Package Deal by Kate Vale Page A

away.
    “Than k you. That means a lot to me.”
    She buss ed hi s cheek before opening the door and slipping inside , away from where he wa nted her to be. With him. I n his arms . In his bed.
     

 
     
     
    Chapter 6
     
    It was snowing in Omaha when Marcus de plane d . Mike was waiting for him at the baggage carousel. “ Just one bag?”
    They walked outside into the blowing snow in the direction of the parking garage. “I can’t stay the whole Christmas break , Mike . I need to get back —sooner than I told you .”
    “You said you had three full weeks. Evelyn’ s going to be pissed—the boys, too.”
    “I’m still working on the book. I need time to write.” He zipped up his jacket . “I forgot how cold it can get this time of year.”
    “Are y ou sure there isn’t another reason you don’t want to stay cooped up with us?” His brother smirk ed. “Watch the sidewalk. It’s slippery.”
    “ No questions, okay?” Marcus plucked a mound of white fluff off a tree limb on the way to the car and tossed it in his brother ’s direction. “ I need to get back—and most of the reason—well, part of the reason anyway, is the book.”
    Mike grinned. “Okay, I get it .” They talked of other things as they drove.
    Fifteen minutes later, the car slid sideways onto the icy driveway.
    “Go on in and distract the boys,” Mike said. “I have something in the trunk I need to hide until the big night.”
    Marcus entered the house and was tackled within seconds by Mike’s two sons, dark-haired Dean, age twelve and David, seven , his hair the same color as Mike’s and Marc’s own .
    “Attention, men! Are we going to have a snowball fight tomorrow, or what?” He hugged each in turn.
    “Yeah! And, I’ll win, Uncle Marc,” David predicted. He reached down to pick up the bag Marcus had dropped near the door .
    “No, you won’t—I will, kid,” his older brother countered , playfully shoving David away .
    Marcus couldn’t stop beam ing at his nephews. “Hey, Dean, stand up here next to me. Has your dad been sticking you on the rack? You’ve grown at least a foot since last spring.”
    The boy stood up straight . “He let me do a ride-along last month. I want to join the force after high school.”
    “You mean after college, don’t you?” Evelyn joined them in the living room and poked her older son’s ribs.
    Marcus ruffled his younger nephew’s hair. “What about you, David? Do you want to be a cop, too?”
    The younger boy shook h is head. “Don’t you remember? I’m going to be an architect. I’ll show you my models, if you want.”
    “ Good idea. How about tomorrow?”
    “Boys, let’s get Uncle Marc to the table so he can eat. He’ll beat you both at snow fort fights tomorrow.” Evelyn raised a wine glass in his direction , the question in her eyes , as Mike entered the house and hung up his coat .
    Marcus nodded.
    The boys led him into the dining room, where the table was already set. Through out dinner, he regaled his brother’s family with his sabbatical at the Library of Congress . Their questions and laughter warmed him, reminding him of similar gatherings when his parents were alive.
    The next day, more snow added another coating to the trees. Marcus helped David build a snow fort, from behind which they pelted Dean and Mike with snowballs. When Mike left to work the evening shift, Evelyn asked Marcus to sit with her while she cleaned the kitchen.
    “ Now that the boys aren’t monopolizing you, tell me more about your book. I thought you had it half-done when you went home last summer .”
    He sighed. “It was, it is. I’ve been distracte d—with new course work , and other things.”
    “Mike says your distraction has a name.” She turned toward him between trips to and from the sink. “What’s she like?” She smiled and brushed her dark hair off her face.
    The hesitation he’d felt earlier in talking about Amanda slid away in the warmth of Evie’s quiet interest.