She pushed these idiotic thoughts right out of her mind. The best thing would be to focus on the here and now and not get way ahead of herself. She looked down at Rainbow. "So are you ready to feed the little one?"

Rainbow nodded solemnly, and Charlene took the kitten out of the basket and handed it to Rainbow. "Now put her on her back," Charlene directed.

Rainbow took the critter with a gentleness beyond her years. Charlene spent the next few minutes showing Rainbow how to use the pet nurser. The kitten was pretty hungry, and while Charlene really wanted the critter to learn how to eat solid food like her brothers, the angelic smile on Rainbow's face was worth spoiling the animal.

Rainbow held the kitten as if she were a baby doll, and soon she began to whisper baby talk to it. Obviously she'd heard someone soothe a baby or a kitten before.

This got a big reaction from Mike, who leaned forward, elbows on knees, listening to the little girl. Charlene gave him points for listening. The child didn't say anything new or startling. She just whispered nonsense to the kitten.

Any idiot could see how the kitten could be powerful therapy for this wounded child. And that made Rainbow's situation even more heartbreaking. Neither Tim nor Mike could have a cat. And clearly this child needed one.

Later, Charlene hauled out one of the books she'd rescued from the attic that morning-a collection of children's literature and poems. She snuggled up with Rainbow while Mike looked on, sipping his beer. Charlene read several of her favorites, like "The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat" and "The Sugar-Plum Tree." But Rainbow seemed to like "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod," Eugene Field's beloved poem, best of all.

And that's how the three little kittens got their names. She named the big one with the spot of gray over one eye Winkin'. The other male, with the all-white face, she called Blinkin'. And Nod was the little female, who sat on Rainbow's lap after she nursed and literally nodded off so completely that she fell over.

When it came time for Rainbow to go to bed, Mike took her home. And Charlene found herself wishing that both of them could have stayed. She wanted to play house with them some more. Because for an instant, while she read to the child, the three of them almost felt like a family.

It didn't surprise her one bit when Rainbow came knocking at her door the next morning before summer camp to check on the kittens. And she came again, on Friday evening, to give Nod another feeding, but Charlene had decided that it was time to encourage Nod to eat solid food. So she let Rainbow help her work on that problem by putting a drop of milk and wet cat food on the little girl's finger and letting Nod lick it off. Eventually Charlene and Rainbow led the kitten to a bowl of food, and she ate like a grown-up.

Each time Rainbow visited, Mike called ahead to give Charlene fair warning, but he opted to stay home. She couldn't say that made her happy, but she understood why he stayed away. Her feelings about him had become convoluted and complicated. And maybe Mike had figured that out.

But what she felt for Rainbow was simple and pure. The child gave her joy. And the kittens gave them both a place to connect. G.o.d bless the soul who had put Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod on her doorstep.

CHAPTER.

13.

The private investigator called on Friday afternoon with the news that Tim had been expecting and dreading. Mike had told the truth.

The investigator elaborated on Mike's story. Tim and Mike's birth mother was still living, at least for the moment, in a nursing home in Chicago. Tim spoke with the nursing staff and learned that a lifetime of abusing alcohol had done its damage. Her name was Alice, and they didn't expect her to live much longer.

He sat at his desk, looking down at the sermon he'd been trying to write for Ascension Sunday. His words were completely uninspired. His mind was not on his job.

What would he do now that he knew the truth?

He wanted to pick up the phone and call Andrea. But she wasn't his therapist. This news wouldn't really change whatever she and Rainbow talked about in their sessions.

But it would change Tim's life forever. It already had.

He had a brother. He had a niece.

He should be overjoyed. But instead, it overwhelmed him. He hadn't expected to become a parent in this way-thrown into it without a life partner, without time to prepare.

He would need to spend more time with Rainbow and Mike. Up until now he'd been using his cat allergy to keep his distance. Even with the child down the hall at Bible camp, he hadn't really made much of an effort to visit.

He put his sermon aside and headed down the hall to the kindergarten cla.s.s, where Liz Rhodes, one of the high school kids the church hired as counselors, was leading the children in a bunch of songs that also had hand motions.

The kids jumped around, making a joyful sound. Even Rainbow. She and Ethan Wright were in the back row. Ethan sang with a big, booming voice. Rainbow not so much, but she followed along with the other kids, making all the hand gestures.

A fissure opened in his heart. She was his kin. His family. G.o.d had brought her here because she needed him. She needed his love.

And that's where he failed. His tangled feelings for the child included concern, but not love. Not yet, at least. For the last week and a half, he'd been working hard to keep his distance. And now he had no reason to hold himself back, except that Rainbow Taggart scared him to death. He didn't want to be a parent. Not yet.

He joined in with the singing, surprising Liz. He probably looked like a fool, dancing there wearing his somber black collar and gray pants, surrounded by kids in bright-colored T-shirts and shorts.

But singing eased his heart. He could do this. He just needed to apply himself.

Ten minutes later, parents began to show up to collect their kids.

Mike was one of the first through the door, which surprised Tim. He had expected Mike to leave Rainbow until the last minute. More important, Rainbow seemed to know the moment Mike arrived. She turned and gave him a small, shy smile, and then ran across the cla.s.sroom and right into him, giving him a big hug. Mike picked her up and balanced her on his hip, as if he'd been hauling children around for his entire life.

Something had changed. Mike didn't look like the harried and unhappy man he'd been a week ago. Rainbow had changed, too. Clearly the two of them were beginning to bond.

Tim suddenly realized he'd made a big mistake the first day Mike and Rainbow had darkened his door. He should have invited them into the parish house from the beginning. He shouldn't have stayed so aloof. He should have visited an allergist and found a solution to his cat allergy instead of using it as an excuse.

But he hadn't done any of those things. And when Mike left, as Tim knew he would, Rainbow would be heartbroken a second time.

He crossed the room. "Mike, do you have a moment?"

"Sure, what's up?"

"I'd like to talk with you in the office for a minute." Tim gave Rainbow's shoulder a friendly pat. "Can you stay here with Lizzy and Ethan for a moment, sweetie? I need to talk with Uncle Mike." Rainbow nodded solemnly, and Mike put her down. She scampered off to join Ethan, who was playing with Legos as he waited for his mom.

Tim ushered Mike back to his office. Instead of sitting behind his desk, he took a seat in the chair, leaving the couch for Mike.

"I've heard from my investigator," Tim said.

Mike's face went blank. His half-brother did that a lot, especially when confronted with something that required an emotional response. "That's good," Mike said.

"You've gotten pretty high praise from Rainbow's caseworker in Chicago."

Mike looked away, and his jaw tensed.

"Look, I think I made a mistake when you first showed up. I'd like you and Rainbow to move into the parish house with me. It will give me a chance to get to know Rainbow better. And I guess we should talk with Eugene Hanks about legal adoption."

Mike's gaze snapped back. "I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"What? You don't want me to legally adopt her?"

"No, I do, but I'm not sure moving her into the parish house is the right thing to do."

"What? Isn't that what you came here for?"

He nodded his head, and his brow furrowed. "Yeah, I did. But now it's gotten way more complicated."

"You're falling in love with her, aren't you?"

Mike startled. And for an instant, his poker face faltered. "Her?"

"Rainbow. You're getting attached to her, aren't you?"

"I guess. But I'm not going to take her back to Vegas with me. I'm clear on that. It's not my emotions I'm worried about, Timmy. The thing is, Rainbow has become infatuated with Charlene Polk."

"Charlene Polk?"

"She lives right next door. She has kittens, and I guess it's the vet thing or something, but she seems to have a real natural way with Rainbow. I'm not sure that taking Rainbow away from all that would be smart. In fact, if you wanted to do the right thing, you might think about asking Charlene out on a date. You could take Rainbow with you."

"Wait, wait, wait. Are you trying to match me up with Charlene Polk?"

"Yup. And if you wanted to help things along, you might think about signing up for the bachelor auction."

"You're not serious."

"I'm completely serious. I'm working on this problem pretty hard, Timmy. I've even consulted Miriam Randall, and, for what it's worth, she told me that you were fated to marry someone with a background in medicine. And then she went on to say that the bachelor auction was all part of the Lord's plan."

"The Lord's plan? Really?"

"That's what she said. So, if you're smart, you'll sign up for the bachelor auction. And then let me maneuver Charlene into buying you. I've almost got that one in the bag. Wherever Charlene goes, Rainbow will follow willingly. So, if you want my advice, you should start courting Charlene in a big way. She'll make Rainbow the perfect mother."

"Wow, you have been busy."

"I have a plan. I need to get back to Vegas fast. My agent has a sponsor almost lined up for me. It's a lot of money if they make an offer. So I haven't been sitting around on my backside. The only fly in the ointment right now is the kittens."

"Kittens? Plural?"

"Someone left a basket of kittens on Charlene's doorstep, and I think she's planning to keep them. That's obviously a problem. I know it's presumptuous of me, but I think you should schedule an appointment with an allergist and see what can be done about that cat allergy. I'm going to try to find homes for Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod. But Tigger is going to be a much bigger problem for Rainbow."

"Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod?"

"That's what Rainbow named the kittens. She's been going over to Charlene's place every morning and night to feed the littlest one with a bottle. And I'm not going to uproot her again until I check with Dr. Newsome."

Mike had rendered Tim speechless. If he didn't know better, he would say that Mike had become infatuated with Charlene Polk, but he didn't say so aloud. He had a feeling Mike didn't even realize it. But his notion of checking with Andrea made perfect sense.

So he decided not to push the parish house idea. If Mike wanted to give this transition a little more time and thought, Tim would not argue. After all, Tim had suggested this transition in the first place. And besides, Tim needed more time to figure out his feelings about this brother he had wanted all his life but had never known.

"Look, Mike, the fact is we're family. Maybe only because of biology, but that's important. I'd like to spend more time with you and Rainbow both. Preferably away from the cats. The thing is, when I was a child, I pestered my folks for a little brother. And they tried, but Mom had three miscarriages. Until you walked through that door, I thought the Lord had decided I was supposed to go through life an only child. So it's a blessing to discover I have a brother."

Mike's expression softened. It was almost as if he'd taken off a mask.

"So," Tim continued, "how about if you and Rainbow join me for some fun at the Edisto Country Club tomorrow?"

"The country club? Really?" Mike's voice took on an edge, and suddenly he retreated back into his sh.e.l.l.

Tim had to chuckle. "The Edisto Country Club isn't the kind of country club that has a golf course and exclusive membership policies, if that's what's worrying you."

"Okay, then what kind of country club is it?"

"It's a swimming hole on the Edisto River, where a number of townfolk have built summer homes. It's exclusive in the sense that you have to be a property owner to use the swimming hole-or a guest of a property owner. And in my case, Martha Spalding asked me to keep an eye on her river house for her while she's in Tampa. And before you go envisioning fancy log cabins and what-not, most of these homes started out as tin-roofed shacks. There have been some upgrades over the years, but they aren't very fancy at all."

"Okay, I suppose there isn't anything inherently wrong with a minister belonging to a country club." Mike didn't sound so sure.

"I don't actually belong. But I'm welcome there. All of the clergy in town are. Y'all will have fun. Pack a bathing suit for both of you. I'll bet Rainbow has never been swimming in a river."

"Uh, she's not the only one," Mike said. "And I'll bet Rainbow has never been swimming at all."

"Well, then, this is going to be a fun place for her to learn. And I volunteer to give her a swimming lesson."

By the time Sat.u.r.day rolled around, Charlene had ceased to worry about the stakes of her bet with Mike. If she lost, she would have to buy Tim Lake at the auction. But that wasn't all that terrible. After all, Tim would one day be Rainbow's guardian. If Charlene wanted to keep the girl in her life, she would have to befriend Tim.

Losing the bet wouldn't be bad at all.

Except that she wanted to wean Rainbow off pizza just as much as she had wanted to wean Nod off the pet nurser. So she asked Faye Tippit, Mother's housekeeper, for cooking advice. If anyone had a recipe for disguising broccoli, Faye would.

She recommended a broccoli and cheese ca.s.serole made with jack cheese and a can of mushroom soup. Charlene could have left the meal at that, but she didn't.

After the lovely evening she'd spent with Rainbow and Mike on Thursday, she decided to go all out. So she made up a batch of fried chicken and some b.u.t.ter beans and rice to accompany the ca.s.serole.

She'd probably bitten off more than she could chew, because it took her way too long to get everything cooked. Not to mention the grease explosion in her kitchen.

So with all the cooking and cleaning up and setting the table and playing with the kittens, she had no time to dress before her guests arrived. She stood in front of her closet trying to decide if she should wear a sundress or try to pour herself into a pair of her skinny jeans. She was still standing there in her underwear when the doorbell rang.

"Just a minute," she hollered, and opted for her sundress, which exposed a lot of skin. But it had the advantage of being quick to put on.

She opened the door, and within one second, Mike's gaze dropped right down to her chest. His lips twitched, and heat spilled through her. The dress had been a mistake.

Neither Mike nor Rainbow had dressed up for the occasion. He wore standard-issue jeans and a golf shirt, while Rainbow arrived wearing jean shorts and a teal T-shirt. As always, her hair was out of control.

Rainbow gave her an adorable little-girl look as she held out a piece of paper.

"For me?" Charlene asked.

Rainbow nodded solemnly. Charlene took the paper, which turned out to be a piece of lined notebook paper with a gray pencil drawing of the basket and the kittens. "Oh, Rainbow, this is beautiful." Charlene looked up at Mike. "She's got talent."

"Yeah. Dr. Newsome says we should encourage her to draw. It's something she loves to do, and it's supposed to be good therapy."

The child turned her head, hiding her face against Mike's side. Charlene immediately noticed the way Mike put his big hand on the little girl's shoulder. Oh, yeah, this guy talked about walking out, but maybe he didn't really mean it.