Gifts Of Love

She started to say, That’s a date, but stopped herself just short of embarrassment. “I’m going to take you up on that.”

As soon as Isabel saw David, she started to whine and reach for him. When he didn’t move fast enough to satisfy her, little tears fell down her cheeks and she wiped them away with pudgy fingers. Once David settled on the sofa, Helene gently set Isabel on his lap, and all was right with the little girl’s world again.

“Your daughter thought you’d gotten lost,” Helene said as she glanced from David to Jessie.

Jessie blushed, eager to explain their absence. “I needed to ask David a question, and then I got a call from the office. I shouldn’t have had my cellular on in the first place.” The faster she spoke, the guiltier she felt. But she couldn’t help it. Her parents gazed at her with that familiar he’s-an-eligible-bachelor look.

She was thankful when a delivery boy stepped off the elevator and attentions turned elsewhere. “I’ve got an order for Don Claybrook.”

“What a thoughtful idea,” David exclaimed, as he tore open a bag with the Hot & Fresh deli logo and began passing out sandwiches and bags of chips to everyone.

Jessie’s dad winked. “We thought some good food might make the wait more bearable.”

Though she was hungry, Jessie suddenly felt compelled to escape the cozy atmosphere. The last thing she needed was for her family to get serious matchmaking ideas.

Picking up Isabel, she said, “I think this little girl needs to go home, eat her lunch and take a nice long nap.”

As Jessie reached for the diaper bag, Isabel’s blue bunny and the keys to the rental car her father had secured for her, Helene said, “Won’t you at least eat something first?”

“I think I’d better get Isabel home.” How could anyone argue with that?

“Well, at least take a sandwich with you,” her mother insisted. “Can Daddy and I help you? Do you want us to stop by later?”

Within seconds, Jessie had more offers of help than she needed. “Thank you all. I’m going to settle Isabel in, and call the office. I’ve got my laptop with me, so while she naps, I can get some work done.”

“That’s exactly my point.”

Jessie didn’t miss the message in her mother’s fretful eyes. Her mother was certain Jessie was taking on too much, stretching herself too thin.