Page 78 of Fourth Heartwarmers Trilogy
A short time later, sitting across from Jaqueline and Charlie in the restaurant, Colin helped Maisie off with her coat and hat, then smoothed her long, messy blonde curls from her face. When the little girl beamed up at him shyly, her damp blue eyes sparkling with happiness at the idea of getting her favorite food soon, he caught his breath. His heart twisted with the flood of fondness that he couldn’t stop in the same way he couldn’t stop breathing.
Actually, he’d known his feelings had begun from the minute he saw Maisie fighting so hard to obey her brother’s call and come back to life. Her tiny limp body had all but made him cry in horror at the thought of losing such a precious child. WatchingJaqueline work so hard to make magic, he’d found himself praying, caring more than he’d ever thought possible.
When the paramedics arrived to take over, he’d known that without Jaqueline’s intervention at the beginning, the outcome would have been completely different. Just thinking about that made his feelings for the young woman blossom too. With her being so kind to the children, he saw a light in her that only a kind-hearted soul might have.
Shaking off the introspection, he zeroed in on the conversation between her and Charlie and sat mesmerized. “How old are you, Charlie?”
“I have six years and six months. And Maisie has four years and six months. That’s what Maman told me a few days ago.”
Jaqueline smiled at the quaint way he answered her question. “Do you remember your birthday?”
“Yes. It’s June sixteenth. And I know Maisie was born two years later on June seventeenth. Maman said if she would have arrived only three hours earlier, we’d have the same birthdays.”
Both Jaqueline and Colin chuckled at the image the boy’s words produced. “Did your mother celebrate your birthdays together?”
“Nope. We got a cake each. That was the deal. But I think she just cut one cake in half and pretended they were a different cake. For me she made chocolate icing and Maisie’s was always pink.”
“Aha! Smart woman, your mother.”
“I guess.” The boy’s face fell, and Colin thanked his lucky stars that the food arrived just then. Before anyone knew what would happen, Charlie slid Maisie’s plate toward himself and began to cut her pancake up in small bites. “I’ll fix it for you, Mais. I can do it just like Maman.” Seeing his chubby hands trying so desperately to hold the fork while he maneuvered the knifemade Colin blink hard. Just this one demonstration of brotherly affection destroyed his composure.
Without thinking, he caught Jaqueline’s glance, and the silent message passed between them. What a sweetheart! Once he finished massacring the pancake and gathering all the chunks that had fallen to the table back on her plate, he passed it to his patiently waiting sister and grinned when she beamed her approval. “Thank you, Charwie.”
“No problem.” His husky reply made Colin add his thanks too. “That was very kind of you, Charlie. Thanks.”
Ducking his head, Charlie pushed his longish hair behind his ears while his dedicated stare at his own plate revealed the little boy’s shyness like nothing else.
Once they’d all finished their food, Colin kept his promise and gently asked the kids if they had any questions.
Charlie nodded, keeping his face down. “Maman is dead, right?”
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
“Is she with God?”
“For sure. And with everyone else in her life who passed before her.”
Charlie lifted his face, hope written across his features. “Like my dad?”
“I believe so, yes.”
“Good. She loves him a lot, and he loved her too.”
Not wanting to give Charlie time to think too much, Colin added, “Truth is, I also believe that they’ll be watching over you and Maisie to be sure you’re safe.”
“I know. I can feel her. She told me to look after Maisie.” He looked up at Colin, staring at him, his eyes watchful in some strange way, almost daring him to argue. Filled with comprehension much older than his years, the boy asked hisquestion, one that demanded an answer. “Why do you care about us? We only met you today?”
Caught off guard, Colin hesitated. He glanced at Jaqueline and saw the same question on her face and also on Maisie’s. Breathing deeply, he let his heart do the talking. “I don’t know why exactly, Charlie. It’s just something I’m absolutely sure about.”
Knowing he hadn’t convinced them, he continued… his heart completely open. “Have you ever met someone that you instantly feel comfortable with and know they matter to you? Like… a lot.” He aimed this question toward Jaqueline. “Like there’s a familiarity involved where you sense they’re supposed to be a part of your world. It’s almost as if you’ve dreamed of these people, and now they’re recognizable. That’s what happens to me when I see all of you.” He waved his hands towards them. “Like I knew you were always going to arrive, and now that you’re here, everything is finally right in my life.”
Silence reigned. No one spoke. It was as if they all had to absorb what he’d said. Finally, Charlie leaned against Jaqueline, hiding his face behind her arm. It was Maisie who broke the hush. “Can I have more pancakes, Uncle Colin?”
Chapter Eight
Jaqueline had no intention of fighting the unfightable logic that Colin made when he’d tried so hard to explain to everyone, including her, that he was hell-bent on taking over their lives. If the thought had made her uncomfortable or scared, she’d have bolted at the hospital.
But escaping hadn’t occurred to her. He’d given her a chance to opt out at the house, letting her know she could leave, and he’d find a way to deal with the situation alone. But the idea of not being involved with the children wasn’t acceptable.
