Read Online Undaunted Hope by Jody Hedlund - Free Book Online Page B

minute. Alex glanced first at the eagerness in Ingrid’s expression and then at the guilt that still shadowed Gunnar’s. Did Tessa think the two were his children?
    He almost grinned at the realization. Of course she’d think Gunnar and Ingrid were his; they shared the same family name. He brought them to school every morning. And they all had the Bjorklund Finnish looks.
    Maybe that was why she’d been aloof with him. With her polite façade in place, he’d decided she was simply trying to stay as professional as possible around her students, and he’d attempted to respect that.
    At the thump of footsteps in the other bedroom behind him, Alex couldn’t contain his smile, relishing the shock Tessa was about to get. “I’m not sure I can give my permission,” he started.
    Frowning, she said, “Mr. Bjorklund, I assumed you were the kind of man who took the education of his children seriously.”
    Behind him the door opened, and the stomp of footsteps drew closer.
    â€œI do take the education of my children seriously, Miss Taylor. The only problem is that I don’t have any children.”
    Confusion creased her forehead, and her lips stalled around an unspoken word.
    â€œWho’s here?” Michael asked in a groggy voice behind him.
    Alex stepped out of the doorway and allowed Michael to enter the parlor and stand next to him. Of course, his older brother was fully attired and had even managed to comb his hair. Michael was a couple of inches shorter than Alex and had a leaner, thinner body. But otherwise he and Michael, though four years apart, looked a lot alike.
    Tessa’s eyes widened at the sight of Michael.
    â€œMiss Taylor, if you’d like to get permission for Gunnar and Ingrid to attend spelling classes, then you’ll have to ask their father for yourself.”
    Her attention bounced back and forth between Alex and Michael.
    â€œDaddy!” Ingrid called, leaning closer to Tessa. The girl’s eyes sparkled. “Daddy, this is our new teacher, the one we’ve been telling you about.”
    Next to him, Michael stiffened and raised a hand to his hair to comb it again even though every hair was already in place. He cleared his throat. “Pleased to meet you, Miss Taylor.”
    â€œAnd I, you, Mr. Bjorklund,” she said hesitantly. “So Ingrid and Gunnar are your children?”
    â€œYes.” Michael’s voice squeaked, and his features became a tense mask of nervousness.
    Alex stared at his brother’s strange reaction. What reason could Michael have for being nervous around the new schoolteacher?
    â€œThey talk about you all the time,” Michael continued.
    â€œThey’re delightful children,” Tessa responded by smiling at Ingrid in spite of having been completely surprised by the situation. Then she turned narrowed eyes upon Alex. “Now, your brother, on the other hand, I’m not quite sure delightful would be the word I’d use to describe him.”
    Alex chuckled. There was something about the spitfire in her attitude that never failed to humor him.
    At their exchange, Michael’s forehead wrinkled.
    â€œDaddy,” Ingrid said, “isn’t Miss Taylor the most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen?” Ingrid was peering up at her teacher with such adoration that once again Alex’s chest ached. It hurt to see her so desperate for a woman’s attention.
    He’d thought he and Michael had done okay raising the children together. He’d assumed the attention they gave Ingrid and Gunnar had been enough. The children had two fathers instead of one. Two really good fathers, if he could say so himself.
    But perhaps two adoring fathers could never take the place of one loving mother, no matter how hard they’d tried.
    â€œWhat do you think, Daddy?” Ingrid insisted.
    Michael peeked again at Tessa, and much to Alex’s amazement, his brother’s face turned