A Fair of the Heart

by Donna Marie Rogers

  He clapped his hands together and gave them a gleeful rub. “Lead the way, beautiful lady, ’cause I’m hungry as a bear.”

  Beautiful lady. Wow. Let’s see, he can fix most anything, he appreciates a home-cooked meal, Emma hasn’t stopped chattering about him, and he wins the award for best view in all of Redemption. Oh yeah, this one definitely has promise.

  She led the way downstairs, knocking on the bathroom door as they passed by. “Come on, Max, time to eat.”

  Lauren tried not to worry when Max didn’t come down for supper. If he wanted to sulk in his room all night, fine. Frankly, she was tired of his piss-poor attitude and snarky comments. It was nice, for a change, eating a meal without insults being hurled at her between bites.

  And it was such a joy watching Caleb flirt with Emma, and watching Emma flirt right back. She was her mother’s daughter for sure. Although, she was doing a much better job with Caleb than Lauren. No nervous stutters or sweaty palms for Emma. And if Lauren didn’t know better, she’d swear Caleb was falling just as hard for little Miss Poopy Pants.

  By the time Lauren sliced into the chocolate cake, her trouble detector had hit high alert. Max was a big kid for his age, with double the appetite of a normal ten-year-old, and chicken bake was his favorite meal. But if that wasn’t reason enough to worry, Max should’ve raced down the stairs the moment that cake dome was lifted.

  After serving Caleb a hunk of cake, and Emma a sliver, Lauren rose to her feet and excused herself. The bathroom door was now open and the light on, so she stuck her head inside. Empty. She checked his bedroom—also empty—then her own room in case he’d decided to play computer games. No Max. She ran back downstairs and checked the spare room in the back of the house where he played video games. Full-blown panic set in when she discovered that room empty as well.

  Tears stung her eyes. She dabbed at them with her fingers and composed herself before returning to the kitchen.

  Caleb looked up and his smile faded. “What is it?”

  She guessed she hadn’t done such a great job on the composing part. “I can’t find Max. He’s not in the house, and since we would’ve heard him if he’d left through the front door, he must’ve snuck out a window.”

  Caleb shot to his feet and closed the distance between them. “Has he done this before?”

  “No. Never.”

  He glanced at his watch. “It’s only five o’clock, so we’ve got a good three hours or so of sunlight left. I’ll take a walk around outside, make sure he’s not just sulking behind the garage, while you make a few phone calls, all right?”

  “Thank you.”

  Caleb gave her shoulder a squeeze, winked at Emma, and then disappeared out the back door. Lauren raced to the phone.

  * * *

  Caleb found him at the mini-mart playing an ancient pinball machine with a black-haired boy about the same age, maybe older. Hard to tell since Max was quite big for his age.

  Neither boy saw Caleb approach. He walked up and laid an arm across the back of the machine. “Bonanza pinball? Huh, who’da thunk it? I mean, this thing must be thirty years old, at least.”

  “It was made in 1964,” the balding, middle-aged man behind the counter informed him. “Got it for a song down in Milwaukee.” He grinned, revealing a broken front tooth, before returning his attention to the portable TV behind him.

  “So, who’s winning?”

  Max and his friend exchanged looks. His friend shrugged.

  “Who the heck are you, and why are you following me?” Max demanded.

  “Why did you leave without telling your mother where you were going?” Caleb countered.

  “None of your business, old man!”

  Old man? Boy, this kid needed an old-fashioned, over-the-knee ass-whooping. “I’m a friend of your mother’s.”

  Max rolled his eyes. “Yeah, a friend. Okay. Call it what you want, but stay out of my business.”

  Caleb dropped his arm from the top of the pinball machine and took a step forward. Uncertainty flashed in Max’s eyes, but then the little punk found his smart mouth again. “I ain’t afraid of you...my dad’s bigger’n you.”

  “Yeah? Well, I don’t see your dad around anywhere, do you?” Caleb knew it was a low blow, but this kid needed a reality check. Caleb knew better than anyone what Max was going through, what he was feeling.

  “He’ll be back,” Max said, although his tone lacked conviction.

  “He’d be a fool if he didn’t come back. Listen, your mom’s worried sick, so why don’t we put her out of her misery and get you home?”

  Max crossed his arms in defiance. “I ain’t going nowhere with you.” A smug grin curved his lips. “You’re a stranger, and my mom told me never to get in the car with strangers.”

  Caleb couldn’t help but respect the little stinker’s brass. But enough was enough. “If you don’t come with me right now, I’ll throw you over my knee in front of God and anyone else who cares to watch and give you the spanking of your life,” Caleb promised in a low voice.

  Max’s eyes grew round with fear. His friend swallowed hard and backed up a step. “Dude, I’m outta here,” he said before taking off like a shot, the bell over the door tinkling in his wake.

  Caleb clapped Max on the back. “Let’s go. Now.”

  Max’s face screwed up in a scowl, but he wisely followed Caleb from the store.

  They rode in silence for a few minutes, Max staring out the passenger side window of Caleb’s black Chevy Silverado, no doubt thinking up ways to get even with him.

  “Believe it or not, I know how you’re feeling.”

  Max remained stubbornly silent.

  “I was only a few years older than you when my old man took off. Left in the middle of the night like a coward. Never said goodbye, love you, I’ll be back. And I blamed my mom, just like you blame yours.”

  Max fidgeted in his seat, but still, not a word. Caleb made a right onto Willow Drive and pulled into Lauren’s driveway. He parked the car, but instead of getting out, he turned to face Max. “It’s not your mom’s fault your dad left, and I think deep down you know that. Maybe you could cut her a break on the attitude.”

  Max lifted angry eyes to Caleb, but kept his mouth shut.

  Lauren stepped out onto the porch and shielded her eyes from the glare of the evening sun. She dropped her hand as Max got out of the truck, and Caleb found breathing impossible as the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen lit up her face.

  Caleb got out, too, but hung back as Max approached his mother.

  Lauren tried to hug him, but the kid stormed past her into the house. Caleb strode up to the porch and took her into his arms. She hung onto him as if for dear life. It struck him that they’d only met that morning, yet he’d never felt more comfortable with anyone before, male or female. The thought startled him and he pulled back slightly. “You okay?”

  She blew out a shaky breath and nodded. “You’d think I’d be used to it by now, you know? It’s been almost a year since I”—she made the quote signs—“ruined his life. I keep telling myself he’ll get over it, but what if he doesn’t? What if my little boy who hates me turns into a grown man who hates me?”

  Caleb smiled reassuringly. “I promise he’ll get over it. Trust me.”

  Loud music suddenly blared through the front door, and Lauren rolled her eyes.

  “You want me to take care of this for you?” Caleb asked. He let go of her hands and stepped back.

  “I appreciate the offer, but no. I need to take care of this myself.”

  He nodded his understanding. “Thanks again for supper. Call you tomorrow?”

  “I’d like that.”

  Caleb was trying to decide whether or not to kiss her when the front door flew open and Emma waddled out. “Momma, Max a bad boy! He call me soopid baby!”

  She swung Emma up into her arms, and Caleb’s heart melted like butter on a biscuit as the two most beautiful girls in Redemption smiled up at him. He gave one of Emma’s ho
ney curls a gentle tug, winked at Lauren, and got the hell out of there while he still could.

  Lauren watched Caleb drive away with a sense of regret. She was almost sure he’d been about to kiss her when Emma barreled through the door. She kissed her daughter’s cheek. “Lucky I adore you, Little Miss Rotten Timing.”

  “’Dore you, too, Momma.” Emma wrapped her arms around Lauren’s neck.

  Lauren carried her inside, settled her in front of the TV, and headed up the stairs to confront her son. He was lying on his bed, hands clasped behind his head and eyes closed. Lauren strode across the room and turned off his stereo. Max opened his eyes and glared at her. “Hey, I was listening to that!”

  Lauren walked over and sat on the edge of his bed.

  “Max, we have to talk about this.”

  “What’s to talk about? My dad’s gone and you...”

  His words trailed off, and Lauren waited for him to continue, surprised the insults weren’t being hurled quite as fast as usual. She had to constantly remind herself how hard it must have been for him to lose his father like that. And without so much as a letter or a phone call in all these months. Of course, John Frazier had never been much of a father, but she never could’ve imagined he’d abandon his own children like this. “And I…?”

  “Forget it.” Max closed his eyes, tuning her out.

  “I can’t forget it, and you know it.” Lauren blew out a hard breath and eased up off the bed. “Look, I know it’s easier to blame me since your father isn’t here, but I’m really tired of you using your sister and me as your personal punching bags. Your father left us, Max. All three of us, not just you. And in case you’re wondering, I’ll never leave you. You’re stuck with me, kiddo.”

  His eyes remained closed. “I know, all right? Just leave me alone. I wanna be alone.”

  Frustrated, Lauren backed out of his bedroom and closed the door. She rushed into the bathroom, locked herself inside, and let her emotions have the floor. She sobbed silently, a wad of toilet paper clutched in her fist.

  God, how she hated her ex-husband. John Frazier deserved to be boiled in oil for what he’d done to them, especially his son. How could a man just up and leave his children without so much as a word? And then disappear from the face of the earth? Oh, Lauren knew she could find his sorry ass if she wanted to hire a PI. But since that plan would require taking a second mortgage out on her home, it was never going to happen. Somehow, she knew it would be worse for Max if his father were dragged back kicking and screaming. They were all better off without him, and that was a fact. Her kids deserved much better than the likes of John Frazier. They deserved someone steady and true.

  Someone like…Caleb Hunter.

  Chapter Three

  “Are you sure it was Max?” Lauren clutched the phone to her ear and prayed for patience as Mr. Collier from down the road explained how he’d caught Max and two of his friends throwing eggs at his house. He’d given chase, but they’d gotten away.

  “I’m sure. Listen, I don’t plan to press charges, but if I catch him again, I’m calling the cops.”

  “As you should. I’m so sorry, Mr. Collier. And of course, I’ll pay for any damage.” Her stomach lurched at the thought of another debt.

  “There’s no damage, young lady. I just need to get the hose out and wash the brick.”

  “I’ll send Max down to help as soon as I find him.” If I find him, she thought, tempted to call the police herself.

  Mr. Collier let out a snorting laugh. “Please don’t. Just find him before he does some real damage.” And he hung up.

  Lauren packed Emma into the car, and then started combing the neighborhood for her wayward son. She felt so helpless, so frightened. Max’s antics were getting worse by the day, and she had no idea what to do to help him. All she knew for certain was if she didn’t nip this destructive crap in the bud soon, Max would find himself sitting in a jail cell with a one-way ticket to juvy hall.

  By the time she found him—hanging out in front of the hardware store with his friend, Eddie, and two boys she’d never seen before—Lauren was ready to drag him home by his ear.

  “Maxwell Frazier, you get in this car right now,” she said through her teeth. Max swung around and, at first, seemed shocked to see her. But then his new friends razzed him a bit, and a scowl replaced his doe-eyed expression.

  “I’ll be home later,” he snapped, while his friends snickered and offered comments she, thankfully, couldn’t hear.

  Lauren angrily blinked back tears. Without thinking, she swung the door open, but quickly realized she couldn’t leave Emma alone. Max knew she wouldn’t give chase with Emma in the car, so he turned his back on her, effectively dismissing her.

  “Momma, Max bad boy,” Emma informed her in all seriousness, which would’ve been funny under normal circumstances.

  Lauren blew out a frustrated breath and put the car in gear. Before she could turn out onto Main Street, someone tapped on her window, scaring the bejesus out of her.

  “I’m sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.” Caleb leaned down to wink at Emma. “Hey, punkin.”

  “Ca’yib! Max bad boy ’gin. He make Momma cry.”

  Lauren put the car back in park, then turned and shook her head at the little stinker. “Tattletale.”

  Caleb’s expression hardened. He cast a look at Max and his friends, who were all openly staring at Caleb, and then reached in and cupped Lauren’s cheek. “I’ll handle this, if you like.”

  Lauren was somewhat surprised by the intimate touch. But in a good way. She’d love to close her eyes and snuggle into his warm palm. “I’d like very much. But if you help me drag him back home, he’ll just run out again. He’ll also resent you ten times more than he already does.”

  Caleb waved that off. “He’ll get over it. I’m more worried about what he’ll do in the meantime. I’ve been in Max’s shoes. He’s got a lot of anger brewing inside of him. Mixed with adolescent angst, that’s a lethal combination.”

  “Okay, not helping,” Lauren said, her fear escalating.

  Before Caleb could respond, a rock whizzed past the windshield, followed by a second, which just missed his head. Caleb dropped to a crouch and let out a curse. “Stay in the car,” he ordered.

  Lauren watched in horror as Caleb gave chase. All four boys split up and ran in different directions, but Caleb raced after Max. And my God was he fast. Lauren watched with her mouth hanging open as Caleb caught Max by the collar before he’d even reached the edge of the hardware store’s parking lot. She opened her door and got out of the car, tempted to run over and intervene, but the fact that Emma was in the car kept her rooted firmly in place.

  “Let me go! You got no right touching me. I’m a minor! You stupid, son-of-a—”

  Caleb clamped a hand over Max’s mouth, and escorted him to Lauren’s car. He yanked the back door open, but before he took his hand from Max’s mouth, he warned, “One cuss word, and you’ll regret it.”

  Max met Lauren’s gaze, his eyes red-rimmed and filled with disgust. “I hate you,” he seethed.

  Caleb stuffed him in the backseat and ordered, “Put your seatbelt on.” Caleb shut the door and caught Lauren’s eye. He hooked a thumb toward the hardware store. “I have to go pick up a few things for a job tomorrow. I’ll be by as soon as I’m done. Think you’ll be all right?”

  Lauren had no idea what to say. Or what to think. Could it really have been just yesterday Caleb Hunter walked through her front door and into her life? In some ways, it felt as if she’d known him forever. It was such a relief to have help with Max. Her mother lived halfway across the country in sunny California, and her father had cut ties with her when his new wife gave him an ultimatum: her or Lauren. Frankly, Lauren had been less than surprised by his choice.

  “I’ll be fine, thanks.” She lowered her voice. “Listen, you don’t have to come by. I feel like I’ve taken up so much of your time already. This is my problem, I’ll deal with it.”

  “You
shouldn’t have to deal with it alone,” he replied in a low tone. “He’s a big boy, Lauren. If he got physical with you, think you’d be able to handle him?”

  Lauren bit down on her bottom lip. Max was her son, her little boy. He’d never hurt her, of that she was certain. He did need some male guidance, however, and Caleb was the only man who’d ever shown any interest in her kids.

  “Can we just go?” Max whined from the backseat.

  Lauren made a quick decision. If Caleb was willing to help her rein Max in, get his anger under control, she’d be foolish to turn down his generosity. And of course it had nothing to do with the fact that the man was gorgeous, or that she craved his company like most women craved chocolate.

  Steely determination stiffened her spine. “I’ll be fine, don’t worry.”

  * * *

  “So, spill. Who’s the handsome stranger I saw fixing your front door yesterday?”

  Lauren’s next-door neighbor, Carrie Lowell, handed Lauren a loaf of still warm zucchini bread and strode past her into the house. Once they were seated at the kitchen table, Lauren poured them each a cup of coffee and cut them each a slice of the bread. Carrie had been Lauren’s rock those first few weeks after John had left. Having gone through a divorce herself, she’d known exactly what to say and what not to say, simply listening when Lauren needed to vent, and holding her when she’d needed to cry.

  “His name’s Caleb Hunter. Matt sent him over for a haircut, and the house decided to start dropping parts while he was here.”

  Carrie chuckled. “It’s just its way of saying hello.”

  Lauren grinned. “Well, yesterday, it was in an especially friendly mood. And Caleb, out of pity, offered to do a few repairs in exchange for a home-cooked meal.”

  “Uh-huh. For a home-cooked meal. I’m sure it had nothing to do with the fact you’re supermodel gorgeous.”

  Lauren rolled her eyes. “Yeah, that’s me, Heidi Klum’s twin. Anyway, he fixed the front and back doors, then Max’s bottom drawer that’s been stuck shut. Only Max wasn’t too happy to find a stranger in his room when he got home.”