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Authors: Dyann Love Barr
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so you can obtain whatever you’re chasing at the moment.”
“No, it’s not like that. I didn’t come here with the intention of behaving like a caveman.” For a brief second he had forgotten about Sydney. “I kissed you because...
How did he tell her he wanted to see her, maybe rekindle the friendship they had so long ago? Alex knew she could heal the ache, fill the hole left by her when she disappeared out of his life.
“Then why did you come here?” She cocked her
head to one side, arms across her chest before taking another step back. “I’m waiting—and staying out of touching distance.”
“Fair enough.” Alex motioned to the table and
chairs. “Can we sit down?”
Zoe went to the table and sat. “I’m still waiting.
52
A Perfect Bride for Christmas
There’s a lot of work I have to do before noon, so make it snappy.”
“To tell you the truth, I don’t know why I came.
You didn’t tell me who you were when you came by Mom’s house. Why?” He sat on one of the elegant chairs and leaned forward.
Her lashes fluttered down, shutting those
amazing eyes from his scrutiny. “It felt weird. You didn’t recognize me, and I wasn’t about to say, ‘Hey, Alex. Remember me? Wife number one is catering
for wife-to-be number two.’ See—weird.”
“Okay.” He nodded, trying to push back the
niggle of hurt in his heart. “We were friends for a long time before the Vegas debacle.”
Zoe sat straight in her chair, back stiffened,
anger flashing in her eyes. Right now, they were brilliant green. “I’m sorry you remember our time together that way. Yes, I won’t deny I had my
reasons for marrying you, but they are ancient
history.”
“Are you happy?”
For a second she stared at him like she’d been
pole axed.
“Happy?”
“Yes, it’s a simple concept. I know you lost your husband and I’m truly sorry. Tell me, what have the last five years been like? Did he treat you well?”
Zoe smiled. Her fingers traced little invisible designs on the tabletop. “Yes, I’ve been both happy and content. James made it a point to be the best husband and father possible.” She raised her eyes to his, her face serious. “Nothing can take that away from my girls. He loved being a father—I think, more than he enjoyed being a husband. The girls were his life. Even when he knew he was dying, he made DVDs for them, scrap books so they could
remember him, to remind them that he would
always be their father.”
53
Dyann Love Barr
He frowned in confusion. What set that off?
A commotion made him turn around in his
chair. Three girls, identical except for their
hairstyles, came through the back door of the shop with a tall, woman who could have been the
embodiment of Nefertiti’s famous statue. They wore plaid school uniforms and blue wool coats.
“They’re all ready to go to pre-school. Do you
want to take them, or shall I?”
Zoe held out her arms, and the three ran to her.
“Michaela, Mia, Macy.” She kissed each on top of their heads. “This is Mr. King.”
All three stared up at him with bright blue eyes, the irises ringed in black. Just like his.
The one she called Michaela wore her dark hair
in a ponytail. Mia’s long locks were held back with a headband. And Macy, who gave him a calculating
look, sported long braids. Mia turned her face into her mother’s breasts.
“Mia is the shy one. Say hello, ladies.”
All three said hello at the same time. It was
then Alex saw something that struck the breath
from his lungs until he couldn’t remember how to breathe. Each girl had the King Notch on her left ear. His mother had always laughed about how each of her boys had been tagged from birth. Now, these three little girls carried the same birthmark.
They had to be his.
“Cherri, why don’t you take them to school
today? The Henderson’s brisket is taking longer than I thought.” She gave the children a communal hug.
“I’ve got a busy day, but I’ll
“No, it’s not like that. I didn’t come here with the intention of behaving like a caveman.” For a brief second he had forgotten about Sydney. “I kissed you because...
How did he tell her he wanted to see her, maybe rekindle the friendship they had so long ago? Alex knew she could heal the ache, fill the hole left by her when she disappeared out of his life.
“Then why did you come here?” She cocked her
head to one side, arms across her chest before taking another step back. “I’m waiting—and staying out of touching distance.”
“Fair enough.” Alex motioned to the table and
chairs. “Can we sit down?”
Zoe went to the table and sat. “I’m still waiting.
52
A Perfect Bride for Christmas
There’s a lot of work I have to do before noon, so make it snappy.”
“To tell you the truth, I don’t know why I came.
You didn’t tell me who you were when you came by Mom’s house. Why?” He sat on one of the elegant chairs and leaned forward.
Her lashes fluttered down, shutting those
amazing eyes from his scrutiny. “It felt weird. You didn’t recognize me, and I wasn’t about to say, ‘Hey, Alex. Remember me? Wife number one is catering
for wife-to-be number two.’ See—weird.”
“Okay.” He nodded, trying to push back the
niggle of hurt in his heart. “We were friends for a long time before the Vegas debacle.”
Zoe sat straight in her chair, back stiffened,
anger flashing in her eyes. Right now, they were brilliant green. “I’m sorry you remember our time together that way. Yes, I won’t deny I had my
reasons for marrying you, but they are ancient
history.”
“Are you happy?”
For a second she stared at him like she’d been
pole axed.
“Happy?”
“Yes, it’s a simple concept. I know you lost your husband and I’m truly sorry. Tell me, what have the last five years been like? Did he treat you well?”
Zoe smiled. Her fingers traced little invisible designs on the tabletop. “Yes, I’ve been both happy and content. James made it a point to be the best husband and father possible.” She raised her eyes to his, her face serious. “Nothing can take that away from my girls. He loved being a father—I think, more than he enjoyed being a husband. The girls were his life. Even when he knew he was dying, he made DVDs for them, scrap books so they could
remember him, to remind them that he would
always be their father.”
53
Dyann Love Barr
He frowned in confusion. What set that off?
A commotion made him turn around in his
chair. Three girls, identical except for their
hairstyles, came through the back door of the shop with a tall, woman who could have been the
embodiment of Nefertiti’s famous statue. They wore plaid school uniforms and blue wool coats.
“They’re all ready to go to pre-school. Do you
want to take them, or shall I?”
Zoe held out her arms, and the three ran to her.
“Michaela, Mia, Macy.” She kissed each on top of their heads. “This is Mr. King.”
All three stared up at him with bright blue eyes, the irises ringed in black. Just like his.
The one she called Michaela wore her dark hair
in a ponytail. Mia’s long locks were held back with a headband. And Macy, who gave him a calculating
look, sported long braids. Mia turned her face into her mother’s breasts.
“Mia is the shy one. Say hello, ladies.”
All three said hello at the same time. It was
then Alex saw something that struck the breath
from his lungs until he couldn’t remember how to breathe. Each girl had the King Notch on her left ear. His mother had always laughed about how each of her boys had been tagged from birth. Now, these three little girls carried the same birthmark.
They had to be his.
“Cherri, why don’t you take them to school
today? The Henderson’s brisket is taking longer than I thought.” She gave the children a communal hug.
“I’ve got a busy day, but I’ll
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