Apprentice Father. Irene Hannon

a date, then,” Clay promised.

      The crowd around the minister began to disperse, and Clay ushered the children in his direction. As they approached, the man gave them a pleasant smile. “Good morning. I’m Bob Richards. Welcome.”

      “Thank you. Clay Adams.” He grasped the man’s extended hand.

      “I’m happy you could join us this morning.” The pastor transferred his attention to Emily and Josh. “Can I meet these two lovely children?”

      “This is my niece and nephew, Emily and Josh.” Clay rested a hand on each of their shoulders. “They just lost their mother…my sister…so they’ve come to live with me.”

      “I’m very sorry.” The man’s quiet words were laced with empathy.

      Clay acknowledged the expression of sympathy with a nod. “I’d like to ask your advice, if I may. I’m trying to find someone who can come to my apartment and watch the children while I’m at work, just until things settle down and I can make more permanent arrangements. I’m a construction engineer.” He mentioned the manufacturing facility he’d been sent to build. “I’m new in town, and I thought you might be able to direct me to some resources.”

      The man’s face grew thoughtful. “As a matter of fact, I know someone who’s between child care jobs.” He surveyed the people chatting in small groups. “Give me a minute.”

      He strode across the lawn, and Clay watched in surprise as he stopped beside a slender woman with blond hair. Her back was to him, but when the minister spoke to her she angled toward him, giving Clay a clear view of her profile. He’d expected the pastor to recommend someone older, not a beautiful young woman. But at this point, he’d hire anyone the man endorsed.

      The woman’s gaze skimmed his before she resumed her conversation with the minister. After a bit more discussion, they broke away from the group. Reverend Richards took her arm as they traversed the uneven ground, and Clay discovered the man’s gesture was prompted by more than simple courtesy. The woman not only limped, she used a cane. Was she between jobs as the result of an injury? And with such a pronounced limp, how would she be able to keep up with two active children?

      Despite his concern about her abilities, Clay was struck again by the woman’s delicate beauty. From a distance, he’d guessed her to be in her early twenties. But as they drew close, he realized she was more likely in her thirties.

      After performing the introductions, the minister excused himself. “I’ll leave you two to discuss the details. But if there’s anything else I can do, don’t hesitate to call.” He handed Clay a card. “And I hope to see you again soon at services.”

      “Thank you.” Clay pocketed the card. “You’ve been very kind.”

      “It’s in the job description. For all Christians—not just ministers.” With a wink and a wave, the pastor headed toward another small cluster of congregants.

      Cate watched him leave, then turned her attention to Clay. “I understand you’re in need of child care on a temporary basis.”

      “Yes.” He found himself admiring the way her soft hair framed the perfect oval of her face as well as her clear, emerald-green eyes. “My sister was…she recently passed away, and I’m caring for her children.”

      “Did you try the child care centers in town?”

      “That didn’t work out. I’d be happy to provide more details, but this may not be the best place.” He gave a subtle nod toward Emily and Josh, who were watching the exchange with trepidation.

      To his relief, she picked up his cue. “All right. But I’d like to meet the children.” Bending down to their level, she braced herself on her cane and gave them a sunny smile. “Hi. I’m Cate. Can you tell me your names?”

      Emily tightened her grip on Josh’s hand. “I’m Emily. This is Josh.”

      “I’m very happy to meet you both.”

      “Did you hurt your leg?” Emily inspected the cane.

      “Emily!” At Clay’s sharp rebuke, the little girl flinched and shrank back.

      Cate, however, took the question in stride. “I was sick a long time ago, and my leg never got all the way better. Neither did my hand.”

      As she lifted her left hand, Clay saw that it had limited function, too.

      Casting an uncertain glance at Clay, Emily edged closer to Cate and lowered her voice. “Do they hurt?”

      “Not too much anymore. Most days I don’t need this.” She indicated the cane. “But I was working in my garden on Friday, and I got a little sore.”

      “Mommy had a garden. With roses and ’tunias and ble-ble-gonias.”

      “Those are some of my favorites, too.” She turned to Josh, her smile warm and open. “What’s your favorite flower?”

      As Josh studied Cate, he withdrew his thumb from his mouth.

      Clay signaled to her. “He doesn’t…”

      “Daisies,” Josh interrupted.

      Clay stared at him.

      “I like those, too.” Cate’s smile deepened, and she took Josh’s hand in a gentle clasp.

      “We’re having pancakes for breakfast. At a restaurant,” he told her. “Can you come?”

      “Not today. But I’ll see you soon.”

      With a slight wince, she straightened up. “When would you like to get together?”

      She directed her question to Clay, but he was still focused on Josh. The boy had spoken! It was a breakthrough.

      Raising his head, Clay regarded Cate. Her physical limitations were obvious. Yet the minister had said she was between child care jobs, so she must be able to handle kids. She was sure handling Emily and Josh like a pro. If she could get Josh to talk, perhaps she could also help erase the haunted look from their eyes. “Would this afternoon be okay?”

      “I’m sorry. I always have supper with my family on Sunday afternoon.”

      “I hate to impose.” Clay tried not to appear too desperate. “But I’m overseeing a major construction project and I’ve already missed too much work. I need to get an arrangement in place as soon as possible.”

      For a terrifying instant Clay thought she was going to refuse. But to his relief, she relented.

      “Okay. I can stop by before I go to supper.” She withdrew a slip of paper and a pen from her purse. “What’s your address and phone number?” She jotted it down as he dictated. “I’ll come by about one, Mr. Adams.”

      “Make it Clay.”

      “And I’m Cate.” She bent down to the children again. “I’ll see you both later today.”

      “Promise?” Josh asked.

      “Cross my heart.” Smiling, she tousled his hair and stood to address Clay. “See you later.”

      “Thanks again.”

      As he watched her walk away, he found himself admiring her lithe figure. But beyond her loveliness, he’d been struck by how her mere presence had dissipated some of the turmoil that had clenched his stomach into knots since that fateful phone call ten days ago. With Cate in charge of the kids, he had a feeling he’d no longer feel as if his life was spinning out of control.

      Taking the children’s hands, he guided them back toward his truck. And made a reluctant admission.

      Going to church today hadn’t been a waste of time after all.

      Cate double-checked the directions she’d printed from Mapquest. Two more turns and she should be at the apartment complex Clay Adams called home.