A Family of Their Own(20)
“Them meaning him and Peyton?”
“No, all of us. A movie and maybe ice cream after?” Kelsey managed not to smile when Lucy’s face lit up. Ice cream was her favorite treat. “Which movie?”
Kelsey stared at the ceiling. “It’s…the one with Emma Roberts. You should enjoy it. I think it’s a suspense or something.”
Lucy shrugged. “You really want me to do this?”
She nodded. “Peyton needs approval.” She raised her hand to stop Lucy’s comment. “I know it’s not easy, but be compassionate. She has a very nice dad so I’m sure she’s a nice girl.”
Lucy raised her eyebrows.
“With a few problems.”
Eyebrows lowering, Lucy gave a nod. “I know.” She drew up her shoulders. “When?”
“Tonight. It’s Friday. No school tomorrow. And remember. Ice cream.”
“Okay, Mom. But that wasn’t fair.”
Kelsey chuckled. “I know. But the ice cream was Ross’s idea not mine.” She headed for the door and pulled it open. “Finish what you’re doing and get ready. I’ll tell Ross.”
After she closed the bedroom door, she leaned against the wall, hoping to discard the random thoughts charging through her head. All of them involved Ross. Where could this relationship lead? And what kind of relationship did Ross intend? Since Lexie’s wedding, their meetings had been like playdates—parents taking their kids to the local park to ride the slides and swings. Is that all it was? If so, did she want that kind of acquaintance?
Sometimes her heart skipped a beat when she pictured Ross. The idea added excitement to her life and stirred her awareness to realize that romance might feel good in her life if she could learn to trust again. Ross had become a faithful friend. His devotion to Peyton, even the love he still held for his wife, registered a good feeling in Kelsey. Yet the relationship lacked too much. Two people needed time to develop a solid friendship before it grew into something more. But already her heart had gotten tangled up in the situation. Was it feelings for Ross or Peyton? When she closed her eyes, his face appeared—not his daughter’s.
She pushed herself from the wall, her stride slower than when she left. Guarding her heart needed to be a priority. Nothing should distract her from Lucy’s needs, both as her only parent and as a caregiver. Thankfulness for Lucy’s recent health billowed in her mind. Lucy had been well for months. She thanked God for the blessing.
When she entered the living room, Ross’s head snapped up, his eyes searching hers. She nodded. “It’s fine.” She approached him and sank into the chair she’d vacated. “Have you talked with Peyton?”
“I did before I left. I’ll call Mrs. Withers. She’s with Peyton and will tell her to get ready.”
“Would you like some coffee? I have a pot made.”
“Thanks. That sounds good.”
He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket as Kelsey headed for the kitchen. The dishwasher from the dinner dishes had grown silent. She opened the door but closed it again. Ross didn’t need that much time for his call and she would put the dishes away later. Instead, she poured coffee into two cups, and when she carried them back into the living room, Ross’s call had ended.
“Thanks.” He grasped the cup and rested his back against the chair. “She’ll be ready when we get there.” He took a careful sip of the hot coffee.
“Lucy’s finishing her math, and then we can go.” Their conversation had become stilted. She eyed Ross to see if he noticed, then decided it was her problem. Too much thinking. Like too much salt, that could ruin the soup, except in this case, the soup was her confusing relationship with him. She tasted the coffee and set the cup down.
“Do you ever wonder if you’re overindulgent with Peyton?” The question flew from her mouth like a disturbed bat and it was just as frightening when she heard the words.
Ross’s eyes widened and confusion registered on his face. “Do you think I am?” He gripped the cup as if it were a lifesaver.
Yes. Maybe. She didn’t know, but that wasn’t the question she meant to ask. “I think I’ve babied Lucy too much sometimes. I just wondered if you ever think that.”
Coffee sloshed from the cup to his leg but went unnoticed as he peered at her. “How can you overindulge a sick child?”
Irritation tinged his words, and Kelsey wished she hadn’t said it that way. “What I mean is, do we hover over them? Are we allowing our kids to learn to fend for themselves? They’re becoming teenagers, and they—”