Midnight Caller - By Diane Burke Page 0,44

refused.

“You’re not the only one who is worried and scared,” Tess scolded. “We all are, but we’re going through this together. We’re family and that’s what families do. We need to be strong. We need to help one another. Don’t you think those children watch every move we make? They don’t miss a trick and we don’t need to be scarin’ them any more than they already are.”

“Your aunt’s right.” Patrick glanced at Tess and threw up his hands in mock surrender. “Yes, I’m agreeing with you. Don’t bother faking a heart attack because it isn’t going to happen again.” He looked at Erin. “Don’t you think we should hustle the children inside for lunch? I’ll put the bikes in the garage.”

Erin finally had a task to do. Something to occupy her mind for more than a moment. A reason to put one foot in front of the other and move forward. She patted the old man’s arm in gratitude as she passed him on her way to get the children.

Less than thirty minutes later, the five of them gathered around the kitchen table. Erin presented a platter of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, potato chips, apple slices and juice for the kids.

“Yay, my favorite,” Jack said, already mumbling with peanut butter stuck to the roof of his mouth.

Tess served the adults thick turkey sandwiches and coffee.

Erin examined the sandwich. Sour dough bread, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and, at least, two inches of meat.

“The woman knows the way to a man’s heart, doesn’t she?” Patrick asked no one in particular. He attacked his lunch with gusto.

“Tess,” Erin laughed. “You can’t possibly think I’m going to eat all this. I can’t even fit my mouth around it.”

“Pretend you’re mad,” Tess said. “Your mouth opens pretty wide when you’re yellin’.”

Erin grinned, squeezed the bread together as tightly as she could and took a bite. The first bite managed to stay down despite her roiling stomach. The second bite she actually enjoyed. By the time she finished, she was grateful her aunt had been so insistent. It was delicious and she hadn’t realized just how hungry she had been.

Jack’s plate was already half-empty. Amy played with her food but didn’t eat any of it. Erin slid closer to the child and picked up a sandwich triangle. “Here, Amy, take a bite of your sandwich.”

Amy turned her head away.

“C’mon, honey. It’s peanut butter and jelly.” She held the sandwich toward the child’s mouth.

Amy clamped her lips closed, pushed Erin’s arm away and turned her head.

Erin picked up a small slice of apple. “How about taking a bite of apple?”

“No.” Amy folded her little arms across her chest and ducked her head down so Erin couldn’t reach her mouth.

Erin sighed. She had forgotten how stubborn the child could be.

“Eat, Amy. It’s good,” Jack said.

Amy looked at Jack and shook her head no.

“You’ll be sorry.” He picked up the last wedge, waved it back and forth in front of his face. “Mmm-mmm,” he said, took a bite and smacked his lips.

Amy watched him.

Jack repeated his performance, peanut butter and jelly oozing out the corners of his mouth. “Yum.” He took another bite.

Amy lifted her sandwich, took a bite and grinned.

The adults laughed and clapped.

“See,” said Tess. “Adults don’t know anything, but Jack can do no wrong in Amy’s world.”

“That’s the way it should be,” Patrick said. “Follow the male lead.”

Tess lifted Patrick’s empty plate. “And to think I was just about to sweeten your coffee with my famous Irish recipe. But not anymore. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.”

Patrick laughed out loud.

Erin couldn’t help but smile at the interaction between them. Their friendship with each other seemed to grow with each passing day. Love blossoming at their age. Maybe there was hope for her yet. Tony’s face flashed into her mind.

Erin left her aunt to finish the dishes and she took the children to get washed and ready for their naps.

“Will you read us a story?” Jack asked.

Amy jumped up from her bed, grabbed a book, held it upside down and pretended to be reading.

“Jack, you know story time is for nighttime, not naps.” Erin took the book from Amy’s hands and tucked her back under the covers.

“I don’t want to take a nap.”

Erin sat on the edge of his bed. “Sure you do.”

“I do?”

“Uh-huh, because only rested children get to stay up late tonight, eat popcorn and watch The Little Mermaid.” Erin smoothed back his hair.

Jack squeezed his eyes tightly shut and pretended to