and Belle with Charity and Benjamin a few moments ago,” he said. “They accepted my invitation.”
“Oh, I see.” Samijo’s brow creased in thought. She turned to Parthena. “Would you like to have supper with us anyway?”
“I guess it would be okay.” It would keep her from having to watch Savannah and Leo grow closer. She shouldn’t feel that way, but she couldn’t help it. Her mind said one thing while her heart said another.
“Good, as long as it’s all right with your folks,” Samijo said.
Parthena smiled and forced herself not to look at Leo. Kind of hard to do when she knew full- well he was looking at her. She held her breath, as if that would make him stop.
It didn’t. “Are you sure?”
Great, now she had to look at him or everyone would know something was wrong. She raised her eyes to his and they locked. It was like getting struck by lightning. “Yes, um … I’m sure. Besides, I want to play with the girls.”
He glanced at Sadie and Lucy, still at Ma’s sides. “Yes, they are fun.” He locked gazes with her again. “Come to my house later. I have something for you.”
Her heart beat faster. “All right.”
Savannah’s eyes flicked between them. “Do you have something for me too?”
He laughed. “No. But I could …”
Savannah smiled flirtatiously and shrugged. “I guess I’ll just have to wait, then.”
Parthena looked away, her chest tight. This was torture! And so wrong – she had to stop feeling this way about the man. How was she supposed to do that?!
“Come to the house on your way to Samijo’s,” he said.
Parthena slowly nodded. “Very well.”
He looked concerned but said no more.
Savannah’s eyes darted between them before she turned to Ma. “Are you ready to give me another hat-making lesson?”
“I sure am,” Ma said. “Okay, you two, story time’s over.” She extracted herself from between the twins and stood.
“Awww,” one of them whined.
Samijo left the swing. “Come along, girls – we need to go home and start getting things ready for supper. We’re having a guest tonight.” She smiled at Parthena and headed for her children.
Parthena smiled back. “What time?”
“About six.”
“I’ll be there.”
“After you come by my house,” Leo reminded her.
Her heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice. This was unbearable! She had to stay away from him. Seeing him later wouldn’t help her. Maybe she should refuse? Tell him something came up? Or just not show up?
“I’ll see you later.” He turned to leave.
Parthena, her eyes on the porch again, looked up to find him staring at her again. She’d thought he was speaking to Savannah, but there was no sign of her cousin, or Ma. They must have gone into the house. How did she miss that?
“Give yourself time to stop at my house,” he added as Samijo and the twins started home. He joined her on the porch. “It’s something I’ve been working on for Sadie and Lucy,” he whispered.
Parthena, unable to take her eyes from his, nodded.
“I’ve been working on it for a while.” He took a step closer. “And don’t worry – you should have no problem carrying it.”
She nodded again. “What … what is it?” she whispered back, and quickly cleared her throat.
“I’ve been building them a dollhouse. But I wanted to give them some furniture I made, first.”
“What?”
He smiled. “I like carving things.”
“You … you do?”
“Yes, didn’t you know?”
“I … well … did you tell me?”
His eyes widened. “I’m sorry. I thought Savannah would have told you.”
“That you carve things?”
“Yes, I showed her a few pieces of my work.”
“She didn’t say anything.”
“That’s all right. She either forgot or it’s not an interest of hers.”
“That sounds like Savannah. If she’s interested in something, she tells everyone.” She shrugged. “So do I, for that matter.”
“One more reason the two of you get along so well,” he said.
“I suppose.”
He drew closer. “Something’s troubling you. You don’t have to tell me what it is, but I can tell something’s wrong.”
She stared at him. “How can you … oh, never mind.”
“You wear your heart on your sleeve, as they say.” He took another step closer.
She hadn’t left the swing, so it was hard to avoid him at this point. “I, I know.”
He sat and gazed at her. “But if you need to talk to someone, I’m here.”
She blinked, gaped, blinked again. No! She couldn’t tell him – it would ruin everything!
“Don’t look so surprised. I’m a good listener. Ask anyone.”
She fought down a smile. “That’s good to know.”
“There