“Okay,” Kevin agreed. “But can I keep it for a long, long time?” There was another plea behind this one, a plea Blake doubted Kevin knew how to voice.
“As long as possible.”
“Good.” Kevin turned back to the book, his brows crunched together. Blake wondered if he had answered well, or if the child’s mother would prevent him from keeping the promise.
At the shop he found his sister-in-law getting ready to leave. “Oh, good, you’re back,” Rhonda said, coming from behind the long desk that spanned one side of the shop. “Doug should be here any minute to pick me up. I thought we were going to have to take the baby home with us.”
“No, don’t take her!” Kevin glared at Rhonda before rushing over to where the baby stood grinning at them from the portable playpen set up in the used washer section.
“My, my, Mr. Protective,” Rhonda said, smiling.
Kevin ignored her. “Hi, I’m back,” he cooed to the baby in falsetto. “Yep, your big brother’s back.” He leaned over to give her a sloppy kiss, causing one of her hands to slip off the edge of the playpen. She swayed but didn’t fall. “Did you miss me? Huh? Yes, you did. I know you did. Look, I got a book!” He held it up for her to see.
Blake met his sister-in-law’s smile with one of his own. “Thanks for watching her.”
“No problem. Mara’s an angel. It’s Kevin that’s a handful. I don’t know how you manage to get anything done with him here.”
“Practice, I guess.” Blake remembered the box of parts Kevin had overturned earlier. “It can be hard.”
“And their mother?”
He shrugged. “She’ll be back soon.”
Rhonda looked at him for a minute, as if contemplating whether or not to believe him. There was a honk outside. “Doug’s here. We’ve got Scouts tonight so I’d better hurry.” She grabbed her purse, flew to the playpen to give Mara a kiss, and headed for the door. “I gave her a bottle already and some baby food. She’s about ready to sleep. Oh, and check the log. I added another repair to tomorrow’s list. We shouldn’t book any more till Friday or Saturday because it’s just you and Ernest tomorrow. It’s Del’s day off, and Doug and I have a sales appointment with a hotel manager in the afternoon. I’ll be in, though, in the morning. I’m going to start organizing the used parts if it kills me.” They both glanced to the far corner behind the used dryers where boxes of old parts looked more like mounds of steel and plastic refuse than anything useful. “I already bought the shelves. Maybe you can help me put them up.”
“Sure. No problem.” Blake was glad that Doug and Rhonda’s last child started first grade this year. The place was much neater since Rhonda had begun working at the shop.
“Oh, and Kevin sweetie, I saved a Twinkie for you. It’s on Uncle Doug’s desk.” She motioned with her chin to the door behind the counter that led into the office.
“A Twinkie?” Kevin said. “Thanks!”
Rhonda blew him a kiss and was gone before Blake remembered the schoolteacher’s oven. Rushing to the door, he saw only the taillights of his brother’s car disappearing down the street. Just great, he thought. What do I do with Mara now while I fix the oven?
Mara was holding out one arm, her fingers grabbing the air in his direction, her other hand tightly gripping the edge of the playpen. Blake went to pick her up. She was so tiny that at first he had felt nervous around her. But not anymore. He squeezed her in a tight hug and then scattered kisses on her cheek and neck to get her giggling. She hugged him back, and he breathed in the sweet smell of her hair. He’d washed it himself with baby shampoo just last night. The dress she wore was new, but he’d underestimated the size, and half her diaper was displayed underneath. He’d have to buy another dress and some tights while he was at it.
“Sorry, Mara. Got some work to do.” He set the baby back in the playpen on her feet. She grasped the edges with small fists, teetered for a minute, and then fell onto her bottom. Instead of crying, she picked up the soft-bodied doll he’d bought her and put it to her mouth. Should he have washed it first? He’d have to ask Rhonda.
“An igniter, an igniter,” he murmured. “Let’s see.” He started toward the floor-to-ceiling new parts shelves behind the long, counterlike desk, pushing aside a washer drum on the floor that blocked his way. “Keep an eye on Mara, Kevin. I need to get a part for that nice lady.” Afterward, he’d decide what to do with Mara while he made the repair.
“Okay.” Kevin pulled off a tiny piece of the Twinkie he had retrieved from the office and, standing on his tiptoes, reached into the playpen to give it to Mara.
When Blake was ready to go, he picked up Mara—only to discover that she smelled worse than his garbage can on trash day. Fortunately he was prepared. Mara was a happy baby most of the time and easy to satisfy, but right now she was going through more diapers in a day than three babies her age. He figured she’d probably picked up some kind of bug that caused loose bowels. Since she was prone to diaper rash, he had to be vigilant.
Sighing, he grabbed the diaper bag for what seemed like the millionth time that day. Ever helpful, Kevin opened the teacher’s book and showed his sister a particularly gruesome bug.
* * *
Amanda opened her door to Blake and his son forty-five minutes after they’d left. Outside it was nearly dark now. And colder. “Come on in,” she said.
“Thank you.” Blake nodded with an amused grin that made Amanda feel like smiling too.
“Can I look at the book?” Kevin asked, shrugging off his coat onto the wood floor.
Blake turned to the child. “Kevin, where is the book? Is it in the car?”
“No. I don’t think so.” The boy shook his head, staring dejectedly at his boots.
“I don’t either. You must have left it at the shop.” Blake’s voice was weary, but he didn’t sound angry. He blew out a sigh, his lower lip jutting out.
Amanda hid a smile.
“I’m sorry,” Blake said to her. “I’ll go back and get it as soon as I get the part in.”
She nodded, feeling awkward. If she hadn’t offered to lend Kevin the book, Blake could be on his way home to his wife and warm dinner instead of chasing after paper insects.
Blake went right to work while Amanda found a book about snakes for Kevin. Then she set out a plastic container of magnetic bars and balls for him to build things with in case he grew bored.
“I have to go next door for a moment,” she said to Blake. “I’ll be right back.”
He nodded without speaking. Kevin didn’t look up from his book.
Amanda slipped out the front door, jiggling her neighbor’s key in her hand. She could feed their birds later, but it was dark and it might snow by the time Blake finished with the oven. Glancing at his truck parked in front of her house, Amanda thought she saw a light inside but decided the illumination came from the passing cars, which were steady this time of night as people returned home from work. Shaking her head, she cut across the lawn to her neighbor’s. They were away now on vacation, and she was proud of herself for not relaying that bit of information to the repairman. Not that he was a burglar or anything. You just never knew.
The birds had dirtied their water and tossed out much of their food. “Obviously you’re bored,” she told the two cockatiels. She refilled the food and washed out their water dishes before replacing them. One bird scolded her, while the other hopped onto her finger. Amanda took it from the cage and softly stroked the blue-gray feathers.
“You must be Bluebell,” she said. “Your mate hates me, you know.” Bluebell pushed her head into her fingers. Amanda petted her for a while before returning her to the cage. “Sorry, lady. I’ve got a strange man in my house, and I have to make sure everything’s okay. But you keep this up, and I just may get a bird for a pet instead of a dog. Though I can’t imagine letting you cuddle up on my bed at night—or that you’ll be chasing away burglars.”
She put the birds away, all too-aware of the passing minutes. Had Blake finished t
he job? She hurried outside and across the lawn. Snow had begun to fall, the small white flakes disappearing as they touched the ground. The faint sound of an engine running caused her to pause as she reached her porch. There were no cars passing at the moment, and the sound appeared to be coming from the repairman’s truck. A quick suspicion shot through her. In the five minutes she’d been gone, maybe he’d stolen her valuables and was taking off!
Wait a minute. She didn’t have any valuables other than her laptop computer, and she’d left that at the school. Besides, she knew where he worked.
Yet his truck did seem to be running. Curiously, she walked over to the vehicle, expecting to find the sound carrying from somewhere up the street.
No, it was his truck. And the cab wasn’t empty.
Amanda stared in amazement at the baby sitting in the car seat, wrapped in a pink blanket. She might have been pretty when calm, but her face was red and ugly now, her mouth open in a heartrending scream that Amanda could hear through the closed window. This baby was more than upset. Even the top of her head, covered poorly by sparse brown hair, was crimson with her efforts.
Amanda reached for the door. It was locked. Anger surged through her. With no thought but to rescue the poor baby, she ran quickly across the lawn and up to the house, bursting inside with such force that Kevin looked up from the table, startled.
“Hey, you! Blake Whatever-your-last name. Where’re your keys?” She had crossed the living room now and was in the kitchen by the table.
“Huh?” Blake was on his knees, head inside the oven.
“I need your keys,” she said through gritted teeth. “Your baby’s outside screaming her head off. She looks hot. Did you leave the heat on?”
Blake jumped to his feet, dropping something in his hand. It landed on the ceramic tile. “Dang!” he said, stooping to pick it up.
“Didn’t you hear what I said?” Anger made her voice sharp. “Babies die in too much heat. You shouldn’t have left her out there!”
“I heard you!” Blake tossed the piece onto the counter and ran for the door.
Snow was coming down faster now, the flakes beginning to show on the grass. From her porch Amanda watched him open the truck door and reach in for the howling baby. After wrapping her in a blanket, he leaned over, shut off the engine, and came across the lawn.
The baby’s screams were only occasional jerking sobs by the time they arrived at the porch, but her face was still red and wet with tears. Amanda stepped back to let them inside.
“It was too hot,” Blake said.
She could see regret in his face, but she was too angry to care. “You should never leave a baby alone in a car. Never! What were you thinking?”
“She was asleep. I didn’t want to disturb her.” He patted the child’s back tenderly, and it wrenched Amanda’s heart when the baby gave him a tentative smile through her sobs.
“I didn’t realize I’d be this long. I left the heat on because it was so cold.”
Amanda didn’t accept this excuse. “She was there earlier, I bet,” she accused. “When you came before. Does your wife know you leave them in the truck?”
“I don’t—” He stopped, his face coloring with his own anger. “Look, I don’t answer to you. I did what I thought was best. Turns out I was wrong. I know better now.”
“Yeah, lucky for you it wasn’t serious,” she retorted. “This time.”
A father should know better, she thought. As a schoolteacher she had learned that she had to imagine every scenario, no matter how far-fetched, to keep the children safe. Their imaginations were miles ahead of her own—or any other adult’s, for that matter. Maybe she should call the police on this repairman and alert them to the possible danger. He could be telling the truth, but then again he might be negligent all the time. Who could know for certain?
“Get your coat on, Kevin,” Blake said calmly.
Amanda noticed the boy was standing nearby, looking up at them anxiously. “Where are we going?” he asked.
“Back to the shop.”
Amanda glanced into the kitchen, where the pieces of her stove lay on the floor and on the counters. “What about my oven?” She had a sinking feeling it was going to remain dismantled. Well, she certainly wouldn’t pay his thirty-five dollar fee. Or for the part, either.
“I have to get another part.” Blake spoke through clenched teeth, as though trying to maintain his calm. “I broke that last one when you started yelling at me.”
“Yelling?” She shook her head. “I was worried about her. That’s all.” She sighed.
“Well, she’s fine now.” He held the baby close to him. Her little arms were around his neck, her eyes drooping. Amanda noticed that unlike her brother, she had brown eyes and hair. A definite daddy’s girl.
“You’re not going to leave her out in the truck again, are you?” Amanda felt compelled to ask. “At the shop, I mean.”
He stared at her with those deep brown eyes that made her heart miss a beat. “You think just because I’m a dumb repairman that I can’t learn by my mistakes?” His voice bristled with barely concealed anger. “Don’t concern yourself, miss. I’ll take care of her. Come on, Kevin.” He opened the door, and they went out into the snowy night.
For some reason Amanda felt she was the one in the wrong. “Uh, I could watch them while you’re gone. I’m mean, since you’re coming back.” At least she hoped he was coming back.
He turned at the bottom of the stairs. “How do I know you won’t call child services or something while I’m gone?”
Amanda felt color seeping into her face. “I’m not going to do that.” Not yet, she added silently.
There was a hint of a smile on his face, but it did not change the anger she saw in his eyes. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back. I’m leaving my tools.”
He walked away, his back tense and stiff. The perfect snub. Except that he was cradling the baby—and somehow that softened everything.
Not watching them get into the truck, she slammed the door, wondering where she’d gone wrong. She’d done the right thing about the baby. His eyes had seemed sincere when he told her it was the first time he’d left her in the truck alone. But could she be sure? He’d seemed about to leave the older boy in the truck earlier, so why not the baby?
One thing was sure: she’d made him angry. Not a good thing, considering. What if he booby-trapped her stove to explode or something the next time she used it? The headlines would read: “School Teacher Killed in Unfortunate Accident.” Or maybe: “Repairman Testifies Accident Caused by Teacher’s Stupidity.” Yes, that would be more likely. He’d blame the explosion on the water she’d thrown inside the oven.
Ignoring her upset stomach, Amanda sighed and went back to her papers.
Chapter Three
Blake was angry. Furious. No, there weren’t even words in the English dictionary to define his feelings. He thought of the woman he’d just left, how those emerald eyes pierced him and made him want to find out everything about her. While he fixed her stove, he’d begun to think that maybe a date with her might be possible—if he explained about Kevin and Mara. And then this had to happen!
Fury flooded him in a renewed wave as he drove through the dark streets to the repair shop. He wasn’t angry at the woman—at Amanda. He was angry only at himself.
In front of the repair shop, he took a sleeping Mara from her car seat and stroked her face softly. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I didn’t realize . . . I was stupid. So stupid.” He hugged her tightly, and she wriggled in her sleep.
“I thought you said stupid was a bad word,” Kevin said from the other side of the seat. Blake looked at the boy and noticed he was clutching a book, the second one he’d been reading at Amanda’s. Oops.
“It is,” Blake said. “But what I did was very bad. I shouldn’t have left Mara in the truck alone. I thought it would be okay, but it wasn’t.”
Kevin shrugged. “Mommy does it all the time.”
“She shoul
dn’t.”
“I stay and watch Mara.”
“She shouldn’t leave you, either.”
Kevin’s forehead wrinkled. “I thought you were going to leave me when we went there before.”
“Well, that was only for a minute so I could see what was wrong.” But Blake knew both times he’d been wrong. Neither child was old enough to be left alone. Yet what was he to do? He had to work, or they’d really be in trouble.
“I promise I won’t be so stu—leave you alone again.”
“Okay.” Kevin tugged the door open.
After unlocking the door to the shop, Blake carried Mara inside and held her while he got the new part. On the way out, he remembered both Amanda’s books.
“Are we going back to the lady’s?” Kevin asked in the truck. “’Cause I’m getting kinda hungry.”
“I’m going to leave you with a friend. But I’ll order you a pizza before I leave.”
“Do I know him?”
“Yes, but it’s been a few months, and I never left you with him before so you might not remember him. He’s really nice, though. And it’s just until I fix that oven. I’ll be right back.”
“Does he have a TV?”
“Yes. I just hope he’s home.” It didn’t escape Blake’s notice that Kevin didn’t seem concerned to be left with a stranger. As long as there was a television.
He was relieved to see the lights on as he drove up to the small house a few blocks northeast of the shop where he rented a basement apartment. Garth lived in the upstairs half of the house and had rented to him for a year now. As bachelors, they had become good friends. Blake bundled a sleeping Mara in her blanket and went out into the falling snow, shivering slightly.
“Man, why aren’t you wearing a coat?” Garth said as he opened the door to them after three rings of the doorbell. He was wearing sweats, and his black hair, thinning on top, was wet, as though he’d just stepped from the shower. The sweats didn’t do much for the roll that had begun around his waist, but Blake would never tell him so. Garth had a very macho image of himself that Blake suspected had begun in high school when he’d broken his nose defending a girl. That crooked nose and his olive skin—a gift from his Italian grandmother—secured him more dates in a month than Blake had in a year.
Huntington Family Series Page 3