The Road To Love: Love by Degree / The Rain Sparrow

“What’s the problem?”

“It’s Michelle.”

Sitting on the concrete porch step, Derek looked at Ellen with those wide pleading eyes of his.

Ellen sat beside him and wrapped her arms around her bent knees. “What’s wrong with Michelle?”

“Nothing. She’s beautiful and I think she might even fall in love with me, given the chance.” He paused to sigh expressively. “I asked her out to dinner tonight.”

“She agreed. Right?” If Michelle was anywhere near as taken with Derek as he was with her, she wasn’t likely to refuse.

The boyishly thin shoulders heaved in a gesture of despair. “She can’t.”

“Why not?” Ellen watched as Pat bounced the basketball across the driveway, pivoted, jumped high in the air and sent the ball through the net.

“Michelle promised her older sister that she’d baby-sit tonight.”

“That’s too bad.” Ellen gave him a sympathetic look.

“The thing is, she’d probably go out with me if there was someone who could watch her niece and nephew for her.”

“Uh-huh.” Pat made another skillful play and Ellen applauded vigorously. He rewarded her with a triumphant smile.

“Then you will?”

Ellen switched her attention from Pat’s antics at the basketball hoop back to Derek. “Will I what?”

“Babysit Michelle’s niece and nephew?”

“What?” she exploded. “Not me. I’ve got to do research for a term paper.”

“Ellen, please, please, please.”

“No. No. No.” She sliced the air forcefully with her hand and got to her feet.

Derek rose with her. “I sense some resistance to this idea.”

“The boy’s a genius,” she mumbled under her breath as she hurried into the kitchen. “I’ve got to write my term paper. You know that.”

Derek followed her inside. “Ellen, please? I promise I’ll never ask anything of you again.”

“I’ve heard that before.” She tried to ignore him as he trailed her to the refrigerator and watched her take out sandwich makings for lunch.

“It’s a matter of the utmost importance,” Derek pleaded anew.

“What is?” Reed spoke from behind the paper he was reading at the kitchen table.

“My date with Michelle. Listen, Ellen, I bet Reed would help you. You’re not doing anything tonight, are you?”

Reed lowered the newspaper. “Help Ellen with what?”

“Babysitting.”

Reed glanced from the intent expression on his younger brother’s face to the stubborn look on Ellen’s. “You two leave me out of this.”

“Ellen. Dear, sweet Ellen, you’ve got to understand that it could be weeks—weeks,” he repeated dramatically, “before Michelle will be able to go out with me again.”

Ellen put down an armload of cheese, ham and assorted jars of mustard and pickles. “No! Can I make it any plainer than that? I’m sorry, Derek, honest. But I can’t.”

“Reed,” Derek pleaded with his brother. “Say something that’ll convince her.”

“Like I said, I’m out of this one.”

He raised the paper again, but Ellen could sense a smile hidden behind it. Still, she doubted that Reed would be foolish enough to involve himself in this situation.

“Ellen, puleease.”

“No.” Ellen realized that if she wanted any peace, she’d have to forget about lunch and make an immediate escape. She whirled around and headed out of the kitchen, the door swinging in her wake.

“I think she’s weakening,” she heard Derek say as he followed her.

She was on her way up the stairs when she caught sight of Derek in the dining room, coming toward her on his knees, hands folded in supplication. “Won’t you please reconsider?”

Ellen groaned. “What do I need to say to convince you? I’ve got to get to the library. That paper is due Monday morning.”

“I’ll write it for you.”

“No, thanks.”

At just that moment Reed came through the door. “It shouldn’t be too difficult to find a reliable sitter. There are a few families with teenagers in the neighbourhood, as I recall.”

“I...don’t know,” Derek hedged.

“If we can’t find anyone, then Danielle and I’ll manage. It’ll be good practice for us. Besides, just how much trouble can two kids be?”

When she heard that, Ellen had to swallow a burst of laughter. Reed obviously hadn’t spent much time around children, she thought with a mischievous grin.

“How old did you say these kids are?” she couldn’t resist asking.

“Nine and four.” Derek’s dark eyes brightened as he leaped to his feet and gave his brother a grateful smile. “So I can tell Michelle everything’s taken care of?”

“I suppose.” Reed turned to Ellen. “I was young once myself,” he said pointedly, reminding her of the comment she’d made the night before.

“I really appreciate this, Reed,” Derek was saying. “I’ll be your slave for life. I’d even lend you money if I had some. By the way, can I borrow your car tonight?”

“Don’t press your luck.”

“Right.” Derek chuckled, bounding up the stairs. He paused for a moment. “Oh, I forgot to tell you. Michelle’s bringing the kids over here, okay?”