A Mother's Secret

by Gabrielle Meyer

  “You can build anything,” Kodi said with awe in his voice.

  Chase grinned and started to hammer the nail into place. “Could you fill my tool belt with a few more nails, Jordan?”

  Jordan jumped to help and pulled several nails out of a box, then he put them in the tool belt around Chase’s waist.

  The warm June weather was as perfect as it could get without the addition of mosquitoes or other pesky bugs. Those would come later in the summer, if Chase’s memory was correct. For now, the bright blue skies, warm breezes and occasional thunderstorms made this his favorite month of the year.

  “We’ll put a few boards on the tree for a ladder and then we’ll start on the platform,” Chase explained to the boys. “Hopefully we can get a good start on that before suppertime.”

  “Are you going to eat with us again?” Ryan asked. “I heard Mama tell Mrs. Thompson it was awkward to have you eat with us and she wished you didn’t.”

  Chase paused as he put another nail in place. Joy didn’t want him eating with her and the children? He tried not to feel offended or embarrassed by the revelation, but he shouldn’t be surprised.

  “Ryan!” Jordan said. “That’s not nice.”

  Ryan just shrugged. “I didn’t say it—she did.”

  Jordan put his hand on Chase’s shoulder. “I want you there.” He smiled. “I like you.”

  “So do I,” said Ryan, defensively.

  “And me,” agreed Kodi.

  “I like you guys, too.” Chase hammered the second nail in place and then tried to wiggle the first board. It didn’t budge. “But if your mom doesn’t want me eating with you, then I should probably start eating in the carriage house.”

  “No!” the boys cried in protest.

  “See?” Jordan pushed Ryan with his shoulder, a frown on his face.

  “It’ll be okay,” Chase tried to assure him, taking another board and placing it above the first. “I’ll still see you all the time.” His phone started to vibrate in his back pocket. He’d turned the ringer off, because it felt like too much of an intrusion into this idyllic place. “I need to take this call,” he said to the boys. “Ryan, do you want to try to nail the next board into place like I just did?”

  “Sure!” Ryan grabbed the hammer from Chase and set to work.

  Chase pulled the phone from his pocket and tried not to cringe. It was his dad.

  Tapping the green icon, he took a steadying breath. “Hello.”

  “I have someone interested in the property.”

  “Hi, Dad.”

  “He’s in Singapore right now, but he will be back later this summer.” Dad’s voice was impatient, as usual. “I need you to get me as much information about the property as possible, and as soon as possible. I need the exact acreage of the estate, the dimensions of the house, including each room, and an appraisal of the house, property and artifacts. The buyer wants as many pictures of the riverfront property as possible. Go across the river to the park and take them from there, too.”

  Chase moved away from the boys so he could speak plainly, while still keeping them in his line of sight. He didn’t want them to do anything foolish, like use the saw he’d brought with his other tools—but he also didn’t want them hearing what he might say to his dad. No use scaring them about losing Bee Tree Hill, if it wasn’t necessary.

  “I have someone interested in the property, too,” Chase said. It was Joy, but his father didn’t need to know that.

  “Perfect. A bidding war would be even better.”

  A bidding war? Joy had no hope of winning a bidding war.

  “When can you get me all the information?” Dad asked in a clipped tone.

  “When do you need it?” He had to stall for more time.

  “Last week.” Dad’s voice held no room for small talk.

  “I’ll see what I can do.”

  “No. You’ll do exactly as I asked and nothing less.”

  Chase had been at the mansion for three days and had not even called the appraiser yet. He’d been too busy working on projects.

  “I’ll have everything to you as soon as possible.”

  “Good.” The phone went dead.

  Chase pulled it away to make certain his father was no longer on the line and then turned off the device, stuffing it into his pocket in frustration.

  “Was that your dad?” Ryan asked, holding the hammer loose in his hand. All three boys watched Chase closely.

  “Yes.”

  “Where does he live?” Kodi asked.

  “Far away.” But not far enough.

  “Our dad lives far away, too,” Jordan said.

  Ryan frowned. “How do you know?”

  “If he lived close, he’d come for us.” Jordan stood with his shoulders bent. “Wouldn’t he?”

  Ryan shrugged. “I don’t know.” Then he looked at Chase. “Do you know?”

  Chase shook his head. He didn’t know anything about the boys’ birth parents. “I wish I did, buddy.” He put his hand on Ryan’s shoulder. “Should we get back to work?”

  Ryan’s face lit up and he nodded. “Did I do a good job?”

  The nail Ryan had put into the board had gone in sideways and was bent, but Chase nodded. “It looks great. I’ll just add a second one for a little more support.”

  As Chase pounded in a second nail, Joy appeared at the top of the hill with a man by her side. He wore khaki shorts and a green polo shirt.

  Tom Winston.

  Chase couldn’t hide the displeasure he felt. What did the lawyer want?

  They walked down the stone steps to the bottom of the hill while Chase continued to pound the ladder into the tree.

  “Boys,” Joy called out to Ryan, Jordan and Kodi when they drew closer. “Look who came to visit.”

  “Tom!” the boys called out to the new arrival, but none of them left Chase’s side.

  “Hey, guys.” Tom had his hands in his pockets, but now he took one hand out to take off his sunglasses. “What are you building?”

  “A tree fort!” Ryan and Jordan answered at the same time.

  Chase set down his hammer and wiped his hands on his shorts before extending one hand to Tom. “It’s good to see you again.” Although, it wasn’t.

  Tom’s handshake was strong and confident. “Same to you.”

  “Tom’s here to mow the lawn,” Joy said quickly. “It takes hours.”

  Chase had already noticed that the lawn was getting tall—but he’d been too busy with other things. “There’s no need,” he said. “I was planning to do it in the morning.”

  “No worries.” Tom put his sunglasses back on. “I’m here to do it now. You don’t need to bother.”

  “No bother at all.” Chase crossed his arms. “It’s why I came.”

  “Is it?” Tom asked. “I thought you were here to sell—”

  “Maybe Tom can mow the bottom of the hill and Chase, you can mow the top,” Joy said quickly, interrupting him, probably so the boys wouldn’t hear what he had to say about selling the estate. “It takes a couple hours to do each—there are several acres to mow, after all.”

  “I’ll start and see how far I get before nightfall,” Tom said. “I can always come back tomorrow after work and finish—” he looked at the tree fort “—since Chase has other things to worry about.”

  In Chase’s opinion, the tree fort was more important than the lawn, but the way Tom said it suggested that Chase was playing when there was work to do.

  “Why don’t you join us for supper, Tom?” Joy asked, clearly changing the subject. “Mrs. Thompson is making Chinese food tonight—egg rolls and chicken lo mein.”

  Ryan cheered at the news.

  “I’d be happy to join you,” Tom said with a big grin.

  Given the information the boys had shared earlier, Cha
se had planned to dine alone that evening—but now that he knew Tom was going to be there, he changed his mind. “I love egg rolls,” he said.

  “Great.” Joy put her hands on Ryan’s shoulders and eyed up the progress on the tree fort—which wasn’t much—but she still smiled. “I can’t wait to see what this looks like when you boys are finished.”

  Ryan lifted his shoulders with pride—and Chase couldn’t deny that he also felt a little proud, too.

  Maybe they would put a skylight in, after all.

  Chapter Five

  “When was the last time you used the firepit down by the river?” Chase asked Joy later that evening as he helped Mrs. Thompson clear the table after supper.

  Joy looked at Mrs. Thompson, who shrugged.

  Memories of the last time she’d sat by the firepit returned unbidden and Joy couldn’t meet Chase’s gaze. The two of them had lit a fire, popped popcorn over the flames and watched the annual fireworks together. “I suppose it’s been four years now,” she said.

  Tom also stood and started to help clear plates, while the children finished drinking their milk.

  “What do you think about lighting a fire and making s’mores for dessert?” Chase asked.

  “Yay!” the kids all cheered.

  “I love s’mores,” Kinsley said with a starry-eyed grin.

  “I can save the brownies for tomorrow night,” Mrs. Thompson offered. “A fire sounds so nice.”

  “I’ll get some firewood in the old wagon,” Ryan added. “I know right where it’s at by the barn and the old beehives.”

  “I can help!” Jordan said.

  Both boys jumped up before Joy could protest. She had things to do this evening. She had found half a dozen grants and she had hours of work ahead of her—not to mention some correspondence with the boys’ social worker. After years of working with the boys’ birth mother, and countless classes and counseling sessions to teach her the skills she’d need to properly care for them, a final court date had been set to evaluate her progress. Though Joy was rooting for their birth mother, and prayed for her daily, she was sad to think of the boys leaving them. But that was part of her agreement as a foster mom. She was available for as long as needed, and willing to do whatever was best for Ryan, Jordan and Kodi.

  An email had come through that morning from the social worker, but Joy had not had time to read it—and it looked like she wouldn’t get to it for several more hours.

  “Mind if I join you?” Tom asked Joy. “I don’t like s’mores—but I enjoy the company.”

  “Of course you’re welcome to join us,” Joy said. S’mores were one of her favorite treats—did Chase remember?

  “Do you have all the ingredients?” Chase asked Mrs. Thompson. “Or should I run up to the store?”

  “We should have everything here.” Mrs. Thompson went to the pantry at the end of the servants’ stairs. She opened the beadboard doors and pushed a few things around. “I was right!” she called out in a singsong voice. “I have everything we’ll need.”

  Chase set a dirty plate in the soapy water and glanced at Joy. “Do you mind having a fire?”

  “Of course not.” How could she say no now that everyone had their hopes up? She took a clean rag and wiped Harper’s hands and face.

  Chase followed her and picked up Harper’s empty cup. “I remember how much you like s’mores.”

  So he did remember.

  “And campfires,” he added with a knowing smile, “if I’m not mistaken.”

  Harper watched Chase closely, still uncertain of the stranger who had been with them almost constantly these past three days.

  Joy’s cheeks warmed at the campfire memories, though she didn’t know why. Nothing had happened with Chase that evening. It had been early in their relationship and he had done nothing more than brush her shoulder with his own.

  “I remember making s’mores at camp.” Tom interrupted Joy’s thoughts as he approached the table to take a few more dishes. “Even as a kid, I didn’t like them. They’re really sweet.”

  “Just like Joy,” Chase said with a wink.

  Mrs. Thompson laughed, but Joy pretended not to hear him.

  “Leave the dishes,” Chase said to Mrs. Thompson when she returned to the sink.

  She protested, but he pulled her away.

  “I can’t relax when I know the dishes will be waiting for me when I return.” She tried to go back to the sink, but Chase shook his head.

  “I’ll do them when we come back inside,” he told her. “Tonight is your night off.”

  Joy liked the sound of that. Mrs. Thompson worked harder than three women her age. Instead of enjoying retirement as most women were doing, she was taking care of five busy children and a ten-thousand-square-foot house. “I’ll help Chase,” Joy offered. “Consider the dishes done.”

  “I couldn’t possibly,” Mrs. Thompson said.

  “Yes, you could.” Joy helped Chase lead her away from the sink. “Don’t forget your sweater. It’ll probably cool down once the sun sets.”

  Mrs. Thompson sighed. “Alright.” A smile lit her wrinkled face and a twinkle filled her eyes. “I suppose it won’t hurt me, just this once.” She left the kitchen to retrieve a sweater.

  Kinsley climbed out of her booster seat and Harper lifted her hands for Joy to carry her.

  “Do the girls need sweaters, too?” Chase asked.

  “I was just going to run up and grab them,” Joy said, taking Harper into her arms.

  “I’ll go.” He started toward the stairs. “Are they in the dresser?”

  “Hanging in their closet.” She tried to hide her surprise. Mrs. Thompson helped Joy with the kids all the time, but she’d rarely had anyone else offer.

  “Pink for Kinsley and purple for Harper?” he asked.

  Joy nodded, even more surprised that he remembered.

  “I’ll be right back.” He took the stairs two at a time and disappeared around the corner.

  “Is he always so helpful?” Tom asked dryly, dropping the last of the dirty dishes into the sink.

  Joy shrugged. “He’s only been here three days.”

  Tom let his gaze wander to the stairs and he shook his head. “I don’t quite trust him. He’s too nice.”

  “Too nice?” Joy asked, swallowing her own misgivings. “He was always helpful the summer he lived here, offering to aid Mr. and Mrs. Thompson whenever he could, reading to Uncle Morgan, who was losing his eyesight...” She let her words trail away, because she remembered how attentive Chase had been to her, as well, offering to bring her to the store, move heavy furniture when she vacuumed, fetch her things when she had her hands full. It was just his way—and it had always made Joy feel noticed and even loved.

  Until he left. At first, she had questioned Chase’s intentions all along, but over time—and especially now, seeing him again—she realized acts of service was one of his love languages. Whether or not he abandoned her, it didn’t negate his care and concern when they were together.

  Tom frowned. “He suddenly shows up, four years too late, and he wants to play daddy?”

  “Shh.” Joy put her finger to her lips and looked pointedly at the girls and Kodi, who was watching them closely.

  “Chase wants to be our dad?” A look of pure excitement filled Kodi’s bright blue eyes with hope.

  “No,” Joy said a bit quicker than necessary. “He’s just a friend.”

  “I hope you’re right.” Tom crossed his arms, displeasure on his handsome face. He leaned against the countertop. “I’d hate to see him hurt you again—and this time, there are five more people he could trample on his way out.”

  “Please don’t,” Joy said gently to Tom as she set Harper on her feet. “It’s not the time or the place.”

  Despite her protests, his warning was hitting too close to Joy’s own fea
rs.

  Tom sighed and pushed away from the counter. “You’re right. I think I better leave. I can’t sit here and watch him manipulate your feelings again.”

  His words felt like a slap to her face and she stared at him for a second before she found the ability to answer. “Perhaps you should leave.”

  He didn’t say goodbye, but simply left the kitchen through the back door.

  The kids watched him leave, a bit wide-eyed.

  What he said hurt—especially because Joy feared he was right. Was she letting Chase back into her heart? Would he hurt her again?

  This time, she had the children to worry about. She couldn’t let Chase hurt them.

  “I think I’m ready,” Mrs. Thompson said, returning to the kitchen. If she noticed Tom had left, she didn’t say anything. She looked several years younger as she eagerly placed the ingredients for s’mores, along with a book of matches, a washcloth to clean sticky hands and a small bucket of soapy water in a wicker basket. “I’ll take Kodi down to the firepit and make sure the other boys haven’t tried to start the fire yet.”

  As she and Kodi left, the top step creaked and a couple moments later, Chase reappeared with the sweaters.

  “What happened to Tom?” he asked.

  “He needed to leave.”

  Chase didn’t say anything, but his smile said enough.

  While he helped Kinsley put on her sweater, Joy helped Harper, and she couldn’t stop herself from thinking about Tom’s warning. Did Chase have ulterior motives?

  “Are we ready?” Chase asked.

  “Yes!” Kinsley ran to the door and pulled it open. “I want s’mores!”

  “Reminds me of her mother.” Chase grinned as he held the door open. “Ladies first.”

  They left the house and took the stone steps to the bottom of the hill.

  Everything the light touched looked like gold in the setting sunshine. White trellises with climbing vines adorned the north end of the property, while a green gazebo sat perched on a little rise near the river. A white picket fence encircled the carriage house yard and a long chain-link fence ran the length of the north side of the property, which bordered a pond and community park.