Submit to His Passion

Chapter 14

Lindsay straightened the salad bowl on the table later that evening. She examined the placement of everything. Nick grabbed her around the waist and kissed her cheek. "It looks fine." She slapped at him and looked at Faith.

"Sorry," he said.

"It's okay if you kiss," Faith said. "I know he's your boyfriend. I have lots of friends with stepparents."

Was she six or sixteen? "Look, you are six. You shouldn't worry about me." Lindsay put her hands on her hips.

"I'm almost seven."

Her birthday wasn't for seven months, more than half a year away. "Uh-huh." Lindsay returned to them. "Whose turn to deal then?"

"I think it's Nick's turn," Faith said.

He returned to his spot on a dining-room chair high over the coffee table. He straightened the cards then shuffled. Faith won their eighth round of go fish. But she and Nick both worked in the girl's favor to ensure her win.

Lindsay's heart jumped when there was a knock on the door, as she shuffled the cards. "They are here," Faith said, jumping to her feet. She stopped. "Can I answer the door?"

"Sure, go for it," Nick said, waving her on.

He stood at the top of the stairs over the landing. Lindsay watched him from her spot as Faith and Nick greeted his friends. "Keep your shoes on, we'll head to the backyard," Nick said.

"Can I hold the baby?" Faith asked.

"She's pretty heavy. Can you handle it?" Tammy asked.

Alex, a man in his mid-twenties but going bald and his pretty wife stepped into the room. Lindsay recognized the woman from high school. "Hello." Lindsay stood. "I do remember now that I see you. How are you?"

Alex stuck his hand out. "I don't recall you at all," he said.

"Asshole," Nick coughed behind her.

Alex smirked over her shoulder. She shook his hand. "You must be Alex."

"Does my reputation precede me?" he asked.

"No, but I was sure your name wasn't Tammy," Lindsay retorted.

"I'm not pretty enough to be Tammy. You must be Lindsay."

"Does my reputation precede me?" she asked.

"Nick only says good things," Alex reported. "We tease him about being lovey-dovey over you. He left the staffroom early all week so he could see you."

"He talked about that?" Lindsay turned to Nick.

"Only Alex knew." Nick glared at his friend who grinned.

"Okay go outside, let us have girl time," Tammy said, pushing her husband. "Go heat the barbecue or something."

"Fine, fine," Alex said, kissing her.

"Sorry about him," Tammy said. She knew Lindsay's history. Was she sympathetic or hostile? She seemed smiley enough. She shifted the baby to her other hip. "I think someone wanted to hold this monster."

Faith held out her arms from the sofa. "I've held babies before," she assured Tammy.

Tammy smiled. "That's good. I don't think they were as wiggly as Lila."

"Maybe." Faith shrugged.

Tammy set Lila down on Faith's lap. "She can sit up, so she'll just sit there."

"How old is she?" Lindsay asked, leaning over to offer her finger to the baby. "Hello, little miss. You are just so precious with the bow in your hair."