Read Online Running Away With You (Running #3) by Suzanne Sweeney - Free Book Online
Authors: Suzanne Sweeney
Ads: Link
a look of warning. He had better be kidding. “She’s never been to the museum before and I want to see her face light up when she sees her first dinosaur.”
“This date of yours, she wouldn’t happen to be in preschool, would she?” I ask.
“Not today she’s not. I called my sister Callie and asked her if we could take Regan with us. She agreed, but we have to take your Kia and Regan’s car seat.” He looks at me for approval. “I hope that’s okay.”
I wrap my arms around his neck. “It sounds perfect. Let’s go – she’s waited long enough to go on a date with her Uncle Evan.”
“And her Aunt Juliette,” Evan corrects me. I don’t have any brothers or sisters. I didn’t think I’d ever be lucky enough to have anyone call me Aunt. I like the way it sounds. Another gift Evan has given me – a family. If he never gives me anything else but this, I will have lived a full and rich life.
Chapter Four
Causing a Stir
W e park our car in the restricted lot and Evan escorts us to the main entrance. We find ourselves in the Theodore Franklin Rotunda, standing beneath the skeleton of a barosaurus, its long neck stretching nearly the length of the room. Little Regan holds tightly to Evan’s leg, unwilling to venture too close to the colossal display.
I’ve seen four security guards since our arrival. I have no doubt they are here because of our visit. Evan convinced me to see things from a different perspective. The need for additional security has given these employees an opportunity to earn some overtime pay. Since Christmas season will officially begin with Black Friday in just a few days, they may be grateful for our visit rather than inconvenienced by it.
I urge Evan to move on to another display – the longer we stay in one place, the more likely it is that someone will recognize him – but he tells me he’s waiting for something. Fortunately, it’s a Monday during the school year, so the museum is not very crowded today.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spot a young man in his mid-thirties heading straight toward us. My initial reaction is to brace for an enthusiastic greeting from a football fan. But as his image becomes clearer, I notice his suit jacket, bow tie, and the museum credentials pinned to his lapel. His nametag identifies him as Hugh, and he is all smiles as he approaches our small group. He holds out his hand to Evan first, “Mr. McGuire,” then to me, “Miss Fletcher,” and even offers a hand to Regan, “Miss Warren”. Not surprisingly, Regan disappears behind Evan’s hulking body. Hugh just gives her a friendly pat on the head, looks up at Evan and me and asks, “Ready to start your tour?”
I look quizzically at Evan. “When I called for additional security, they insisted on a private tour. I thought it might be nice,” Evan explains. I should have known. Nothing with Evan is ever uncomplicated.
Hugh takes us through a set of doors and right into the Hall of African Mammals. In the center of the room is a freestanding group of elephants. Regan is beyond excited. She races toward the benches that surround the display and tries to climb up, getting up-close and personal with the majestic creatures. Evan is quick to react, and he reaches little Regan before she gets too far. He holds her up close to the elephants as Hugh tells us about the exhibit.
Regan finally notices the other twenty-eight dioramas surrounding us. She joyfully bops around, hopping from display to display, calling out the names of the animals as she sees them – lions, gorillas, ostriches (which she calls “big birds”). She stops dead in her tracks when she gets to the water hole diorama. “Auntie Jette, come see the zee-ba wif me!” she chirps, dragging me by the hand toward the glass case. Evan and Hugh have no choice but to follow dutifully and listen as Regan points out the giraffe, “funny monkeys”
“This date of yours, she wouldn’t happen to be in preschool, would she?” I ask.
“Not today she’s not. I called my sister Callie and asked her if we could take Regan with us. She agreed, but we have to take your Kia and Regan’s car seat.” He looks at me for approval. “I hope that’s okay.”
I wrap my arms around his neck. “It sounds perfect. Let’s go – she’s waited long enough to go on a date with her Uncle Evan.”
“And her Aunt Juliette,” Evan corrects me. I don’t have any brothers or sisters. I didn’t think I’d ever be lucky enough to have anyone call me Aunt. I like the way it sounds. Another gift Evan has given me – a family. If he never gives me anything else but this, I will have lived a full and rich life.
Chapter Four
Causing a Stir
W e park our car in the restricted lot and Evan escorts us to the main entrance. We find ourselves in the Theodore Franklin Rotunda, standing beneath the skeleton of a barosaurus, its long neck stretching nearly the length of the room. Little Regan holds tightly to Evan’s leg, unwilling to venture too close to the colossal display.
I’ve seen four security guards since our arrival. I have no doubt they are here because of our visit. Evan convinced me to see things from a different perspective. The need for additional security has given these employees an opportunity to earn some overtime pay. Since Christmas season will officially begin with Black Friday in just a few days, they may be grateful for our visit rather than inconvenienced by it.
I urge Evan to move on to another display – the longer we stay in one place, the more likely it is that someone will recognize him – but he tells me he’s waiting for something. Fortunately, it’s a Monday during the school year, so the museum is not very crowded today.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spot a young man in his mid-thirties heading straight toward us. My initial reaction is to brace for an enthusiastic greeting from a football fan. But as his image becomes clearer, I notice his suit jacket, bow tie, and the museum credentials pinned to his lapel. His nametag identifies him as Hugh, and he is all smiles as he approaches our small group. He holds out his hand to Evan first, “Mr. McGuire,” then to me, “Miss Fletcher,” and even offers a hand to Regan, “Miss Warren”. Not surprisingly, Regan disappears behind Evan’s hulking body. Hugh just gives her a friendly pat on the head, looks up at Evan and me and asks, “Ready to start your tour?”
I look quizzically at Evan. “When I called for additional security, they insisted on a private tour. I thought it might be nice,” Evan explains. I should have known. Nothing with Evan is ever uncomplicated.
Hugh takes us through a set of doors and right into the Hall of African Mammals. In the center of the room is a freestanding group of elephants. Regan is beyond excited. She races toward the benches that surround the display and tries to climb up, getting up-close and personal with the majestic creatures. Evan is quick to react, and he reaches little Regan before she gets too far. He holds her up close to the elephants as Hugh tells us about the exhibit.
Regan finally notices the other twenty-eight dioramas surrounding us. She joyfully bops around, hopping from display to display, calling out the names of the animals as she sees them – lions, gorillas, ostriches (which she calls “big birds”). She stops dead in her tracks when she gets to the water hole diorama. “Auntie Jette, come see the zee-ba wif me!” she chirps, dragging me by the hand toward the glass case. Evan and Hugh have no choice but to follow dutifully and listen as Regan points out the giraffe, “funny monkeys”
Similar Books
