Millionaire Husband Read Free Page B

quickly added, “but my tummy doesn’t hurt now. My tummy is smiling because it’s going to get cake.”
    “My tummy is smiling bigger,” Nick said.
    “Is not,” Jeremy said.
    “Is too,” Nick said.
    “Is—”
    “If your tummies don’t shut up, you might not get cake,” Emily pointed out.
    Complete silence followed. For sixty seconds.
    The doorbell rang.
    “Is not,” Jeremy whispered.
    “I’ll get it,” Emily said, bounding from the kitchen.
    Amy frowned as she set plates of cake in front of each twin. “Who could that—”
    “It’s Ms. Hatcher,” Amy yelled from the foyer.
    Amy’s stomach sank.
    She felt Justin’s curious gaze on her. “Hatcher?”
    “One of the social workers,” she whispered. “I don’t think she likes me.”
    He stood. “Why do you need a social worker? You’re the closest living relative, aren’t you?”
    Amy nodded. “Yes, but my sister didn’t have a will, so it’s complicated.” She glanced at the cake and winced. “She won’t approve of the cake.”
    “Cake?” Justin echoed in disbelief. “What’s wrong with cake?”
    Amy shoved her hair from her face with the back of her arm. “She’ll find something.”
    At the sound of heavy footsteps, Amy greeted the social worker with a bright smile. “Ms. Hatcher, what a surprise. We were just having dessert. Would you join us?”
    The older woman gave a sharp glance to the boys and the messy chocolate cake. The boys’ faces and hands were covered with chocolate. She sniffed in disapproval. “Sweets at this time of night will make it difficult for the children to sleep.” She looked down her nose at Amy. “And it’s unsafe for little Emily to answer the door. You should know better.”
    “I was cutting the—” Amy began and stopped. She didn’t know why Ms. Hatcher so easily succeeded in making her feel inadequate. Amy had been trained to teach, and although she hadn’t been trained to mother, she was determined to be the mother her niece and nephews desperately needed. “I’m sure you noticed that Emily may answer the door, but she doesn’t open it unless she knows the visitor. Is there anything else I can help you with?”
    “The health department will be making an inspection next week,” Ms. Hatcher grudgingly reported.
    Amy felt a trickle of relief. Progress, at last. “That’s great news. That means we’re one step closer.”
    “There are other steps in the process,” Ms. Hatcher reminded her, glancing at Justin.
    He extended his hand. “Justin Langdon. I met Amy through her after-school program. I’m sure you’re familiar with the impressive results of her work.”
    Surprised at the alliance he offered, Amy met his green gaze and sent him a silent thank-you.
    “I’m aware that Ms. Monroe has set a full plate for herself,” Ms. Hatcher said. “You may see me to the door,” she said to Amy.
    Amy followed the woman to the foyer and endured Ms. Hatcher’s lecture. After the social worker left, Amy leaned against the door. It was amazinghow one person’s presence could suck all the joy out of the air. Amy resented it. She didn’t understand what Ms. Hatcher had against her. Although their first encounter hadn’t been stellar, the woman couldn’t seem to get past it. Amy knew the woman didn’t approve of her. She disapproved of Amy’s youth and the fact that she wasn’t married. She seemed to disapprove of everything about Amy, yet the woman clearly didn’t have valid grounds to prevent Amy from gaining custody of the children. The only thing Ms. Hatcher could do was make things difficult for Amy, and that was what the woman was doing.
    Amy sighed and returned to the kitchen. The twins were licking their fingers and Emily had eaten the frosted perimeter and left the un-frosted center on her plate. All three faces were smudged with chocolate, all three content. Amy’s heart twisted. Heaven help her, she loved these kids.
    “We hated it,” Justin said in a deadpan voice, lifting