He looked at Emily, putting his hands behind his back and crossing his fingers that she wouldn’t give Natalie a hard time and ruin his chances with her.
“Okay,” said Emily.
Wow, that had been easy. He let out the air he’d been holding in his mouth.
“We need two skeins of each color and size 5 needles. Do you have any at home?” Natalie asked.
“Your grandma might have some but just in case she doesn’t, let’s buy them because we don’t have a craft store in Timber Creek,” said Flynn.
He pulled out his wallet, but Natalie stopped him by putting her hand over his.
“This is my treat for all the meals you’ve offered me, and getting my car out of the ditch.”
“You don’t have to do that,” said Flynn.
She squeezed his hand. Oh boy, that felt so good.
“Please, really I want to.”
“What do you say, Emily?”
“Thank you, thank you.” She threw her arms around Natalie’s neck and kissed her cheek. A tear ran down Natalie’s face. Yeah, this woman might be ideal for both of them.
Chapter Eight
“Can we stop by to say hello to Shane and Lacey?” asked Emily on the drive home.
“Is that okay with you?” Flynn asked Natalie.
“Sure, I’m in no rush to get back to the motel.”
Flynn turned off the main road and headed down a road with one lone house. He pulled into the driveway and Natalie saw Malone written on the mailbox.
Flynn hadn’t even turned off the ignition when Emily got out of the truck and ran toward the house carrying the bag with the knitting wool in it. Natalie heard her not taking her finger off the doorbell, and then a pretty young woman with a loose fitting top stood in the doorway. Emily threw her arms around her and they hugged.
Flynn put his hand in the small of Natalie’s back as they walked up the pathway to the front door.
“Lacey, I’d like you to meet Natalie Stevens. She’s from Florida but looking to buy a house around here. Natalie, my sister-in-law, Lacey.”
Natalie shook her hand.
“Pleased to meet you, and come in,” said Lacey.
Emily immediately pulled Natalie into the living room and pointed at a photo in a frame. “Look, it’s me in a pretty dress.”
She’d obviously been a bridesmaid at her uncle’s wedding. A tear formed in her eye again when she saw how beautiful Emily looked in the dress and her hair piled on top of her head. She had the happiest smile on her face.
“My cousin’s in here,” said Emily rubbing Lacey’s belly.
“I bet you’re getting excited,” said Natalie.
“That, and a little nervous too. Do you have children?”
I do and here she is.
“Unfortunately, no.” That was the truth. She’d been made to give up this girl who had a wonderful view of the world and people and…
“Look, we got knitting wool and Natalie’s going to show me how to make a hat and boots for the baby,” said Emily opening up the bag.
“Oh my, blue, and Shane’s convinced it’s a girl.”
“It’s a boy,” said Emily.
Flynn pulled a face.
“Hey you guys want to check out the nursery? I’ve been working on the artwork for the walls.”
“I want to, I want to,” said Emily
Lacey led the way with Emily pulling the hands of both Flynn and Natalie.
Seeing the teddy bears stenciled on the wall and a changing table that had already been placed in the corner, Natalie felt suddenly depressed. Although she’d been in high school when she’d gotten pregnant, she’d wanted the baby so much. She’d wanted all the joy that went along with it, but had listened to her mother and all the reasons why she shouldn’t keep the baby. She bit her lip, doing her best to fight back the tears, thinking that she might never have a chance at another pregnancy again.
“Lacey’s a graphic designer,” said Flynn.
“She put drawings on my wall too,” said Emily. “Can we go see Uncle Shane on the way home?”
“Emily, he’s gone into Hamilton on sheriff’s business,” said Lacey.
“Can I stay to see him when he gets back?” she tugged on Flynn’s arm.
“Suddenly I’m no longer the number one guy in my girl’s life,” he said.
“I have a better idea, why don’t you stay for dinner and stay overnight? You can help me put together the mobile for the crib. And it will give your dad an opportunity to introduce Natalie to the nightlife in town.”
“Yeah, let me stay with them,” said Emily tugging on his arm again.
“Well, I guess me and Natalie will have to entertain ourselves tonight,” said Flynn.