“And Bryce is usually first to let us know about it.” Mina waved a kitchen towel as she laughed.
“So, Bryce is the informant,” concluded Sarah.
Aaron grinned. “And Braden is the enforcer.”
The adults shared a laugh as the boys played across the room. Bryce picked up a plastic motorcycle and inched toward Sarah, then changed gears and stuffed himself under Aaron’s arm.
“Bryce is my shy boy.” Aaron pulled the child onto his lap. “And that’s okay, huh, buddy?”
Bryce leaned into Aaron and peeked at her between his fingers. He flashed a beautiful, bashful grin.
It heartened her that a strong military man like Aaron was okay to let his gentler, more sensitive son be himself.
Sarah leaned forward. “So, boys, besides fishing and softball, tell me what you like to do.”
“Lotsa stuff.” Making revving sounds, Braden ran the motorcycle across the air in front of Sarah.
“That’s a nifty bike.” She brushed a finger along his toy then Bryce’s. “I’ve never seen others like them.”
“Uncle Vinny gave ’em to us,” Braden said.
“Vince Reardon is on one of my military teams. Although he tends to want people to think he’s hard-nosed, tough and brooding, he’s crazy about kids and bikes. He had his sister weld those for the boys.” Aaron intercepted the bike as it swerved near a lamp. It amazed Sarah how lightning-fast his hand struck. What was he saying?
“He’s not really their uncle but they call him that.”
“Interesting.”
“Excited to spend more time with them?”
“Yes!” Sarah pulled out her backpack. “I brought coloring books, crayons and cars.”
The boys abandoned the cycles and swooped in on her.
“I want the cars!” Braden zoomed his hand up and jumped.
Bryce eyed the coloring book with reserved interest.
She tugged out some pages and a pack of crayons. “Something tells me you like to draw.” She eyed faded ink marks on Bryce’s arms and legs, which someone had obviously tried to scrub off but couldn’t completely.
Bryce took the pages.
Aaron leaned his chin toward them. “Boys, what do you say?”
“Thank you, Miss Sarah,” Bryce said in a small voice. Then he grinned. Her heart melted. He had his daddy’s slight dimples. She hadn’t noticed that before, since Bryce didn’t often smile.
“Yeah. Thanks very much!” Braden shimmied and bounced in berserk motions, like a barely coiled ball of energy.
Aaron slid Bryce off his lap. “Okay, boys. Hugs. Daddy has a meeting.”
Panic entered Bryce’s eyes. “Can we go?”
“Not this time, buddy. You get to spend time with Miss Sarah. Okay?”
His lips trembled. “Okay.”
Aaron hugged Braden, then Bryce, who clung to his father’s neck. Panic mounted on Bryce’s face and he broke down. Aaron looked torn. Pangs of compassion squeezed Sarah for them both.
Bryce clung to Aaron’s neck. “Daddy, don’t go!”
Poor thing. He was having a hard time with his dad returning to work. And getting to know her, a virtual stranger.
Aaron knelt and gave Bryce another hug. “I know, buddy. It’s hard for me, too.” He closed his eyes and swallowed, offering Sarah a glimpse of a surprisingly vulnerable side. Yet it only served to strengthen his image in her eyes.
How would he extract himself from Bryce’s crawfish grip? She could help. Use distraction.
She stood so she was at eye level with Bryce. “Hey, Bryce, can I tell you a secret?”
As Aaron tugged the boa constrictor that was Bryce from around his neck, Sarah held out her arms. Bryce inched toward her with the tip of his finger in his mouth. Tears glistened in eyes that struggled to trust and to understand.
Pulling Bryce close so Aaron could make his escape, Sarah cupped her hand around Bryce’s ear. “Want to help me make a project for your daddy while he’s at work?” she whispered.
An instant smile lit his face. She could imagine any brighter would have caused the room lights to flicker. The kid’s grin pulled a lot of juice. She hoped to see it more often. She’d prayed for God to help the boys adjust and cope with Aaron leaving for work. Thank You for answering.
“Yes,” he said. His dimples reemerged.
“It’ll be fun. I promise.”
“What?” Braden approached.
“Come here,” Sarah said.
“I want to tell him!” Bryce leaned toward Braden and whispered.
Braden jumped up and down. “I know a surprise! I know a surprise!”
“Shh.” Sarah held a finger to her mouth and gave Braden and Bryce exaggerated winks. “It’s a secret plan.”
Mina reentered. After a brief exchange of conversation with Aaron that he initiated in tones Sarah couldn’t hear, Aaron stepped toward the foyer. “See you later, boys. Ladies.” He tipped his head at them and cast Sarah an expression of gratitude. The door closed behind him.
With a quick smile, Mina eyed her watch, slipped from the room and disappeared somewhere.
Sarah settled near the boys. “I’m so excited we get to make a project for your dad while he’s gone.” The more craft items she pulled from her backpack, the wider the boys’ eyes grew. Glitter glue. Bendable pipe cleaners in every color. Scissors with differently shaped blades. Foam shapes. Washable markers and stencils.
“This is gonna be fun!” Braden exclaimed.
“Yeah,” Bryce added with more exuberance than she’d seen before.
Good. Seemed she was winning over the hearts of the little guys. Her eyes veered toward the window, where Aaron’s truck left the long, barren driveway.
What about the big guy?
What a way to win hearts. Coloring pages and crayons. A nanny’s staple.
Now he knew what she kept in that bulky backpack. She’d brought projects and toys for the boys.
“Smooth move, lady. I like you already,” he said appreciatively and eyed his house through his SUV’s rearview mirror.
Aaron had fed the boys an extra healthy meal and, as usual, had foregone any sweets this morning. So they wouldn’t be grumpy from low blood sugar today with Sarah.
Remembering Bryce’s tears tugged and tore at his heart. But Sarah had come to his rescue. Without her help, Aaron had no idea how he would have gone on to work. Unintentional or not, kids knew how to slather on the guilt.
Ten minutes later he pulled into the parking lot of the Refuge drop zone. Joel’s Expedition already sat in the lot beside the rest of the team’s vehicles. Aaron must be the last to show.
Once inside the massive brick-fronted pole barn structure, Aaron pulled Joel and Manny Peña aside. “Hey, be in prayer about this. I know there is a lot riding on whether I can come back to active duty now or not. I found a nanny who I think will work out so I can.”
“Same one you mentioned before?” Joel asked.
Aaron nodded and motioned over the rest of the seven-man team, mostly to avoid Joel’s overly curious undertones.
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