Promise of Tomorrow by S. Dionne Moore Page A

Sam. “Oh yes, little man, you should try it sometime,” Jack admonished Sam with a playful swipe at the boy’s shoulder.
    â€œWhen you’re much older,” Alaina added, sending a warning look at Jack.
    Jack’s head jerked back, and he released a stream of hearty laughter.
    Alaina stamped her foot and crossed her arms. “Jack Kelly, you’re incorrigible.”
    He brushed the hair from his forehead and shrugged. “Got to teach him what courting a beautiful woman is all about.”
    Missy pulled on Jack’s free hand. “Momma used to do that to Papa. It makes me miss her.”
    â€œI didn’t mean to make you sad, Missy.” He squinted up at the sky. “Why don’t we get to picnicking before it rains again?”

Fifteen
    Taking Alaina out always filled Jack with great satisfaction. They visited the grocer, and he dipped into his hoarded fund of coins to purchase candy for the children and apples, cheese, and a bit of bread for everyone.
    He watched how Alaina interacted with others they met along the walk to the hill, both strangers and friends, and never failed to find himself endeared to her all the more for her kindness and gentleness of spirit. He found himself wondering how Charlotte Morrison could raise a child with a temperament so contrary to her own. But he knew life’s disappointments had dealt a blow to Charlotte that had shaped the person she’d become. Frank had been right. He must keep that in mind, though sometimes it was hard. Even harder to comprehend was the idea that Alaina might suffer a disappointment because of him. End up poor and miserable. He clenched his jaw. Not if he could help it.
    When they settled the blanket on the ground, she spread out the meager meal, and Jack felt hot shame. There should be more food. More candy for the children. Alaina should have better clothes. . . .
    She sent him a questioning look from her place next to young Missy, and Jack felt the sudden pressure of time being wasted. Perhaps he should go over his notes again. Though he’d turned his theory over to Mr. Fulton, he couldn’t keep at bay the nagging fear that he’d forgotten something. By the slant of the sun, he knew he had little time left in the day to review his plans before his shift started. He swept to his feet, threw his apple core far out into the tall grass, and stretched.
    Missy helped Alaina gather the remaining scraps of bread. She showed Missy how to tear the pieces into smaller bits and then scatter them for the birds. The child watched in wide-eyed wonder as a single cardinal floated down and hopped closer and closer, his bright little eyes on a good-sized crumb.
    Jack couldn’t help but smile at the child’s delight.
    Alaina sidled close and whispered, “I’m worried about Sam.”
    The boy was nowhere to be seen. “Where’d he go?” Jack asked.
    She pointed to the edge of the woods, where Jack caught a glimpse of Sam’s dark head among a thicket of tall grass. “I think he’s worried about his father.”
    Jack rubbed his forehead. He could well understand the boy’s concern and felt the claw of doubt scratch at his own mind when he considered Frank’s condition. “I’ll go talk to him, but I have to get back to town.” He caught Alaina’s gaze. “I can’t stop this feeling that I overlooked something in my notes.”
    He held his breath, hoping for her understanding. A sharp chill shot through him when Alaina, instead, turned away, back ramrod straight. He reached out a hand to turn her toward him but let it drop back to his side when his tongue found no words to console.
    He stepped around her and focused on retrieving Sam, but every footfall fanned the embers of his anger. Why couldn’t she understand? Didn’t his time with her this afternoon show how much he cared? The tender kiss and the smoky look in her eyes had seemed so full of