Page 12 of A Moon Lake Christmas Hero

Somehow, Erin Roberts was the most intriguing woman I’d ever met. Who would move with only a suitcase, a backpack, and a purse?

She said she lost everything in a fire. But there was more to it.

Something in the way the light in her eyes dimmed when she mentioned it.

Something she wasn’t telling, and it sparked an interest and a protectiveness in me, unlike anything I’d ever experienced. Maybe I should look at her file. I’d hired someone to look into her past. The cliff notes stated she’d come out clean, so I didn’t check the details. Maybe I should.

But then again. Maybe I shouldn’t.

I watched her eat pancakes, and charm the girls,

She smiled at Abby and gave Marley the head and horn part of a pancake of her own stack when Marley wanted more.

When all three of them were finished, they relocated to the living room where she admired everything starting from their hairdos, and ending at the homemade decorations on our Christmas tree.

She appeared genuinely friendly and happy interacting with the girls. And when they started playing right there on the floor a weight settled in my chest.

The girls needed a mother. Needed a female role model, they could look up to and tell their secrets to. My mother was there for them, but she would forever be Grammy.

I tried to be both parents to them. But did I always manage? Did I give them everything they needed? Everything they would get if they had two parents?

I truly didn’t know.

And it was getting harder.

And lonelier.

The door opened, and my mother came in without warning. “Girls, are you ready? Time to go.”

I could’ve taken them to preschool. But my mother and I had a standing appointment, so I didn’t even think about it.

“I—”

She stopped in surprise at the bar when she saw Erin and the twins in the living room.

Took her time to take them in before she looked back at me.

“Mom, meet Erin. She’s the new nurse practitioner and midwife Alan hired.”

Erin’s head snapped up and her eyes grew big.

My mother regained her composure—not without a raised eyebrow in my direction.

Erin got up in record time, came over with the twins in tow, and shook hands with my mother.

“So nice to meet you. I’m Marge,” my mother said.

“Erin. Nice to meet you, as well,” Erin said while a slight red tinged her cheeks. She was still only wearing my T-shirt. A fact that my mother didn’t miss but thankfully didn’t comment on either.

A fact that I enjoyed way more than I should have.

“Erin had an accident yesterday. And talk about accident.” I looked at my watch. “We should probably check in with the vet soon.”

Erin nodded, and my mother nodded, too.

“Abby, Marley, are you ready to leave?” she asked the twins.

They both turned to Erin, and tugged at her hands until she leaned down.

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