Happily Ever Afters Guaranteed by Lacy Williams Read Free Book Online Page B

remarrying?” It wasn’t exactly the question she
wanted to ask, but it was close.
    His blue eyes flickered up to meet her gaze,
which he held for so long she lost her breath.
    “I have, but…”
    Sarah caught her exhale.
    “I couldn’t consider anyone unless my boys
loved her as much as I did.”
     
     
     

DAY 16, AFTERNOON.
    ATTEMPT 3.
     
    “You’re not my mommy!”
    Sarah flinched at Jerry’s defiant
proclamation. The boy must have sensed the flash of hurt that
passed through her, because he went on.
    “You can’t tell me what to do.”
    Sarah inhaled on a prayer for patience, which
she sorely needed today. “I know I’m not your mommy, but I am in
charge. That means you have to do as I say.”
    She took hold of the now-screaming boy’s arm
and propelled him down the hall to his room.
    “Five minutes in time out,” Sarah said, voice
firm.
    She desperately needed a time out of her
own.
    For the last two weeks, the boys had run her
ragged during the day. But each day was worth it when Brand came
home and they all ate together. She’d been making inroads with Josh
and Jamie. Last night both younger boys had snuggled on her lap for
their bedtime story.
    Only Jerry remained aloof. Today he’d been
downright insubordinate.
    And this morning she’d received a call on her
emergency phone. Only two clients – two high-paying clients – had
that number. She’d been trying to call Mr. Smith back all day, but
each time something had interrupted her. Maybe now that Jerry was
contained in his room and the other two boys played quietly in the
living room…
    Sarah sidled into the nook in the hallway,
dialing her phone. She leaned her head against the cool wall,
enjoying the warm wood floors on her bare feet. She loved this
house. Loved the boys, even Jerry and his challenging ways. Loved
Brand…
    “Hi, Mr. Smith,” she said when her client
picked up. “Sorry I haven’t gotten back to you yet.”
    At that moment, Josh came barreling out of
the living room, holding up a singing bear. And Jerry ran down the
stairs, toward her, screaming.
    Brand rounded the corner from the kitchen. He
must’ve arrived early from work. “What’s going on?” he
demanded.
    A squawk came from the telephone, held out
from Sarah’s ear.
    She burst into tears.
    For one moment, Brand looked panicked, but
then he took charge.
    “Jerry, Josh, living room,” he ordered. He
took Sarah’s phone from her nerveless fingers. “She’ll call you
back,” he said into the receiver before snapping it shut.
    Sarah tried to turn her face away, so he
wouldn’t see her silly tears, but Brand simply took her into his
arms, tucking her head against his shoulder. “Ssh.”
    His hand rubbed circles on her back.
Nice.
    When Sarah felt more in control of herself,
she reached up to wipe the wetness from her cheeks, and Brand
stepped back.
    “Okay?” he asked.
    “Mmm.” She would be, when she got over the
humiliation of breaking down in front of Brand and the boys. She
never cried.
    “Sorry,” she muttered, keeping her gaze
down.
    “I’m just surprised you’ve lasted this long
without breaking down. Dealing with three boys will do that to
you.”
    She looked up, smiled wryly. Thankfully, he
didn’t seem too spooked by her tears. “Thanks, I think.”
    Palm open for her phone, she said, “I need to
call my client back. I think he had an emergency this morning. I
just hope it wasn’t anything big.”
    Brand showed her into his office – his sacred
room where the boys weren’t allowed to visit. Fortunately Mr. Smith
had grandkids and was very understanding. His problem was an easy
fix she was able to solve on the phone.
    When she finished her call, she went
searching for Brand. She found all three boys in the kitchen with
their father, Josh and Jamie at the table with snacks, while Brand
had pulled Jerry aside and knelt in front of him. They appeared to
be in serious conversation, so Sarah hung back just outside the
kitchen