Kallie slid off his lap when he finished the book and returned seconds later with another. Ben picked her up again, but before he could open the next book, his father chuckled. “Careful son, don’t let those puppy-dog eyes suck you in. You’ll be reading to her for an hour and there are only four books.”
When Kallie demanded a third book, and a fourth, he realized his parents had likely read these stories to Kallie many times. An odd burning sensation pulled at his midsection, leaving him puzzled. Was he jealous of the time his parents spent with Kallie? Or was it something else entirely.
Amy distracted Kallie with something else before she could demand he read the books again, and Paige sat on the floor to play with her. Kallie had only sat on his lap for a few minutes, but when she left and didn’t return emptiness replaced the burning in his abdomen.
A jumble of emotions tumbled around inside Ben while he walked home. Holding Kallie was amazing; it filled him with loss, sadness, guilt. And a tiny spark of hope.
The more time he spent with Amy and her daughter, the more he smiled. He was beginning to feel things he hadn’t felt for such a long time. He found Amy attractive, but he didn’t think the desire to see her so often was triggered by attraction. He admired her honest, hardworking nature, and how she strived to be a good mother. Her love for Kallie was evident in everything she did.
Admiration. That’s all it is.
And Kallie brought out his protective nature. Ever since he’d realized what a difficult situation they were in, he’d been concerned about making sure they were taken care of.
He was doing what anyone would do.Right?
