He turned, puzzled, because the choir sang at the ten-thirty service and Lisa sang with the choir. “Because?”
“I’m stopping by the old Ramsey place for a consult after church and I want to get back here early. If today was any indication, tomorrow will be cranking busy and I want to have time to meet people. Talk with them.”
“Just like your mother.”
He smiled when he said it, but Lisa understood the ache inside. The upcoming holiday would be their first Mother’s Day without Maggie Fitzgerald. Lisa didn’t want to think about it, and if keeping busy at the garden center kept the loss of her energetic mother off her mind, all the better, but it was hard when every flower she touched, every order she placed, every display she arranged reminded her of where her talent came from.
Her mother. Gone in her mid-fifties from debilitating heart disease caused by a blood infection. Who would have thought such a thing possible?
Not Lisa. Not after her mother had championed Lisa through two rounds of chemo, multiple surgeries and weeks of exhausting radiation. Maggie had been a go-getter who raised two kids and looked forward to teaching her grandchildren the ins and outs of the gardening business she loved. She’d lived just long enough to see Rosie take her first steps, a new generation of Fitzgeralds on the run.
And then she passed away, just after Christmas.
Lisa shoved the encroaching melancholy aside and forced herself to remember the good times. Her mother was a staunch Christian, and a determined adversary of people who let obstacles mar their paths. Maggie’s motto? Go for it. Get it done.
Lisa felt the same way, but that didn’t ease the sense of loss. Still, keeping Gardens & Greens booming was the best way to salute her mother’s memory and keep her father’s grief sidelined.
* * *
Sunday morning chaos. How could someone who commanded a troop of officers manage to mess things up repeatedly on Sunday mornings?
And just when Alex thought they might get out the door for the early service at Good Shepherd, the doorbell rang. He looked out the window. His hopes for a quick getaway plummeted.
Jenny’s mother. Here. In Allegany County. And of course the house looked like an F-2 tornado had just raced through, leaving a path of total devastation in its wake. And here was Nancy Armstrong, her new luxury vehicle parked behind his SUV, looking like she might be ready to move in.
Murphy’s Law resounded in his brain: if something can go wrong, it will, and at the worst possible time.
He opened the door, wishing Josh and Becky hadn’t picked that moment to mushroom their verbal argument into full-scale hand-to-hand mortal combat. “Hey. Stop it, you guys! Becky, let go of him.”
“He took my game!”
“I wanna play Super Power Rangers!”
“Find yours!”
“You lost mine!”
“Did not!”
“Did—”
“Josh. Stop. Now.” Alex plucked the scrappy boy up from the carpet and kept him out of Becky’s reach, but it wasn’t as easy as it used to be. Becky had grown, which meant a shopping trip and the ensuing arguments over clothing. Emma couldn’t care less about what she wore, and if someone saved her the trouble of shopping so she could get lost in a book, all the better.
Becky?
Her word was law in the kids’ department.
“Give it to me.”
Alex plucked the electronic game system from Josh and held it up. “That’s not how you ask for things, Becky.”
“I shouldn’t have to ask for it,” Becky screeched. “It’s mine! He took it!”
“I need it!” wailed Josh.
“Well, you can’t have it. It’s mine.” Becky stomped her foot, arms crossed tightly over her chest. “And no one...” she angled a scathing look up, a glare that included her father and brother “...has my permission to use it.”
Nancy’s quick intake of breath screamed disappointment in him and her grandchildren’s behavior.
Becky’s decision to make a hard-line stance right now was a big mistake. Huge. First to mouth off to her father, but second to do it in front of her disapproving grandmother. Nancy had suggested in the past that he would most likely muck up raising her daughter’s children. The current scene gave him little room for argument.
She’d also opposed his decision to move the family to the more rustic, rural Troop A area. She’d accused him of running away. What she didn’t get was how soul-tired weary a guy could get fighting crime in the city. Surrounded by need and want, desperation and dejection. Losing Jenny left enough sadness in his life.
He’d opted for this new setting purposely, a fresh start. Trees and hills. Peace and quiet.
Well, okay, that last was purely subjective, considering the battle of wills raging between his kids now.
He trained his gaze firmly on Becky, hoping she wouldn’t pick this moment to dig her heels in. “Go to your room.”
“No.” She folded her hands tighter, thrust her chin farther into the air and tapped a foot. At that point she might have wanted to thank her grandmother for showing up unexpectedly because the kid had no idea how close to death she might be.
Alex set Josh down. Josh immediately tried to grab the gaming device, missed and managed to rake his nails across his father’s chin instead.
“Oh, he’s bleeding!” Nancy exclaimed. Her hand flew to her mouth as though taken aback by the level of violence. “Alex, what have you done?”
“He’s not bleeding,” Alex replied, disgusted with himself for letting things get out of hand. “I am. Becky. Room. Now.”
She glared at him, her expression mulish, her profile taut, as if she had a choice.
She didn’t.
“Becky, maybe if you apologize to your father...” Nancy’s unwelcome entreaty interrupted the emotional scene.
“Go to your room. If I have to carry you, you lose privileges for the week.”
“The week!” Stomp! Stomp! “Because he’s a brat? Because he takes things that don’t belong to him? I get punished because my brother’s a brat?”
“And we’re done.” Alex swooped down, picked her up, carried her upstairs to her room and left her alone to pitch a fit, which meant they’d be lucky to make the mid-morning service in ninety minutes. “I’ll talk to you later.”
Something sailed off the door. Alex reminded himself to be grateful for antique solid oak doors and hoped it was a softcover book. Hardcovers left bigger marks.
* * *
Engaging.
The Federal-style brick home epitomized grace, thought Lisa as she stepped out of her Gardens & Greens SUV. White-rimmed windows stood out against aged red brick. Evergreen shutters flanked sparkling glass, and each shutter featured Americana-styled inset stars separating the panels. A slate gray roof complemented the tones beneath, and shade trees, newly leafed, would offer welcome respite from summer heat.
Delightful.
Right until the front door burst open and a shrieking wildcat of a girl raced out, yelling naughty things over her shoulder. Delightful downgraded to wretched normalcy in the blink of an eye.
“Rebecca Eileen! Get back in here this instant, or I’ll—”
Alex caught sight of Lisa. Surprise and chagrin mixed on his features. His shoulders sagged. He stopped, ran a hand across his chin and frowned, but was the frown from his forgetfulness or the current melodrama?
Lisa wasn’t sure, but the look on his face said the morning couldn’t possibly get worse.
Except it had with her arrival.
Which only made the situation funnier in Lisa’s book. “Good morning, Alex. That, I take it—” she hooked a thumb to the right where a stubborn little girl, pigtails bouncing, strode down the street “—is Becky.”
“That’s her, all right.”
M
emories split Lisa’s sympathies. She’d been the bullheaded one in the family, the scrapper, the fighter. Luckily she’d grown out of it, but maybe that doggedness helped her in her fight against cancer. Who could say?
Alex’s expression said he hated being caught with out-of-control kids. Embarrassment and irritation painted stress lines on features that had looked pretty serene yesterday. Lisa moved closer and made a face of sympathy. “I’ll come back another time. After you’ve had time to dispose of the body properly.”
“What!”
Another voice entered the melee, a female voice, shocked and chagrined.
Surprised, Lisa stopped.
Alex turned.
A little boy voice whined, “Do I have to stay in these stupid clothes another whole hour?” Only he stretched the word hour into four elongated syllables.
“Nancy, this is Lisa Fitzgerald from the nursery Emma was telling you about.” Alex offered the introduction through the screen door, so Lisa had no idea who Nancy was, but figured she must belong to the yacht-length elegant car in the driveway.
“Lisa!” Emma came around the side of the house, ran to Lisa’s side and hugged her around the waist. “I’m so glad you came. Becky’s acting like a—”
“Emma.”
“Well, she is, Dad. And Grandma’s here and we’ve missed church unless Dad makes us go to the other church where the screechy old lady sings songs I don’t know so we’ve just about ruined Sunday.”
Lisa looked at her watch. “You’ve got ten minutes to make it to Good Shepherd. Go.”
“Go?” Alex looked at her, confused. A questioning look took in the wayward child two houses down.
“Yes, go. If Becky wants to come, I’ll drive her over. If not, she can stew and be left behind. I guarantee she won’t like that scenario.”
“You’re right,” Alex admitted.
The smile she flashed him said she already knew that. “I’ll hang out here and get measurements. You may or may not see her in church, but my guess is a big, fat no.”
“I concur. Come on, Josh.” He turned, opened the screen door and picked up one of the cutest little boys ever to walk the face of the planet. “Lisa, Josh. Josh, Lisa.”
“Hey, Josh.” She smiled at him, gave Emma’s shoulder a quick squeeze, then paused when an older woman charged through the door looking ready to do battle with anyone in her way. Lisa wisely shifted left.
“You’re going to leave Becky here? To miss church? That’s not right, Alex, and you know it.”
“Better than having a meltdown in church,” he replied as he fastened Josh into the car seat. “And no reason to mess up everyone’s Sunday. You sure you don’t mind staying, Lisa?”
“I was going to be here anyway. It’s fine.”
Emma climbed into the back seat. “See you later, Lisa! Sorry about all the drama.”
Lisa laughed. “Oh, honey, I was eight once. I invented drama. You go. Be good. Pray. Sing. Cut your father some slack.”
“Nancy, are you coming with us or heading back to your motel?” Alex directed a no-other-options look to the older woman.
She pressed her lips together, clearly displeased by her limited choices, then shrugged, moved to her car, climbed in and slammed the door shut.
Ouch.
She pulled out, turned left and headed for Route 19.
Alex backed out, and turned right toward Jamison.
Becky stared, mouth open, her gaze taking in the family car heading into the commercial center of the village, the stranger in her yard and her grandmother’s car growing fainter by the minute.
Lisa scored a point for the element of surprise, opened her no-line steno pad and started sketching the house layout. It took only a few moments before a small, impudent voice demanded, “Who are you?”
Lisa ignored her.
“I said, who are you?”
Lisa sketched swiftly, letting her gaze wander the home’s exterior. “Great brickwork,” she murmured, hoping her voice would ease the child’s ire. “And those shutters... Marvelous.”
“You like our house?”
Becky’s voice softened. Curiosity replaced anger in her gaze, her stature. “It’s lovely,” Lisa replied. “I remember noticing this house when I was about your age. They had the most beautiful gardens ever. Mrs. Ramsey knew everything there was to know about flowers and shrubs and trees. She even had a toad garden.”
Becky frowned, but drew closer. “A what?”
“A toad garden,” Lisa replied, eyes down, continuing her outline.
“What’s that?”
Lisa glanced at her watch. “Well, I’d be glad to tell you but aren’t you supposed to be at church with your family?”
Becky flushed, then sighed. “Yes.”
“I believe a deal can be struck, Becky Steele.” Lisa stuck out her hand. “I’m Lisa Fitzgerald from Gardens & Greens. Your dad and Emma came to see us about fixing these gardens.”
Becky nodded, excited. “We’re coming to see you tomorrow!”
Lisa sent her a doubtful look. “Do you think your father will bring you after this morning?”
The girl scowled, remorseful. “Probably not.”
“But,” Lisa went on, as if she had nothing better to do than drive disobedient little girls around, “if you go to church now and behave yourself...”
Becky gulped, shrugged and nodded.
“Maybe your dad will let you live.”
A smile blossomed on the little girl’s face. A small smile, one that said she might have discovered a kindred spirit in Lisa and liked the revelation.
“Shall I drive you over? You won’t be more than a minute or two late and if you promise to slip in quietly...”
“I will!”
“Good.” Lisa closed the steno pad with a satisfied nod. “I’ll explain about the toad garden when you get back.”
“Oh, thank you!” Becky turned, ready to go, then stopped. “Wait. Do I look okay?”
“Here.” Lisa straightened the girl’s red bow under a slightly mangled collar. “Much better.” Becky’s patent leather shoes bore smudges from toe-dragging along the sidewalk, but right now, having the kid turn her behavior around was clutch. Lisa climbed in, thrust the car into gear and drove through Jamison. She pulled up outside Good Shepherd and watched as Becky bounded up the steps. At the top, the girl turned and called out, “See you after church!” in a voice loud enough to interrupt the five concurrent services neighboring the Park Round.
Lisa put a finger to her lips.
Becky clapped a guilty but cute hand to an “oops!” mouth, then tiptoed through the door. All Lisa could do was pray she’d done the right thing.
Guilt swamped her as she turned down McCallister Street.
She’d flirted with Alex. Teased him. Acted as if everything was normal in her world.
It wasn’t, and between fighting cancer, being dumped then divorced, her brother’s wedding and her mother’s illness, she’d spent the last few years out of the dating loop, intentionally.
Alex Steele tempted her back into the mix, but how did a woman casually divulge that she no longer had natural breasts?
Awkward.
And the possible subsequent rejection?
That didn’t make the short list, ever again. Evan’s leaving had wounded more than her heart. It grieved her womanly soul, because part of her couldn’t blame him. He hadn’t signed on for damaged goods, a woman scarred and rebuilt. He’d vocalized his fears, that he couldn’t live with a ticking time bomb.
Lisa shared those fears with one major difference: she had no choice but to live with the threat of recurrence. She’d taken upper level statistics, she understood the theory of likelihood, but she’d lost that game once already.
No history of
breast cancer on either side of the family: CHECK.
No detectable genetic markers making her a likely candidate: CHECK.
No behavioral choices that made her more susceptible to breast cancer: CHECK.
She got it anyway. Lisa swallowed a sigh.
She was doing fine on her own. Working, creatively running a great business and filling some of the void her mother’s death had left. Maggie Fitzgerald had been an avid volunteer, running school and 4-H programs. Lisa and Adam had the childhood blue ribbons to prove it.
But beyond that?
Lisa was better off keeping things with Alex Steele “business casual.” Safer for everyone, all around.
Chapter Three
“Hard at work, I see.” Alex softened the wry observation with a smile when he found Lisa lounging on his backyard swing after church. “Examining critical vantage points, I’m sure.”
He moved toward her, bearing gifts in the form of twenty-ounce to-go cups from the village café.
Lisa waved her sketch pad in protest. “Good landscape development needs to be considered from all angles and heights, including sitting. Is that coffee? Please say yes.”
He nodded. “I wasn’t sure what you’d like...”
“Cream, sugar, shot of caramel or chocolate.”
“The fact that you like frou-frou coffee is disadvantageous but I guessed correctly.” He settled into the swing alongside her as he handed her the cup. “And I bought a third one, plain, just in case. These days, guys need to cover all the bases.”
She made a face at him. “My coffee is not girly. It’s just delicious. And on a bad day I take an extra shot of espresso. Keeps me out of jail.”
“You understand I’m an experienced investigator, don’t you?” He made a warning face over the rim of his cup. “Anything you say may be used against you.”
She laughed. “Charges vary depending on the occasion. Where’s Emma?”
Alex waved his free hand toward the house. “I sent them to get changed. Which means their church clothes will add to yesterday’s clutter.”
“Because you were shopping for garden advice.”
He accepted that, bemused. “I won’t pretend I’m good at keeping up with things when I’m in and out. It’s easy on my days off. When I’m working we fall drastically behind.”
The Lawman's Second Chance Page 3