“Would you like one?” Eb asked.
“Can I?” She looked doubtful.
“Yes, you may.” He said it so emphatically Sandra glanced at him. What was going through his mind to bring sudden moisture to his eyes and set his jaw working?
“I’m sorry, little lady,” the man said. “This won’t be ready for a couple of days. However, I have something over here you might like.” He opened a cupboard door and removed a delicate, colorful hummingbird hanging from an acrylic string.
Rue cupped her hands to accept the tiny decoration. She looked up and asked Eb, “Can Ireallyhave it?”
Sandra could tell he would deny the child nothing, but the doubt in Rue’s voice bothered her. Children were toldnoall the time, but there’d been something in the child’s tone which hinted at more. Had her mother had a history of making promises she then didn’t keep? Or was Sandra imagining the worst unfairly?
“It looks fragile,” Sandra said. “Do you have a box with cotton?”
“We sure do.” The man glanced at his younger assistant, who retrieved one from another cupboard.
“How much do I owe you?” Eb asked, reaching for his wallet.
While he paid, Sandra lifted Rue, so she could watch the helper cocoon the hummingbird in the box. The child accepted it and carefully held it to her chest. Sandra put her on the ground again.
“I hope her memories of this first day with me will be good ones,” Eb whispered, leaning closer to Sandra.
“You’re a good man, Eb Grinchly.” Before she could say more, her phone pinged with its appointment alarm. She pulled it from her pocket. “Oh! With everything that’s happened this afternoon, I forgot I’m babysitting for the Wyndhams tonight. Would you two like to come? It’d give Rue a chance to meet some kids near her age, and we can assess her clothing needs and do some research about child beds.”
“Wouldn’t they think it presumptuous for you to bring us along?”
“They’ll be fine with it. Don’t worry.”
“If you’re sure.” Eb’s dubious words didn’t fit his relieved expression.
Biting back a smile, Sandra typed a quick text to Merry to let her know.
“Have you met them yet?” she asked as they headed back to Eb’s SUV.
“I’ve only met Carlisle Wyndham a few times in passing when he’s come to see Mrs. Blaise.”
Eb opened the back door and pulled down a section which turned out to be a built-in booster seat. He grinned. “I only know about this because Inez borrowed my car one day to pick up her grandson. Who knew I’d ever need it myself?”
“Nice.” Sandra approached the child.
“Miss Rue, how about I hold your hummingbird box for you while your father buckles you in your booster chair?” Sandra asked.
The little girl reluctantly handed it over. “Why do you call me Miss Rue?”
“Because you look like a Miss Rue to me. Don’t you like it?”
“I like it. Alot.” She grinned. “But what does amisslook like?”
“Lean back, please.” When Rue did, Eb tested the snugness of her belt.
He straightened, and she stretched out her eager hands for the box. Before he could close the door, Sandra squeezed in to take his place.
“Let me tell you a quick story about when I started school. On the first day, I discovered one of my classmates was named Michelle. I couldn’t understand why she got to be calledMiss-Shell.” She stressed the two syllables. “Why was I only Sandra? Being called Michelle seemed special to me. When I met you, I thought you looked like amiss, so Miss Rue fits you.”
“You thinkI’mspecial?”
The uncertainty in the child’s face twisted Sandra’s heart, and she glanced at Eb to find him wiping his eyes again. This man’s sensitivity was going to do her in.
“Just look at your daddy, Miss Rue, and you’ll see how special you are to him.”
