A Family for Luke

by Carolyne Aarsen

  “Suzie. Did you hear me?” Janie glanced back at her daughter, curled up in one corner of the couch engrossed in the geography magazine Tilly had bought for her. Well, surprise, surprise. Janie hadn’t thought Suzie would even give the magazine a second look.

  Suzie glanced up, looking guilty. “Sorry. I was reading.”

  “I’m looking for the magazine Grandma Westerveld gave me a while ago. Has a picture of a couple on the front.” A perfect couple with a perfect marriage because they knew the ten secret ways to keep it all together. And they probably never had to go to their banker with a creative expansion scheme designed to keep the business going.

  “I don’t know where it is.”

  “I need to find it, and then you make sure you’re ready to go in…” she glanced at the clock. Three forty-five. “Five minutes.” Part of her mind told her to forget it, but the other part, the part insisting she do this one extra thing and thereby prove to her mother that her life was indeed under control, sent her to the back room to the recycle box.

  No magazine there either. She didn’t have time to go looking, so her only other option was to show up empty-handed at her mother’s place.

  Melody, her usual babysitter, had a big date tonight so she couldn’t come to take care of the kids. Dodie wasn’t answering her cell phone, and Janie suspected her sister knew why she was calling.

  This meant Janie was forced to call her mother to ask if she could bring the kids over. Her mother’s moment of hesitation before she replied piled more guilt on Janie’s shoulders, but she had no choice.

  Janie had to close down the coffee shop early, as well. Which meant she missed the after-work rush, which meant she missed a surge of cash.

  Once again she felt the weight of her responsibilities pushing her shoulders down, tensing her neck. Too much, she thought, dread scrabbling at the edges of her self-control. She couldn’t do this anymore.

  She shook her head as if to dislodge the thoughts.

  There was no couldn’t. She had no option. This was not her choice—this was her life. All she could do was pray for strength to get through each day. Each minute. She strode back to the living room to get the kids gathered.

  But Suzie wasn’t on the couch anymore.

  The magazine she’d been reading lay tucked between the cushions of the couch. Janie bent over to pull it out and another magazine slid out from between the pages.

  A teen magazine. A dubious teen magazine.

  Janie’s cheeks flushed as she read the semi-lurid headlines full of innuendo and promises of tell-all stories inside. What was happening to her sweet and innocent daughter? She had never worn lipstick or talked about boys, and now, within the space of what seemed like mere minutes, was loading up her untouched mind with this trash?

  And where was Suzie now?

  Janie saw a movement outside.

  Suzie and Todd were on their knees at the end of the sidewalk, petting Luke’s dog, who was straining at his leash, licking first Todd then Suzie. Her children were laughing.

  Luke was wearing his jeans again and an old sweatshirt with a hole in the elbow, which made her wonder if the guy owned any decent clothes.

  And yet he exuded an earthy appeal. Janie sighed at her reaction. Always did like those edgy guys.

  As the words slithered into her mind, a harsh but realistic reminder of past mistakes, she pulled herself back to the here and now.

  And in the here and now, Todd was supposed to be watching Autumn while Janie got her papers together for this very important meeting. If he was outside, where was his little sister?

  “Autumn,” Janie called out, wondering if her daughter had overcome her fear enough to be out with the kids.

  “I’m here, Mommy,” Autumn’s muffled voice called out from upstairs.

  Janie ran up the stairs, flung open the door and her heart fell. Her sweet adorable daughter, wearing the sweet adorable pink pants and frilly white shirt Tilly Westerveld had bought at some ridiculously high-priced shop, sat in the middle of Todd’s floor happily playing with the felt pens she was never supposed to touch.

  Her pants, her shirt and the floor around her were a storm of neon color, mocking Janie’s sense of control.

  “I made a pitcher,” Autumn said, pointing with the bright orange marker clutched in her hand to the paper holding less color than Autumn.

  No time. No time.

  The words sang through her mind as she bit back the automatic reprimand and took the marker away.

  “That’s really nice, honey, but we have to get going.” Janie forced a smile as she glanced at the picture. “Grandma is waiting.” She flew to the room Autumn shared with Suzie, shoved open the closet door and flipped through the hangers looking for the other shirt her mother had bought for Autumn.

  Nowhere to be found. Maybe in the laundry room.

  She swung her protesting daughter onto her hip. Autumn was getting too big to carry, but time ruled out coercing her to walk faster.

  “I want to go down,” Autumn said, shifting on her hip. “I’m a big girl.”

  “Hold still, Autumn,” Janie said, trying to catch her daughter and her balance.

  But she missed the next step, and as she tumbled the rest of the way down the stairs, she heard Cooper’s bark.

  “He doesn’t sit too still, does he?” Todd tried to pat the squirming dog’s head.

  “He’s only a year and a half,” Luke said. This would be mature for most other dogs, but labs were notorious for being late bloomers. “So you guys are all dressed up. Where are you going?”

  Todd glanced down at his neatly pressed khakis, then jumped to his feet. “Uh-oh. My knees are dirty. Mom is gonna be mad.”

  “We’re going to my Grandma and Grandpa’s,” Suzie said as she caught Cooper by the head and tried to make him look at her. “Mom has to go see someone at the bank.” Suzie sounded bored with the whole proceeding and was far more interested in Cooper. “Can I hold his leash?”

  “No. I don’t want him to get away again.”

  “Please. I love dogs.” Suzie’s expression held that mixture of pathos and entreaty young teenage girls could pull together in the blink of an eye.

  “Okay. But just for a few seconds. I don’t trust him.”

  “He’ll be fine,” Suzie assured him.

  “How has Autumn been?”

  “I think she’s still a little bit scared,” Suzie remarked. “But she’ll get over it. Mom was real glad you brought Cooper over like you did the other day.”

  “She was, was she?”

  “Yeah. She always said since Dad’s dog hurt Autumn, we’d never get a dog. But maybe if Autumn isn’t scared, we might get a dog finally.”

  “So how long has your dad been gone?”

  “He died a year and a half ago.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  Suzie shrugged as if brushing aside his sympathy. “He wasn’t around lots before he died. Mom and him got divorced a long time ago.”

  “You’re not supposed to talk about that stuff,” Todd warned.

  Suzie looked at Luke, then back at the house, as if wondering if her mother could hear.

  “Maybe you should give me Cooper’s leash.” Luke said. Cooper was eyeing the front door of Janie’s house, whining. Luke didn’t want to destroy all the work he had done.

  After Janie’s visit the other night, he had kept his distance, chatting with Todd and occasionally Suzie over the fence he had built. Autumn still looked wary, but at least she laughed whenever Cooper put his head above the fence.

  But come 6:00 p.m., closing time for the coffee shop, he kept his eye on the house, wondering if Janie would join the kids outside. Maybe give him a chance for some neighborly conversation. Over the fence.

  “Everyone knows,” Suzie retorted.

  “Give me the leash,” Luke said. He didn’t trust Cooper’s sudden interest in Janie’s house.

  “Mom doesn’t like it when we talk about Dad,” Todd said.
r />   “And you’re being a Goody Two-shoes,” Suzie said, jerking a bit as Cooper tugged harder.

  “Suzie. Leash. Now.” Luke reached for the leash.

  Her head jerked just as Cooper lunged. The leash slipped out of her hand and Cooper was off.

  He got as far as the screen door, Luke right behind him. Cooper stopped, then barked, his deep bark reverberating through the house. Not again, Luke thought with dismay.

  Luke caught Cooper’s leash and pulled him away just as he heard a thump from inside, then a cry.

  “That sounded like Mom,” Suzie said.

  “She sounds mad,” Todd added, coming up the walk behind Luke.

  Janie didn’t sound mad. She sounded hurt.

  Luke pushed open the door and ran into the house, Cooper right behind him.

  Janie lay on the floor at the foot of the stairs, cradling Autumn. Janie’s lips were white, her face pale and she was struggling to get to her feet.

  Luke dropped to her side, pressing her shoulders down. “Stay there. Don’t move.”

  “But Autumn…” She sucked in a breath.

  “Is lying on top of you.” Luke did a quick check of arms, legs. “And she’s okay.” He picked up the crying girl. Autumn screeched in his ear at the same time that he saw Cooper parked a few feet away, watching both of them with surprised interest.

  “Get her upstairs,” he said, handing Autumn to Suzie. “Now.”

  Suzie frowned at Luke. “Why?”

  “The dog.”

  Suzie glanced at Cooper who, to Luke’s immense surprise, still sat perfectly still, looking at Autumn, his head cocked to one side as if studying her. “I don’t think she’s scared of Cooper.”

  “Just take Autumn upstairs.” He wasn’t going to take any chances.

  Thankfully Suzie took Autumn’s hand and did what he told her.

  “I gotta get up.” Janie tried once more to sit up.

  “Don’t get up. You may have hurt your back.”

  Janie bit her lips as she closed her eyes. “My back doesn’t hurt. My ankle does.”

  Luke did a quick check of arms and legs and then lifted the hem of her pants. “I’ll need to take the boot off.”

  Janie struggled to sit up. “No. Just leave it alone. I have an important appointment.”

  “I don’t think you’ll be getting to any appointment.” He was about to unzip the leather boot when she pushed his hands away.

  “Don’t. I have to get going.”

  Luke looked her in the eye. “You’re not going anywhere.”

  She glared back at him.

  In spite of her anger, in spite of the confusion of the moment, as their eyes met, something indescribable sparked between them.

  And it wasn’t just his wishful thinking. He could tell from the flush on her cheeks, the way she suddenly pulled away, that she had felt it, too.

  “I have to go, Luke,” she said quietly. “I’m meeting with my banker.” Then her eyes glistened, and she pulled in a quick breath through her nose.

  “Phone and tell him you can’t make it. That you had an accident.”

  Janie pressed her hands to her face, as if holding back the emotions she had momentarily displayed. “I’ve rescheduled this appointment three times. He made a special effort to see me this afternoon. I closed the coffee shop early so I could meet with him.” She took another breath, then lowered her hands. “Todd, get my purse from the table and that envelope underneath it.”

  Todd scooted down the hallway toward the kitchen.

  “Thanks for your help. I’ll be okay,” Janie said.

  “You’re sitting on the floor.”

  “I’m getting up.”

  Luke had never met a more obstinate woman. “Let me help you.”

  She shook her head as she grabbed the newel post of the stairs and dragged herself to her feet.

  A sudden cry escaped her lips, and as she wavered, Luke caught her. She tried to push him away, but he kept his hands on her arms.

  “Okay. It hurts a little bit.” She still held on to the post when she saw Cooper. “Where’s Autumn?”

  “Suzie took Autumn upstairs.” Luke wanted to defend his dog, but Cooper shouldn’t be in the house.

  Then a thought chilled him. Had Cooper caused Janie’s fall?

  “Cooper, go out,” he commanded.

  Cooper didn’t budge, looking vitally interested in what was happening.

  “Go. Now,” Luke repeated.

  Receiving the same nonresponse.

  “Cooper. Out. Now.” Janie barked out the commands, and Cooper heaved a doggy sigh, got up and looked at Luke as if for confirmation.

  “Now,” Janie repeated.

  And to Luke’s surprise, Cooper trotted out the still-open front door.

  “I’ve got to figure out how to imitate that ‘mom voice’ of yours,” Luke said.

  Janie tried once again to release herself from Luke’s hold, her face twisted with pain.

  “You’re going to fall. Let me walk you to the couch.”

  “No, I can’t sit around. I have to get going.”

  Luke gave her an oblique glance. “That mother voice might work on Cooper, but it won’t work on me.”

  “Luke, I’m not kidding. I have to keep that appointment.” She started walking, heavily favoring her one foot, grimacing with every step. “Suzie, bring Autumn down,” she called out. “Todd, give me my purse, please.”

  Luke wasn’t getting anywhere with her. Despite her pain, she was leaving.

  And he felt responsible.

  “Okay. You’re one stubborn woman. I’ll take you.”

  “No. That’s okay.” Janie waved off his offer as she limped out the door.

  Suzie came down the stairs, holding her sister on her hip. “So, what’s going on?”

  Luke sighed, then held his hand out to Todd. “Give me the keys, son. I’m driving.”

  Todd looked from his mother to Luke, unsure.

  “And you’re one stubborn guy,” Janie said, sucking in a breath as she stumbled.

  “You should know. Suzie, take your sister and brother to the car. I’m going to put Cooper in my house, and I’ll be driving your mother to her appointment.” He held his hand out to Todd, who gave him the keys.

  Janie opened her mouth as if to nullify that but Luke dangled her keychain in front of her. “I’ll meet you all at the car. Todd, could you please give your mother a hand?”

  And before Janie could utter the protest he saw forming on her lips, he had caught Cooper by the collar and pulled him across the lawn to his house.

  A few minutes later he was back at the car. Autumn already sat in her booster seat, Todd and Suzie sat beside her and Janie was easing herself into the driver’s seat.

  “Good try,” Luke said, pulling on her arm and away from the car.

  “You don’t have to do this.” Janie looked up at him with pleading eyes.

  “Oh, yes I do,” he countered, ignoring the look she gave him as he escorted her to the passenger door.

  She was still protesting as he helped her into her seat, but he simply closed the door on her mutterings.

  “So, which way is the bank?” he asked as he pushed the driver’s seat back and clicked his seat belt on. His head brushed the roof. As he adjusted the rearview mirror, he jostled a yellow cardboard spruce tree he suspected was the cause of the coconut and pineapple scent in the car.

  Janie twisted in her seat to check on the kids. “Are you all buckled in?”

  “Of course, Mom,” Suzie said. Did Luke imagine the slightly snippy tone in her voice?

  “Suzie,” Janie said, her mom-voice tinged with reprimand.

  Luke couldn’t help a quick glance in his rearview mirror. Suzie was sighing, but she didn’t reply.

  “Directions?” he reminded Janie.

  “Sorry.” She shifted again, clenching her teeth against the pain. “You should go to my mother’s first to drop off the kids.”

  “And have her see you l
ike this?” Luke guessed Janie wouldn’t want her mother fussing over her. “I can take the kids to her place later. So, which bank?”

  Janie bit her lip as she considered this. “I go to the one on Main Street. Down from the coffee shop. Todd, do you have my envelope?”

  Luke turned, trying to make sure he didn’t make any sudden jerks with the minuscule stick shift and tiny clutch. The one-ton trucks and eighteen-wheelers he’d driven seemed easier to maneuver than this itty-bitty car.

  “What time do you have to be there?” Luke asked as he ground the gears, backed off and tried again.

  “Two and a half minutes.”

  “That’s shaving it pretty fine.”

  “I would have been okay if it wasn’t for tripping down the stairs and finding Autumn…” She stopped and grabbed his arm, cutting off his little guilt trip over her comment about tripping. “Autumn. I can’t let her go to my mother’s like that. I was on my way to get a clean shirt when I tripped.” She dropped her head against the headrest. “I’m doomed.”

  “I don’t want to go to Grandma’s.” Suzie leaned forward taking advantage of the situation. “Why doesn’t Luke take care of us?”

  “Because” was her succinct reply.

  Janie flipped open her cell phone and dialed a number. She tapped her one hand on her knee, shifted her feet and then winced.

  “You should see a doctor about that, you know,” Luke said. “What if it’s broken?”

  “It isn’t…. Dodie. Finally. I need your help…you’re at work? I thought the shop was closed. Okay, but I am really stuck.” Janie glanced back at Autumn. “I can’t take the kids to Mom’s right now. Could you phone her and tell her I need to keep the kids at my house? Really? You’re a dear. Could you meet me at the bank? Right away would be best…Great. I owe you. Thanks.”

  Janie snapped the phone shut, then turned to Luke.

  “So Dodie will take over when she meets us at the bank. Also, she took her bike to work this morning, so she’ll need a ride back to the house.”

  Luke knew it was the right thing to do, but to be honest he had been looking forward to spending some time with Janie’s kids.

  “Sure. Will do.”

  By the time they got to the bank, Dodie was sauntering down the sidewalk, her ruffled skirt swinging, her hair tied up in a neon-pink scarf. She looked as if she had scavenged the clothes from the thrift store she worked at.