Mistletoe Mommy

Chapter Eleven

Even though the local bakery was known for its delectable creations, Brenna could barely taste the chocolate cake. Her senses were too focused on Adam. She tried not to stare or show any physical awareness inappropriate to a five-year-old’s birthday party, but she questioned whether she was doing a sufficient job of hiding her interest, because Josh was openly smirking at her behind Adam’s back.

Morgan had apparently made her peace with Ellie being her birthday present, plus she’d already opened gifts from her mother and stepfather, so she wasn’t expecting anything else. She squealed with joy when Brenna produced a gift bag.

“Don’t get too excited,” Brenna preempted her. “It’s just a couple of little things I picked up for you and threw in. I don’t want you thinking there’s a pony in there.”

Morgan eyeballed the small bag and laughed. “Josh, your sister is funny.”

“Tell me about it.”

The birthday girl fished out a pink collar Brenna had picked up for Ellie and an easy-to-read guide on cat care that was also a coloring book. “Thank you, Brenna!” She hopped down from her chair to snag a hug.

Brenna squatted down to return the embrace, surprised by the sense of sweetness that overcame her. I could get used to this. When she glanced up, Adam was watching her so intently her skin burned.

“Since it’s not as much fun to do the sparklers until it gets darker,” Josh said, “I thought we could play a birthday game first.”

As he pulled a thin felt mat out of a bag, it occurred to Brenna for the first time what a good father he was going to make. The thought cheered her. She’d never quite been able to imagine herself as a mom-for years, her self-defense mechanism had been to think immediately of something else any time her mind veered toward mothers-but she found that she loved the idea of being an aunt.

Until this month she’d always known she was “an animal person” but had never suspected she might be “a kid person.” Children were too reliant on others, too fragile. She’d worry about letting one down; she’d fear looking into their small, trusting faces and seeing the vulnerable girl she’d once been.

Josh’s game turned out to be a modernized take on the classic pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey. Only in this version, where Velcro was used instead of sharp implements, the blindfolded player was trying to successfully place a soft white bone in the puppy’s waiting mouth.

Behind her, Adam said sotto voce, “No animals were harmed in the making of this game,” and Brenna giggled.

Later, as they all stood in Brenna’s front yard with sparklers, her stepbrother confronted her in a whisper. “Admit it, Natalie and I were right. See how much fun a double date can be?”

She glanced to where Adam stood with Morgan, and her heart contracted. Fun was too frivolous a word for the pull of poignant, unpredictable emotions inside her.

Trying to keep her voice lighter than she felt, she protested, “I’m admittedly out of practice, but I’m not sure you can call this a date. Too much scrutiny. I couldn’t even hold his hand without worrying about how it would affect three minors.”

“I see what you mean.” He pursed his lips thoughtfully. “You know, Natalie and I were just talking about that new animated movie coming out and how we’d feel silly going to see it without taking any kids with us. Think Adam would let us borrow his one night this week?”

All the longing she’d been trying to suppress since Adam kissed her bubbled to the surface at the thought of stealing some private time with him. They’d never been truly alone. “You are the best brother in the world.”

He slung an arm over her shoulders. “I’ve been telling you that for years.”

ADAM PARKED the car in the visitors’ lot at Kerrigan Farms, glancing appreciatively at the endless stretch of vast blue sky. “Can’t ask for a prettier Sunday afternoon than this, can you?”

“Nope,” Morgan agreed cheerfully.

“I don’t think he actually needed an answer,” Eliza said, oozing condescension. “It’s called a rhetorical question.”

Adam spun around to fix his middle child with a paternal glare. “She can answer if she wants. What’s got you in such a bad mood?”

Her only response was to glare back at him.

He was truly baffled. Everyone had seemed to have fun at Brenna’s Friday evening, and yesterday they had an innocuous combination of hiking to a nearby waterfall, shooting pool at the lodge and going to the actual pool. Where, Adam had been relieved to notice, Bobby the Punk Lifeguard had been replaced for the day by a patrician- featured woman in her mid-twenties. It had been a relaxed, enjoyable day, despite all the times he’d found himself thinking of Brenna and their upcoming date Tuesday night. He’d practically hugged Josh in gratitude when the guy had asked if he and Natalie could take the kids out for pizza and a movie.

It was irrational how much Adam looked forward to seeing her again. Could he possibly be missing a woman he’d seen only a day and a half ago? There was a slim possibility their paths would cross this evening. She’d agreed that he and the kids could stop by on their way back from the farm to visit Ellie for a few minutes, but Brenna wasn’t sure she’d be home from her appointments.

“You know where the key is,” she’d said. “Feel free to let yourself in.”

He’d thanked her, hoping he sounded gracious and completely unlike a man needy for her company. If she was home, the most he could hope for was casual conversation benign enough for young ears and, if he was lucky, a quick, hard kiss goodbye such as the one he’d stolen Friday on the pretext of having left his wallet in her house.

Seeing his own grin in the rearview mirror, Adam reflected that it was ridiculous how much the prospect of small talk and a pilfered kiss cheered him.

The four of them got out of the SUV and strolled down a shaded path to the welcome booth, where he paid the nominal entrance fee.

The woman there introduced herself as Kasey Kerrigan and handed them a map of the farm. “See these X’s? Those indicate where Ben’s set up coolers. They’re stocked with ice and bottles of water. Please, help yourself. The last thing we want is someone passing out because of sunstroke or dehydration. We do have a doctor visiting this afternoon, but I’m sure he’d rather enjoy his day off than administer emergency first aid,” she said with a smile.

“My daddy’s a doctor, too!” Morgan informed her.

“Oh? Varner…” Kasey repeated his last name as if trying to recall whether she’d heard it before. “Are you one of the new docs they’ve hired at the medical complex?”

“No, ma’am. Just here for a few weeks to enjoy Mistletoe with my kids.”

“Well, have fun!”

Adam handed the map to Geoff so the three kids could consult it together. “What do we want to do first?”

Morgan didn’t even have to think about it. “Petting zoo!”

Eliza snorted. “Petting zoos are for babies.”

“Are not! Dad-”

“Eliza, apologize to your sister.”

She did so. Resentfully.

“Maybe I can’t mandate a good mood the way I can a curfew, but I can tell you to stop inflicting your annoyance on everyone else. Understood?” When she nodded, Adam gentled his tone. “Do you want to talk about what’s wrong?”

“I just don’t feel good,” she mumbled. “Let’s go check out those animals now. Might as well get this over with.”

Adam sighed. “That’s the spirit.”

ADAM STOOD IN LINE behind an older man at a makeshift concession stand. The Varners had downed several bottles of water so far, but now Morgan was saying she could use food. And I could use a stiff drink. Today had not been an overwhelming hit. Though Morgan was having fun, Geoff didn’t seem to