Page 35 of Surrendering His Heart (Buena Hills #4)

The next day, Isla didn’t throw any celebrations when she found Hallie waiting for her in the office at school pickup, but she didn’t seem disappointed either.

And though she spent the entire drive home staring at the heart on her hand, her deep pout never made an appearance.

All things considered, Hallie counted it as a win.

“What do you girls want to do today?” she asked, stepping onto the porch and letting go of Penelope’s hand.

The girl spun in a circle with her arms out to the side. “Park! Park!”

Hallie laughed at her infectious enthusiasm. “I think we have time for a quick park trip before the sun goes down.” And it might wear them out enough to make bedtime easier for Christian. “What do you think, Isla?”

“Can we have a snack first?”

“Of course. We’ll have a quick snack and then head out.” Hallie nudged the three paper bags out of the way of the front door. Christian had texted her earlier about having some groceries delivered around the time they got home to make dinner prep easier. Again, his thoughtfulness touched her.

After punching the code in the keypad, she pushed the door open, ushering the girls inside while she grabbed the groceries.

Princess Pumpkin bounded toward them, and Hallie congratulated herself for not flinching at the sensation of the dog’s wet nose sniffing her hand.

At least Pumpkin didn’t jump on her. They were both making progress.

While carrying the groceries into the kitchen, she passed the laundry room door. Someone had shut it since she’d been here last, and she stepped closer to read the piece of paper taped to the wood .

STAY OUT!

I mean it, Hal.

Resist the urge.

Despite her amusement, Hallie’s heart squeezed at the reminder of their phone conversation last night. She’d liked the easy way they’d communicated, as if the heavy conversation in this very kitchen had broken down the barriers of their friendship.

But their playful banter had only tightened the vice grip squeezing her heart. She hadn’t lied about wanting to be friends. She really did want that. Except was that really possible when her feelings for him were becoming so much deeper?

Yet she couldn’t turn off her desire to help this little family.

Perhaps the arrangement they’d set up would make it easier to keep an emotional distance.

She now worked for Christian. He was her boss.

If she kept that in mind, maybe she could convince herself not to do something she’d eventually regret.

Who was she kidding? She was walking on eggshells here, some of which were already jagged and broken, slicing into her feet. But it was too late to back out of the arrangement now.

While the girls finished their snacks, Hallie grabbed the leash from the hook by the back door and clipped it to Pumpkin’s collar. “There’s a good dog. Maybe we can be friends, after all.”

The dog responded with a breathy yip.

Once they bundled back into their jackets and shoes, Hallie strapped Penelope into the stroller, and they set off for the park. Isla walked a few steps ahead, kicking at the pebbles on the sidewalk.

Frantic yipping immediately greeted them as soon as they reached the almost deserted playground.

Hallie yanked on Pumpkin’s leash to keep her from toppling the stroller in her effort to say hello to the four yorkies.

She swallowed a groan, recognizing the dark-haired woman sitting on the bench immediately.

Carrie arched a single ebony brow as their entourage approached. “The girls didn’t scare you away, I see. ”

“Not at all.” Hallie bit back her immediate annoyance and offered no other response. Unclipping Penelope from the stroller, she helped the child down. “Go ahead, sweetie.”

Penelope needed no further encouragement and ran off toward the smaller of the two jungle gyms. Hallie searched the playground for Isla, spotting her over by the swings with another child.

“I’m glad you survived having to watch Isla.” Carrie pierced Hallie with a look of pointed interest. “You must be a strong woman.”

Hallie’s eye twitched in annoyance. Who does this woman think she is? She’s talking trash about a child. Did she have any decency at all?

The temptation to set Carrie in her place with one verbal put-down raged inside her. Instead, she held her head high as she unwrapped Pumpkin’s leash from the stroller’s handlebar. “We had a great time.”

Carrie’s attempt at a sugary sweet smile fell flat.

“That’s wonderful. Christian is so lucky to have a friend like you.

Sammy, sweetie,” she called to her daughter, who sat in the swing next to Isla’s.

The girls weren’t exactly speaking to each other, more like occupying the same general area.

“Come play in the sandbox. I brought some new toys for you.”

The dark-haired girl jumped off the swing and ran over without a backward glance at Isla.

Carrie’s true intention in redirecting her daughter’s play didn’t go unnoticed. It was impossible not to after the disparaging remarks she’d made about Isla over the last two days.

What did she find so lacking in the child? Isla wore her heart on her sleeve, sure. And she had trouble handling big emotions. But didn’t everyone? Why did Carrie feel the need to protect her daughter from a child who clearly needed extra love and kindness?

Leaving this conversation behind became Hallie’s most important task.

With little more than a word of farewell, she pulled on Pumpkin to get her to follow.

“Come on, girl. Let’s go over there.” She stopped at a bench near the swing set and looped the leash around the metal armrest, making sure to give the dog room to move.

Isla didn’t notice her approach at first. She stared at the ground, her feet waving in lazy kicks, making the swing jerk out in all angles except the direction it should be going. Her hunched shoulders gave away her melancholy.

“Hey.” Hallie crouched in front of the swing, gripping the chains to stop its frantic movements. “You okay?”

Isla stopped kicking and lifted only her eyes. “Sammy used to be my friend. But now she’s not, and I don’t know why.”

A small chasm split inside Hallie’s chest. Isla wasn’t yet six years old, and she’d already experienced so much loss. First her mother. Now her friend. Life could be so cruel.

“I’m sorry,” Hallie said gently. “It’s hard to lose people you care about, huh?”

Isla sniffed. Her mouth puckered in a deep pout, not out of defiance, but of sadness.

Hallie considered her words for several long seconds before speaking them out loud. “Can I be your friend?”

“Really?”

She nodded, surprising herself with how much she really meant the offer. “Really.”

Some of the weight in Isla’s posture lifted. “And you’ll be my friend forever?”

Hallie didn’t want to lie but her complicated relationship with Christian made forever a tough promise to make. But she genuinely wanted to be an influence for good in Isla’s life. “I’d like to be, if you’re okay with that.”

For a moment, Isla only stared at her. Then without warning, she lunged forward so suddenly, Hallie barely had time to catch the girl as she launched off the swing.

“I take that as a yes.” She scooped the child into her chest.

Isla wrapped her arms around Hallie’s neck in a tight hug. “It is a yes. I want to be your friend.”

Hallie unwove herself from the child’s hold and squeezed her hands. “It’s settled then. How should we seal the deal?”

Isla thought about it for a second before extending the little finger on her right hand. “Pinkie promise. ”

Hallie raised hers as well, and they linked them together.

“Kiss your hand,” Isla demanded. She brought her mouth to her thumb, eyeing Hallie expectantly until she did the same. “Now you’re stuck with me.”

Hallie scrunched her nose with a smile at the girl’s bold declaration. “No getting out of it. How would my new friend like a push on the swing?”

“Can I have an underdog?”

“Absolutely. Let me just check on your sister first.” After locating Penelope inside the tunnel slide on the big jungle gym, Hallie went back to Isla at the swings. “Ready?”

Isla nodded, and Hallie pulled the swing back.

“One for the money,” she called, running forward without letting go. She pulled the swing back again. “Two for the show.” Forward and back. “Three to get ready. And four to go!” She ran forward, propelling herself underneath the swing as she let go.

Isla’s laughter cut through the calm of the early evening. Hallie’s heart swelled with joy at the happy sound, and she brought a hand to her chest. This sweet girl needed this moment of relief from the heaviness that followed her everywhere she went.

Penelope flew from the tunnel slide. “My turn! My turn! I want one!”

“How about the baby swing so you don’t fall?” Hallie slid her into one of the bucket swings on the other side of the set.

For the next several minutes, she ran back and forth between the girls, giving them one underdog after another.

As she grew tired from all the running, their enjoyment fueled her motivation, keeping her going.

The sound was infectious; even Pumpkin stood on all fours, dancing around on her leash.

With each new underdog, the girls called for another until Hallie feared she’d pass out if she pushed any more.

“Phew, I’m worn out.” She bent over to catch her breath.

“More! More!” Penelope kicked her legs gleefully.

Hallie waved her hands in front of herself. “Let me rest for a minute and then I’ll give you both another one.” How could she resist their sweet laughter? She’d give them a thousand underdogs if it meant maintaining their happiness a little longer.

The girls giggled as she flopped down on the artificial turf. Real grass and dirt made up the baseball field, but the playground was lined with the fake stuff on top of rubber to prevent injuries.

With her eyes closed, Hallie didn’t notice Isla hop off her swing until she plopped down on the ground next to her.

“I’m glad you came to play with us today, new friend.” She dropped onto her back, staring at the rosy sky.

Hallie’s heart melted a little more. She sat up, only then noticing that sometime during their play, Carrie and Sammy had left the park.

Good riddance.

She nudged Isla’s side with the back of her hand. “I am too. You’re a special kid. And so is Penelope.” She meant that with all sincerity, marveling at how quickly she’d gone from not wanting anything to do with Christian’s kids to genuinely enjoying being around them.

Sitting with Isla, watching Penelope gleefully try to pump her legs, she realized something.

Nothing could come from her relationship with their father, and she didn’t know how long she’d need to act as their temporary nanny.

But she could still love these girls for however long she had the privilege.

I won’t let them down. Her vow didn’t chase away all her confusion surrounding Christian, but it would have to be enough for now.