A Family For Easter

“Kids learn by example as much as by words,” Susan said. “I’ve learned that during ten years of teaching elementary school. If you put yourself down in front of them, or if you’re always on some crazy diet, they’ll notice.”

“Exactly,” Daisy said. “Besides, some men like women who enjoy their food. Dion says—” She broke off, blushing.

Susan cocked her head. “Is there something you want to tell us, about you and the police chief?” she asked Daisy.

“No. Anyway, today isn’t about me.” Daisy turned away from Susan and looked at Fiona. “What are you going to do about Eduardo?”

What was she going to do? She couldn’t let the discomfort between them fester—if for no other reason than that they’d see each other at kids’ events all the time. “I guess I could text him an apology.”

“Text him? Really?” Daisy stepped in front of Fiona, making her stop. Susan came to her side, blocking Fiona’s way.

“Call him?” Fiona asked weakly.

“God didn’t give us a spirit of fear,” Daisy said.

“And how about if you’re offering a gift at the altar, and you remember someone is mad at you?” Susan added.

“Yes!” Daisy nodded vigorously. “The Bible doesn’t say text them or call them. It says go to them.”

“But that’s because they didn’t have that technology back then...” Fiona trailed off as her friends crossed their arms and shook their heads at the same time.

“Do I have to apologize in person?”

At that, Daisy and Susan turned to continue walking, each grabbing one of Fiona’s arms. “Come on,” Susan said. “We’ll help you figure out what to say.”

* * *

The next afternoon, Eduardo noticed two of the younger workers putting equipment away without doing the daily maintenance.

It would be easier to finish the jobs himself, but then the new guys wouldn’t learn. “Tommy. Duke.” He gestured toward the machinery the men had just put away. “You’re not done.”

“Man, don’t you ever lighten up?” Duke grumbled good-naturedly as he grabbed a cloth and knelt beside the mower’s grassy blades.

“He’s got nothing else to do,” Tommy joked. “He needs a social life. Good work there, my man,” he added to Duke.

“That skid-steer loader you brought in needs its fluid levels checked,” Eduardo said mildly.

“Sorry, man.” Tommy turned toward the small vehicle and started the daily inspection. “I’m in a hurry. I’ve got to go get cleaned up and take my woman out on the town.”

“On a Tuesday?”

“Anniversary,” Tommy explained. “My aunt’s taking the kids.”

A warm band tightened around Eduardo’s heart. He remembered the days when he’d scrambled to get a sitter, had scrimped and saved to take Elizabeth out for a special occasion. She’d argued against the expense, but she’d always given in and they’d had fun, usually ending the evening with dancing.

“Need the place swept out?” Tommy asked Eduardo.

“Nah, go on. Have fun. I’ll finish up.”

“Thanks!”

As the two men left, a text message buzzed, and Eduardo pulled his phone out of his pocket.

It’s Fiona. Can you meet me at the Chatterbox?

Instead of answering, he started pushing a broom across the floor of the storage shed. What did she want to talk to him about? If she wanted to see the estimate on her landscaping job—even after she’d booted him out of her home—he supposed he should give it. But at the café? Why not at her house?

He pushed debris into a heap and looked for a dustpan. Another message buzzed.

My treat. I want to apologize.

No need to apologize, he texted back. But I can meet you and give you your estimate if you’d like.

Great. Half an hour?

See you there.

He pocketed his phone and tamped down the small surge of excitement in his chest. He liked Fiona, found her attractive, if the truth be told, but he wasn’t sure about renting her carriage house. What if she decided to use it as an office again? Or decided to kick them out for reasons he couldn’t understand, as she’d done the other night?

On the other hand, the situation at their little motel was deteriorating. After Diego and Sofia had spent several noisy hours kicking around a soccer ball outside yesterday, the manager had let Eduardo know that they couldn’t stay much longer. “We just aren’t set up for kids,” the man had said apologetically. “Couple more days, fine, but I’d like to see you move on soon.”

Which meant he needed to find another place today or tomorrow; easier said than done in the limited rental market of Rescue River.

Again, the thought of Fiona’s carriage house came to mind.

Thirty minutes and one speed-shower later, Eduardo reached the Chatterbox. The place wasn’t crowded midafternoon, and Fiona wasn’t there yet.

He sat down at a table where he could watch the door, waving to a few coworkers from Hinton who were at the counter eating.

A moment later, Fiona flew into the restaurant, her purse swinging. He stood and she hurried over. “I’m sorry I was late!”

He glanced at the clock above the door as he moved to pull out her chair. From the corner of his eye, he saw the Hinton workers nudging each other. One of them gave Eduardo a thumbs-up.

Heat rose in the back of his neck as he sat down across from her. “You’re not late. I was early. Are you hungry?”

“I am, but I’m not going to get anything. Just coffee. You go ahead, though. It’s my treat.”

Not in this universe.

“Are you ready to order?” Their waiter arrived with an order pad.

“Coffee for both of us, and a piece of cherry pie for me,” Eduardo said.

“Ice cream?”

“Absolutely,” he said and looked at Fiona. “You’re sure you don’t want to join me?”

She bit her lip. “Well... No. No, thank you.”