Amelia

by Marie, Bernadette

  Vivian lowered herself into her chair. “I never thought about that.” Her shoulders dropped and Sam eased back into his seat as Amelia sat down in her chair as well. Vivian covered her mouth with her hand and then looked at Amelia. “How long were you married to Adam?”

  “Two years.”

  Vivian batted her eyes fighting back tears which Sam could see forming. She swallowed hard. “When?”

  “April—why?”

  The first tears rolled and Vivian wiped them clean with the back of her hand. “Did you go on a honeymoon?”

  “Quick trip to Florida.”

  Vivian nodded. “Lots of sun there.”

  “It was very warm. What does this have to do with any of this?”

  Vivian blew out a breath. “When Emma was born four years ago, Adam was in Iraq. They did a live feed and he saw her be born.”

  “That’s precious,” Penelope finally spoke.

  Vivian nodded. “When Ava was born, my sister was there with me. I hadn’t been able to get a hold of Adam. I didn’t even know where he’d been deployed—until now.”

  Sam saw the color leave Amelia’s cheeks. “Florida?”

  “When he came back two weeks later he had a really nice tan.” There was a bite to her words.

  “Oh, Vivian…” Amelia covered her mouth with her hand. “I didn’t…”

  “I know. You didn’t know. I see that now.”

  Vivian’s cheeks were red, but the tears had stopped. Anger had taken over and Sam wondered what had begun to brew in that head of hers.

  “Would you ladies like to take a break?” he offered.

  Vivian shook her head. “No. Just…no.” She took a deep breath and let it out. Folding her hands on the table before her she lifted her head and looked at him.

  “What does Amelia have in mind?”

  Chapter Eight

  Amelia reached into the bag which hung from her chair and pulled out a legal pad Sam had given her.

  “I made a few notes. But I’m not the one making the decisions. First I think we should look into our backgrounds. What do each of us do?”

  Penelope looked between Amelia and Vivian. “I’ve worked in coffee shops, clothing stores, a movie theater.” She thought for a moment. “I’ve washed cars, sacked groceries,” her eyes opened wide, “oh, and I worked at a day care center when I was seventeen. I only worked one summer, but I was really good with the kids.”

  Vivian shook her head as if she were disgusted by Penelope.

  Amelia shifted in her seat and gave Vivian a glance. “What are your qualifications?”

  Vivian’s eyes went dark. “I have an associate’s degree in early childhood development.”

  Amelia made some notes on the pad.

  “What about you?” Vivian asked. “What skills do you have?”

  “I could have broken Adam into a million pieces and no one would have known where I buried him.”

  She’d said it matter-of-fact, but it had brought out the strained smile Vivian had been hiding.

  “It would be an interesting advertisement for any kind of business we put together,” Vivian smirked.

  “Might be big money.”

  This time Penelope laughed, then quickly covered her mouth with her hand.

  Amelia looked at her very short list. “So the only thing we have in common is child care.”

  “The only thing Penelope and I have in common is child care. And children. You don’t seem to fit into this picture.”

  Amelia nodded slowly. “I just own the accounts.”

  She watched as Vivian sat back in her seat crossing her arms over her chest.

  Amelia looked at the list. One of Vivian’s concerns was child care. That was a definite issue with her getting a job. And Penelope didn’t know anyone so how could she get a job if she had to pay out for child care always?

  But Amelia didn’t know anything about children—nothing. She’d been one once, but that was as far as it went. But she did understand finances and business—enough.

  Of course they could open a store with shirts and skirts and the kids could hang out. Maybe they could have a self-defense studio and she could teach them what to do.

  “Are you going to let the rest of us in on your planning?” Vivian sat forward, her arms on the table.

  “Sorry,” Amelia said as she set the pen on the pad. “The common factor we have here are kids. Your two and Penelope’s. No matter what we do or what jobs either of you take on you’re going to have to find child care.”

  “Yeah, bosses aren’t real fond of kids hanging around,” Vivian snapped.

  “No one is going to hire Penelope either.” She looked to her side and saw that had brought a tear to Penelope’s eye. “They don’t want a pregnant woman who will leave and they will have to pay out medical benefits on.”

  “Where is this going?”

  “My first thought is we go into child care.”

  Vivian let out a snort and sat back in her chair. “You’re going to take care of children?”

  “I was thinking I’d be the executive side. The two of you seem to have more knowledge about kids.”

  “Ya think?”

  Amelia swallowed hard. If Vivian Monroe had crossed her path prior to Adam’s funeral she was sure she’d have given that dark hair a firm yank that brought her to her knees. But as it was she was also the peace keeper, so she’d refrain from ripping Vivian Monroe to pieces.

  “I’d love to work with kids,” Penelope spoke softly. “I have four sisters and they were much younger than I was. I’ve done a lot of babysitting.”

  “This is more than babysitting,” Vivian added.

  “Oh, I know. But I like the thought that I could be with my baby too.”

  Vivian’s eyes softened. “That is a plus.”

  Amelia watched Vivian process it. “It would mean thinking about it. A place, licenses, advertising. There is a lot to consider.”

  “It would take a while to get it all together. That’s quite an undertaking,” Penelope added.

  “I agree. I could teach some martial arts and self-defense classes for a bit. That would help earn us some revenue.”

  “I could find a job for a few months. It’s summer and the seasonal jobs which are filled by kids will need people to fill in,” Penelope said as if she knew the facts behind that.

  Vivian looked down at her hands clasped on the table. “I’ll still need to find a job and have someone watch the kids.”

  Amelia pushed her shoulders back. “You have me and Penelope. We’re a team now, even if we didn’t plan that.”

  “You don’t know my kids.”

  Amelia grinned. “I train soldiers. I can keep tabs on your two girls.”

  Vivian met her grin with one of her own. “You might be in for a lesson.”

  “I like a challenge.”

  Vivian actually laughed before she looked down at her watch. “I have to go.” She reached for her purse and hiked it onto her shoulder. “So is this what we’re doing?”

  “Let’s talk again. Give it some thought. Penelope and I need to find places to live. And we have to secure his debts too. I don’t know what we’ll have left. But without a plan…”

  “We won’t know where we’re going,” Vivian added.

  “Right.”

  Vivian nodded. “Why don’t you both come by my house tonight for dinner?” She stood. “I promise not to poison anyone.”

  Amelia laughed, but she noticed Penelope’s eyes opened wide.

  “I think that would be nice. I’ll bring wine,” Amelia offered and Vivian acknowledged with a nod before leaving the room.

  Amelia sat back in her chair. “That went better than I thought it would.”

  “She doesn’t have much choice,” Penelope said softly. “She’s broke, no job, two kids, debt. You’re her saving grace. You’re mine too.”

  Amelia’s chest grew warm. She certainly hadn’t planned on saving anyone but herself.

  Penelope lo
oked toward Sam who had been sitting quietly at the head of the table. “You don’t by chance know of anyone who needs a temp? I can answer phones, file, email, fax—all that stuff.”

  Amelia tucked in her grin. Penelope was young, but she couldn’t help but really like her.

  Sam sat forward and rested his arms on the table. “Have you ever heard of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida?”

  Penelope frowned and shook her head.

  “There is a retirement community there. And in exactly three weeks my secretary will be returning there.”

  Her brows came together causing a crease in her forehead. “Your mother is your secretary, right? That’s what Amelia said.”

  His eyes met Amelia’s. “Yes. My regular secretary is on maternity leave.”

  “Imagine that,” Amelia laughed.

  “Something must be in the water,” he added as he sat back in his chair. “She won’t be back for another two months.”

  “You must have one helluva maternity plan,” Amelia grinned, making sure he felt the heat from her eyes.

  “She asked for a year off. We’re almost through that year.”

  Penelope looked between them and then focused back on Sam. “So you need help? Mr. Jackson, I really can do the job.”

  Her curls bobbed as she spoke and her voice had gone down in pitch as she grew more serious.

  Sam nodded. “Some of my clients can be…well…”

  “Assholes? Oh, I can deal with that.”

  Sam laughed now. “Penelope, as long as you call me Sam when we’re not with clients, I’d love to give you a chance.”

  Penelope stood from her seat and hurried to a very unprepared Sam. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. “You don’t know what this means!”

  Amelia felt the moment tug at her and she wasn’t used to feeling such joy for someone else.

  Penelope backed away. “I should find an apartment. I have just enough saved for something little.”

  She bit down on her lip and her brows furrowed.

  Amelia stood. “I can afford the room for a few more days. Just stay with me and we will find a place.”

  “Together?”

  Amelia now had shocked herself. Was that what she’d meant? Would it matter? “We can think about that.”

  Penelope’s eyes widened. “I think that would be fun.” She turned toward Sam. “Can I go talk to your mother? Can I have her show me around?”

  Sam chuckled. “Yes. That would be fine.”

  A squeal erupted from Penelope as she ran out of the board room and down the hall. Amelia shook her head.

  “You didn’t have to do that.”

  He shrugged. “I’ll need someone anyway.”

  “And you think she will be the right person to fill that void?”

  He leaned in. “Don’t tell my mother this,” he whispered. “But anything is better than my mother.”

  Amelia covered her mouth with her hand since it had dropped open. “I can’t believe you said that.”

  Sam sat back in his seat. “Sometimes the truth hurts.”

  He stood and moved to the seat Penelope had vacated. With a gentle stroke he moved his hand down Amelia’s hair. “I was going to ask you to dinner tonight.”

  “Seems like I have plans.”

  “So it does.” He moved in closer. “The logical part of me says I should lie low for a while. I’ve already crossed so many lines of ethics…”

  Amelia moved in closer yet. “I was hoping we’d get a chance to cross a few more of them.”

  Sam lifted his hand to her cheek and pulled her in. The moment his mouth moved against hers she knew she was walking a tightrope wire hung from the highest point, but she just didn’t care. Adam had screwed her over and she’d long ago lost feeling for him. But Sam…well he was a wonder.

  The moment was short and not fulfilling at all when the sound of a gasp was heard from the doorway.

  They both looked up to see a very surprised Penelope.

  Chapter Nine

  Amelia sat in her dark motel room waiting for Penelope to walk through the door. She was counting on the fact that she had no money and nowhere to go, therefore she would return to the motel.

  She’d spent the better part of an hour walking the streets near Sam’s office looking for her. Sam had called a few friends in the area to keep an eye out for her, but she seemed to have vanished.

  Amelia knew they’d been stupid to have done what they did. But damnit, she really liked Sam and Christ she really wanted to tumble with him more than once—but she’d just like to get to once.

  Just as she thought it the door opened and a very tired Penelope walked through.

  “I almost thought I was going to have to call the police.” Amelia stood from the bed and moved toward her. “Where the hell did you go? Where have you been?”

  Penelope looked up at her with swollen red eyes. “I’ve been walking.”

  “This whole time?”

  Penelope shrugged. “Most of it. I headed back to Sam’s office when I got tired. I didn’t know where else to go. I sat in his office for an hour while his mother brought me snacks and he made me drink water.”

  “You went back to Sam’s?” Her voice shook and that pissed her off. She’d been trained to have a solid voice. Having it shake wasn’t an option.

  Penelope nodded. “I’m not mad.”

  “You’re not?”

  “No. I’m sad.”

  All of this girlie emotion stuff wasn’t resonating with Amelia. “You’re sad that you saw me and Sam kiss?”

  “Yes. I saved myself for someone who lied to me. Now I’m pregnant and he’s dead—and a liar. And you have Sam.”

  “Sam and I aren’t really anything. It just happened.”

  “He’s nice.”

  “He is.”

  Penelope set her purse down on the small table and toed off her shoes. “Did you know him before? Before Adam died?”

  “No. I only met him at the funeral before you walked in.”

  “Oh. He must really like you then.”

  “I’d like to think he does. Here, sit down on the bed. Put your feet up. You shouldn’t have been walking that long.”

  Penelope moved past her to the bed, propped up the pillows and sat down as Amelia sat in a chair by the table.

  “What do you think Vivian will say?”

  Amelia’s jaw tightened. “It’s really none of her damn business,” she sighed. “But I assume she’ll accuse me of trying to gain something.”

  Penelope nodded. “That’s what I thought too.”

  Where did they go from here? “I’ll tell her if you want me to.”

  “What do you think?”

  “There is part of me that says I should say to hell with it, leave town, and forget all of this.”

  Penelope’s eyes grew wide with something that looked a lot like fear.

  “I’m not going to,” she assured her and Penelope’s face softened a bit. “I like him and I should be able to screw who I want to since my own husband didn’t care who he screwed.”

  Penelope rested her hands on her stomach and at the same time the reaction felt like a kick in Amelia’s gut.

  “I didn’t mean that bad—Christ, it couldn’t have come out good either.”

  “It’s okay. I’m getting used to it. Vivian looks at me like I’m a disease. Her disease.”

  “You’re not. You’re as drug into this as we are. Even more so, you don’t have anything to go on but his handsome face. Vivian can at least draw on some good memories for her girls.”

  Penelope wiped away a tear that had fallen from her eyes which had filled. “I should have decided not to keep the baby.”

  That had Amelia on her feet. “You wouldn’t dare?”

  “No. No.” Penelope sat up. “I mean I should have decided a long time ago to make adoption arrangements. I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m not mother material.”

  “Okay then.” Amelia lowered herself back
into her chair. “Sorry. Not my body. I shouldn’t have gotten so upset.”

  “I understand. I can’t lie—I thought of that too. But it didn’t seem right. This baby,” she put her hands back on her stomach and rested back, “is a gift. There is a reason that Adam left me this and it would be wrong of me not to give him—or her—a good life.”

  Amelia bit down on her lip. “I don’t know anything about kids. Seriously—nothing. And as far as I’m concerned Adam was nothing but a conniving bastard. But still, I think there’s hope for his kids—your baby. I won’t leave you. I’ll give you my word that I’m here for you though all of this.”

  Penelope’s eyes shed more tears. “Really? You don’t owe met that.”

  “No. But I like you and I don’t have anywhere else to call home.”

  “What about Sam?”

  Amelia scrubbed her hands over her face. “I don’t know what do with that. I like him, but getting involved with him complicates things immensely.”

  “Vivian isn’t going to like it.”

  Amelia sat back in her chair and pressed her fingers to her eyes. She knew Vivian would have a fit over it and she was more entangled with Vivian at the moment than she was with Sam. Perhaps it was time to let Sam go before it became something more.

  ~*~

  Amelia pulled up in front of Vivian’s house. It wasn’t much, she thought. Adam could have done better for his wife and kids.

  The driveway was crumbling. The wooden slats on the porch were broken and the shed door was off its hinges. This was just what she could see from the curb.

  Penelope shifted her a glance. “Is this the right place?”

  “This is the address.”

  “This isn’t what I had in mind,” Penelope turned and looked at the house again.

  “Me either.” She took in a long breath. “C’mon. Let’s get this over with.”

  They climbed out of the car and Amelia reached back in for the bottle of wine she’d promised to bring.

  There were toys on the porch and a hole in the screen door. Anger actually burned in Amelia’s stomach as she reached for the broken doorbell button. How had he let them live like this while he was out picking up girls at bars. The thought made her sick.