Debbie disconnected the call and pulled a towel from under the sink where Austin found Noah hiding.
Austin may be helpful and patient, but she didn’t need a man in her life who made her feel guilty for being wealthy.
* * *
Debbie liftedthe lid off the crock pot and inhaled. The pot roast and veggies would be ready right on time. She’d quickly learned the lesson her sisters had talked about for years. Dinner went much smoother when she started it early in the day. Before she picked up the Reed children.
She walked down the hall and checked on the boys in the playroom. She’d also learned that promising the boys they could swim after their homework was done got them to do that undesirable task without complaint. It also used up a lot of energy, so they were content to play quietly until dinner.
Debbie thought she’d never get Noah out of the pool this afternoon though. That kid loved water. Carrying him kicking and screaming from the pool and fighting to get the chlorine washed off and get him dressed again had completely exhausted her.
She grinned as she wandered into the dining room. Savvy had made a lot of progress, but the image was still mostly big patches of color with few discernible images. Debbie knew what the outcome would look like, though, and it excited her.
“How old were you when you started painting, Savannah?”
The girl shrugged. “I don’t remember. I’ve just always loved color in every form. I remember playing with sidewalk chalk for hours at a time when I was young.” A slight dimple appeared in her cheek when she smiled. “And I went through a dozen coloring books every year. Finger paints were always a favorite too.” Her smile faded. “Until I got in trouble for painting on my grandma’s wall. I didn’t touch paints of any kind after that, until about five years ago.”
Five years ago.
Wasn’t that when Austin got divorced? Did her aversion to paints have something to do with her mother? Debbie’s interest concerning Savannah’s mother piqued but she didn’t want to bring up such a sensitive topic.
Instead, she asked Savannah about her favorite classes, then their discussion shifted to friends and boys.
A tell-tale pink flooded Savannah’s face as she said, “No, I don’t have a boyfriend.”
Debbie laughed. “Something tells me there’s a certain someone you would like to have as a boyfriend, though.”
The color staining Savannah’s cheeks deepened. “Yeah, but…”
“But what?”
Savannah wiped her brush on a rag and shrugged. “There’s this cute guy named Caleb in my math class.”
Debbie leaned forward and grinned. “Does he know you like him?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think so. I mean I certainly haven’t told him.”
“Do you think he likes you too?”
Savannah grinned. “He moved seats and started sitting by me a few weeks ago.”
“Ooh, that sounds promising.”
Savannah dropped into a chair. “But my best friend, Rainey, spoke dibs on him months ago.”
“Spoke dibs on him, how?”
“She’s been crushing on him ever since he was in her biology class last term, even though they don’t have any classes together anymore.”
“I’m guessing she doesn’t know you like him too?”
“No, and I feel bad because he asked me for my number a while back and he’s texted me a few times. But I can’t tell Rainey. I’m afraid she’ll hate me, and I don’t want to lose her as a friend.”
Debbie had never met Rainy, but she didn’t blame Caleb for being interested in Savannah. She was a pretty girl with high cheekbones and thick red hair with natural golden highlights. Savvy only wore minimal makeup—mascara and lip gloss—but it was enough to accentuate her big brown eyes and full pink lips. She had a confidence Debbie would have loved to have at that age.
“That’s a tough situation, but if she’s really your friend, I bet she’ll understand. I mean, it’s not your fault Caleb likes you.”
Savannah frowned. “It’s not like it matters. I mean, my dad probably wouldn’t let me go out with Caleb anyway.”
