Chapter 18: Card Machine dismantled

They peered into the insides of the card machine. They'd taken off the plastic casing and unscrewed the rest of it with tools they seemed to carry everywhere. He just couldn't figure out how they'd managed it in a few minutes right under his eyes. And Lindi's, for that matter.

Rafe sat back and stared at the pieces on the table and then at Lindi. "What I'd like to know is how they did it so fast?"

Lindi sighed and hid her face in her hands. Her shoulders shook. Alarmed, Rafe pushed his chair closer to hers. He put his arm around her shoulder and squeezed to reassure her. Lilacs drifted up at him, and the fragrance reminded him of being with her all those years ago. "It's all right, I'll pay for another machine."

The twins literally froze, their instruments hovering above the machine parts neatly laid out on the table. "We can put it together again. It'll work, you'll see, Mommy." Both little faces looked really worried now.