A very pregnant blonde with two kids in tow and hair almost as curly as Cissy’s greeted Gil and Cissy as they moved toward the sidewalk framing the church.
“Your mama is some steamed at you,” the blonde remarked as soon as she drew close enough for conversation. A little girl who couldn’t be much older than two clasped her hand, while a boy a couple of years older stood pouting next to them.
“So what else is new?” Cissy asked, reaching down to swing the little girl onto her hip. The boy instantly rushed forward, jealousy stamped on his freckled face.
“Hold me, Cissy!”
“Marky, I keep telling you, you’re too big,” his mother scolded.
The boy drew back his foot, as if to kick Cissy into compliance. Without thinking, Gil reached out and caught the boy by the shoulders, sweeping him away.
“Whoa, there!” Realizing only belatedly that his interference might not be appreciated, he adopted a friendly tone and asked, “Who do we have here?”
Cissy made the necessary introductions. “This is Mark and his sister is Melly. Their mom is my cousin, Della.”
After exchanging pleasantries with Della, Gil looked down at the boy he held trapped against his knees. “Man, I wish I had a baby sister.”
Mark’s face registered astonishment. “Huh?”
“Yeah. I only have brothers. Six of them. Sometimes my mom can’t even remember my name.” The boy’s eyes rounded. Gil managed not to chuckle. In truth, his mother often ran through a litany of names before she found the appropriate one, much to the amusement of Gil and his brothers. “Now, if I had sisters,” Gil went on, “I’d stand out. You know what I mean?”
Comprehension dawned in the boy’s eyes. He turned his head to stare at his mom’s belly, exclaiming, “Ha! Another sister.”
Gil mentally swiped his forehead in relief. His ploy could have backfired if Della had been carrying another boy. Mark suddenly pointed. Tearing away from Gil, he ran to greet Sally.
Della wagged a finger at Gil. “Aren’t you the clever one? Where’d you get so smart about kids?”
“Being the fifth of seven might have something to do with it,” Cissy put in with a chuckle.
“What’s your secret, then?” Della asked. “You’re great with kids, and you’re an only child.” She narrowed her eyes, proclaiming, “The two of you would make excellent parents.”
Gil’s chest suddenly tightened. He’d always intended to be a father someday, but he’d never given much thought to the mother of his children. He’d always figured she’d come along when the time was right. Why did he have to keep reminding himself that Cissy Locke had come along at the wrong time?
Cissy’s mother arrived then, as if on cue. “That’s what I’ve been trying to say,” she grumbled. Turning to Gil, she demanded, “Don’t you think she’d be a wonderful mother?”
“No question,” he answered honestly. “Cissy would make a wonderful mother, which is one reason she’ll be such a great director of the orphanage.”
Sally glared at him before stomping off toward the church, Mark in tow. Della took Melly and followed. Cissy walked forward a single step then went up on tiptoe and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
Gil couldn’t breathe again until she disappeared inside the church behind her mother and cousin.