And she needed him to be here when she came home for visits. If a miracle happened, he might still be here waiting for her when she’d done what she had to do.
All this went through her head in a split second before she said, “You know you don’t have to worry about anything here. In fact, I can take care of Brian either at my house or here.”
“Your house is fine,” Mike said. “I appreciate you doing this.”
“I love taking care of him,” she said, and then, because she couldn’t help herself, “You’ll keep in touch, won’t you?” Hearing the longing in her own voice, she added, trying to sound as if she cared only about the information, “I’ll be very interested to know what you’re learning.”
His gaze met hers and held it. “I’ll keep in touch.” He said it softly, and then did an abrupt change and said, “Now you’d better stop working, young lady. I can’t afford overtime.”
Allie laughed, glad the tone had lightened. “I’ll punch out on the time clock.”
“Or,” he said, sounding almost shy, “you might like to stay a while and bring Brian down for dinner.”
The look in his eyes told her he’d like her to stay for more than dinner. “Why, thank you,” she said. “On the house, I hope?”
“Oh, yes,” he said. “Definitely on the house.”
OVER THE next few days, Mike’s life settled into a pattern. He’d work in the diner during the day and then spend the evening with Allie and Brian. In the back of his mind, he was still worried about holding Allie back from her career plans, or hurting her by neglecting her because he was too busy, but she was so adamant that she understood the risks that he pushed aside his misgivings.
One way or another, their relationship would end in a few months. So he just had to take her word for it that they could “enjoy the moment.”
His life only improved when, a few days later, Barney returned to the diner. As was his due, he was greeted with the same fanfare accorded to a visit from the governor. Becky and Colleen had made a handprinted sign out of white butcher’s paper to hang over the restaurant doorway. Barney’s Back! it shouted in huge black letters.
The waitresses hugged him. The interns stammered their names, clearly intimidated by him. A delivery from a florist arrived. It was a cactus plant, and the gift card read You’re prickly, but you make a great burger. And it was signed by Elaine Hendricks.
Well, well. This got more interesting every day.
Barney muttered, “Where the heck did they get a cactus plant in Vermont?” But his eyes twinkled even as he went on mumbling and grumbling. He was clearly pleased by the fuss everyone was making over him.
He hadn’t lost any of his skills, either. Mike watched him flipping eggs and marveled at his competence. Something settled down inside him, making him feel that life might go back to normal.
Normal plus Brian.
Normal plus Brian and an excited feeling at the mere sight of Allie.
All of which unsettled him an hour later when Allie brought Brian down to meet the legendary Barney. “Well, young man,” Barney said, “nice to meet you. Want some eggs and sausage with a biscuit?”
“No,” Mike and Allie said in chorus.
“Next year?”
“Maybe.”
Daniel’s phone call was an ugly bump in an otherwise promising day.
“Of course he’ll be fine with Allie,” his brother said firmly after Mike had confirmed the rumor that he was going to New York, “as long as both of them go along with you.”
Mike took the portable outside, preparing for an argument. “I thought he was supposed to have a stable environment,” he reminded Daniel, feeling pretty smug, because for once, he thought he had his brother strung up in his own web.
“He is, but it’s more important for him to be with you.”
At least Daniel hadn’t used the word bond. Mike sighed. “You think Brian has to go to New York with me.”
“And Allie, so she can take care of him while you’re doing business.”
Mike had a suspicious feeling about Daniel’s insistence. It was one thing for his sister-in-law to be matchmaking, but his own brother? Didn’t they understand how impossible the match was on a long-term basis? Still, he couldn’t help feeling a rush of heat at the thought of being alone—well, more alone than they’d ever been—in New York with Allie.
“Allie said she’d take care of Brian here. I think that’s the best idea.”
“I think they should go with you. I bet Allie would jump at the chance. Ask her,” Daniel said.
Daniel had a point. Maybe Allie would like to come to New York. He constantly worried about taking advantage of her, and now here was something nice he could do for her. “Okay, okay, I’ll ask what she’d like to do.”
“You do that,” Daniel said, his voice stern. “Be sensitive to her feelings.”
Mike knew his brother well enough to know what he was saying. Daniel had figured out there was a change in Mike’s relationship with Allie, and he, like everyone else in town, didn’t want to see her hurt.
Neither did Mike. “I said I’d ask if she wants to go.”
“And if she says yes?”
Mike blew out a sigh. “I’ll make sure she has a wonderful time.”
Daniel seemed appeased. “Good. Because Allie deserves to be treated well.”
“I know.” He hung up the phone and went up to the apartment. Allie was reading a book while Brian napped. When he walked in, she gave him a bright smile and said, “Hi, what brings you upstairs?”
Unable to stop himself, he walked over and slipped his arms around her waist. “Daniel says I have to take you and Brian to New York. Naturally, I hate the idea, but I was wondering…”
Her eyes sparkled at him. “I hate the idea, too. I mean, what an imposition to have to go to New York.” Then she laughed. “I’d love to. There’s so much I could do there with Brian.”
“And with me?” Mike kissed her lips lightly, then to stop himself from doing more, he moved back toward the door. “Okay, then, it’s a date.”
When he got downstairs, he called Richard Stein at Abernathy Foods, who seemed wary. Mike knew why—he assumed Mike was canceling again.
And he sounded so relieved that the opposite was true, that Mike was bringing along an entourage and a freight container of baby supplies, it appeared that he was willing to buy the St. Regis if it would make Mike comfortable.
“We’ve already booked a suite for you,” he crowed. “Wanted you to feel at home. Three bedrooms? Will that do it?”
“Of—”
“So it’s just a matter of two more plane tickets.”
“Brian’s eight, no, nine months old,” Mike said. “He doesn’t need a ticket.”
Stein chuckled warmly. “My boy,” he said, “when I was younger and poorer, my wife and I took several flights handing a squirming baby back and forth, and if you do that, you won’t be fit to talk business.”
So it was a done deal. In a few days, he and Allie and Brian were off on an adventure. It would be great as long as nobody got hurt by getting too close to each other, then suddenly being torn apart by distance and responsibilities.
A thought hit him hard. Brian could get hurt, too, if Allie, always there, suddenly wasn’t.
THE NEW YORK trip settled, Mike returned to the kitchen, feeling optimistic about the upcoming meetings. A few hours later, the squeal of tires caught his attention. Maury, who’d evolved into the star blocker of the football team, arrived at the restaurant late each afternoon with tires screeching. Today they sounded as if they had a life expectancy of about two weeks.
“Problem?” Mike inquired.
“Of course there is,” Maury moaned. “The first game’s tomorrow night.”
“I know that,” Mike said. “Everybody knows that, and the whole valley’s looking for a win. Is that causing you a problem?”
“It means I can’t be here at all.”
“Of course not,” Mike said. “You�
��ll be too sweaty.” When Maury gave him a disgusted look, he added, “We have our interns to help out.”
“I know.” That one came out as a groan.
Mike had to hide his smile. He had observed that while he’d expected Maury to learn from the interns, Maury seemed to be teaching them.
“Don’t worry. Our customers will forgive us anything if you win the game.” Mike grinned at him. Maury knew he wasn’t hung up on winning, wouldn’t be upset if the team tanked.
Turning to his work, his back to Mike, Maury said, “I wish you could be there.”
“Me, too.” Suddenly a thought occurred to him. “You know,” he said slowly. “Maybe I can.”
Maury spun. “No way,” he said. “You can’t. You have to keep an eye on—”
“The interns, yes, but I’m also under orders to do cool things with Brian,” Mike said, “and I think he’s ready for his first football game.” He cleared his throat and deepened his voice. “Can’t start too early on those manly things.”
On this note, he called Daniel back. After explaining that yes, Allie and Brian were coming with him to New York, so Daniel and Ian could just get off his back, he said, “You guys must be going to Maury’s game.”
“All of us,” Daniel said. “We’ll fill up a quarter of the seats.”
“I was thinking I might take Brian.”
“Good,” Daniel said. “Make a jock out of him early.”
“No,” Mike said, “a loyal Bulldog fan.”
“You can get away on a Friday night?”
“If I work my tail off getting the prep work done and then try not to think about the final results, because I don’t think Maury and I have ever been away from the diner at the same time.”
“We’ll hold down a couple of rows in the bleachers. Plenty of room for the three of you.”
Mike bit his lip. To his family, it was a given that Allie would come along. “I haven’t asked Allie yet.”
“She’ll want to come,” Daniel said. “I’m sure of it.”
Yeah, he was sure she’d say yes, too, which made him very happy.
ALLIE’S DAY was getting better and better. The glow she felt inside was starting to flame into pure ecstasy. “I’d love to see the game,” she said. “And I’m so glad we’re going to New York with you. I know you’ll be busy, but Brian and I are making plans of our own.”
“I hope you don’t get bored.” Mike sighed.
“Bored in New York? Not possible. There are museums meant for kids, and just walking around the city he’ll see and hear so many new things. He’ll probably love the subway.”
“You’ll have to order in from room service,” Mike said. “I’m sure you’d be more than welcome to go to dinner with us, but Brian could reduce a top-flight restaurant to a beanery with one well-aimed bread plate.”
Allie nodded. “It’s a terrifying thought. Don’t worry. Brian and I will have a great time.”
How could she not have a great time? She’d be with her two favorite men.
“HE CAN’T HAVE popcorn,” Mike said nervously before he’d even sat down beside Daniel’s youngest foster boy, Nick, to give his shoulders a quick squeeze.
“Hey, Uncle Mike. Hey, Brian.”
Soon all of the boys were saying hi to Brian. Ian was lined up on the bleachers with Daniel’s boys and Lilah’s son. The oldest, Jason, was flanked by two very pretty girls, his own steady girlfriend and Becky’s daughter. Maury had a date! Jason took Brian from Daniel, said something to him that made Brian giggle, then grab Jason’s hair with such ferocity it made Mike wince.
The girls were delighted. Jason was wearing a look Mike was familiar with, the look of a teenage boy who’s in the middle of something “cute,” and he doesn’t do “cute.”
Maury was in the locker room, of course, undoubtedly wondering not how the game would turn out, but how the beef carbonnade would turn out.
The stadium consisted of a regulation-size field with banks of bleachers on each side. Not a bad seat in the place. Didn’t need them with a total of five hundred fans—from both high schools.
Mike glanced around for Allie and saw that she’d slipped away to visit with Lilah. He hoped she’d come back, because he felt an empty spot beside him. And suddenly there she was, saying to Brian, “We’re going to sing our national anthem, so put your hand over your heart, like this.”
The game began. It was a great night, huge moon, stars everywhere. They hardly needed the field lights. It felt a bit cold, the way autumn should feel, and Mike began to relax, settle in, consider the possibility of having a good time.
He sighed. Sighing brought him closer to Allie. Her thigh touched his lightly. It was nice, soft, and warm. Everything about Allie was nice, soft, and warm.
He realized he was happy. Just think about that.
“Go Maury,” Allie cheered.
“Go Maury,” he shouted, leaping up. He hadn’t been too out-of-it to see that Maury had just intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown.
“Mo,” Brian yelled, undoubtedly having no idea why Mike and Allie were yelling, but caught up in the general enthusiasm.
Mike was suddenly filled with an exuberance he didn’t know was inside him. “Brian, cheer for Maury! Mo,” he yelled.
Allie and Daniel’s whole crew stood up too. “Go, Mo,” they chanted.
Then a wonderful thing happened. Maury tipped his helmet up, looked into the stands and waved—directly toward Brian, who was shouting “Mo” at the top of his lungs. Maury beamed.
Daniel had his family, but Mike suddenly felt he had his family, too.
It was an amazing sensation.
Chapter Eleven
“Do we have everything?” Mike surveyed the paraphernalia they’d piled to the side of the front door with a combination of amazement and pure horror. Allie had a small suitcase and a carry-on. He had a garment bag and a carry-on. For Brian, they were taking two sizeable suitcases, his folding stroller, a car seat and the inevitable diaper bag.
“We have everything except what we’ll realize we’ve forgotten when it’s too late,” Allie told him, “and it’s too late right now. The car’s here.” She gazed at it through the window. “I’ve never gone anywhere in a limousine.”
He had, but he’d never tell. “I appreciate the limousine right now,” he said. “I’m too tired to drive.”
She smiled at him. “Well, the first of the worst parts is over.”
“What do you mean, ‘the first of the worst parts’?”
“We’re packed, we’re dressed and Brian, for the moment, is clean and dry.”
“Thank the Lord for small blessings,” Mike murmured.
“Hear that, Brian?” Allie said, swooping Brian up into her arms. “You’re a small blessing.”
“When’s the next of the worst parts?” Mike asked her while he loaded his arms with luggage and baby transportation.
“Well, there’s the trip to the plane, then waiting for the plane, there’s the flight itself, there’s the wet diaper, or worse, during the flight, there’s settling into the hotel…”
“Okay, okay, you’ve given me enough to dread for now. I’ll take this stuff out and come back for more.”
He went through the front door, and the driver rushed toward him. “I’ll take those, sir,” he said, snatching the two suitcases and the stroller out of Mike’s grip. He stashed them in the trunk and said, “Is there more?”
“Oh, yes,” Mike sighed.
“Seems you’re traveling with a baby.” The driver’s deadpan expression took on a faint smile. “I’ve been there, done that.”
“Are you relieved they’ve grown up?” Mike asked him.
“Nope,” the man said. “They were easier then.”
Mike groaned and led the way up the stairs.
Brian didn’t even make it to the airport with a dry diaper. Mike didn’t know the Burlington airport had porters, but one mysteriously appeared, pushing a cart, and while the driver loaded the lugg
age onto it, Allie went inside with Brian and the diaper bag to change him.
Mike, alone now with a full cart, waited for them. He saw Allie and Brian emerge from the women’s restroom, Brian flushed and happy, Allie perfectly serene. Did any kid ever have a more unflusterable nanny? Did any kid ever have a more beautiful nanny?
She came up to him, beaming in spite of the fact that her first words were, “I forgot the baby wipes. He’s fine for now. I’ll add them to my list.”
Her list. They’d left home two hours ago and she already had a list.
They checked in and rolled on to security. After Brian’s diaper bag had been dissected by the guards, one of them followed Allie’s carry-on down the conveyor belt, and giving her a soothing smile, said, “Ma’am, may I take a look inside your bag?”
Naturally they’d want to subject her to a random search. She looked every inch the terrorist, especially when she was holding Brian.
To his surprise, she blushed. “Of course,” she said, handed Brian over to Mike, and followed the man to a long counter, where he opened her bag. Mike followed with Brian, the diaper bag, and his shoes dangling from one hand. If Allie needed help, he’d be there for her, and he was there—when the guard delicately pulled from the carry-on something pink and so sheer that Mike had an idea he wasn’t supposed to see it yet, but could hardly wait until he did. Preferably on Allie.
“Okay, pal, help me put on my shoes,” he said, whisking Brian away before he embarrassed himself.
Allie joined them in a few minutes. “It was my cuff bracelet the machine zeroed in on,” she said. “The nice man decided not to arrest me for it.” She sounded stiff and formal, as if she were covering her embarrassment, so Mike didn’t do what he wanted to—wink at her and suggest she ought to be arrested for that pink whatever-it-was.
“They have to be careful these days,” he said, swallowing his smile and saying it with deadly seriousness.
When at last they were on the plane, divided by Brian in the middle seat, Mike got a glimpse of what it would be like to be a newlywed with a baby who woke up crying at inopportune moments. He’d imagined Allie and him engaging in whispered conversation while a perfect baby slept soundly, even if he was between them, but under the current circumstances, there was no way he could get Allie’s attention.
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