Family Ties. Bonnie K. Winn

smiled despite the pain still squeezing her heart. “No. He’s older than the sky and the grass and the flowers and the trees.”

      “Is He older than Daddy?”

      Another trickle of amusement sprouted at the child’s guileless words. “Sure is.”

      “Real old, huh?”

      “Yes, sweetie. Real old.”

      When they arrived at church, Cindy felt the welcoming fellowship like a balm to the wound that was Flynn.

      Once the girls were happily ensconced in their class, Cindy was awfully glad she’d insisted on bringing them, despite Flynn’s reservations. Again she remembered the look on his face any time she mentioned church. The man knew so little about her, it was pitiable.

      It came as no surprise to Cindy that the triplets charmed everyone with their identical heart-shaped faces. It was difficult to withstand twins, impossible to resist triplets. Luckily, they were too young to let all the fawning go their heads.

      Katherine popped into the classroom, her eyes lighting up when she saw Cindy and the girls. Crossing to Cindy’s side, she lowered her voice. “So you were able to make off with them?”

      Cindy nodded, her brows raised in a matching mock conspiratorial motion. “It wasn’t exactly the great heist, but I’m happy they’re here.”

      “Any chance Daddy will be joining them?”

      Cindy shook her head.

      “Has he just fallen out of the habit?”

      “I’m afraid it’s much more than a broken habit.”

      “It isn’t an unbreachable problem,” Katherine reminded her, alluding to her husband’s once-lost faith.

      “I’m glad it worked out for you and Michael, but I don’t know about Flynn….”

      “I wasn’t certain at first about Michael, either.”

      Cindy’s smile was bleak. “It’s not as though this is a break in our relationship. We don’t have a relationship to crater.”

      “I’m afraid you’re focusing only on the big picture.”

      “In what way?”

      “I think you need to take it one day at a time. See what unfolds. Learn if Flynn realizes you’re no longer a frivolous twenty-one-year-old. You told me that you’ve scarcely seen Flynn since he married your sister. To be fair, he hasn’t had a chance to learn about the real you. Instead, you’re an inaccurate memory. Don’t you think it’s time he got to know the real Cindy? While you’re at it, subtly find out if he’s in a crisis of faith, which calls for prayer, rather than worry.”

      Cindy looked at her friend whom she knew to be both caring and wise. “I haven’t really thought about it that way. Maybe he’s not as sure as he thinks he is.”

      “Sometimes we’re so overwhelmed, we can’t see the pieces as they separate and change.”

      “You know what, Katie-cakes?”

      Katherine’s grin erupted. “What?”

      “I think you’re in the right job.”

      Eyes rolling, Katherine hugged her lightly. “And you, my friend, are on the right track.”

      Maybe not yet, Cindy realized. But tomorrow was another chance, one she could use to apply Katherine’s advice. And she was nothing if not tenacious.

      The drive to Houston the following day seemed longer than Flynn remembered. But perhaps that was because Cindy was at his side. He took another glance at her bright red dress, saucy hat and delicate high-heeled sandals. Hardly the outfit he’d expected her to choose for a board meeting. But then, when had Cindy ever done the expected? “You sure that Katherine will be all right taking care of the girls today?”

      Cindy didn’t disguise her sigh. “She knows it’s for a good reason. Her calendar is clear, and to quote her, ‘How can I possibly repay you for baby-sitting my children dozens and dozens of times?’ It’s not as though we have a meeting every day, or even every week. It’s only once a month.”

      Flynn thought about the shares he’d inherited from Julia—half the stock in their family oil business. Ironically, it made he and Cindy unlikely partners, even though he’d ignored his inheritance until now. There had been no time—and it had been too painful a reminder. But Cindy had been insistent about attending the meeting. “Do we have to do much today?”

      She shook her head. “Nope. The management staff has been in place for years, they know exactly what they’re doing and we’re just there to listen and vote if necessary.”

      He looked at her curiously. “I would think you’d care more about your family’s business.”

      “Did you ever feel that way about Julia’s participation?”

      Nonplussed, he hesitated. “Well, no. But she—I mean you—”

      “What you mean is that Julia had a purpose in her life that you don’t see in mine, therefore she was excused. It happens that I chose to focus my life in a different direction.”

      One of fun and frolic. Just as she had when he’d met her. All motion and energy, but no substance. A flibbertigibbet, his late grandmother would have called her. “It’s not up to me to judge your decisions.”

      Her eyes clouded. “No. But that doesn’t stop you, does it?”

      He held up one hand. “How about a truce for today? We can enjoy the big city—have lunch at a five-star restaurant without worrying that we’ll be wearing half of it courtesy of the triplets.”

      She relented. “I suppose you’re right. I usually do a little shopping while I’m in the city, too.”

      Flynn grimaced.

      Cindy’s laughter filled the closed space of the car. “Typical male reaction. I thought we could at least pick up something for the girls.”

      It was his turn to relent. “I suppose so.”

      Reaching downtown Houston, Flynn concentrated on the traffic-filled streets. “Gets worse every day.”

      “I don’t know. I find all the people invigorating.”

      Despite the distraction of tall buildings and hordes of pedestrians, he turned to stare at her. “Yet you moved to Rosewood?”

      “Mmm,” she murmured.

      And she didn’t reveal much more as they parked, then attended the meeting. It was only afterward that she brightened again, suggesting they go to the Galleria for their shopping excursion.

      FAO Schwarz was a child’s fantasy. And Cindy seemed much like a child herself as she oohed and ahhed over the treasures the store contained. She agonized over the selection of three unique stuffed toys.

      “Don’t you want them to match?” Flynn asked.

      She shook her head. “I’ve never taken to the notion that twins and triplets should be treated as a unit. It’s fun to dress them identically at times, but they have to know they’re individuals, with different tastes, dreams.” Cindy reached for a stuffed bunny, still unable to decide.

      “Aren’t you going to get one for yourself?” he couldn’t resist asking, seeing how absorbed she was in the task.

      An unexpected tinge of color warmed her cheeks. “I do have a weakness for them, but I’ll resist this once.”

      Funny, he thought she would indulge her least whim. Maybe she was having an off day.

      But the thought had barely faded when she started looking at more toys.

      “Actually, I don’t want to spoil the girls,” he told her. “It’s