Read Harlequin Heartwarming May 2016 Box Set Online
Authors: Rula Sinara
She murmured his name, bringing him in closer, not expecting
this much enthusiasm.
“I'm so happy to see you,” he said, ushering her inside. “How
are you? I canceled my class today to sleep in. Angela skipped school.”
“I'm fine. Better now, actually.”
The sketch pad lay on the table as they entered the
kitchen.
“Angela?” Caleb called, pulling a chair out for Grace.
The teenager came in from the other room.
“Hello,” said Grace. “I hope you're recovering from your
ordeal.”
“I'm okay.” Angela made minimal eye contact and her tone was
neutral. She opened the pad and withdrew a sketch, a landscape.
“Wow,” said Grace, immediately liking the drawing.
In broad strokes, the landscape featured birds flying over a
great expanse of trees, a lake and hills in the distance. A path led inward and
on, disappearing into the horizon. The colors were rich, if muted, like
nature.
“That's beautiful,” remarked Grace. Exactly what she'd hoped
for.
Angela smiled shyly. “I'll be ready to execute it in another
week, as soon as school's out.”
“Perfect.”
“Can I have an assistant?”
“That's up to you,” Grace told the girl. “Remember this is
community service.” In case the other person wanted to be paid.
“I know. She sort of owes you something, too.”
“Kiki?”
“She's a good artist, too.”
“Will Kiki be around long enough to finish the mural?” Caleb
asked, then informed Grace, “She managed to contact her grandmother.”
“She did? When did all this happen?”
“Today,” Angela said. “She's really excited.”
“I guess the reason we couldn't get hold of Mrs. Hartl was
because she was so busy getting ready to move out of her big old home into
someplace smaller.”
“Now, she might even move here,” said Angela.
“Well, we don't know that yet,” warned Caleb. “Don't get your
hopes up.”
“At least she's coming to Sparrow Lake to see Kiki.” Angela
added, “And Kiki will help me with the mural for as long as she can.”
“Wonderful,” said Grace. “I hope she can work out something
with her grandmother. She needs a family.”
“I know you helped Dad try to find her grandmother,” Angela
said. “I appreciate that.”
It was the second time the girl had thanked her since they'd
found her in the woods. She said, “Let me know what you need. Your dad has a
discount at the art store but I want Green Meadows to pay for the materials. I
want the mural to be done professionally, so it will last.”
“I can apply a finishing varnish,” Angela told her. “Matte, of
course. I don't think you'd want it shiny.”
“And make sure you put your name on it,” said Grace. “People
will be looking at it every day. You might get more work.”
“Speaking of work,” Caleb said. “Margaret Becker offered to
talk to Angela about art careers. I had a conversation with her last week and
she said there are fields that look for art degrees. And talent.”
“That sounds like a good idea.” Grace told Angela, “Hopefully,
you could work at something you really like.”
Grace knew how important that was. She felt as if a weight had
been lifted off her shoulders ever since she'd put her foot down about not
taking her dad's job.
“We hope so.” Caleb picked up the landscape sketch. “So once
you get started with this, Angela, don't you think you should meet with Grace
from time to time until it's finished?”
Angela nodded. “Sure.”
“It's only professional,” said Caleb, “to converse with a
customer when you're creating something for them.”
“I want it to be Angela's individual creation.” Grace couldn't
help recalling the girl's initial ideas. “As long as we avoid ghostly
designs.”
“That's okay. I'm over that.” Angela snickered. “Didn't that
crazy ghost tour guy look funny in that cow suit?”
“Yes, he did,” Grace admitted.
Angela said, “I heard him say he was stuck and the police had
to cut him out of that silly costume.”
“He deserves to have gotten stuck,” said Caleb. “Now, changing
the subject.” He turned to Grace. “How about we retire to the deck for some
lemonade?”
“Sounds good.”
Grace noticed that Angela hadn't been invited, but she didn't
seem angry about it. In fact, she had been in such a good mood today that Grace
felt inordinately happy. She helped Caleb with the pitcher of fresh lemonade
from the refrigerator and they went out on the deck to sit in comfy chairs.
Or, rather, Grace sat in a chair. Caleb plopped himself down on
the two-person glider and waggled his finger at her to join him. When she did,
he slid his arm around her.
“Isn't it beautiful out here?”
“Gorgeous,” Grace agreed, admiring the open yard that reached
back to a tall stand of trees. “Are those wildflowers over there?”
“Some late bloomers. I planted them with prairie grass that'll
grow tall by summer.”
“Only indigenous species, right?”
“Of course. I don't want to be kicked out of the environmental
studies profession,” he said, joking. “I'm going to need some help with that,
though.”
Was he asking her to do it? “I'm just a beginner as far as
landscaping goes.”
“I'm sure you'll do fine under my tutelage.” Then he raised his
brows. “Oops, I mean my senior partnership.”
She had to laugh.
“Seriously, Angela has no interest in plants. She refused my
invitation anyway.”
“When do you need this help? Now?”
“Mostly next spring.”
“Next year?”
“Something like that.”
She became even more thoughtful. “Well, I am going to implement
Phase 2 for Green Meadows.”
“And you'll be too busy?”
“No.” She tried to carefully choose her words. “It's just I'm
not sure I can be around you and not...well, the way I feel...”
“Not be around me and what? Want to be paid in kisses?”
He leaned closer as if he intended to kiss her right now but
she placed a hand on his chest.
“Caleb. We really have to think about this.”
“The fact that we love each other?”
“Whether or not we can make plans. When I love someone, I
expect some sort of commitment.” She had to be honest. “And, well, we've had a
lot of trouble with your daughter not liking me in your life. I don't want to be
a point of contention between the two of you. It would be too difficult.”
“You noticed a different attitude today, though, didn't
you?”
“She seemed much more friendly.”
“I talked to her about us, about my being with you on a
long-term basis.”
She couldn't contain her surprise. “You did? When?”
“Last night, before we went to sleep.”
She met his eyes, warm and brimming with emotion.
Emotion bubbled up in her as well when she asked, “What did she
say?”
“Angel said she thought she could deal with it.”
“
Deal with it?
Iâis that supposed
to be good?”
“In my book it is. She also told me that at least you're
someone she can respect. That's good, believe me.”
After all the emotional upheaval the teenager had been through,
that was as much of a compliment as the girl could give, Grace thought,
acknowledging it was okay with her.
“So what kind of a commitment are you looking for?” he
asked.
“At least a year...till we get the foundation built.”
“I'd say the foundation is already started. We have good
materials.”
“You think we're ready for Phase 2?” She smiled.
“I'm ready for Phase 5.”
“That's going to be some kind of structure we're building.”
“It better be. I want it to last forever.”
And he sealed his words with a resounding kiss.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from
THE FIREFIGHTER'S REFRAIN
by Loree Lough.
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We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Heartwarming title.
You've got to have heart....
Harlequin Heartwarming
celebrates wholesome, heartfelt relationships imbued with the traditional values so important to you: home, family, community and love.
Enjoy four new stories from Harlequin Heartwarming every month!
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ISBN-13: 9781488009051
Home for Keeps
Copyright © 2016 by Patricia Pinianski and Linda Sweeney
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