In a Heartbeat

Erica stopped in the doorway and motioned Peaches to her doggy bed in the corner.

“First you have to say good-night to Harry,” Hannah explained as she crawled into bed and beneath the sheet.

“Harry?”

“Harry the hamster,” Erica said, and gestured to the cage on the dresser.

“Ah.” Caleb walked over to the dresser and peered into the cage. “Good evening, Harry. You’re a fine-looking fellow.”

“He likes to run on his wheel at night,” Hannah said.

Caleb nodded. “Yes, I’ve heard only the smartest hamsters do that.” He walked back to the side of the bed and sat down on the edge of the mattress. “Okay…arms in or out?” he asked.

“Out.” Hannah placed her arms on top of the sheet.

“Do you usually get a bedtime story?” Caleb asked.

“No, but if you know a good one you could tell it to me.”

“Hannah…” Erica said with a warning.

“No bedtime story,” Hannah replied with a sigh.

“Good, because I’d have had to make one up,” Caleb replied.

Erica smiled, wondering what kind of story Caleb McMann would have produced. She imagined he’d be quite creative, and equally amusing.

“Good night, Hannah.” He stood and leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.

“’Night, Mr. Man. Good night, Mommy,” Hannah replied, her eyes already drifting closed.

Caleb joined Erica in the doorway. He threaded his fingers through his hair and for just a moment Erica thought his hand trembled. His eyes appeared darker than usual as he looked back at Hannah. “Is she asleep already?”

Erica nodded. “She’s always done that. She plays hard and sleeps hard. When sleep hits, it’s like a switch has turned her off. Bedtime has never really been a problem.”

Suddenly Erica was aware of how close Caleb stood to her. She was aware of a provocative warmth that smelled of virile male. His nearness seemed to be drawing in all the oxygen, making breathing more difficult for her.

For a moment, Erica had an insane desire to lean against him and feel his arms wrap around her and hold her close.

What a pleasure it would be to feel for just a moment the support of another. She stepped out of the doorway and away from him. “Thank you for tucking her in,” she said briskly as they entered the living room.

“No problem. She’s a terrific kid.”

To her dismay, he shoved aside the blue-flowered sheet on the sofa and sat down, apparently in no hurry to leave. To her bigger dismay was the knowledge that she wasn’t in any hurry for him to leave, either.

Caleb had been doing very well with Hannah. He’d enjoyed seeing her little garden, listening to her childish tales and he hadn’t once experienced the abiding ache of loss.

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