Promise of Tomorrow by S. Dionne Moore

to bide his time. He lifted his face to the sun and tried to reabsorb the lightheartedness he’d felt upon arrival. “Why don’t we go for a picnic in the mountains?”
    â€œA picnic?” Missy, closest to them, stopped so fast she slipped on the rain-soaked grass.
    Sam stooped to help her up. “A picnic?” But his expression was anxious.
    Jack didn’t understand Sam’s reaction and lifted an eyebrow at Alaina.
    Alaina held his gaze. “Isn’t there somewhere else we should go?”
    He caught the direction of her thoughts and gave Sam’s hair a tousle. “Sure. We’ll eat, and then we’ll go by and see your papa. How’s that sound?”
    But Sam didn’t respond. He stared off into the distance. Missy drew closer to her brother.
    â€œI think we should save the picnic for later,” Alaina suggested. They’re worried , she mouthed to him.
    Jack acquiesced. “To the hospital then.”
    â§
    When they arrived, they were told Frank was sleeping and they could not visit. A nurse did tell Jack that Frank’s fever had broken. A good sign, she had assured them.
    Missy and Sam sagged in disappointment at not being able to see their father.
    Alaina hoped the picnic would put a sparkle back into their eyes.
    Jack, seeming to sense the importance of diverting Missy and Sam’s attention, grabbed their hands and began chattering about visiting the grocer to buy candy. “But first. . .” Jack’s hand snaked out and tousled Sam’s hair. He withdrew and, quick as a wink, lunged back into a boxer’s crouch, hands fisted.
    The boy responded to the fun immediately and let out a flailing, sloppy right hook that Jack easily blocked.
    Alaina watched the fun with amusement.
    Missy rolled her eyes and planted her little hands on nonexistent hips. “I’m hungry.”
    Jack dove in toward Sam and caught the boy around his waist. He raised the boy over his shoulder and winked at Alaina. “Well, now that Sam is out of the way, I guess there’ll be more for us to eat. Right, Missy?”
    Sam squawked and began to kick his feet in protest.
    Jack laughed and let the boy slide to the ground.
    Nothing could hide the shine of joy in Sam’s eyes, and Alaina was reminded, again, how much she loved Jack’s fun side. If only she could lift the burden of his need for the promotion or to make the invention that would line his pockets with the money he so desperately wanted to lavish on her. No matter how many times she stated her contentment, it seemed to fall on deaf ears.
    Alaina combed her fingers through Sam’s mussed hair, but the boy grimaced and pulled back.
    â€œBest let her spiff you up, Sam. Women like to do that sort of thing.”
    Alaina cocked an eyebrow at him. “Oh?” She let her gaze slide over Jack’s hair. A sudden longing to straighten the lock flopped on his forehead brought immediate heat to her cheeks.
    He noticed. “Do I need spiffing?”
    She raised her chin. “I’m sure you do, but I’ll not be the one doing it.”
    Jack leaned in close to her ear. “A shame. I’ll make sure not to be spiffed when we marry. Then you can spend the day getting me straightened out.”
    She gasped and felt the receding heat of her previous blush flare back full force. But she couldn’t quite quell the tingle of excitement his outrageous comment stirred. To be his wife. Her heart raced with the thrill of it.
    Her gaze caught his and held. She felt herself wrapped in the warmth of his blue eyes. A small smile crooked the corners of his mouth. His hand closed over her forearm and slipped down to cradle hers. When he lowered his head a fraction, she tilted her head back even more. The touch of his lips brought a sigh to her throat.
    â€œYuck!”
    Alaina’s eyes flew open.
    Jack’s face, so close to hers, split into a huge grin, and he turned toward a disgruntled