Rebecca Hagan Lee by Gossamer Read Free Book Online Page B

Diamond. Welcome to the family. Now, we’ll go upstairs and introduce you to your new sisters.” James looked over at Mrs. G. “I wonder what our other Treasures will have to say about this.”

    “ PAPA !” THE UPSTAIRS nursery vibrated with the high-pitched squeals of excited little girls. Three-and-a-half-year-old Ruby scrambled out from beneath the covers of her bed, climbed over the guardrails, and launched herself at her father, wrapping her arms around his knees. “What chou brwing me, Papa?”
    James handed the baby over to Mrs. Glenross before reaching down to lift Ruby into his arms. Two-year-old Garnet bounced up and down on the mattress before she followed Ruby’s example, lifting her short chubby leg to pull herself over the bed rail.
    Ruby’s silky cap of jet black, chin-length hair swung to and fro as James lifted her above his head before settling her into his arms. “I brought myself,” he whispered into her ear as he stole little kisses from the ticklish spot on the side of her neck.
    Ruby giggled with glee, then leaned back in the safety of her father’s strong arms, wrinkled her brow, and asked in all seriousness, “What else chou brwing me?”
    “I brought you the sun and the moon and the stars, happy thoughts, and sweet dreams,” he answered.
    Ruby wrinkled her brow even harder. “What else?”
    James laughed. “Ah, Ruby, my love, you’ve an avaricious nature.”
    Ruby didn’t understand big words. She only understood that her papa hadn’t told her what he’d brought her from his trip to
Sanfrwansco
and she had been patient long enough. She began to wiggle, throwing her slight weightagainst James’s arms. “What chou brwing me, Papa?” she demanded again.
    James kissed her again, then set her on her feet. “I brought you a wondrous toy piano all your own,” he announced.
    Helen Glenross groaned aloud.
    Ruby squealed in delight and danced an impromptu jig about the room, bumping into Garnet, who had finally managed to climb out of bed and to toddle over to stand between Mrs. G. and her father. “Where it is, Papa?”
    “Where is it,” he corrected automatically, reaching down to lift shy little Garnet from behind Mrs. G.’s skirts and into his arms. “It’s still packed in my bags.” James winked at his housekeeper. “I’m hoping that having a toy piano of her own will keep the little imp from
playing
the one in the parlor.”
    Ruby crossed her arms over her chest and stared up at her father. “Want it.”
    “Not tonight,” he said firmly.
    Ruby stuck out her bottom lip, screwed up her face, and did her best to squeeze out a few tears to sway him before she made up her mind whether or not to wail.
    James shook his head at her. “You may have your toy piano tomorrow morning,” he told her. “After breakfast.” He turned his attention to Garnet, who looped her arms around his neck and pressed her little face against his cheek in a ferocious hug. “Hello, sweet Garnet. Papa missed you, too.”
    “What chou brwing Garny?” Ruby tried another tack as she marched over to James and tugged on his trousers.
    “I brought Garnet the same things I brought you.”
    “A pinano all her own, too?” Ruby was indignant.
    “No,” James assured the firstborn and self-appointed ruler of the nursery roost. “I brought Garnet the sun and the moon and the stars, happy thoughts, and sweet dreams. And”—he gave dramatic pause—“a box of story blocks all her own.”
    Garnet’s dark eyes widened in surprise and her tiny faceseemed to light up from within at James’s announcement. She tightened her arms around his neck and pressed herself even closer to him.
    James breathed in Garnet’s soap and talcum-powder scent and pondered the differences in his daughters’ personalities. Where Ruby was forthright, stubborn, and spoiled, Garnet was reticent, amiable, and generous. Though their looks were similar, there were obvious physical differences. Ruby was small but solidly built,