A Love So Strong. Arlene James

are these days, too small could actually mean that it fits, not that these kids would see it that way.”

      She laughed. “True. I hate that we can’t afford new things for him, but the way he’s growing it’s all I can do to keep him covered.”

      “There are worse things than not keeping up with fashion trends,” Marcus said.

      “That’s the way I see it,” she agreed sincerely, but then he got this big grin on his face.

      “What?”

      “Oh, nothing. I’m just glad to see that you have your priorities straight.”

      “Oh. Well, I’m glad you think so. Beau doesn’t always agree.”

      “He’s thirteen. I think agreement is a biological impossibility at this point.”

      She chuckled. “You’re telling me! He’s not a bad kid, though.”

      “I can see that. I meant it when I said I enjoyed his company.”

      “I’m sure he enjoyed your company, too, a lot more than he would have the Cutlers. They’re wonderful people, but to Beau anyone over thirty is the enemy right now.” Marcus winced, and she quickly reached out a hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that literally. I just meant—”

      “I know what you meant. Don’t worry about it. Guess I’m just feeling my age these days.”

      “Well, it’s not like you’re arthritic or anything.” Now she winced. “Are you?”

      He laughed. “Not that I’ve noticed.”

      “Some young people are, you know. I mean, there’s a girl in one of my classes with juvenile arthritis. She’s stiff all the time, and you can, like, hear her joints popping when she moves.”

      “No arthritic joints here,” he said merrily. “Not yet, anyway. Thank God.”

      “I’d better go in before I wind up with the other foot in my mouth,” she muttered. And before her father took enough note of her absence to ask some awkward questions that she didn’t want to answer.

      “Beau’s probably wondering what happened to you,” Marcus agreed softly.

      Reluctantly she removed the scarf from around her neck and offered it to him, but he shook his head.

      “No, you keep it for now. You can return it on Sunday. Right?”

      Nicole draped the scarf around her shoulders and tossed one end across her throat, smiling. “Right. I won’t forget.”

      “Okay. See you then.”

      “See you then,” she confirmed, opening the door and quickly hopping out. “Thank you, Marcus,” she said just before she closed the door. “Bye.”

      He waved and put the car into reverse, but he just sat there with his foot on the brake until she reached the house.

      “See you Sunday,” Nicole whispered as she slipped inside.

      It wouldn’t be wise to let her father find out what she was planning. He’d had a thing about church ever since her mom had fallen ill. But she knew that going was the right thing to do, if only because she’d promised Marcus. It wasn’t only that, though. Her mother would want them to go, her and Beau.

      For too long Nicole had catered to her father’s anger on this subject. Somehow she’d allowed herself to fall into the trap of trying to appease him when she knew only too well that nothing could.

      She hoped that Beau wouldn’t put up a fuss. He probably wouldn’t. She thought he’d go because he liked Marcus, but he was going even if she had to bully him. One way or another, Sunday morning was going to find them both sitting on a church pew again.

      Her fingers slid over the soft wool draped about her shoulders. It took a moment for her to realize that the feeling growing inside her chest was hope.

      It had always lived there. She couldn’t have kept on keeping on otherwise. Suddenly it seemed to be branching out, though, and in some surprising directions.

      Smiling to herself, she fairly danced down the hall to her brother’s room.