Willow Brook Road(85)

“I suppose not,” he agreed, though he still looked concerned.

“You’re thinking you should rush right home, aren’t you?”

“Should I? Is the fact that I left to see you going to go on some list she’s keeping of my questionable parenting?”

“You have to trust your instincts, but mine are telling me that all Susie wants is to spend time with Bobby and to have a relationship with him. You’ll have to watch that the attachment doesn’t get too intense or that she doesn’t go overboard with the presents again, but beyond that, the Susie I’ve known my whole life would never do anything to hurt anyone. And I can’t imagine her trying to take him from you, any more than I would have.”

Sam gave her a wry look. “That remark I made at Shanna and Kevin’s house is going to come back to haunt me, isn’t it?”

“It could come up from time to time,” she said, “when you need to be reminded about leaping to conclusions. Of course, I was guilty of the same thing where you were concerned. We’re okay now that we know each other better.”

“You think this thing with Susie will eventually work itself out?”

Carrie thought about that. She honestly couldn’t say. If Susie focused all her attention on Bobby and continued to refuse to consider another adoption, how healthy would that be? That was a question for someone a whole lot wiser than she was.

“Eventually,” she said, though with more hope than conviction.

“Maybe I’ll just touch base with Mack, see how things are going at the house,” Sam said. “It’s the first time I’ve left Bobby with anyone other than you. I’ll tell him that, so he doesn’t jump to the conclusion that I don’t trust him or Susie. Or figure out that you’ve filled me in.”

“Good idea.”

Sam made the call, looking more and more relieved as he listened to Mack’s responses. “If you’re sure things are under control. I might stick around the pub and have dinner with Carrie. Do you mind?” He listened intently, then smiled. “Sure, order a pizza. That’s Bobby’s favorite, so that would be great. Thanks.”

He disconnected the call, put the phone back in his pocket, then focused on her. “Looks as if we can finally have that date. Maybe I should be thanking Susie, instead of worrying about her.”

“I let you join me,” Carrie reminded him. “Nothing was said about dinner or a date.”

A sparkle lit Sam’s eyes. “Carrie, would you like to have dinner with me? Then I can walk you home after, maybe even steal a kiss at your front door. That seems like a reasonable first date.”

“Mighty big plans,” she commented.

“A first step,” he corrected. “The big plans are for much later.”

“And what if I don’t kiss on the first date?”

“I’ll see if I can change your mind. I can be pretty persuasive when I put my mind to it.”

“An interesting challenge. So, what’s the timetable for these big plans of yours?”

“I was thinking down the road a day or two at least,” he said, chuckling. “But I’m a guy. I’m happy to speed the process along.”

Carrie laughed, but she had a little trouble catching her breath. She liked where this seemed to be heading. The old wisdom seemed to be true; the right man sometimes did come along just when a person stopped looking.

Sam’s expression sobered. “So, what’s the decision? Will you join me for dinner and whatever comes after?”

“Let’s start with dinner and see how it goes.”

He reached for her hand and held it. “I think it’s going to go very well.”

Carrie couldn’t seem to stop herself from nodding in agreement. For an evening that had started out fraught with tension, it was definitely turning around into something very intriguing.



Sam listened to Carrie going on and on about her plans for the day-care center. Her enthusiasm was contagious. He could envision exactly what it was going to look like when renovations were completed and what the children in her care would be doing every minute of the day.

She stopped for breath. “I’m boring you to tears, aren’t I?”

“Absolutely not. It’s wonderful to see you so caught up in your plans. You’ve obviously found your passion. From what you told me when we met, it’s something you were struggling with.”

“I truly think I have,” she said. She glanced at the untouched food on her plate. “Of course, because I’ve been talking so much, my food’s gone cold. How about you? Tell me about your passion, while I eat. Was web design it for you from the very beginning, the thing you knew you were meant to do?”