âI want to make it clear that I will pay for my dinner and Ellieâs.â
Evan shook his head. âI invited you.â
âNo, you didnât,â Julia said. âYour daughter did.â
âThatâs the same thing.â His sharp gaze drilled into her, his mouth firmed in a hard line.
âSorry, I pay my own way.â
He smiled. âDid anyone ever tell you that youâre stubborn?â
âOh, on a number of occasions.â
Evan glanced toward the doorway that led to the hall. âWhile the girls are still playing, I have a question. Why did you correct me earlier when I called you Mrs. Saunders?â
Homecoming Heroes: Saving children and finding love deep in the heart of Texas
Mission: Motherhood âMarta Perry
July 2008
Lone Star Secret âLenora Worth
August 2008
At His Command âBrenda Coulter
September 2008
A Matter of the Heart âPatricia Davids
October 2008
A Texas Thanksgiving âMargaret Daley
November 2008
Homefront Holiday âJillian Hart
December 2008
âA m I glad you are finally here, Julia. I need help!â
Olga Terenkov, dressed in a jean skirt with a leather vest, cowboy boots and large pieces of turquoise jewelry, planted herself in front of Julia Saunders.
âWhatâs the problem?â Julia asked and placed her cherry pie on the dessert table.
âToo many pets. When I decided to have Show and Pet for the children, I never thought they would bring everything from a boa to a pig! Those are not pets!â In her exasperation, Olgaâs Russian accent became heavier.
âAnd my daughter just brought a goldfish,â Julia said and peered around the grief counselor to search for Ellie among the crowd of parishioners at the church picnic. Her daughter had raced toward her friends the second sheâd climbed from the car. Ellie stood in the middle of a group of children showing them her new and only pet swimming in its plastic bowl.
Leading a pony, a little girl with light brown shoulder-length hair joined the group of kids. Her daughter immediately latched on to the cute animal, holding her small fishbowl in one hand and stroking the pony with the other. Ellie, even though she was only five, wanted to learn to ride ever since they had arrived at Prairie Springs from Chicago four months ago. Julia was sure she would hear about her daughterâs renewed longing later that night.
Olga gestured toward the newest arrival. âSee? Next someone will bring a rat.â
âWhat can I do to help?â
âI need someone to get the Show and Pet organized, to be in charge. I thought all we would have were a few cats and dogs. Where are the normal pets?â The older woman threw her arms up in the air. âIâve got Paigeâs dad to help, too. I need all the animals moved over there.â Olga pointed toward an area roped off with a few temporary pens set up. âCan you do that for me?â
âI was supposed to help Anna with the food.â
âOh, sheâs got more than enough with David, Caitlyn and Steve. See?â Olga fluttered her hand toward the end of the long tables.
âThen, sure. Iâd be happy to help with the pets.â This from a woman who had never owned a pet, except nowâa low-maintenance goldfish. Julia spied her friend Anna giving instructions to a small army of volunteers and wished she could take back her words. She would be better handling the food.
âWhoâs Paigeâs dad?â Julia asked, still learning all the childrenâs names. This was only her third Sunday attending Prairie Springs Christian Church.
âYou see that handsome cowboy over there?â Olga nodded her head in the direction of the group of children Ellie was in the midst of. âThatâs Paigeâs dad, Evan Paterson.â