I’m starving.”

Chapter Fourteen

Eric had to admit, he was kind of enjoying himself. His niece was a real doll, he decided, bouncing her on his knee after he’d tuned in the auction on the computer before sharing the feed so that they could watch it on TV. He couldn’t believe Arielle hadn’t cried even once so far all day.

It was approaching noon, when the auction would officially start. For the past few hours, the website had featured the pictured items that were available in the catalogue onscreen.

He smiled at Arielle. “I’m going to let you watch your mommy and daddy on TV with me for a little while, and then I’m going to put you down for your nap.”

A moment later, the auction was live, and Jake and Danielle Loughlin were onscreen, dressed formally, live from the Dragonfly Pointe Inn. It appeared that they’d still gone all out with the Christmas décor and entertainment. Several bands and vocalists would be featured throughout the day.

And finally, Ashley was standing behind a long table which was set up with glassware and china, looking beautiful, ofcourse, running through the array of items set up in front of her. Apparently she would be hosting additional segments of the auction and online bidding. Supposedly, each item could be viewed in blocks leading to individual pages onscreen.

“There’s your mommy, Arielle,” Eric said, standing with Arielle in his arms in front of the TV above the fireplace.

He pointed, and then she did too, muttering, “Mah, mah.”

“Aren’t you a talkative girl?” he cooed. “I’ll bet there aren’t many eight-month-olds that can do as many things as you do. Of course, I’m probably just prejudiced since I’m your uncle and you’re the first new addition to the family.”

Arielle’s eyes were getting heavy. She’d just had a bottle before he’d switched on the TV, so he sat back down on the couch, popping a pacifier into her mouth, waiting for her to doze.

As soon as she was sound asleep, he transferred her onto the quilt in the playpen, covering her lightly with a blanket.

He was feeling a little hungry again, so he headed into the kitchen to make himself another ham sandwich since there was quite a bit left. Eric had made a trip to the store yesterday afternoon and had picked up a bunch of groceries after insisting on having a list, even though Brian had said it wasn’t necessary. There was a full-size refrigerator downstairs in the basement apartment, so that he could help keep some of the basics stocked without feeling like he was eating them out of house and home.

Deciding to make another pot of coffee while he was at it, he loaded a plate with chips and grabbed a banana once the coffee was brewing.

Returning to the living room after he finished eating, he checked on the baby first, before sitting back on the couch with coffee to watch more of the auction.

A band was being live-streamed on TV now. It looked like they were auctioning in blocks every thirty minutes, with fifteenminutes of music and then another few minutes of informative information about the wounded warrior home as well as the school for children with disabilities and other programs associated with each. Eric supposed that the people working behind the scenes were repositioning cameras during that extra half hour so they could feature all the items set up throughout the Inn.

Eric started laughing, because the next person who appeared to host at the auction was Brian, and he definitely wasn’t feeling comfortable in front of the camera. After a few moments, he settled down. In his block they were auctioning off a bunch of antique tools and farm equipment, which appeared to be extremely popular. Although Eric couldn’t help thinking that Ashley would have been better hosting this segment since she was familiar with all the construction items available.

Eric grinned, thinking about the girl that Ashley had been as a teenager, so full of herself and such a snob, every hair in place, always wearing makeup and designer clothes. Now she was so down to earth. During his stay, the only time he’d seen her out of jeans had been at the auction on TV. Brian said that she even hadtattoos. Eric shook his head momentarily in disbelief.

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