Page 55 of The Payback Adventure
The warmth of his smile blanketed her, making her feel cherished and special. A hug didn’t seem an adequate gesture of thanks. But she couldn’t risk anything more. Not with her heart pounding and her gaze focused on his lips.
Elisabeth forced herself to look away. As she wrapped her arms around him, his scent intoxicated her. It felt so good to touch him, to hold him. “Thank you.”
She waited for him to hug back. He stiffened instead. As her chest tightened, she ignored the disappointment his reaction brought and stepped back.
Henry still had a grin on his face. He acted as if nothing were wrong. She didn’t understand. Had she imagined the awkwardness? Was she being hypersensitive? Was she afraid to enjoy the moment? She wasn’t used to people doing things for her. For the first time in almost four years, someone had. Maybe that was it.
He motioned to the swing. “Why don’t you try it?”
As the swing went back and forth, she felt like a kid again, carefree, safe. It was a good feeling. She remembered swinging with her mother and later her stepmother. The spot next to Elisabeth was now empty, and so was a spot in her heart. No one had been able to fill it. No one had wanted to try. For the first time in a long while, Elisabeth wished someone would.
* * *
“What’s wrong?” Henry didn’t like the kids’ sad faces as they sat at the dinner table, waiting to be served. Strange, considering today had been such a good day.
Sam grimaced. “Can’t you smell it?”
Henry inhaled. The awful aroma made him wrinkle his nose. “What is that?”
“Dinner,” Elisabeth answered as she stood in front of the stove and stirred one of the pots.
“Liver and onions,” Abby added as if she had to eat mud for dinner.
Caitlin pouted. “I’m not eating it.”
“Me either,” Sam said.
“You’ll eat it.” Elisabeth placed full plates in front of each of them. “It’s good for you.”
Henry had never seen something so unappetizing in all his life. Pâté was made from liver, but this? No way could this dish be good for anyone. “I’m not that hungry.”
“I’m not hungry,” Sam echoed.
Elisabeth sat. “Children who are starving all over the world would be happy to eat this.”
“Let’s FedEx it to them,” Abby murmured. “I’d rather starve. A person can survive without food. Water, however, is critical.”
Henry bit back a chuckle. Abby was so precocious and adorable. He wondered what she would be when she grew up. A scientist, a doctor, a CEO?
“It’s not that bad,” Elisabeth said.
As she took a bite, he glimpsed a slight grimace as she chewed.
“Do you actually like this?” he asked.
She drank half her glass of milk. “My stepmother used to make it.”
He noticed she didn’t answer his question. Finally, something he didn’t like about her—the way she prepared liver and onions. Not that he would like it prepared any other way, but he refused tothink about that.
Sam slumped. “I didn’t like it when Mom made it, and hers was better.”
Elisabeth drew her lips into a thin line. “Just eat.”
Not one of the kids picked up a fork. Henry had always felt the need to support Elisabeth, but not in this instance. Backing her up would be something a father would do. Taking the “mother’s” side. He didn’t want to give the kids the wrong impression. Especially Caitlin. Besides, it would be hypocritical of him when he wasn’t about to eat the dinner either.
“Ruff wouldn’t eat this,” Sam said.
Elisabeth sighed. “Yes, he would.”
