by Hope White
She picked up the baby and Mia whimpered as she stuck her thumb in her mouth. “We’ll fix it, sweetie. Don’t worry.”
Whit had no doubt that Carly knew how to fix whatever ailed the child. Carly knew how to take care of Mia, something Whit would obviously fail at. Wasn’t that one of the reasons his relationship with Pamela fell apart? Because he’d not so subtly let her know that he wasn’t a kid kind of guy?
“I need to put my sweatshirt on.” Carly handed Whit the baby.
He froze, his arms locked by his sides.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Your arm’s bothering you?”
“No, it’s okay.” He took the baby, expecting her to fuss because of the awkward way he held her.
Mia blinked her bright blue eyes at him, and then pressed her cheek against his shoulder. He started to sway—he wasn’t sure why—and a kind of warmth filled his chest that he’d never felt before. Mia made a humming sound. The vibration triggered a whole new set of emotions and feelings he couldn’t find words to describe.
Carly put on her sweatshirt and shot him a curious look. He didn’t want to let the baby go.
“I’ll put together the diaper bag,” she said.
“Take your time.”
As they drove to the general store, Whit caught Carly watching him from the back seat.
“Yes?” he said in a light tone.
“Are you firing me?”
He sighed. “No, Carly. Mia needs you.”
I need you. Whoa, back up.
Whit did need her, only not like that. He needed Carly to care for his niece and help him find Harry.
“Would you do me a favor?” Whit said.
“If I can.”
“I understand that you want to keep your past to yourself, but could you warn me about stuff before it randomly pops up, like the restraining order business?”
“Okay.”
He waited, hoping she’d share something else with him.
“Can I ask you a question?” she said.
“Yes.”
“Why did you think it was your fault that Mia wasn’t eating this morning?”
“In case you hadn’t noticed I’m not good with kids.”
“You seem like a natural to me.”
He didn’t know how to respond to that one.
“Did something happen?” she said.
“What do you mean?”
“Something with kids that would make you think you’re not good with them?”
“You could say that.”
He kept his eyes trained on the road. As a few minutes passed, he wondered if confessing his mistake might help her understand the dynamics of their family, and perhaps inspire her to share more of her own troubled past.
“I messed up when I was a teenager and Harry was seriously hurt,” Whit said.
He glanced in the rearview mirror and saw her curious expression.
“He’s okay now, as an adult.” She paused. “So did he blame you for—”
“He didn’t have to. It was my fault. I excel at taking care of myself, no one else.” He regretted speaking the words the moment they left his mouth.
“I’d have to disagree,” Carly said. “You’ve taken care of me and Mia for the past thirty-six hours, and you’re suffering from a gunshot wound and concussion.”
“It’s my—”
“Don’t say it’s your job. That’s a cop-out and you know it.”
He shot her a quick glance, and then redirected his attention to the road.
“You’ve created this ‘my job’ wall to protect yourself,” she said. “Being a good uncle isn’t your job, Whit. You do it because you love your niece.”
“I hadn’t even met her until yesterday.”
“That’s a shame, truly. I hope you and your brother mend your relationship when this is all over.”
“Me, too.”
Her assessing stare made him uncomfortable, so Whit decided to turn the conversation around. “You’re pretty good at building your own walls.”
“Am I?”
“People are shooting at you, and police suspect you of being an accomplice to a kidnapping gone wrong, yet you won’t share details of your criminal charges to ease everyone’s suspicions.”
“I don’t need to explain myself. God knows my sins and He’s forgiven me.”
“Yeah, okay,” he said, a little more clipped than he’d intended. He doubted his sins could be forgiven.
“I’m ashamed,” she said suddenly.
“Because of your crime?”
“No, because I failed to protect my sister.”
He couldn’t bring himself to look at her.
“Ironically, it sounds like you and I have that in common,” she said.
“Is she okay?” he asked.
“I don’t know.”
This time he glanced at her through the rearview. She was gazing out the back window with the saddest expression he’d ever seen.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“Yeah, me, too.”
The rest of the trip was a silent one. He wanted Carly to explain her comment about not knowing how her sister was doing. At least Whit had been able to work his way back into Harry’s life last year. It had been a slow reconciliation, one that taught Whit to be patient.
Patience was what he needed with Carly. He wanted her to consider him a friend, not an enemy. After the way he’d acted earlier, he knew it would be an uphill trek to gain her trust.
He pulled into the parking lot of Stratmore’s General Store and spotted a patrol car. Deputy Logan got out and joined them.
“Thanks again for offering to keep an eye out,” he greeted the deputy.
“No problem. It’s a slow night. Ma’am,” he greeted Carly.
“Officer.”
* * *
Carly felt uncomfortable with a uniformed policeman escorting them into the general store. Walking beside him brought back too many memories, like the time she’d been caught stealing and the cop made her return the items and apologize to the clerk. She’d been confused and ashamed, and now realized that was probably the first time she experienced conflicted feelings about stealing, which was the family business. Her parents said it was okay to take things from people who didn’t need them as much as Carly and her family.
A gentle hand snapped her out of the memory. “You okay?” Whit asked.
She nodded that she was but couldn’t find the words to explain the knot in her gut.
As they entered the store, a bell jingled above the door announcing their presence.
“I’ll stay here and keep watch,” Deputy Logan said.
“Thanks,” Whit said.
The store was larger than she expected and had a variety of goods, including women’s clothes and even shoes.
She grabbed items and placed them in the cart Whit pushed behind her. “This is quite a place, isn’t it?” she said.
“Yep,” Whit said, scanning their surroundings. “What else do we need?”
Carly listed off a few things and they made their way up and down the aisles. “More acetaminophen, oatmeal bath and anti-itch lotion.”
They paused in front of a display of lotions. Whit’s phone vibrated.
“Whittaker,” he answered. “Okay, sounds good. I appreciate it.”
A slight smile touched the corner of his lips and Carly wished she could have put that smile on his face.
“Thanks again. Bye.”
“Everything okay?” Carly asked.
He looked straight at her. “Yep, it’s all good.”
Deputy Logan poked his head down their aisle. “Whittaker?” He motioned to Whit.
Whit glanced at Carly. “I’m fine,” she said. “There’s no one else here.”
“I’ll be right
back.” He disappeared around the corner and she heard low rumblings of male voices, then the jingle of the bell above the door. Deputy Logan had taken Whit outside to have a discussion? About Carly?
Stop being paranoid. This may not even involve you.
She couldn’t stop herself from worrying, from racking her brain for other things from her past that could rise up and rattle her relationship with Whit.
Relationship. Yes, they had one. They bonded over the love of a younger sibling.
She added anti-itch lotion, pain reliever—for both Mia and Whit—and oatmeal bath into the cart. A display of bandages caught her eye and she grabbed a few gauze bandages for Whit’s injury. It hadn’t bled through his shirt. However, that didn’t mean it wasn’t festering.
Mia suddenly spit up her dinner all over herself and Carly’s jacket. Mia didn’t like messes and started whimpering her displeasure.
“It’s okay, sweetie.” Carly went around the corner and spotted Whit talking with Deputy Logan through the front window. She got his attention, motioned to the mess on her shoulder and pointed to the bathroom sign. Whit nodded that he understood, his expression serious. Oh, man, she hoped it wasn’t bad news about Mr. and Mrs. B.
“We’ll get you cleaned up, little girl.” They entered the ladies’ washroom and went to the sink. Carly moistened a burp rag and wiped food off Mia’s chin and cheeks.
“See, all better?”
Carly glanced into the mirror.
A woman stood there, gripping a weapon in her hand.
EIGHT
“Please don’t hurt the baby,” Carly said, keeping her back to the stranger.
The young woman cocked her head slightly as if puzzling over Carly’s reaction. Then her gaze drifted down to her own hand.
“Oh, sorry. It’s just a Taser.”
Just?
“What do you want?” Carly blurted out.
“You’re so good with her,” the woman said softly. “I...I’m no good with kids.”
Carly didn’t know what to say. The woman’s demeanor had suddenly shifted from aggressive to remorseful.
“Who are you?” Carly said.
“I’m her mom, her biological mom.”
Carly’s jaw must have dropped because the young woman continued, “You didn’t know they adopted her?”
Carly shook her head.
“The Bremertons seemed like good people.”
“They are good people,” Carly said.
“Good people aren’t kidnapped at gunpoint, unless they’re into something criminal.”
“You know about the kidnapping?”
The woman nodded.
“How did you find us?”
“I’ve been monitoring the police scanners. I heard the call go out about the doctor’s office and have been following you ever since. I wanted to get you alone, to talk.”
“I’m Carly,” she introduced. “The nanny.”
“Sam,” the woman offered. “You guys should come with me.”
It was a suggestion, not a threat.
“Why?” Carly said.
“Because you’re obviously not safe.”
“We’re pretty safe. Mia and I are travelling with a police officer.”
“That might not stop them.”
“Who?”
“I’m not totally sure.”
“Well, at least talk to my cop friend.”
“No, thanks. Me and the cops...” Sam shook her head.
“I used to be the same way until recently. You can trust Whit.”
“I’ll pass.” Concern creased her forehead. “I don’t want you to think I’m a criminal or anything. I’m a coder and got caught up in something. The feds want to talk to me.”
“So, you’re like a black hat?”
Sam frowned. “No, nothing like that. I have scruples. My former employer did not.”
“A bad guy, huh?”
“The worst.”
“Do you think he has something to do with the kidnapping?”
“I hope not, or we’re all toast.”
We? Which meant Sam feared for herself, as well?
Someone tapped on the bathroom door. “Carly?” Whit’s muted voice called. “Everything okay?”
The young woman straightened at first, and then leaned against the wall, resigned.
In that split second, Carly had to make a decision. There was something about Sam’s expression as she studied Mia...
“Be right out!” Carly called to Whit.
Carly and Sam eyed each other and an odd sort of understanding grew between them.
“You’re confident your cop friend can protect Mia?” Sam said.
“Yes. He’s not just a cop. He’s her uncle. I wish you’d talk to him.”
Sam ignored the request and pulled out her phone. “Can we exchange numbers, so I can check on Mia once in a while?”
“Sure.” Carly gave Sam her number.
“I’ll text you mine.”
“Sounds good.”
Sam reached out and almost touched Mia’s shoulder but didn’t. “Take good care of her.”
“I will.”
“Thanks for not telling your friend about me. Here.” Sam placed the Taser on the washbasin. “Never hurts to have one of these.”
Sam went to the window and tossed her backpack outside.
“May the grace of the Lord be with you,” Carly offered.
Sam cast a quick glance over her shoulder and disappeared into the night.
* * *
Carly was acting...strange. No matter how many times Whit asked if she was okay and how many times she answered that she was, he still felt like she was keeping something from him.
Yet he’d received the call from Megan back at the store that Carly’s record was clean, even though her parents were serving time for fraud and embezzlement. That news supported Carly’s story and eased Whit’s worry over his new friend.
Friend? Was that what Carly was?
It didn’t help that she was sitting in the back seat where he couldn’t see her eyes. She’d chosen to ride in the back to comfort Mia, who was a little cranky.
They were halfway back to the inn when Carly suddenly said, “Whit, I need to tell you something and I’m pretty sure it will upset you.”
“Okay.”
“Something happened back at the store.”
“Something as in...?”
“A woman approached me.”
“Where?”
“In the bathroom. She said she was Mia’s biological mother.”
Whit snapped his attention to the rearview. “Did she threaten you?”
“No.”
“Did she have a weapon?”
“She was carrying a Taser to defend herself.”
“From what, you and a baby?” Whit’s mind raced with worry. “Wait, she said she was Mia’s mother?”
“Yes.”
“So, she was a nutjob or something.”
“Actually, I believed her.”
“Carly—”
“I’m telling you what happened.”
“Now, now that we’re fifteen minutes away and she’s long gone.”
“I encouraged her to talk to you, but she refused.”
“How did she even find us? Hang on. Was she in the bathroom when I knocked on the door?”
Carly hesitated. “Yes.”
“And you didn’t say anything?” He must have spoken a little too loudly because Mia squeaked. “Sorry.” He lowered his voice. “Carly, what were you thinking?”
“I knew she wasn’t going to hurt me, especially because I was holding her daughter in my arms.”
“Do you know how crazy that sounds? Mia is Harry and Susan’s child, not some random woman’s ki
d.”
“Sam knew the Bremertons and she knew about the break-in. She wanted to protect Mia and me from whoever is responsible for all this.”
“And who’s that?”
“She wasn’t positive. It sounded like she had her suspicions.”
“If she was telling the truth and she suspects who is after Mia, any rational person would have gone to the authorities for help.”
“She doesn’t have the best relationship with cops.”
“Which should have been a clue she’s not to be believed or trusted.”
“I don’t have the best relationship with cops and you trust me, at least with Mia, don’t you?”
He ignored the question. Carly’s role was...complicated.
“What were you trying to prove?” Whit said.
“I didn’t feel threatened, and I know what that feels like. Besides, I figured it couldn’t hurt to get more information about what’s going on.”
“And now she’s gone.”
“She has my number. She’ll call to check on Mia.”
Whit couldn’t believe what he was hearing. How could a woman with Carly’s life experience be so naive?
“You know I’d never let anything happen to Mia,” Carly said. “I was putting her needs first.”
He squeezed the steering wheel tighter. “Wanna explain that?”
“If you and Deputy Logan had rushed in there, Sam might have panicked and tased someone and one of you would have shot her and all of that would have been dangerous for Mia. At least now we have a little more information about the situation.”
“From an unstable stranger. Give me her description when we get back to the inn and I’ll call it in.”
Right after he called his tech to have her find hospital records of Susan giving birth to Mia.
“You’re doing it again,” Carly said.
“Doing what?”
“Acting like a cop, not an uncle.”
“I am a cop.”
“Well, maybe you’d be better off thinking like an uncle.”
“I said I was sorry for raising my voice. It makes me crazy to think that you and Mia were in trouble and I couldn’t help because you lied to me.”
“I didn’t lie. I said I’d be right out.”
“Splitting hairs.”
Silence filled the car. He wasn’t sure how to get through to Carly and explain that it damaged their relationship when she kept things from him.