His-And-Hers Twins by Rita Herron Read Free Book Online Page B

fighting over who would answer. After a few seconds of wrestling, they finally compromised and held it between them. But their faces instantly crumpled before him.
    â€œGrammy can’t come to the tea!” August wailed.
    â€œShe’s throwed up her waffles.” Summer’s lower lip trembled, then she promptly burst into tears.
    His heart jumped into his throat as he grabbed the phone. “Hello, Mom. Are you okay?”
    â€œListen, Zeke, I’m so sorry, but I have the flu.” His mother’s voice sounded weak. “It’s one of those twenty-four-hour bugs, but I don’t want to expose the girls.”
    â€œOh, Mom, I’m so sorry you’re ill.” Zeke rubbed his temple, trying to talk over the sound of Summer’s wailing. “Sure, Mom, I understand. I hope you feel better.”
    â€œTell the girls I’ll make it up to them. They can spend next weekend with me.”
    Sympathy for his mother softened his voice. “It’s okay. These things happen. The girls understand.” He grimaced, hoping he sounded halfway convincing. He had a feeling his mother could hear Summer bellowing and August kicking her feet against the steps. He expected August to start throwing things any minute.
    â€œYou know I’ll be glad to keep the twins if you want to go out sometime, son. There’s a couple of attractive single women in my church, women who like to stay home—”
    â€œI’m not interested, Mom.”
    â€œYou’re not still pining for that awful woman, Renee, are you?”
    â€œNo.” Zeke gritted his teeth. “I don’t care if I ever see her again.”
    â€œGood. I told you she wasn’t right for you. But I’ll help you find someone—”
    â€œMother, I don’t need you to help me—” he paused to rein in his temper “—except with the girls occasionally. Now get some rest. I’ll call you in a day or two.” He hung up the phone, uncertain how to handle his daughters’ disappointment.
    â€œI’m not going to school!” August yanked off hershoes and tossed them into the corner. The shoes banged against the wall and bounced off with a loud thud.
    â€œMe neither.” Summer poked out her bottom lip.
    â€œGirls, listen,” Zeke said, feeling forlorn himself. “Grandma can’t help getting sick. I know you’re disappointed—”
    â€œYou don’t know anything!” August yelled. “You don’t have to go to school without a mommy, not even a subst…a pretend one!”
    Zeke sank into the chair beside the phone and dropped his head, despair momentarily filling him. Maybe he didn’t know anything. He kept telling himself he was doing the best he could. But what if it’s not enough?
    The doorbell rang, giving him a moment’s reprieve, and when he opened the door, Paige stood on the other side, Henrietta in hand.
    Was she still upset about the night before?
    Paige pointed to the ground where Henrietta lay sprawled on her belly. “Henrietta seems to like my place.”
    Summer’s bellowing drowned out his reply. August ran over and flung herself at Paige, knocking her off balance.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Paige’s brows crinkled in concern.
    â€œWe don’t wanna go to school,” August wailed.
    â€œWe can’t go today.” Summer sat up and rubbed her puffy, swollen eyes.
    Paige patted August’s back. “Why can’t you go, sweetie?”
    Zeke frowned, a headache forming behind his eyes. “They’re having this Mommy and Me Tea at school and my grandma was supposed to go—
    â€œâ€™Cept she’s sick,” August said, sniffling.
    â€œShe’s upchucking,” Summer cried.
    He frowned at the girls. “You have to go to school, girls. Dad’s already late for work. You don’t want the sick animals to get sicker because I’m not there, do