by Tori Brooks
“Are you all right, Teri?”
Teri looked up into Flynn’s concerned face. She didn’t realize she was crying until that moment. The music was on his phone and he stopped it to get her attention. Teri pulled out one of the earbuds.
“I just never really listened to them before. I guess I didn’t pay attention to what you’ve been doing with them for so long. They’re good aren’t they?”
“Yeah, they’re good. I told you, love, your little boys are going to be rock stars,” Flynn laughed.
“Flynn, what happens next?”
“In recognition that you weren’t paying attention, you know that I took them to a studio, right?”
Teri hit his thigh. “Yes, I picked up on that.”
“Well, that play list you’re listening to is in the hands of Alec, one of my old managers. The boys met him at the studio, they got on okay. He’s hashing over the details with a label as we speak.”
“And then?”
“They get a contract. We’re probably close to that now actually. Kyle and I will look it over with you and explain anything you have questions on. We shouldn’t need to submit changes, or at least not significant ones. I already chatted with Alec about Dev being a minor and your likely concerns so they’ll be addressed up front.”
“You didn’t even ask what my concerns were,” Teri bristled and sat up.
“Love, I know how you are about the boys and I know recording contracts. I can take a good guess which points you were going to fuss over. Most of your worries aren’t things covered in this contract anyway. There was no point getting you worked up prematurely.”
Teri considered that, and settled down to lean against Flynn again. He shifted and put the armrest between them down and his arm around her.
“So if you’ve got all this done, what have you been working on?”
“Musically, their second album. A bit of their personal dynamic, I suppose. Dev can write lyrics, did you know that? He’s just stubborn about it. He thinks it’s Kenny’s job just because Kenny’s always done it. We’re easing him into the idea by having him proofread Kenny’s work.”
“Bet Kenny’s thrilled with the pitch on that.”
“His idea actually. He’s learning how to handle Dev and his pride takes a backseat to his dream. Bryan’s playing delivery boy to maintain an illusion. The other thing they really still need work with is their live show.”
“Something about a riot breaking out in the park a few weeks ago. You said you’d tell me later. This is later.”
“Oh. I was hoping you’d forget,” Flynn admitted.
“You cover for them a lot.”
“Yeah, well, boys will be boys and you don’t seem to get that sometimes.”
“Hey, I roll with it!”
“You still worry too much. It distracts them and makes them feel guilty. I need them to play through it.”
“Fine. So park, riot, go.”
“Right. It was the second time Zane came out. I set up a gig for them to play for a pet shelter benefit to get some practice. The audience turnout was bigger than anticipated, and Dev started backing away from the front as his anxiety increased. Jess noticed and started to whistle to Dev like he was calling a dog between songs. Dev reminded Jess that dogs bite, which drew a laugh from the crowd. Then someone threw a muzzle on stage. Jess played with it a bit, and held it up for Dev.
“Dev sings background on some songs, you know, so he has a microphone. He dared Jess to try it, which was a bad idea. A few teens started cheering Jess on, others started cheering Dev on as he took a stance.”
“So the riot was in the crowd?”
“As far as we can tell it was probably just someone accidentally got bumped and overreacted, but yeah, it was the crowd.”
“Over Jess and Dev.”
“Yeah. No one blamed the boys, but I did chat with them about recognizing the tone of the crowd and when to stop.”
“But you want Jess and Dev to do this? You said it helped with the stage fright.”
“Well, yeah. I don’t think anyone could have predicted this. In truth, the fact that the crowd was so taken with their little onstage drama is a good thing. The police broke it up, Jess and Dev apologized, explained they didn’t think it would go that far, and no one was cited amazingly enough. Then they hung around and chatted with members of the audience. Dev didn’t care for that, by the way. Jess had him in a headlock half the time to keep him from sneaking off, which almost caused a second incident.”
“So you’re working on that.”
“Yeah, we’re working on that. We’re trying to choreograph some stage antics instead so we can control it. I hope that having some preprogrammed responses will help Dev out, or having something else to remember will keep him distracted. As long as it doesn’t distract Jess. Kenny’s also getting involved.”
“On whose side?” Teri asked suspiciously.
“Now why would you want me to give away all the surprises?”
They touched down at JFK a few hours later and Tim met them at the airport. Before continuing on to the girls’ new place, they went by Flynn’s apartment to drop off their luggage first. Teri was prepared for the giggles and whispers and pointedly ignored it. Tim raised an eyebrow, but Flynn waved him over to a corner and Teri was faced with more whispers. She was fidgeting by the door by the time Flynn and Tim returned a few minutes later.
The girls were uncharacteristically quiet on the drive to their new place. Tim sent them pictures and details before hand, so there was little to prepare them for. The sudden silence after hours of whispering seemed even worse to Teri, and every time she glanced at the girls, they were watching her. She pulled her Sudoku book out of her purse and pretended to work on that instead to give herself a reason to ignore the girls.
They finally arrived at the girls’ apartment and Teri was relieved as their excitement turned to more normal things. Tim gave them the unnecessary tour, but Flynn held Teri back.
“How are you holding up?”
“Fine. What makes you think anything’s wrong?”
“You’ve been working on the same puzzle for hours. Frankly I could have solved it by now and I don’t play with those things.”
“My little girls are going off to college, living alone in a big city. I’m allowed to be a bit on edge,” Teri said.
“All right, I’ll give you that one. They’re not alone you know. They have each other and Tim’s only a call away. Both of them have good judgment and values, they’re smart, it’s a secure building in a good area.”
“And I have to let go and let them spread their wings and all that. Point made, shoo.”
Teri folded her arms and looked around at the professionally decorated apartment. It wasn’t what she would have chosen, but it was perfect for the girls. Tim even had a list of local restaurants that delivered and had tabs set up for them so they didn’t have to cook. Teri wondered if he knew Flynn taught them how, or what Flynn told him to explain the girls’ whispers, stares, and giggles. She blushed.
Flynn slid his arms around her. “Want to have a sleepover with the girls tonight?”
“What? No!”
“Thought maybe you were reconsidering, that’s all. I have a spare bedroom.”
“I don’t want your spare bedroom,” Teri glared at him.
“You want dinner? I have reservations in a couple of hours, but I can bump it up.”
“No. I want . . . a new Sudoku book,” Teri turned to the door.
Flynn only nodded. She could tell he would have laughed at her but he was holding it in. “All right. Alone or do you want company with your shopping?”
“Alone.”
“I’ll give you space.” Flynn stepped over to retrieve the pink flamingo-shaped notepad and a pen. “This is the name of the restaurant and the address. Early dinner, reservation is at six, just us. Be there.”
“Thank you. I’ll be there.” Teri kissed Flynn, took the information, and wandered down the hall to
tell the girls she was leaving. Tim had her take the car and driver, and she left to think.
She had the driver wander more or less aimlessly while she considered her weekend with Flynn. Now that they were here, apparently with the kids’ knowledge and blessing — not that it should matter, she felt pressured. Excited too, even slightly nervous. Teri slouched in the back seat, feeling much like she did before her wedding night nearly twenty years ago.
“Damn him!” she muttered. If Flynn had just gone along with the normal relationship protocol, let passion and desire dictate the appropriate time for intimacy instead of trying to schedule it, she wouldn’t be such a bundle of nerves now.
She stared out the window. Not familiar with New York, Teri wasn’t surprised she didn’t recognize where they were. The buildings seemed older here, the shops were smaller with old apartment buildings above them instead of high rises and sky scrapers. None of the apartment buildings had balconies or entire walls replaced by windows. It seemed less like the New York she knew and more like what she’d expect to see in any city in the country. More homey.
They passed a hot dog vendor in front of a Laundromat, then a bookstore. Teri remembered she was supposed to be getting a new puzzle book.
“Stop! That bookstore, pull over. Please.”
The driver circled around and pulled over in front of the bookstore. He opened the door for Teri, eying a pair of teenagers in dusty jeans and tattered T-shirts warily. Teri ignored them, and walked directly into the bookstore.
Nodding to the man behind the counter, Teri saw a stack of coffee table books and couldn’t resist looking to see what was already out to compete with her own upcoming book. If she ever finished it.
The door opened and closed again while she leafed through scenes of children at play. The photographer was decent, but getting kids to laugh wasn’t that difficult so Teri wasn’t impressed. The book would have been better with cuter kids, maybe in more colorful clothes. Why go for ordinary when you’re trying to show off?
“Hey! I’ve got you this time, you little brat! You think you can come in here and steal my books? Well this time I got you!”
The owner’s gruff voice and a scuffle behind her made Teri turn. The owner was holding a small girl by the upper arm, dragging her back toward the desk in the middle of the store. The girl had a book in her hand, The Jungle Book, and was trying to pull away.
“Let go!” The girl wailed, hitting the man with the book. She tried to brace herself against the force pulling her deeper into the store, but her sneakers were old and worn, any tread on the soles was long gone. The girl slid along despite her efforts.
Teri put down the book and took a tentative step to keep the little girl in sight. She wasn’t very old and had all the signs of neglect. Besides her worn shoes, her jeans were several sizes too big with both pant legs rolled up and the waist cinched tight with a belt that had also seen better days. She wore a baggy T-shirt tucked into her jeans, each sleeve coming down to the girl’s elbows. An old backpack slung across one of her shoulders knocked books off the tables as she struggled, making the owner curse.
Maternal instincts taking over, Teri walked back and confronted the owner.
“Let her go.”
“She’s a thief and I’m calling the cops.”
“I’ll pay for the book, let her go.” Teri took the book from the girl and held her hand gently but firmly.
Reluctantly the owner, Phil by his name tag, relaxed his grip only slightly, but stopped dragging the child through the store.
“She’s been stealing from me for over a year now. I bet she’s got some of my books in her knapsack. I just haven’t been able to catch her before.”
“Fine, I’ll pay for whatever she’s got in there too,” Teri told him firmly and Phil finally released the girl.
She tried to run, but Teri’s grip held her.
“Hold tight, kiddo. I want a word with you.”
Teri handed Phil the book and he walked around to take the backpack off the squirming child. Upon inspection, there were four more books in there that Phil promptly claimed were from his store. Teri nodded and fished out her wallet with her free hand. She handed Phil a credit card and sat back on her heels to look at the little thief she’d bailed out.
Dirty blond waves framed a round little face with watery blue eyes. Her lips were chapped and Teri couldn’t tell if she was deeply tanned or simply filthy.
“What’s your name?”
The girl shook her head and remained silent.
“I just gave you a get out of jail free card, I can at least get a few answers out of it. If not, I’ll let him call the police.”
“Sophie Mayhew,” the child whispered.
“Where are your parents, Sophie?”
“My mom’s gone and Dad’s probably over by the mission somewhere.”
“The mission?”
“Homeless, Ma’am,” Phil clarified.
Teri looked at him trying to make sense of this information. Children didn’t live on the street. She knew there were homeless people who slept in some shelter or another, but not children. Not this young. Surely Child Services placed them in homes. She looked back at Sophie, understanding she wasn’t simply poor or neglected, she was abandoned.
“Sophie, where do you sleep?”
She shrugged.
Teri shook her head. “Who takes care of you? How do you live?”
“I can take care of myself!” The girl frowned. “We’re fine, jus’ leave us alone.”
“We? There are more of you?”
Sophie hesitated, realizing her mistake. Blue eyes darted to the store front, then back to meet Teri’s hazel eyes with defiance.
The teenagers out front, Teri realized as she took her credit card and the backpack of books back from the owner.
“Do you have brothers or sisters?”
“No. Jus’ friends. You’re going to call the cops.”
“Children shouldn’t have to live like this, Sophie. You should be in a home, have regular meals, baths, and a bed.”
“Yeah, they grab us sometimes and put us in some home or dorm or something. Give us that line about what’s best for us. Pay some people who don’t care to jus’ let us sleep there. But when their own kids break something it’s always us that get blamed. When there’s trouble, it’s our fault. They get candy and toys and we’re told to be grateful for a bed. Then, when the dad’s not getting enough, it’s us he comes feeling up. No thanks. We’re better off on our own. Now let me go!” She tried to pull away again, but Teri saw the change in her stance and was ready for it.
“Come with me.”
She stood and made a snap decision. Society failed this child and it burned Teri to her very core. No one wanted her, and Sophie knew it. She was living a tough life the best she could. Still, Sophie was a child, and Teri was a mother.
Teri stopped wanting more children when Dev turned one and dismantled the baby gate, with an encore performance of every other child-proofing device in the house. But he was grown now, not the handful he was. Teri didn’t need another child. Even with the girls moving out, she had four teens at home.
Endless reasons why this wasn’t practical ran through Teri’s mind in the brief period of time it took to lead the reluctant Sophie to the door, but reason was left behind. Teri might not need another child, but this child needed a mother. Her heart recognized that and Teri’s maternal instincts kicked into gear.
The teenagers weren’t lingering outside when Teri left the bookstore, and she glanced around carefully to be sure as she ushered Sophie into the back of the limo. The driver’s face was a mask as he slipped back behind the wheel.
“Ms. Giles, we’ll only just make it to the restaurant for your reservation. If that is still your destination.”
“Oh. Um, yes, please.” Teri looked over Sophie, the reality of her decision started to sink in. Not so much taking responsibility for the girl, but now she had to tell Flynn.
She started
running her fingers through Sophie’s hair, pulling the tangles out, and learned that it frizzed when it wasn’t matted. Suppressing the urge to swear, Teri fished in her purse for anything to tie back the girl’s hair. Nothing of use was available. Looking around the limo, her eyes fell on the driver.
“Um, David? That’s your name, right?”
“Yes, Ms. Giles?”
“Can I have your tie? Please?”
David’s eyebrows raised in surprise as he made several quick glances in the rear-view mirror. Seeing Teri holding a length of Sophie’s hair answered any questions he might have had. He nodded, unknotted his tie, and passed it back to her at the next light.
“Thank you.”
Teri pulled Sophie’s hair into a frizzy ponytail, then a neat bun with the tie, leaving an uneven and heavy bow above it.
“Well, it’ll do for now. Tell me, if I wash your face, how much of this is going to come off?”
“You’re not going to spit on a tissue are you? ‘Cause that’s jus’ gross.”
“Answer the question.”
Sophie shrugged. Teri experimentally licked her thumb and scrubbed Sophie’s cheek to wiggles and cries of outrage, but the color remained.
“All right, for now I’ll accept you’ve spent too much time in the sun without adequate sunscreen.”
“Gee, ya think?”
“Don’t get smart young lady.”
“What do you want?”
“To give you a good home. You’re going to have a room, clothes, meals, a family, and an education.”
“I’m jus’ going to run away.”
“Sophie, if you’re living on the street, why are you stealing books?”
“What?”
“Why not food or clothes or money? Why books?”
“Who says I don’t steal those other stuff?”
“Those other things,” Teri corrected her automatically. “Because of the clothes you’re wearing. You’d wear something that fit if you took clothes. Why books?”