4 The Ghosts in the Attic

by SUE FINEMAN

  Alex felt warmed by their compliments. The longer she stayed in this house, the more she liked Hannah. And Donovan seemed to be making an effort to get along. He wasn’t a bad person like Papa said, but she’d never feel comfortable in his presence.

  Charlie and Alex cleaned up the kitchen together, then bathed Taylor and got her ready for bed. Charlie sat on the side of her bed and read her a story. He loved spending this time with his daughter, loved having her sleeping in the same house.

  Grandpa and Grandma came in to kiss Taylor goodnight, as they did every night.

  As Alex turned out the light, Taylor asked, “Mommy, is Papa still angry?”

  “No, honey, he’s not angry any longer.”

  “Does that mean we hafta go back home?”

  Alex looked over at Charlie. “No, we’re going to live here for now.”

  “Won’t that make Papa more angry?”

  “It’s okay, Taylor. Papa still loves us.”

  Charlie asked, “Would you like to go visit Papa?”

  “Yeah. Can Wilma come, too?”

  Charlie pictured the old man’s face when Taylor walked into his fancy mansion with a dog. “We’ll see.”

  Charlie was still laughing when he and Alex walked up to the attic together.

  Alex said, “I don’t know if Papa’s heart can take the shock of Wilma in his house.”

  “Didn’t you ever have a dog when you were growing up?”

  “God, no. Mother wouldn’t allow it.”

  “I thought she moved out.”

  “She did. I asked Aunt Gina to move into the mansion with Papa. She’s taking care of him now.”

  “Does he need someone to take care of him?”

  “His heart is failing and he’s popping nitro pills. I didn’t want him living there alone.”

  Charlie gazed into her eyes. “Are you saying you want to move back?”

  “Yes and no. Taylor is so happy here I hate to move her again, but Papa—”

  “He needs you?”

  She walked over to the sofa and sat down. “I don’t know what he needs, Charlie. I hate to leave him when he’s sick, but Taylor needs me, too.”

  Charlie sat beside her. No wonder she was torn. “Do you want to move back, Alex?”

  “Not without you, and Papa—”

  “Won’t allow a Kane in his house.” He jumped to his feet. “Yet my father allows you to stay here.”

  “Your father put my father in jail.”

  “He deserved to go to jail.”

  “No, he didn’t. I can understand your father being angry, but my father didn’t touch your mother. He wasn’t responsible for her kidnapping, and he didn’t do anything wrong.”

  Charlie threw up his hands. “I don’t want to argue about what happened thirty years ago. And I don’t want to get in the middle of this stupid grudge your father carries for my father.”

  She crossed her arms and glared up at him. “Stupid grudge?”

  “Yeah. Vinnie was tried in a court of law and sentenced to jail. He served his time, and it’s over.”

  “Not for my father, it isn’t. It’ll never be over for him. He’s a proud man.”

  “Yeah, I know. Are you going to let that pride control your life?”

  Charlie’s father walked up the attic stairs. “What’s all the shouting up here?”

  “Ask your son,” said Alex. She walked into her bedroom and slammed the door.

  “Don’t ask,” said Charlie. “Just don’t ask.” He and Alex were growing closer the past few days, but the old Kane/Porcini grudge still hung over them.

  <>

  Still wrapped in a haze of anger, Alex drove Taylor to school the next morning and then went into the office to help Papa at the business. But she couldn’t concentrate on business when her thoughts were on Charlie and the argument they had last night.

  “Papa, I need to find myself an apartment today.”

  He cocked his head. “Why don’t you and Taylor move home?”

  She shook her head. “Not unless we can bring Charlie and Wilma with us.”

  “Who’s Wilma?”

  “Charlie’s collie. Taylor loves that dog.”

  “I’d rather have the dog than the Kane kid.”

  She sat across the desk from him. “Charlie’s parents let me live in their home. Why can’t you let Charlie come to your home?”

  “Because I don’t trust the bastard. He stole Taylor and then he stole you.”

  “He didn’t steal me, Papa. He wants to be a father to Taylor, and that’s hard to do when they live in separate houses.”

  “Bullshit! Divorced fathers are still fathers, and they don’t live in the same house with their kids.”

  “But he has six years to catch up on, and Taylor loves having her daddy tuck her in bed at night and take her ice skating.”

  “Ice skating? Better not let your mother hear about that.”

  Alex smiled. Mother didn’t think sports of any kind were appropriate activities for little girls, but Taylor was an active child, and she loved skating. And she loved Wilma.

  “Charlie bought a house and he’s renovating it right now. When it’s finished, he wants us to move in with him.”

  “No way.” Papa pounded his fist on the desk. “No daughter of mine is going to shack up with a man, especially a Kane.”

  With a big sigh, she knew she either had to stay where she was or find herself a furnished apartment. Would Charlie let her move Taylor to an apartment? Would Taylor feel safe there? “I hate to move Taylor out of that house. She feels safe there, and after what she saw at the Whippoorwill Inn, she needs to feel safe again.”

  “Then bring her home.”

  “You don’t understand, Papa. Taylor knows the bad man isn’t going to hurt us as long as her daddy is with us. And the dog is so gentle with her, yet protective. She doesn’t want to move back home without Charlie and Wilma.”

  “Damn hardheaded Irish son-of-a-bitch,” Papa muttered.

  “If Charlie’s name wasn’t Kane, if you’d give him half a chance, I think you’d like him.”

  “Yeah, yeah, okay. You can bring him and his dog. Just move back home, where you belong.”

  She walked around the desk and kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks, Papa.”

  Alex knew this wasn’t what Papa wanted, but he didn’t want anyone to think he wasn’t as open-minded as Donovan Kane. If Donovan would allow Alex to live in his home, then Papa would have to let Charlie live in his.

  <>

  Donovan’s assistant, a single mother with two active boys, handed him a letter. “This came by courier.”

  When Donovan read the letter from Vinnie’s attorney, he groaned. “Vinnie Porcini is giving a piece of land to the city, a place for the kids to play baseball, but he wants the park named after his father.” River Valley had a Porcini Park at one time, and after Tony Porcini’s death, the park was renamed. Now they’d not only have another park named after him, it was located in a prominent place in the city. Yet there was no way in hell Donovan could refuse to accept the terms of the gift. The kids of the city needed a place to play ball.

  “My sons will be delighted they don’t have to give up baseball,” said June.

  Even if the kids had to play at a place called Porcini Park, they’d love it. The city couldn’t afford to buy a piece of land as nice as that one. Vinnie owned a big city block, plenty of room for several games to be played at the same time. It was the perfect solution to a problem the council had been struggling with since the school district took possession of the property the kids had been using.

  Donovan read the next paragraph of the letter. “He’s also donating a half million dollars for equipment and upkeep.”

  “That’s generous of him.”

  “Yes, it is.” He found it hard to believe a Porcini would be so generous, especially this Porcini.

  As much as he hated to do it, Donovan would have to call a news conference to announce the gift. And he’d hav
e to invite Vinnie. If the old bastard thought Donovan would turn down the gift, he’d better think again. They needed another park in River Valley, and that property was on at least two bus lines, so the older kids of working parents could get there on their own.

  He thought of Charlie and the summer recreation program. They had to cut the program back this year, but next year they could have that land groomed into baseball fields. There should be room for off-street parking there, too.

  Donovan burned at having to publicly thank Vinnie for the land, but he would. For the kids.

  “June, get Vinnie Porcini on the phone.”

  <>

  After Alex picked Taylor up from school, she drove by Charlie’s house to see if he was working there today, but his car wasn’t there. Disappointed, she drove home to the Kane home on Livingston Avenue. Hannah had an after-school snack of cookies and milk ready for Taylor, something Mother wouldn’t have thought of doing. Taylor sat at the kitchen table and talked about school, and Hannah listened as if it was the most important news she’d heard that day.

  “Where’s Charlie?” Alex asked Hannah.

  “He finished the roof on the house this morning and then went out to the farm. If he doesn’t get the rest of the corn in, he won’t make any money farming this year.” Hannah cocked her head. “Why? Do you need him for something?”

  “I’ll see him this evening.” She’d tell him then that she and Taylor were moving back to Papa’s house. If Charlie wanted to come along, that was fine with her, but she wouldn’t push him like he’d pushed her to move into this house.

  “Why don’t you take Taylor out to the farm? Let her see what her daddy does for a living. I’ll draw you a map. Andy and Julie built a beautiful house, and it’s so quiet and peaceful out there. Tell Charlie to give Taylor some seeds so she can plant something and watch it grow. It’s a wonderful learning experience.”

  Alex had planned to start packing, so she could move back home, but she didn’t want to talk to Hannah about her plans until after she spoke with Charlie. “Okay, draw a map while Taylor and I change into jeans.”

  Ten minutes later, Alex followed the map and found herself in the driveway of a beautiful home with a wraparound porch, huge maple trees, and a charming red barn. So this was Andy’s farm. Andy walked out to meet her. He opened the back door and unfastened Taylor’s seatbelt. “Hi, cute stuff. Did you come to visit me?”

  “And Daddy.”

  He nodded. “Of course. Daddy is out in the field planting corn. If we go inside the house and upstairs, maybe we can see his tractor.”

  Andy’s dog wagged her tail in a friendly greeting and followed them inside.

  “What a beautiful home, Andy. Did you design this yourself?”

  “With a little help from Julie. She insisted we needed a big mud room, and she was right. But then she’s right about most things.”

  Julie walked out of the back of the house. “I’m glad you realize that,” she said with a smile. “You’re looking good, Alex. You got your hair cut since I saw you last.”

  Alex’s hand automatically went to her hair. “I had it shaped. I’m still getting used to having it so short.”

  Andy walked Alex through the house. The living areas on the main floor all flowed together, and Andy had a big office right inside the front door. The master bedroom was on the main floor, too. They walked upstairs, where Andy pointed out a second master bedroom. “This is Charlie’s room, when he stays here, although he’s about to get booted out. Julie and I want to move upstairs before the baby comes.”

  “Baby?”

  “She’s trying to keep it quiet for a few more weeks, but the way she’s growing, we can’t keep it hidden much longer.”

  Alex cocked her head. “One baby or two?”

  He shrugged. “It’s too soon to tell. I think Mom has already guessed, and Kayla knows, but then women seem to sense these things while the men in the family remain clueless.”

  Andy walked into an office near the top of the stairs and opened French doors to a little balcony. “This is Julie’s office.” He lifted Taylor and nodded toward the field, where dust billowed around a tractor. “That’s Daddy out there making all that dust.”

  “What’s he doing?”

  “Planting corn,” said Alex. “Daddy’s planting corn. Maybe he’ll give you a couple seeds and let you plant them, so you can watch them grow.”

  Andy put Taylor down and she looked up at her mother. “Mommy, will the tooth fairy find me at Daddy’s house?”

  Alex squatted down and peered in Taylor’s mouth. “You have another loose tooth.”

  “Yeah, but I don’t want it to come out unless the tooth fairy can find me.”

  “She’ll find you,” said Andy. “She knows where to find all her kids.”

  Andy took Taylor’s hand and continued the tour, showing Alex the rest of the rooms upstairs. “There’s also an unfinished playroom in the attic, and we haven’t finished the basement yet. We ran out of time and money.”

  Alex wondered what it would be like to have a home of her own, a house she helped design. And another baby growing in her tummy. Taylor would love to have a little brother or sister, but Alex didn’t want to have another baby by herself.

  If she had another baby, she’d want the baby’s father by her side. And she wouldn’t allow any interference from well-meaning parents.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Charlie finished planting the last field and drove the old tractor back toward the barn, where he found Andy and Taylor. Andy lifted Taylor onto the tractor. She stood in front of Charlie and helped him drive the tractor into the barn, grinning as if she was on a ride at Disneyland.

  While Taylor ran to the house to tell her mother she got to drive Daddy’s tractor, Andy said, “Julie’s parents gave us a week at a resort in Florida, and we’re leaving Saturday morning. We could leave Sadie Belle with Billy, but I don’t especially want the house unoccupied while we’re gone. Would you consider staying here?”

  “With Alex and Taylor?”

  Andy nodded. “Couldn’t you use some private time?”

  “I don’t know, bro.” What if he and Alex explored the options and discovered they couldn’t get along? Or what if they got along too well, then Alex dumped him? His ego couldn’t take that kind of rejection again. “We probably wouldn’t be here much. The planting is finished, but I have to work on the house in town.”

  “So work on Pop’s house and sleep out here.”

  Charlie blew out a breath. “Saturday?”

  “Yeah. Can I count on you, Charlie?”

  “I’ll talk to Alex and see what she thinks.”

  Andy glanced toward the house. “From the way she looks at you, I don’t think it’ll be a problem. She’s got it bad.”

  Charlie cocked his head. “You think so?”

  “I know so. What are you afraid of?”

  “Nothing. I’m not afraid of anything.”

  “The hell you’re not. I’ve never seen you hold back when you wanted a woman.”

  Charlie jammed his hands in his back pockets. “This is different.” He’d been trying to tell himself his feelings were all about Taylor, but the more time he spent with Alex, the more he knew he wanted his daughter and her mother. If he screwed up, he could lose them both.

  Julie walked out to the barn with Alex. “I was just telling Alex we need a house-sitter next week.”

  Alex gazed into Charlie’s eyes, and he couldn’t look away. “Okay by me,” she said.

  The sweet sound of her soft voice crept into his soul. If he didn’t at least try to rekindle their romance, he’d never forgive himself. “Okay with me, too. Taylor will love having two dogs to play with.”

  Andy winked at Julie, and they both smiled. Charlie knew about the week in Florida Julie’s parents had given them. He also knew they’d been postponing the trip because of their work schedules. Andy was just as busy now as he had been in the past year, but they’d made time for the t
rip anyway. Had they scheduled the trip now to give Charlie and Alex time alone together?

  Julie took Charlie’s arm and they walked toward the house, where Taylor played under the maple tree with Andy’s dog. “We haven’t announced it to the family yet, but Andy and I are expecting a baby. When we come back from Florida, we’re moving upstairs to your room, so we can be close to the baby.”

  Charlie shrugged. “I’ll be moving to my house soon anyway.” He looked down at her glowing face. “No wonder you two look so happy lately. When’s the baby due?”

  “September,” said Andy. “Don’t mention it to Mom and Dad. We’re telling them tomorrow.”

  His parents would be overjoyed at having more grandchildren, and his brother would be a good parent. So would Julie. But Charlie felt like someone had punched him in the gut. Andy would be there when his baby was born. He’d hold his newborn and change his diapers. He’d watch him grow from a helpless infant to a toddler, take him to school on his first day, and guide him gently on the right path in life. He’d experience everything with his baby that Charlie didn’t get to experience with Taylor.

  “So, what’s next on the house?” Andy asked.

  “The plumbing in the bathrooms goes in this week, then I can start tiling.”

  “Have you picked out the tile yet?” Julie asked.

  “No, not yet. I don’t know anything about decorating.”

  “I do,” said Alex.

  “Then you pick it out,” said Charlie.

  Alex wondered how she could tell Papa she wasn’t moving back into the mansion this week after all. And after he’d agreed to let Charlie come live there with her and Taylor. He’d be disappointed, but she needed this time alone with Charlie. She’d been so tense at his parents’ home, and he was afraid to touch her there. She longed for his kisses, and her body craved his touch. Seven long years had passed since they’d been intimate. Charlie had been with other women since then, but she hadn’t let another man touch her that way. How could she, when she was still in love with Charlie Kane?

  They’d almost reached the house when Taylor pointed at the barn. “Mommy, who’s that man?”