Tuesday's Child Read Free Page A

he lifted her off the floor in a bear hug. His blue eyes filled with sorrow as he looked the child over, making sure she really was all right. One hand held her tightly, the other patted the hat she still wore.
    Adeline angled herself so she could read both sets of lips.
    “Hey, pumpkin.”
    “Are you cross with me, Uncle Nate?”
    “Well…”
    “I’ve been really good. I couldn’t go to Sophie’s house because she’s sick. I made lunch and put the things in the washdisher afterwards. And I didn’t use the oven because you said not to if you weren’t there.”
    “Dishwasher,” Nate corrected.
    “Dishwasher,” Vianne repeated. “This is Dr. Adeline. She’s fixing Amelia Jane and this is Ben. He’s her special hearing dog.”
    Nate put Vianne down and held out a hand to Adeline. “DS Holmes. Pleased to meet you, Miss Monroe. I’m sorry I’m later than I originally said. Something cropped up in the case I’m working.”
    Adeline shook his hand. His cool grip was firm, and she watched his gaze size her up. He was gorgeous. His full lips moved almost in slow motion, and she wondered for a moment what it would be like to feel them on hers.
    I’ve read way too many romance novels in which many of the heroines have a size eight figure with hardly a flaw in sight. In the old days, women over thirty were like me, spinsters, chunky and a size sixteen. Top heavy and pear shaped. How can I compete with that? Kind of hard to like the way I look with all the supermodels in the papers and magazines.
    She dragged her thoughts back to the man in front of her and the reason he was here. Collecting his niece. “And you, Sergeant. And please don’t worry about the time. You have an important job.” Somehow she managed to get her voice to work.
    “Thank you for looking after Vianne. I’m sorry if she was a bother.”
    “She was as good as gold. Not a bother at all.”
    Nate turned and looked at Vianne and spoke quickly, his face angled so Adeline couldn’t see what he said.
    Vianne scowled at him and stomped over to a chair by the door.
    Nate faced Adeline again. “How much do I owe you for the doll?”
    “I’ll do you an invoice. We open the ward for the children to visit between two and four every afternoon bar Sunday.” She shuffled the papers on the reception desk. “I could have the invoice ready for you by tomorrow, once I’ve had a proper look at the doll. I’ll ring when she can go home. It should be around three to four days, to allow the glue time to set and for the paint to dry properly.”
    Movement from the door caught her eye. She glanced behind Nate to see Vianne waving at him. “…we come visit, please, Uncle Nate?”
    A shadow filled his eyes as he gazed at Vianne. When he turned back, Adeline realized she’d missed part of what he was saying. “…taken up enough of your time. Thank you again.” He moved to the door.
    Vianne got to her feet and took his outstretched hand. She looked directly at Adeline as she spoke. “Thank you for having me, and thank you for fixing my knee, and for looking after Amelia Jane.”
    Adeline smiled. “You’re welcome.” The light flashed to signify the door opening and as it closed, she looked down at Ben. “Well, I guess he had a bad day at work. He never seems that sad or grumpy in church.”
    Jasmine came into reception, pulling on her coat. She looked at Adeline, signing as she spoke. “Everything’s locked up tight. Was that Nate Holmes I just heard?”
    “Yes.” Adeline signed rapidly in response. “How do you know him?”
    “Other than from church, he’s Dane’s partner. He’s also one of the elders. You’ve seen him serving communion, just probably never realized he’s a cop. It’s not something he tends to advertise. Is everything all right?”
    “Everything’s fine. He came to pick Vianne up. You know, she didn’t take the hat off once, despite it being soaking wet.”
    “That doesn’t surprise me. I’ve never seen her without