Page 152 of Hidden Ties

Opening the door, she started to greet Kent when two little bodies barreled past her.

Bemusedly, Kent stared down at the two girls before a wide grin spread on his face. “Hello.” Going to his haunches, he put himself on their eye level. “You two must be Sage’s nieces.”

Their two heads bobbed up and down.

Sage placed a hand on the taller one. “Kent, this is Colby.” Sage put her hand on the other head. “And this is Tinsley.”

“Wow,” Kent said in an exaggerated voice. “Sage told me how cute you both were, but she didn’t tell me you two were as pretty as a picture.”

Both girls started giggling.

Smiling, Kent straightened. “You girls ready to go out?”

Sage went to get the tote bag containing their essentials, leaving Kent to deal with their excited squeals.

“Can I take that for you?” he offered, already reaching out.

“No, thanks, I got it.” Placing it on her shoulder, she bent down to pick up Tinsley. “You can take Colby’s hand for me.”

“I’d be honored.” Kent held out his hand to her niece. “May I?”

Giggling, Colby took it.

“I thought we’d just walk to the small park a couple blocks away.” She nodded at the two car seats that had arrived today in the mail. “I need to get those unboxed, and it would be dark before we could get them installed in your back seat. The girls need to get some fresh air anyway.”

“I could use it myself.” He held Colby’s hand, and they went out the door.

After closing the door, she made sure it was locked before they started walking down the hallway.

“The rest of your day go good?” she asked as they got in the elevator.

Kent nodded. “Any day I can get out of work early is a good day.”

Sage agreed. Glenda had warned her there would be times when she would have to work overtime. So far, so good. The first two days had run smoothly. It helped that the trial against Hollingsworth seemed to be going well. Everyone in the higher offices who were dealing with the lawsuit were in a cheerful mood. Sage took that as a sign she wouldn’t have to be looking for a new job.

As they walked, Tinsley talked to her constantly, pointing to different objects they passed, while Kent was forced to answer numerous questions from Colby.

“How tall are you?”

“Six three,” Kent answered her easily.

“My dad was taller.”

Kent didn’t seem to know how to answer that comparison. Luckily, Colby was on to her next question.

“Are you Sage’s boyfriend?”

Sage had to stifle her laughter at Kent’s wary expression.

“Yes.”

“Are you going to marry her?”

“Colby, that isn’t a question you should be asking,” Sage reprimanded her before Kent could answer.

Kent looked relieved.

Pouting, Colby looked up. “My dad married my mom. Mom said when Sage has a baby, I can hold it. I want Sage to get married so I can hold her baby.”