Read Online With a Little T.L.C. by Teresa Southwick - Free Book Online Page A

made their rounds of the family, he motioned his brother over to where he stood beside Liz.
    Joe cleared his throat. “Liz Anderson, I’d like you to meet my brother Nick and his fiancée, Abby. ”
    Joe stared at Liz, waiting for her reaction. He wasn’t disappointed. Her eyes opened wide and the color in her cheeks deepened to a becoming pink. Her smile faltered and when he met her gaze, she quickly looked away.
    She shook hands with both of them. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
    â€œSame here,” Nick said, slipping his arm around Abby’s waist. She briefly rested her blond head on his shoulder, snuggling into the embrace.
    Lucky son of a gun, Joe couldn’t help thinking. Thethought was brief, but the stab of envy was much longer and sharper. They made a terrific-looking couple. Nick’s tall, dark good looks were an attractive counterpoint to Abby’s petite, blond prettiness. Nick deserved someone as sweet and loyal as Abby. It had taken him quite a while to get over a particularly nasty rejection. When he had, he and Abby had fallen in love.
    â€œIn a few weeks, Abby’s going to be my sister, ” Joe said. He knew it was a low blow, but he couldn’t help emphasizing the last word after she’d raked him over the coals.
    Liz’s full lips turned up slightly in a wan smile. “Is that so?”
    Abby’s blue eyes sparkled with happiness. “Can’t be soon enough for me. Not only do I get the best guy in the world, but I also get to be a part of the best family in the world.” Her brow wrinkled thoughtfully. “Joe, did I thank you for helping me pick out Nick’s wedding gift?”
    He grinned. “Yup. Just now,” he said meeting Liz’s sheepish gaze.
    Â 
    â€œLiz, this is adorable.” Rosie met her gaze after opening the gift she’d brought for the birthday girl who was more interested in the paper than the present. She held it up so everyone could see. “It’s a wooden puzzle that spells out Stephanie’s name.”
    â€œI’m glad you like it,” Liz said.
    After a dinner of barbecued steak, baked potatoes and a big Italian antipasto salad, the family had gathered underneath the brick patio for gift opening. Surrounded by a tricycle, an orange and yellow plastic car, and other toys too big to wrap, Rosie and Stevehad taken over the task of opening the waiting mound of gifts to speed up the process.
    Liz sighed, wishing the lucky little girl would be able to remember this moment and how much this big family loved her. If only every child could know that feeling, it would make growing up as carefree as it should be. She couldn’t help wishing that her own formative years had been more untroubled.
    Liz sat on a loveseat-sized glider with Joe beside her. Since he’d found her with Alex and Luke, he hadn’t left her side. As promised. He also hadn’t rubbed it in that she’d been wrong to think the worst of him when Abby had called to remind him of the shopping trip. She felt lower than a snake’s belly and didn’t think the feeling would slither away until she told him she was sorry.
    â€œIt’s time for cake,” Flo said.
    She and Tom went into the house and brought out two—one for the adults and a cupcake with a candle in it for the birthday girl. Steve had put her in the highchair set up outside. When her grandpa set the cupcake on her tray, she tentatively touched a tiny finger to the icing. After tasting it, she went after the remainder with gusto.
    Liz was completely charmed as the toddler squished her hands in the confection then rubbed it in her hair—to the accompaniment of groans by her parents.
    When she had decimated the cupcake, Rosie said to her husband, “Bath time—again.”
    Steve nodded and lifted her from the chair and the threesome disappeared inside.
    Flo put her empty cake plate down on the table. “You know,