by Carol Henry
Crunch!
Gabriella’s car jolted forward. Once again her head swung forward then slammed back against the headrest. She held her breath, stunned.
“Isn’t anyone up there listening?” What if I’d been killed like Karen and Tom? Who would take care of Nina? What if Nina had been injured?
“Dear, Lord. Let Nina be okay.”
She wiped at her tears that had a mind of their own as they trailed down her cheeks. Once again she leaned over the back seat to make sure Nina was safe. Her niece’s pudgy cheeks were smooth and rosy, her lower lip snug against the top lip fluttered, then settled with a soft sigh. Gabriella took another deep, steadying breath. More tears sprang to her eyes.
Gabriella scanned the intersection. Aside from the vehicle that had just rear-ended her, the street was quiet, empty. Light snowflakes drifted down in lazy swirls. Gabriella turned the motor off, unfastened her seatbelt, and stepped from the car. Her legs buckled. A pair of strong arms caught her before she hit the pavement.
Gabriella looked up to find a pair of dazzling ice-blue eyes glaring down at her. His touch sent a warm jolt up her arm. She looked down to where firm, very strong, well-manicured hands gripped her coat sleeve. She shuddered. She gulped in the cold winter air, let it out slowly, and stepped back against the car for support. She looked up at him—he was standing much too close. His rugged good looks had her body temperature rising despite the cold winter air. She must have hit her head on the steering wheel harder than she realized if she was this affected by a complete stranger.
Oh, my God, did she just hear bells ringing in the distance? Or were they in her head?
She blinked and shook her head. Puffs of wispy snowflakes floated down around them as if they were standing in a snow globe. Gabriella craned her neck back to get a better look at the stranger. And met those dazzling periwinkle blue eyes. A tuft of dark curly hair stuck out from beneath his hunter-green baseball cap. His compressed lips hinted at dimples. Dazed, she felt suspended in time.
“What do you think you’re doing slamming on your brakes like that?” he demanded, shaking her out of her disconcerting thoughts.
The enchanting cocoon of the moment dissolved in an instant. His tone reminded her of Charles.
“God, lady, you could have gotten hurt if I hadn’t been paying attention.”
He let go of her arm and whirled around toward the rear of her car. Her knees gave out. She leaned back against the car for support wishing he was the one holding her steady. What was it with him? One moment he supported her, and the next he practically threw her aside.
Her gloves still on the passenger seat, Gabriella tucked her hands inside her coat pockets. The man slid his tall frame in between their vehicles to assess the damage.
“My, God.” he moaned, and clapped his hand to his forehead. “Look.” he said, pointing to the front fender of his silver Mustang.
Gabriella, her knees cooperating at last, walked to where he stood and checked out the alleged damaged to his car. She didn’t see a thing.
“A dent. Lady, I just paid good money to refurbish this baby and now look what you’ve done. If you weren’t so irresponsible, this never would have happened.”
“Me?” she squeaked, her back straight, her eyes wide. “No way. You slammed into me. And there is no dent, so don’t you go turning the tables and blame me for your reckless driving.”
She swiveled around to check out her own bumper and froze. “Holy crap. Look what you’ve done to my car. I’m the one with a dented back end.”
Gabriella approached him and pointed her finger at his chest. Never one to strike another person, the strongest urge to do just that bubbled up inside. She held back, took a deep breath. Then let him have it.
“I have a real baby in the back of my car. The damage to my baby could have been a lot worse than that imaginary dent on your bucket of tin.” Anger surged through her at his offended expression. “You crashed into me. Not the other way ’round. I was the responsible one. I obeyed the rules of the road. I stopped for a red light. I am in the right. Not you.”
She let out an exasperated sigh and continued to poke her finger at his chest. “You, sir, were following too close, weren’t paying attention, and rammed into me. The least you could do is ask if I’m hurt or if the baby is okay.”
He abruptly turned and opened the back door where Nina was strapped into her car seat.
“Stop!” Gabriella screamed. “What do you think you’re doing? Don’t you touch my baby. You’re a stranger for God’s sake. Get back.”
Gabriella flew at him, pushed him aside with a strength she didn’t know she possessed. He bumped his head on the doorframe. His hat tilted sideways. Good. He deserved having some sense knocked into his head. His stunned expression would be comical if the situation wasn’t so serious. She hoped he ended up with a knot the size of Texas on his handsome head.
Gabriella’s chest rose and fell to the rapid beat of her heart beneath her coat now flapping in the cold winter wind. What a crappy day. She didn’t need any more problems dumped in her lap. And didn’t need this man taking liberties when it came to Nina.
She leaned in to check on her niece. And it hit her like a ton of bricks. She’d referred to Nina as her baby.
Oh, my God. It’s true. Nina is mine, now. Good Lord. I’m a mother.
Gabriella had a sudden urge to lift Nina out of the car and cuddle her up against her chest. Is this what motherhood feels like? Warm? Protective? The sensation was totally unfamiliar, yet extraordinarily satisfying—it was like nothing Gabriella had ever before experienced. She was high with happiness. She’d had Nina for several weeks and as much as she’d cared for and loved the infant, this was the first time she’d truly wanted to keep Nina as her own despite any trials she had to go through—for as long as it took.
“Look, lady,” he said, interrupting her contemplations, “I just wanted to make sure the baby was okay.”
He rubbed his head. She didn’t feel a bit sorry for his pain.
“What kind of a mother do you think I am? Of course I made sure she was okay before I got out of the car. Now. Move. Away. From. My. Baby.”
He didn’t go far, but it was far enough. Gabriella slipped back in front of him and leaned in to check on Nina-who was now awake, and puckered up ready to cry.
“There, there, sweetie. You’re okay now,” she whispered in Nina’s ear, giving her an affectionate kiss on the cheek. The baby’s lower lip trembled then turned into a smile. Gabriella patted her cheek, tucked the blanket up around her neck, then as quiet as possible shut the door to keep out the cold.
A gust of wind blew Gabriella’s hair across her face. She brushed it behind her ears, then thrust her cold hands back in her pockets. She shivered, tugged her coat tighter. A glance at the tall, good-looking man found him still rubbing his head.
She skirted around him and his car, careful not to touch his gleaming Mustang for fear he might accuse her of scratching his baby’s new paint job. Ignoring him, she slid into the driver’s seat and before she could shut the door, strong fingers gripped her wrist preventing her from closing it.
“Here,” he placed a handful of bills in her palm. “This should cover any damage or inconvenience you’ve suffered. No need to get the police or insurance people involved. From the look of your vehicle, I’d say you don’t carry collision any longer, anyway.”
“What…?” Gabriella stuttered, looking down, her hand now full of twenty-dollar bills. Her stomach churned. If she wasn’t in such desperate need of money she’d throw it back at him. The nerve of him insinuating her car was a total wreck. Her Saturn was a perfectly good car. When it ran. It hadn’t let her down yet.
Should they exchange names, licenses, and insurance information? She did a quick look around the area and sure enough—no witnesses. Darn it. She looked back down at the money in her hand. Crap. She’d just been bought off.
The tall stranger walked back to his car.
“Stop. I
need your name and license number.”
“What for? You plan on calling me for a date?”
Gabriella’s jaw dropped. The jerk had the audacity to smile. And wiggle his eyebrows up and down in a sexually suggestive manner. Sheesh. The smile alone made his eyes sparkle through the drifting snowflakes. But she wasn’t in the mood to be taken in by his easy banter. Or his money.
“A date? Get real.”
“You did ask me for my phone number. I assumed you were interested.”
When she didn’t answer he continued. “Look, there’s no need to turn this in to the insurance company. No one was hurt. I’ve more than compensated you for your minor dent, while I, on the other hand, am going to have to pay more than twice as much to fix my vehicle.”
“So you assumed you could simply turn this around and make light of it, and I’d change my mind?”
He got in his car. The Mustang’s engine turned over first time out. Go figure. For a split second she contemplated reporting him for hit and run. Gabriella couldn’t believe he was about to walk away from her without the exchange of the usual necessary formalities.
“Wait!” she called to him again. “I think we should call the police.”
He rolled down the window. “Look Lady, no one was hurt. Next time, try to be a little more careful driving when you have your kid in the car.”
“What?” she squawked.
He had the nerve to stick his head out the window and ask “Don’t you have one of those ‘Baby on Board’ signs, or something? You need to look into getting one.”
He backed up, drove the car around her, and took off.
Gabriella sat behind the steering wheel of her own car, open-mouthed, while he vanished like magic in a swirling mist. Then it hit her. Crap. She’d just missed the opportunity to take down his license number. She tossed the money on the passenger seat and started the car. Thank heaven it turned over the first time. But the traffic light had turned red again.
The nerve of the man! To think I don’t carry collision. Gabriella drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. Well, she didn’t carry insurance for collision, but it was none of his business. She glanced over at the cash scattered on the well-worn passenger seat, sighed, and did a quick calculation.
“What? Two-hundred dollars!” She turned to Nina, who was once again sleeping, innocent of their good fortune.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she chanted heavenward. “I’ll never doubt again.”
Maybe this fender bender was the miracle I needed after all.
Chapter Two
“OMG. Gabby, I can’t believe he asked you to choose?” Gabriella’s college roommate, and best friend for the last six years, jumped from the sofa and ran to her side. “The man is a total jerk.” Mindy Crandall lowered her voice and looked at the closed door leading to Gabby’s bedroom.
“Nina’s asleep. I’m sure she didn’t hear you,” Gabby smiled. She’d only had Nina a few weeks, and they still hadn’t gotten used to having an infant in the apartment.
“I know it’s strange, but I keep forgetting she’s tucked away in your room sleeping most of the time.”
“You’ve been wonderful. So has Trish. I don’t know what I’d do without either of you.”
“We’re happy to help. I wish I could do more, but I’m in debt in student loans up to my eyebrows as it is.”
“Working out our schedules to help babysit Nina so I can go to classes has been a tremendous help.” Gabby hugged her friend. “Thanks. I mean it from the bottom of my heart.”
Mindy’s tight squeeze had tears running down Gabby’s cheeks. She brushed at them wondering if she was turning into a permanent crying machine.
“You go ahead and cry, girlfriend. It’s about time. Losing your sister and brother-in-law in a car crash just before Thanksgiving is shock enough. How you’ve managed to hold it all together so far is beyond me. And now to have Charles dump you…here, have a tissue.” Mindy swiped a couple tissues from the square box hidden in a red and white homemade crocheted Christmas Santa.
Gabby took the offered tissue and dabbed at her swollen eyes and damp cheeks. But the tears kept falling.
“I’m not sure I’m cut out for this. Maybe I should take a leave of absence next semester and get things sorted out.”
“You’re tired. You’ve been on an emotional roller coaster for the past few weeks—round the clock feedings, diaper changes, shopping for baby supplies, studying for semester finals. Why, you haven’t had time to adjust to all the changes going on in your life. Neither has Charles. I’m sure once he’s had time to think about it, he’ll change his mind.”
“I don’t think so. I just broke it off with him.”
“You. You broke it off?”
Gabby smiled at the surprised disbelief on her friend’s too comical face.
The tears stopped. Gabby sniffed, blew her nose, dried her tear-stained face, then took a deep breath. After today’s events, she wasn’t sure she could hold up under the stress much longer.
A super soccer mom she’d never be.
And she hadn’t even gotten started.
Gabriella had worked hard on her degree—she had one more semester to go before completing her master’s. Too bad her history major wasn’t conducive to the care of one small infant. Maybe she should enroll in a Human Development class to get some much needed pointers on child rearing.
Her career had been her priority for so long it was hard to think about switching gears now. Caring for a baby fulltime was making her life more chaotic. Her once orderly life had been thrown off-kilter.
“You can do this. I know you can,” Mindy assured her. “You’re doing a great job already, and you’re going to be a wonderful mom. Heck, you already are. You don’t need Charles, or any other man, to prove that.”
“You’re right, as usual. You amaze me how level-headed you can be sometimes.”
“Right. So listen up. The semester is almost over. Another week. It’s the holidays. Stores are always looking for extra help this time of year.”
“Are you kidding me? The way the economy is right now? And I’ll have to pay a babysitter.”
“Don’t kid yourself. There are tons of shoppers out there. I don’t care what the economists say. I’ve seen them. Let’s check the want ads and see if there’s a part-time position available. Trish and I can pitch in and work around your schedule to help with Nina until you can get back on your feet and afford a real babysitter.”
Gabby hated to admit it, but for a fraction of a second she’d balked at becoming responsible for the care of Nina after the accident. She’d been in shock. But it only took seconds to admit there was no way she’d turn her niece away. How could she? She was the only family Nina had left. But she hadn’t anticipated having to deal with all the legalities. Formalities, really. Tom and Karen’s life insurance was barely enough to cover their bills, including medical bills for Nina’s birth, and the bank quickly stepped in and assumed the home due to the steep mortgage lien against it. Tom’s father was deceased and his mother in a nursing home—he had no siblings. Her own mother and father had died in a plane crash while on vacation five years ago, so she was Nina’s only surviving family.
“I didn’t think it would be this difficult.” She’d already planned to continue her studies and work on getting her career back on track once the adoption was legal and her financial situation became stable. But she had counted on Charles to help get her through. Once they married and settled in to married life, each of them getting their career off the ground, she had assumed they would be able to afford a live-in nanny to care for Nina.
So much for planning ahead.
So much for counting on Charles.
“It seems like all I’ve done today is cry.”
“You’re still grieving. It takes time to heal. Add the responsibility of taking care of an infant at a crucial time in your career, of course you’re going to think things aren’t going to get better.”
Ga
briella gulped as sadness welled up inside again. Mindy was right. She hadn’t had time to deal with the grief of losing her sister.
“A job might bring in enough money to cover a retainer on the legal fees. Once my stipend kicks in next semester, I’ll be in a much better position to deal with everything.”
“There you go—you have things under control already. Come on.” Mindy lifted Gabby up from the sofa by the hand and dragged her into the small kitchenette. “Let’s have some hot cocoa and see what the newspaper has to offer in the line of jobs.”
Together, she and Mindy spent the afternoon sipping cocoa, scanning the want ads, and making phone calls while Nina slept.
Nothing. All of the holiday clerk positions were filled. A day late and a dollar short. An apt expression her father used to say all the time. It fit her current situation. About to start wallowing in despair again, Mindy cried out.
“Hey. Look. I found something.” Mindy swirled the newspaper around so Gabby could read it. “There’s a couple home-health aide positions listed.”
“Home health aides? How am I qualified to be a home health aide? My major is history in case you’ve forgotten.” Gabby looked up in dismay. “What do I know about taking care of the elderly?”
“If you can take care of a three-month old, you can take care of a bed-ridden seventy-year old lady. Just say ‘honey’ and ‘dear’ a lot, and accommodate their every need. How hard can it be?”
“I don’t know, Mindy, you make it sound too easy. I have a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach about this.”
“Posh. There’s nothing to it. I once took care of my Aunt Tulane for several months while my mother sailed away on a cruise to ‘get away’ as she put it. Other than being hard of hearing and having to yell a lot so she could hear me, she basically took care of herself. She was riddled with arthritis and didn’t get around much. I made sure she was comfortable, cleaned the house, and did the cooking while she sat in front of the TV in a recliner and dozed most of the time.”