Read Online A Marriage Takes Two by Janet Lane-Walters - Free Book Online

people’s parties better.”
    Carrie trailed him to the kitchen. How should she respond to him?  “I...I think it’s great to see what good friends you and your dad are. I always wished I’d had a father.”
    “Did he divorce you?”
    “He died before I was born.”
    “That’s sad.” He reached for a cookie. “Please come to the party, and could you bake brownies for the bake sale table? I forgot to ask Hazel.”
    She laughed. “No one would buy mine. One time, I used a mix and they came out like bricks. I think I smelled chocolate today.” She opened the freezer. “I sure did.”
    He grinned. “Good. My class is saving for a trip and everyone always buys Hazel’s stuff.”
    She handed him a glass of milk. “Meet you upstairs. We can work in the hall. There’s a lot of room there.”
    “Five minutes.”
    “Don’t gobble. Hazel’s cookies are meant to be eaten slowly and every crumb enjoyed.”
    “You’re silly.”
    After she left the supplies in the broad upper hall that surrounded the central staircase, she went to the room she’d staked out as hers and opened one of the boxes. She drew out a wooden sword that had been painted gray. Wouldn’t Chad get a charge out of carrying the one his dad had made?
    “Carrie, I’m here.”
    “In here.”
    He appeared in the doorway. “Dad know you put your stuff here?”
    “No, and it’s a secret.”
    “I don’t think he’s gonna like it.”
    She winked. “Then he’ll have to live with it.”
    “That’s what he always says to me.”
    “So he does...Now, let’s make a costume to go with this sword.”
    “Where did you get it?”
    “Saved it. Your dad made three, but I bet he and your uncle didn’t save theirs.”
    “And you’ll let me use it?”
    “Sure.”
    “Cool.”
     
    * * *
     
    When Tony entered the house, the sound of Chad’s laughter lightened his spirits. “I’m home,” he called.
    “Upstairs, Dad. We’re making my knight suit.”
    Tony took the stairs two at a time. He paused at the top. Chad stood in front of Carrie. She fastened a foil covered chest plate to the armor back. “Hey, son, you look great.”
    “Guess what Carrie gave me. Her sword. The one you made.”
    Tony shook his head. “I can’t believe you saved that old thing.”
    “I’m a pack rat, save everything.”
    He nodded. She’d even saved the wrappings and ribbons from every present. “You two about finished?”
    “Just need to make the helm.” She put a cap on Chad’s head and used silver cloth to cover it and the back of his neck. “Hand me the chin piece and the visor.”
    A short time later, the helm was finished. Chad lumbered to Tony’s bathroom to look at himself in the mirror.
    “Cool, right, Dad?”
    “Way cool,” Tony said.
    Carrie joined them and began removing the costume. “We’ll put this away until tomorrow.”
    Tony winked. “You’ve improved the original design. His arms and legs bend.”
    “Stockinet dyed gray.”
    “You’re a woman of many talents.”
    She grinned. “A few you’ve yet to discover.”
    The air around her seemed hot. He took a step toward her and stopped. He’d been about to pull her into his arms and show her how much he wanted to discover those hidden talents. Bad idea. He couldn’t risk hurting her. For Carrie, he believed sex without love would be wrong.
    “Dad, can we go somewhere tonight?”
    Chad’s question cut through the charged silence. “Sure.” He turned to Carrie. “What about you?”
    “A rain-check.”
    He saw satisfaction on his son’s face. Tony wanted to insist she join them, but Chad hadn’t staged a scene since Monday. Tony wasn’t about to ruin the fragile truce.
    “Homework done?”
    Chad laughed. “It’s Friday. No homework.” He headed to the stairs.
    “Whoa. Back up a minute. Put your costume in your room and help clean this mess.”
    “Okay.” Chad carefully picked up several pieces of the armor.
    Carrie gathered the rest. Tony put his hand on her shoulder.