His gaze skimmed her appreciatively. “They visit.”
Not an answer. But then, he had never been one to own up to anything that hurt. He just moved on.
As he was about to do now...
He inclined his head. “So what’s in there?” he asked.
“I wasn’t sure what you had on hand or what they were sending with the kids, so I brought some toddler favorites like applesauce and kid-friendly mac and cheese for their dinner, just in case.”
Another nod. “Thanks,” he said, as a big, sleepy-looking Saint Bernard came around the corner. The brown patches of fur over the pet’s eyes and back and chest contrasted with the fluffy white coat everywhere else. An extremely feminine flowered pink collar encircled her neck.
Lulu watched the big dog pad gracefully over to stand beside Sam. She sat down next to him, pressing her body up against his sinewy leg and hip. Tail wagging, she gazed up at Sam adoringly. Waited, until he petted her head, then let out a long, luxuriant sigh that Lulu understood all too well.
Pushing aside the memory of Sam’s gentle, soothing touch, she asked, “Who is this?”
“Beauty. As in Beauty and the Beast.”
Unable to resist, Lulu guessed, “And you’re the Beast?”
Although he tried, he couldn’t quite contain a smile. “Very funny.”
Lulu chuckled. “I thought so.”
Although, the moniker fit. The 120-pound dog was absolutely gorgeous. And not really the type of canine she would have expected a rough-hewn rancher like Sam to choose.
“When did you get her?” Lulu smiled and made eye contact with Beauty, who appreciated her right back.
Tilting his head, Sam paused, calculating. “A little over four years ago.”
“As a puppy?”
“She was about six months old at the time.”
Lulu paused. “I didn’t know you wanted a dog.” He certainly hadn’t mentioned it when they were together. Back then, all he’d talked about were horses and cattle. And of course the importance of keeping one’s commitments. Which he definitely did not think Lulu had done.
He smiled as his dog stood again and then stretched her front legs out in front of her, dipping her tummy close to the floor in a play bow. “She’s not mine. She belongs to my sister Hailey.”
Hence, the romantic pet name.
Lulu turned back to him, confused. “But...you’re keeping her?” She watched Beauty rise again and turn back to Sam for one last pet on the head.
His big hand sank into the soft, luxuriant fur on the top of Beauty’s head, massaging it lightly in a way that made Lulu’s own nerve endings shudder and her mouth go dry.
“It was never the intention,” Sam admitted, oblivious to the effect his tender ministrations were having on Lulu. “But Beauty was too big for Hailey’s apartment, and she suddenly had to travel internationally for her job. Constantly boarding Beauty didn’t seem fair. My sister asked me to help out temporarily, since I have plenty of room. I agreed.”
Lulu observed the free-flowing affection between man and pet. “Looks like you made the right decision.”
And possibly, Lulu thought as Beauty lumbered over to stand next to her, the right decision regarding the three kids, as well.
Because if Sam wouldn’t turn out a dog who had come to live with him, she knew he would never abandon three little orphaned boys. And that meant if she was going to form a permanent, loving connection with Theresa and Peter’s triplets, she would have to forget the difficulties of their past and find a way to forge an enduring, platonic connection with Sam, too.
The next twenty minutes passed with excruciating slowness. Sam settled down to do something at his desk while Lulu paced, looking out one front window, then the next.
Finally, a large dark green van made its way up the lane. It stopped next to the ranch house. The doors opened. Hiram Higgins and three other adults stepped out. And even though there was no sign of the children they were going to care for just yet, Lulu’s heartbeat quickened.
“Sam! They’re here!” she exclaimed.
He rose and strode briskly through the hall to her side.
Together, they walked out the front door and down the porch steps. Hiram introduced his wife, Winnifred, a kind-faced woman with gray hair, and Sandra and Jim Kelleher, the thirtysomething couple who had been looking after the triplets.
Seeing that Lulu and Sam were chomping at the bit to meet the kids, the Kellehers proceeded to unfasten safety harnesses and bring the children out, one by one. All three were holding stuffed animals and clutching well-loved blue baby blankets. In deference to the shimmering June heat, they were wearing blue plaid shorts and coordinating T-shirts, sandals, plaid bucket hats and kiddie sunglasses. All appeared shy and maybe even a little dazed. As if they’d been napping and were still trying to wake up.
“This is Theo,” Winnifred introduced the most serious-looking toddler.
Sandra brought forward the one with the trembling lower lip. “And Ethan.”
“And Andrew,” Jim said, shifting the weight of the only one starting to fidget.
“Hello, Theo, Ethan and Andrew,” Lulu greeted them in turn.
They simply stared at her, then eventually turned away.
Her heart sank. She was a McCabe. She’d been around children all her life. Not once had one responded to her with such indifference.
But then, these children had been through hell. It was probably no surprise they’d become...numb.
Hiram retrieved his briefcase and inclined his head at Sam. “We probably should sign the papers first and then unload the belongings they brought with them today.”
“Lulu,” Sam said, “you want to take them all on in?”
“Sure.” She led the way inside as Sam and Hiram adjourned to a corner of the front porch. Winnifred and the Kellehers took a seat in the living area, a child on each lap. Once they were all settled, Lulu sat down, too, and they got down to business.
“I brought a folder with me of everything I’ve been able to piece together about the children’s previous routines, plus everything that did or did not work for us, in terms of their care,” Sandra said.
Jim exhaled, then turned to look at Lulu. “I hope Sam has better luck with them. It’s good you’re going to be helping out, too.”
Winnifred chimed in, “Hiram and I can both attest to that. They can be a handful.”
Suddenly feeling a little unsure they were up to the task, Lulu nodded her understanding. Had she and Sam underestimated the task of helping the orphaned triplets?
Sam and Hiram walked in. After Sam set the papers on the entry table, Jim handed the still-fidgety Andrew to Lulu and all three men headed back outside. Short minutes later, a trio of car seats, travel beds, booster seats, suitcases, and a big box of toys were stacked in a corner of the living room.
“Probably best we be on our way,” Hiram said.
Lulu expected the kids to wail in protest at the impending departure of yet another set of guardians. Instead, they took it stoically in stride. Too stoically, in fact, to be believed.
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