bright spots of pink dotted her cheeks. “Where it can get hinky is when you let it go farther.”
Chapter Ten
M ickie eased back into the shadows of the hall and gave Addie a silent high-five. But by the time she and her friend reached the living room, her joy had begun to sputter.
Over the years, Mickie had experienced her share of disappointments. Just because Rachel was agreeable to being friends with Derek at this moment didn’t mean she’d be agreeable tomorrow. After all, look how she’d been to him at the store.
“The boys are fighting again,” Addie sniffed.
Mickie pulled her thoughts back to the present, just in time to see Caleb grab a cell phone from his brother’s hands, then leap from the sofa, his twin on his heels.
“Give it to me,” Connor growled, holding out his hand.
“No,” Caleb shouted, hiding the cell phone behind his back.
Mickie sighed. If this didn’t get settled, she wouldn’t be able to hear the television, much less talk to Addie about Rachel and Mr. Rossi. She stepped in front of Caleb. “Why won’t you give Connor the phone?”
“Cuz he wants to text Travis and ask him if he’ll take us to the movies Friday night.” Caleb settled his gaze on his brother. “Stupid dodo head.”
Mickie stared. The boy’s eyes sparkled. It was almost as if Caleb enjoyed calling his brother names.
“You’re the stupid one.” Connor glared at his twin. “Everybody texts.”
“Yeah, but they can spell,” Caleb retorted.
Mickie glanced at Addie for interpretation of little-boy-speak.
“They’re in kindergarten,” Addie said in a stage whisper loud enough to reach any back row. “They don’t know how to spell big words, like movies. ”
“That’s why I said we should call Travis,” Caleb said.
Mickie turned to Connor. “Forget texting until you’re in first grade.”
Connor expelled a harsh breath. “Fine,” he said through clenched teeth. “Speed dial six.”
The boys, along with their mother’s phone, disappeared down the hall.
Rachel expelled a heavy sigh and sank into the soft sofa.
“What’s the matter with you? You should be twirling right now.” Addie flung out her arms and gave a little spin. “Didn’t you hear? Your mom agreed to be Mr. Rossi’s friend.”
Her mom. Although Rachel wasn’t her mother—notyet anyway—Mickie liked the sound of the words. She held the hope close to her heart even as worry coursed through her veins. “But she already told him she didn’t want to see him again.”
“No worries,” Addie said with a dismissive wave. “My mommy says men don’t listen very well.”
Mickie paused. She’d never heard that before, but it made sense. Aunt Amy had told Uncle Wayne to do lots of things—sometimes in a very loud voice—but he never seemed to do any of them, so maybe Addie was right.
“It has something to do with being a boy,” Addie continued. “I don’t think their ears work the same as girls.”
Mickie thought for a moment. Although Rachel had been looking right at Mr. Rossi when she’d said those horrible words to him Monday morning, he hadn’t gotten upset. And today he’d been very nice to both of them.
He acted as if…Mickie’s heart picked up speed…as if he’d never heard Rachel say she didn’t want to see him again.
Mickie trembled with excitement…and relief. There was still hope. Still a chance that she could end up staying in Jackson Hole with Rachel and Mr. Rossi. Still a chance they could be a family.
Rachel pulled into the parking lot of the National Museum of Wildlife Art, wondering if she’d ever really know what made little girls tick. Since Mickie had first come to stay with her, Rachel had tried to interest the ten-year-old in going through the museum without success. Then two minutes ago they were driving downHighway 89 when the girl practically jumped out of her seat insisting she really, really, really wanted to stop.
“It’s a cool place.” Rachel stepped from the
Chapter Ten
M ickie eased back into the shadows of the hall and gave Addie a silent high-five. But by the time she and her friend reached the living room, her joy had begun to sputter.
Over the years, Mickie had experienced her share of disappointments. Just because Rachel was agreeable to being friends with Derek at this moment didn’t mean she’d be agreeable tomorrow. After all, look how she’d been to him at the store.
“The boys are fighting again,” Addie sniffed.
Mickie pulled her thoughts back to the present, just in time to see Caleb grab a cell phone from his brother’s hands, then leap from the sofa, his twin on his heels.
“Give it to me,” Connor growled, holding out his hand.
“No,” Caleb shouted, hiding the cell phone behind his back.
Mickie sighed. If this didn’t get settled, she wouldn’t be able to hear the television, much less talk to Addie about Rachel and Mr. Rossi. She stepped in front of Caleb. “Why won’t you give Connor the phone?”
“Cuz he wants to text Travis and ask him if he’ll take us to the movies Friday night.” Caleb settled his gaze on his brother. “Stupid dodo head.”
Mickie stared. The boy’s eyes sparkled. It was almost as if Caleb enjoyed calling his brother names.
“You’re the stupid one.” Connor glared at his twin. “Everybody texts.”
“Yeah, but they can spell,” Caleb retorted.
Mickie glanced at Addie for interpretation of little-boy-speak.
“They’re in kindergarten,” Addie said in a stage whisper loud enough to reach any back row. “They don’t know how to spell big words, like movies. ”
“That’s why I said we should call Travis,” Caleb said.
Mickie turned to Connor. “Forget texting until you’re in first grade.”
Connor expelled a harsh breath. “Fine,” he said through clenched teeth. “Speed dial six.”
The boys, along with their mother’s phone, disappeared down the hall.
Rachel expelled a heavy sigh and sank into the soft sofa.
“What’s the matter with you? You should be twirling right now.” Addie flung out her arms and gave a little spin. “Didn’t you hear? Your mom agreed to be Mr. Rossi’s friend.”
Her mom. Although Rachel wasn’t her mother—notyet anyway—Mickie liked the sound of the words. She held the hope close to her heart even as worry coursed through her veins. “But she already told him she didn’t want to see him again.”
“No worries,” Addie said with a dismissive wave. “My mommy says men don’t listen very well.”
Mickie paused. She’d never heard that before, but it made sense. Aunt Amy had told Uncle Wayne to do lots of things—sometimes in a very loud voice—but he never seemed to do any of them, so maybe Addie was right.
“It has something to do with being a boy,” Addie continued. “I don’t think their ears work the same as girls.”
Mickie thought for a moment. Although Rachel had been looking right at Mr. Rossi when she’d said those horrible words to him Monday morning, he hadn’t gotten upset. And today he’d been very nice to both of them.
He acted as if…Mickie’s heart picked up speed…as if he’d never heard Rachel say she didn’t want to see him again.
Mickie trembled with excitement…and relief. There was still hope. Still a chance that she could end up staying in Jackson Hole with Rachel and Mr. Rossi. Still a chance they could be a family.
Rachel pulled into the parking lot of the National Museum of Wildlife Art, wondering if she’d ever really know what made little girls tick. Since Mickie had first come to stay with her, Rachel had tried to interest the ten-year-old in going through the museum without success. Then two minutes ago they were driving downHighway 89 when the girl practically jumped out of her seat insisting she really, really, really wanted to stop.
“It’s a cool place.” Rachel stepped from the
Similar Books
