thought they were asleep. I should have been doing books but I conked out. Something woke me up. Katie was in the bathroom, half-shorn, and most of her hair was in the sink. Kyle had dared her and Katie never refuses a dare.” He raked a frustrated hand through his hair when his phone made a noise. “Excuse me.” He scanned the text then quickly rose. “I need to go. When would you be able to care for the kids?”
“I could start now.” Penny also rose and smiled at him. “Are you sure you trust me, Rick?”
“You come highly recommended by Tanner and Sophie. I trust them implicitly.” He made a face. “Anyway, I doubt you can do worse at childcare than me.”
“Given the state of Katie’s hair that’s not exactly a vote of confidence,” she teased then shrugged. “Don’t beat yourself up, Rick. She didn’t get hurt and hair grows back. Kids do things that are utterly unpredictable.”
“Not to you, I’ll wager.” He watched her face, saw distaste in the way she wrinkled her pert nose.
“You think?” Penny gave a half laugh and shook her head. “A student once brought a snake to school in his backpack. He hadn’t told his parents he’d found it. A python. He put it in my desk.” She nodded at his disbelief. “True story.”
Rick liked the way her eyes sparkled with amusement. Penny didn’t take her world too seriously it seemed. “What did you do?”
“I prayed. Really, really hard. Then closed the drawer and called the janitor.” She smiled. “So you fell asleep last night. You were tired and who wouldn’t be? Caring for one child is taxing. You have two to watch over and you’re not used to doing it.”
He opened his mouth to protest but Penny held up a hand.
“It will get easier, I promise. Why don’t you take today off as a caregiver, focus on work and leave the kids with me? I’ll take Katie to get a haircut, if that’s okay with you?” Penny waited until he nodded.
Rick was happy to turn that task over to her. He figured she’d know more than he did about little girls’ hairstyles.
“After a trim we’ll think of something fun we can do for the rest of the day.” She did not seem fazed by the prospect. “Do they have allergies to anything?”
“No.” Rick wanted so badly to accept but something inside him hesitated. What if—
“It’s really okay, Uncle Rick.” Penny didn’t sound irritated by his indecision. “I won’t let anything happen to them. I promise.” She wrote on a piece of paper then held it out. “My cell phone number.”
“Thank you.” This is an answer to prayer, stupid. Take it! “Here’s mine.” He waited till she’d written it down then called, “Katie and Kyle, can you come here for a moment?”
Rick carefully explained to the twins that they were going to stay with Penny for a while. Katie’s lip trembled for about a nanosecond, until Penny mentioned a water park. Both kids whooped for joy.
“But their swimsuits—I didn’t bring them.” Rick frowned at her.
“I’ll handle it.” What assurance those words held.
He had to ask. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. We’re going to have so much fun.” Penny’s face glowed when she smiled and suddenly any reservation he felt was gone. “Call me to pick them up whenever you’re ready. We’ll be fine. Guys, let’s go get your car seats and say goodbye to Uncle Rick.”
A second summons from his phone forced Rick to leave more quickly than he wanted but as he drove away, he saw Penny pushing a laughing Katie on a swing in the yard outside the daycare building while Kyle whooped as he raced down a slide.
Rick smiled as he waved but his thoughts were on the past. If only he hadn’t let Gillian die. If only he’d run faster, forced himself through that choking blanket of smoke a second time, pushed through the searing pain of those burning embers on his face to get to her. Maybe, just maybe—
With a sigh of resignation Rick headed toward the job site. Recriminations didn’t help. Somehow he’d have to readjust his focus on the present and not the past so the twins didn’t suffer.
At least he had Penny’s help. For now.
Rick liked the pretty woman a lot, liked her spirit and unstinting kindness. Liked the fearlessness in her face when she broached a subject. But liking was all he would allow. He had to concentrate his entire focus on the kids, on making their world as happy as Gillian would have. It didn’t matter what he gave up. It was all about them and that meant he had no time for romance. Rick would have gladly sacrificed a lot more than that if he could have his sister back.
Since he couldn’t he would spend every day making the world the best it could be for Katie and Kyle and he’d take Penny’s help every time she offered. Help and friendship, yes.
Anything more wasn’t possible.
Hungry, dirty and very weary by the time he arrived at Penny’s that evening, Rick paused a moment to survey her home. The lovely adobe structure in the old Southwest style had a rose trellis climbing up the outside walls and a towering saguaro cactus that shielded the front windows from the heat of the desert sun.
Though he didn’t yet know Penny well, he thought the house suited her. It was warm and inviting just like she was. Maybe sometime down the road he could ask her for hints on how to make his ranch as hospitable.
Keep focused on today.
“Come on in, Rick,” Penny invited in a friendly though hushed voice. “The twins are asleep. I’m afraid I wore them out.”
“Great. Then they should sleep well tonight.” And maybe without a nightmare. “I’ll get their car seats then load them up so we can get out of your hair,” he said, admiring the homeyness she’d created inside. This was a place where a family could relax and enjoy each other; you could see the hospitality in the warm colors and soft welcoming furniture. So why did Penny always seem to be alone? “I’m sorry it took me so long.”
“No problem. I’m having cookies and lemonade. Want to join me?” Wearing a sleeveless bright yellow top and white shorts, Penny’s bare feet and tousled blond hair made her look cool and comfortable, a far cry from the worn-out caregiver he’d expected to find. “The twins helped me bake the cookies so you have to try some.”
“Uh—okay.” Like it was a hardship. Rick was starving. “I hope you didn’t have any trouble getting them to eat supper? They’re picky eaters, I know.”
“I roasted a chicken with some new potatoes and spring vegetables. They seemed to enjoy it.” Penny frowned at him, making Rick wonder if his tongue was hanging out at the sound of roast chicken. “Did you eat dinner?”
“No time to eat today. It was crazy busy. I’ll get something when I get the twins to bed.” He said it quickly with a shrug, downplaying it so he wouldn’t look like he was asking Penny to feed him. No way did he want to impose on this woman’s generosity. Caring for the twins for an entire day was far more than he’d dared to hope for.
“There are plenty of leftovers, Rick. I’ll heat a plate for you.” Before he could object Penny had opened the fridge and was pulling out containers. “I always make way too much,” she said when she noticed his surprise at the amount of food she was removing. Her cheeks pinked, enhancing her blue eyes. “Roast chicken is my favorite meal. It always makes me think of family dinners and...”
Her voice trailed away as she turned, set the filled plate in the microwave and started it.
“Do you have a big family?” Penny’s comments gave Rick an opportunity to satisfy his curiosity about her.
“Actually,