The Daddy Gamble

by Debra Salonen

  “She’s an amazingly resilient soul,” Yetta said softly. “Her mother was afraid this experience might scar her, but I think my granddaughter is able to discern a person’s true motives better than most adults can. Her father didn’t mean to hurt her or scare her. He simply got lost.”

  Lost?

  Rob didn’t actually ask the question until after they’d released the fish into the tank. He’d listened to the pet store clerk’s explicit directions on how to acclimate fish to a new environment, but his patience was long gone. He untied the twist ties and dumped them in. If they made it, great. If not, well, this wouldn’t be his first bad move of the day.

  “What did you mean when you said Ian got lost?” he asked Yetta once they were seated at the kitchen table. She’d offered him coffee, but he’d turned it down. His stomach was a knot of nerves.

  “Ian’s mother was Romani. She was very beautiful and very troubled. When things turned sour, she’d take her son and leave. By bus, car, thumb—whatever means was convenient. Ian’s central point of his inner compass got mixed up, cross-wired. When he’s in one place for too long, he starts thinking he has to leave, and some unconscious force takes over. He does things to precipitate the need for a move.”

  Rob sat back in the chair and considered what she said. It made sense, but…“Does that excuse him?”

  “For taking Maya? Heavens, no. I don’t believe he planned to take Maya this morning, but he’s an opportunist. When he found out Kate was gone, he acted out of spite.”

  “Why?”

  “Because she was with you. A clear signal that she’d started to rebuild her life—one that didn’t include him.”

  “How could he have known she was with me? Hell, I didn’t even know last night was going to happen until it did.”

  Yetta gave an inward smile that made him shiver. “Ian is a very clever man. Maybe he had somebody spying on Kate—looking for something to use in their custody battle.”

  Damn. Not once had Rob checked to see if anyone was following them. Heck, he was so infatuated with Kate, the guy could have tailgated him and Rob wouldn’t have noticed.

  “But surely he didn’t think he could get away with kidnapping Maya.”

  Yetta took a sip from the cup she was holding. “I doubt if he thought past the taking. That’s how he is—impulsive. But as I told Katherine, even if they put him back in jail, he’s not going to disappear. And now that Maya’s older and they’ve established a relationship, it will be impossible for Kate to ignore him the way she’s done in the past.”

  Rob agreed. The last time he and Maya talked, the little girl had been adamant about Ian’s role as her daddy. If Maya had her way, there wouldn’t be room for any other man in her life, not for a long, long time.

  “I didn’t do it on purpose, Katie. I just acted. You weren’t there. Maya was. And I thought if I took a drive in the desert I’d be able to think clearly. You know that’s what I used to do. Remember?”

  Kate was sitting across the table from her ex-husband in some kind of interrogation room. She had the uncomfortable feeling there might be someone observing them, although she didn’t see anything that looked like a two-way mirror on the wall. Ian was wearing street clothes—denim jeans, a lilac polo shirt that she never would have bought for him and expensive-looking sneakers.

  They were alone. Their respective lawyers were elsewhere, probably hammering out some kind of plea bargain with the police or D.A. She didn’t know or care.

  “So, I was gone and you thought, ‘Hey, it’s a nice day for a drive. I’ll just steal my ex-mother-in-law’s car and take my daughter for a little road trip’—even though it’s against the law, the provisions of your parole and our custody agreement.”

  His chin dropped to his chest. “I didn’t really stop to think. That’s pretty obvious, isn’t it?”

  She didn’t answer.

  He looked up. “I had a dream last night. I saw you in bed with another guy. You told him you loved him. I kept shouting, ‘No. No. You can’t love him. You’re my wife.’”

  Kate felt her face heat up. Had he guessed where she’d been and with whom or was this some kind of Rom mind game? “But I’m not your wife, Ian,” she said firmly. “We’re divorced.”

  “That’s just paperwork, Katie. We said vows.”

  “Which you broke.”

  “I made some really lousy decisions and took risks that didn’t work out the way I thought they would, but I never stopped loving you.”

  She crossed her arms. “Really? And where was the keep-yourself-solely-unto-each-other part when you ran off to Mexico with the blond bimbette?”

  He took a deep breath and let it out. “I didn’t cheat on you.”

  She snorted skeptically. “Tell that to the woman you were arrested with.”

  “Her name is Cara. Her brother owed me money. A lot of money. He was one of the reasons I got caught short when the auditors came down on me. He was afraid I was going to use my Mafia connections to put a hit on him if he didn’t pay up.”

  “What Mafia connections?”

  He grinned. “Exactly. I didn’t have any, but he didn’t know that. So, he begged me to think of some other kind of payback. I told him I needed a woman to play the part of my mistress.”

  Kate blew out a breath of frustration. “This is pathetic, Ian. Did you spend the last two years thinking this up? I’ve never heard such a crock. I’m leaving.”

  He reached out with his hand, but stopped short of actually touching her arm. “Katie, please. You have to listen. This is the truth. Ask my lawyer, she’ll tell you.”

  “She’s your lawyer. She’s paid to believe you.”

  “Then ask Cara. She’s married now and living in Boulder City. She visited me a couple of times in jail. She’s a good person. She just wanted to help her brother.”

  Kate heard a sincerity that couldn’t be denied. “Why would you do such a thing?”

  “I figured getting away was a long shot, but when you’re desperate you’ll try anything. If I would have made it across the border, I’d have contacted you as soon as it was safe for you and Maya to join me.”

  “Life on the run? Did you really think I’d have taken an infant across the border to live on money you stole from my family? There’s a great way to raise a child.”

  He grimaced. “You’re right. I knew that, too, but I panicked. Everything was crashing down around me. I couldn’t tell you the truth, so I lied. To protect you.”

  Something in his tone made her stifle her automatic response. Ian had always insisted that his role in the family was to keep his wife and daughter safe. He’d been neurotic about alarm systems, air bags in cars and child-protective locks.

  “So running away was your way of protecting us?”

  “Yes. It was the best I could do. And just in case I got caught, I figured I needed something to keep you from wasting any more time and money on me.”

  A lump formed in Kate’s throat making it impossible to ask what needed to be asked.

  “Cara was a front. A prop. The police let her go after questioning, but by then you’d already assumed the worst. Like I knew you would. You saw her and said, ‘Hang the bastard.’”

  “Not in so many words,” she said softly.

  “I know you, Katie. I know how much value you place on trust and integrity. I didn’t know how long I’d be in jail, but I didn’t want you and Maya wasting time worrying about me, visiting me.”

  “So you set me up to hate you?”

  He nodded.

  “Well, congratulations. It worked. I do.”

  “No, you wish you could. But you don’t.”

  Kate wanted to deny the allegation, but her emotions were too jumbled. She hung on to anger. It was much safer than sympathy. “It doesn’t matter whether or not you actually slept with that woman, Ian. If you think what you did somehow makes you noble, you’re sadly mistaken. You destroyed the life we’d built together and shattered any illusion I held dear about
love and trust. I know you’re Maya’s father. There’s nothing I can do to change that, but if I have my way, you will never spend time alone with her again. Do you understand?”

  He didn’t say a word, but Kate could see the answer in his eyes. He believed her.

  “Now, I have to go. I still have a business to run, and thanks to you, a traumatized daughter to worry about. I hope they toss you back in jail and throw away the key.”

  “You don’t mean that, Katie.”

  “Oh, believe me, Ian. I do. I sincerely do.”

  Chapter 15

  The minute Kate escaped from the meeting with her lawyer, she called Jo.

  “Good news, sweetie,” Jo said. “We finally caught a break.”

  “What kind of break and how much is it going to cost?”

  Her partner laughed. “Oh, quit being so cynical. This is a good thing. I just hired an old friend to cook tonight. He’s wonderful. We worked together for a couple of years. He and his wife split and he’s sort of between jobs. He pitched in during lunch and I think he’s going to be perfect. Nothing long-term. Just a few days to give you time to regroup and be with Maya.”

  Kate’s brain struggled to process the information. She’d thought seriously about closing the restaurant for the night because she’d had practically no sleep the night before and was emotionally drained. “Are you sure?”

  “Hey, this is my place, too, remember? I wouldn’t let just anyone stand at this stove.”

  “You’re right. I’m sorry I…I’m a little wiped out.”

  Jo made a sympathetic sound. “I know, dear. Rob told me. He’s pretty upset, too. And then this thing at work came up.” Thing at work? “I know it’s killing him not to be with you, but a person can’t be two places at once, right?”

  Kate didn’t know what to say. She hadn’t talked to Rob since he left, except for voice messages on their cell phones. She was alone. Like always. That’s all she knew for sure.

  “Listen, Jo, how ’bout I ask Grace to hostess tonight? That way if this new guy has any questions, she can help.”

  “Great idea. Anything to keep you at home with your little girl. Now, I gotta run. We still have to nail down tonight’s specials. Talk to you later.” She hung up.

  After calling her sister, who wasn’t going back to Detroit until Monday, Kate took her time driving home. She’d checked in with her mother and learned that Maya was still napping. That was good. Maya was happy at Yetta’s. Content. Living in Kate’s childhood home was convenient. But one thought that had jelled in Kate’s mind over the course of the day was: Maya and I need a place of our own.

  She didn’t blame her mother for letting Maya out of her sight. Ian could have weaseled his way past even the most vigilant babysitter.

  But even if this situation hadn’t happened, Kate knew it was time to leave. She’d taken advantage of her mother’s generosity long enough. Grace would loan her the money if Kate asked. She just hoped her mother would understand.

  “Mom?” she called, walking into the kitchen.

  No one answered. She dropped her purse on the table and dashed down the hall to the bedrooms.

  Yetta was sitting on Maya’s bed, reading a book.

  “Hi, Mommy. I got a new book from Daddy.”

  “Really? You had time to go shopping while you were off on your adventure?” Kate asked, tilting her chin to read the cover. The title had the word jokes in it.

  “We bought it when we got gas.”

  “Oh.”

  “Zeke brought it by, along with Maya’s sweater,” her mother said. “I guess they’d gotten overlooked in my car. Enzo is making arrangements to return that to me later.”

  “Wanna hear a joke, Mommy?”

  “Sure, but then Grandma and I have to talk.”

  “What’s a three-letter word for mousetrap?”

  Kate’s mind was too numb to think. “I don’t know. What’s a three-letter word for mousetrap?”

  Her daughter’s brown eyes twinkled with mischief. “C-a-t.”

  Kate laughed, but her emotions surged. She had to blink fast to keep her tears inside. Her little girl—the child she and Ian had produced—was growing up so fast. She was smart and funny and kind and wonderful. And Kate knew she would do whatever it took to make sure nobody hurt her or crushed her amazing spirit.

  “That’s great. I love it. We can read some more later. I’m not going to work tonight. I figured we’d just hang out and watch movies. Does that sound good?”

  Maya nodded, but she also looked at her grandmother, as if needing Yetta’s okay.

  “I’ll go make a fresh pot of coffee,” Yetta said. “Why don’t you introduce your mother to your new fish, Maya? The ones Rob gave you.”

  “Rob? When was he here?”

  “About an hour ago. Maya was asleep. He had to run home and get dressed for some fancy dinner his bosses were dragging him to. He didn’t seem very happy about it.”

  Once Yetta had left the room, Kate sat down at the foot of the bed. Her gaze was drawn to the fish swimming in the bright clear water of the aquarium.

  There were a couple of pretty ones she didn’t recognize.

  “Grandma said this black one’s name is Molly, only I think he’s a he not a she because he’s so mean to the other fish.”

  “Not all males are mean, Maya.”

  Maya moved to the far side of the aquarium so Kate couldn’t see her clearly.

  “You know some very nice men, like Gregor and Great-uncle Claude and Zeke and…Rob.”

  Maya tapped on the glass, sending the fish toward the safety of an artificial rock formation. She didn’t say anything.

  “Maya, I need to be sure that you understand that what happened today wasn’t your fault. Your daddy made a mistake today but he didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  “He said you won’t let him live with us, Mommy. Why?”

  “Because it just wouldn’t work out. I’ve changed.”

  “Can’t you change back?”

  Kate shook her head sadly. “No. I’m sorry, honey. I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “Well…you like being four, right?”

  Maya nodded.

  “Would you ever want to be two again?”

  “No. I’m not a baby anymore.”

  You’re my baby. “There you go. You’ve moved on and that’s how I feel about your dad. I can’t ever live with him again.”

  “Does that mean we’ll always live with Grandma?”

  “No. In fact, you and I are going to start planning for the day we move into our own place. Probably an apartment to start out, but eventually, we’ll have a house.”

  “Will it have a swimming pool?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Will Rob come there and teach swimming lessons?”

  Leave it to her daughter to ask the tough questions. “I don’t know, honey. He’s a pretty busy guy.”

  “Won’t Grandma be sad if we leave?”

  “You know, I think she’s been happy to have us living with her because she was lonely after Grandpa died. But, maybe, if she doesn’t have us to worry about she’ll go out more.”

  “Like on a date?” Maya asked, her eyes growing wide. “With kissing and stuff?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Mommy, if we move, why can’t we take Daddy with us? He’s all alone, you know.”

  “Sweetheart, Mommy and Daddy are never going to live together again,” Kate said firmly. “I’m sorry, but that’s just the way it is.”

  Maya’s lips turned down and tears welled up in her eyes. “You’re mean. Daddy says he loves us and wants to move home but you won’t let him. You’re too busy being Rob’s girlfriend.”

  Kate knew that kind of logic didn’t come naturally to a four-year-old. Just as she’d feared, Ian had crafted a story that made him the martyr. “I know your father loves you very much. He’s missed out on watching you grow up and he probably wishes he could make for up that, but I have to do what I think i
s best for both us. And living with your father isn’t good for me. This has nothing to do with Rob.”

  Maya peeked around the corner of the fish tank. Her heart-shaped face looked drawn, worried. “I like this gold one Rob bought me. She’s pretty. Her fins look like feathers.”

  Kate moved to her knees and crept closer. “She’s beautiful. Does she have a name?”

  Maya pressed her nose to the glass. “I dunno. Will he come back? So I can ask him?”

  He? “Rob?”

  The little girl nodded.

  I dunno. “S…sure.” Although at the moment she wasn’t certain of anything. “But since he gave them to you, they’re yours to name. Or, maybe if you concentrate real hard, they’ll tell you their fish names. Can you do that?”

  Maya brightened noticeably. “Uh-huh. Auntie Alex says I’m good with animals. That’s why we’re going to get a doggie soon.”

  “We who?”

  Maya didn’t answer. She seemed intensely focused on her mission—to talk to the fish.

  “I…um, I’ll be in the kitchen. Grandma and I need to talk.”

  Kate watched her daughter a moment longer, then left. Surely understanding the language of fish was a no more impossible task than understanding why some men were mean.

  “Rob wanted you to call him,” Yetta said, after Kate was seated a few minutes later. She’d detoured to her room to change into sweats.

  “I tried his number a little while ago and it said no service. Maybe he turned it off.”

  Kate tried to keep her tone even. She didn’t want anyone to know how hurt she’d been that he’d disappeared in her hour of need. True, she’d practically ordered him to leave, but she’d expected him to return at some point. Surely he’d known how upsetting this had been for her. His devotion to his work seemed a pretty lousy recommendation for a boyfriend.

  “He told me what happened. The big bosses came to town for a surprise meeting. They were threatening to close the whole operation, but Rob persuaded them to give the office another chance.” Yetta smiled. “According to his mother, Rob saved sixteen jobs, including his own.”