And the Greatest of These Is Love: A Contemporary Christian Romance Novel by Staci Stallings Page A

tell me where I might get a replacement?”
    Annoyance split across Jerry’s face. “And who’s going to pay for this replacement?”
    “I will,” Andrew said with a shrug.
    Jerry’s face fell into a scowl. “You?”
    “Well, yeah.” He shook his head as if it all made perfect sense. “It needs replaced, and surely it can’t cost that much. Besides we made a deal.” Bouncing his eyebrows, he picked up the ladder and smiled.
    “We?”
    “Yeah, Gabi and me. She let me borrow her cleaning supplies, and I replace her window.”
                 
    This was all getting a little too weird for Jerry. Andrew was supposed to be here to write a story, and suddenly he was cleaning and replacing windows, volunteering, and making deals with the teachers? When did that happen?
    “Mayfield Windows on Madison is where we’ve gotten the ones before. Call Jim. He should be able to set you up,” Jerry said, surrendering because fighting it seemed like it would take far too much energy.
    “Great.” Andrew nodded as he headed out the door. Then he stopped and came back. “Oh, by the way, where would I find a Phillips screwdriver? The stroller in the nursery really needs fixed.”
     
    The kids were strewn about the floor napping when Gabi heard the knock on her door. Very rarely were they disturbed during the day, and so she was immediately puzzled. However, as soon as she saw the door, she knew who it was. He waved to her through the window and smiled as she approached. Disarming and charming. She shook her head as the two words went through her, attaching themselves to the sight of him and not letting go.
    “Hi,” he whispered so as not to disturb the children when she opened the door. “How’s it going?”
    “Fine?” She was one second from asking him what he was doing here when he nodded.
    “Yeah. I was just wondering when music time is exactly,” he whispered.
    That yanked more puzzlement out. “Music time?”
    “Yeah, you know when you take the kids out to the lobby with the piano. I was thinking I might bring some of the babies over for it.”
    Her eyes widened. “The babies? What?”
    “Yeah, I thought they might enjoy it,” he said, totally oblivious to her bewilderment.
    “Oh, uh, well.” She reached up and scratched the back of her head. “We usually go about two, but…”
    “Great. Oh, and don’t worry, I’ll keep the little ones quiet,” he said quickly, “gotta go.”
    “Uh. Okay?” She stood in the hallway watching him walk away in the nice jeans and green knit sweater. How did he know about music time anyway? And why was he suddenly acting like Mary Poppins?
     
    Just before two, Andrew loaded Eric and Charissa, who had become his charges, into the now-working stroller, and then he put Marcus into a carrier on his back and bid the other teachers farewell for his afternoon stroll. He couldn’t wait to hear her play again for real. He had heard that music every moment since he’d heard her play the first time, but this was different. This was the real thing.
    In the lobby, he pushed the stroller over to the window. The sun was shining through it, and he couldn’t remember it ever shining as brightly as it seemed to be today. He pulled one of the chairs out of the way and spread the blanket he’d swiped from one of the empty cribs across the floor.
    “Come here, Little Charissa. Look at the pretty sunshine we have for you today,” he said, laying her gently on the blanket. Then he took Eric out and put him on the blanket, too. Twisting, he got Marcus out of the carrier gently and sat him on his lap.
    It was then that he heard the footsteps of little, tiny feet on the hallway floor, and his heart fluttered. Gabi was coming, and for one moment in time, he could pretend that she was coming to play only for him.
     
    It took her one tiny fraction of a second to spot him when she entered the large room, and her breath caught in her throat when her gaze met those green eyes. She