A Season of Angels Page 0,52

eyes brimming with a smile. "If Timmy's busy with the video machines, we'll have a chance to talk."

Jody already guessed as much, but was uncomfortable having him say it out loud. Agreeing to this outing had been an enormous decision for her.

She'd been afraid to accept, but more afraid not to. Afraid of what she was becoming, afraid of what she already was. She'd stood in one place for so long she feared she'd rooted there like the flower garden she so carefully tended. Bit by bit, Glen was urging her forward. Each step was agony. Each step momentous.

"It hasn't been so bad, now, has it?" Glen asked, coaxing her into admitting the truth. Even that didn't come easy.

"It has been fun," she agreed. Timmy had certainly enjoyed himself, downing an amazing five pieces of sausage and pepperoni pizza and a huge cola. Jody didn't know where he managed to put it all. Generally when they ordered a medium-size pizza it was enough for two meals.

"Would you feel comfortable enough to go out with me again?" Glen asked, and his eyes held hers steadily until she couldn't bear it any longer and looked away.

Glen was pressing his advantage and deliberately pushing her, forcing her to stretch her boundaries. This was only the beginning, she realized with a hundred forming regrets. From here on out it would only get more difficult, more threatening.

It certainly wasn't going to get any easier. Soon Glen would want to hold her and kiss her, and if she continued to date him, he'd consider it a natural conclusion to their spending time together.

He hadn't made any secret of what he was after. He wanted a wife and a family, and he'd said so from the first. Part of her attraction was her son. Glen and Timmy got along like gang busters. Glen was literally the answer to her son's prayer. That was the crux of the problem. Jody wasn't dating Glen for herself, but for her son. Now she had to learn to do so for herself.

"I was able to get two tickets to The Nutcracker."

"The Nutcracker?" Jody repeated, her voice no more than a breath of sound. The ballet was performed each December by the Pacific Northwest Ballet, and was said to be both charming and brilliant. For years Jody had heard how captivating the costumes and music were. Everyone she'd ever known who'd attended had come away filled with the Christmas spirit. Since Jeff's death, Christmas had been a season to endure, not one to enjoy. Something told her this year it would be different.

"They're for this Thursday night. I realize it's a week night, but I was lucky to get those."

"I . . ." The temptation was strong, stronger than she expected. "I'm honored that you'd ask me," she said, hedging, trying to decide if she should continue this relationship.

"Then you'll come?"

A tension-filled minute passed before she agreed with a short nod of her head.

Jody watched the play of glad emotions on Glen's face, watched how he struggled to disguise his excitement, and in that moment she realized she'd crossed the line.

This was the beginning for them.

Everything else that had led up to this moment had been a prelude of what was to come. The time was right. It had been for a good long while, but she'd been too stubborn to accept it. As odd as it sounded, she was too comfortable in her grief to recognize what was happening.

There was no turning back now. Any qualms she experienced would need to be met head-on, one at a time.

Glen must have realized how momentous her decision was because he reached across the table for her hand, squeezing her fingers. "You won't regret this," he whispered. "I promise."

"I don't know why you want to go out with me," she said, her voice small and trembling. She bit into her bottom lip in an effort to keep it still.

"You don't understand?" Glen frowned as if dumbfounded by the question. "You're a beautiful woman, a woman of character and strength. Every time I'm with you I'm struck by your courage."

Jody laughed nervously. "Then why am I frightened out of my wits?"

"Because this is all so new, but I'm not going to push you into anything you don't want. Oh, I'll prod and poke and nudge you along from time to time, but you have my word, I won't rush you into anything you don't want."

"Mom." Timmy's voice echoed across the room sounding as though it