Free His Motherless Little Twins by Dianne Drake Page A

blue. “I love my sister, but she’s put up with us for too long, without ever complaining. She disrupted her life back in California and moved here with us because she didn’t want us coming here alone. But she’s the one who got her life together, not me. And I think it’s time the girls and I had a place of our own so she can live more of that life.”
    He was moving out? Did that mean he was starting to move on? Eventually, it always happened. Her mother had, after a while. She herself had, after her divorce from Damien, and in a sense this was part of her moving on from Charles. But Eric’s situation was something she couldn’t even begin to understand. “You’re sure you’re ready for this?” she asked, for a lack of something better to say. “I mean, I know that you have to get to a certain point where it feels right, feels like it’s time. When Damien and I were married—”
    â€œYou were married?” he interrupted.
    â€œNot for long. I was barely in my twenties. Not so smart about relationships. He was…not who I thought he was. The marriage lasted for less than a year, but I stayed near him for a year longer than that because I couldn’t force myself to make the move. You know, move on. I suppose I always hoped something would change, that the situation wasn’t really what it was. So I left him, reconciled, left, reconciled…”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œI wised up when I finally realized that you don’t change a cheating husband, no matter what he promises you. No matter how much you want things to be different, some things will never change.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” he said, rubbing the empty spot on his ring finger. “That had to be rough.”
    â€œIt was.” Because she’d grown up picturing herself living happily-ever-after. Because she’d grown up wanting it. Sadly, she didn’t believe in that anymore. “Moving on wasn’t easy.”
    â€œI know,” he said. “Not easy, but necessary. But I’ve put it off too long, so now…”
    â€œCan we bake some more?” Paige called from the door. “We got them ready on the pan.”
    â€œDuty calls,” Dinah said, backing away from Eric. “And it’s pretty demanding.”
    â€œI appreciate this, Dinah. I know we’ve got a little friction going between us, and I’m sorry about that.” He chuckled. “Seems like I’m always apologizing for something, doesn’t it? But I do appreciate what you’re doing for my girls. And if they need some new unmentionables and a manicure, and you don’t mind…”
    â€œI don’t mind, Eric. In fact, I’m looking forward to it.” She glanced down at his empty finger this time, and this time he saw her do it. But he didn’t say anything.
    â€œEric, I’m so sorry,” she whispered, laying her hand on his as Pippa ran up, grabbed her by the other hand and started tugging.
    â€œSo am I. But it was time.”
    The broken whisper of his voice broke her heart as her hand slid away from his.
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    â€œPedicures, too?” Eric said, smiling.
    â€œA girl can’t really have the full manicure experience without having the pedicure, too.” It had been a wonderful morning, and she almost hated turning the girls over to their cousin, Debbi. But the arrangement had been made, and now she had the rest of the day ahead of her with nothing to do as it was her day off. Angela was simply too pregnant to do anything but sit with her feet up and manage the kitchen from that position, so Dinah had a lot of empty hours ahead of her. “I promised them we’d do it again some time. And have high tea in the lodge conservatory. Father permitting, of course.”
    â€œYou’re kidding, aren’t you?”
    Smile bright, eyes wide, she shrugged. “Actually, no. We all thought it was a brilliant