Page 50 of A Perfect Target

“Wouldn’t it be much easier for you to do your plans on a computer?” he asked.

“Actually, we are required to put them into a computer program for the school district, but I have always written them down on paper first. I think better with pen and paper in hand. When I try to work on the computer my brain freezes up.” She grinned. “Normally it’s a computer that will freeze up, but in my case it’s me.”

He returned her smile and then sobered. “But you don’t have a computer here. Do we need to make a trip to your house to get it?”

“No, I’ll just feed in these plans when I get back home for good.” She released a deep sigh. “I keep hoping that Dallas will come by and tell us he has the bad guy behind bars.”

“I hope for the same thing, although Sammy is really going to miss you when you’re gone. I might miss you a little bit, too.” He got up. “And speaking of Sammy, I’m sure it’s time for Lady to go out again. Don’t go anywhere.”

“I’ll be right here when you come back in,” she replied.

Minutes later he stood outside with the puppy sniffing the ground. He’d needed to get up and away from her before he said something stupid…before he confessed just how very much he was going to miss her when she was gone.

Chapter 10

Thanksgiving morning Seth and Suzanna were up early. They had grocery shopped on Monday, and thankfully the shopping trip had gone off without a hitch. School had been out for the entire week, so Sammy and Suzanna hadn’t had to worry about work or school. Thankfully she already had her lesson plans in order for the day they returned to school.

It was just a few minutes after seven. The turkey was stuffed and in the oven, and the two of them sat at the table with coffee. “I feel like this is the calm before the storm,” she said.

Seth grinned. As always, his smile filled her with a sweet warmth that was intoxicating. “I can’t believe how excited Sammy is about the holiday this year. I mean, it’s not like he’s getting any presents.”

“The time for Christmas presents will be here before we know it,” she replied. Surely, she’d be home for Christmas. This arrangement couldn’t last forever, even though she’d realized she wanted it to.

“Ugh, don’t remind me,” he replied.

She laughed. “Are you a Christmas grinch?”

He returned her laughter. “I’m not that bad. It’s impossible to be a total grinch when you have a kid in the house who still believes in Santa Claus.”

She laughed again. “I’m all-in at Christmas time. Even though it’s just me, I put up a big tree with all the trimmings. I usually start putting things up on Thanksgiving evening. I guess I’ll be a little late putting things up this year.”

He reached his hand across the table, and his fingers curled with hers. “I’m glad you’re here with us.” His gaze lingered on her for a long moment. Then he pulled his hand back and got up from the table.

She watched as he refilled his coffee cup. He confused her so much. She knew he cared for her, but there were definitely times she believed she saw something deeper in his eyes, felt something different in his most simple touch.

Yet, she was also constantly reminded that he had no intention of marrying again, while her opinions on that matter were slowly changing. Spending this time with Seth and Sammy had reminded her of all the things she loved about family life.

Would Davy really want to deprive her of love and having children for the rest of her life? She knew Davy’s love for her had been deep and abiding, but the one thing it hadn’t been was selfish.

He would have wanted her to love again. Knowing that, she had opened her mind and her heart to love. With each day that passed she fell more and more deeply in love with the man who was protecting her and the little boy who desperately wanted a mommy.

However, she knew there was no real future for her here with them. Seth wasn’t looking for a future with a wife in it. She knew she would eventually leave with a broken heart, but hopefully someday another man would come along who could fulfill her hunger for love and family. Though right now she couldn’t imagine loving another man for her heart was too filled with love for Seth.

It was just after noon when all the food was placed on the table. True to his word, Seth had made a pumpkin pie, although she had helped him rolling out the dough.

Besides the pie there was turkey and stuffing, a cranberry salad, mashed potatoes and gravy, a green-bean casserole, and oven-warmed rolls. It was definitely a feast.

“I have a feeling we’ll be eating turkey for the next week or so,” Seth said as he began to slice the golden-brown bird.

“That’s okay with me,” Sammy replied. “I love turkey.” Sammy had dressed up for the festive meal and looked cute as a bug in black pants and a white shirt with a little red bowtie around his neck.

Suzanna and Seth had also changed from their casual clothes. Seth wore a pair of black slacks with a black-and-white-striped dress shirt, and she had changed into a pair of brown slacks with a cinnamon-colored long-sleeved blouse. Sammy had even tried to tie a pink bow on Lady. It only lasted a minute before the pup shook it out of her fur.

Outside the window it was a dreary day with thick gray clouds overhead and a cold rain falling off and on. Inside they were all warm and cozy. The meal was filled with excellent food and lots of laughter and the warmth of family. As always Sammy kept them entertained as Lady danced around the table, looking for tidbits of food that might be dropped.

“Daddy, why can’t you give Mrs. Michaels a baby so I could have a little brother or sister?” he asked.

Seth gasped while Suzanna worked hard not to show her surprise at the question. “It…you…you have to be married to have a baby,” he finally replied. That certainly wasn’t the truth, but right now for a nine-year-old boy, it was good enough.