Michelle laughed and reached out to touch his shoulder.
“Tag—you’re it! Run, Penny, don’t let Daddy get you.”
With that, Michelle took off toward the dining room, her bare feet slapping against the floor. Penny was only a step or two behind her.
Josh hesitated a moment before taking off after them. He glanced around.
“I hope you can see this, Eugenia Talmadge. This is what a home is supposed to be like, full of laughter and fun and children running. The things that make happy memories.”
When they at last headed back to New Orleans, Penny quickly fell asleep in her car seat. Michelle was feeling a bit tired herself, but didn’t want to miss a single moment of the day. She never would have imaged the fun that awaited when they left home that morning. She wondered if she’d ever spend such a marvelous day again.
And it was all because of Josh.
“You said you got some more clues from Mrs. Strong?” she asked, remembering the real reason for the trip.
“A few more—enough to open a couple of other avenues of inquiry, at least. We’ll see where it leads. This takes time.”
“I know. And it’s not like there’s any rush. Caroline found out months ago. After more than twenty years, I can't expect him to be easy to find. Especially if he thought the law was after him. He could have changed his name, couldn’t he?”
“Yes, and that’d make it more difficult. But it’s still early, give me some time.” Josh glanced at her. “You’re not regretting your bargain, are you? Is Penny proving a problem?”
“What? Oh, you mean our marriage? No, I’m not sorry we did that. I’m glad I can provide the day care for her. And she’s getting better around me. Look at today. In another few weeks, we’ll be best friends.”
“Just don’t get so close you break her heart when you leave.”
Michelle nodded. For a while today she’d forgotten she was only a temporary part of their family. Laughing and playing with Penny and Josh had been so much fun it was hard to imagine she might not have many days like this. Once Josh discovered where her father was, his side of the agreement would be fulfilled. And once Caroline had her baby and Penny was eligible for after-school care, Michelle would no longer be needed. She’d be on her own again.
Josh was right to warn her not to get too involved. Penny wasn’t the only one who could have her heart broken.
Keeping the business nature of their relationship in the forefront of her mind, Michelle tried to build some reserve into her dealings with Josh and Penny. Sunday she declined their offer to join them at the park, pleading the need to do laundry, grocery shopping and maybe even get to some of the work Josh had brought home on Friday night.
But she couldn’t help feeling left out when they departed.
Knowing she could have gone didn’t ease the sensation, but working around the small house helped. She took pride in caring for Josh’s things. When the house was spotless, the laundry put away and the grocery list made, she sat down for a few moments’ rest before heading out to the store.
Impulsively, she dialed Abby’s number. Her sister answered on the second ring.
“What’s up?” she asked seeing it was Michelle calling.
“Not much. Josh took Penny to the park and I’m going shopping soon. I wanted to thank you and your friends for moving my things. Everything looked perfect when we got here.”
“So you said on the message you left last Monday. Sorry I missed your call. Work is frantic. But in a few weeks I'm due for some vacation and can I use it!”
“Your ER training program will be over by then?”
“Yes. So the timing’s perfect. I’ll take my vacation and then request a permanent assignment to the emergency room when I return. If St. Joe can’t do it, I might put out feelers to some of the other hospitals. I really want to do this type of nursing. How’s my favorite niece?”
Michelle smiled. “She’s your only one so far and only by marriage.”
“If Caroline has a boy, she’ll still be my only one— and favorite.”
“Don’t get too attached,” Michelle said.
“Why not?”
Oops. “Well, if Caroline has a girl, you might want to make her your favorite.”
“If that happens, I won’t have favorites. I wish she and Brandon would agree to find out the baby’s gender ahead of time.”
“I like it that we won’t know until the baby’s born.”
They chatted for a few minutes. When she hung up, Michelle felt better. She’d always have her sisters, even when her marriage ended. And there was nothing saying she and Abby and Caroline couldn’t continue to see Penny from time to time.
Of course that’d mean seeing Josh, too. Which wouldn’t be all bad, she thought as she headed out to shop.
Since the Fourth of July holiday had the garages closed Monday, Michelle’s car was still in the shop Tuesday. Josh drove her and Penny in, stopping in to see the child care facilities which Penny proudly showed off.
Michelle almost asked him to stop by her office so she could show him off.
She caught herself before she asked. Where was the distance she was trying to put between them?
Her car was repaired by the end of the day and Josh arranged to have it delivered to the office. She was touched by his thoughtful gesture, but she secretly wished he’d picked them up.
Wednesday he didn’t call her at the office as had been his habit the previous week. Michelle missed the calls, but had only herself to blame. She kept telling herself she wanted some distance between them, so she shouldn’t complain that it was working.
Thursday afternoon Josh called Michelle at work.
“Is something wrong?’’ she asked. Last week he’d called before lunch each day. This week, he’d been too busy. Or at least that’s
