Substitute Father. Bonnie Winn K.

many instructions.”

      “Even Rachel?”

      “She’s not so bad,” he admitted. “Since we’re younger, we both got the brunt of our older sisters’ bossiness so we kind of stuck together.”

      Kealey managed a smile, envying his easy sense of family, the solid reassurance that never failed. A few bossy siblings sounded like a blessing. But Luke wouldn’t understand that. “So you and Rachel are allies?”

      Smiling, he nodded. “Absolutely. How about you? Do you have a special brother or sister?”

      Kealey shook her head at the question, having learned long ago how to reply to such questions without revealing her feelings. At the same time, she knew the conversation was becoming too personal and she needed to put immediate distance between them. And she was fairly certain Luke would be difficult to dissuade. “That’s my pager.”

      Distracted, he glanced at her purse. “I didn’t hear anything.”

      “It vibrates,” she fibbed. “Looks like you’re finished here and I’ve got to get back to work.”

      “But—”

      “You’ve made some great choices. I’ll be in touch within a short time.”

      “Kealey, you don’t have to—”

      “Bye,” she called back, escaping. Glancing back briefly, she saw him standing there staring, his arms filled with backpacks.

      It was her own fault, she realized. She shouldn’t have gotten into such a revealing conversation with him. Of course it would lead to questions. And he wouldn’t understand the answers. Worse, despite years of counseling that had supposedly taught her how to deal with her past, she couldn’t bear to share it.

      THE FIRE ROARED, not a timid pile of skinny sticks, but huge, dry logs that crackled and warmed. It was one of the advantages of Luke’s old Victorian house. The fireplaces were enormous—immense grand spaces intended to heat the home. Not that it got terribly cold in their part of Texas, but the Victorians hadn’t done anything by halves.

      “We built a good fire, huh, Luke?” Brian asked.

      “Yep.” He grinned, thinking he would be up late making sure it was out. But the kids had loved building the fire and he hated to spoil their fun.

      “We never had a fireplace,” Troy told him.

      “Lots of people don’t,” Luke replied. “This house is so old, it was built before central heating.”

      “I like your house,” Hannah said softly. “It’s like dress up and make-believe.”

      Oh, this child was a charmer, Luke realized. They all were.

      The doorbell rang, breaking their quiet circle.

      Opening the door, he was surprised to find Kealey. It was the first time he’d seen her since she had vanished so abruptly in the store. “Hello.”

      “Luke,” she replied, gripping her purse tightly.

      He opened the door wider. “Come on in.”

      Leading the way into the living room, he glanced back, noting the apprehension on her face. Grimly he wondered if she had bad news.

      But when she entered the room, her face softened. “What a magnificent fire.”

      “One of the advantages of an old, drafty house.”

      Luke’s dogs greeted her with wet noses and wagging tails. Some of her stiffness evaporated as she petted them, returning their affectionate greetings.

      The children spotted Kealey just then, however. While Troy and Hannah remained relaxed, Brian’s smile fled, replaced by wariness.

      She glanced at Luke, then back at the children. “Hi! I’m here to see how you’re getting along at the new school.”

      “It’s okay,” Brian replied, not surrendering any of his trepidation.

      “I like it,” Hannah announced. “I got new crayons to put in my backpack.”

      Luke took Kealey’s elbow. “Let’s sit down.”

      Since the children were grouped into a semicircle in front of the fire, he and Kealey sat on the couch angled close to them. His cats were splayed out across the top of the cushioned back, regally surveying the visitor.

      “So, tell me about your classes and your teachers,” Kealey began.

      With a long-suffering expression, Brian answered for them all. “It’s sort of like our old school. But the stuff we’re learning in my class seems kind of different.”

      “Has it been difficult for you to catch on?” Kealey asked.

      “Nah. Luke’s been helping me.”

      Kealey’s gaze flickered toward Luke before veering back to Brian. “How about your teacher? Do you like her?”

      “Yeah.”

      “What about the other kids in the class?” Kealey prodded.

      “They’re okay, too.”

      Since it was evident he was going to remain taciturn, Kealey turned to Troy. He was much more forthcoming, chattering about the toys and crafts in kindergarten. As the youngest, he seemed remarkably well-adjusted, obviously trusting his older siblings.

      Finally she turned to Hannah. “And how’s the first grade?”

      Hannah bit her lip, her already large eyes seeming huge. “I was scared at first.”

      Kealey leaned forward. “How about now?”

      “Not so much anymore. Luke went to school with me three times.”

      Kealey glanced at him in surprise.

      He shrugged, looking a bit sheepish. “They kicked me out because I was too big for the chairs.”

      Hannah and Troy giggled madly. Even Brian snickered.

      Kealey turned back to Hannah. “So now it’s okay?”

      The little girl bobbed her head up and down. “Uh-huh. They liked Luke and my backpack.”

      Surprise took over Kealey for a moment. “They did?”

      “Mine’s prettiest. I love pink.”

      Kealey was immensely grateful that she’d insisted on the girlish backpack. It was a little thing to be sure, but she remembered how much the little things had mattered. “I’m glad, Hannah.”

      Hannah blinked her cornflower-blue eyes. “Luke says you picked it out.”

      Again surprise flitted through her. Most men would have taken credit for the act. “But it was his idea to buy the backpacks.”

      Hannah leaned forward, whispering. “He’s nice.”

      Kealey couldn’t resist an answering smile. But she couldn’t yet agree with the child. So much was at stake here. Luke might very well be nice, but he wasn’t part of a two-parent family.

      “We’re going to make popcorn,” Troy announced.

      “You can have some,” Hannah offered. Then she scrunched up her small face, turning to Luke. “Can’t she?”

      Luke met Kealey’s eyes, his own inscrutable. “Sure. We have enough popcorn for the whole neighborhood.”

      “But the neighborhood’s not coming over,” Hannah protested.

      “You’re absolutely right, punkin,” Luke told her. Then he reached over, picking up Hannah and raising her high in the air. “But who knows how much you’re going to eat?”

      Hannah’s giggles spilled into the room. Troy, along with a more reluctant Brian, joined in as they paraded