Huntington Family Series

by Rachel Ann Nunes

  “No, uh-huh.” Kerrianne shook her head. “I don’t believe it.”

  Amanda felt embarrassed. Now Kerrianne would guess about her attraction to this guy, and while ordinarily she didn’t mind sharing her feelings with her sister, she couldn’t face it now—especially when there was no future in these crazy emotions.

  “I know why you went to that shop,” Kerrianne continued. “To check up on those children—and a good thing, too.” She pushed herself farther up onto the pillows, her pale face becoming flushed with emotion. “I’d be glad to watch those kids for him, but I warn you that I’m going to give him a piece of my mind. Ha! Leaving a baby alone in the car—and with the heater on!”

  “He knows it was wrong,” Amanda said, relieved that her sister hadn’t guessed everything. “He doesn’t have much experience with babies.” Then, remembering his assertion that Kevin had spent much of his life with him, she added, “Or maybe he’s out of practice.”

  “Well, he’d better learn fast,” Kerrianne said.

  “You don’t have to do it, if you don’t want to.” Amanda reached out to touch the tiny curl of baby Caleb’s hand, sleeping soundly on the bed next to his mother. “We could recommend someone else. But I thought . . . well, they’re really cute kids, and I didn’t want them to stay with just anyone.”

  Kerrianne smiled, her blue eyes shining with approval. “I’m glad to help. I don’t reach out to others as much as I should, and I’m grateful for the opportunity. You did the right thing, Manda. You really did. It’s not everyone who would care enough to check up on some stranger’s children. You put people first and follow inspiration—that’s a quality I’ve always admired in you.”

  Amanda was uncomfortable with her praise. She felt funny hearing it called inspiration, though she believed that was what it had been. For whatever reason, even just that minor water emergency, she was supposed to be at the shop today. “You would have done the same thing,” she told her sister.

  “I hope so. Well, did you give him my number? Good. If he calls, I’ll tell him I’ll watch them for a few weeks. If it goes well, we’ll continue. If not, I’ll find him someone really good to take over. The only real worry I have about doing it is that I don’t want Misty and Benjamin to feel neglected. They’ve already been feeling a bit displaced by Caleb, and they have to come first.”

  “Of course they do. They’re your children. But it might actually help, having someone new to play with.” Amanda arose and from the nightstand retrieved the plate that had held Kerrianne’s dinner.

  “It might.” Kerrianne’s expression became thoughtful.

  “Well, I’d better get going. I’ve got some work to catch up on.” Amanda took a step backward.

  “Thanks so much for bringing dinner.”

  “Get better, okay?”

  Kerrianne smiled. “I’m planning on getting up tomorrow. I’ll be fine.”

  Amanda said good-bye and started for the door.

  “Uh, Manda, wait!” Kerrianne called.

  Amanda turned around, pausing by the door. “Yes?”

  “You’re doing okay, aren’t you? I mean, you seem a little different today. Did anything else happen?”

  Amanda shook her head and then sighed when she realized Kerrianne wasn’t going to accept that answer. “It’s been a year since Tanner and I broke up,” she said. “A whole year.” It seemed like forever.

  “Oh.” Kerrianne frowned. “That’s got to be hard.”

  Amanda shrugged. “I was right to let go. He’s married, and the last time I talked to Savvy, they were very happy.”

  “How is Savvy?”

  Savvy was Tanner’s cousin, and they’d become good friends even before Amanda had begun dating Tanner again last summer. “She’s in her second year at BYU, but truthfully, I haven’t seen much of her. I’ve felt awkward.”

  “You shouldn’t. Your relationship with her had nothing to do with Tanner.”

  “I know that.” Amanda forced a smile. In fact, she had thought time and time again about setting Savvy up with her youngest brother, Tyler, as soon as he got home from his mission in January. There was no one she’d rather have as a sister-in-law. She’d even set Savvy up once with Mitch, but there hadn’t been any attraction or interest from either. Her brother Mitch was into animals big time, while Savvy, studying to be an astronomer, was interested only in the sky.

  “It’s not like Savvy’s going to talk about Tanner all the time.”

  “No, but she is a reminder that he’s gone on with his life, while I’m still in the same place.”

  “No, you’re not!” Kerrianne shook her head. “How can you say that? You’re a full-fledged teacher now with your own class, you bought a house—that’s moving on. So what if you haven’t found the right guy yet? You will, and when you do, you’ll understand why it took so long to find him.”

  Amanda felt her melancholy evaporate. Talking to her sister was like opening the curtain to the sun. Besides, if the truth were told, she wasn’t pining after Tanner anymore. She might not be ready for another relationship, but emotionally she had moved on.

  She hurried back to the bed, set down the plate, and gave her sister a hug. “I love you, Kerrianne,” she whispered.

  “I love you, too.”

  Chapter Seven

  On Friday afternoon, Blake felt a tremor of worry as he hung up the phone and sank down on a chair behind the counter at work. He had a four-thirty appointment with the social worker at his apartment to discuss care of the children. To his relief, there had been no mention of removing Kevin and Mara from his home, but since the children were now wards of the state, an inspection had to be made of the premises before he could be given official custody. There would also be a questionnaire and an interview. That was what worried him.

  “Bad news?” Rhonda looked at him from the new parts shelves where she was letting Kevin help her store the items that had arrived in the mail that morning.

  He shook his head. “I’m not sure. It’s the social worker assigned to Paula’s case. She’s coming over this afternoon.”

  “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

  Blake sighed. “It’s just that . . .” He broke off, noticing Kevin watching him closely. “Kevin, could you go check on your sister in the playpen for me? I bet she’s waking up and wants a bottle.”

  “I’ll go see.” Kevin rushed around the counter. Blake smiled at his eagerness. Kevin loved his sister, no doubt of that.

  Blake met Rhonda’s eyes. “It just that sometimes I wonder if they wouldn’t be better off with someone else, you know? They need a full-time mother or father who’s not always at school or work.”

  Rhonda shook her head so hard her frizzy mop fell over her thin face. “Oh, no. Don’t go there. You’re the only father Kevin knows. Mara, too, for that matter. You do everything a father would do for them. You’re the one who loves them. It might be different if Paula had the guts to give them up for adoption, but you and I both know Paula will never allow that. It’s all about her, when it should be about the kids. That’s what you’ve got to remember. It’s about Kevin and Mara, not you—and they need you.” Rhonda’s voice became softer. “It’s not like you have to do it alone. Doug and I are here. They’re our relatives, too, and we may not be able to give them a home, but we want to be here when you need us.”

  “I know. You’ve been great. Especially you—taking care of them for me this morning while I went to school, letting me bring them to the shop, watching them while I go out on repairs. I really appreciate it.”

  Rhonda sighed. “I only wish I could do more, I really do. Even with the five I’ve got, I might be willing to take them in if Doug was, but he’s finished with that time in his life. Now that Scotty’s finally in first grade, he’s looking forward to being free to go where he wants when he wants . . . and having me with him.” She shook her head, eyes full of memories. “It was quite a setback for his plans when Scotty came seven years after we’d decided to quit having childre
n. Don’t get me wrong, he loves little Scotty like crazy, but he’s feeling his age, especially since Catharine got married and had a baby so young. Being a grandfather is a wonderful thing, but it made him think twice about aging and all the things he wanted to do in his life.”

  “I know, I know. I understand. I just wish I’d finished school earlier, or that I—” Blake stopped. True, he hadn’t pursued a wife because he’d been busy with school and Kevin, but even if he had, he couldn’t really support a family working here. At least not with any degree of comfort, and he didn’t want to pinch pennies for the rest of his life. Of course, that would all change once he finished school and found a good job as a business manager, but for now there was no sense in voicing regrets to Rhonda who had never been anything to him but kind.

  Rhonda shrugged and turned back to her work. “While you were on the phone, Doug came out of the office. He wants to see you. Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on the kids and the desk.”

  Blake smiled his thanks and went into the office. Fridays were normally his favorite days at work because he was only there a half day, most of which he spent out on repair calls instead of stuck in the shop, which he had begun to find less and less enjoyable as the months wore on. Only six more months, he told himself. One and a half semesters. In a few months, I can begin sending out resumés.

  Doug looked up from his computer and smiled. Blake smiled back, remembering a time when Doug had not been in such a good mood after battling with the “newfangled contraption.” Over the past two years, the computer had proven its worth.

  “You wanted to see me?” Blake asked.

  “Yeah, it’s about the kids.”

  Blake sat down heavily in the chair by the desk. “Today’s the last day they’ll be here. I’ve got the names of several sitters. I called a few, but there’s one more I’m going to call today as soon as I get off. She comes very highly recommended.” He hadn’t really been impressed with the other women over the phone, and he wondered what Amanda’s sister would be like.

  “That’s not it.” Doug leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his head, looking much like their father—from what little Blake could remember of their father—who had died when Blake was thirteen. Doug’s dark hair was peppered at the temples with gray, and the spare tire around his waist had begun to spread. He had never been a handsome man, but he’d always had presence. He was good at repairs and a fantastic salesman. During his early life, he had sold everything from chocolate bars to cars. After a successful mission to Peru, he’d opened his shop and begun doing what he did best. Hard work had paid off well enough to hire two full-time workers and one part-timer. He had a nice house, two nice cars, and owned his shop free and clear. Blake was a little in awe of his brother—he’d gone after his dream and won.

  “I’d like to pay for the sitter,” Doug said. “Until you’re out of school.”

  Blake couldn’t hide his surprise. Doug was a good brother, but he wasn’t overly generous. “You don’t have to do that.”

  “I want to.”

  Blake wondered if his conscience was working overtime, or if Rhonda had been twisting his arm. “What I meant was that it might not be necessary. I just talked to the social worker—oh, that reminds me, she wants to meet at four-thirty, so I’m going to have to leave early today.”

  Doug nodded assent. “Del’s here and Ernest is due back from his last repair job soon. We’ll be fine. In fact, you can take off now. It’s almost three, and no doubt you’ll want to clean up before she comes.”

  Blake chuckled. “You got that right. I just started thinking the same thing. I didn’t have time to do any dishes last night or this morning because of school.”

  “That’s understandable. Now what were you saying about the social worker?”

  “Well, she said since Kevin and Mara were going to be wards of the state that eventually I’d receive some money for their care. I was thinking that money might pay for their sitter. It’ll take a few weeks to get the checks coming, though.”

  Doug rubbed his jaw doubtfully. “From what I’ve heard, it’s not a huge amount. You’ll need it for food and clothes and unexpected expenses. You shouldn’t have to worry about paying the sitter, too.”

  Blake considered his brother’s offer. He was reluctant, not only because he wanted to be independent but because he didn’t want to owe more than he already did to Doug. His brother had paid for his mission, had given him a temporary place to live when their mother had died after his mission, and he had given Blake a job. While that job hadn’t exactly been the future Blake had believed it could be when he was twenty-one, it had paid his rent, bought clothes for him and Kevin, and provided his college tuition.

  “Take it, Blake,” Doug urged. “Kevin and Mara are no more your responsibility than they are mine, except by your close relationship with Paula.”

  Blake didn’t exactly agree. He was also responsible because he had fallen completely and hopelessly in love with the children. In a way he couldn’t explain, they were part of him.

  Doug leaned forward abruptly, the wrinkles around his eyes becoming more noticeable. “Look, Blake, I know this shop didn’t turn out to be what you wanted in life—and maybe you’re right about leaving. I was raised in a world where the salary I give you was a good one. I know things have changed, lifestyles, expectations . . .”

  “Prices . . .” Blake prompted.

  A smile crossed Doug’s lips. “Yeah, prices. At first I was really disappointed that you decided to go into another career, but for what it’s worth, I’ve come to terms with your decision. You’ve given me a lot of good years here, and I never offered you partnership. I never . . .” He shook his head and fell quiet. Blake realized that this was as close to an apology as he would ever receive.

  “Okay,” he said. “I’ll accept your help. And I am very grateful. I still have next semester’s tuition to look forward to.”

  Doug laughed and relaxed again in his chair. “Look forward to . . . Yeah, that’s one way of saying it. I think I’ll use that on Rhonda when I tell her the dentist left a message on our voice mail a minute ago—something about scheduling her for a root canal.”

  Blake winced in sympathy. “Wait till I leave, okay?”

  Doug stood up and put a hand on his shoulder. “I’m proud of you, you know? I really am.”

  Blake nodded. “Thanks.” They might not always agree, but they were brothers and they loved each other.

  In the shop, Del was helping a customer at the counter, and Rhonda was talking with another one in front of their top-of-the-line washing machine. Kevin was at the playpen handing Mara a toy, which she promptly tossed back onto the floor, giggling in delight when he bent to pick it up again.

  “Her is playing with me,” Kevin said as Blake approached. The boy was grinning ear to ear.

  “That’s great, bud. You are one awesome brother.” Then the adult in him kicked in. “But remember to say ‘She is playing with me’ instead of her.”

  Kevin shook his head, his chin lifting stubbornly. “Uh-huh. It’s her.”

  “Really, Kevin. I wouldn’t lie to you. It’s she.”

  “Anyway, I said Mara. I didn’t say her or she.”

  Blake gave up, opting instead to praise the child with what he was doing right. “Okay, do it again. Show me.”

  Kevin gave Mara the ball. She threw it out, giggling like mad when Kevin put his hands on his hips and pretended to scold her. Then he picked the ball up and the game began again. Blake watched for a while before stopping them so he could change Mara’s seemingly eternally dirty diaper and give her a bottle to drink on the way home. Instead of wrapping the blankets around her, he put on the new little pink coat Rhonda had brought in this morning.

  In the truck, Kevin was looking at his insect sticker book again. “Haven’t you had enough of that book?” Blake asked. Last night Kevin had once again awakened him with dreams of insects crawling over his bed. No snakes, at least, but Blake had spent
an hour curled up next to him in his twin bed so he wouldn’t be scared. Then Mara had awakened long enough to mess her diaper. In all, it had been an active night. No wonder Doug wasn’t up for starting over.

  “I like bugs,” Kevin said. “Are we going to that lady’s school to see some? Her said we could.”

  Blake didn’t think Kevin had been paying attention when Amanda made her offer. Apparently, he was mistaken. Again. Getting this parenting thing down wasn’t as easy as it looked. He couldn’t believe how much things had changed in the six months Kevin had lived with his grandmother and mother.

  He glanced at the clock on his dash and made a rapid decision. “She should be getting out of school about now. Maybe we could zip on over, take a peek at those bugs, and then get home.”

  “Yay!” Kevin’s blue eyes lit up, and his smile filled his whole face.

  “We can’t stay long,” Blake warned. “Only ten minutes. Fifteen, tops. We have to get home quick because we have someone coming over.”

  “Who?” Kevin asked, his voice carefully neutral. “Is it my mommy?”

  “No.” Blake waited several heartbeats before asking, “Do you miss your mommy?”

  Kevin cocked his head, considering the question. Then he shrugged. “I don’t think so. I want to stay with you.”

  “You can stay with me and still miss your mommy.”

  “Oh.” Kevin smiled. “I do like it when Mommy sings to Mara. But her doesn’t sing to me anymore.”

  “That’s because you’re such a big boy now.”

  “You sing to me.”

  Blake hardly thought that “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and “Popcorn Popping” really counted. “Shhh, just don’t tell anyone,” he said in a loud whisper. “I think I’m probably too old, too.”

  Kevin giggled. Mara, finishing her bottle, threw it on the floor of the truck and grinned with them.

  The halls of Grovecrest Elementary were thick with children. “Looks like we got here about on time,” Blake said.

  “Where do we go?” Kevin clung to his hand, awed by the swarm around him.