by Jenna Mindel
He watched Beth cross the street and slip inside the modest home where she lived while her mother made a feeble attempt to rake up dead leaves from last fall.
Nick needed to step up. He wanted to be the kind of father his boy deserved, only he wasn’t exactly sure how. He slipped behind the wheel and looked at his son. “Hungry? There’s a café in town or the mini-mart and then we have to hit the grocery store.”
Corey wasn’t listening. He watched where his second-grade teacher had gone like a hawk. “Is that where Miss Ryken lives?”
“It is.”
Corey looked at him. “Why can’t I go there after school?”
Nick coughed. Not exactly something he could ask his son’s teacher and she certainly hadn’t offered, but that sure would make things convenient. “You really like your new teacher.”
Corey nodded, looking deadly serious. “She’s kinda like Mom, on her good days.”
“I know.” Nick felt as if he’d been punched in the gut. Corey had noticed the resemblance, too.
How did he handle that one? Ignore it, as he’d tried to do with his wife? She’d had too many bad days, and some days Susan barely bothered to get out of bed. Nick and Corey had been a team then. A silent partnership of protection against Susan’s mood swings.
Nick hoped Miss Ryken’s blond hair and blue eyes were as far as the similarity to Susan went. Corey’s teacher had a sunny demeanor as well as good looks, but the instant attraction that had sliced sharp through him made him nervous. He’d fallen hard before, before he saw the darkness that lay underneath Susan’s cheerful facade.
If love was blind, then Nick had been deaf, too.
* * *
“Who was that you were talking to earlier?”
Beth picked through her mother’s latest shopping bag on the kitchen table, sorting out things to keep and return. “Do you have the receipt for these?”
“In my purse.”
“Mom, you really need to stop buying stuff you don’t need.”
“But they were on sale.”
Beth rubbed her eyes. Everything on sale ended up in her mother’s tiny house. “We’ve got to stick to your budget.”
Her mother gave her that look of tried patience. They’d been over this before. Several times in fact. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“What question?”
“Who was that tall man you were talking to?” Keen interest sparkled from her mom’s eyes. Her dishwater-blond hair was covered with a flamboyantly patterned silk scarf, another “on sale” purchase. Who did yard work wearing Ann Taylor?
Beth waved her hand in dismissal, but her heart skipped a few beats at the mere mention of Nick Grey. “Oh, he’s the dad of a new student in my class.”
“Married?”
Okay, so every one of her friends was either married or getting married and her mom hoped the same for her. At twenty-six, it wasn’t as if Beth was beyond hope, but she’d always been the proverbial bridesmaid. In a couple weeks, she’d repeat that role for her best bud and ex-roomie, Eva Marsh. Beth didn’t need a reminder of her very single status, nor did she need her mother ferreting out prospects. Not that Beth had much success on her own.
She let loose a sigh. “Mom...”
“Well, is he?”
“No. He’s widowed.”
Her mother’s smile grew even wider. “Interesting.”
Yeah, very. Who wouldn’t be moved by a handsome widowed man and his adorable son? “Can I have that receipt?”
“You’re awfully bossy since you moved back home.” Her mother bustled for her purse and then handed over the offensive slip of paper totaling the merchandise from a department store in Traverse City.
“Just trying to keep you out of bankruptcy.” Beth smiled sweetly. She’d moved home over Christmas after she’d gotten wind of her mother’s dwindling bank account. Something had to be done.
“You’ve got a smart mouth just like your father, God rest his soul.” Her mom stripped off her work gloves and washed her hands. “What do you want for dinner?”
Beth shrugged.
Her mother used to get in hot water with her father over spending habits, too. On a cop’s salary, they could afford only so much and her mother had expensive tastes. But she’d never been this bad with her shopping sprees before, had she? Maybe now that Beth saved every penny, her mother’s spending glared brighter.
Beth’s dad used to say the key to happiness was being content with what you had. He used to tell Beth to do whatever she loved and be grateful to God for everything. God had given her a passion. It was teaching. Her dad’s had been for police work. It got him killed.
“Beth?”
She shook off her thoughts. “What?”
“Dinner?” Her mom cocked her head. “My, my, that man really got to you, huh? What’s his name, this father of your new student?”
Nick. Nicholas Grey. The name kind of rolled easily around in her brain. “What about the leftovers from last night? Let’s eat those and I’ll make a salad.”
Her mother made a face. “I suppose.”
Beth chuckled. She’d called a halt to throwing out food, too. Her mother was a wonderful cook who loved to create masterpieces in the kitchen, but she made too much and then left it in the fridge too long. Since moving in, Beth never had to worry about packing something good for lunch.
Beth got up to make that salad while her mom reheated the chicken carbonara from Sunday’s dinner. Beth glanced at the woman who worried her. Ever since her mom’s work hours had been severely cut back at the airport in Traverse City, her mom’s handle on her finances had slipped. Even with Beth’s rent payments for living here. The shopping trips increased. Was she bored? Or was something else going on?
Nick Grey’s question about after-school day-care providers filtered through Beth’s mind. Could watching Corey bring meaning back to her mother’s daily routine? Something about that little boy’s reserve made Beth think her mom’s flamboyant style might be good for him. It didn’t get any more convenient than walking across the street from school.
The fact that Beth would get to see more of Nick Grey when he picked up his son brought a heady flip in her belly. Followed by guilt. This couldn’t be about exploring the immediate attraction she’d felt for Corey’s dad. Although it might be a nice side benefit.
Beth stopped cutting a carrot and looked at her mom. “Would you be interested in watching a seven-year-old boy after school?”
“Is he a good kid?”
“I think so.” Another gut feeling.
Her mom’s gaze narrowed. “Who?”
“Corey Grey, my new student. His mom died a year ago, and he seems a little lost.”
Her mom’s face fell. “How awful for him.”
“That’s why I was talking with his father. He asked about after-school care providers. If you’re interested, I can let him know. If not, no problem.”
“Let me think about it.” But her mother looked interested.
Her mom could use the extra money, but Beth knew that wouldn’t be the reason if she agreed. A softy at heart, Mary Ryken would be all over a child in need.
When they were done with dinner and cleanup in the kitchen, Beth headed for her usual spot at the dining room table to grade papers. After that she’d walk to the LeNaro community pool for her daily swim. Ever since moving back home, Beth found that several laps in the pool not only helped her relax, but it helped fight the extra calories from her mom’s cooking.
Beth was no skinny mini. She’d always been tall and full figured. She tried to whittle her hips with swimming, but her body refused to cooperate. Her mother said size fourteen was not fat but normal. Still, standing six foot in bare feet wasn’t exactly common for a woman. Not too many men were knocking down her door for a d
ate.
She sighed and got back to work but the memory of looking up at Nick Grey invaded her concentration. He was certainly tall enough.
Later when Beth skipped down the stairs with her duffel bag ready for the pool, her mom stopped her with a raised hand.
“I think I will watch that boy after school. You can tell your Mr. Grey that I’ll do it until school’s out and then we’ll see. What’s he going to do for the summer?”
Beth shrugged. “I don’t know, but I’m sure he’ll figure something out. We’ve got a couple of months yet. I’ll let him know tomorrow. Maybe we could do a trial run, you know, make sure you and Corey click.”
Her mother nodded. “Yes, do that.”
Beth hesitated to leave. “You’re sure about this?”
Her face broke into a wide smile. “Very sure. Have a nice swim.”
“Thanks.”
Walking down the sidewalk, Beth didn’t bother to enjoy the sight of spring flowers blooming along the way or the mild warm night air. Her mind whirled. Would Nick agree to Corey staying with her mom after school? It might be good for both of them. And Beth couldn’t help feeling a shiver of excitement at the thought of seeing Nick Grey more often.
She’d have to be careful, though. It wasn’t smart to get involved with a student’s parent when there might be issues. Could get messy real quick.
Chapter Two
Nick made breakfast. The eggs were too hard and the bacon a little too crisp. He wasn’t a whiz in the kitchen, but he knew enough to get by. Knowing how to get by was what made him good at undercover work. God’s grace had kept him alive during his last assignment, which had taken him away from home most nights. But that line of work was over. For his son’s sake, he couldn’t take those risks anymore. So he’d kissed the adrenaline rush goodbye and transferred into a rural county sheriff’s department. About time, too.
Nick would never understand why that same grace hadn’t covered his wife when she’d wrapped her car around a tree. But then, Susan might have made her own decisions about that. It wasn’t that rainy the night she’d wrecked. He’d never know for sure. He’d make sure Corey never knew, either. He’d rather his son remember his mom’s good days.
He turned away from the stove to holler down the hall at his son, but the kid was already dressed and seated at the kitchen table.
Nick slipped a plate in front of his son.
Corey stared at it for a few seconds before digging in.
Susan’s mom made picture-perfect eggs. Susan had, too. When things were good, they were great, but then she’d hit a dark stretch and nothing worked well. If only they’d dated longer before they married, if they’d waited to have Corey, maybe...
Maybe he would have known, but then again, maybe not. Her wild bouts had come well after Corey was born.
“You’re ready early.” Nick sat across from his son and sprinkled his eggs with hot sauce before digging in.
Corey nodded.
Nick racked his brain for something else to ask. Getting his kid to talk to him was worse than questioning a perp. They went nowhere fast. “I’ll pick you up after school.”
Again the boy nodded.
They ate the rest of their meal in silence.
Nick grappled with frustration. He had a lot of ground to make up for leaving his boy behind for the past six months. Pretty hard to make a seven-year-old understand that he was safer with grandparents who lived an hour north of the city.
Another reason to transfer. Nick wanted to sleep better. He’d never grown used to worrying about some thug finding out where he lived. That had been the sole reason he’d refused to buy a house despite Susan’s prodding that she and Corey deserved better than their Grand Rapids apartment.
The quick drive to LeNaro Elementary School was a quiet one, but the closer they got, the more Corey came to life. He’d lean forward, look out his window and clutch the backpack given to him by his lovely teacher.
Nick parked and unbuckled his seat belt.
“I can walk in by myself.”
Nick looked at his son, careful not to bruise that seven-year-old ego. “I know you can.”
“Then why are you getting out?” Corey’s eyes narrowed.
“I’m going to talk to the school counselor. You being new and all, it’s probably a good idea, don’t you think?”
Corey shrugged. “I dunno.”
Nick didn’t, either. Beth Ryken had suggested it and since she probably knew more about kids than him, he was taking her advice. He didn’t start work for a few days yet, so now was as good a time as any to see what this school counselor was all about and let her know Corey’s background. He only prayed they wouldn’t label him as troubled like the last school.
Entering the elementary school, Nick was struck by the noise of kids banging their lockers shut and chattering as well as the smell of breakfast wafting from the cafeteria. Maybe Corey would have eaten better here? Once he started his morning shift, Corey probably would. The principal had informed him about the school’s breakfast program for kids dropped off early.
He looked down at his son with a mop of red hair and scattering of light freckles. The kid was the spitting image of himself as a boy. Sad, too. Nick’s parents had divorced the summer he had turned ten. As the oldest, Nick had always felt as if it was somehow his fault. His and his sister’s for fighting, for not being quiet when his dad came home exhausted from his shift as a Grand Rapids city cop.
A sharp tug at his heart kept him walking alongside Corey instead of turning into the school office. Crazy maybe, but he didn’t want to say goodbye to his son. If he had kept his boy out today, they could have spent more time together. Doing what, he didn’t know. Nick hadn’t spent enough time with Corey ever since Susan had died. He’d always regret that.
Nick let work come first too many times. Needing to get the bad guys never flew with Corey. Those big eyes of his son’s saw through his excuse for what it was. An excuse.
Nick was scared of raising a little boy on his own.
“What are you doing?”
“Thought since I’m here, I might as well walk you to class.”
“I’m not a baby.”
“I know.” Nick caught a glimpse of a flowered skirt attached to the pretty second-grade teacher standing in the doorway.
Beth Ryken gave them a sunny smile that nearly knocked him on his backside. The woman was that beautiful.
“Good morning, Corey and Mr. Grey.”
He gave her a nod. “Miss Ryken.”
“I got my backpack, see?” Corey stepped into class without a glance backward.
“That’s good. I’m going to talk to your dad a minute.”
Corey actually smiled at her. The woman had charmed his son, as well.
She stepped out of the doorway into the hall. “He’s a great kid. A little serious.”
Nick sighed. “It’s been tough on him since his mom died.”
Her blue eyes softened. “And on you, too, I imagine.”
Not as it should have been. He’d stayed undercover and sloughed off his kid first to his mom, then to Susan’s parents. Not fair to them, even though they’d welcomed Corey with open arms. He cleared his throat. “Yeah.”
“I wanted to tell you that I might have found an option for Corey after school.”
“Really? Where?”
She took a deep breath and smiled. “My mother.”
“Across the street?”
“Yes. She could use the extra income. I think she’d be great with Corey, but you’ll want to meet her and find that out for yourself.”
Nick couldn’t believe his ears. Corey had requested the same only yesterday. “And you’ll be there.”
She looked confused. “Ah, yeah, after I finish up my day here.
But you’ll have to talk nuts and bolts with my mom. Pickup times, that sort of thing. I can introduce you after school today if that works.”
“That definitely works. I’ll pick up Corey here and then walk over with you.” It was nice to talk to a woman at eye level. Corey’s teacher smelled like spring and new beginnings. Like kissing in the rain. Whoa. Not a place his mind should go.
“And your mom’s name?”
“It’s Mary Ryken. She works part-time at the Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City.” Beth Ryken sounded breathless.
Nick stepped back, away from the allure of the woman in front of him. Her mother needed the money, she’d said. With gas prices the way they were, her twenty-mile one-way commute would be expensive. “I look forward to meeting her, and then we’ll see.”
“Great.” That sunny smile again.
Nick couldn’t look away.
“I better get started with class.” Her cheeks went rosy pink.
“Oh. Yeah.” He extended his hand. “Hey, thanks for this.”
“You’re welcome.” She accepted his handshake and her skin felt soft.
He didn’t want to let go but had to before he made a fool of himself. “I’ll see you later, then.”
She nodded and slipped back into her classroom.
Nick walked down the hall and checked his watch. He’d see the school counselor and then head for the sheriff’s department. He’d run a background check on Mary Ryken before making any decisions.
* * *
Beth checked the clock on the wall. Just a couple minutes until the bell would ring, ending the school day. She glanced at her students working on their homework for tomorrow—a short reading passage with questions next to it.
Beth spotted Corey with his head down and wandered over. “Everything okay?”
He shrugged and sniffed.
Beth’s midsection tightened as she knelt down. “What’s up, Corey?”
“I don’t want to do this.” His eyes were red, but so far no tears had leaked out.
The bell rang and kids clamored for their jackets and backpacks. Corey stayed put and stared at his work sheet; he hadn’t answered any of the questions.