Read Online Autumn Wish by Stacey Joy Netzel - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Stacey Joy Netzel
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touch the baby’s hand, and she curled her little fingers around his. He waggled his captive thumb and smiled at her. “So, this is Ella. She’s a cutie.”
Nikki waited for Sam to reply, but instead of a standard thank-you like most proud parents, he simply said, “She is.”
“You know, I hope you don’t mind, but Nikki explained your situation.” Eric cast him a sideways glance. “How’s it going? A little overwhelming?”
Sam ran a hand through his hair again and rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s a bit of an understatement. But Nik’s been a great help.”
Eric shifted his gaze to her. “Yeah. Nik’s good like that.”
She caught the tiny inflection he added to her shortened name. Eric knew she wasn’t a big fan of it, but it was only the third time Sam had called her that, so it wasn’t like she’d had a chance to say anything. Besides, she realized the usual flare of irritation when he said the name was completely absent.
“Come on out and give me a hand unloading,” Eric told Sam as he reached for the door. “Then I’ve got a few questions for you so I can give Marissa a full report when I get home.”
“Uh, okay.” Sam’s raised eyebrow glance at her made Eric chuckle as they headed outside.
Nikki shook her head and whispered to Ella. “We’d better not leave those two alone for too long.”
She held the door when they carried all the pieces inside, then joined them upstairs while they assembled the crib.
“This is really nice.” Sam ran his hand over the elegant curve of the footboard as Eric snapped the adjustable side into place. “It looks handcrafted.”
“Eric made them when Marissa was pregnant with the twins three years ago,” Nikki confirmed.
A frown furrowed his forehead. “You didn’t tell me this was a family piece.”
“It’s okay,” Eric assured him. “We wouldn’t have offered if we minded, and I’d much rather have it being used instead of sitting in our basement.”
Reluctant acceptance filled Sam’s expression as he continued to admire Eric’s craftsmanship. “Well, I appreciate it. It’s a great piece of furniture. I’m working with Hansen Construction out of Redemption, but I’d love to learn how to do stuff like this.”
“I’ve done some contract work for Carter Hansen.” Her brother-in-law stood up and double checked the sturdiness of the reassembled pieces. “His houses are beautiful, and he’s well respected around the area.”
“Yeah. I’ve only been there about three months, so I was worried about calling in this morning. He was very understanding, though. Told me to take as much time as I need.”
Nikki handed Ella over to Sam and grabbed the dust ruffle from the crib set she’d unpacked earlier.
“He’s a good guy.” Eric leaned back against the dresser. “Are you originally from around here, Sam?”
“I grew up in Upper Michigan.”
“What brought you to Wisconsin?”
“Nothing in particular. I’ve spent the last twelve years moving around a lot.”
“For a previous job?”
Nikki had turned for the crib mattress, and noticed Sam’s shoulders tense while his gaze dropped to the baby in his arms. Much as she wanted to tell Eric to cool it with the pseudo-interrogation, she also wanted to hear Sam’s answer.
“No. I just wasn’t sure where I wanted to settle, that’s all.”
“You picked a good place in Pulaski.” Eric stepped forward to help her with the mattress. “It’s a small town, lots of families, and we have a real close-knit community. Plus, we’ve got a great school district.”
The idea of Ella in school clearly never crossed Sam’s mind. And why would it? She’d only been with him for a day. Nikki quickly said, “It’s not like he has to worry about that right now.”
“True. How about child care? Do you have that lined up?” Eric asked.
“Not yet.” He reached for the pacifier Ella spit out. “I’m going to look at two places tomorrow—not that I have any idea what
Nikki waited for Sam to reply, but instead of a standard thank-you like most proud parents, he simply said, “She is.”
“You know, I hope you don’t mind, but Nikki explained your situation.” Eric cast him a sideways glance. “How’s it going? A little overwhelming?”
Sam ran a hand through his hair again and rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s a bit of an understatement. But Nik’s been a great help.”
Eric shifted his gaze to her. “Yeah. Nik’s good like that.”
She caught the tiny inflection he added to her shortened name. Eric knew she wasn’t a big fan of it, but it was only the third time Sam had called her that, so it wasn’t like she’d had a chance to say anything. Besides, she realized the usual flare of irritation when he said the name was completely absent.
“Come on out and give me a hand unloading,” Eric told Sam as he reached for the door. “Then I’ve got a few questions for you so I can give Marissa a full report when I get home.”
“Uh, okay.” Sam’s raised eyebrow glance at her made Eric chuckle as they headed outside.
Nikki shook her head and whispered to Ella. “We’d better not leave those two alone for too long.”
She held the door when they carried all the pieces inside, then joined them upstairs while they assembled the crib.
“This is really nice.” Sam ran his hand over the elegant curve of the footboard as Eric snapped the adjustable side into place. “It looks handcrafted.”
“Eric made them when Marissa was pregnant with the twins three years ago,” Nikki confirmed.
A frown furrowed his forehead. “You didn’t tell me this was a family piece.”
“It’s okay,” Eric assured him. “We wouldn’t have offered if we minded, and I’d much rather have it being used instead of sitting in our basement.”
Reluctant acceptance filled Sam’s expression as he continued to admire Eric’s craftsmanship. “Well, I appreciate it. It’s a great piece of furniture. I’m working with Hansen Construction out of Redemption, but I’d love to learn how to do stuff like this.”
“I’ve done some contract work for Carter Hansen.” Her brother-in-law stood up and double checked the sturdiness of the reassembled pieces. “His houses are beautiful, and he’s well respected around the area.”
“Yeah. I’ve only been there about three months, so I was worried about calling in this morning. He was very understanding, though. Told me to take as much time as I need.”
Nikki handed Ella over to Sam and grabbed the dust ruffle from the crib set she’d unpacked earlier.
“He’s a good guy.” Eric leaned back against the dresser. “Are you originally from around here, Sam?”
“I grew up in Upper Michigan.”
“What brought you to Wisconsin?”
“Nothing in particular. I’ve spent the last twelve years moving around a lot.”
“For a previous job?”
Nikki had turned for the crib mattress, and noticed Sam’s shoulders tense while his gaze dropped to the baby in his arms. Much as she wanted to tell Eric to cool it with the pseudo-interrogation, she also wanted to hear Sam’s answer.
“No. I just wasn’t sure where I wanted to settle, that’s all.”
“You picked a good place in Pulaski.” Eric stepped forward to help her with the mattress. “It’s a small town, lots of families, and we have a real close-knit community. Plus, we’ve got a great school district.”
The idea of Ella in school clearly never crossed Sam’s mind. And why would it? She’d only been with him for a day. Nikki quickly said, “It’s not like he has to worry about that right now.”
“True. How about child care? Do you have that lined up?” Eric asked.
“Not yet.” He reached for the pacifier Ella spit out. “I’m going to look at two places tomorrow—not that I have any idea what
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