Twins Under His Tree by Karen Rose Smith

Ellie,” she told everyone. “I seem to need six hands when these two are crying at the same time.”
    â€œSo when are you coming back?” Hillary asked, her short chestnut hair fringing her face.
    â€œProbably in November,” she answered, not knowing what the next months would bring.
    â€œYou take your time deciding,” Jon said. He was tall and lean with narrow black glasses that made him look scholarly.
    Hillary asked, “May I hold Sophie?”
    â€œSure.”
    Hillary took the baby and settled her in the crook of her arm, looking down on her with the affection moms feel for kids. “I believe these little girls are going to be petite.”
    â€œMaybe. Or they could eventually grow as tall as Troy.” Lily felt the need to mention his name, to bring him into the conversation.
    Jon leaned a little closer to her. “How are you doing, really?”
    â€œI’m okay. It’s just the world’s very different without Troy in it. Some days I expect that. Other days I expect him to come walking through the door, pick up Grace and Sophie, to figure out which one will look for his approval and which one won’t.”
    Hillary had obviously overheard. She said, “I’ll always remember Troy, Lily. I really cherish the table he made for me. It’s absolutely beautiful craftsmanship.”
    Lily vividly remembered the piece of Troy’s unfinished furniture still in storage. In fact, he’d been in the last stages of completing the plant stand she’d asked him to make when he was deployed. So much was unfinishedand Lily didn’t know how to complete the tapestry of the life that had been hers and Troy’s.
    Mitch had heard their conversation, too, and turned away, crossing to the refrigerator, closing the top on a juice bottle and setting it inside. His actions were slow and deliberate. She knew she’d brought up Troy to put a boundary around herself again, a boundary that would keep Mitch out. Why had she dropped in today? To catch up with old friends? Or to see him?
    As Hillary moved away, rocking Sophie and cooing to her, Lily’s gaze landed on Ellie, who was glancing toward her and then Mitch. No one else seemed to notice the vibes between Lily and Mitch, but apparently Ellie did.
    Lily hung out with her colleagues in the lounge for a while. They all wanted to take turns holding the twins and see if they could distinguish between the two. As Lily had suspected, Hillary asked Ellie to tell her all about the clothes she created.
    Stepping away from the group with Grace in her arms, Lily went in search of Mitch. He was her friend, and they would be working together when she returned. She had to keep communication open between them. She had to know what was going on in his mind. Maybe it had nothing to do with her. If it didn’t, she’d be relieved. At least that’s what she told herself.
    She found him in his office, at his computer. She stood there for a few moments, listening to Grace’s little soughing sounds, studying Mitch’s profile. Her gaze went to his hands as his fingers depressed keys. His left hand was faster than his right and she wondered if the fingers on his right hand hurt to use. What kind of pain did he experience on a daily basis? With what he’dtold her, she guessed his injuries had left repercussions. On the other hand, were the memories in his head more painful than anything physical injuries could cause? She wished he could talk to her about all of it. She wished—
    Moving into the room, she said, “You should still be on your lunch break.”
    â€œA fertility specialist never sleeps,” he joked. “I have a couple coming in this afternoon because the time is right.”
    â€œThey’re going the artificial insemination route?”
    â€œFor now. In vitro doesn’t fit into their budget.” His gaze went from Lily to Grace. “She seems content.”
    Lily