Huntington Family Series

by Rachel Ann Nunes

  “I never heard of such a thing.”

  She shrugged. “Neither had we. He was diagnosed one time when we went waterskiing when he was about fifteen. He had a very severe reaction and almost died for lack of air. Hasn’t been able to go in cold water since without a dry suit. That’s like a wet suit, only it doesn’t allow water inside.”

  Blake shook his head. “Too weird.”

  Amanda laughed. “That’s my brother, summed up in two words. Weird. But he’s wonderful, too. Keeps us all young. He’s twenty-three but acts about seven.”

  “I like him,” Blake said. Their hands touched as they walked, and he grabbed her cold hand with his warmer one.

  At the car, Savvy was insisting that Mitch put Hiccup in her cage—which just happened to be in the plastic sack he had smuggled into the car earlier. Amanda and Blake slid into the backseat, still holding hands.

  As they sat there, Amanda began to wonder if she had only imagined what had occurred between them. The heavy feeling in the hollow of her stomach warned her that she had only just stepped on the ride. Now if she could just hold on.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Amanda wasn’t surprised when she received a phone call from Blake after work on Tuesday. He’d called on Sunday just to talk, on Monday he’d invited her over for family night, and he had called her again on Monday night after she returned home. Under the very curious stares of Kevin and Mara, there had been no more kisses, but Amanda was willing to take their relationship slowly. She couldn’t remember ever having felt this way about a man before. She didn’t care what he did for a living, what he wore, or if he had custody of ten children that weren’t his.

  “Hi, Blake,” she said, enjoying the way his voice seemed to reach into her very being.

  “I have a favor to ask.” His voice was hesitant now. “I was going to call my sister-in-law, but Kevin begged me to call you instead.”

  “What is it?”

  “I have to go somewhere, and I can’t take the kids. I usually have the neighbor girl baby-sit, but I . . . well, I started getting worried this morning, what with Paula’s outburst on Saturday, that maybe I shouldn’t leave them with a child. I really didn’t think she’d come here without asking, but I suddenly find I’m not so sure. Maybe this is the Spirit warning me. Ordinarily, I’d shrug it off as my own imagination, but Kevin and Mara . . . well, it’s too important to not listen to. Paula knows I won’t be here tonight.”

  “She knows?”

  “Yeah. I, uh, always have to go somewhere on Tuesday nights. Thursdays, too.”

  Ah-hah! Amanda thought. “And where is that?” she asked.

  “Uh . . .” He trailed off, obviously not wanting to share more information.

  A spurt of anger shot through Amanda. She didn’t expect him to check with her for every little thing, but he was asking her to watch the children. She had a right to know where he was going. She had a right to know if he was seeing someone else. He had kissed her, after all. He had said, “We won’t”—whatever that meant.

  “Don’t tell me,” she said, feigning cheerfulness. “You’re going to AA meetings? Or maybe Weight Watchers. Yes, that must be how you keep so trim.”

  “Actually, I’ve got school.”

  Relief flooded through her. “School? You have school? Why didn’t you tell me? I thought you had a da—uh, never mind.”

  “You thought I had a date?” He chuckled. “That’s rich. Who’d want a date with a guy who works too much and is caring for his cousin’s children.”

  “Me, I guess,” Amanda said.

  His chuckle grew into full-blown laughter. “That’s one thing I love about you, Amanda. You don’t take the easy way out.”

  “What do you mean?” She didn’t know if she should be offended or pleased. He had, after all, mentioned “love.”

  “I was thinking of that night you discovered Mara in my truck. You were so angry at me. You weren’t going to back down, no matter what. I was almost afraid you were going to call the police right then and there.”

  “The thought did cross my mind.”

  “I bet. Then you came to the store to see how they were.”

  “Well . . .”

  “You were right to do so,” he said, suddenly serious. “You never know these days.” He fell quiet, and Amanda knew he was thinking about his cousin.

  “I’ll be glad to watch the kids,” she told him softly.

  “Thanks. I didn’t want the girl next door to have a problem with Paula, you know?”

  “Yeah. Well, don’t worry. Even if she does show up, I won’t let her take them.”

  “Exactly.” The smile was back in his voice. “Still, maybe I should bring them over there.”

  “And keep me from seeing what else you have stuffed under the couch cushions?”

  “Hey, I was in a hurry. I cleaned it up later.”

  She laughed at his embarrassment. “Well, your place is better because they’ll need to go to bed before you come home. See you in a few minutes.”

  Only after they hung up did she begin to wonder about his school classes and what he was studying. Washing machine repair? It doesn’t matter, she told herself—and found that wasn’t exactly true. It did matter and he should have told her. She needed him to feel he could share his dreams with her, regardless of what they were.

  Amanda’s tire was low, so she had to use the electric pump her father had given her several Christmases ago. She arrived barely in time at Blake’s apartment. She noticed his brother’s car was still parked out front and that his truck in the open garage had the hood up. She went around the house to the back entrance.

  Blake put Mara in her arms right after opening the door. His eyes lingered on her as he slung his backpack over his shoulder.

  “What do you have in your purse?” Kevin asked eagerly.

  “Yeah, what?” Blake winked at her, but she noticed he made no move toward the door. For family night she had stuck finger puppets in her purse for the children. Both had loved them, but Blake had enjoyed them every bit as much.

  “Aren’t you going to be late?” Amanda asked, smiling at him. If she had to wait until later to hear about his classes and his plans for the future, he’d have to wait to see the delicious candy turkeys she was going to make with Kevin in honor of Thanksgiving next week. “Better hurry. You don’t want those young whippersnappers down there making jokes about how slow older men are.”

  Blake groaned. “Don’t remind me. I am the oldest in the class.” He glanced at her purse again and then at her face. Without warning, he planted a quick, solid kiss on her mouth. “See you later.”

  Amanda watched him leave, holding Mara tighter in her arms.

  The evening went well. Making the candy turkeys took longer than Amanda expected, but that was because as much candy found its way into their stomachs as into their creations. Finally, they had turkeys for each of them, including Blake.

  Mara had fallen asleep in the high chair. After gently washing bits of marshmallow from her hands and face, Amanda picked her up. “I’m going to take her to bed,” she whispered. “Then we’ll read some books. I brought a few, but you can go and get any others you want.” Kevin had quite a nice collection of books on the bottom shelf of the entertainment center.

  When she returned to the room, Kevin was standing in the middle of the kitchen, staring at the door. His eyes were wide, his face scared. “What is it?” she asked.

  He pointed to the door. “Someone’s trying to get in.” Sure enough, the knob wiggled, and a loud thump sounded on the other side of the door.

  Amanda reached out to Kevin. “It’s okay.” She took his hand, pulling him toward the table, reaching for the phone.

  The doorbell rang, sounding loud in the quiet. “Let me in,” came a woman’s muffled voice. “I want to see my kids!”

  “That’s my mom.” Kevin took a step toward the door and then stopped and looked at Amanda with a question on his face.

  The voice outside th
e door had gone silent, and Amanda pondered what she should do. Maybe she should let Kevin’s mother in to see him for a minute. But what if she hadn’t come alone? What if she tried to take the children? Amanda didn’t know much about drug use, but she knew enough about Paula to know she wasn’t stable.

  And she had threatened Blake. Or at least to burn down his apartment.

  Paula began to pound on the door. “I know you’re in there! I know it!” A few foul words punctuated her exclamations. “Open up and give me my kids! Come on. I know Blake’s gone. I know it! Just give me the kids and I’ll leave. You can say I forced you to do it.” When Amanda didn’t answer, a stream of muffled curses came through the door.

  “I think my mommy’s drunk,” Kevin said, showing no emotion at the fact.

  Amanda fought the sadness that came with his statement. She doubted whether her niece, Misty, even knew the word drunk, much less the meaning.

  More banging and cursing. The door shook with the force behind it. Amanda cringed.

  Kevin put his hand in hers. “Let’s go get Mara and hide under the bed or in the closet,” he said. “Let’s pretend we’re not home. Mommy will go away and come back later.”

  Amanda could hardly see through her tears at his practicality. “I don’t know about hiding,” she said, “but it’s a good idea to go to your room.” She took the phone with her, debating whether to call the police. She decided to call her brother instead, not wanting to cause Kevin more stress. There was also a lingering worry in her mind that Paula might somehow be able to convince the police that the children were supposed to be with her and that she might disappear with them before the true circumstances were untangled. Mitch could get here in only a few minutes if he was home.

  Thankfully, he answered on the second ring. She explained the situation quickly, making him promise to be careful when he came over. “I don’t think she’s dangerous, but I don’t know if she’s alone.”

  “Stay tight. I’ll be right there.”

  “Okay, hurry.”

  “You don’t have to call anyone,” Kevin said from the closet where he was clearing space for them to hide. “Mommy always goes away. Grandma and I used to hide when her comed home drunk. Tomorrow her will come back—and maybe bring me peanut butter crackers.”

  “What about when you lived with your mom?” Amanda asked.

  He shrugged. “Sometimes I hided under the bed. But Mara doesn’t like it. Are you going to pick her up now?” He glanced at the crib anxiously, and Amanda saw the fear he had hidden behind his pragmatic suggestions.

  “No, I think we’ll let her sleep. Don’t worry, though, my brother’s going to come and talk to your mom. Everything’s going to be fine. We don’t need to hide. We’re safe. Come, sit on my lap here on the bed. I’ll read you a book.”

  They could still hear the banging at the door. Amanda figured the man upstairs who rented the apartment to Blake must not be home or he would have called the police by now. Thank heaven Blake didn’t leave the kids with that young baby-sitter, she thought, sending up a silent prayer.

  With a last glance toward the closet, Kevin snuggled into her lap and opened the pages of a book. Amanda began to read aloud. Mara didn’t stir at the sound of her voice, the light, or the banging.

  After a while the pounding ceased, and Amanda went into the kitchen, wondering if she dared open the door. A knock came and then a voice. “It’s me, Mitch.”

  “Wait on the couch, Kevin,” Amanda said. “Gather all the books you want me to read.”

  “Can I see your brother?”

  “Yes. I’ll bring him in.” Amanda opened the door, eyes going past her brother. No one else was there.

  “She’s gone,” Mitch said.

  “Did you see her?”

  He nodded and kept his voice low as he explained. “I told her I was investigating a disturbance. She said someone had kidnapped her kids. I asked her if she wanted me to take her down to the station to file a report. She swore at me and left.”

  Amanda glanced at Kevin, who stared at them with interest from across the room. “Thanks for coming. I was worried there for a moment.”

  Mitch chuckled without real mirth. “She was wasted, that much was obvious. I’m glad you didn’t open the door.”

  “Well, come on in. Kevin wants to meet you.” Amanda noticed her brother’s face was already turning red from the cold. Several pea-sized welts stood out on his cheeks.

  Mitch immediately made friends with Kevin. Amanda smiled as Mitch, without using a book, told Kevin the most outrageous true stories involving animals that he had learned while studying wildlife biology.

  “And the bear really, really just walked away?” Kevin asked, his eyes huge in his small face.

  “Yep. When that woman started yelling at him, he knew he had to leave or get screamed to death.”

  Kevin giggled. “Funny bear.”

  “Yep, animals are fascinating creatures.”

  “You know a lot about animals. Is that your job?”

  A frown crossed Mitch’s narrow face. “I thought it was, but to tell you the truth, Kevin, I’ve discovered that many wildlife biologists don’t end up working with animals at all. They do research on computers, spend their time in a lab, or teach at schools.” His eyes met Amanda’s. “In fact, I’ve been thinking about changing my major to zoology. They face many of the same work challenges, but at least that way I could work for a zoo or someplace. Slightly more of a chance to work with animals.”

  “You should do that,” Kevin agreed, sounding grown up. “I want to work at the zoo, too.”

  Amanda was about to add her approval to Kevin’s when Mitch’s coat began swaying violently on the back of the chair in the adjoining kitchen where she had hung it earlier. “Looks like Dizzy woke up,” Mitch said. “I forgot she was there.”

  “Mitch!” Amanda jumped up and ran into the kitchen. “I swear, you’re going to kill these animals one of these days. You just can’t go around with them in your pocket like that.”

  Mitch beat her to the coat. “I know, I know. That’s why I’ve put Dizzy in her plastic ball and not just in my pocket. It’s a small one, but enough to protect her and to let her breathe. It’s just like the one I had Hiccup in at the dance the other night.” Mitch grinned at her. “You didn’t know I took a ball to the dance, did you? Of course I did. I wouldn’t risk hurting any of my pets.” He let Dizzy out of the plastic ball and showed her to Kevin. “My gerbils love going places with me, but I have to be careful. They squish very easily, and if something were to happen to them . . .” He shook his head gravely, finding it unnecessary to finish the sentence.

  Amanda sat on the couch and watched Mitch and Kevin play with the gerbil on the kitchen floor. They were still at it when Blake arrived home. His eyebrows rose at Mitch’s presence, but he crossed the room and shook hands. “Brought Hiccup along, I see.”

  “Actually, this one is Dizzy,” Mitch said, holding the animal up so that Blake could see the white stripe on her head that differentiated her from her sister. “She’s a little more rambunctious. Uh, sorry about those little pellets on your floor here. I guess she couldn’t wait until we got home. They sweep up quite easily, though.”

  Blake stared at the gerbil refuse. “It’s okay,” he said faintly, looking back and forth between Mitch and the floor.

  Amanda took his hand, enjoying his touch, and led him to the children’s room on the pretense of checking on Mara. Out of Kevin’s hearing, she explained what had happened, Kevin’s reaction, and Mitch’s part in the whole mess.

  Even in the dim illumination cast by the nightlight, Amanda saw Blake’s color deepen with anger. “I can’t believe this,” he said, dropping her hand and walking over to the crib where Mara lay sleeping. “What am I saying? Of course I believe this. I felt something was going to happen. I know what Paula’s like. I just hoped—” He shook his head, glancing over at her. “This leaves me no recourse. I have to file a restraining order. I can’t have he
r popping in like this, making threats. She’ll have to do her visiting at an assigned hour with the social worker. If I’m going to take care of Kevin and Mara the way they need to be taken care of, I have to be out of the middle.”

  Blake’s hands on the side of the crib turned white with the force of his grip. Amanda put her hand over one of his. “I’m sorry,” she ventured.

  “It’s just . . .” he began. “I know it might be hard to understand, but I love Paula. We were such good friends growing up, closer than brother and sister. But then her dad died, she fell in with the wrong crowd, and—” He shook his head. “In a way I feel responsible. If I had been a better friend, if I had made her see what she was doing wrong.”

  “You can’t make other people’s choices for them,” Amanda said.

  He looked at her, his dark eyes filled with sadness. “I know that, I guess. But sometimes it doesn’t make it any easier. Kevin and Mara deserve so much more.”

  Amanda hugged him, offering the only comfort she could. “It’ll be all right.”

  For a long moment they stood there, lost in their own thoughts.

  “Well,” Amanda said finally, trying to lighten the mood, “I think we’d better go keep an eye on Mitch. There’s no telling what else he might have in that coat of his.”

  Smiling in appreciation, Blake let her lead him from the room.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The man who delivered the letter late Thursday morning was cute—even if he did have really short hair and wore a suit. Paula liked the way his wide chin seemed so strong and sure. She liked the way his blue eyes lit up curiously as she identified herself, as though he thought she couldn’t possibly be who she said she was. Blushing, she ran a self-conscious hand through her hair, knotted by last night’s party and this morning’s sleep, glad that she was wearing the black jeans and crop top she’d been wearing last night instead of her pajamas.