Read Online A Ring for Cinderella by Judy Christenberry - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Judy Christenberry
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consciences, they made more rapid progress.
He particularly enjoyed buying them cowboy boots and hats.
“But I won’t be going to visit the ranch,” Manuel whispered to Paul.
“Paul may want to invite you,” Zach said, having overheard the anxious whisper. “Wouldn’t you like to come with Paul? Don’t you like horses and cows?”
Manuel beamed at him. “I love ’em. Paul said you had puppies, too.”
“Oh, yeah. We’ve got puppies, and I think they love little boys.” He was rewarded with big grins. Ruffling first one boy’s hair and then the other’s, he decided he could get used to having kids around.
“You know, by next month, it may be a little cold out on the ranch. I think we’d better check out those windbreakers over there, too.”
Now that he’d convinced them there would be no problem with Susan and Rosa, the boys entered into the spirit of the shopping spree.
“This is even better than Christmas,” Paul said, squeezing the packages against his little chest. “Can we buy something for Susan? She doesn’t usually get presents ’cause me and Megan don’t have much money.”
“That’s a good idea, Paul,” Zach said. He wasn’t sure Susan would appreciate anything from him, but every bride should have a present. And Gamp would expect it.
Since there was nothing in the children’s department
for Susan, they swung by the jewelry counter. Zach, with both boys’ taste consulted, decided on a diamond tennis bracelet that would sparkle on Susan’s delicate wrist.
Then they loaded all their packages in the trunk of his car and headed for the apartment. Once there, they reversed the procedure. Each boy carried several packages, but Zach bore the brunt of the shopping.
Susan was already home. She came out on the landing as they started up the stairs.
“There you are. We’ve been worried—” she broke off, her eyes widening as she saw the packages. “Good heavens, what have you done?”
Chapter Six
S usan couldn’t believe her eyes. Even the boys were loaded down with packages. She waited for an answer to her question.
“A little shopping,” Zach said easily. “I thought the boys needed a few things.”
“It’s okay, Susan,” Paul hurriedly said. “Zach only bought us one of everything. Gramp bought the other ones.”
She struggled to compose herself. Since Zach had taken it upon himself to purchase clothes for her brother and his friend, she’d have to deduct that amount from the check he’d given her and repay him. She only hoped he’d been practical.
“I see. And did you enjoy yourselves?” she asked, smiling at the boys. It would be mean to take away their pleasure.
“Oh, yeah. And look at my hat!” Paul exclaimed,
using the packages he carried to point to the hat on his head. “When we visit the ranch, we need hats, Zach said.”
“I’m going to visit the ranch, too,” Manuel added in wonder.
“That’s wonderful. It will be a great experience for you.” Then she looked at Zach and her smile disappeared. “We need to talk.”
“Anything wrong? Did the hospital call?”
“No. Nothing. Manuel, your mother is looking for you.” She waited as the little boy ran across the landing and opened the apartment door. Then she turned to Paul. “Why don’t you take your new things and put them away, sweetie.”
“Don’t you want to see them first?” the boy asked anxiously, as if he knew she was upset,
“Oh, yes, of course. Come in and show me what you bought” She led the way into the apartment and sat down on the lumpy couch. Five minutes later, Paul had torn open all the packages and had his riches spread around him.
“You made some wonderful selections, Paul. They’ll be great for school this year.” She was sincere, but she also resented Zach having the pleasure of shopping with her little brother. He’d spent more than she’d planned for Paul, she noticed. And her shopping tour wouldn’t have been at the expensive stores named
He particularly enjoyed buying them cowboy boots and hats.
“But I won’t be going to visit the ranch,” Manuel whispered to Paul.
“Paul may want to invite you,” Zach said, having overheard the anxious whisper. “Wouldn’t you like to come with Paul? Don’t you like horses and cows?”
Manuel beamed at him. “I love ’em. Paul said you had puppies, too.”
“Oh, yeah. We’ve got puppies, and I think they love little boys.” He was rewarded with big grins. Ruffling first one boy’s hair and then the other’s, he decided he could get used to having kids around.
“You know, by next month, it may be a little cold out on the ranch. I think we’d better check out those windbreakers over there, too.”
Now that he’d convinced them there would be no problem with Susan and Rosa, the boys entered into the spirit of the shopping spree.
“This is even better than Christmas,” Paul said, squeezing the packages against his little chest. “Can we buy something for Susan? She doesn’t usually get presents ’cause me and Megan don’t have much money.”
“That’s a good idea, Paul,” Zach said. He wasn’t sure Susan would appreciate anything from him, but every bride should have a present. And Gamp would expect it.
Since there was nothing in the children’s department
for Susan, they swung by the jewelry counter. Zach, with both boys’ taste consulted, decided on a diamond tennis bracelet that would sparkle on Susan’s delicate wrist.
Then they loaded all their packages in the trunk of his car and headed for the apartment. Once there, they reversed the procedure. Each boy carried several packages, but Zach bore the brunt of the shopping.
Susan was already home. She came out on the landing as they started up the stairs.
“There you are. We’ve been worried—” she broke off, her eyes widening as she saw the packages. “Good heavens, what have you done?”
Chapter Six
S usan couldn’t believe her eyes. Even the boys were loaded down with packages. She waited for an answer to her question.
“A little shopping,” Zach said easily. “I thought the boys needed a few things.”
“It’s okay, Susan,” Paul hurriedly said. “Zach only bought us one of everything. Gramp bought the other ones.”
She struggled to compose herself. Since Zach had taken it upon himself to purchase clothes for her brother and his friend, she’d have to deduct that amount from the check he’d given her and repay him. She only hoped he’d been practical.
“I see. And did you enjoy yourselves?” she asked, smiling at the boys. It would be mean to take away their pleasure.
“Oh, yeah. And look at my hat!” Paul exclaimed,
using the packages he carried to point to the hat on his head. “When we visit the ranch, we need hats, Zach said.”
“I’m going to visit the ranch, too,” Manuel added in wonder.
“That’s wonderful. It will be a great experience for you.” Then she looked at Zach and her smile disappeared. “We need to talk.”
“Anything wrong? Did the hospital call?”
“No. Nothing. Manuel, your mother is looking for you.” She waited as the little boy ran across the landing and opened the apartment door. Then she turned to Paul. “Why don’t you take your new things and put them away, sweetie.”
“Don’t you want to see them first?” the boy asked anxiously, as if he knew she was upset,
“Oh, yes, of course. Come in and show me what you bought” She led the way into the apartment and sat down on the lumpy couch. Five minutes later, Paul had torn open all the packages and had his riches spread around him.
“You made some wonderful selections, Paul. They’ll be great for school this year.” She was sincere, but she also resented Zach having the pleasure of shopping with her little brother. He’d spent more than she’d planned for Paul, she noticed. And her shopping tour wouldn’t have been at the expensive stores named
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