What The Heart Wants

Chapter 21

Hanna arrived on Friday at ten in the morning.

She burst into the kitchen where Emily had the kids in their high chairs for their morning snack.

"Munchkins, I am home!" Cheeks pink and white-blonde hair windblown, Hanna dropped her giant shoulder bag and overstuffed pack to the floor.

The twins beat on their tray tables in glee at the sight of her. "Han! Hanwa! Kiss, kiss!"

She went to them for hugs and sticky kisses. Then she turned to Emily. "Oh, look! It my favorite nanny." She whipped Emily's sketchbook and colored pencil right out of her hand and plunked them on the table.

"Hey!" Emily laughed in protest, looking at her like she's crazy. But Hanna only pulled her out of her chair and waltzed her once around the kitchen, not letting her go until they were back at Emily's chair again. Both giggling at Hanna's playfulness.

"God. I'm starved." Hanna announced as she knelt to give Pepe a good scratch and hug.

Emily picked up her sketchbook and pencil and reclaimed her seat at the table. "You want breakfast?"

"Had that, thanks."

"There's tuna salad in the fridge than."

"Dave's Killer Bread?"

"Got that, too."

"I love you, Emily. You have all the right answers to the most important questions." Hanna got busy gathering what she needed for a fat tuna sandwich, including Tillamook chedder slices, tomatoes, lettuce and dill pickles. She then looked at Emily and asked, "Old Stone Face at work?"

"Yep."

"How you holding up watching the little darlings day after day?"

"So far, spectacular."

Hanna popped a hunk of pickle into her mouth. "I can't believe you're still here, that you've yet to run screaming into the night."

Emily chuckled as she added shading to the mountains in the background of the wide, green field she was sketching, the artist in her hard at work planning how she might create a similar, but more striking effect with fabric and thread. "What can I tell you? I have zero complaints - How's school?"

Hanna launched into a monologue about the co-op she lived in, how much she loved studying anything design related and how her and Caleb might be driving up to a party with her and her friends this weekend.

By the time she finished her sandwich, scooped up her stuff and disappeared into her room, the kids were getting restless in their high chairs. Emily wiped their gooey hands and faces, and took them and Pepe outside for a while.

When Emily came back in, Hanna had emerged from her room. She offered to watch the kids. Emily took her up on it. Promising to return by two, she grabbed her purse and headed out to check on Aria at Sand & Sea.

Emily left the gallery at one and swung by Sinuhe's. Emily's aunt was baking like a madwoman in preparation for the family get-together on Sunday. Pam was no where in sight.

Sinuhe waved a flour-dusted hand. "She's off at that bar. Have you been by there?

"No. I keep meaning to stop in."

"Well, go anytime. Your mother will be there. Not that I'm complaining. We get along best, your mom and me, if we're not around each other too much-and have you given any more thought to what we talked about the other day?"

"If you mean my finding someone else to watch the twins-"

"That is exactly what I mean - have a cookie, sweetheart."