A Home for Haley

by Mary Jane Morgan

  “I’m too worn out to be hungry.”

  “I’m not and I need sustenance.” Laughing, Ethan headed toward the kitchen and made a bee-line for the refrigerator. Haley’s blinking cell phone lay on the counter beside it. He picked it up and handed it to her. “Looks like someone’s left you a message.”

  She glanced at the screen to see who had called, scowled, and set the phone down on the kitchen table.

  Ethan grabbed a couple of chocolate chip cookies out of the cookie jar. “Something wrong?”

  “Mom’s called three times, but I don’t feel like talking to her.”

  “Because?” Ethan took a bite of cookie.

  “Because I’m in a good mood.” Haley stood on tip-toes and kissed him. “A fantastic mood actually.” She wrapped her arms around Ethan’s neck and kissed him again, this time long and hard.

  When they finally came up for air, Ethan brushed her hair off her shoulders and studied her face. “Great kiss, but why are you avoiding your mom?”

  “Because I don’t want her to spoil my time with you.” She played with his hair, combing the soft curls that brushed his neck with her fingertips. “Everyone should be getting home before long, and I’m not ready to behave.” She would give anything to have the whole night with him with nobody intruding.

  Ethan pressed on the small of her back and she melted against him, feeling every muscle in his body. She sighed with pure bliss. “We’ll find more time just for us,” he whispered. “I promise.” He gave her a quick kiss, and then leaned around her and opened the refrigerator door. “You hungry yet?”

  “Ravenous,” she answered, batting her eyelashes at him.

  He laughed. “I think I like this side of you. We might have to run back upstairs for a quickie.”

  She felt her face heat up. This was so not like her, but it sure was fun. She wasn’t sure she’d ever had this much fun making love. Dale had always been good in bed but quiet and predictable. Ethan, on the other hand, had a fun side, and just the way he looked at her made her feel feminine and flirty. She liked it. Matter of fact, she liked it a lot.

  Her phone rang and she jumped, then groaned when she saw it was her mom. Again. “I refuse to ruin my good mood by talking with her.”

  “Tell her you’re cooking dinner.”

  Haley scowled and picked up her phone, forcing cheerfulness into her voice. “Hey, Mom.” Her mother started right in and Haley gritted her teeth. “I’m cooking dinner right now so I don’t have much time to talk, but I don’t think now is a good time for a visit.” Haley wiggled her leg under the table and listened to her mom’s pleas “I know you want to come see us, but I’ll have to call you back and let you know when my schedule eases up.”

  Her mother continued as if Haley hadn’t even spoken. Haley rolled her eyes at Ethan. Grinning, he pulled out leftover spaghetti and two plates. “I know exactly how long it’s been, Mother, but this is not a good time. I have a lot on my plate right now. I’ll check the calendar and get back to you. Bye.” Haley ended the call and set her phone on the counter. “She and my father want to come see Ryan and me. That’s a first,” she said, anger churning in her.

  “I’ll give you time off. Lord knows you’ve earned it.”

  She slapped his chest playfully. “Don’t be so helpful. I don’t want them here. If it was just Mom, I might consider it, but I really don’t want to see my father.”

  Placing both hands on her shoulders, Ethan turned her around and rubbed her tight muscles. “And here I thought I had you all loosened up.”

  “You did.” Haley sighed with contentment and dropped her head, giving him better access.

  “How bad could a short visit from your folks be?”

  “You have no idea. My father criticizes me every two minutes, and I’m not up for it.”

  “Bet I could take him,” Ethan whispered in her ear. She laughed and he kissed her neck, eliciting a sigh of pure bliss from her.

  “Definitely. You could take him.”

  “Good answer.” He nibbled her ear. “So tell them to head this way. Get the visit over with.” Haley shook her head. Ethan wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on the top of her head, and her nerves quieted. Being in Ethan’s arms felt incredibly safe. If only she could be in his arms more often.

  “Are you feeling this way because they didn’t come when you needed them?” he asked.

  She turned in his arms, laid her head against his chest and soaked up his comfort. “That’s one reason, but it’s a lot more than that.”

  He rubbed her back. “I’m sorry you’re not close to your folks. Even sorrier that they didn’t treat you well and offered you no support when your husband died. But if they come for a visit, Mom will be here and she’s pretty good at shutting people up.”

  Haley laughed. “I haven’t seen that side of her, but she sure can keep things lively.”

  “True. Trust me, your dad wouldn’t get away with much with both Mom and me hanging around.” Giving her a quick kiss, Ethan stepped around her, filled two plates with spaghetti, and then stuck one plate in the microwave and pressed start.

  “I’m sure they’ll insist I spend time alone with them.” Haley made a put-upon-face and shuddered.

  “Yeah, you’re probably right.” Unfortunately Haley knew she was right. The microwave dinged and Ethan pulled out the plate of heated spaghetti and handed it to her. “Sit. Eat. We can talk about this on a full stomach.”

  Haley didn’t want to talk about it, but she supposed Ethan was smart to encourage her to get this out in the open. She pulled in a deep breath, got a huge whiff of spaghetti, and was suddenly famished. She sank onto a chair and ate a few bites. As soon as Ethan’s dinner was heated, he joined her at the table. “You could always flat-out say no.”

  “I tried that the other day. She thinks I can surely find at least some time for them.” Haley scowled. “I don’t want to find time for them. She swears Dad was truly sick for Dale’s service, but Mom could have come. He wasn’t that sick.”

  Ethan reached across the table and took her hand. “Do you want Ryan to get to know his grandparents?” She frowned and he set down his fork. “That bad, huh?”

  “Pretty much.”

  “Then they need to stay away. I don’t want them upsetting you.”

  She smiled, warmth filling her at Ethan’s concern and protectiveness. “Thank you,” she said just as a car horn sounded.

  Ethan gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Let the chaos begin,” he said with a wink. “This evening was wonderful by the way. We’ll plan alone time soon. Very soon.”

  Smiling, Haley took a huge bite of spaghetti, washed it down with water, and stood. “Let’s go see how Dottie and Jo held up.”

  Before they could get to the back door, Dottie opened it, and both kids bounded inside, grins on their face. “Where’s Aunt Jo?” Ethan asked.

  “Picking up trash in the car.” Dottie sank onto a chair. “The kids were wonderful, and we had a great time, but I’m ready to crawl into bed for at least a week.”

  “Where’s Maggie?” Kayla asked.

  “Upstairs taking a nap.” Haley grabbed Kayla for a quick hug. “Why don’t you go let her out of her crate and put her in the back yard to potty?”

  “Okay.” Kayla raced from the kitchen. Haley bent down to Ryan. “Did you have a fun time?” He nodded, a huge grin on his face and raced over to Dottie, slapping her knee and then running to hide behind his mother.

  Dottie laughed and pointed at him. “No more tag for me, young man.” She yawned. “Why aren’t these kids tired? I feel like I aged twenty years.”

  “If it’s any consolation, it barely shows,” Ethan said.

  Dottie shot him daggers. Aunt Jo came in and sank onto a chair, looking as tired at Dottie. “Haley, you earn every dime my nephew pays you and then some.”

  “Yes, she does.” Ethan smiled at her and then held out his hands to Ryan, who ran to him and practically jumped into his arms. Ethan lifted
him up and turned his attention back to his aunt. “You do look a tad worse for the wear, Aunt Jo.” She scowled at him and he grinned, then kissed Ryan’s upturned nose. “Did you wear Dottie and Aunt Jo out?”

  Ryan shook his head, then grinned and rested his cheek on Ethan’s shoulder. Haley reached for him, but he shoved her hand away. “My daddy.”

  She dropped her arms, her good mood taking a steep dive. She totally understood why Ryan adored this man, because Ethan was kind and loving and who in the world could resist him? But it was still hard to hear her son call him daddy. She knew in her head it shouldn’t bother her, but her heart hadn’t quite caught up, which surprised her because after spending this evening in Ethan’s arms, she felt like a different woman. Obviously that wasn’t the case.

  Haley’s heart took another dive as realization hit her that there was a good chance the kids would get hurt if she and Ethan got involved and it didn’t work out. She rubbed her forehead. Who was she kidding? They were already involved, and if things fell apart between them, the children would suffer, especially Kayla who was still reeling from her mother’s recent behavior. It frightened Haley to consider how badly the children might get hurt.

  She watched Ethan rub Ryan’s back with slow, smooth circles, almost putting her son in a trance. She smiled at Ryan, understanding his feelings, because she felt the same way in this man’s arms. Cared for and safe.

  Kayla raced through the kitchen and jerked open the back door. “Come on, Maggie.” The pup raced outside and down the deck’s stairs. It only took her a minute to do her business, then she ran back into the house and greeted everyone.

  “I think she missed me.” Kayla sat on the floor and hugged the dog to her.

  “I’m sure she did,” Haley answered. “But she and I still had a nice time.”

  “That’s because she knows you love her.”

  Haley smoothed a hand over Kayla’s dark hair. “She certainly does. She also knows I’m a softie.”

  Kayla grinned. “Everyone knows that.”

  Haley’s chest filled with emotion. “I think you’re trying to butter me up, young lady.”

  Kayla shook her head. “No I’m not.” She grinned at Haley. “But did you know my birthday is in a few weeks?”

  “I had no idea,” Haley responded, truly surprised.

  Kayla grinned. “I’ll be six. I get to go to first grade this year.”

  “Wow. You’ll be reading before we know it. So what does an almost- first grader want for her birthday?”

  Kayla’s face fell. “I want Mommy to come home.”

  Tension filled the room and Haley struggled to find something to say. Ethan set Ryan down and squatted beside his daughter. Kayla watched him, her face solemn. “We will invite her, Kayla, but I doubt she will come so try not to get your hopes up.” Kayla’s face fell even more. “Besides inviting your mother, what would you like to do for your birthday? Your wish is my command,” he added with a wink. “After all, you only turn six once.”

  Kayla rested a hand on Maggie’s head, and the puppy licked her face, instinctively knowing her mistress was upset. “It won’t be fun without Mama.”

  Ethan’s brows knit. “Of course it will be fun. We will make your birthday special, no matter what.”

  Kayla didn’t respond, and Haley’s heart wrenched, both for Ethan and this precious little girl who yearned for her mother so badly. Haley wished she could reach out to Ethan, offer some support, but she had to be careful what she said and did around his family. Besides, she was so out of her element here, and Ethan knew what he was doing. His therapist had talked to him about this sort of thing.

  Ethan tucked a finger under Kayla’s chin and forced her to look at him. “We’ll call your mom when you’re ready for bed tonight, but I want you to be prepared.”

  Kayla raced out of the room. Both the puppy and Ryan ran after her.

  Ethan stood and squeezed the bridge of his nose. “Damn. She refuses to hear what I’m saying. Sure wish I could have forbidden her to invite her mom, but then she’d blame me for the rest of her life for running Ellie off. She already does in a way.”

  “I’d like to get hold of that woman and wring her skinny neck,” Dottie said, leaning over and patting Ethan’s hand. “You handled that well. Kayla can’t hang on to her false hope forever, but it sure is hard to watch. I think on some level she heard you, or she wouldn’t have taken off like she did.” With a heavy sigh, Dottie shoved to her feet. “I’m going to my room and collapsing.”

  Aunt Jo gave Ethan a hug. “I agree with everything my sister said.”

  “That’s a first,” Dottie called back over her shoulder.

  Smiling, Aunt Jo followed her sister down the hall.

  Ethan glanced at Haley. “Bet you never dreamed you would be smack in the middle of a soap opera when you took this job.”

  “It’s definitely a mess,” she admitted. “I grew up in a pretty dysfunctional family, but your ex-wife is in a league all her own.” Her father was in another league all his own, but she kept that to herself.

  “It’s embarrassing I ever got involved with Ellie, let alone married her.” Ethan wrapped an arm around Haley’s shoulders. “Guess I never fully realized how lucky I was to have the family I do. I almost feel guilty. And I hate like hell that Kayla has such a pitiful excuse for a mom.”

  Haley leaned into him. “She has a great dad and a terrific grandmother, though.”

  Ethan pulled her snug. “Thanks.” He blew out a tired breath. “Guess we’d better go check on the kids before they get into trouble.”

  “I’ll go. Ryan’s the one we really have to watch. He’s probably hanging from the curtains by now.”

  “You say that like it’s a horrible problem. Right now that seems like a pretty trivial thing.”

  “I’ll remind you of that if anything’s broken.” Ethan barely smiled, and Haley couldn’t resist wrapping her arms around him.

  He pulled her close. “Thanks for your support.”

  “Everything will somehow work out, Ethan.” She hoped she was right. Kayla had way too much heartache for any five-year-old to have to deal with, but Haley trusted Ethan to guide his daughter through this with the least amount of damage.

  She made herself step away from Ethan’s touch. “We shouldn’t let the children see us embrace. It’s way too soon.”

  He ran a hand through his hair and let his arm drop. “You’re right. Hands off unless we’re alone.”

  There was an awkward silence. Haley cleared her throat. “Guess I’d better go make sure Ryan is behaving himself.” Without waiting for a reply, she hurried out of the kitchen.

  ****

  Ethan cursed as he watched Haley hurry away. He should have known better than to hold her like that when the kids were anywhere around. His mind was reeling so much from Kayla’s request that he doubted he could think his way out of a paper sack right now. He turned and gathered the plates, still full of spaghetti, put foil over each one and stuck them both in the refrigerator. He’d lost his appetite along with his common sense.

  He had to pull it together. What had he been thinking holding Haley close when one of the kids could have walked in on them? Hell, he’d even forgotten Kayla had a birthday coming up. What kind of dad forgets that? A dad preoccupied with a sexy, blonde. That’s what kind.

  His mom would have never let him forget Kayla’s birthday, but she shouldn’t have to remind him of something that important. He had to get his head back on straight, but he wasn’t sure how he would accomplish that. Haley had an effect on him that no other woman had ever had, especially Ellie. Sure the sex had been dynamite with his ex, at least at the beginning, but they’d never connected on any other level. He’d been too young and dumb to realize that until now, but it was true. He and Haley, on the other hand, connected on every level and it blew him away.

  He set his left-over cold coffee into the microwave and nuked it. This evening with Haley had been wonderful, more than wonderful, b
ut he had to keep this in perspective. Providing a loving and stable environment for Kayla was his top priority and always would be.

  He would not fail his daughter like her mother had. With a curse, he tamped down his raging hormones and headed out to join the kids and Haley in the den.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  “I have some news,” Dottie announced a few days later at breakfast.

  What now? Ethan thought, as he scooped his eggs onto a plate. The last few days had been difficult enough and right now he didn’t want even more change. But the gleam in his mom’s eye let him know something was amiss.

  “Well, spit it out, Mom, before you burst.”

  “I think you’ve put up with me long enough, and I miss my friends and home. Besides, I’m doing well enough with my knee to be on my own.”

  Ethan opened his mouth to say something, but she held up her hand. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all the help you’ve given me, Ethan, but it’s time for me to get back to my own life.”

  Kayla jumped up from her chair and latched onto her grandmother, burying her head in her bosom. “I don’t want you to go.”

  “Ditto that.” Ethan grabbed his plate of eggs and sat down just as Haley and Ryan walked in.

  “Why does everyone look so glum?” Haley asked.

  “Grandma’s leaving.” Kayla looked totally heart broken, and Ethan had a hard time swallowing his bite of eggs.

  “Where are you going, Dottie?” Haley asked, sitting on the bench with Ryan on her lap.

  “Home.” Dottie stroked Kayla’s hair. “I will be back often, honey, and you can come see me anytime you want. I mean that.”

  Kayla sniffed. “But I want you here.”

  Dottie glanced at Ethan, her face drawn. “And part of me wants to stay with you, but my surgery is over and my knee is pretty good, and I’m ready to get back to my own home.”