Because Of The Twins.... Carole Halston
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could guess from his expression that he’d never before in his life felt any less enthusiasm for a meal out.
“Isn’t that sweet? The little darlings fell sound asleep in front of the TV.” Holly’s tender smile lingered on her lips as she looked over at Graham. After returning to his condo, the adults had gone into the kitchen to clean up the mess made at breakfast. Finished, they’d come out into the living room and found the twins napping on the floor.
Lunch at the fast-food restaurant had undoubtedly proved to be about as bad as Graham had expected. Jennifer and Justin had managed to spill their cartons of milk and also knock over Holly’s iced tea during the course of the meal. The iced tea had emptied right onto the crotch of Graham’s jeans. Both twins had gotten ketchup smeared all over their faces and their clothes. They’d seemed to drop more fries on the floor than they’d succeeded in eating. Jennifer had sneezed with her mouth full of food, and Justin had choked on a bite of hamburger.
On the way out of the restaurant, Graham had apologized profusely to the woman who was wiping tables and tidying up. He’d no doubt made her day when he tipped her five dollars.
“Should I put them in bed?” Graham asked now, gazing at his children with his air of tense bewilderment. “I hate to wake them up.”
“They seem comfortable lying on the carpet.” Each twin had garnered a throw pillow. “Why not let them finish out their nap? I should probably go and let you grab one yourself. You look tired.” Holly’s tone was sympathetic.
“I am tired,” he admitted. “But it’s as much mental fatigue as anything else. I just can’t believe I got myself into this dilemma. But I have.” He glanced at the sleeping twins, compassion on his face. “I feel bad for them, too. They deserve a couple of good parents. Instead they end up with a totally inadequate father.”
“Not inadequate. Just inexperienced.”
“Inadequate,” he insisted grimly. “I always suspected I wasn’t cut out for parenthood, and now I realize I was right.”
“Could we have a cup of coffee?” Holly asked. He probably needed to talk out his fears and vent his emotions as much as he needed physical rest, and she was more than happy to stick around and serve as his sounding board.
“Sure. The least I can do is serve you coffee. You’ve helped me get through part of today.”
He led the way back into the kitchen. Holly made herself comfortable at the table in the dining nook while he measured coffee and started the coffee-maker.
“Have you definitely decided to raise the twins yourself?” she asked.
“So far I haven’t come up with any viable alternatives. I can’t dump a couple of kids on my parents. Heather’s parents have declined.”
“There’re no other family members on either side who would jump at the chance to give Justin and Jennifer a good home?”
“Not on my side. My brother, Greg, is divorced. Heather was an only child.”
Another similarity, Holly reflected. She was also an only child.
Graham was continuing. “According to Lena Booth, the aunt, there’s one married male cousin who might have agreed to adopt the twins. Apparently he and his wife want a family and haven’t been able to have children. But he works for a major oil company and is currently living in Malaysia.”
“Scratch him off.”
Holly watched as he took down mugs from a cabinet, noting with pleasure the play of his T-shirt across broad shoulders and taut back muscles. From the waist down he didn’t have anything to apologize for, either. He’d changed into clean jeans when they got back here after lunch. This pair fit perfectly, too.
“Do you take creamer? Sugar? Sugar substitute?” He glanced around and caught her admiring his body.
She jerked her gaze up to meet his and smiled sheepishly. “Just creamer, please.”
He turned to face her, folding his arms across his chest. “Holly, I’ve got enough on my plate as it is.”
Holly raised her eyebrows at his stern tone of reprisal. “I like the way you’re built. What’s the big deal?” she said lightly.
“I’m not about to get involved with you. Especially not now. That’s the big deal.”
This latest rejection hurt more than earlier ones had. The few hours in his company had somehow made her more vulnerable. “Ouch.”
“I’m sorry to have to be so blunt.”
“Tell me I’m not imagining things. The attraction is mutual, isn’t it?”
“Don’t play games. Of course I’m attracted to you.”
“But you’re convinced I’m too much like Heather for you to let down your guard.”
He sucked in a deep breath and nodded.
“So are we having coffee or is that too risky?”
“Don’t be flip,” he said angrily.
“Would you rather I showed my disappointment?” Heather stood up. “Goodbye, Graham.”
“Look, I’m sorry.”
“Me, too.”
Holly left. What more was there to say? For all her agitation, she was careful to close the door behind her very quietly so as not to disturb the sleeping twins.
“Where did Holly go?” Jennifer asked tearfully.
“She went home to her place,” Graham answered.
“Is she coming back?” Justin asked, his brown eyes solemn.
“No, she isn’t coming back.” Graham sighed, empathizing with his children’s downcast expressions. He couldn’t blame Jennifer and Justin for objecting to Holly’s absence after they awoke from their nap. Now they were stuck with him to take care of their needs.
“Why did she leave?” the little boy wanted to know.
Graham searched for an honest explanation they could comprehend. “Holly and I know each other through our work, but we aren’t friends. We don’t normally spend time together on weekends.”
“I want Holly,” Jennifer said, beginning to sob.
“Please don’t cry, Jennifer.” Feeling more inept than he’d ever felt in his life, Graham crouched down near his little daughter, wanting to comfort her. She turned her back to him and scooted away beyond his reach.
“I want Holly! I want my mommy!” she sobbed.
Justin crawled over near his twin and put his arms around her. Jennifer leaned into him, crying pitifully. They made a woebegone picture. Graham felt tears of compassion smarting his eyes.
“Would you like to watch TV?” he suggested, hearing his desperation in his voice.
“Would you, sis?” asked Justin, patting her on the back. “You can hold the remote and change the channels.”
Jennifer sniffled and sat apart. Without looking at Graham she said to him, “Can we have cookies and milk?”
“I don’t have any cookies. But I have some crackers and cheese. You can come into the kitchen and eat a snack.”
She folded her small arms across her chest in a defiant stance. “Mary lets us eat our snacks in the living room while we watch TV.”
Graham had a sudden vision of the restaurant where they’d created a scene of devastation. French fries scattered over the floor, table streaked with milk and ketchup, a pile of sodden napkins used to wipe up spillage.
He could easily imagine the mess the twins would make of his living room carpet if he humored Jennifer and gave them their snack in front of the TV. But maybe he should