Finding Love (A Mill Creek Crossing Romance) Read Online Free PDF

looking at the street as a car drove by.
     
    “You really don't like compliments do you?” he said again, shaking his head. “Would you like to come in?”
     
    “Oh, no. I’d better get back. I took the whole day off just rambling around town, so now I have some work ahead of me when I get home.”
     
    “Are you sure? I'm about to get ready to start dinner and I have more than enough. I haven't yet learned how to shop for three people instead of four,” he said with a sad look on his face.
     
    “Thanks for the invitation, but I really have to go. I will chat with you later about the specifics for getting your kids to my house?” she asked.
     
    “Right. Yes, I'll be in touch this weekend.”
     
    With that, Amelia walked back up the street and turned around to wave as she rounded the corner. Clay stood there, unsure of what he was doing either.
     
     
     
     

Chapter 6
     
    On Sunday afternoon, Amelia decided she’d better touch base with Clay to make sure she knew the plan for his children. Since she didn't have his telephone number, she decided to take a walk over to his house. As she approached the driveway, she saw Clay sitting on the front porch with a book. He looked sad, and it made her sad for some reason. She wasn't sure what was in the book, but she approached quietly so that she didn't disturb him.
     
    He was staring down at the book, slowly thumbing through the pictures, sometimes smiling and other times blinking back the tears. Her natural inclination was to go put her arm around someone who looked so sad, but she knew she couldn’t do that with this virtual stranger.
     
    As she walked closer, Clay noticed her approaching and put the book down. He seemed stunned that she was standing in the driveway, although she could detect a hint of happiness as he looked at her.
     
    “Hi. Sorry to bother you,” she said.
     
    “No bother. I was actually thinking about taking a walk over to your house, but I didn't want to leave the kids with Mrs. Higgins again.”
     
    “Oh, yes. How did that go?”
     
    Clay smiled. “Well, it was okay, I guess. When I got home, she had the kids making some kind of art project that didn't really make any sense to me. But, at least the house was in one piece.” She could tell he was a bit sad about something, but he appeared to be trying to make small talk for her benefit.
     
    “Well, that's always a good thing,” she said nervously.
     
    “So, I guess you want to figure out how to handle getting the kids to your house after school?”
     
    “Yes. I wasn't sure exactly how to plan my day tomorrow. If you want, I think the easiest thing to do is to have the bus driver drop them off of my house. I think the bus comes around three o'clock.”
     
    “Yes, I think it comes around three as well. I'll just instruct the driver from now on to drop them off at your house during the week. I'm so excited they're going to get to stay with you, Amelia. I’ve heard nothing but great things about how you take care of children. I know this is a strain for you, but I hope that it will be something good for the both of us.” For a split second, she got the feeling he wasn’t only talking about the children.
     
    “I think it will, and I'm glad I’m going to get to help you out. Like I said, new beginnings are very important. I wouldn't be where I am today if people hadn't given me a hand when I needed it most. I hope I can be a part of helping to welcome you and your kids to our community.”
     
    “Well, thanks again. Hopefully my kids won't be any trouble to you.”
     
    “They are great kids, so I don't think it will be a problem at all. It looks like you've been pretty good dad to them because they're very well-behaved.”
                  “A lot of that is their mother. Even though she's been gone for 18 months, she gave them a great start to life.”
     
    Clay looked down at the book sitting on the stoop beside him. Amelia wondered what it was, but she