Family Treasures

Devon decided not to debate the issue. When it was two against one, a person had to choose his battles wisely.

“Anyway, Ms. McBride is coming over this morning to help me—” Devon paused, unsure how to describe why Caitlin was coming over.

“She’s going to ask him some questions so he’ll know what clothes look best on him.” Jenny stepped out from behind the drapes.

Devon hadn’t known she was there.

“Thank you.” He winked at his daughter, who offered a hesitant smile before glancing away.

Devon tried to hide his disappointment at her response.

The boys, who’d been three years old when Ashleigh had taken them to Europe, had fewer memories of him than Jenny, yet they’d started to relax in his presence. To seek out his company.

But his daughter…she remained a mystery.

The counselor Devon had talked with had encouraged him to give Jenny the time and space she needed to grieve her mother’s death. Devon got that. But even though his parental instincts were a bit rusty, he had the feeling other emotions lay buried beneath the veneer of sorrow in his daughter’s eyes.

Devon had no idea what would unlock the secrets in Jenny’s heart. And until recently, he’d started to doubt he was the right person for the job.

The night after Vickie had called, threatening to contest the custody arrangement, Devon had lain awake for hours. Not planning a legal strategy but wrestling with the reality that the kids, especially Jenny, might be better off with living with their aunt.

After all, his children knew their Aunt Vickie better than they knew their own father. Ashleigh and Vickie had always been close. So close that Ashleigh had hired her sister as her personal assistant when her modeling career began to take off. They’d traveled together. Spent holidays together. While Devon had to be content with long-distance phone calls and letters, Vickie had had the advantage of frequent visits with the children; knowing what went on in their day-to-day lives.

The boys, Devon had reasoned, might choose to stay with him, but Jenny would probably benefit from a woman’s influence in her life. A woman would understand her emotions….would know what an adolescent girl needed.

He’d been praying for wisdom and guidance ever since Vickie’s phone call. And just when Devon had almost convinced himself that his children would be better off with someone they knew and loved—not a man who was almost a stranger to them—there’d been a breakthrough.

We want to stay with you.

We. Plural.

While he couldn’t deny the glimmer of hope that Jenny’s simple statement had created that day, Devon also couldn’t deny there was a truckload of irony in the situation. The makeover contest hadn’t only revealed Jenny’s feelings. It had brought Caitlin McBride into their lives.

As if on cue, the doorbell rang.

Chapter Six

Caitlin tried to focus on what Jenny was saying, but the closer they got to the parlor, the more wobbly her ankles felt. And wobbling in three-inch heels just wasn’t…safe.