Roman's Vow (Riley's Pride #4) - Sandra R Neeley Page 0,70
year older than when he’d first met her in the truck stop Talie used to work in. “Hmm, let me think. What could we find for you to do?”
“I can help clean. And I can read to people. I’m good at reading. And I can make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!” Darcie said.
“You know what? Aunt Yvette is home alone a lot since she’s waiting to have her baby. Maybe we can see if she needs a little help when you get home from school tomorrow. She might like some company. You could help her while Uncle Richie is at work for a few hours.”
“Really? I would like that!” Darcie said.
“Then why don’t we go over there in the morning and see if she needs anything before school, and if she does, we’ll get it for her during the day and you can take it to her when you get home, and see if she needs you to do anything else while you’re there.”
“Okay!” Darcie said, sliding off his lap excitedly and turning to look at him. “I will be a good helper,” she declared.
“I’m sure you will!” Roman said, relieved he’d managed to distract her for at least a little while.
A little while later, after Darcie finally had her bath and fell asleep, Roman sat down to call Yvette.
“Hi, Roman,” Yvette answered.
“Hey, Yvette. I was wondering if you could use a little company tomorrow afternoon?” he asked.
“Sure,” she said, not completely understanding what he was getting at. “I’m always here, for now at least. Feel free to come on over.”
“Darcie is feeling a little insecure because I’m waiting for a call to go back to Ohio and she can’t go with me. She’s distracted herself by deciding that she needs to help here at home but says we keep treating her like a child. I told her since you’re home alone a lot right now, maybe she could find a way to help you for a little while,” Roman explained.
Yvette smiled on the other end of the phone. “I’d love for Darcie to come visit for a while. I’ll find something I need her to help with.”
“Thanks, Yvette. I appreciate that,” Roman said. “Even if it’s just make you a peanut butter sandwich she’d feel useful.”
Yvette chuckled. “You’re very welcome, Roman. It’ll be nice to have her here to distract myself for a while.”
“We’ll see you tomorrow then,” Roman said. “In the morning to see if you need anything, then after school for a visit?” he asked.
“Sounds good. I’ll be ready,” Yvette answered.
Chapter 16
Yvette was puttering around the kitchen, making herself a cup of tea when she heard a knock at her door. She smiled knowing it was most likely Darcie and Roman. It took her a minute, but she waddled over, peered through the peephole, then unlocked the door and opened it wide.
“Good morning!” Darcie said, smiling brightly.
“Good morning, Darcie. How are you today?” Yvette asked. Then she smiled at Roman who was standing a few steps behind Darcie. “Morning, Roman.”
“Morning, Yvette,” Roman replied.
“Aunt Yvette, I’m wondering if I might be able to help you do something? Not right now, but after school maybe,” Darcie clarified.
“Like what, baby?” Yvette asked.
“I don’t know. I could read to you, or make you a sandwich or something. Or I could clean. If I can reach it, I can clean it — I think,” Darcie added thoughtfully.
“Hmm,” Yvette said, pretending she was thinking about it. “You know what?” she said, acting like she’d just remembered something. “All my baby blankets for the baby… they fell over last night,” she said, stepping back and pointing to what was obviously a stack of previously folded baby blankets that had no reason to be sitting on the end of the sofa rather than folded neatly in the play pen where Roman knew for a fact he’d seen them last.
“I can fold them!” Darcie said excitedly.
“Can you? You know that’s a special job because they have to be just right for the baby,” Yvette said.
“I can! I’m sure of it,” Darcie insisted.
“Okay, then. If you could come back after school today and fold them for me, that would be great. Because it’s so hard for me to lean over right now,” Yvette said.
“Yeah, that’s because you look like you swallowed a basketball,” Darcie said honestly.
Yvette couldn’t help it, she started laughing. “Yes, and I feel like I swallowed one, too.”
“I hope your baby don’t come out round. That would be funny looking,” Darcie said.