Free Always Florence by Muriel Jensen Page A

frosting on the cuff of his jacket when he leaned down to make sure they were all right. He recognized Sandy’s children, Addie and Zoey.
    “Hi, girls,” he said. He kept smiling despite going mildly nuts with the noise and confusion. But if the other parents could cope, so could he.
    “Oh, good grief!” Sandy fought her way past someone in a Hulk costume who had gotten between her and the girls, and noticed Nate dabbing at his jacket. “What did they get on you? I’m so sorry.” She extracted a wet wipe from her purse and grabbed his wrist to work on the frosted cuff.
    She wore a wildly colored headscarf, a yellow blouse and long red skirt, and the large hoop earrings of a gypsy. As she worked she smiled up at him in dismay. “I’m really sorry. You always look so elegant and we’ve messed you up.”
    Nate pulled away to stop her fussing. “Hi, Sandy. I’m fine, really.”
    “Girls! Come back!” While she was trying to clean him up, the girls had escaped again. She reached around him just in time to catch Addie’s hand and desperately pointed to Zoey, on his other side. “Stop her, Nate!”
    Afraid he’d break that small arm if he grabbed it, he caught the little girl around the waist and scooped her into his arms. He was smacked in the face by a sparkly wing as she put her arm around his neck. The little fairy pushed aside her long blond hair and smiled warmly. She smelled of strawberries. “Hi!” she said. “You’re Sheamus’s daddy.”
    A little surprised that she remembered him, Nate didn’t correct her. He was sure he’d met the girls only once, at a parish picnic at St. Mary’s. “And you’re Zoey. You have to stay with your mom or you’ll get lost.”
    Addie tugged at his pant leg, clearly competing for attention. “I’m Addie!” she announced in a voice much bigger than seemed appropriate for her size.
    He smiled down at her. “Yes, I know. Are you having fun?”
    She held up a plastic bag filled with candy. “Yes. You want some?”
    “No, thank you. I’m full.”
    She clearly didn’t see how anyone could be too full for candy. “Can you pick me up, too?”
    Sandy sighed apologetically. “I’m sorry. They’re both man-crazy. I guess because they don’t have one in their lives. You really don’t have to...”
    He reached a hand down for Addie, told her to hang on, and pulled her up against his side. She held on to his neck as he settled her on his arm. She giggled at her sister, then both girls looked around, enjoying their superior view.
    He grinned at Sandy. “They seem like a lot of fun.” It was strange how vulnerable she seemed as a mother, yet as a community activist, she was a powerhouse.
    She glanced at her daughters adoringly. “They are. Exhausting, but fun. They’re never still a minute, and I’m trying not to think ahead to when they’ll be dating at the same time.” She straightened the hem of Zoey’s dress and asked casually, “Have you and Bobbie talked about the painting?”
    He shook his head and frowned. “You told her I called her fragile, didn’t you? Apparently that’s a bad word where she comes from, because when I got home tonight, she waved a wand at me and threatened to make me bald and ugly.”
    Sandy laughed, her hoop earrings dancing. “As though she could make you bald. You have that same wonderful hair Ben had.” She smiled reminiscently. “I served on a couple of committees with Sherrie. They were both fun to know. Anyway.” She expelled a sigh, pushing the sensitive subject aside. “As for ugly,” she added, mischief in her grin, “I’m sure it wouldn’t take, no matter how hard she tried.”
    Nate was left wondering if Sandy Evans had just given him a compliment.
    “Hey, guys!” Hunter appeared beside them in a Frankenstein costume. The Kiwanis Club had helped with the decorating. Suddenly recognizing Sandy, he looked a little nervous. “Hi. I’m sorry. I didn’t recognize you with your red hair covered.”
    Nate