Free Rachel Laine (The Women of Merryton Book 3) by Jennifer Peel Page A

like
a mug. I unwrapped it, and sure enough, it was a large white mug with a picture
of the Chicago skyline on it. It was a nice mug, but I felt awkward that he had
bought me something so I tried to play it off. “What do I owe you?”
    He
smiled big. “This one’s on me.”
    “Well,
thank you. It’s very kind of you.”
    His
face turned a tad pink. “Well, I thought you could use it since you seem to
like hot chocolate.”
    “That
I do.”
    He
moved a little closer, so we were both right in front of the open fridge. “Are
you sure you’re okay?” he whispered.
    I
half smiled and thought about lying, but decided against it. “This is a lot for
me to take in right now,” I whispered back.
    He
reached out and touched my upper arm softly. “For me, too.”
    I
guess it would be for him, too. I hadn’t really thought about it, because in my
mind, he was this careless moron who had abandoned my sister and neglected his
parental duties. But now that I was starting to get to know him, I wondered if
he was going to prove me wrong. I didn’t think he was innocent or anything, but
I didn’t think he was some scoundrel, either. I guess I really had to start
looking at him as Drew’s dad.
    We
stared at each other for another moment in the glow of the refrigerator light. I
wondered what he was thinking about. I could usually read those eyes so well,
but the way his eyes looked now … I had never seen Drew’s eyes look that way.
    “Mom,”
Drew called out, making me jump again. It broke the connection between Andrew and
me. Andrew dropped his hand from my arm and laughed at my reaction.
    “Yeah,
kiddo?”
    “I’m
hungry.”
    “You’re
always hungry.” I smiled at him. “Do you want cheese and crackers, or apples
and peanut butter for a snack?”
    “Apples
and peanut butter,” Drew and Andrew said in unison.
    Drew
called out, “Jinx,” and they both laughed.
    I
looked between the both of them and didn’t know whether to cry or smile. In my
head, I knew this was the way it should be—Drew deserved to have a father—but
my heart said he didn’t need more than me.
    I
put on a brave face, then got out the apples and peanut butter.
    I
sliced the apples the way Drew liked them and served them both at the breakfast
bar. Drew had started in on his homework and Andrew seemed desperate to help
him, but he soon found out that his son was a smart kid who required little to
no assistance in that department.
    While
they ate their snack and did homework, I emptied the dishwasher and started in
on dinner. Tonight we were having white bean and chicken chili with homemade
cornbread. I felt eyes on me as I moved about the kitchen. I looked up and
found my feelings were spot on. Andrew was watching my every move. He didn’t
seem embarrassed at all that he was staring at me, especially since he had
peanut butter on his lips.
    I
smiled at the fool. “You have a little something on your lip, by the way.”
    He
grinned, grabbed a napkin, and wiped his mouth, but his eyes stayed fixed on me.
    “Something
else I can help you with?” I asked.
    His
smile widened. “Well, since you’re asking, some more milk would be great.”
    “Me,
too,” said Drew.
    I
looked at Drew and he toothily grinned at me even though he was still missing
his front teeth. “Please?” he added in.
    “Now
I know what it feels like to have two kids.” I grabbed both of their glasses.
    Andrew’s
eyes were smiling as I snatched his. “Thank you.”
    It
didn’t take too long for homework to be completed. I was happy they were moving
upstairs. For some reason, Andrew was still studying me.
    Drew
went to retrieve his large box of Legos. “Come on, Andrew.”
    Andrew
smiled at him. “Give me a minute. I’ll meet you up there.”
    Drew
took no time grabbing the box and running up the stairs.
    Andrew
turned his attention back to me. “By the way, you look great today.”
    I
looked down at my fitted corduroy burgundy blazer and grey scarf, with