She stepped inside, noting as she did that the house seemed to feel more as if a family lived in it than it had the last time she had been inside, when the previous owner still lived there.
Ian and the children had left an indelible mark—a red ball in one corner, a pair of children’s rain boots by the door, a stack of what looked like scholarly manuals on the end table.
It was a warm, comfortable house. She had always thought so. Somehow having Ian and his children here made the house feel perfect.
“I’m sorry I missed Amelia and Thomas,” she said, handing the cookie bag to him along with an envelope that contained cash for their labors.
He set them on a table piled with books inside the entryway. “They’ll be happy for the biscuits, trust me. And for the spending money.”
“It’s the least I can do for all their work with the puppies this week. I meant what I said earlier. Your children have been absolutely terrific. I don’t know exactly what they’re doing, but this has been the best week since the puppies were born. Seriously. All three puppies and Betsey seemed happier and more tired than I’ve ever seen them at the end of each day.”
He gave a soft laugh that sent sparks shivering through her. “The experience has been mutual, then. Amelia and Thomas have been utterly thrilled at the chance. I feel like I’m the one who should be delivering treats to you. Babysitting for those puppies has been a wonderful distraction for them. They look forward to it all morning and talk about it all afternoon. They’ve loved it. I’m not sure they would have enjoyed their time here in Haven Point half as much without having cute puppies to entertain.”
“Kids and puppies just go together, don’t they?”
“Yes. Like bangers and mash.”
“Or spaghetti and meatballs.”
“Or salmon and bears.”
They shared a smile and Samantha was suddenly breathless again. Oh, for heaven’s sake. She had to cut this out.
“How’s the research coming?” It was a logical question, especially since he had been the one to bring up salmon.
“Good. I’ve managed to hike to the redd—that’s the breeding spot—nearly every day this week. It’s been fascinating to watch them.”
“I will have to take your word for it.”
“You’ve never hiked up the Chalk Creek?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“It’s beautiful, though fairly rugged. The children are asking me to take them but it’s not a maintained trail, more like a deer path, and there are several rock screes you have to cross.” He suddenly gave her a considering look. “I’m glad you stopped by actually. I could use some advice from a local.”
“What sort of advice?” she asked warily.
“I don’t want to take the children to Chalk Creek as I am afraid that’s a bit too intense for them. They have been after me to take them hiking, however. When I had breakfast at the café in town today, the server mentioned Bridal Veil Falls as a good hike for children. Do you know it?”
“Sure. The falls are beautiful and the trail isn’t difficult. It’s fairly level for most of it, only a few small hills.”
“Would you happen to know where we can find the trailhead for that? The server tried to explain it but I’m afraid the directions weren’t terribly clear.”
“You can reach it from a couple of different spots around town. That might be why you were confused. The best access is not far from here actually. In fact, you can even walk there from your house. It’s about three blocks down the road. You turn left past Sugar Pine Trail and walk along the creek there about a mile or so. It’s a beautiful trail, especially this time of year. I haven’t done it since high school but I remember it being very family-friendly. I’m sure the children will have fun.”
“Amelia enjoys hiking but Thomas isn’t much for it, though I hope that will change as he gets older. He comes along with us simply because he hates to be left out.”
She smiled, wondering if she should tell him that both of his children had captured her heart. She had talked to them a few times about the puppies since they started coming over. Amelia was solemn, mature for her age, taking her responsibility to care for the animals so seriously. She had even done research about puppies apparently, because she had talked to Sam about some of the ways to wean puppies from their mothers.
“One name for a mother dog is a dam,” she had informed her the other day. “Did you know that?”
“I did not,” Sam had answered, grateful Amelia hadn’t called Betsey a bitch.
Thomas did his part to care for the puppies, as well, though she could tell he mostly just loved dogs. Something told her the boy had a mischievous streak just waiting to come out.
She wanted children of her own.
The desire wasn’t new, but as she headed toward thirty, the yearning seemed to have increased. It would hit her when she saw one of her friends holding their new babies or when she would spot a toddler at the park while she was walking Betsey. She would even feel it when mothers would come with their teenage daughters to the store, whether the girls were sweetly enthusiastic and happy to be there or sullen and reluctant to be seen shopping with their mothers.
What sort of mother would Samantha be? It was a question that sometimes kept her up at night. Had her own mother’s negative influence scarred her forever?
She would hate, more than anything, if she turned into Linda, letting her unhappiness with life’s inevitable disappointments sour everything around her.
She didn’t have to become her mother. She was a seamstress who knew that simply because you might have been given a pattern, you didn’t have to follow
