Never Say Never by Tina Leonard Page B

you to think I mind fixing your meals, Dustin. It was just a comment to Holly that I thought a little more enthusiasm was needed when demanding her supper.”
    For a moment, she thought he might smile. But he didn’t, and after a second, he stood. Jill swallowed as he stared down at her.
    “I’ve got some things to finish up, but around three o’clock I’ll be back to get Joey.”
    Jill was so surprised she sat up, accidentally dislodging Holly from her bottle. Startled, this time the infant did let out an enraged cry.
    “What are you two going to do?” Jill asked over the din.
    Dustin glanced down at Joey, who was now looking up at him, his mouth open.
    “It’s time he and I had a man-to-man talk about women and their ways,” Dustin said.

Chapter Six
    “Oh, don’t let Dustin annoy you,” Eunice said as she shuffled over to take the seat he’d vacated beside Jill. Having been standing in the doorway, she’d heard her son’s parting shot to Jill. “He’s picking on you.”
    Relief filled Jill. “I’m glad you think so.”
    “I know so.” Eunice frowned for a second, the porcelain skin on her forehead furrowing a bit. “Although I’ve never seen him act this way around anyone before.”
    “Lovely.”
    Eunice looked at her. “It is rather strange, isn’t it? I mean, Dustin is a quiet person, but you seem to bring out a new side of him.”
    She wouldn’t know about a new side. It was hard enough to be comfortable with any of Dustin’s sides. Yet she thought she understood what Eunice was trying to say: that in Dustin’s own awkward way, he was trying to make her feel at home. Sort of like a sister, maybe.
    The sudden thought occurred to her that perhaps that wasn’t the way she wanted Dustin to view her at all. He had said once that he found her attractive—more attractive than he seemed comfortable with. Was he attracted to her as well?
    Or was that wishful thinking on her part? The man was so clearly still mourning his wife that the idea didn’t seem likely.
    Joey had finished with the candy canes and was now searching the paper bag for more decorations. He pulled out a tiny angel, his face joyous. “Oh, I like her.”
    “She goes on the top,” Jill instructed.
    Lifting Holly to her shoulder, Jill watched as the boy put the angel on the top. Actually, the little tree had a lot of life now that it was completely decorated. She smiled at him, enjoying his delight with the whole process. “That’s the prettiest tree I’ve ever seen, Joey.”
    He loved hearing that, Jill could tell. With one finger, he gently caressed the angel’s yellow-string hair. “Me, too.”
    Holly let out a bubble of air, so Jill shifted her. “Here. Let me have her now,” Eunice said, already reaching for the infant.
    Jill let her have the baby, then knelt to gingerly pick up Joey’s handiwork. Placing the tree on an antique table sitting between two velvet-covered chairs, she stood back to observe it for a moment. “All we need now is a tree skirt.”
    “Can we make one, Jill? Can we, can we?”
    She smiled. “Maybe.”
    “I just happen to have a small piece of red felt we could cut into a circle,” Eunice offered. “There are also sequins upstairs in my sewing cupboard if that would help.”
    “It would help us, wouldn’t it, Joey?” Jill turned to give the elderly woman an appreciative smile.
    “I can’t help but think your parents are going to be proud of everything you’re doing around here. I know we certainly appreciate all your hard work, Jill. You’ve lifted all our spirits.”
    Jill had forgotten about her parents’ impending visit. Now that she remembered about it, her little plastic Christmas tree seemed a bit forlorn to her. But she smiled for Eunice’s benefit.
    “Well, then, Holly,” Eunice said, “how about you and I go up to peruse the cupboard? I promise you’ll find more bits and pieces of things babies shouldn’t put in their mouths, but just so you’ll be in the holiday