My meeting this afternoon was canceled. Can I take you and the kids to get ice cream and to the park? I’ll wear a hat.
“Ezreal wants to take us out,” she said loudly to interrupt the arguing between her children, “but I’m not so sure that I want to be seen in public with two children who are acting like they need a nap.”
“Where are we going?” Janna asked at the same time Brand cried, “I’ll be good.”
Sara pocketed the phone again, watching her children, her lips pinched, trying to decide. When they were tired, they would promise to behave and still come apart in public.
Janna came to stand beside her mother and slid her cold hand in hers. “I wish he could be my daddy.”
“Yes.” Brand started jumping up and down. “Can Ezreal be our daddy?”
How many times had she had that same thought the last couple of weeks? Last night she’d even dreamed of them all situated in Ezreal’s beautiful apartment, of him coming in the door after work to greet her while she graded papers. They’d had dinner as a family.
“It’s too soon to be wanting him for your daddy, so please don’t say anything to him about it.” Sara wasn’t ready to make that kind of decision, not until the negative voice stopped. She took the towel and started rubbing Brand’s wet hair. “The question for you is will you behave so we can go get some ice cream and then go to the park?”
The children squealed and began talking at once. Sara pulled out her phone and sent Ezreal a reply.
Would love to. When will you be here?
On my way now.
We’ll be ready.
“He’s already driving here, so let’s get you dressed.”
As they ran inside the house ahead of her, Sara wondered if their hearts rushed at the thought of Ezreal’s arrival too. They scrambled out of their wet suits while she gathered dry clothes for them. She barely had time to brush her hair and check her makeup before she heard one of his beater cars drive up.
The butterflies in her stomach did a little dance as she and the children skipped down the steps. Janna reached Ezreal first and launched herself into his arms, followed closely by Brand. The man easily held them both and met Sara’s gaze, his face alight with happiness. Joy flowed from her heart and throughout her body. She strode up to him and pressed her lips to his, not caring that the children were so close.
Without prompting, Janna and Brand put an arm around her neck, creating a group hug. When her daughter kissed Sara’s cheek and then Ezreal’s, Brand did the same. Ezreal got that darling goofy grin he wore when he was especially happy.
“See, mama, he should be our daddy,” Janna whispered.
“What’s that?” He pulled back his head and met Sara’s gaze.
A sense of panic overwhelmed her, and she stepped away. She took Janna and set her down, giving her daughter a stern look. At first she seemed about to protest but then gave a great sigh and headed toward Ezreal’s car. Brand, fortunately, had either not heard his sister’s comment or had already been distracted from it, because he was chattering away about having played in the sprinklers.
They got the children buckled into the SUV and were on the road before Ezreal spoke.
“It’s something I’d like to discuss with you,” he said after checking the rearview mirror.
“What’s that?” Sara asked, trying to pretend rather unsuccessfully that she didn’t know what he was talking about.
“About your future plans.” He reached over and covered her hand that she’d been clenching and unclenching on her lap.
“Well, I survived the first week of school, so next week should be better,” she said lightly, forcing her hand to be still. “I’ve been working on the curriculum for the music classes, so I’ll be ready when your charity is set up.”
Ezreal shot her an understanding glance and let her talk. He seemed to have come to know her so well in only a few months. How was that possible? She’d known Landon more than a year before marrying him, and she hadn’t known him at all. What if Ezreal was like that? A wolf in sheep’s clothing? Her heart told her it couldn’t be true, that she knew too much now and had too much experience to be taken in by a monster again. Maybe sheshouldtalk about a possible future with him.
Sara turned her hand over and laced her fingers with his. He seemed to understand that she had reached a decision because his eyes crinkled. She could only hope she was ready to start the discussion.
Brand started squealing as soon as he saw the ice cream shop, and Sara had to start counting before he’d calm down.
“I’m not going to feed you sugar if you’re already out of control, young man,” she said as Ezreal pulled into a parking spot. “I will not reward bad behavior.”
“Hey, Brand, I really want to get an ice cream with you, so you’ll behave, won’t you?” Ezreal held out a hand to the child. “Please?”
“I’ll be good.” Her son took the offered hand and hopped from his car seat.
