“But I didn’t see it. This is completely unforgiveable.”
Beth jerked off her coat and decided to look for reinforcements. “Emma, why don’t you show your mom that picture you painted the other day while Drew and I figure out something for dinner.”
Missy looked at Emma. “I thought we’d go to McDonald’s. Doesn’t that sound good?”
Usually Emma would squeal with delight at this suggestion. “I’m not hungry. Aunt Beth and me had ice cream.”
Missy’s scowl was enough to force Beth to take a step back. “I swear you’ll do anything to make me look bad,” Missy said. “I can’t even treat my own daughter to McDonald’s because of you.”
“She was so upset about her hair, I wanted to cheer her up. I didn’t know you were planning on taking her to dinner.” Beth crossed her arms. Why was she always on the defensive with Missy? Beth was the one in the trenches, not Emma’s part-time biological mother. “Did you tell Drew you were coming tonight?” She glanced up the stairs, wondering where her boyfriend was. He needed to be her buffer.
“Emma’s my daughter. I don’t have to ask permission to see my own child.”
Emma stood a few inches in front of Missy. The little girl’s head turned back and forth as if she were watching a tennis match, probably unsure of whom to root for.
Beth needed to get away so she headed for the stairs. With a death grip on the railing, she called up to Drew.
“Emma, how would you like to have a little brother or sister?” Beth heard Missy say in a high-pitched, childish tone, and her stomach lurched. She climbed the stairs as quickly as possible, feeling the ice cream work a number on her insides. The sugar followed by the confrontation with Missy was too much. She had to talk to Drew.
She found him peeling wallpaper off of their bedroom wall and closed the door behind her. “That woman drives me crazy! Missy just asked Emma if she’d like a little brother or sister. What’s that all about?”
He turned off the steamer and faced her. “I guess Missy’s pregnant.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Doesn’t she understand where babies come from?” One accidental pregnancy she could understand. But three? “Is the baby’s father going to help out?”
“That’s why they broke up. He wants her to get rid of it.”
“He sounds like a real winner.”
Drew shook his head, staring at the torn-up walls. “She wants to know if we’ll raise it.”
“What? Seriously?”
“It will be Emma’s sibling. They’d be together.”
“What about us? I thought someday we’d get married and have our own baby. We’ve talked about this.”
He shoved his hands in his jean pockets. “Don’t start on me, Beth. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around this.”
“Just tell Missy no. If you keep bailing her out, she’ll continue to have unprotected sex and never stop to consider the consequences.”
“Think about what’s best for the baby. Missy works part-time as a cashier at a gas station. She dates the truckers that she meets there. That’s no life for a child.”
Beth swallowed. A baby. She did want a baby, but not like this. How did foster parents do it? Nurture and love a child, knowing he or she would only be theirs for a limited time? They had big hearts. Ones that were willing to break. “I’m tired of waiting for Missy to straighten her life out. I want us to start our own family.”
“So we’ll have two babies in the house at once?” He shivered as if he had the willies. “We won’t get any sleep. Plus we’ll have to pay childcare for three kids. That’s got to be expensive.”
Three kids would be expensive. She crossed her arms in frustration.
Drew moved toward Beth and placed his hands on her hips. His green eyes gazed at her, kindness etched across his fair skin. “Beth, I’m just trying to do the right thing here. Are you with me?”
His touch always soothed her. Besides, he had such a big heart, she couldn’t hold that against him. “You mean am I willing to take in another one of Missy’s kids? Maybe. I love having Emma here. But I don’t want to put us on hold any more.”
“Let’s talk about this later.”
Her focus zeroed in on the jeweler’s box sitting on his dresser. The diamond tie tack she’d bought still remained untouched. “Later.” In a flash, her compassion turned to annoyance. She pulled away from him. “There might not be a later.”
He reached for her shoulder. “Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?”
The weight of her past conflicting with her future pressed down on her chest. Perhaps if she told him about the adoption, he’d understand her desire for a family of her own. She desperately needed to fulfill the promise she’d made to herself all of those years ago—to someday have another baby and do things right this time. And the clock was ticking.
“There’s something else we need to talk about.” Her pulse throbbed in her neck.
He cocked his red head. “What’s that?”
CHAPTER EIGHT
At six p.m. Parker reminded himself not to even think about checking e-mail because for once he couldn’t stay late.
A soft knock came on his office door and Tina, his new secretary peered in. “Are you still able to give me a ride home? If not, I could call someone.” She was attractive, with shiny brown hair and small eyes. She handled his schedule and incoming phone calls efficiently, but she still acted timid around him. Did that mean he was intimidating? That was great for business meetings like the one he’d just finished, but not so great when it translated to someone he needed to be an extension of himself.
He grabbed his blazer off the back of his Herman Miller chair and slid his arms into it. “No problem. It will be nice to get home before dark for a change.”
“I hate to bother you. It’s just that my car broke down on my lunch hour.”
He already knew this. “Tina, this will be good. Give us a chance to get to know each other better.” Did that sound like a come-on? Hopefully not. He prided himself on never treating his female employees any differently than the men.
As they headed out, he flipped the light off in his office. No need to waste electricity even though they didn’t worry about the bills. He waved goodnight to the guard stationed at the front door and escorted Tina to his Porsche SUV.
“Nice vehicle,” she said, climbing in as he held open the glossy white door.
“It has amazing traction control in the winter.” He settled in behind the wheel and started driving through the lot. “Which way do you live?”
She pointed left and he headed toward the pink sunset. He had a large window in his office from which he had a great view of the setting sun, but only lately had he taken the time to stop and enjoy it.
He glanced at Tina who clutched the beige purse in her lap as if it were a life raft. This ride would be a good opportunity to get her to loosen up. “Did you grow up around here?” he asked.
“I was raised on a farm about an hour south of here.”
“Always wanted to move to the city?”
“It’s where the jobs are.”
“There aren’t too many family-owned farms around anymore. It’s a shame.”
She nodded. “I agree.” He noticed the grip on her purse relax a little. “The land has been in my family for generations. I have two brothers who run the place with my dad. Unfortunately, I’m not much help. When I graduated from high school, I decided to get an associate’s degree so I could work in an office.”
He tried to remember her résumé. “You worked in insurance before coming to Mall Land, if I remember correctly.”
“Yes. It was a little too quiet for me. I’m looking forward to coordinating a busy schedule like yours.”
“You won’t have time to get bored, that’s for sure.”
She pointed up ahead to the right. “Pull in here.”
Turning into an apartment complex that appeared well-maintained, he parked then smiled at her. “I’m glad we had this
chance to chat.”
“I’m sorry for inconveniencing you like this.” Again, she clutched the purse on her lap.
“No problem. It’s practically on my way home.” Awkward silence filled the car.
A black Kia blaring music pulled into the spot beside them. A young man with tattoos up and down his arms swung the passenger door open, hitting Parker’s door. The driver got out and headed for the stairwell with his friend.
Parker grabbed his keys, scrambled out of his seat and followed them. “Excuse me, sir. You just scratched my car.”
The tattooed man stopped and looked at Parker, then at the SUV. “Whatever. You look like you can afford insurance.” He and his buddy laughed.
Parker’s heart sped up. “That’s not the point. Come back here and tell me your name.”
The man shook his shaggy hair and kept walking.
“Hey!” Parker shouted. “I said come back here!” The man’s attitude infuriated him. Parker marched back over to his driver’s side door and inspected the damage. A little black ding in the white paint. His sights landed on the Kia, and his hands squeezed into fists, his keys digging into his palm.
Before he realized what he was doing, he scraped his ignition key along the black Kia, leaving a long, jagged mark. “I’m sure you have insurance, too!” His heart slammed against his ribs, his body shook from the adrenaline rush. He stood there, triumphant, alone in the parking lot.
Except for Tina. Still trembling from the surge of hormones, he allowed his gaze to fall on his assistant. Her tiny mouth hung open and her eyes showed horror.
He stared at the keys in his hand. He studied the gash he’d left on the other vehicle. What the hell was wrong with him?
He jerked open his driver’s side door and landed in his leather seat. “I don’t know what got into me. I can’t believe I just did that.” He struggled to even out his breathing.
Tina got out of the car. “I’ve got to go.” Scurrying up the nearby staircase, she didn’t look back.
“Shit!” He slammed his palm against the steering wheel. He’d lost control and made a complete ass of himself in front of an employee, no less. Taking a deep breath, he tried to figure out what to do. The other guy was an ass first, he told himself. But that didn’t excuse his barbaric behavior. He’d never lost his temper like that. Not since sixth grade schoolyard fights, anyway. And that had only been because the boys had called his dad a drunk. His dad wasn’t drunk. His dad was sick.
Now Parker had it, too, and this was the first sign. Losing his temper. Huntington’s could cause anger flares. It messed with your brain, after all.
He pulled a notepad out of his glove compartment and left a note on the Kia’s windshield with his insurance information before settling back into his SUV and leaning his head against the headrest. He couldn’t live like this. He couldn’t stand knowing what was to come.
# # #
Beth rang the bell to Ivy and Parker’s two-story glass house that overlooked Lake Michigan. The neighborhood consisted of massive homes surrounded by sand on one side and trees with amber and brown leaves on the other. Since it was dusk, porch lights had just started turning on.
While she stood there waiting, she berated herself for chickening out of telling Drew the whole story. In a panic, she’d changed the topic and said that she needed him to pick up Emma at daycare this afternoon so she could make this trip to see a depressed friend. That was it. She could’ve spilled her guts, but she hadn’t. It terrified her to think how he might react—that he might lose respect for her. That knowing the truth, he might not want to ever tie the knot. He might kick her out of his house and focus on being an uncle, which seemed to give him a great deal of satisfaction. Maybe he wouldn’t ever want to be the father of her children—especially now that Missy had another one on the way. It occurred to her that she needed Drew more than he needed her.
Her knees weakened and she gripped the doorframe.
At that moment, Ivy opened the door with a stoic expression and hugged her. “Hi.” She led her into a living room with cathedral ceilings where Billie Holiday’s voice floated through the air, singing “Stormy Weather.”
The room had modern décor with glass end tables and white carpet. Beth gestured toward a rose-colored accent wall with a matching glass-tiled fireplace. “This is beautiful. I love the way the light reflects off that wall.”
“Thank you. It’s supposed to look like the inside of a seashell. I had the painters do five coats until it was just the right shade.”
It was a good thing Ivy married someone with money. Beth walked near the floor-to-ceiling windows, enjoying the view. Outside, waves gently lapped at the deserted beach. Driftwood and a forgotten umbrella dotted the sand. “Even when it’s cold, you get to be at the lakeshore.”
“I’m very lucky.” Ivy took a seat on the cream couch—furniture only appropriate for a childless couple.
Beth sat down next to her. “How’s Parker?”
Ivy waved her hand. “He seems fine. But those books spooked me. Why would he have books about suicide, unless...?”
Beth clasped her hands together. She didn’t know how she could say what she needed to say. Parker would no doubt resent her and Ivy probably would, too. But she owed it to Parker, especially if he was suicidal, to tell him this. To finally come clean and maybe give him a bit of hope. “Is Parker around?”
“He said he wouldn’t work late, but as always, he’s not here.” Annoyance accented each word.
Beth found his tardiness both frustrating and relieving. On the hour drive here, she’d rehearsed what she’d say in her head, but she feared his reaction. She tried to picture different scenarios, yelling, smiling, understanding, but she knew odds were on anger. Once again, she faltered. Was it too late to tell him? They’d both missed their chance to impact their daughter’s life. Was it really necessary to complicate things?
Inhaling, she cleared her mind. Her rationalizations weren’t doing her any favors, of that she was sure.
The rumble of a garage door announced Parker’s arrival.
“Whose car is that in the drive?” His voice echoed through the house. When he rushed into the living room and saw Beth, his face relaxed. It even brightened a little. “Bethany. What a nice surprise.”
Beth rose and allowed Parker to pull her into a hug, though she felt Ivy’s gaze every moment of it. Not so long ago, this man had tried to kiss Beth, complaining that his marriage was falling apart. Looking around this luxurious house, it didn’t seem possible that everything wasn’t perfect.
Ivy stood as well. “I asked Beth to come by. I...I’m worried about you. Ever since you found out about...” She licked her crimson lips. “I don’t want you to give up. Maybe they’ll find a cure. Maybe you’ll prove them wrong.”
He shook his head. “Is that what this is about? They’re not going to find a cure in time for me, Ivy.”
“See? That’s what I mean. I don’t know why you’re so negative all the time.”
“You don’t know why I’m so negative?” Anger flashed across his face, and Beth shrunk back. She hadn’t seen this side of him for a long time. “Huntington’s is a degenerative disease. I’m going to lose control of my body and my mind. That’s not exactly something I’m looking forward to. Just today I lost my temper and keyed someone’s car. That’s not me. I don’t want that to be me.”
Ivy covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh my gosh. What happened?”
He shook his head. “This jerk dinged my vehicle first. It was stupid. The whole thing was stupid.” His gaze fell on Beth. “I’m sorry, but I’m not really up for company right now.” Then, he turned to Ivy. “I’m going for a walk. Need to clear my head.”
Beth and Ivy watched him exit through the back door and climb down what looked like a thousand wooden steps to the beach. Beth crossed her arms and pressed them tightly against her body. She’d often been the mediator when he and Ivy fought in college. They aired their grievances and sought her couns
el. But in the end, it seemed that they resolved all of their fights with sex.
Billie Holiday’s voice faded out, paused, and then started singing “I’ll Be Seeing You.”
Ivy looked at her. “Maybe if you give him a few minutes to himself, then go out?”
Beth nodded. She had to get this off her chest. Then she could drive away and never see these people again. These people that used to be her friends. These people she barely knew anymore.
She watched Parker arrive at the bottom of the stairs, where he slipped off his shoes and socks, then rolled up his pant legs. Carrying his shoes in one hand, he picked up rocks and skipped them across the water with the other.
Finally, she worked up her nerve and followed him outside. The wind tossed her hair with a vengeance. It was always windy at Lake Michigan.
Parker caught sight of her approaching. “I’m sorry. I had a bad day and I wasn’t expecting company. When Ivy asked me to not work late, I thought maybe she’d have a special dinner prepared or we’d do something just the two of us.”
It surprised Beth that Ivy ever cooked, considering she could afford to hire someone. “That’s all right.” She decided to keep her shoes on as she fell into step beside him. The seagulls and waves created soothing background noise, but the anxiety inside her head wouldn’t let her relax. Her worries irritated her like the sand that had already found its way beneath her heel. “I did some research on Huntington’s. It’s pretty bad, isn’t it?”
He nodded. “I watched my dad’s limbs curl inward and jerk uncontrollably. I watched as he lost the ability to walk, the ability to talk, but the worst part was that he clearly was so frustrated with himself. He’d kick his wheelchair and yell. He’d lash out at those that were taking care of him.” The water lapped at Parker’s feet. “I don’t want Ivy to have to deal with that. I don’t want to pay some stranger to deal with me either.”
“It sounds like maybe it’s better not knowing.” Her secret got heavier. “You’re still in good shape, though. That’s something.”
“Not for long. Today’s episode with the Kia proved that. It happens slowly but surely.”
A Weekend Getaway Page 9