Never Tell Them, N.L. Hinkens [unputdownable books txt] 📗

love little kids. Maybe I can babysit him sometime.” Jessica furrowed her brow. ”Do you think he likes to play with Legos? I can teach him how to build a fort and … ”

Sonia settled in for the fifteen-minute-drive home, offering intermittent responses as Jessica prattled on about the upcoming playdate—all the while wondering why Ray Jenkins had hidden Henry’s existence from his mother. There was obviously more to the story, and she intended to get to the bottom of it.

After a quick snack of apple slices and peanut butter at the kitchen counter, Jessica began bouncing up and down in anticipation of meeting Henry. “Can he come over now, Mom, please?”

“We can invite him, but he may not be able to play today,” Sonia warned her.

“Are you sure it’s a good idea to go back over there again?” Evelyn muttered, pursing her lips as she cleared away Jessica’s plate. “Maybe you should give them some time to settle in.”

Sonia shrugged. The fearful look in Henry’s eyes as he’d gazed up at his father nagged at her. “What’s the worst that can happen—he says no?”

For the second time that day, Sonia found herself standing on her neighbor’s porch, about to engage the new inhabitant. This time she’d brought Jessica along as an olive branch of sorts. With a bit of luck she’d go across better than the muffins had.

The door opened and Ray stared out at them. His steel-gray eyes shifted from Sonia to Jessica and then back, revealing nothing.

“Jessica was wondering if Henry would like to come over and play,” Sonia said, hitching her lips up into a smile. ”I thought maybe it would give you a chance to unpack.”

Ray’s face clouded over. “Henry’s … napping.”

Sonia raised amused brows at the banging noise coming from inside the house. “Sounds like somebody’s awake now.”

Seconds later, Henry appeared in the hallway clutching a pair of pot lids. He stopped dead in his tracks, his attention drawn at once to Jessica.

Before Sonia could intervene, Jessica ducked under Ray’s arm and darted down the dark wallpapered hallway to greet Henry, enveloping him, pot lids and all, in an exuberant hug.

Ray peered nervously over his shoulder as the kids disappeared into Celia’s old guest bedroom.

Sonia gave an apologetic chuckle. “Sorry! Jessica’s used to running in and out of the house. Celia always gave her free rein. I worried about your mother leaving the door unlocked all the time—she had her purse stolen once, but even that wasn’t enough to convince her to change her ways.”

Ray’s lips twitched into a flicker of a smile. “Uh, actually … I’m glad you stopped by. I wanted to ask you a favor.” He hesitated, folding and then unfolding his arms awkwardly. “The thing is, I’ve signed Henry up to start at the local preschool and I have to list someone as an emergency contact. I work from home, so I don’t anticipate them needing to call on anyone, but I was wondering if I could put your name down, just to satisfy the school’s requirements. I realize it’s an imposition, but I don’t know anyone else in the neighborhood, yet.”

“Of course, no problem at all,” Sonia responded. ”I work from home too, so my schedule’s flexible. And Jessica will be delighted to have someone to play with.”

Ray gave a grateful nod. ”Thank you.”

They glanced up as the kids came barreling back down the hallway hand-in-hand.

“Henry wants to come to our house to play,” Jessica announced.

Sonia pinned a questioning look on Ray. ”Is that all right with you? You’re welcome to come over too, of course.”

Ray rubbed a hand over his jaw, debating with himself. “Um, I think I’ll unpack the rest of our stuff. It’s difficult to get anything done with a young child underfoot.”

“Tell me about it.” Sonia chuckled. ”We’ll bring Henry back over in an hour or two.”

She waved goodbye and followed the kids across the lawn to her house. Judging by the grip Henry had of Jessica’s hand, he had no intention of letting go anytime soon. He seemed more comfortable walking off with a virtual stranger than he was with his own father. And that bothered Sonia.

“Well, hello there, you must be Henry!” Evelyn exclaimed, setting aside the sage green shawl she was knitting when Jessica brought him into the family room. She smiled warmly at him, her eyes twinkling. ”Did you like my muffins?”

After a moment’s reflection, he gave a tentative nod. Sonia got the impression he didn’t know what she was talking about.

“I’m going to show Henry my toys,” Jessica said, giving his hand a tug.

“Trust Jessica to win his heart,” Evelyn said, reaching for her knitting as the kids tore out of the room. “She has him wrapped around her little finger already.”

Sonia wrinkled her brow. “He reminds me of someone.”

“Celia, no doubt,” Evelyn replied with a disgruntled sigh. “That son of hers is a right piece of work for keeping something so precious from her.”

“Ray was a little friendlier this time around,” Sonia said. “He asked if he could put my name down as an emergency contact for Henry’s preschool.”

Evelyn twisted her lips, her needles picking up speed. “That just tells me he can turn on the charm when he needs something.”

“Maybe.” Sonia glanced at her watch. “I need to take care of some emails while those two are occupied. Can I get you anything before I disappear into my office?”

Evelyn shot her a scolding look. “Stop fussing, dear. It’s been five weeks since I went under the knife. I can get around perfectly fine.”

Later that afternoon, Sonia and Jessica walked Henry back over to his house. Halfway there, Sonia noticed he had one of Jessica’s favorite stuffed toys under his arm. She contemplated bringing it up but decided against it. Upsetting Henry before she delivered him back to his father was hardly the way to win Ray’s confidence. Jessica could always ask for the bear back later.

“Thanks for letting Henry come over,” Sonia said when Ray opened the door