A Family of Their Own - By Gail Gaymer Martin Page 0,21

Kids were kids. They competed. “Kids want to do what other kids do. I’m sure you went through that with Lucy.”

“I did.”

“So it’s…” He shrugged. “Difficult. I hate looking Peyton in the face and telling her she can’t do things, even though I know it’s for her own good.”

“Talk to your doctor, Ross. Maybe Peyton can do more than you think.”

“Maybe.” The hope he’d felt melted into apprehension. He gazed at Kelsey’s thoughtful face. Her long hair fell to her shoulders with only a slight wave, the part that annoyed her still present. She lifted her hand and drew her fingers through her hair as if she realized he was noticing the part.

“You’re an attractive woman. I suppose you know that.”

Her brows furrowed. “Me?” A quick shake of her head followed. “I’m rather plain, I think, but it’s nice to hear you say I’m not too bad-looking.”

Not too bad-looking. He wanted to rebut the comment, but he let it slip. “We’ve both led unique lives, haven’t we? When you don’t have a partner, it sometimes skews your attitudes.”

“Maybe we’re more practical then.”

“Maybe, but is that what life has to be? What about a little risk? Adventure? Outside the box? Even a little bit wild and crazy?”

Her eyes searched his. “And…?”

“And, I don’t know.” But he did know so why not say it? “I really enjoy your company. I like you. But we haven’t had time to get to know each other well.” He swallowed the rush of words charging from him. “Let’s do something…alone. Get sitters and spend time together.”

“Like a date.” A faint grin edged onto her face.

“Okay, a date.” He chuckled at his uneasy approach. “Would you go out with me?”

“Is this the wild and crazy thing you were talking about?”

“Not quite, but it could be the beginning of an adventure.” His heart raced as if he were standing in line for his first roller-coaster ride. “What do you say?”

“I’ve been known to put my toe outside the box once or twice.”

“Then it’s a yes.”

A smile filled her face as she nodded.

He slid his hand across the table and slipped it over hers. “We’re always talking in small snatches of conversation. It will be nice to start a topic and finish it without being int—”

“Mom.”

Lucy’s voice caught him off guard, making him laugh. Perfect timing.

Kelsey caught the joke, too, and pinched her lips together to stop herself from chuckling. “What, Lucy?”

“I’m out of money.”

Kelsey shrugged as she checked her watch. “That’s okay because we’re out of time.”

Ross understood her hint, but instead of disappointment, for once he rose from the chair with plans. He’d call to set a date and a time, but he had a date with Kelsey. A real date and not a foursome.

The sound of footsteps and shifted chairs filtered through Kelsey’s thoughts. She smiled and nodded as if nothing clouded her mind as the vote did today. She couldn’t call Ross and tell him again that the vote was a veto. When Lexie walked through the door, her look let Kelsey know that she hadn’t hidden a thing from Lexie. If she didn’t plant an altogether pleasant expression on her face, Ava would be all over her with questions.

“You okay?” Lexie’s voice snapped her to attention.

“Fine. You know it’s…”

No words were needed. Lexie knew and supported her decision to change her vote from the last one she’d made. She’d been opposed. Not anymore.

The two new women were back and that lifted her spirit although she had no idea if they were for or against her proposal. When the hands of the clock struck the hour, she stepped to the center and opened the meeting. Today she paid attention to what the members said about their children’s prognosis and the families’ situations. They applauded with good news and offered hope with the bad.

While the last person spoke, Kelsey calmed herself while being amazed that she cared that much. Before she knew Ross, she hadn’t flinched, voting no to the proposal. Her stomach constricted as she faced the truth. Too often, people didn’t care about those they didn’t know. Even churches willingly made casseroles for funeral dinners or donated to a church cause, but when it came to giving to the oppressed in other parts of the world or feeding the children of Haiti or India—other countries not predominantly Christian—they closed their eyes.

She tugged her thoughts away from the depressing topic and listened to the final report. “Thanks for sharing all the good news and sad