He leaves the stove and grabs three mugs out of the cabinet to the left.
“What do you mean, they won’t? How could you know?”
He starts pouring the contents of the pot into the mugs before turning to face me. His scars stand out in the light of the room. They’re harsh, but oddly beautiful.
“Because I’ve lived here my whole life. They don’t move fast around here. It’ll be at least two or three days before the road is clear enough to pull your truck out and for them to move the tree.”
He grabs two of the mugs and sets them down on the bar, then hands me one.
“Hot cocoa. Figured you and the kids could use some to warm up.”
Before I get a chance to respond with a thank-you, he leaves the kitchen. I turn and watch as he walks out the front door without a backward glance. I look down at the mug in my hand, then at the ones on the bar. The man is a contradiction. At the market yesterday I got the feeling he’s not a very friendly person. I got the same vibe in the truck, but then he’s thoughtful enough to make my kids and me hot cocoa because he thought we may need to warm up. It was very kind of him, and I can’t help the small smile that tugs at my lips at the kind gesture.
I call the kids over and they sit at the bar and drink their cocoa while I stand beside them. Holding the mug up to my lips, I look around the kitchen. The appliances seem to be newer than the rest of the house that I’ve seen so far. Above the bar is a rack of pots and pans, and down at the end hangs cooking utensils. The counters and cabinets are a polished wood.
Worry starts to set in when I realize that we’re stuck here for God knows how long. From the rumors in town and his behavior so far, I don’t take Alexander for being a people person. I’m sure having a strange woman and her two kids thrust upon him isn’t something he’s looking forward to. I look down at the kids. I hate to impose on him, but it’s not like we have a choice in the matter. Staying in our car until the roads are clear enough for someone to help isn’t a choice. We’d freeze out there.
My thoughts are interrupted when I feel something bump my leg. Looking down, I’m startled to see a pair of green eyes looking up at me. It’s a medium-sized dog with longish black hair, sitting on its haunches with its tongue hanging out the side of its mouth. I almost laugh at the comical look.
“Hey,” I say calmly. When Daniel makes a move to get up to see what I’m talking to, I tell him, “You stay there.”
He whines, but stays put. I need to make sure this dog is safe before I allow my son to come near it. I squat and hold out my hand and the dog immediately comes over and licks it. Its tail is wagging as it butts my hand with its head.
“Hmm… are you a boy or a girl?”
It doesn’t take long to figure out it’s a girl, as she flops to her back, then rolls over, showing off her swollen teats.
“You’ve just had puppies,” I murmur, rubbing along the side of her belly.
I laugh when she wiggles her back around, almost splitting herself in half sideways. I look over when Daniel walks up beside me with a big smile on his face. I can’t scold him for not waiting for me to say it’s safe for him to come over. Although he’s plenty short enough for the dog, Daniel gets down on his knees. When the dog bounds up and starts licking his face, he laughs, bringing a smile to my face.
I get up from my crouch and face Kelsey. “Would you like to come pet her?” When she shakes her head, I try enticing her with, “She just had puppies.”
Her eyes light up fractionally before she looks down at her mug still half-full of cocoa, the look disappearing. A twinge of pain hits my chest. She should be down there with her brother, enjoying playing with the dog. She should have friends. She should be doing sleepovers and pillow fights. Not sitting there looking like this is her last day alive. I want to rush to her and gather her in my arms, promise her that everything will be okay. But I don’t. I baby her enough, and don’t want to smother her. I have to pick and choose the times I coddle her.
I turn back and watch Daniel roll around on the floor with the dog jumping around him. I laugh when his giggles get louder. I grab Daniel’s and my empty mugs and carry them over to the sink. There are a few other dirty dishes sitting in the sink, so I decide to wash them. It’s the least I can do after everything Alexander’s done for me and my kids.
Chapter 4
Alexander
When I pull the door open an hour later, both pain and longing stop me in my tracks. Laughter rings through the cabin, both childish and feminine, something these walls haven’t heard in years. Still gripping the doorknob, I track the sound and find Gwen and her son on the floor in the living room with Gigi. Her daughter is on the couch watching them with a blank face. I’m not sure what it is, but there’s something not right about the young girl. She seems too quiet and withdrawn for a girl her age.
Gwen looks up at me and her grin falls away. I don’t know why, but for some reason that bothers me. I don’t say anything as I close the door, take off my jacket, and hang it up before walking to the kitchen. My nose picks up a smell, and I see something boiling in a pot on the stove. I frown, not sure if I like the woman going through my cabinets and fridge, then I feel like an ass because they obviously need to eat.
“I hope you don’t mind,” she says from behind me. “I’m making potato soup. I didn’t want to plunder too much in your cabinets. I found the potatoes on the counter.”
I turn and face her. “It’s fine. Cook whatever you want.”
She nods. “I didn’t say it earl
ier, but thank you for the cocoa. It was thoughtful of you.”
I turn from her and go to the sink to wash away the dirt on my hands from hanging out in the barn.
“It was no problem.” I throw over my shoulder.
She steps further into the kitchen and leans against the bar, her hands resting beside her hips.