The Secrets Between Them. Nikki Benjamin

Hannah had wondered how enthusiastic Evan would be later in the day, not to mention later in the week—if he even lasted that long. She didn’t want to be pessimistic about Evan, but with so much riding on his employment working out, she was scared to get too hopeful. Past experience had taught her the danger of that.

      Now walking down the drive again, Hannah saw that Evan had finished clearing one of the four-foot by four-foot beds completely and was almost finished with another. She also saw that he’d stripped off his sweatshirt and was about to pull off his white short-sleeve T-shirt, as well. He caught sight of her, paused and smiled somewhat sheepishly.

      “It’s gotten warmer out here than I’d expected,” he said, modestly tugging his T-shirt over his bare chest again.

      Hannah was sorry to see him do it. He had a very nice chest—again, not bulked up, but definitely well-toned and very lightly tanned. Though she really had no business noticing, she couldn’t stop herself. Acting on her attraction was out of the question, but looking couldn’t hurt, right?

      “That’s because you’re working in full sunlight,” she advised, more primly than she’d intended. “It’s still nice and cool in the shade. But vegetables need more sun than shade to thrive, thus the location of the beds.”

      “I’m not complaining,” he hastened to assure her. “It actually feels good to be out here with the sun on my face. Although I have to admit I’ve enjoyed the walks to the compost bin since it’s in a shady spot.”

      “Only for another hour or so until the sun shifts, but the drive will be shaded by then so the walk itself won’t be bad.”

      “In that case, the T-shirt is definitely coming off,” he said with a grin.

      “Come up to the house and have lunch first,” Hannah offered. “And you really should put on some sunscreen, too. I keep a tube handy in the kitchen for me and Will.”

      “Good idea.”

      Evan set the hoe in the wheelbarrow and pulled off his gloves, then joined Hannah on the gravel drive.

      “I thought I’d make sandwiches for lunch. I have ham and Swiss cheese and turkey, lettuce and tomato and whole wheat bread. And, of course, the old standby, peanut butter and jelly.”

      She glanced at him questioningly, hoping he wasn’t a picky eater. Although he could always munch on one of the bagels he’d brought with him.

      “I’m easy where food is concerned,” he said. “I’m also especially fond of ham and cheese sandwiches.”

      “That’s a relief.”

      As they climbed the porch steps, Will and Nellie jumped off the old-fashioned wooden swing, setting it rocking against the porch rail.

      “Can we make the sandwiches now?” he asked eagerly.

      “Yes, we can. But first be sure to wash your hands. And let’s leave Nellie on the porch, okay? ’Cause her paws are kind of muddy.”

      “Okay, Mommy.”

      “I should probably take off my boots and leave them out here, too,” Evan said.

      “Good idea, but put them just inside the door so Nellie won’t chew on them.”

      In the house, Hannah headed for the kitchen while Will and Evan peeled off in opposite directions to wash up. By the time they joined her again, she had the sandwich fixings laid upon the counter and was ready to start assembling meat, cheese, veggies, bread and condiments as requested.

      “Ham and cheese for you, Evan. Right?”

      “Yes, please,” he replied, adding, “I can pour the drinks if you’d like.”

      “That would be a big help. Glasses in that cabinet,” she advised with a nod of her head. “There’s ice in the freezer, too. I’ll have tea and I’d like Will to have a small glass of milk.”

      “Done.”

      “Do you want lettuce and tomato, mustard and mayo on your sandwich, too?”

      “Lettuce, tomato and mustard,” he said.

      “How about you, Will? Ham or turkey or PB and J today?”

      “Turkey…just plain turkey.”

      “Okay, just plain turkey for you.”

      Hannah put the sandwiches on plates, including a turkey with lettuce and tomato for herself, two each for her and Evan and one for Will. She carried them to the table along with a bag of chips she took from the pantry as Evan set their drinks on the table, as well.

      So hungry were all three of them that they ate for several minutes in relative silence. Finally somewhat sated, Hannah looked up to see Evan eyeing her from across the table. He had spiked his short, blond hair with damp hands while upstairs, making him appear a little younger, a little…softer. A slight, quizzical smile also edged up the corners of his mouth.

      “What?” she asked, afraid that she might have a bit of bread or a dot of mustard smeared on her face.

      “I was just thinking how glad I am that I’m not the only one who’s ravenous,” he replied.

      “What’s…rabanis?” Will demanded, stuttering over the unfamiliar word.

      “Very, very hungry,” Hannah explained.

      “Well, I’m rabanis, too.”

      Her son took another big bite of his sandwich.

      “Not surprising for any of us. We all worked hard this morning—especially you, Evan. You’ve done an amazing job on the vegetable gardens in a really short time,” Hannah said.

      Evan’s full mouth took on a more sheepish slant as he reached for his glass of iced tea, winced, then subtly rolled his shoulders.

      “I hope you won’t be too disappointed if I slow down some this afternoon. I’m starting to feel joints and muscles aching that I’d forgotten I even had.”

      “I’d be surprised if you didn’t slow down a lot,” Hannah assured him. “And it’s perfectly all right. I’d much rather have you pace yourself than burn out in only a day.”

      “I don’t think I’ll burn out, but I can see that pacing is going to be a good idea.”

      “Maybe you should take a nap like me and Nellie,” Will interjected. “Only I don’t always fall asleep. Sometimes I talk to Nellie. But Nellie’s paws are all muddy today so she might have to take her nap on the porch.”

      “I try not to take naps ’cause if I do, I have trouble sleeping at night. Although I have a feeling I’ll be out like a light once my head hits the pillow tonight,” Evan admitted in a wry tone.

      “My daddy took a lot of naps,” Will said. “We had to be real quiet so we wouldn’t wake him up ’cause that made him mad. I don’t get mad when I wake up from my nap, though. I get happy ’cause Mommy gives me cookies and milk for an afternoon snack.”

      Evan glanced at Hannah, a questioning look in his eyes again. She met his intense gaze for a moment, wondering what he must be thinking of her son’s bald statement. She didn’t want to explain to him about Stewart’s behavior in front of Will—didn’t want to drag that sad, frightening time into the peacefulness of the present moment.

      But she should say something to smooth over the awkwardness between them, shouldn’t she?

      As if sensing her discomfort, Evan came to the rescue. Reaching out, he tweaked Will on the chin, making him giggle, then said, “Hey, for some of your mom’s cookies, I’d take a nap any day, buddy.”

      “You are more than welcome to cookies and milk in the afternoon even without a nap first,” Hannah said, grateful to him for so considerately putting her at ease again.

      “That’s one offer I plan to hold you to, regardless,”