A Child Changes Everything

by Stella MacLean

  “So you’ll make it to Jacksonville before you stop?”

  “Hopefully.”

  “You’ve had a long day, and you’ve got an invalid and a child with you. I was hoping you’d wait until tomorrow to start back. I have to give you full marks for determination.”

  “Yeah, I was saved by my list-making skills,” she responded, her grip on the wheel easing.

  “I remember those infamous lists,” he said, the sexy tone of his voice reverberating in her head. Somehow banter with Mason was easier when she couldn’t see his face.

  “How did you manage with Katie?”

  Lisa glanced over her shoulder to find Katie asleep in her car seat. “Mason, she’s adorable. And despite her anxiety when I picked her up earlier, she’s adjusted so well. Of course, Mom helped,” Lisa said, smiling across at her mother.

  “You did it all, dear,” her mother said, straightening her dress over her lap. “I only entertained Katie while you were busy.”

  “It sounds like your mother’s a fan of yours already,” Mason said.

  “Yeah, and me of her,” Lisa answered, feeling much better now that she was talking to someone who understood what an undertaking this was for her.

  “I can’t wait to get home. But we may be a couple of days on the road, since I’ve never traveled with a child before.”

  “All the more reason to take your time—and enjoy your family.”

  “That’s what I was thinking. Maybe we’ll stop in Myrtle Beach.”

  “Is there anything I can do here before you get home?”

  She should tell him how much she appreciated the easy way he offered his help as if he’d been doing it all along. But having Mason around, accepting his help, was forcing her to think about what she wanted from him. She missed Mason’s caring and support…and love.

  Only, welcoming Mason back into her life meant coming to terms with how he had left her, how her trust in him had been damaged—maybe beyond repair—and opening herself up to that kind of pain again. Was the risk worth taking? She wasn’t sure.

  “I’m going to need a good carpenter. I have to make some changes around the house.”

  “You mean a wheelchair ramp?”

  “Yes, and a few things inside, as well.” She’d decided to convert her father’s den into a suite for her mother so she’d be all on one level. “And I’ll have to buy a crib. A stroller. I’m not sure what else.”

  “What? No list?” She could hear his smile.

  “Not yet,” she said, enjoying their moment together on the phone. So like other moments they’d shared when they were a couple.

  “Don’t worry about all that. I’ll check with my sisters. One of them must have a spare crib kicking around, along with a whole bunch of toddler paraphernalia.”

  “That would be great.”

  “What are friends for?” he said, his voice gentle in her ear.

  Friends. As emotionally draining as the past few weeks had been, it was good to know that she and Mason were finally friends.

  Mason as a friend had possibilities. Maybe they’d have a chance to talk out their issues and finally close the door on their past. Maybe she was ready to come to terms with it and risk having some sort of relationship with Mason. A thrill ran through her body, bringing a smile to her face.

  With his phone call, she was optimistic about the future with her mom and Katie.

  Seeing Mason would be the perfect bonus.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  TWO DAYS LATER when Lisa arrived home, Esther, the cleaning lady her parents had had for years, was there to help her get her mother and Katie settled. Lisa had arranged to take two weeks of vacation from her job while she got her life organized. She went to see a physiotherapist to put together a physical-care plan for her mother, and hired a nursing assistant to be there for Carolyn once Lisa returned to work.

  She’d never been busier, but it was a happy kind of busy, she mused as she poured coffee for her mother and herself the next day.

  She glanced around at the mounds of toys, following Katie’s movements as she played near the sliding glass doors leading to the patio by the pool.

  She thought back to the hours in the car with her mother while they shared their pasts; all of those memories bringing them closer to each other. Lisa learned that Carolyn Lewis was a woman with a very positive attitude toward life, a trait Lisa admired.

  Alice Clarke had seldom shared her past with Lisa except for her fear of taking risks and her obsession with protecting Lisa from harm. Bringing Carolyn and Katie home to Durham would have been, in Alice’s opinion, a huge risk.

  But Lisa was proud of what she’d done. She loved how alive and involved the whole endeavor made her feel.

  As she put a mug of coffee in front of her mother, she remembered how much help Carolyn had been, especially the first night on the road when Katie cried herself to sleep.

  “I’m glad we’re finally home and that you and Katie are settling in. What would I have done without you these past couple of days, Mom?” she asked, astonished at how naturally the word Mom slipped into her question.

  “You’re so good with her, I’m sure you would have managed just fine. Being a pediatric nurse, you’ve done all this before, I suppose.”

  “Believe me, it’s not the same,” she said ruefully.

  She got her mother settled in the sunroom, and sat beside her, thinking of one area which she hadn’t managed.

  “I don’t understand why Katie won’t sleep in her crib. The two nights we were on the road she slept with me, but I assumed that last night she’d sleep in her own bed. Perhaps I’m expecting too much after all she’s been through.”

  “Her mother was like that. Anne Marie was nearly two before she slept through the night in her own bed. Maybe Katie’s having trouble because everything’s so different, and she’s almost certainly missing Anne Marie. But children adjust easily once a routine is established.”

  A routine. How could she not have been aware of something so fundamental to Katie’s happiness?

  “Of course, you’re right. Katie must have been lost without her mom, and then I come along and snatch her away from everything familiar.”

  Lisa took a quick sip of her coffee as she watched Katie play with Nemo. “So, what do I do? Katie can’t sleep with me every night. I mean, I read that children shouldn’t sleep with their parents…”

  Her mother reached over and rested her fingers on Lisa’s arm. “Dear, don’t worry about it. What Katie needs right now is the security of knowing she’s loved and cared for, and you’re giving her that. When she’s used to her new circumstances you can consider putting her in her crib at night. Do you mind having her sleep with you?”

  “No, not at all. The first couple of nights were a little difficult, but there’s something so wonderful about watching a child sleep. And she likes me to read to her. I dug some of my old books out of the attic. She got me to go through one of the Seuss books twice last night before she fell asleep. My mom read to me as a child. Those are some of my fondest memories because it was just the two of us, plus my stuffed animals.”

  The back doorbell rang. “That must be the carpenter who’s going to build the ramp,” Lisa said, jumping up.

  But when she answered the door, she saw Mason standing on the back step. “What are you doing here so early?” she asked, surprised.

  “I came by to see if there’s anything you need,” he said, glancing past her. “Hello, Mrs. Lewis.”

  He stood there, his feet planted cop-style on the step, a challenging grin on his face. “I also wanted to know if I could drop over this evening.”

  “Why?” she asked, her tone sounding confrontational to her own ears.

  “You’ll see. Nothing sinister, just a small surprise.”

  “What are you up to?” she asked, gentling her tone, basking in the happy thought that Mason wanted to surprise her. Did his request mean he wanted to spend time alone with her? Were they finally going to finis
h their conversation from that night in the restaurant? A little late but…

  “Patience is a virtue,” he replied, his voice teasing.

  “Would you like to come in? Mom and I are having coffee and watching Katie play.”

  “How can I resist an invitation like that?”

  “It’s simple—you can’t,” she said, aware of how good he looked in his black shirt and jeans.

  “Is this the new take-charge Lisa? I don’t think we’ve met,” he said, his voice intimate, making her pulse jump.

  “Get used to it,” she warned. As she let herself slide back into the old bantering ways, a thought popped into her mind. She’d always preferred Mason like this, more than the Mason who always had to take control.

  Yet, in the beginning, when their relationship was fresh and new, she hadn’t let him take over, she reminded herself. It was only later as they became more serious that she’d allowed him to make all the decisions for them as a couple. He had picked the restaurants and most of the movies. He didn’t like the symphony, so she gave up her season tickets. He knew about cars so she bought the car he’d told her to. And somewhere along the road she’d stopped voicing her own opinions.

  Had the change been that simple? Why hadn’t she insisted on being part of how they decided the issues between them? After all, she had a responsible job, friends and people who sought her advice as a nurse. Had she passed control of her life to Mason without realizing it? She’d certainly seen a change in herself this past week. As difficult as it had been to have to take on so much for her new family, she liked the feeling of being in charge. She enjoyed being her own person, making decisions for her own and her family’s benefit.

  She’d never again be shut out of making decisions about her life.

  “How about joining Mom and me for a cup of coffee?” she asked.

  “I’d love one.”

  “Thanks for the name of the carpenter, by the way. He says he’ll build the ramp and make the changes in the den so she can be more comfortable. She’s sleeping on the hideaway bed in there at the moment.”

  Her mother wheeled into the kitchen, then stopped at the table and looked up at Mason. “I want to thank you for bringing my daughter into my life, Mason,” her mother said.

  “Just doing my job,” he said, but Lisa could hear the pride in his voice.

  She listened to the easy way Mason and her mother chatted, happy in the feeling that life had become so much more than she could ever have imagined the day she’d walked into Tank’s office.

  “Juice?” Katie asked in her high-pitched voice. Lisa had discovered that everything Katie said sounded like a question.

  “Sure,” Lisa said, going to the fridge.

  “Katie, do you want to sit at the table with us?” Mason asked.

  Katie searched Lisa’s face for approval. As Lisa nodded, she met her niece’s anxious eyes, and joy warmed every part of her.

  Katie was already seeking her out and placing her trust in her. Lisa felt a rush of contentment at the bond forming between them. Until now, Lisa had only ever read about such a thing. But experiencing it was so very different.

  “Here’s your juice, and I’ll help you into your booster seat,” she said with a confidence that hadn’t been there three days ago. As Katie climbed onto the chair, Lisa was again reminded of how easy Katie was to care for…and love.

  Lisa had felt so many emotions around Katie, emotions she couldn’t explain to anyone, except that she was totally happy for the first time in her life.

  She watched as Mason talked with Katie and she was impressed by how quickly he connected with the little girl. The longer he chatted with Katie the more she giggled.

  She caught her mother’s slow smile as she listened to Mason. Were there any females on planet Earth who didn’t succumb to Mason’s charms?

  HAVING ANSWERED a dozen questions from Katie, Mason sipped his coffee. Mrs. Lewis’s happiness was almost palpable while Lisa’s face held a look of such contentment, it was almost impossible not to stare at her. He had to confess that he hadn’t expected Lisa to be able to handle all the responsibility she’d taken on so quickly. She’d always hung back, waited to be sure about her actions. Yet here she was organizing a life for a whole new family with ease and assurance.

  Lisa was responding to her changed circum stances—heart first. “I see you’ve got everything under control,” he said, feeling left out of the happiness in the room as he listened to their delighted chatter about Katie’s latest antic.

  “Learning to care for Katie is a full-time job…a wonderful job.” She sighed.

  “Looks like you two have filled any gaps in Katie’s life.”

  “Hope so. Keeping up with Katie on the drive back to Durham made us co-conspirators,” Carolyn Lewis said, amusement evident in her voice.

  “Yeah, I’m sure we didn’t miss a single McDonald’s on the way from Melbourne to Durham. And the ones with those play areas were like magnets,” Lisa added, laughing.

  Mason couldn’t remember the last time he’d heard Lisa laugh with such freedom. He let his gaze travel over her face, struck with how beautiful she looked. Without a hint of makeup, dressed in blue jeans, a tight fitting tank top and sporting a dab of ketchup in her hair, she’d never been sexier.

  He was in awe of the easy conversation flowing between Lisa and her mother, and witnessed the love that was so visible on their faces. A few days ago, he wouldn’t have believed it possible that Lisa and her mother could become this close so quickly.

  Seeing them now, it was clear they were meant to be together, and his fears about how Lisa would manage all this were unfounded.

  Lisa seemed happier and it was all because she had a family of her own. While they were dating, he’d sensed that Lisa was holding back at times, uncertain with him. As he watched her chatting with her mother and Katie, he understood that her uncertainty probably came from not knowing exactly who she was or where she’d come from.

  There was something so certain in her now, as if she had a mission, a purpose beyond herself, and he was happy for her. But seeing the way she gave her undivided attention to her new family brought an unfamiliar feeling to the surface. He wished he’d been a part of this change in Lisa. If he had listened to her, been more open to her feelings and opinions, they might still be together.

  Yet, as he took in the positive changes in Lisa, he could not stop the feeling that somehow he and Lisa had reconnected. Only this time around, the connection went much deeper.

  His BlackBerry bleated with the reminder of an appointment with another new client. His business was expanding more rapidly than he’d anticipated. “I’ve got to go,” he said, feeling genuinely sorry that he had to leave this soon.

  “I’ll walk you to your car,” Lisa offered, getting up and following him.

  IN THE YARD, shaded from the late-morning sun by a magnolia tree, Mason unlocked his car. “Things are working out for you.”

  “They sure are,” Lisa said. She had a lot to be thankful for these days. Yet, as she met his gaze, she became acutely aware of what her life might have been like if she and Mason had married.

  They would have had a child; she would’ve seen him off to work like this, her heart bursting with the knowledge that he loved her and their baby. “My life is so different, so changed,” she said, a sudden sweep of longing making her voice thick with emotion.

  As he moved closer, she could smell the scent of sun on his skin and a hint of cologne. “Are you okay?”

  “Absolutely,” she said, wanting to rest her hands on his chest, feel the muscles beneath the cotton shirt he wore, put her arms around his neck and kiss him.

  An awkward silence rose between them. “My business is picking up,” he said, a hesitant tone in his voice as he jammed his hands in the pockets of his black jeans.

  “That’s great. You must be pleased.” She saw a look of uncertainty in his eyes. Mason uncertain? It couldn’t be…

  “I’d better get goi
ng,” he said, pulling his hands out of his pockets and opening the car door. “If you need anything, let me know. In the meantime, remember to lock your doors and set the alarm—”

  “I’m not a child,” she said. It came out harsher than she’d intended, but she’d begun to feel suffocated when he went into his controlling mode. “I know you mean well,” she said to soften her words.

  She wanted to make her own decisions. The ones she’d made since the reading of the will had given her a great deal of pleasure—proof that she was capable of running her own life.

  His glance was one of resignation. “Fine,” he said, the old edge returning to his voice.

  She’d hurt his feelings, but she had to make it clear that he couldn’t step back into her life and try to dictate everything she did.

  Annoyed with herself for handling the situation so poorly, she watched him drive down the street.

  Get over it. There’s no reason for you to be upset with him. He was only doing what comes naturally.

  Back in the house, she busied herself with putting a load of laundry into the washer and putting the dishes into the dishwasher.

  “Mason’s a wonderful man. Did you date?” her mother asked.

  Taken by surprise, Lisa turned to her mother. “Years ago. How did you know?”

  “It shows on your face, how you behave around him. You care for him deeply—or did,” her mother added.

  “Yes…”

  “And now?”

  She shrugged, still a little uncomfortable with the whole subject of Mason. “We’re friends.”

  “Good enough friends for him to be willing to help you get your life organized around an invalid mother and a niece who may be living with you for quite some time. That’s a very good friend. If only Anne Marie had had a friend like that, maybe she wouldn’t have gotten mixed up with the wrong crowd.”

  “Mom, you can’t think she’s guilty of anything.”

  “No, of course not, but appearances can be deceptive and that boyfriend of hers was a piece of work, let me tell you.”