Twins Under His Tree by Karen Rose Smith Page A

checked her watch. “Probably for about fifteen more minutes.”
    Rolling his chair back, Mitch stood and approached her. His large hand gently passed over Grace’s little head, his thumb brushing her strands of cotton-soft blond hair. “So you just decided to stop in or did you and Ellie have errands in the area?”
    â€œSophie and Grace had appointments with Tessa. Since we were in the building…” She trailed off.
    â€œYou wanted to stay in touch.”
    â€œI think it will be easier for me to come back to work in the fall if I do.” He nodded.
    â€œMitch…” She didn’t know what she wanted to say, or how to say it. “I need to talk about Troy.”
    â€œI know you do. That was another good reason for Ellie coming to stay with you.”
    â€œYou left the lounge and I thought—”
    â€œI told you I have clients coming.”
    â€œI know.” She felt so stymied for the right words tosay. She could say, I want to be around you, but when I am, I feel guilty. Yet that couldn’t come out because she and Mitch were both fighting becoming any closer.
    She bowed her head, placing a tiny kiss on Grace’s forehead, trying to figure out what she was doing in this room with Mitch and why she had actually stopped in today.
    Yet Mitch wouldn’t let her stand there, stewing in her own confusion. He slipped one knuckle under her chin and lifted it. “I think we’re both feeling things we don’t believe we should be feeling. You don’t know whether to run in the other direction or pretend we’re just friends.”
    â€œI don’t want to pretend!”
    His brows arched as he gave her a crooked smile. “That is the crux of it.”
    â€œLily.” Ellie was standing in the doorway with Sophie, studying the two of them standing close, Mitch’s finger under her chin.
    He quickly dropped his hand to his side while Lily turned to face her sister-in-law. “I know. They’re both going to start crying for lunch soon.”
    â€œIf you’d like to use my office, you can,” Mitch offered. “I have work to do in the lab.”
    Crossing to his desk and reaching for a file folder, he picked it up, then stopped in the doorway. “It’s good to see you again, Ellie.”
    â€œYou, too,” she said politely.
    Mitch stood there for a few moments as if waiting to see if Troy’s sister had something else to say. But she didn’t. After a last glance at Lily and the twins, he strode down the hall.
    Lily waited, not knowing if Ellie might have something to say to her. But her sister-in-law just moved toward the door. “I’ll get the diaper bag.” Then she was gone, too, leaving Lily with Grace in Mitch’s office with very chaotic thoughts and feelings.
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    â€œThey sure like those swings,” Angie observed a week later as Lily came into the kitchen and watched her putting together a casserole for lunch.
    Lily stirred the white sauce she was cooking and glanced over at her content daughters. “They’re settling into a real schedule.”
    â€œWhere’s Ellie?”
    â€œShe went shopping to get material she needed.”
    Angie poured herself a cup of coffee and took a seat at the kitchen counter. “Mitch hasn’t been around for a while. Did you two have a fight or something?”
    Or something, Lily thought. “I saw him when I visited everyone at the practice.”
    â€œThat was a week ago. He stopped in to see Sophie and Grace every day when they were in the hospital and he worried about you. It seems odd he hasn’t called or dropped by more.”
    â€œI think he’s giving me space.”
    Angie studied Lily over her mug. “Do you want space?”
    â€œWe’re just friends.” If she repeated those words often enough, she might believe them.
    â€œI know that. And I know he’s watching over you because Troy asked