Forever A Family. Bonnie K. Winn

had convinced him he wasn’t capable of making good decisions when it came to women. Not that Olivia seemed anything like Belinda. At least on the surface.

      Joey wandered over to the large aquarium and thumped on the glass, recapturing his attention.

      “No tapping on the glass.”

      The boy furrowed his brow, looking puzzled. “How come?”

      “They don’t like it.”

      “Oh.”

      Could the kid really not know that? “Have you ever had any pets?”

      Joey’s expression remained sullen. “Just a turtle. He mostly sits in his box and eats. My mom didn’t ever have any real pets and my dad...”

      Zeke didn’t make him discuss the painful subject. “It would be like having a tree fall on your garage for the fish when you hit the tank. Pretty jarring.”

      Joey looked again at the tank with an instant spark of understanding but didn’t reply.

      “Is your mom allergic to cats and dogs?” Zeke questioned casually.

      “No.”

      “Just doesn’t want a pet?”

      “Grandpa was in the army, so they couldn’t take a pet when he got transferred, so she never had any.”

      “Your grandfather must have been in the army a long time.”

      “Forever, until he retired here.”

      A new picture was emerging. So the violet-eyed beauty was an army brat. He would never have guessed it. But then, his insight into women hovered between zero and none.

      His tech, Angie, rushed through the open door, her dark brown hair messy from the breeze. Despite being four months pregnant, the spring in her step hadn’t diminished. “Morning!”

      “You sound extra chipper today.”

      She laughed and patted her stomach. “Probably because there’s extra me.” She turned toward the boy. “I’m guessing you’re Joey. I’m Angie.”

      “Hey.”

      The unenthusiastic greeting didn’t faze her. Angie’s glass wasn’t just half-full; it was always overflowing. “Welcome. Later I’ll show you where we stash the snacks and soda.”

      Joey still didn’t show any interest. Swallowing, Zeke remembered how he had felt at that age. It was a tough place to travel even in his thoughts.

      * * *

      Exhausted, Olivia closed the front door and tossed her purse on the small table close by. Pressing fingers to her temples, she wandered first to the window, then over to the bookcase. She picked up a picture of her late husband. “Oh, Ted. It isn’t getting any easier.” Holding the picture close, she remembered how he had been there one day, gone the next. “Joey’s gotten into even more trouble. A lot worse than talking back to his teachers, and the fights.”

      Olivia stared into Ted’s steady brown eyes. Joey looked so much like him, down to what had once been a wide, frequent smile.

      The empty house echoed in the silence.

      “Now Joey’s actually stolen. A headset, of all things.” Shrugging, she traced Ted’s smile. “And he acts like it’s nothing.”

      The doorbell rang, startling her. Fumbling, she replaced Ted’s picture. She pulled open the door and was surprised to see Kate... She couldn’t place her last name. “Hi.” Trying to compose herself, Olivia opened the door wider. “Please, come in.”

      “I hope I haven’t come at a bad time,” Kate replied, surreptitiously looking into the living room.

      Olivia shook her head. “It’s...it’s fine.”

      “You don’t have company?”

      Olivia flushed, realizing Kate must have seen her talking to Ted’s photo while standing in front of the picture window. “No one alive.”

      Since Kate’s husband, Tucker Grey, was Rosewood’s sheriff, she had been one of the first to learn about Ted’s death. She had made efforts to reach out, but Olivia’s parents had circled the wagons. And Kate had tactfully withdrawn. Until today.

      Olivia pulled herself together. “Don’t mind me. One of those days. Please, sit down. Can I offer you some iced tea?”

      “You read my mind. Need any help?”

      More than she could voice. “No, it’s all made. Do you take yours sweet?”

      “Just plain. I save my calories for cookies and candy.” Barely having landed on a chair, Kate stood up. Trailing Olivia, her sandals clicked on the wooden floor. “When I’m antsy, I eat extra goodies, so it’s good I like my tea without sugar.”

      Olivia reached into the cabinet for glasses.

      “Did you say the tea’s already made?” Kate asked, pausing at the refrigerator door.

      “The pitcher’s in the middle on the right.”

      “Lemons in the fruit drawer?”

      Amused, Olivia hid her smile. If this was Kate not helping, she could only imagine when she pitched in wholeheartedly. “So is something making you antsy?”

      “Afraid so. Do you want to sit at the table?” Kate gestured to the round table. “Kitchens always seem friendlier to me.”

      “Cozy.” The word popped out. Funny—she hadn’t thought anything had been cozy for so long. She reached into a cabinet and pulled out a box of coconut macaroons.

      After they’d settled at the table, it didn’t take long to pour the tea, squeeze a few slices of lemon.

      “You’re probably wondering why I showed up without calling,” Kate began. “But I’m desperate.”

      Olivia raised her eyebrows.

      Kate immediately scrunched hers together. “I don’t mean for company. That came out all wrong. I get this way when I’m frazzled. Did I ever tell you how I met Tucker?”

      Olivia shook her head.

      “I won’t go into detail, but I was frazzled to the max. Still amazes me that he ever proposed.” Kate’s green eyes softened. “Sorry, I also go in about a hundred different directions when I feel like this.”

      “Like what?” Olivia prompted gently.

      “Sorry, it’s about a project I’m working on. Or not working on, I should say. I’ve been commissioned to do a new painting.”

      “You’re an artist?”

      “You didn’t know?” Kate’s surprise glided into a smile. “I trained first as an artist, then in restoration. I primarily worked on museum pieces. Now they give me referrals for different types of work. That’s how this family found me.” Kate stopped abruptly. “I don’t know why I assumed you would know I’m an artist. We haven’t really talked a lot. I know—” her chipper voice changed notes “—that it hasn’t been easy for you.” She met Olivia’s eyes. “I don’t know what I would do if I ever lost Tucker.” Amazingly, she wiped away a tear.

      And Olivia reached out. “It’s all right.”

      “No, it’s not. But I suppose you can’t say that, that it’s awful, I mean. You always have to be brave for your son.”

      “You know Joey?”

      Kate’s eyes darkened and her expression dimmed. “Not really. Not firsthand.”

      The school theft. Of course the sheriff had been informed. Olivia felt the heat that suddenly colored her face.

      “Please don’t be embarrassed. If Alyssa lost her dad... She already lost her first mother. Her world would