Page 66 of A Heart of Little Faith
“Hello? Everyone decent in there?” Samantha called out as she entered the apartment.
Lily met Samantha in the living room.
“So, everything okay between you two?”
“Just fine,” Lily answered as a blush crept up her cheeks. “You know, you don’t have to stay with me tonight. Claire’s asleep and I’m totally fine.”
“Mmm hmm,” Samantha smirked. “You lookin’ for some alone time with my brother?”
Lily rolled her eyes.
“All right, I’ll leave you alone. In all ways.” Samantha started to leave. “Tell Gideon I’ll talk to him tomorrow.” The two women hugged, and Lily went to check on Claire as Samantha left the apartment.
She bent and lightly kissed Claire on the cheek. Claire smelled like sweat and sleep, and Lily inhaled. She’d missed her baby. She adjusted the sheet and left, bumping into Gideon outside the door.
“Is she asleep?” Gideon asked as he reached out to steady her.
Lily sighed. “This late, I’d hope so.”
“I’d better go. I don’t want Claire waking and finding me here.”
“She wouldn’t think anything of it, especially after the past few days.” They’d gelled, becoming like a team, or even a family.
Gideon took her hand and kissed it, his gaze warm. “I know, but I think it’s better if I go.”
Chapter 23
Sunday evening, two weeks later, Lily put the finishing touches on dinner as she inhaled the paprika scent. Tom was due to arrive any minute and she had made stuffed cabbage, an old family recipe and one of Tom’s favorites. When the doorbell rang, she licked a spot of brown sugar off her thumb, wiped her hands on the dishtowel, called to Claire and raced to the door. She opened it, a wide smile on her face.
“Tom!” she squealed. She wrapped her arms around him. On tiptoe, she could barely reach his neck. At 6’4” and approximately 220 pounds, he dwarfed her. Bushy brown hair, mustache and trimmed beard made her think of a bear, a characteristic driven home as he scooped her in a huge hug. His familiar sandalwood scent carried her to Philadelphia and her heart pounded.
“Lily, it’s great to see you,” he rumbled in his deep voice. His blue eyes twinkled as he examined her. “You look gorgeous, doll, you know that?”
She covered her confusion with a punch to his arm. “Your empty flattery hasn’t changed, I see.”
“With you, it’s sincere.” He followed her into the apartment. “Nice place you have. Where’s Claire?”
She took his jacket, her fingers feathering the soft wool, and called to Claire again. “She’s in her room playing.”
Just then, Claire came out. “Hey, Claire, do you remember Tom?” Claire nodded wide-eyed and rushed over to her mother.
Tom kneeled to her level. “Hi, Claire, you’ve gotten big since I last saw you.” He held out a candy bar. “I know I’m a little late, but happy Halloween.”
Claire smiled, and took the candy bar. Tom stood, sniffed the air and his eyes lit up. “Do I smell what I think I do?” His long legs ate the space between the foyer and kitchen. Lily and Claire followed him.
“Stuffed cabbage, just for you,” Lily said.
Tom picked her up and twirled her around. Lily shrieked as the room spun, while Claire giggled. As he joined in, Tom focused on Claire. “Your mom makes the world’s best stuffed cabbage. Do you know that?” Claire shook her head.
“Put me down, you big oaf,” Lily yelled. Once on her feet again, she informed Tom that her daughter didn’t like stuffed cabbage. Tom’s look of shock switched to one of glee.
“Too bad for you, but that means there’s more for me.”
“You can have it all,” Claire agreed. The three of them sat and ate.
While Lily did the dishes—despite Tom’s offer to help—she listened to Claire and him talk in the living room. Although slow to warm to him, now Claire told him about school, her friends and Halloween. Tom’s profession intrigued her, and she asked about how he helped children and what he would do if someone came in with a cough, or a cold or a fever. Tom answered all her questions.
“What would you do if someone couldn’t walk?”