“Thank you,” Cassidy took the capsules and finished the water in her bottle.
“If they help, let me know. I will get more for you,” Mia promised. “I noticed another dark haired woman…”
“Abigal Murray,” Cassidy nodded and leaned back tiredly. “We were caught off guard by someone with a gun. Fortunately,” she offered a crooked smile. “He was kind enough to wing us in the arms we don’t use to write.”
“I will lunch with you one day and you can tell me all,” Mia promised. “I will visit with Abigal and offer her the herbs. I have little work experience with dictators, but they have mostly all been male and incredibly annoying.”
“Amen,” Cassidy sat upright, sliding the card across the desk. “Here’s the executive pass card. It’ll open all the gates, your kitchen and the room. I’ve put you in the room closest to the kitchen. It isn’t one of the largest rooms…”
“I do not need much. I have clothing and a few books,” Mia smiled softly. “And my laptop…it is filled with my music.”
“A vital part of any job,” Cassidy said with a laugh. “I totally understand. We have complete wireless, so you’ll have no problems connecting. Do you need help with anything? I can have someone over…”
“I am good, but thank you,” she stood up, slipping the pass into her pocket. “It’s beautiful here. I will speak with you another time, Cassidy.”
Mia walked slowly along the concrete, listening to the people talking with applicants, asking questions, explaining positions and possibilities. She waited patiently until the young man sitting at Abigal Murray’s desk moved on with another person.
“Can I help you?” Abigal looked up from the application she was making notes on.
“I am Mia Santori,” her palm waved and head shook when Abigal tried to hastily rise. “No…please…sit…I was speaking with Cassidy and told her I would not only introduce myself, but,” she rummaged in her purse and brought out a small plastic case, selecting four capsules and dropping them in the willing palm. “I hope they will help with the pain I can see in your face. If they do help, tell me and I will show you where to get more. Herbs are much like medications, without the side effects, but they do not work on all. For me…they work wonders after a long day.”
“Three hours to go,” Abigal said after downing the capsules with a large drink of water.
“I understand you are being watched?” Mia laughed softly at the expression on her face. “It is annoying to have pride and pain at the same time.”
“I’m learning that…but I have so much work to do and so many people,” Abigal opened a drawer and drew out a three inch stack of applications, sliding them over the desk. “Those are for you,” she set a pad of lined sticky notes on top. “Make your notes on these. Just let me know and I’ll arrange the interviews for you. This,” she handed Mia a sheet of paper. “Instructions to get into the intranet and all your systems on your office computer and your personal one. I have your calendar set up and,” her hand wrote out the information. “That is the address and your pass word. You can change that once you’re inside. But I can make additions from my computer and see what days you’ve blocked out.”
“A very good system, thank you,” Mia dropped the glasses over her eyes and smiled. “I am off to explore. It has been a very long drive across the country.”
“Oh…since you’re new to the area,” Abigal pulled a stapled list from one of her trays. “This is where to get your driver’s license changed and some tidbit information about the area. It was a pleasure to meet you.”
“I am so glad to meet you, Abigal. This is going to be the beginning of a grand adventure,” she declared with a nod, striding off toward where she left her wagon.
There were only two specially marked parking spots behind the kitchen on the north side of the building. One was for the owner, the other a larger spot for deliveries.
****
A pale brow arched curiously when he noticed two of his guys staring and not moving. “Leaning on the shovels don’t make them dig,” Lucas Tanner commented dryly, looking from one to the other and then in the direction they were staring. The other brow joined the first.
If you were going to stare, it wasn’t a bad place to do it, he decided with pure male appreciation. One knee was on the open tailgate of the red wagon, the other long leg stretched behind her. Both long legs ended in a very nicely rounded behind visible out of the back of the wagon. The rest of her emerged very slowly, a large box in her hands and pulled to the end of the tailgate.
He watched the slender form straighten up. She was tall, at least five eleven, he thought, glancing down at the flat shoes. Naturally tanned, full lips that were pulled into a pouting glare at the offending box. He motioned to the guys to keep digging even as he strode confidently forward.
Mia saw him approaching, her nose wrinkled. He wore khaki colored cargo pants and a tee shirt, each sporting a lot of the ground around her. He was blond, tanned and wore sun glasses. She lifted hers from her face and put them atop her head. She looked at the glove covered palm he offered, her hand rising only when he hastily removed the dirt covered glove.
“Lucas Tanner. Do you need a hand with that?”
“Mia Santori,” she replied. “Thank you…but I am managing. It does not have far to travel,” she said resolutely, lifting the box and turning to enter the shade of the massive kitchen.
Lucas shrugged and headed back to the main area where he had his canopy set up, the plans laid out on the desk.
Mia moved into her office with the box, books slowly removed and finding places on the built in shelves. Another hour and she had the wagon empty before locking it and wandering to the private garden she had requested. She stood at the only opening, allowing herself to absorb the peaceful place that had been created for her.
It was twenty-five foot square, with flat black stones making up the walkway. The border around the edges was comprised of a fragrant and beautiful lemon cypress. They were barely four foot tall. She took one of the strands of needles between her fingers and carried it to her nose with a smile. There were four wide concrete benches and in the center, a rectangle made up of rounded stones providing a home to a collection of what would be beautiful rose bushes. She hadn’t wanted clutter, just a simple peaceful place to sit and think. She would have to remember to complement their landscaper. It was perfect.
A tiny sound caught her attention, quiet shoes moving over the flat stones toward the back. Mia tipped her head, peering into a beautiful set of wide blue eyes, shoulder length silky looking wild blond curls hanging behind her. She lay on the wide bench, her arm cradling her head and other palm dangling off the side.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Good morning,” Mia said softly, dropping to her heels and gently brushing a curl from her forehead.
“Hello.”
“My name is Mia.” She waited, the tiny lips pulled into a natural pout as they stared at one another. “How old are you?”
Three tiny fingers lifted. “But I’m almost four.”
“Almost four is a very good age. Will you have a party?” That seemed to spark interest, pale lashes blinking as she considered it. “I like cake at my parties. With pretty yellow roses,” Mia was glad to see the small smile.
“I like cake,” the little girl admitted. “Do you like this garden?”
Mia was surprised but answered. “I do…it is lovely,” she looked up at the pretty gazebo style covering.
“Daddy made this garden. He said it’s for thinking,” she confided softly.
“I see…have you been busy thinking?” Mia lowered herself to the ground, sitting cross legged, her elbows on her knees and chin in her palms.
“My name is Scarlet Rose.”
“That is a very beautiful name,” Mia said honestly. “Where are your parents, Scarlet Rose?”
“Mommy is in heaven,” she answered in words that sounded like a parrot.
Mia took the small hand in hers. �
�My mother and father died when I was three. In a car accident,” she said conversationally. “But I don’t remember them.”
“I don’t ‘member her…but there are pictures. Who did you live with?” Blue eyes were filled with concern and curiosity. “I live with my daddy.”
“My grandmother. She is very sweet and smart. She taught me to cook,” Mia told her, frowning slightly at the sudden withdrawal in the child’s eyes. “Do you have a grandmother?” Something in the question clearly bothered the small child, she decided, the little hand pulled free and tucked beneath her cheek. “Is your grandmother not very nice?” The large eyes immediately told her the answer. "I see…well, this is a very nice place to sit and think. Where is your daddy?”
“Working,” came the immediate answer. “He plants trees and flowers. We have a little garden…I’m growing salad.”
Mia smiled and nodded. “I love salad, especially when I can grow it myself. I am thinking of planting a few sunflowers next summer. I think they will look lovely here in the garden, do you agree?”
“Big yellow ones?” She asked enthusiastically and nodded, slowly pushing herself up to sit cross legged on the bench. She glanced around, one hand up and pushing the hair from her face. “Grandmother has a little room with one chair and no toys.”
“Ahhh…do you have to sit there?”
“Sometimes I’m not very good,” Scarlet Rose confessed with a confused sigh. “She says I’m bad a lot.”
“Well…sometimes I’m not very good, either…but I don’t think sitting in a room alone is much fun,” Mia said quietly. Nor is it good parenting, she thought angrily.
“It’s dark…I don’t like the dark,” she whispered.
“I think you should come see my kitchen,” Mia declared, pushing herself to her feet and holding out a palm. “It has very much light and is very beautiful and all shiny new. Perhaps we can make lunch, you and me,” she waited, relieved when the tiny hand came out and she nodded.
“When I get bigger, I want to cook,” Scarlet Rose confided, tiny sneakers skipping over the stones.
“I shall teach you everything I know….and we have a chair to make you taller,” Mia was rewarded with a pair of wide eyes and a broad white grin.
“This is a very big kitchen,” Scarlet stopped in the door, looking all around her in awe.
“Let’s go to my office first,” Mia led her into the large office, big windows filling the room with light. She searched through the travel bag she packed, pulling out a hair brush and small cloth band. “First, to cook, one must make certain our hair does not become a problem,” she saw the hesitance on the child’s face. “I will be very careful, I promise. I used to have long hair….it is most annoying to have it pulled and hurt…”
She sat on the floor and positioned the child in front of her. Slowly, carefully, smoothing the curls into a nice little ponytail at the back of her head. She listened to the happy little giggles as she flipped her head from side to side, the end teasing her cheeks.
“Now…we will create,” Mia informed her with a nod, leading her into the kitchen.
After a chatter filled lunch and some obvious yawns, Mia urged her to lay down on the sofa in her office while she read through the applications Abigal had given her. They spent almost two hours making cookies and sandwiches, discussing how to deal with baby dolls who just would not co-operate and tea parties with stuffed tigers and sheep.
Shortly before two, Mia heard the loud voices outside her window, striding closer to hear. She quickly closed the window to block the noise and went out the back. She’d had special things integrated into her main kitchen. A set of wide, double doors with screen doors was one of those items.
She stepped outside, appraising the group standing in the small parking area near where she had parked her wagon. A police officer, two guards from the resort, a dark haired woman in a suit, the blonde man she had met earlier, the sunglasses on his head.
She instantly knew who Scarlet Rose’s father was as she met a pair of startlingly blue eyes across the distance. His jaw was set, his features drawn, obvious concern and worry etched into his face. The anxiety in his posture was palpable.
A woman of about forty-five and carrying a small leather case off one shoulder stood with another woman, slightly older and angry. But angry wasn’t the only emotion Mia read in her features. A mean sort of gloating satisfaction gleamed from a pair of narrowed eyes. She was thin and Mia decided if she had been a salad green, she would definitely be bitter.
A thin, bony hand pointed accusingly at Lucas Tanner.
“I’ve told you all along he was not capable of being a father. Not a proper father,” she accused righteously. “He has lost his own child!”
“Mrs. Felstone,” the woman with the case began uncomfortably. “We have investigated each and every allegation you’ve brought against…”
“You’re useless,” the woman declared. “You call yourself child protective services…”
“Mr. Tanner, where is your daughter?” The police officer was evidently ready to move on. “You said she was playing near where you were working…”
“Bringing a child to work is reprehensible. Open fields and…and men…strangers…” Mrs. Felstone scoffed derisively. “A single man cannot possibly make a good home for…”
“Excuse me?” Mia spoke up loudly, fed up with the accusations and wild statements, she interrupted and drew everyone’s attention immediately. “Is there a reason you are causing such noise outside my office?” Dark eyes went from one to the other, her attention most on the worried expression on Lucas Tanner’s face.
“Who’re you?” Mrs. Felstone demanded instantly.
“I am the woman asking why you are standing outside my window being abusive and mean,” Mia returned sharply, dark eyes flashing angrily. “I am also asking that you politely lower your voice or remove yourself immediately.”
“We’re searching for a missing child, ma’am,” the police officer interrupted, not wanting to be in the middle of a fight at the moment. Especially not between two women.
“Allowing a single man to raise a child…”
“He is not single,” Mia informed her forcefully, her head high and stance daring anyone question her. “He is engaged. Engaged means he will soon have a wife to help raise his child with him. Providing a strong family for her to grow up in and an excellent feminine role model,” one brow arched in warning. “Can you provide the same?”
“Who are you?” Mrs. Felstone demanded again.
“Mia Santori,” Lucas Tanner supplied quietly from the side, pale lashes narrowed as he studied her.
“I shall not extend my palm to you as I do not feel I would be pleased to meet you and I was taught not to lie,” Mia said frostily. “Again….please keep your voices down. Scarlet is sleeping in my office and I do not want her woken yet. And believe me when I tell you, the very last thing you want is a pissed off women who can swear at you in three languages.” She caught a glimpse of humor in the smothered chuckles.
“You have Scarlet?” The woman with the case demanded.
“I believe that is what I said. What is all this about? Did you not get my text, Lucas?" she hastily pulled her phone from her pocket, fingers tapping over the surface. “Mon dieu…” mumbling to herself in French. “I am so sorry…we were baking and I forgot to…I am sorry…”
“Where is the child?” The police officer asked, looking from one person to another.
“In my office, as I said,” Mia gestured to the door, her palm up when Mrs. Felstone moved to walk forward. “You are not welcome in my kitchen. The police officer can peek in…”
“Mrs. Amery…she’s the social worker,” the officer motioned her forward.
Mia led them to her office, finger to her lips. “We were very busy this morning. Then we read stories and I put her down for a nap.” She waited while they looked at the area and the child covered with the light quilt. Dark lashes closed, her relief hidden as she followed
them back to the parking area.
“The child is safe and sleeping,” Mrs. Amery told Mrs. Felstone. “It’s obvious she is being well cared for and has adult supervision. I am very sorry to have bothered you with this…Mr. Tanner…”
“Don’t apologize to him! This is…that child…”
“Is happy and sleeping,” Mia said simply. “Why are you causing her stress? A grandmother is supposed to love and teach…not frighten.”
“Why…how dare you!”
“Please escort Mrs. Felstone from the property,” Kate Fletcher stepped forward, watching Mia Santori and Lucas very closely. But asking questions was something her instincts told her would be a bad idea.
“This is not over,” the woman stated, walking with Mrs. Amery toward the main entrance.
Mia looked at the resort guards. “Thank you for your help, but you can go now.” Their heads tipped and they headed back to their jobs. They had all been briefed with the names of the owners, and she was one of them. She watched Kate Fletcher as she stared after the departing people.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were engaged, Lucas?” Kate turned to him, pacing slowly.
Lucas met the dark eyes across the twenty feet of space. “I didn’t think it was that important, Kate, I’m sorry.”
“It shouldn’t matter,” Kate agreed with a sigh. “But…she’s alleging that Scarlet needs the stability of a woman in her life…”
“Scarlet never knew her mother and her life has always been stable with me,” Lucas said, a tint of anger in his words and features. “Jessica was more interested in…look…that spiteful woman will use whatever lies…”
“She’s wealthy and intends to take Scarlet,” Kate reminded him calmly.
“She is not interested in the child,” Mia interrupted quietly, her eyes staring off in the direction the woman had gone. “Scarlet is afraid of her. She came to me because she was afraid she would be made to go with her.”
WindSwept Narrows: #2 Cassidy, Abby & Mia Page 20