Yours, Mine and Ours (Second Chances)

by Daley, Margaret

  "Can't, sugar. Lance has soccer practice. He's already at the field. We need to get going ourselves." He swung her up on his shoulders, said good-bye to Nora, and headed for their place.

  When he stepped inside, he put his daughter down and looked around. He missed having a woman about. He missed sharing his day with someone other than a person under four feet. Most of all he missed the companionship. Instantly he pictured Tess moving about his house, giving his home her personal touches, being a part of his life. He liked that picture, but he knew a wary lady when he saw one. Tess Morgan was running scared, and he intended to catch her.

  Chapter Three

  "Are we there yet?" Katie asked for the twentieth time in the past ten minutes.

  "Almost. We've pulled off the main highway," Tess said as she twisted around.

  "Da Dee, pick up." Strapped into her child safety seat, Emily held her arms up, wiggling her fingers.

  "Not yet, sugar. Two minutes to Beaver Lake." Zachariah slanted a glance toward Tess and grinned.

  She returned his smile. "You know I realize it's only been thirty minutes since we left my house, but it feels like two hours. Traveling with kids could have been a successful torture back in the days of the Spanish Inquisition."

  "When I moved here from Chicago, I paid Lance a dollar an hour to keep quiet about how much longer we had to go. I believe it saved my sanity. And of course, thankfully Emily couldn't talk yet."

  "How long have you been in Crystal City? I thought you were a native."

  "Sixteen months," Zachariah answered as he pulled under a large oak tree and parked.

  Before Tess could say a word, two doors flew open and three children leaped from the car and raced for the water. While Emily kept asking her father to pick her up, Tess fumbled with her door handle, trying to get out. Katie was right behind Shaun and Lance. Panic fueled Tess's determination as she wrenched open the door and bounded from the car.

  "Katie! Stop this minute!" With her heart in her throat, Tess watched as her daughter came to a halt and whirled about. Relieved that Katie for once had listened to her, Tess hurried toward her, not sure how long her daughter would stay put

  "Mommie, I want to go wif Shaun." Katie bounced from one foot to the other as though she couldn't contain her energy.

  "Not until you put on your life preserver."

  "Shaun and Wesley don't have to wear one." Katie's lower lip puckered out, her tiny fists resting on her hips.

  "They know how to swim. You don't." Tess clasped her daughter's hand and started back toward the car, practically dragging a stubborn four-year-old who had literally dug in her heels. "We can always go home."

  Reluctantly Katie followed, her thumb in her mouth. "It's not fair."

  "If I had a dollar for every time I heard those words, I'd be rich," Tess muttered, and retrieved the life preserver from the back of the van. After securing the vest on Katie, Tess quickly grabbed her daughter before she raced off and added, "You have to stay by the boys and you can't go into the water. Okay?"

  Katie nodded, then shot off after the boys who were at the edge of the lake skipping rocks. Her daughter immediately picked up a pebble that was too big and tried to mimic her older brother. The uncooperative stone plopped into the water with a splash not two feet from shore.

  "Tess, Wesley's still in the car," Zachariah said as he held a squirming Emily.

  Tess sighed, pushed her curls off her forehead, and headed for the front of the van. She climbed into the third seat where Wesley sat and stared out the window. With Emily tucked under one arm, giggling, Zachariah took the last piece of fishing equipment out of the back and closed the doors, leaving silence to reign in the van.

  "Wesley, aren't you going to join Shaun and Lance?"

  "Don't wanna," he mumbled, his forehead pressed to the glass.

  "Zachariah is gonna show Shaun how to fish. You don't want to learn, too?"

  Wesley shook his head.

  Tess laid a hand on his shoulder, a lump in her throat. He hadn't said much when she had announced the plans for the day. He had just disappeared into his room and continued to build some kind of contraption with his Legos. She kneaded his taut muscles and searched for the magic words to bring her son back to her and the family.

  "Honey, you can't sit in the van all day. It's too hot."

  He shrugged her hand off his shoulder and turned completely away from her. "I don't feel like fishing."

  "But Lance is sharing one of his fishing poles with you."

  "I don't care."

  Tears burned in her eyes as she watched her son draw further within himself. Ever since Brad had left, Wesley had grown more withdrawn with each day, and she wasn't sure what to do about it.

  After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, Tess said, "If you change your mind, you know where we are. I hope you'll join us soon." She scooted from the van and left the sliding door open so fresh air could circulate. That was all she could do for her son, all he would allow her to do.

  Tears still pricked her eyes as she walked over to Zachariah, Emily and Granny Kime. They were setting up the chairs and a blanket under the shade of an oak tree. Swallowing hard several times, Tess forced a smile to her lips. "What can I do?"

  Zachariah placed Emily on a blanket surrounded by her toys. "We're through here."

  "You two run along," Granny Kime said as she pulled her folding chair up close to Emily and picked up a children book to read to the baby. "I'll watch her."

  "Thanks," Zachariah said, then grasped Tess's hand. "Come with me."

  The comfort of his fingers about hers eased the constriction in her throat. She blinked away her tears and allowed him to lead her away.

  "I gather Wesley isn't joining us."

  "No, he won't even look at the boys at the lake. He's staring off into the underbrush."

  His hand tightened about hers. "Can I help? Do you want me to talk with Wesley?"

  Part of her wanted to turn the problem over to Zachariah, but she just couldn't say yes. Wesley was her son, her problem. "I'll talk with him again in an hour. Maybe by then he'll be bored or hungry and want to come out of the van."

  "Tess, all you have to do is ask. I'll help in any way I can.

  "You've done more than enough. This outing was for Wesley to get know Lance. I appreciate you trying."

  "Dad, come on. Let's fish," Lance shouted from the water's edge.

  Tess noticed that Shaun had a hold of Katie's hand and she was tugging on his arm, trying to get away. "I think we'd better get the show on the road. You have three excited children waiting."

  "Yes, ma'am." He grinned, giving her a salute. "We have freezers to fill and only a few hours to do it in."

  As Zachariah strode toward the children, Tess looked back at the van, her heart feeling heavy. Wesley still had his body plastered against the other side away from the action, one of his cheeks pressed against the glass as he stared at his lap. On the drive to the lake Lance had done his best to include Wesley in the conversation, but her son had responded only with one-word answers. He had never been as outgoing as Shaun. Wesley eased into friendships with other children, standing back and casing things out before he stepped in. But lately he wouldn't even stay around to watch. Tess flexed her fingers open, then balled them at her sides.

  "If I ever get my hands on Brad, I'll gladly wring his neck," she muttered and made her way toward the lake.

  "Mom, look at this worm. I put it on the hook." Shaun swung the pole with the dangling bait toward her.

  Wrinkling her nose at the squirming worm coming dangerously close, Tess stepped back to avoid it and lost her footing in the gravel. Down she went, slamming her bottom against the hard pebbles by the shore at the same time the disgusting bait ended up in her lap. Surprised, she screamed while the worm wiggled on her shirt. She could hear the children's giggles as Zachariah mercifully retrieved the bait sticking to her clothing. Embarrassment scorched her cheeks red, her gaze remaining glued to the ground at her
feet.

  Zachariah reached out to give her a hand up. "Is that your favorite way of looking at the world? From the ground up?"

  She glanced at his offer of help then up into his face. He was barely containing his laughter, the sparkle in his gray eyes reminding her of polished silver that caught the rays of the sun. Placing her hand in his, she forgot everyone and everything around her for a few seconds. This man was way too appealing for her peace of mind.

  His smile. Those eyes. That body! Whoa, get a grip on yourself, Tess Morgan.

  With a yank she sprang to her feet, rubbing her sore bottom. "At least Bruce isn't here to slobber all over me."

  "You have to count your blessings anyway you can and not bringing that monster was one of them," Zachariah said with a deep chuckle as though he were visualizing the scene in her front yard when she had skidded on the slippery slide and landed in the same predicament. "Thank goodness we were able to prevail over the kids' demands to bring Bruce with us."

  "Prevail? Weren't you the one who tried to get him into the van?"

  "And couldn't. That was my strategy. I proved there was no earthly way to bring Bruce and they all quit whining."

  "Only after your promise to take them to get ice cream on the way home from the lake."

  "Bribery has its place in the scheme of things." He held a pole out for her as well as a worm. "Are you going to fish? I'll share mine."

  "I don't think so," she answered, pronouncing each word slowly as she took a careful step backward. "I'll just watch."

  "I'll bait your hook." The amused sparkle in his eyes brightened.

  "I don't think I have any patience for fishing. Besides, didn't you tell the boys what they catch they get to clean?" She could remember in the car the enthusiastic yells to that declaration.

  "I could use any fish you catch to demonstrate with. They'll never know you're squeamish."

  "Squeamish! Me! I've changed more diapers than most."

  "That's different, Tess."

  "How so?"

  "You didn't have a choice."

  "Okay, I'll admit that the idea of gutting a fish isn't high on my to do list. I'll watch."

  She marched back to the oak tree. With a glance toward the van, she noticed Wesley was now staring out the window at them, not into the underbrush or at his lap. A good sign, she decided, her step lightening.

  Emily had fallen asleep on the blanket clutching a stuffed bear. Granny Kime had her knitting needles out and was busy working on a sweater for Katie. Tess took a folding chair and carried it back to the water where she sat gingerly, her bottom still sore from her encounter with the ground. She would give Wesley another forty-five minutes then see if she could persuade him to join them.

  During the wait Zachariah caught one fish, Katie two, Lance four and Shaun none. Tess watched Zachariah patiently help Katie bait her hook and cast, untangling her line several times. He instructed Shaun in the finer points of fishing and moved between the children with a supple fluidity that was no doubt an asset on his job. He was wonderful with the kids. A terrific dad, she thought, but caught herself before she took the fantasy any further.

  "I haven't caught any fish," Shaun checked for the hundredth time if he still had a worm on the end of his line.

  "Maybe you should cast out farther where the water is deeper," Zachariah said, coming up behind the boy.

  Shaun stepped to the edge of the huge boulder he was standing on and rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet, working himself up to cast his line. Again then again he flicked his rod as though he were going to let go but didn't. Then when he finally did, he catapulted himself into the lake before Zachariah could catch him. The rod went sailing across the water as Shaun bobbed to the surface, laughing.

  While Lance and Katie giggled, Zachariah shielded his eyes and looked out where the rod landed. "I think that's about right Now all you'll have to do is learn to hold on."

  Shaun waded out of the lake and turned to see where his pole was floating. "I'll get it."

  "No, I will," Zachariah said and began to take off his shirt, socks and shoes.

  Tess had a front row seat to his "striptease". Her pulse leaped to an alarming rate while he peeled off each sock. Her breathing became shallow as he stood and slid the cotton shirt up his massive chest and over his head, flinging the piece of clothing to the ground. She waved her hand in front of her face as beads of perspiration broke out on her forehead. It was just too darn hot! Maybe she should be the one to offer to get the pole.

  While Zachariah swam out to the fishing rod, Wesley came up to stand next to Tess. Wiping her brow with the back of her hand, she slanted a glance toward her middle child.

  "Would you like to try this?" she asked Wesley, holding her breath as she waited for his answer.

  He nodded, his gaze never leaving the figure of Zachariah as he slid through the water, grabbed the pole and swam back to shore.

  When Zachariah emerged from the water, Tess rose and handed him a towel. "Wesley wants to fish."

  Zachariah finished drying his hair, then looked at the boy. "Great!" He gestured for Wesley to come with him while he fixed the child up with a fishing pole and bait.

  As Tess settled back into the chair, Shaun untangled his line, walked over to the bucket that held the seven fish caught so far and put his hook into the water. "This might be the safest place for me to fish."

  Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at Shaun, then broke out laughing. Tess listened to Wesley and smiled. For the first time in months she felt hope.

  * * *

  When the doorbell sounded later that night, Tess was closing the door to Katie's bedroom. She had fallen asleep right after dinner, such an unusual occurrence that Tess was still shocked. Quickly before her daughter awakened, Tess hurried toward the front door before the chimes could ring again.

  "Hi." Zachariah held up the fish fillets. "These are your half."

  Tess took the tray and indicated that he come inside while she put the fish in the refrigerator. When she walked back into the living room, he was nowhere to be found. When she looked in the hall, she heard voices and headed toward Wesley and Shaun's bedroom.

  "My big thing was the Star Wars figures. When I was old enough and saw the first three movies back to back, I went crazy buying everything there was. It's hard to imagine it's been thirty-five since the first one was made before I was even born. It seems like yesterday that Luke was fighting Darth Vader and flying his X-wing." Zachariah sat on the floor with his long legs crossed Indian style and inspected Wesley's latest warship.

  "Do you still have the figures?"

  "Yeah, up in the attic. Would you like to see them?"

  "Could I?" Wesley's eyes grew round.

  "Any time your mom says it's okay."

  Wesley glanced up at her. "Can I? Can I, Mom?"

  "Sure." Her throat closed about the one word. She hadn't seen this much excitement on her son's face in a year.

  Zachariah carefully placed the warship on the floor by Wesley and rose. "Then it's a date. You can come over tomorrow afternoon and look at the whole collection."

  When Tess walked him to the door and stepped outside onto the porch, she didn't want the day to end quite yet.

  The house was quiet for a change, everyone subdued after the fishing expedition earlier. "Would you like some iced tea?"

  "What I would like is for you to sit and talk with me. We hardly had time to get to know each other today." He drew her toward the porch swing and sat, taking her hand and pulling her down next to him.

  "I can't imagine why. Just because five children were running around, demanding our time, shouldn't have had any bearing on it. Can't you do two or three things at once?"

  The chuckle he emitted was intimate like the night closing in on them. "I've had to learn to. After Laurie died, I had a crash course in being not only a father but a mother. A newborn doesn't wait around until you've passed diapering or feeding."

  "But didn't y
ou practice with Lance?" The press of his side against hers made her acutely aware of the dark descending.

  "Not nearly enough I soon discovered."

  She turned so she could face him, putting her back against the arm of the swing, putting some space between them. "How did you do it?"

  "One day at a time. But I realized I had to get out of Chicago. I needed family supports, so I came back to Crystal City."

  "Then you are a native?"

  "I was born here. Left when I went to college. Now I've come full circle. My father is still alive, some aunts and uncles and a whole bunch of cousins are running around Crystal City. Great support." He slid his arm along the back of the swing, his hand close to her. "How about you? What made you decide to come here?"