Read The Black Sheep's Redemption for Free Online Page B

study the plastic dinosaur clutched in his fingers. “He’s the best-looking dino I’ve ever seen.”
    That sent Aaron into more peals of laughter. She let the swing go and Aaron swooped into the air.
    She looked at Charles who stood watching her, the strangest expression on his face. “What?” she asked.
    He shook his head and cleared his throat. “Nothing really. You’re just good with them.” He smiled. “So, how are you this morning?”
    “I’m…” She started to say fine, then decided to be honest. “I had a rough night.” And a crazy morning. “But I suppose that was to be expected after that scare I had at your house, then thinking someone was in my apartment.” She didn’t bother to mention the man she thought had tried to get into the building through the back door. And she didn’t want to say anything about the message in her coffee can. Not yet. She didn’t want to ruin what had the potential to be a wonderful day.
    “I’m sorry.”
    Demi shrugged and gave the swing another push. Aaron crowed, “Higher!”
    She complied then looked at Charles. His blue eyes sparkled when he watched his children. Instead she asked another question burning in the back of her mind. “Do you mind me asking where the twins’ mother is?”
    He went still for a moment then let out a sigh before giving Brianne another push. “No, it’s not like it’s a secret or anything. Kathleen left me when the twins were about six months old.” He shook his head. “Her parents spoiled her and she always was rather flighty, I suppose, but…” He shrugged. “She seemed to love me and I…well…I was enamored with her.” He pulled in a deep breath. “And then after the babies came, she just couldn’t handle it. I was in the process of hiring a nanny to help her out. One day Kathleen was there, the next she was gone. Months later, she sent me divorce papers and a note that she was living in Mexico fulfilling her dream of becoming an artist and wanted to get married to another man, an artist who understands her.”
    All Demi could think was that the woman was insane. She’d given up all this for…that? “I’m so sorry. That must have been a terrible time.”
    “It was.” Pain flashed across his face. “But you know, I don’t really hurt for me anymore. It is what it is. I just hurt for them.” He nodded toward the kids. “It’s going to be hard explaining her desertion when the time comes.”
    Demi bit her lip. “Yeah.”
    “Then again, if that’s the kind of person she’s decided to be, maybe they’re better off not knowing her.” He paused. “Would you like to take the kids down to the beach?” Charles asked. “It’s too cold to get in the water, but we could build a sand castle and let them run around, burn off some energy, maybe get some ice cream.”
    Brianne heard him and grinned. “Ice cream.”
    “I like chocolate,” Demi said. “What’s your favorite?”
    “Ice cream, Daddy!”
    Charles groaned. “Now I’ve done it.”
    “What?”
    “I’ll have to let her have some ice cream or I’ll hear about it all night.”
    “Ice cream! Now!” Brianne shouted.
    “Hush, Bri, not so loud. We’ll get some in a little while. Why don’t we go play in the sand?”
    “No sand. I want some ice cream.”
    Charles tossed Demi a wry look. “We might be eating ice cream a little earlier than I planned.”
    Swings, the park, the beach and now ice cream? Shivers danced up her arms. This day was feeling more and more like a date.
    She looked at him, wanting to ask him to clarify if this was a date or if they were just…hanging out. Instead, she simply said, “That sounds nice.”
    Ten minutes later, the twins were in their car seats in the back of Charles’s truck. The red king cab with the leather seats was plush and roomy. Demi inhaled the new-car scent and smiled. “How long have you had this?”
    Charles closed his door and cranked the engine. “A couple months.”
    “I like it.”
    He