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He hesitated a moment longer but couldn’t think of another choice he had. “Would you, please? Getting costumes together is not in my wheelhouse. Even buying them in a store gives me the hives but the idea of coming up with them on my own makes me want to pull my hair out.” He sounded pathetic even to his own ears.
Stacey continued to grin. “Little dramatic, aren’t you? You’ve convinced me, if not for you, then for the girls. What are they supposed to wear?”
“They need to dress like children of the historical period. You know, dresses or just something that’s easy but along that line. Remember me, that ‘no ideas’ guy?”
She chuckled. He didn’t appreciate being laughed at, but he did enjoy the sound of her laughter. When it subsided she nodded. “Okay. When’s a good time for me to see the girls?”
“I don’t expect you to do it by yourself. I can help.” He winced. “With some guidance.” He pushed the door to his office open. “I hate to take up your time off but being Saturday tomorrow, the girls are also free—afternoon would be the best.”
“I’ll be at your house at three. Does that work for you all?”
“It does. I’ll try to have what the girls already own out for you to look at. Give you somewhere to start.”
With great relief on two levels, Cody watched her leave his office a few minutes later. One, that someone else would be organizing costumes for his girls and, two, that Stacey was no longer standing so intimately close to him. He fisted his hands. Her scent still hung in the air.
* * *
Stacey arrived at Cody’s house the next day right on three. She was sure she was making a mistake by becoming further involved in Cody’s life. For a moment there yesterday she’d feared he would swoop her up into his arms when she’d offered to help him.
She knocked on the front door. Seconds later there was the sound of feet running before the door opened and Lizzy stood there with a grin. Behind her was Cody. He wore a pullover sweater with a T-shirt beneath, jeans and socks. An unsure smile covered his lips.
She shivered. Was she missing something?
Lizzy pulled on her hand. “Come on. We have to go upstairs.”
Stacey looked up to see Jean standing on the stairs. “Hi.”
Jean quietly said, “Hi.”
“Lizzy, let’s give Stacey a chance to come in.” Cody brushed Stacey’s back with his arm as he reached to close the door. She had no doubt it was unintentional but that didn’t stop her body from reacting. She’d made a huge mistake by coming here. Why had she opened her big mouth and suggested she help them? Because Cody had looked so pitiful and she’d been unable to stop herself from volunteering her talents. Or resist the opportunity to be a part of his family just once more before she left them behind forever. It was nice to feel needed, valued.
“How’re you?” he asked, as if he really wanted to know.
“I’m good.” She looked at Jean again who had come further down the stairs. “I’m ready to get started on costumes. How about you, girls?”
“Better you than me,” Cody muttered.
Stacey smiled. “I figured you’d think that.”
“The girls have already gone through some of their clothes and put out things that you might be able to use. I apologize for the state of their rooms.”
Stacey started toward the stairs. “No problem. We’ll see what they have.”
“Let’s go.” Lizzy pulled on her hand. “This way.”
Jean climbed the stairs and she and Lizzy followed. Stacey looked back at Cody, who followed them up. His brows were in a V of concern at the bridge of his nose. She grinned. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.”
He gave her a quizzical look. “You sure?”
“Positive.”
On the landing at the top of the stairs, Stacey stopped. “How about we start with you, Jean?”
She stood inside a doorway. “Okay.”
Stacey followed her into the room. It was decorated a bright yellow. “Wow, what a pretty room.”
Cody moved to sit in a chair in the corner, out of the way.
Jean gave her a slight smile and looked at Cody. “Daddy let me pick the color.”
Stacey wasn’t surprised. Cody loved his girls and wanted to make them happy. “Let’s see what you’ve got here. I found a picture of what you need to look like on the internet. Do you girls have any boots? Maybe rubber ones? You know, the kind you wear in the snow?”
“They do,” Cody said.
Jean ran to the closet and returned with black boots.
“Perfect.”
“I have some too,” Lizzy confirmed.
