His Holiday Family. Margaret Daley

now.”

       “I’m glad. I used to struggle with math until one year I had this teacher who I connected with. I finally understood what I was supposed to do. After that, math has come easy to me.”

       “I’ve only got one more problem. I’ve never done my homework this fast.”

       Gideon watched him finish his math sheet. When the hairs on his nape stood up, he knew that Kathleen had come into the kitchen. He felt her gaze on him and straightened his shoulders, resisting the urge to peer back at her. He dated women all the time, but none of them had caught his attention like she had.

       Deep down he sensed a connection as if she knew what it was to be hurt deeply and had held herself back from others because of that. Like him. Was that why he’d gotten the bright idea to bring dinner to her tonight?

       No, it was her sons. When he’d talked to them there was something that reminded him of his younger brother and him growing up in foster homes—until one day a family had adopted Zach, leaving Gideon alone. It was obvious she needed help with her sons, and for the next seven weeks or so, he would have more time on his hands than usual while he recovered from his injuries and finally could return to full duty.

       He pivoted toward her, transfixed by the soft blue of her eyes. Run. The one word set off an alarm bell in his mind. His chest constricted.

       “Is this right, Gideon?”

       In the distance he heard Kip speaking to him, but Gideon couldn’t tear his eyes from Kathleen, her delicate features forming a beautiful picture that could haunt him if he allowed her to get too close. But he wouldn’t do that.

      Run. Now.

       He wrenched his gaze away and glanced down at the last problem. “Sure. You did great. I’d better be going. I imagine you need to go to bed early with school tomorrow, and I have a lot to do in the morning. I…” He clamped his jaws closed before he made a fool of himself with his ramblings.

       “I’m going to show Gideon out, Kip. You stay in here. Do not go to your bedroom until I get back.”

       “Can I have some ice cream? I finished my homework, and it’s all correct. Gideon said so.”

       “One small bowl.”

       As Kip jumped up and went to the refrigerator, Kathleen swung around and exited the kitchen.

       “See you soon, sport. I’ll see about that tour of the station.” Gideon left and found Kathleen in the foyer, waiting for him. “I told Kip I’ll arrange a tour of Station Two for him—for all of you. But only if you say it’s okay.”

       “He wants to be a firefighter or a doctor. He hasn’t made up his mind.”

       “I’d say he has a few years to do that. How about Jared?”

       She shrugged. “He hasn’t said anything. But the way he’s going, I could see him being a test pilot or some other kind of job that is daring. Danger means nothing to him while I’m getting gray hairs at the young age of thirty-two.”

       “How about professional mountain climber?”

       “Please don’t mention that. Sides of houses are enough for me,” she said with a laugh.

       He liked seeing her two dimples appear in her cheeks when she laughed. Her eyes lit with a bright gleam that transformed her. “I enjoyed tonight. Of course, I’m not sure what I’m going to do until they allow me to work behind the desk at headquarters.”

       “Read a good book.”

       “I’m more an action kind of guy. Reading is too sedate for me. I tried today to circumvent procedures by reporting for desk duty and was told by the chief in no uncertain terms to stay away until I get the go-ahead from the doc. That should be in three days.”

       “Does that mean your ribs aren’t hurting? That’s quick.”

       “I didn’t say that.” As he stood in the foyer, his cracked ribs were protesting all the activity he’d done that day, but he wasn’t going to let that stop him.

       She shook her head. “Men. You and Jared are too much alike. I wouldn’t be surprised if he tried climbing the house again with his cast on.”

       He crossed to the door and opened it. “I wouldn’t be surprised, either.”

       “I was hoping you would disagree with me.” Kathleen came out onto the porch. “Now every time the phone rings, I’ll wonder what else he has gotten himself into.”

       “My little brother used to be the same way. I had to get him out of a lot of scrapes.”

       “Does he live here? New Orleans?”

       This was the reason he didn’t like to talk about himself. So often it led to questions he didn’t want to answer. “I haven’t seen him since he was four.”

       The front door swung open and Kip, with his eyes huge, thrust the phone into Kathleen’s hands. “It’s Nana. She says Hurricane Naomi has made an almost one-hundred-eighty-degree turn and picked up speed—lots of speed—and is heading straight for Hope. It should be here by tomorrow night.”