Season of Change(97)

                “Listen, Ryan, I don’t want to worry you, but you need to know...”

                * * *

                “GIRLS, EVERYONE’S DOWN at the sheriff’s office ready to paint. We need to leave.” Slade had on a shirt, pants, and tie he’d splattered paint on several months ago when they’d wielded brushes on a float for the Harmony Valley Spring Festival. He stood by the door and looked at his Rolex for the fifth time in thirty seconds, wondering what Christine was doing.

                And chastising himself for wondering. And for not kissing her good-night the night before.

                Footfalls heralded the twins.

                Slade looked up. His jaw dropped and something that had been shut off inside his chest cracked open.

                They weren’t wearing matching outfits. They didn’t have matching hairstyles. Even their shoes weren’t alike. Faith wore jean shorts and a lavender T-shirt, with tennis shoes and sports socks, her jet-black hair in a high ponytail. Grace wore a hot-pink tank top over a blue cotton skirt with silver flats. Her hair was in a single low braid down her back. Both wore their gold baby bracelets.

                “You two look beautiful.” He’d finally broken through whatever barrier they’d erected, finally passed whatever test they’d given him. He couldn’t stop grinning. “It’s nice to see you express yourselves. You may be twins, but that doesn’t mean you have to do or wear or like the same things.”

                “What do you think Mom will say?” Faith worried her lip.

                “I’d hope she’d say what a great idea.”

                Grace looked at her sister. “See, I told you.”

                “Come on, everyone’s already there.” Slade shooed them out the door.

                “Here’s the town’s next bridegroom,” Flynn ribbed when Slade entered the sheriff’s office.

                “Dad, you’re getting married?” Grace rushed in his path, looking up at him with bright green eyes that were so much more alive than the day she’d arrived in Harmony Valley. She hugged him.

                Not to be outdone, Faith hugged him, as well. “Why didn’t you tell us you asked Christine?”

                Slade was so overjoyed at their first big display of affection toward him since they’d arrived that he almost couldn’t deny it. Almost. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t ask. Phil, the barber, told someone what you said yesterday about how I should consider marrying Christine, and by the time that tidbit made the rounds, it went from considering to actually asking.”

                “It’s a good idea,” Will said, not helping. “Christine’s great.”

                “And she seems to like you,” Flynn added, winking at his nephew, who sat in the corner and mumbled, “Girls.”

                Nate was stirring paint, not saying a word.

                “You don’t want to get in on this?” Slade asked the sheriff.

                “Nope. Whatever is or isn’t going on isn’t my concern.”

                “Finally.” Slade picked up a drop cloth and covered one of the old metal desks behind the counter. “Someone who minds their own business.”

                His cell rang. Slade stepped outside to answer it. It was another representative of another company interested in buying their wine permits.