“He does a lot of work with his sister,” Michelle said hefting the box and moving it to the front desk. “She runs a program for women and girls who want to give their babies up for adoption.”
Marissa could tell that Michelle was being careful with her words, but she didn’t pick up any hint of criticism in her tone. “Have you met her?”
“No, I’ve just heard about the work. The church Kade and I attend, when we can, did a fundraiser for her a while ago.”
Marissa shrugged. She didn’t get her sister’s sudden interest in church, and God, and religion, but she figured if Michelle was happy she could think what she liked. Since marrying Kade, Michelle had changed, but only for the better. She was still driven to make her graphic business work, but she seemed calm, content, and for the first time confident in who she was.
“When did you say Kade was bringing lunch,” she said changing the subject as her stomach rumbled.
Michelle rolled her eyes but didn’t say anything. She was hungry enough to eat a cardboard box at this point, but she knew that Kade would be there soon. She hoped Mrs. Wade made her famous egg salad sandwiches today. They would be just the thing, and even Kadence liked them.
***
The big doors swished open a few minutes later and Kade waltzed in carrying a heavy box full of sandwiches, chips, drinks, and cookies as big as his hand. “Someone order chow?” he called his boots making hard clicking sounds on the polished wood floor.
Kade had secretly refurbished the entire rundown sawmill the year he had married Michelle so that she would have somewhere to work, and Marissa thought it was one of the most romantic things anyone had ever done. It seemed even more astounding when she thought of how Kade and Michelle had met at the altar, not even knowing who they would marry. Some crazy matchmaker lady in New York had put the two together, and from where Marissa stood, she couldn’t have done better.
Kade plunked the heavy box down on the large front desk then leaned over to offer Michelle a kiss before heading to the play area where he picked Kadence up and made him squeal by blowing on his neck.
“I thought you’d never get here,” Michelle said climbing onto a tall stool at the desk. “I’m nearly starved to death,” she added giving him a pointed look.
“Mrs. Wade insisted on making this herself,” Kade said taking a chair in the waiting area near his son’s toy box. “She says this lunch is packed with love,” he finished with a rumbling laugh.
“That woman is something else,” Michelle said handing out sandwiches. “I don’t know how she does it.”
“I just told you,” Kade said, “with love.”
Everyone laughed as they unwrapped their sandwiches and little Kadence laughed too, though he didn’t know why.
“So how far along are you?” Kade asked looking at Michelle but making Marissa start. “I brought the wagon and can load up if you want me to get them to the UPS driver this afternoon, or I can take the truck and drive them to town.”
“If you’d load them in the truck, I’ll take them myself. I’ve got one more run,” Michelle continued, “then all finished, and I’m closing up for the night. I think my husband should take me out for pizza since my sister will be otherwise occupied,” she finished with a devilish grin.
Kade looked away from where he had been feeding Kadence bits of his sandwich. “What’s up Mini-mar?” he asked, but Marissa was too busy glaring at her sister.
“Marissa is going out to dinner with Trace,” she said smugly.
Marissa picked up a small pink eraser and tossed it at Michelle, hitting her on the shoulder and making her laugh.
“You’re setting a bad example for my son,” Michelle chided picking up the eraser and tossing it back.
Kade shook his head, moving to the front desk to retrieve an iced tea for himself and a juice box for Kadence. “Don’t let her give you a hard time,” he said leaning close to Marissa as he walked back to his seat. “Trace is a nice guy, and I’m glad you’re making friends. We all need people in our life that will make time for us. Besides I’m sure you don’t want to spend the whole summer sitting around with some old married couple.”
This time Michelle picked up a piece of crumpled paper throwing it at Kade. “Speak for yourself old man,” she laughed her dark eyes shining with love. Kade was the hero she never knew she needed.
Chapter 9
Marissa straightened her T-shirt and pulled her favorite sweater over it as she reminded herself for the fifth time that this was not a date.
Still, it was nice to go out and since she didn’t usually get into Tipton when she was visiting, she felt she should at least look presentable. Shoving her feet into her sensible low-heeled boots, she smeared a bit of tinted lip-gloss on her lips and headed downstairs.
“You look nice,” Michelle commented. “I hope you have a nice time. I don’t want you to feel like you have to stay here with us all the time this summer.”
“I know,” Marissa said. “I’m sure you two will be glad to be on your own for a bit as well,” she said winking and making her sister roll her eyes.
Heavy boots on the front porch made Marissa turn toward the door, just as someone knocked.
“Hey,” Marissa said opening the front door and stepping outside. She had no desire to see her sister’s smirking face, so she closed the door behind her.
“Ready?” Trace said looking up with a smile.
“Sure,” Marissa said, “let’s go.”
Trace walked back down the stairs of the Ballard homestead slowing his pace to let Marissa keep up.
For several strides, they walked together toward the truck parked in the driveway, as Trace tried to catch
