His Lullaby Baby

by Airicka Phoenix

“Years!” Mrs. Clout said.

  “How is she?”

  It was a struggle as it always was when she was asked to remember a lie, but she’d gone over it so many times over the year that even she sometimes believed she was the daughter of Francine Boyd, Macy’s younger sister. It was all a cover Macy had put into place when Addy had first arrived and Addy hadn’t stopped her. And since Francine never returned after leaving Willow Creek straight out of high school or kept in touch with anyone, no one had questioned it. It was the perfect identity.

  “She’s good.”

  Addy had no idea if that was true or not.

  “Where is she again?”

  “New Mexico.” At least, that was the address on the last letter postcard Macy ever received from her sister.

  “Must be so nice there,” Mrs. Clout sighed.

  “She likes it,” Addy continued to lie or not. For all she knew, Francine really did like New Mexico.

  The two women paused to take dainty little sips of their drinks. Their cups rattled in their unsteady hands.

  “You always made wonderful tea,” Mrs. Donnelly said, setting her cup and saucer down on the table. “Macy’s was always too strong.”

  “Thank you.”

  “So, tell us about your renovations,” Mrs. Clout cut in, blinking blue eyes like a baby owl.

  “There’s really nothing to tell. The wood was rotting so Mr. McClain was kind enough to offer his help rebuilding it.”

  “Oh, how terrible!” Mrs. Clout gasped.

  “What possessed you to hire the McClain family?” Mrs. Donnelly pressed on. “Everyone knows they’re a moving company. We had no idea they did renovations as well.”

  “That’s not entirely true, Pam,” Mrs. Clout protested. “Didn’t they do some work up at town hall a while back?”

  Mrs. Donnelly clicked her tongue. “Right you are. Of course.”

  “But it’s certainly a very large job,” Mrs. Clout said. “With winter around the corner, do they foresee themselves finishing in time?”

  Addy nodded. “Mr. McClain has assured me that it will be built just a little after Halloween.”

  “Halloween!” Mrs. Donnelly gasped. “We absolutely love Halloween.”

  “All those adorable children all dressed up.” Mrs. Clout giggled. “Love it.”

  “Macy used to make such a big fuss every year and it was just splendid,” Mrs. Donnelly continued. “I do so miss her antics.”

  Addy just smiled.

  “Oh, will you be attending the charity event this weekend?” Mrs. Donnelly demanded.

  “You must!” Mrs. Clout pouted. “The town hardly knows you and it would be such a delight to have you there.”

  “We would of course introduce you to all the proper people,” Mrs. Donnelly promised with a solemn little nod of her head.

  “So important,” Mrs. Clout insisted with the same dire expression. “One tiny step in the wrong direction and, well…”

  “Disaster,” Mrs. Donnelly supplied.

  “Absolute disaster.”

  Addy could feel her smile growing tighter with every passing second. “Oh, well, I don’t know if I—”

  “Oh, but you must be there!” Mrs. Donnelly insisted. “You must. I won’t hear a no. The children are welcome, so no need to worry about babysitters.”

  “It is for them, after all,” Mrs. Clout added.

  “For them?”

  “The school,” Mrs. Donnelly replied. “The whole thing is a very recent thing. Only, what?”

  “I’d say six years now,” Mrs. Clout guessed with a little shrug.

  “About that,” Mrs. Donnelly agreed. “Toby McClain would know better.”

  “Toby … I mean, Mr. McClain? Why would he—?”

  “Why, it’s his event,” Mrs. Clout said. “Started it just before he shipped off.”

  Mrs. Donnelly bobbed her head. “Every year, rain or shine.”

  “Holds it just after school starts,” Mrs. Clout said.

  “Raises enough to last the entire year.”

  Addy had no recollection of Willa or Calla mentioning that the charity they were catering to was Toby’s. It made no difference either way, a paying job was a paying job and it was for a good cause, but she never would have guessed that Toby would have his own annual charity to help feed the children of Willow Creek. Something about that touched something really deep inside her.

  “That’s really kind of him,” she murmured.

  The two women nodded.

  “He’s a good one,” Mrs. Donnelly agreed. “I’d like a taste of him myself if I were a few years younger.”

  “Try nearly fifty, you old lush!” Mrs. Clout cackled.

  Mrs. Donnelly waved her friend away. “A man needs a woman of experience!”

  The two shrieked. Addy couldn’t help it, she laughed as well.

  “I think Adelaide should toss her hat into the pit,” Mrs. Clout suggested, casting Addy a meaningful sidelong glance. “Turn your womanly wiles on him before that good for nothing Sandra Perkins sinks her claws into him.”

  “Yes!” Mrs. Donnelly gasped. “Toby deserves a good girl like you in his life.”

  Mrs. Clout bobbed her head fiercely. “Sandra would only use him.”

  Addy had no idea who Sandra Perkins was, but she forced a smile. “I’m sure Mr. McClain wouldn’t be interested—”

  “Interested in what?” Toby appeared in the doorway and Addy had to wonder how he got there without her hearing his cane.

  “We were just telling Adelaide she needs to put her bid in this weekend for you,” Mrs. Donnelly piped up without missing a beat.

  Addy blinked. “Bid in for—?”

  “I think that’s a great idea,” Toby cut in before she could ask bid for what. “It’s for a good cause after all. Every penny helps.” He offered the two a devastatingly gorgeous grin that even Addy wasn’t immune to, especially when it made her think of that morning when he’d kissed her. “Now, I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need to steal Ms. Nixon away for a second.”

  Addy rose quickly, relieved for the excuse to get away and followed Toby out into the hallway. She peered down around his legs.

  “Where’s Hanna?”

  “Outside with my dad. He’s teaching her how to use the tape measure.”

  She lifted her eyes to his face. “Something wrong?”

  He shrugged. “No, just thought you could use a break. You’ve been in there with them for an hour.”

  She glanced down at her watch. Sure enough, an entire hour had passed.

  She stifled a groan. “I don’t think they’re ready to leave.”

  He lightly skimmed the tips of his fingers gingerly along her arm, eliciting a whole fireworks display beneath her skin. “Leave it to me.”

  She watched curiously as he stepped back into the parlor. He was gone for a minute, but when he returned, Mrs. Donnelly and Mrs. Clout were following him.

  “Of course we’ll be there!” Mrs. Clout was saying. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  Toby thanked them while leading them past Addy and into the kitchen. She hurried after them and watched, astounded as the pair walked straight out the door with barely a wave to her.

  “What did you say to them?”

  Toby pivoted on his heel to face her. “That I needed to drive you into town to pick up supplies for the porch.”

  Addy huh’d. “That’s actually pretty clever. I wish I’d thought of it an hour ago.” She blew out a breath. “I’m never going to finish this order in time for this weekend.”

  “Yes, you will,” he assured her. “You’re a one woman baking machine, like those Easy Bake Ovens, but hotter.”

  Addy laughed. “Thanks.” She sobered and peered at him. “You didn’t tell me you started the charity.”

  Toby physically recoiled. “I don’t call it a charity. I actually really hate that word. No one wants to be considered a charity case, especially not kids and they shouldn’t.”

  “You’re
right. I’m sorry. The event,” she corrected.

  “It’s something I’ve been working towards since I was in high school and I’m real proud of it.”

  Addy smiled. “I think it’s wonderful.”

  “Does that mean you’ll come and—”

  “Mommy!” Hanna tore into the room, waving a measuring tape in the air. “I learned cinaminers.”

  Cole stepped into the kitchen after her, slightly breathless, but grinning. “I think she means centimeters. I hope.”

  “That’s really great, baby.”

  Hanna tugged at the tongue and the ruler rolled out of the device in a bright yellow sash. “Look! It goes on forever!”

  “That’s nice, but don’t break it, okay?”

  “I have a million of those,” Cole assured her. “I told her she could keep that one.”

  Addy smiled at him. “Thank you for watching her. I hope she didn’t give you a hard time.”

  Cole shook his head. “Nah, it’s nice to have a little girl around again. Mine’s too old to teach new things.”

  “Don’t let Calla hear you say that,” Toby muttered.

  Cole chuckled. “We actually came in because we need new things to measure.”

  Hanna released the end and the ruler snapped back into the case. Hanna laughed, delighted.

  Chuckling, Addy shook her head. “Measure away.”

  With Hanna leading the way, the pair disappeared down the hall, leaving Addy alone with Toby once more.

  “Back to the fundraiser,” Toby pressed. “Are you coming?”

  “Oh, um…” She turned away and made her way to the island and the cake she had yet to finish decorating. “I don’t think so.”

  “You have to go,” he argued. “It’s your first catering job. Don’t you want to hear what people think?”

  She had thought about that, but at the same time, what if no one liked anything she’d made? She definitely didn’t want to be around when that happened. Yet a part of her had been curious since Calla had told her about the event and even she couldn’t deny that she was actually excited. It was her first real job. One that wasn’t given to her already established.

  “I don’t know if that would be a good idea,” she ventured. “People would wonder why I’m there.”

  “It’s a fundraiser,” he reminded her evenly. “It’s fairly straight forward.”

  “Yes, but I’ve never been to a single town activity or fundraiser or tea party or anything since I moved here. I drive twenty minutes into Newburry to get groceries. It’ll be weird if I just show up for no reason.”

  “It’s not for no reason,” he argued. “Your son goes to school in town. Next year, your daughter will be joining him. It’s important. That’s all people need to know.”

  “Why now when I haven’t in five years?”

  He shrugged. “Who cares? This is your town. It’s not anyone’s business what you do and you can’t let them make it their business. You can’t let anyone tuck you away out here in the middle of nowhere, no matter what your past circumstances. Only you can give them the power to isolate you.”

  He made it sound so logical. So simple. Yet there were so many things that could go wrong. There were so many questions she wasn’t prepared to answer and too many people who could take an interest in her and get curious enough to dig deeper.

  But maybe they won’t. There were hundreds of people in town. Who was to say anyone would even notice her? She could stick to the back, keep in the shadows. She could … no, it was a bad idea. She needed to stop.

  “I would really like for you to come,” Toby murmured when she took too long to answer. “I think you and the kids would like it, and it really is for a good cause.”

  “Addy, I don’t know how you do all this.” Laura scooped up another forkful of her strawberry cheesecake. “Every meal is…”

  “Magic,” Richard finished for her. “And she’s right. This cheesecake is delicious!”

  Cheeks warm, Addy smiled. “Thank you.”

  “Have you ever considered opening this place up for lunches or dinners?” Laura asked. “I think people would love to come here, enjoy the atmosphere and eat this cake!”

  “My aunt had the place open for lunches, but no one wants to drive all the way out here when Ma’s Diner is so much closer.”

  “Ma’s Diner?” Laura glanced at her husband. “I think we stopped there the other afternoon for coffee and there was this … foul little woman behind the counter.”

  Across from Addy, at the other end of the table, Toby choked on his cake. He coughed and thumped his chest with a fist as he struggled not to laugh. Addy met his gaze and bit back her own chuckle.

  “That would have been Ma,” she told the Charleston’s.

  “The owner?” Laura blinked at her, appalled. “She was horrible and her coffee was atrocious.”

  “Ma retired a while back, supposedly, but she refuses to actually leave the diner,” Toby volunteered. “We’re sure she’ll want to be buried there one day.”

  Richard nodded. “You could steal her business if you really wanted.”

  “Actually, you should think about visiting Under The Willow,” Addy suggested. “Their coffee is much better.”

  “Under The Willow.” Laura glanced at her husband. “Did we go there?”

  Richard shook his head. “We must have missed it.”

  “Well, you have another four days with us so you can—”

  “Actually, we’re thinking about leaving in the morning,” Laura cut in, giving Addy an apologetic little smile. “We got a text from our son this morning and we’re needed at home. It’s why we returned from Vancouver early, to pack.”

  “We were going to tell you after supper,” Richard assured her, looking equally remorseful.

  “Oh, I’m really sorry to hear that. I hope he’s all right.”

  Laura exchanged a quick glance with her husband before returning her attention to Addy with a tense nod. “He will be.”

  Addy set her fork down. “We hate to see you go, but of course we understand. We can go over the paperwork tonight. I’ll refund you—”

  “No, please don’t,” Laura broke in. “You deserve every penny. The last few days have been wonderful and we will be coming back.”

  “Mommy? Can I have more cake?” Hanna nudged her empty plate closer. “Please?”

  Addy checked her watch. “Actually, it’s time to start getting ready for bed. Get your bathroom things and I’ll come up in a minute to help with your shower.”

  Bottom lip puckered and big, brown eyes peeked at Addy from her daughter’s tiny face. “Please?”

  Laura laughed. “I see the puppy dog eyes hasn’t gone out of fashion since my kids were younger.”

  Addy chuckled. “No, I’m pretty sure this one perfected it.” To Hanna, she said, “One small piece.”

  Delighted, Hanna sat back, plate in hand and waited. Addy cut a sliver from the slab on the table and set it in the plate. She peered over at Sean.

  “Now’s your chance if you want another slice,” she told him. “Before your sister’s charm wears off.”

  Sean shook his head. “I’m okay. Can I get my shower now if Hanna’s still eating?”

  A sort of sadness passed through her as it always did when Sean refused to act like a child. She only had a few more years with him before he really was an adult and she felt like she’d already lost him. But she relented with a small smile.

  “Yeah, sure.”

  Excusing himself, Sean pushed his chair back, picked up his plate and walked out of the room.

  “You have very sweet children,” Laura remarked as Addy settled back in her chair.

  “Thank you.” She offered the other woman a grin. “They grow up too fast.”

  “Our oldest just had her first baby six months ago. I don’t think I felt old until that moment.”

  Addy laughed. “I’m not even thinking about that right now. I’m still trying to brace myself for the teen years.”<
br />
  Laura blew out a breath and rolled her eyes. “Valium and vodka.”

  “My nephew’s going to be thirteen in a few months and my sister’s about ready to ship him off to boarding school,” Toby said. “He’s a good kid, but damn he’s moody.”

  “He said a bad word!” Hanna declared, thrusting a dirty fork towards Toby. “I’ll get the jar!”

  She was gone before Addy could tell her not to worry about it.

  “The … jar?” Toby murmured, one eyebrow lifted. “Should I be worried?”

  Addy opened her mouth to explained, but Hanna was back, jar in hand. She slammed it down in front of Toby.

  “That’ll be a dollar, please.”

  Toby cocked his head towards Addy, waiting.

  “It’s the swear jar,” she explained, feeling her cheeks warm. “Macy started it when we’d get badly behaved kids at the inn. We haven’t used it in a while…”

  Toby lowered his lashes to study the empty jar. “Explains the cobwebs. Well…”

  He tipped to the left and reached for his back pocket. He pulled out his wallet.

  “Oh no, you really don’t have to—”

  Hanna unscrewed the lid helpfully and waited for Toby to toss his dollar in. The lid was slammed down and screwed into place before the coins even hit the bottom. Then the jar was snatched to her thin chest as she cackled.

  “I’ve got a dollar!”

  With the coins rattling around at the bottom of the jar, she bolted out of the room, still cackling.

  “I am so sorry,” Addy gasped, horrified. “She … I’ll get your dollar back.”

  Toby snorted. “It’s a dollar.”

  “And you did swear,” Laura added helpfully.

  Addy grimaced. “The actual swear cost is a quarter…”

  Toby gasped and peered in the direction Hanna had taken. “That little crook!”

  “Inflation,” Richard decided with mock gravity. “Bright side, you’re free to swear three more times.”

  “Right you are!” Toby agreed with a definite nod that made Addy laugh. “I will certainly have to get my money’s worth.”

  Addy fought not to point out his swearing that morning when he’d been kissing her. The memory of it was still too fresh to speak of without blushing, or worse, wanting more. The whole thing was a blur of need and want and so much repressed heat. No matter how she twisted it around in her head, she couldn’t for the life of her figure out what she’d been thinking or how she could let herself go so easily. Her behavior was mortifying.