girl who
cares.”
He stroked her hair, and she rested her head on his shoulder. “I can’t answer your questions, Desi. I don’t know why the world’s the way it is. I don’t know why some people get handed life on a silver platter and others get paper plates with grease spots.”
His voice rumbled in her ear. “What good does it do to ask why anyway? What’s important is that we make the best of what we do get. You can’t change what’s happened to Alicia, but you care about her. You’ve given her a whole lot more than she’d ever have gotten if you hadn’t been in her life. I’ll bet, if you think about it, she’s given you a whole lot back in the same way.”
Desi agreed—what Brian said was true. How empty her life would be if it weren’t for Alicia. And the others at ChildCare too. She’d never have met Tamara or Gayle or any of the babies. She’d neverhave felt so needed or so capable of giving something of herself. “I guess you’re right.”
Just then the waitress brought the pizza. “Now eat up, and I’ll take you wherever you want to go,” Brian said as he served her a slice.
“In your chariot?” Her voice sounded husky. “I’m sorry I called it a piece of junk.”
“You’re forgiven.”
After they ate, Brian took her to a mall, where they window-shopped and where she bought Alicia a stuffed toy. It was dark when he took her to ChildCare and parked on the street outside the brick entrance. He shut off his engine, but didn’t make a move to get out. “You okay?”
“I’m okay.”
“So what’re you going to do over Christmas break?”
In the turmoil of the past few days, she’d forgotten that school was officially out until after New Year’s. “My sister’s home. I guess we’ll just hang around. I’m planning on doubling up on my hours here at ChildCare. How about you?”
“Mom’s dragging me and my sister down to Florida to visit our grandparents.”
Desi felt a twinge of disappointment. “So I guess this is it until next year.”
In the light from the street lamp, she saw him smile at her little joke. “Guess so. You sure you don’t want me to drive you home right now?”
“No. I want to get Alicia ready for bed. Besides,my aunt’s here tonight, so she’ll take me home.” She reached for the handle, but of course it was gone.
Brian hopped out of the car and came around for her. The air felt chilly as they stood beside the car. “I appreciate your taking the time to run around with me today,” she told him. “Even if it was a dumb idea.”
“Hey, we’re partners, right?”
“You had some good things to say too. I’ll remember them.” She peered up at him. “How’d you get so smart anyway?”
Moonlight spilled across his face. His expression looked solemn. “Some lessons you learn the hard way.”
His response puzzled her, and she wanted to ask what he meant, but he pointed her down the driveway and gave her a gentle shove. “Now go on, before a cop pulls up and gives me a ticket for illegal parking.”
She headed toward the house, but when she heard his door slam, she turned and called, “Have a Merry Christmas.”
He started the car. “You too. And don’t forget to have some
fun
over the holidays.”
She watched him drive away and felt strangely alone. Brian was really very nice. There was something about him, something more than his good looks and easy camaraderie that touched her. Why, she was halfway looking forward to school’s starting up, just so she could see him again.
The notion made her smile. Wouldn’t he have a good laugh if he knew? Overhead, stars glowed in the cold, brittle air. Desi shivered, then hurried up the path, toward the cozily lit house, feeling light, almost buoyant. Her boots kicked up dry leaves and sent them scattering into the darkness.
Chapter Fifteen
As Christmas holidays went at her house, Desi thought, these were pretty good. She liked the presents she received, and her family seemed to like
cares.”
He stroked her hair, and she rested her head on his shoulder. “I can’t answer your questions, Desi. I don’t know why the world’s the way it is. I don’t know why some people get handed life on a silver platter and others get paper plates with grease spots.”
His voice rumbled in her ear. “What good does it do to ask why anyway? What’s important is that we make the best of what we do get. You can’t change what’s happened to Alicia, but you care about her. You’ve given her a whole lot more than she’d ever have gotten if you hadn’t been in her life. I’ll bet, if you think about it, she’s given you a whole lot back in the same way.”
Desi agreed—what Brian said was true. How empty her life would be if it weren’t for Alicia. And the others at ChildCare too. She’d never have met Tamara or Gayle or any of the babies. She’d neverhave felt so needed or so capable of giving something of herself. “I guess you’re right.”
Just then the waitress brought the pizza. “Now eat up, and I’ll take you wherever you want to go,” Brian said as he served her a slice.
“In your chariot?” Her voice sounded husky. “I’m sorry I called it a piece of junk.”
“You’re forgiven.”
After they ate, Brian took her to a mall, where they window-shopped and where she bought Alicia a stuffed toy. It was dark when he took her to ChildCare and parked on the street outside the brick entrance. He shut off his engine, but didn’t make a move to get out. “You okay?”
“I’m okay.”
“So what’re you going to do over Christmas break?”
In the turmoil of the past few days, she’d forgotten that school was officially out until after New Year’s. “My sister’s home. I guess we’ll just hang around. I’m planning on doubling up on my hours here at ChildCare. How about you?”
“Mom’s dragging me and my sister down to Florida to visit our grandparents.”
Desi felt a twinge of disappointment. “So I guess this is it until next year.”
In the light from the street lamp, she saw him smile at her little joke. “Guess so. You sure you don’t want me to drive you home right now?”
“No. I want to get Alicia ready for bed. Besides,my aunt’s here tonight, so she’ll take me home.” She reached for the handle, but of course it was gone.
Brian hopped out of the car and came around for her. The air felt chilly as they stood beside the car. “I appreciate your taking the time to run around with me today,” she told him. “Even if it was a dumb idea.”
“Hey, we’re partners, right?”
“You had some good things to say too. I’ll remember them.” She peered up at him. “How’d you get so smart anyway?”
Moonlight spilled across his face. His expression looked solemn. “Some lessons you learn the hard way.”
His response puzzled her, and she wanted to ask what he meant, but he pointed her down the driveway and gave her a gentle shove. “Now go on, before a cop pulls up and gives me a ticket for illegal parking.”
She headed toward the house, but when she heard his door slam, she turned and called, “Have a Merry Christmas.”
He started the car. “You too. And don’t forget to have some
fun
over the holidays.”
She watched him drive away and felt strangely alone. Brian was really very nice. There was something about him, something more than his good looks and easy camaraderie that touched her. Why, she was halfway looking forward to school’s starting up, just so she could see him again.
The notion made her smile. Wouldn’t he have a good laugh if he knew? Overhead, stars glowed in the cold, brittle air. Desi shivered, then hurried up the path, toward the cozily lit house, feeling light, almost buoyant. Her boots kicked up dry leaves and sent them scattering into the darkness.
Chapter Fifteen
As Christmas holidays went at her house, Desi thought, these were pretty good. She liked the presents she received, and her family seemed to like
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