His detailed instructions sounded way too much like a domestic conversation he would share with his wife—something she could never hope to be.
She might be a high school drop-out, but it didn’t take a genius to see she’d waded into a puddle of trouble that could easily become a tidal wave of regret.
~*~
Tyler studied the friendly people milling around the basement of the Redemption Community Library. Half the room had a carpet on the floor with overstuffed furniture, while the other half was more like a mini gymnasium.
He handed Mandy and Noah each a glass of fruit punch after the Tiger Cubs orientation and then offered one to Annie who was talking to some other parents.
“No, thanks.” She held her hand up. “That stuff is way too sugary for me.”
“That’s because you’re already so sweet.” He winced, belatedly realizing what he’d meant as a sincere compliment sounded like a clichéd pick-up line. He was trying way too hard with her and coming across as a total geek.
Her cheeks turned a rosy pink as she gestured to the dark-haired woman he’d seen her socializing with at the school the week before. “This is Jennifer Hanson and her husband Keith. Their twins Austin and Aiden are in Noah and Mandy’s class.” She turned to the couple. “I’d like you to meet Noah’s Tiger Cub partner, Tyler Fitzpatrick.”
Jennifer shook his hand. “I was sorry to hear about Erica. You have my deepest sympathy.”
“Thank you.” Tyler smiled at Keith, who appeared to be pushing forty and was at least a decade older than the pretty brunette he’d married. “I guess we’ll be in this together.”
“It’ll be nice having something to keep me busy.” Keith smiled, raking his fingers through his thinning hair. “I was laid off a few months ago, so I hope we won’t be doing anything too expensive with the boys.”
“Isn’t that the way life always goes? When you have the money, you haven’t got the time. And when you have the time—”
“—you haven’t got the money,” Keith finished for him.
Tyler swept his hand around the room. “This is a great place for the boys to meet.”
“It is,” Jennifer agreed. “Doc Foster’s wife, Abby, runs a children’s story hour every Saturday morning, before she opens her dress shop. She gets so many kids, she has do hold it down here.”
“Noah loves her story hour,” Annie said, turning to Tyler. “Haven’t you ever taken Mandy?”
“No, I’ve always been too busy working.” He shrugged one shoulder, a little discomfited over confessing the lack of time he’d spent with his child.
“I used to know that feeling.” Keith glanced at his watch and cocked an eyebrow toward his wife. “Didn’t you say your mom and dad are coming for dinner at five?”
“Yes.” Jennifer nodded. “We’d better get a move on. It was nice to finally meet you, Tyler.”
After the couple waved and walked away to collect their sons, Annie frowned. “I’m surprised you’ve never met Keith and Jenn since Mandy was in Austin and Aiden’s kindergarten class last year.”
His cheeks blazed from embarrassment. “As you’ve probably guessed, I’ve only been doing things like this with Mandy since July.”
“Since your wife died,” she surmised, indicating she’d put two and two together and come up with a fairly accurate picture of his deficiency as a father and husband.
He nodded.
“At least something good came out of your tragedy. When I lost my dad, I was so angry and depressed I ended up....” Her voice trailed off as she glanced at her son. “I ended up going to a party I never would have attended if I hadn’t been in so much pain.”
“It might not have seemed like it at the time, but I think something special resulted from your misfortune, too.”
“You’re right, of course.”
“I have my sister to thank for waking me up.” Despite that Sabrina had taken care of Mandy while he worked after Erica’s death, as soon as they’d cleaned up after dinner each night, she’d retreated to the maid’s quarters to force him to play with Mandy rather than spend his evenings brooding in his den. “I’m glad they have an open area for the kids to run around since we’ll be spending so much time here.”
“I’m sorry.” Annie lifted her hands in an apologetic stance. “I didn’t realize they were planning quite so many activities for the boys.”
“That’s okay. I’ll enjoy taking him out.”
“I want you to know how much I appreciate it. I don’t think he would’ve joined if—”
“Tyler?” Paula Larson’s sultry voice cut Annie off. “What in the world are you doing here?”
“I volunteered to be this guy’s partner.” Tyler squeezed Noah’s shoulders.
“How nice.” Paula flashed a condescending smile at Annie. “I thought you said Noah’s mother was cleaning your house.”
“And taking care of my daughter.” Tyler nodded toward Greg standing on the opposite side of the room with his and Paula’s son, Joey—the same little boy who’d taunted Noah into kissing Mandy the previous week. “It’s refreshing you and your ex get along well enough to do things together with your child.”
“Well....” Her shoulders lifted to accompany her resigned sigh. “We’re trying to show Joey we’re still a family even if his mother and father can’t live together.”
“Maybe you should head back to them. Your husband doesn’t look pleased you’re talking to me.”
She leaned toward Tyler and whispered, “That’s because he knows I’ve always been attracted to you.”
Greg and everyone else in Redemption. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise Tyler if his sudden single status had influenced Paula’s decision to separate from her husband.
“Well, I’m glad Greg is here. I need to talk to him about my car. For the last week or so, it’s been occasionally sputtering when I accelerate.”
“You might have a little water in your gas,” Annie interjected. “The hot humid days and cooler nights can cause condensation in your fuel tank.”
“And all you’d need is a bottle of dry gas,” a deep voice behind them added. Greg smiled down at Annie. “Finally, a beautiful woman who knows something about cars. How’d you get so smart?”
“My dad was a mechanic. In fact, you bought his garage.”
“You’re Sam Barnes’s daughter?” He did a double take. “Since you were raised by a grease monkey, maybe you would consider having dinner with a guy who wears eau du petroleum.” Greg grinned and then shot Paula a resentful scowl.
“My favorite fragrance.” Annie glanced between Greg and his wife. “I’m sorry. Aren’t the two of you married?”
“He won’t be for long,” Paula sneered. “You’re perfect for each other.”
The Larsons were a classic example of two people who never should’ve dated, let alone gotten married. According to what Erica had told Tyler, going out with a guy from the wrong side of town had been Paula’s youthful rebellion against her wealthy father. Unfortunately, her plan had backfired when she became pregnant. Even though Greg worked sixty-hour weeks, he couldn’t begin to give her the lifestyle in which she’d been raised.
“Go. Have a ball.” Paula waved them away. “You’re welcome to him.”
“Great, how about Wednesday?” Greg suggested.
When Annie glanced back at Tyler, he had to stuff down his objections. It wasn’t fair to prevent her from getting involved with someone else. Especially a man with whom she had so much in common. Greg had only six or seven years on her compared to Tyler’s nearly ten.
Paula was probably right. They seemed perfect for each other.
“I’ll be happy to watch Noah,” Tyler told Annie and explained to Greg that she would be working for him.
“Well, then there’s no reason for us not to get together.” Greg clapped his hands. “I’ll pick you up at Tyler’s about seven. How does bowling sound?”
“It sounds like it could be fun, but I’m sorry. Even if you and Paula a
re separated, I don’t feel comfortable dating someone who’s still married. Besides, I haven’t been bowling since high school, and back then, I threw a lot of gutter balls.”
“That’s okay.” Disappointment flared in his blue eyes. “I hope you’ll reconsider once my divorce is final.” Greg winked at her. “If you ask Paula, she’ll tell you I’m quite fond of the gutter.”
His wife flashed a saccharine smile. “You know, only a moment ago, Tyler was saying how refreshing it is that we could still do things together with our son. I didn’t tell him it’s only because I refuse to rise to your baiting.”
Tyler took Annie’s hand and tugged her away from the couple. “I think that’s our cue to leave,” he said under his breath. “I have a feeling, if they have an audience, it’ll get really nasty.”
“You’re probably right.” She glanced toward the window. “I need to get home anyway. I’ve still got laundry hanging on the line, and it looks like it’s about to rain.” She smiled at him as they led the kids out to the SUV. “By the way, what would you like me to fix for dinner tomorrow night?”
“I don’t know. Surprise me.”
Chapter 5
Stunned was a more accurate description of what Tyler felt the following evening as he silently crept through the laundry room and surveyed the cozy Norman Rockwell scene in his kitchen.
Annie stirred something on the stove with her back to him while the kids competed at setting the oak dining table, under which Mitch slept, his paws and head resting on its pedestal base.
She bent over to pick up the potholder she dropped, and Tyler’s gaze dipped to pale pink shorts hugging the soft curve of her bottom. His imagination transformed the glimpse of Americana Rockwell would’ve painted for the Saturday Evening Post into a scene for the newsstand’s porn section.
She straightened and noticed him leaning against the laundry room’s doorjamb, watching her. Her audible gulp and deep blush proved his poker face needed work when it came to hiding his thoughts.
He inhaled the aroma of chicken and herbs and smiled. “That smells delicious.”
Mandy’s head snapped up at the sound of his voice. “Daddy!”
Mitch bolted from under the table and raced around Tyler’s legs while Mandy dashed into his arms. He scooped her up and blew raspberries into her neck. “Did you have a good day, Kitten?”
Noah hung back in the dining area.
Tyler reached into his jacket pocket for the packages of bubble gum he’d bought on the way home. “Hey, Buddy, I have something for you and Mandy, but you have to wait until after dinner to have it.”
He’d been tempted to also get Annie flowers, but it would’ve been a blatant violation of their agreement to keep things plantonic. He handed Noah the gum and ruffled the little boy’s hair.
The child’s face split into a broad smile. “Gee, thanks.”
Annie filled a dish with cranberry sauce and smiled over her shoulder. “The chicken will be ready in about five minutes if you are.”
“Great. That’s enough time for me to change.”
By the time Tyler trotted back down the steps, wearing jeans and a navy polo, Annie already had the food on the table and the kids waiting in their seats. The house felt more like a home than it had in the entire four years he’d lived there with Erica.
He pulled out Annie’s chair, took his seat across from her, and blessed the meal. After helping fill the kids’ plates with chicken, homemade stuffing, orange-glazed carrots, and fresh green beans garnished with little slivers of toasted almonds, he loaded his dish. “Did you run into any problems today?”
“Not at all.” Annie passed him a bowl of rich gravy. “We had a great day. I know this isn’t the best meal for a hot day, but I was really psyched about using your convection oven. I can’t believe how crispy the skin on the chicken is.”
His wife would’ve bought a precooked rotisserie chicken, opened a jar of gravy and a can of green beans, and if she’d been feeling particularly creative, she might’ve fixed some boxed instant potatoes or stuffing.
Annie obviously liked to cook as much as she enjoyed eating.
She laid her fork down and tugged at her lip with her teeth. “Uhhh, Tyler? You told me you’d watch Noah a couple of nights a week for me. Could I claim Tuesdays and Thursdays so I can take a class?”
“Sure. What’re you planning on signing up for?”
Her lashes lowered to her rosy cheeks, and the kitchen clock loudly ticked off several seconds emphasizing her silence.
“Annie?” He wiped his mouth and peered at her. “What’s wrong? You’re blushing as if you’re taking a remedial reading course or something. What’re you so embarrassed about?”
“Nothing.” She pushed her green beans around her plate.
“Right. Your face is nearly as red as this cranberry sauce.” He pointed to the serving dish next to him. “Now what is it?”
“I’m taking a GED prep class, okay?” Tears welled in her eyes as she shoved her chair away from the table and raced into the powder room.
He stared at the hallway, his jaw hanging. Why hadn’t he ever considered Annie might not have finished high school? It made sense. She couldn’t have been past her sophomore or junior year when she’d had her son.
Noah’s face turned pale and tense. Tyler patted his back. “Your mom’s okay, Buddy. She’s just a little embarrassed. You two finish your dinner while I go talk to her.”
Tyler lifted his fist to knock on the powder room door and swallowed hard at the sound of weeping inside. “Annie, are you all right?”
Her sobs grew louder.
“Let me in so we can talk about this. You can’t stay in there forever.”
The locked clicked, but the door remained shut. Twisting the knob, he blew out a relieved breath as it turned in his hand. He stepped inside and knelt in front of Annie seated on the toilet lid, her face in her palms.
“Shhh....it’s okay.” He took her delicate hand and held it. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Why? So you could laugh your butt off at how dumb I am?”
“Am I laughing? I have the highest respect for you, Annie. Intelligence has nothing to do with education.” He stroked the back of her hand. “Some of the stupidest people in the world have PhDs. And some of the least educated are the most successful. Did you know Sam Walton and Bill Cosby both had high school equivalency diplomas? Walton became one of the wealthiest men in America and Cosby eventually earned his PhD in education? I think the guy is a comical genius.”
“Yeah, I’m a success.” She sniffed. “I love scrubbing toilets so much it’s my hobby.”
He tipped her chin up and wiped the streaks of tears from her cheeks. “You’re a courageous woman who’s faced of a lot of adversity. Anyone with your sense of humor has to be very bright. I think you could pass the exam without even taking a prep course.”
“No. I tried a few months after Noah was born and blew the math and science sections.”
How much sleep could Annie possibly have been getting then, taking care of a terminally ill mother and a newborn? Certainly not enough to concentrate during seven-plus hour’s worth of tests that the GED exam entailed.
“What grade did you complete in high school?”
“I finished tenth grade. I missed two whole years’ of math and science. The test isn’t as easy as most people think. They do a sample assessment in high schools around the country to make sure at least the bottom third of all graduates fail the exam.”
“Listen.” He squeezed her hands. “Don’t waste your time taking a class that will end up reviewing the subjects you’ve already passed. Let me tutor you so you can focus on the areas you’re weak in.”
“I can’t do that. It would take up too much of your time.”
He cupped her cheek in his palm and whispered softly, “You’re worth it.”
Anxiety clouded her gaze. “I really don’t think we should spend that much time together?”
“Why not? I
thought we were friends. Or are you afraid my irresistible charm will weaken your resolve to keep things casual between us?
“No!” she blurted too quickly for her denial to be believable.
Uh-huh. “Well, good.” He bit back a triumphant smile. “Then there’s no reason why I shouldn’t tutor you.”
~*~
While Annie finished cleaning up from dinner, Tyler helped Noah and Mandy with their spelling assignment. Seeing their three heads bent studiously over the table made her chest feel as if she had that SUV Tyler bought parked on top of her.
He’d made his generous offer to tutor her with so much sincerity and tenderness, she’d felt like a complete ingrate when she refused it. As much as she wanted his help and would benefit greatly from it, she should have stood her ground. Unfortunately, if she’d continued to object to his assistance, she would’ve been forced to admit Tyler enticed her more than the apple tempted Eve.
Once the kids finished writing each spelling word five times each, he glanced toward the second floor. “Mandy is due to have her hair washed tonight. Would you mind helping her with that while I challenge Noah to a video game on the Wii downstairs?”
At his suggestion, Noah bounced on his toes as if he had springs in his sneaks. “Really?”
Annie’s throat clogged with emotion when Tyler hoisted her son onto his back and gave him an energetic piggyback ride down the basement steps. One of her most cherished memories of her childhood was riding on her dad’s shoulders.
“Well, Cookie, it’s just you and me. Let’s go make you beautiful.”
Mandy giggled at Annie’s endearment and scrambled eagerly up the stairs ahead of her. They spent the next half-hour washing and blow-drying Mandy’s corn silk hair along with combing all of her dolls’ matted tresses.
At eight-thirty, Tyler appeared at his daughter’s bedroom door. “So that’s what the two of you are up to.”
Mandy held up her one-armed doll. “Doesn’t Caitlin look beautiful, daddy?”
He smiled and rolled his eyes at Annie. “My sister, Sabrina, bought that doll for Mandy’s first birthday. I keep trying to talk her into a new one with two arms, but she won’t part with that one.”
The Parent Pact (Book Three of The Return to Redemption Series) Page 7