Owen immediately added a new rule to the game. “If you break one, you’re automatically a rotten egg.”
From that point on, the boys might as well have been handling fine china.
“They’re such amazing kids,” Halle breathed to Owen.
He gave her an appreciative sideways glance. “If you’re talking about my little rugrats, they’ve been on their best behavior ever since you showed up, trying to win you over. You haven’t seen them when they’re sick or really cranky.”
“Ha! Well, when I finally see that side of them, they’ve already won me over. Mission accomplished, so nothing to worry about there.” She highly doubted seeing them ill or in a poor mood would change the way she felt about them. No child was perfect, and she didn’t expect them to be. “I’ve worked with a lot of children, Owen. Children from many backgrounds and many extenuating circumstances. Enough to recognize when a pair of boys are being raised right. The teacher in me implores you to keep doing what you’re doing.”
“Wow! Thanks.” He sounded moved by her words. “A lot of credit for their upbringing goes to my sister. I don’t know what I would’ve done without her stepping in the way she did to help us out. She put her career as a horticulturist on hold, only handling online projects here and there for the university she used to work for. I’ll never be able to repay her for all the sacrifices she’s made for us.”
“Something tells me she doesn’t expect you to.” The reverence in his voice told Halle that the two of them were very close. “Did she, by any chance, serve in the military?”
“No. Why do you ask?”
She told him why, and he guffawed. “That’s just her personality. She’s always been a neat freak.” He looked like he wanted to say more, but he didn’t.
Halle cocked her head at him. “Is there an update on herfriend’s condition?” She felt a little guilty asking, hoping the question didn’t sound too self-serving.
He looked grave. “Jen says she’s stable for now, but she’s got a long road ahead of her. Another surgery, followed by radiation.”
“That’s rough. I’ll keep praying for her,” Halle promised softly. “For your sister, too.”
“Thanks.” He sounded wry. “I wish I had more to tell you. I know the current uncertainty surrounding the health of Jen’s friend impacts you as well.”
The relief his words gave her brought on a fresh wave of guilt. Was it wrong to be glad about hearing Jen wouldn’t be arriving in Heart Lake anytime soon? Halle didn’t wish Jen’s friend or anyone else any ill. At the same time, Halle was in no hurry to leave Garrett Farm.
“In case I haven’t been clear, Owen,” she paused to silently gulp back her fears about the future, “my schedule isn’t up against anything pressing, which means I’m yours for as long as you and the boys need me.”I’m yours…It was a poor choice of words that left her face flaming.
Either he didn’t notice her heightened color, or he chose not to comment on it. “As far as the Tollivers are concerned, you fell straight from Heaven into our lives, Halle Garrett.”
“I wish,” she sighed. “You don’t know how badly I wish we’d met under better circumstances.”
He gave her a look that she couldn’t interpret and abruptly strode away from her.
Way to go, Halle!She mentally kicked herself for saying something that he might’ve mistaken for ingratitude. It wasn’t his fault that her ex had illegally sold her family farm. Nor had he been under any obligation to bail her out by offering her a job for the summer. He could’ve just as easily left her scrambling for a place to live.
“Yo, Halle!” Owen’s voice wafted her way from the other side of the chicken yard, cutting through her misery. “Come take a look at this!”
She hurried his way to see what he was talking about, relieved that he didn’t sound angry with her. Ryder and Cooper sped her way to finish escorting her to their dad.
When they reached him, he was pointing at something inside one of the egg cartons. Something with a gold band attached to it. Something that she immediately recognized. “That’s a little small for an egg, isn’t it?”
“It’s a ring,” Cooper hollered excitedly.
Ryder stared at it, utterly mesmerized. “Did one of the chickens lay a ring?”
His dad snorted out a laugh. “Not exactly.”
“Oh, Owen!” Halle pressed a hand to her racing heart. He’d somehow gotten his hands on the antique ring that Brooke had been wearing earlier. “How did you…?” Her voice grew thick with emotion as she reached for it.
He shrugged. “I told Brooke the truth about your house being emptied without your say-so, then asked her if I could buy it back for you.” He made it sound like recovering a family heirloom for a nanny he’d only met a few days ago was all in a day’s work.
Halle blinked damply. “I’ll repay you as soon as I can.”
“There’s no need.” His expression softened as he watched her put on the ring. His sons ooh-ed and ah-ed over it and told her it looked pretty on her. “When Brooke heard your story, she handed it right over and insisted I return it to its rightful owner.”
“Then I’ll payherback.”Ugh!The prospect of being in Brooke’s debt held a lot less appeal than being in Owen’s debt.
