Jill Weatherholt - A Mother For His Twins

That was exactly what had carried him through the most difficult time of his life. Watching his father turn into someone he no longer knew was hard, but then the cancer was discovered in his father’s pancreas. It took him fast. He didn’t suffer, so that was a blessing. “You’re right. My parents are together again.”

Following a moment of silence, the twins ran toward the adults.

“Can we go back to the hotel, Daddy? I want to go swimming,” Tyler pleaded.

“Hotel?” Joy looked at Nick with an arched brow.

“Yeah, we get to live in a hotel with room service and everything. They even have an indoor pool,” Tyler said.

Nick turned at the sound of footsteps pecking across the hardwood floor.

“You can’t raise these boys in a hotel,” an elderly woman stated.

Sporting the same tight perm, although now snow-white, she looked exactly how he remembered. His heart warmed at the sight of the woman who’d watched him grow up. “Mrs. Buser, it’s so nice to see you.” He strolled toward her and hugged her tight.

She took a step back, gripping his arms. “Nick Capello, I knew you’d come back one day.” Glancing at the twins, she smiled then returned her attention to him. “Why are you and these cute youngins living in a hotel?”

Joy watched with her arms folded.

“It’s only temporary—until our furniture arrives.” The moving company had called the day he and the boys were leaving Chicago. They’d promised to have the delivery here in twenty-four hours... That was two days ago. Apparently a bad snowstorm had caused the delay. He made a mental note to call once they were back at the hotel. “I’m sorry—how rude of me. These are my sons, Tyler and Jordan.”

The freckled twins smiled at Mrs. Buser. “We like living in the hotel... We don’t have to make up the bed.” Jordan giggled as his cheeks flushed.

The adults broke out in laughter.

“Come to think of it, I could use a week or two in a hotel.” The elderly woman tightened the strings on her apron. “Ever since my dear husband passed, I haven’t had a moment’s rest. But really, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“You should hire some help, Mrs. Buser. At least you could take a day off now and then.” Joy voiced her concern.

“I rest on the day of the Lord—that’s enough. Besides, running this place has been one of my greatest joys.” She glanced at Nick and then Joy. “Seeing the two of you growing up and then falling in love—”

Nick looked toward the boys, relieved to see they had wandered over to the snack aisle.

The elderly woman’s face flushed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make either of you uncomfortable.” She paused and placed her hand to her heart. “It’s just... I always thought you two would get married.”

Joy’s face reddened as she adjusted her purse strap on her slender shoulder. “Well, I’d better get going. Tell the boys I’ll see them in class on Monday.”

Before he had a chance to respond, she skidded out the door. Relief settled in when he heard her car pull away. He wanted to talk with her. She deserved an explanation as well as an apology. But not here—not now.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

The guilt the woman wore on her face caused his heart to squeeze. “Please, don’t worry about it. I know people in this town will have a lot of questions about my family’s sudden departure and why I’ve returned,” Nick said.

Mrs. Buser rested her warm wrinkled hand on Nick’s arm. He turned to her. “Joy is the only person in this town who deserves an explanation. As for the rest of us, it’s really none of our business.”

Nick swallowed the lump in his throat. “My father loved this town. The hardest thing he ever had to do, apart from burying my mother, was to uproot me and my sister and leave a lot of unanswered questions. He’s gone now and it’s time for my family to start a new life.”

A silence lingered before Mrs. Buser cleared her throat. “So, where do you and the boys plan on living? And your wife?”

“My wife passed away. It’s just me and my sons now.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“I appreciate that. We’re doing okay. I found a quaint little house with a wonderful wraparound porch located in Whisper Hill.” Before leaving Chicago, Nick had searched available rentals online for several weeks.

He took note of the half smile that parted her lips. “What are you grinning about, Mrs. Buser?”

“Nothing, really—it’s just kind of a coincidence.”

He scratched his temple. “What is?”

She placed her hand on his forearm. “Why, that’s where Joy lives, dear.”

Nick couldn’t believe his ears. When he’d made the decision to move back to Whispering Slopes, he knew he’d see Joy. She loved this town and the chances of her ever moving away were slim, but never in his wildest of dreams would he have imagined he’d be living so close to his first love. He wanted a new life. It was just him and his boys now, and that was the way it had to remain. He’d had his chance to share his life with someone, but he’d blown it—big-time. He didn’t deserve another partner. But didn’t his boys deserve the opportunity to grow up with a mother? Should they suffer because of his past mistakes?

Joy drummed her fingers against the granite countertop, willing her teakettle to hurry up and whistle already. It was Saturday morning and she’d been awake since four o’clock and had already completed her early run. Even a long, hot shower couldn’t clear the thoughts of Nick and his boys that had whirled through her head all night. It was bad enough that in two days she’d be working across the hall from Nick, but the news of her first and only love interviewing for the principal position drove her out of her down feather bed. Could Nick take away the only dream she had left, to sit behind the desk in the same office where her father once worked? But more important, a chance to fill the void of being told she’d never have biological children of her own. She’d gone into teaching to be near children—have an impact on their lives, but as principal, she’d have the opportunity to work with and protect all of the children in the school, not only those in her classroom.

The sound of the kettle’s whistle pulled her from her thoughts. She needed to keep her focus. Today she had planned to study for the online exam coming up later in the week. She also wanted to do some preparation for her interview. She’d worked hard to earn her master’s degree and she was getting closer to fulfilling that goal.

A diesel engine rumbled out front, rattling her porcelain salt and pepper shakers. Joy pushed herself up from the kitchen table and headed toward the bay window in the front of her house. She flipped open the plantation shutters to take a peek. Through the planks she spotted a large truck across the street. The logo that ran along the side of the vehicle read Cross Country Movers.

Moments later a Lexus SUV pulled into the driveway. That must be the new tenant. The Clarks’ rental property had been empty for the past six months. She kept her gaze on the vehicle.

Her stomach turned upside down when she spied two identical boys and a caramel-colored puppy bounding from the SUV.

Heat blanketed her face. She raced to her bedroom and yanked on a pair of faded jeans. Stripping off her pink terry cloth robe, she grabbed a wool sweater balled up in her favorite comfy chair. The cold wood floor reminded her she’d need to put on some shoes. Reaching for her running shoes, she jammed her feet inside. Once dressed, she ran a comb through her tangled locks and headed out the front door.

Outside, her feet crunched on the early morning frost as she inhaled the cold air deep into her lungs. She crossed the street and ran up the sidewalk toward the front porch, her heart pounding against her ribs as she took the steps two at a time. She found the front door slightly cracked open, but even in her frantic state, she thought best to knock. “Hello... Anyone in there?”