Once Upon a Family Read Free Page A

outdoors, had just begun to show a five o’clock shadow. She could visualize him riding a horse, a Stetson pulled down low to shadow those eyes that held an intensity in them, as though they could probe a person’s innermost thoughts. “How young a puppy?”
    “I’m guessing about three or four months.”
    “A mutt?”
    “Part black Lab and part something I can’t tell.”
    “Then he’ll be a big dog.”
    “He’s a she and yes, she’ll be a good size. I only mentioned the puppy because I know Sarah has a big backyard with a fence.”
    “You know my aunt?” Sounds of footsteps poundingdown the stairs echoed through the house. Laura turned her attention toward the entrance.
    “Mom, Matthew’s cheating again.” Joshua, the older of her seven-year-old twins by a whole nine minutes, rushed into the room with his brother on his tail.
    “No, I’m not. He’s lying again. I won the game fair and square. He’s a sore loser.” Her other seven-year-old glared at his twin.
    “Just in case you two didn’t notice, we have a visitor. Joshua, Matthew, this is Sean’s principal, Mr. Stone.”
    Both boys’ green eyes grew round while Matthew said, “We knew he was in big trouble.”
    “Yeah, what did he do now?” With bright red hair spiked on top and freckles sprinkled across his face, Joshua approached Peter. “He’s always getting into trouble.”
    “I’m here to visit with your mother.”
    Peter’s words stunned Laura. Her eyes grew as round as her sons’.
    “If Sean’s not in trouble, then why is his door closed?” Matthew joined his brother at his side.
    “And he didn’t say anything at dinner, either.” Joshua nodded once as though that validated in his mind that Sean had done something wrong.
    Still grappling with the fact that Peter Stone had said he had come to see her, Laura didn’t respond. Peter shrugged and answered the twins, “Beats me.”
    As if suddenly bored with the conversation, both boys spun on their heels and raced from the room, but not before Laura heard Joshua say, “Wait till Sean hears his principal is here visiting Mom.”
    The sound of sneakers pounding up the stairs faded as the twins headed for Sean’s bedroom and started pounding on his door. Her oldest yelled at his brothers to get lost.
    Peter’s chuckle drew her attention. “You have your hands full. They are very…lively.”
    She laughed. “Among other things. I’ve gotten a few gray hairs because of them.”
    “I’m sorry if I made the situation worse.”
    “You could have said you came here for Sean. They’ll find out soon enough that he’s suspended and why.”
    “It’s not my place to say anything about what Sean did at school.” Peter sat on the edge of the couch, his gaze fixed on the stack of papers on the table before him. “Besides, if I’m being totally honest, bringing his work was just an excuse. I really did come to see you.”
    Laura sucked in a deep breath, held it until her lungs burned, then slowly released it. “You did? Why?”
    “Since you’re new in town, I figured you didn’t know very many people and our meeting this morning in my office wasn’t any way to greet a newcomer.”
    Again his intense gaze drilled into her. Heat spread across her cheeks. For a moment she forgot about the four kids in the house. Across the few feet that separated them a connection sprang up as if that meeting in his office had forged a link that already went beyond her son. Laura wished she could deny the response she felt, but she couldn’t. She began to wonder if her hair was neat, her clothes not too wrinkled.
    His mouth hitched into a half grin that did funnythings to her stomach. The kindness and concern she’d glimpsed earlier filled his expression. “Your Aunt Sarah and I go way back. She’s a special lady I’d do anything for.”
    She latched onto his words and focused her attention on them rather than the way he made her feel. “That’s the second time you’ve referred to my