Read Online Seasons of Love by Elizabeth Goddard - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Elizabeth Goddard
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mouth.
She closed her eyes and enjoyed the sweet taste, willing the stress away. “Mmm.”
Zane’s words about getting help with Chad came back to her as she watched the two-year-old sip with delight. He looked at her, his eyes wide with pleasure.
“Good, isn’t it?” she asked.
He nodded.
Her heart ached at the thought that Zane could be right. If only she had a little help with the child, she could get on top of things around the farm. Who was she kidding? She needed to work on more than the business. The boy needed decent, healthy food. Fruits and vegetables. Her shoulders sagged as she leaned against the counter. So far she’d been a complete failure as his guardian.
She hadn’t prepared ahead of time for dinner and would have to scramble to pull it together. Then she needed to run to the store. She ran her hand through her hair, thinking she’d give almost anything to take a nice, relaxing shower right now.
Grandpa would go to bed early—because he woke up much too early in her opinion—so she would have to take Chad with her to shop. She reminded herself that he was all she had left of her brother, and she would do whatever it took to make things work. Besides, she couldn’t afford child care yet.
Gravel crunched outside. Riley leaned over the sink and looked out the kitchen window. Zane’s car pulled to a stop. Her heart jumped with pleasure. She chided herself for her unwarranted reaction. She knew little about him and would have to exercise more self-control over her emotions. Still, it surprised her that he’d returned, and she wondered if he’d forgotten something.
She rushed to the door and opened it. His eyes brightened when he saw her. “Pizza, anyone?” He held up three large boxes.
Relief flooded Riley. “You’re a lifesaver. But then, I suppose you already knew that. Come in.” She held the door open for him as he entered the kitchen through the mudroom.
He placed the boxes on the counter. The pepperoni pizza steamed when he lifted the lid. “I didn’t know what kind you liked or how much to get. But almost everyone loves pepperoni.”
“Pizza, pizza!” Chad bounced in his high chair.
“And I already knew that the little guy likes pepperoni. That’s what we had when he stayed with me.”
Riley couldn’t believe her good fortune. “You know, I appreciate this. I can’t tell you what great timing this is.”
He flashed his smile before grabbing a slice and holding it out to her. “Aren’t you hungry?”
“Yes, thanks. Let me grab a few plates first.” She retrieved dishes from the cabinet. “Grandpa will be excited. All he ever gets are those frozen dinners. He’s cleaning up and should be down in a while.”
Riley took a bite. Cheese strung from her mouth to the pizza, unwilling to let go. She saw Zane watching her. Embarrassed, she grabbed a napkin and wiped her mouth.
She sat down at the table, and Zane joined her. They made trivial conversation, chatting about the weather and the next day’s agenda. Riley finished her second piece and was about to consider a third when she noticed that tomato sauce covered Chad’s face and clothes.
She frowned. “Solving one problem only creates another. He’ll have to go straight to a bath after this.”
“Maybe not,” Zane said. “I usually just wipe him up with a wet washcloth, and then he’s good to go. I mean, I would hate to think that I only created more work for you.” Teasing glimmered in his eyes.
“No, no. That’s not what I meant. But I do have to ask, why did you come back? Why the pizzas?”
“Well, I felt bad for the way I rushed out on you today. I had things I needed to take care of. I thought we could talk more about the business—get to know each other better in a more relaxed atmosphere. You know, without the pressure of a workday.” Zane set his pizza crust on the plate and gave her a serious look. “That’s all right, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it’s fine. I can’t thank you enough.
She closed her eyes and enjoyed the sweet taste, willing the stress away. “Mmm.”
Zane’s words about getting help with Chad came back to her as she watched the two-year-old sip with delight. He looked at her, his eyes wide with pleasure.
“Good, isn’t it?” she asked.
He nodded.
Her heart ached at the thought that Zane could be right. If only she had a little help with the child, she could get on top of things around the farm. Who was she kidding? She needed to work on more than the business. The boy needed decent, healthy food. Fruits and vegetables. Her shoulders sagged as she leaned against the counter. So far she’d been a complete failure as his guardian.
She hadn’t prepared ahead of time for dinner and would have to scramble to pull it together. Then she needed to run to the store. She ran her hand through her hair, thinking she’d give almost anything to take a nice, relaxing shower right now.
Grandpa would go to bed early—because he woke up much too early in her opinion—so she would have to take Chad with her to shop. She reminded herself that he was all she had left of her brother, and she would do whatever it took to make things work. Besides, she couldn’t afford child care yet.
Gravel crunched outside. Riley leaned over the sink and looked out the kitchen window. Zane’s car pulled to a stop. Her heart jumped with pleasure. She chided herself for her unwarranted reaction. She knew little about him and would have to exercise more self-control over her emotions. Still, it surprised her that he’d returned, and she wondered if he’d forgotten something.
She rushed to the door and opened it. His eyes brightened when he saw her. “Pizza, anyone?” He held up three large boxes.
Relief flooded Riley. “You’re a lifesaver. But then, I suppose you already knew that. Come in.” She held the door open for him as he entered the kitchen through the mudroom.
He placed the boxes on the counter. The pepperoni pizza steamed when he lifted the lid. “I didn’t know what kind you liked or how much to get. But almost everyone loves pepperoni.”
“Pizza, pizza!” Chad bounced in his high chair.
“And I already knew that the little guy likes pepperoni. That’s what we had when he stayed with me.”
Riley couldn’t believe her good fortune. “You know, I appreciate this. I can’t tell you what great timing this is.”
He flashed his smile before grabbing a slice and holding it out to her. “Aren’t you hungry?”
“Yes, thanks. Let me grab a few plates first.” She retrieved dishes from the cabinet. “Grandpa will be excited. All he ever gets are those frozen dinners. He’s cleaning up and should be down in a while.”
Riley took a bite. Cheese strung from her mouth to the pizza, unwilling to let go. She saw Zane watching her. Embarrassed, she grabbed a napkin and wiped her mouth.
She sat down at the table, and Zane joined her. They made trivial conversation, chatting about the weather and the next day’s agenda. Riley finished her second piece and was about to consider a third when she noticed that tomato sauce covered Chad’s face and clothes.
She frowned. “Solving one problem only creates another. He’ll have to go straight to a bath after this.”
“Maybe not,” Zane said. “I usually just wipe him up with a wet washcloth, and then he’s good to go. I mean, I would hate to think that I only created more work for you.” Teasing glimmered in his eyes.
“No, no. That’s not what I meant. But I do have to ask, why did you come back? Why the pizzas?”
“Well, I felt bad for the way I rushed out on you today. I had things I needed to take care of. I thought we could talk more about the business—get to know each other better in a more relaxed atmosphere. You know, without the pressure of a workday.” Zane set his pizza crust on the plate and gave her a serious look. “That’s all right, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it’s fine. I can’t thank you enough.
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