by Tara Randel
“Yeah, yeah,” Max grumbled. “You in?”
“And let you guys take all the glory?” Lilli scoffed. “Not a chance. I’m in, too.”
All at once, the play turned serious. Even the twins sensed a change in the air and kept their chattering to a minimum. When the final score was tallied, Jenna came up the winner.
“Oh yeah,” she said, doing a little celebratory jig. The twins joined her while Max and Dane scowled.
“I’m not surprised she won,” Wyatt told his friends as they returned their putters. “I’m finding out she’s pretty tenacious when she wants to be.”
“I demand a rematch,” Max announced.
“Anytime.” A big smile graced Jenna’s face, knocking Wyatt even more off balance. “But right now, I’m more than happy to take your money.”
Once the guys determined a strategy to win next time, a jovial mood enveloped the group. Jenna pulled her keys from her pocket. “Okay, girls. Time to head home.”
She looked around but there was no sign of them. “Abby! Bridget!” she called frantically.
No response. In silent agreement, the two couples took off in different directions to search for the girls.
Jenna stood rooted to the spot, her face pale. “I can’t believe this,” she whispered.
Wyatt touched her arm. “They’re kids. They have a tendency to wander off.”
“You don’t understand. The last time Abby left my side she was almost hit by a car.”
He took her chilly hand. “Let’s check the parking lot.”
They each took a section of the lot, calling the girls’ names with no answer. They met on the path back to the admission booth.
“No luck,” Wyatt said, frustration pounding in his heart. He should have kept a better eye on the girls. That parental instinct never went away, did it?
In the dimming light, he noticed Jenna’s face had grown even whiter.
“They can’t have wandered off too far, could they?”
He put his hand on her shoulder. “Let’s see if the others had any success.”
They’d taken two steps when the girls rounded the corner of the snack shack, something wiggling in Abby’s arms.
Jenna hurried over, crouching down before them. “Where have you been?”
“We heard a baby kitty crying and went to see if it was okay.” Abby held up a meowing calico. “I think it’s hungry.”
Jenna closed her eyes for a half second before focusing on the girls. “Do you realize how worried we were?”
By this time, the other adults had returned and gathered around the twins, who now had deer-in-the-headlights looks.
“Sorry,” they said in unison.
“Don’t ever do that again,” Jenna whispered. “You scared me.”
“We said sorry.” Abby hugged Jenna.
“We should have told you but, um...” Bridget looked up at the adults. “We were afraid you’d say no.”
“Or we might have offered to come with you.” Jenna let out a long breath, followed by a nervous chuckle. “Next time, let me know.”
“Okay.”
Abby waited a split second. “Can we keep the kitty?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because it might belong to someone else. Let’s go to the office and find out.”
Bridget crossed her arms over her chest.
“You’re mean,” Abby muttered.
Jenna took the wiggling kitten from Abby’s grasp. “Next time maybe you’ll think before you act.”
Wyatt followed Jenna as she led the way to the ticket window. When the woman inside saw the kitten her eyes went wide. “What are you doing with Smoky?”
“My girls found her out by the fence.”
The woman’s face turned red. “Oh my goodness, I didn’t realize she was gone. Last time I looked she was sleeping.”
Jenna handed the kitten to her owner. “She must have escaped.”
The woman’s smile was rueful. “She is a little escape artist.”
“I’m just glad the girls found her.”
The woman hugged the kitten to her chest and beamed at the twins. “Thank you, girls.”
“You’re welcome,” Abby whispered, tears glimmering in her eyes. Bridget put her arm around her sister, turning so their backs were to Jenna. Wyatt couldn’t miss the despair in Jenna’s eyes.
Now that the girls were safe, the group headed to their cars. Wyatt helped Jenna get the girls into the van. As he slid the door shut, she said, “Did I react too strongly with the girls?”
“You were right. You couldn’t reward them for running off.” He reached out and touched her arm. “Parenting isn’t for the faint of heart.”
“I’m guessing it doesn’t get any easier?”
He stared out over the parking lot, studying the burnt-orange horizon, before turning back to her. He swallowed. “I can’t say for sure, but I do know it’s the best job you’ll ever have.”
CHAPTER SIX
THREE DAYS LATER, Jenna found herself back in LA, exhausted after the grueling six-hour commercial shoot her agent had arranged. The sponsors were pleased with the results and Jenna’s willingness to fly to the coast on short notice. Unfortunately, it also prompted Barbara to propose additional work. Jenna refused, reminding her agent she had a family waiting at home.
“You’re passing up opportunities that might not come our way again,” Barbara reminded her, the tone of her voice so strained it sounded more like a dire warning.
Rubbing the tension in her neck, Jenna said, “I realize that, Barbara, but I need to get back. The girls start school on Monday and I want to be there.”
“You aren’t helping me here.”
Jenna tuned out Barbara’s arguments, wondering if this was what she had to look forward to in the future. Jetting back and forth across the country for a few hours’ work? Worrying about how the girls were doing without her? Nealy’s suggestion of working together sounded better as the long day progressed.
Her agent blew out a frustrated breath. “All right. I can see you aren’t going to budge. In that case, we’ll need to strategize and find ways to work around your new home.”
“Thanks. I appreciate your staying with me, even if it is driving you crazy.”
Barbara grinned. “Just remember that when I propose my next ideas.”
“I will.”
When Jenna arranged the move to Florida, her emotions had been at a high point. She really hadn’t considered the logistics. Now she understood why Wyatt made a point of not traveling for his job. He wasn’t being judgmental, he was being...a parent.
Had she been too hasty in her decision-making? Had she not thoroughly considered all her options?
The grief counselor had warned against making major changes so soon after Carrie’s death, but Jenna hadn’t listened. So here she was, questioning her current situation and fretting about the future. All because she had no clue how to be a good mother. What she did know was that she desperately loved the twins and would do anything in their best interest.
If they’d stayed in LA, she wouldn’t have to travel for her job. Barbara was right about one thing. If she wanted to keep her career relevant, she would have to compromise. Do commercials, maybe some appearances. The idea didn’t sit well, especially since she’d been reporter-free since arriving in Florida. From her friends in the business, she’d found out that Rod still had his sights on his latest interest, Pamela somebody.
What a headache. After a two-hour dinner meeting with her agent, Nealy’s offer sounded like a dream come true.
She had some serious decisions to make.
Finally, Barbara drove her to the hotel. All Jenna wanted to do was take a shower and fall into bed. She ente
red the lobby and was digging for her room key in her purse when she heard a familiar voice.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite chef.”
Jenna jerked her head up, surprise and revulsion cascading through her as she watched Rod casually get up from an armchair, acting as if they’d just seen each other yesterday.
“Shame on you for leaving town without telling me. Imagine my surprise when a stranger stepped out of your apartment.” He made a tsking sound. “I was concerned.”
“How did you—”
“Find out you’re in town?” He sent her a self-satisfied smile. “I always know what you’re up to.”
Stunned, she had no idea what to say.
“You know,” he continued, unfazed by her evident alarm, “I thought we had a good thing going.”
She ran a clammy hand over her skirt. “Rod, we don’t have anything going. We never did. This has always been a job for you.”
“No, Jenna. You’re wrong. We have an unmistakable chemistry. I’ve been waiting for you to realize the truth.”
“The truth? There is no chemistry. There will never be any us.” She cleared her dry throat. “If you don’t leave right now, I’ll call the police. You’re violating the restraining order.”
A red flush covered his cheeks, but he smiled at her. “I know things got out of control for a while.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I didn’t meant to cause you any harm. You have to believe me.”
At this point, she didn’t know what to think. He seemed sincere, yet she couldn’t ignore the niggle of disbelief.
“I am sorry. I’ll leave you alone now.”
She watched him exit the lobby, a small laugh escaping her. He’d gone, just as she asked.
Drama over. Now she could move on to the more important aspects of her life, such as raising the girls in peace.
* * *
DEPLANING IN TAMPA after the red-eye from LAX, Jenna dragged herself and her overnight bag through the noisy airport. All she could think about was a good cup of coffee and a hot shower. Still contemplating Rod’s change of heart, she decided to take it as a good sign. He’d moved on, and so would she. Glad the nightmare was over, she’d get a hold of the police chief when she got home to inform him of the latest development.
Breathing easy, she spied the girls waving at her, standing alongside Nealy. In that moment, she forgot her fears. What she desperately needed was their little girl hugs.
“I missed you both so much,” she said, savoring their tight embraces and sweet scents. Jenna hadn’t realized how much she’d missed them all until she saw their smiling faces.
“We missed you too, but we had fun,” Abby said between hugs.
“We swam in Dane’s pool and ate at the hotel,” Bridget informed her. “And Mr. Wyatt showed us how to float in the water.”
Jenna raised a brow at Nealy. Her friend shrugged. “We were hanging out and I invited Wyatt to join us. So sue me.”
Torn between laughing and reminding her friend that Wyatt wasn’t the most social of guys, Jenna decided to let the girls fill her in on their adventures on the drive home. She’d deal with Nealy later.
“I can’t wait for dinner tonight. Will you make something special?” Bridget asked once they were settled in the car and Nealy navigated the traffic out of the airport.
“Anything you want,” Jenna answered.
The girls giggled. Nealy shot them a stern glance in the rearview mirror. Before Jenna could ask what was up, Abby started to talk about a girl she’d met who was going to be in her class at school. Jenna felt a huge relief. She had always dreaded a new school year in a new school while in the foster system, so her heart soared as she listened to Abby relate exacting details about the meeting.
“Her name is Nikki and I like her already. We’re going to try to sit together in class.”
“Hey, what about me?” Bridget asked.
“You’ll find your special friend,” Jenna assured her. “After all, I found your mom.”
“And became BFFs.”
“Yes, we did.”
At the girls’ chatter, the stress of business eased from Jenna’s shoulders. Once at the house, Bridget and Abby ran around to the backyard, Nealy popped the trunk to retrieve Jenna’s suitcase. With little ears out of hearing range, Jenna plopped her hands on her hips.
“Wyatt? Really?”
“You didn’t say they couldn’t hang out with him.”
“Because I didn’t expect him to be around.”
“The girls wanted to see Cruiser, so I called him. Then we invited him to swim. No big deal.”
“I don’t want the girls getting attached to him.”
Nealy sighed. “This again?”
Jenna took the handle of her suitcase and rolled it up the driveway. “Yes. We’ve had this discussion once. Let’s not go there again.”
“Why? Because you’re so convinced he’ll purposely do something like...I don’t know...leave you guys?”
“Not purposely, but he made it very clear he’s emotionally unavailable. I’m just looking out for the future.” Her brow furrowed as she tried to explain some of the issues that had been circling her brain on the flight home. “Because of the problems in LA, I might have rushed us here to Florida a little too soon.”
“You aren’t thinking of leaving, are you?”
“No. I wouldn’t do that. One upheaval is enough for the girls.” Rod’s appearance yesterday reminded her she wouldn’t risk putting the girls in harm’s way.
“Okay. I can understand the second-guessing.”
“As soon as we get here, Wyatt literally dives into our lives. And what do I do, I push him to give the girls swimming lessons when it’s abundantly clear he’s not in a good place.”
“But he’s getting better. Since you and the girls moved here, I’ve seen him out and about more than months before.”
“But he’s still grieving. Once he starts to get his emotions together, I’m afraid he might not want to spend time with us. I don’t think the girls can stand another loss in their lives.”
“Us?” Nealy grinned. “Hmm. Now I think we’re getting somewhere.”
Jenna stopped in her tracks. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Are you worried about Wyatt hurting the girls or you?”
All set to argue, Jenna mounted her defense, but just as quickly, lost steam. “Honestly? Both.”
“Not everyone leaves, you know.”
“In my life they do.” First her mother. People in and out of foster care. François. Carrie. Did she have it in her to trust her heart to anyone ever again? Especially Wyatt?
Nealy shook her head. “You’re just as bad as Wyatt. Afraid to take a chance.”
“You know how my last relationship ended. Not pretty.”
“François turned out to be a jerk.”
“A jerk who ended up with all of our friends.”
Nealy tilted her head. “It seems losing the friends bothered you more than the breakup.”
She was probably right.
The early afternoon sun beat down on Jenna’s head and a pesky insect buzzed by. Jenna swiped at it, wishing she could rid herself as easily of her doubts as the flying pest.
When Jenna had met Francois, a dashing French chef, in culinary school, she never dreamed he would notice her. But he had, just a few weeks into the semester. At first they’d started out talking shop, which soon led to longer after-school hours together. When he asked her to the local farmer’s market, she’d been honored, especially because he introduced her to the secret places he bought his natural ingredients. Then he asked her to dinner under the guise of checking out a new buzz-worthy restaurant.
It wasn’t until he kissed her that she realized she’d been on a date. Before
she knew it, her heart had stepped over the line into dreams of romance and happily-ever-after, especially when he promised that together, they would take the culinary world by storm. And to add to her joy, François’s friends had become hers as well. Good friends had been few and far between in her life and now that she’d become part of a group of people she enjoyed, she didn’t think life could get any better.
Over time, she’d noticed François becoming increasingly short with her, first when she breezed through school with the high regard of her instructors, then when she landed a job at a popular restaurant followed by her cooking show. As a result of her success she lost her jealous beau, along with people she’d thought were her true friends.
Two boys on bicycles pedaled by, their loud voices jarring her from her dismal thoughts.
“Losing François was pretty devastating. I trusted him. Believed him when he said he loved me. I don’t want to go through that again.”
“I get what belonging means to you. And you have to know here in Cypress Pointe, you’re a part of us.”
Jenna nodded, touched by her friend’s real concern. She might hope, might even let herself believe Nealy’s heartfelt words, but experience had proven that as much as she wanted to belong, to be a family, life wasn’t that easy. And while Nealy had been a true friend, she had a man in her life. She and Dane planned to build a future together. Would Jenna ever get to that place in her own life?
Better to end the conversation now than talk it to death. “You know I love being here. And I appreciate how you’ve included the girls and me in your life. I’m sorry I’m overly cautious, but old habits die hard.” She ran her hand over her churning stomach. “I’ve had time to finally catch my breath and think. Right now the best thing for us is to put the brakes on spending time with Wyatt.”
Nealy ducked her head. “About that...”
Jenna held up her hand in protest. “Conversation is over. Now let’s get out of the sun before I fry. This pale skin needs sun block or I’ll look like a tomato.”
“I should probably take off.” Nealy glanced at her watch. “I’m meeting with a prospective client.”
“Great. I hope it works out.”