by Kari Lemor
He got up, moved to the recliner and pushed until he was horizontal, his feet on the foot rest and his head reclined. Comfortable and half asleep. Leaving him there to lock up the back door in the kitchen, she looked around then checked the front door as well. In this neighborhood in Connecticut, things were fairly safe but she’d spent too long in New Jersey and some habits never died.
Not wanting to disturb him, she whispered, “Good night, Goldilocks, see you in the morning.”
“Mmmm,” was about all she got in return. He must have found this bed not too hard at all. As she walked up the stairs, her mind drifted to her bed. Perhaps if he had tried that one, he would have found it to be just right.
* * * *
Callie woke feeling refreshed and tingly. She’d been having the most decadent dream where she and Jack had been sitting in front of a fireplace wrapped in each other’s arms. When she ran her hand down her torso, desire still curled at the apex of her thighs. When was the last time she’d felt this way?
Memories returned. Jack had come to the house last night. He was even now possibly sleeping on her recliner downstairs. Glancing at her bedside clock, she startled when it showed it was after eight. Jonathan never slept this late. Was something wrong?
She jumped out of bed, padding barefoot to his room. His gate was still in place but as she clicked it open and pushed it aside, she saw he wasn’t in his bed and his pajamas were lying on top of the overflowing hamper. Had Jack changed him or had Jonathan dressed himself? He would occasionally choose his outfit for the day, with Callie’s help of course.
And where were they now? Jack wouldn’t take Jonathan away, would he? He’d said last night that he wanted to see his son every day. Not something he could do with his circumstances. Grabbing Jonathan and moving somewhere across the country wasn’t an option. Victor would still find them. Another country? No, he wouldn’t do that to her. Her mind whirled with fear and questions. Racing back down the hall, she stopped short when sound floated up from the first floor. The TV set.
With a deep sigh, she set off down the stairs, relief washing over her. The music indicated a children’s show. Her son was still here. Had he come down by himself? She peeked into the living room, her heart filling with joy at the sight.
Jack and Jonathan sat in the recliner watching the television. Jonathan rested against his father’s chest and her heart twisted. I want to be there. Want to feel the comfort and strength of his arms around me again. He’d held her many times when she was nervous about what Angelo and his father did. Such a coward. She wished she could dig deep and find half the courage Jack had.
Absorbing the scene, she stayed still for a few minutes. Jonathan’s times with his father were so sporadic that she didn’t want to interrupt even for a second. She understood how precious it was, even more so, knowing how little time she and Jack had spent together over the years. Neither could be blamed for that. They’d met at the wrong time.
In her last term in graduate school, she’d met and become friends with Angelo. He was fun and she’d enjoyed the times they’d spent at his estate. His father’s reaction to her, as though they were dating, had confused her, though. Angelo had never kissed her other than a chaste peck on the cheek and typically took her out to dinner once a week then dropped her off early. Soon, she’d understood that Angelo hadn’t preferred women and their friendship was more for show to keep his father happy. Regardless, she’d enjoyed her time with them because everything in their lives said ‘family was important,’ something she hadn’t experienced a lot in her life.
Then there’d been Jack. He’d been the Cabrini’s chauffeur, known to her then as Matt Waters. The first time she’d seen him her cheeks had burned, his attractiveness setting her heart racing and making her palms sweaty. Searching inside her purse for some non-existent item had been how she’d kept Angelo from seeing the blush on her face. Jack had smiled and opened the limousine door for her. Each time he’d driven her and Angelo somewhere, her brain turned to mush and she couldn’t concentrate on the conversation.
Then she found the doctored accounts on Angelo’s computer. Her plan was to walk away from the relationship as soon as she informed the police. They convinced her to continue for a short time to see if she could get them any other information. Her contact would be an undercover FBI agent. Jack. They’d kept her involvement limited due to possible leaks. Her feelings for Jack swayed her common sense and she threw caution and sanity to the wind. She agreed to continue seeing Angelo, but only for a short while.
She looked back to the two sitting so happily together, wishing they could stay like this always. Jonathan glanced up and called out to her.
“Mama, see, Dah dee.”
“I see him, sweetheart. Are you enjoying your show?”
Jack looked up and she shivered at the expression of longing on his face. Glancing down, her cheeks heated at the fact she had on a snug tank top and shorts and nothing else. It had been so hot last night she hadn’t bothered with anything heavier. Now she wished she’d thought to grab a robe before she came down. Not that Jack hadn’t seen her in less, but there still was no reason to tempt fate.
Jonathan reached down beside Jack and his fist came back up filled with small colorful rings. She moved closer and Jack smirked. “I grabbed a box of cereal for us to snack on. I wasn’t sure what time you would be up. Hope that’s all right.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, she frowned. “I usually don’t let him eat that sugary cereal. It gets him a bit hyper.”
Jack’s eyes twinkled. “Then why do you have it here if you don’t let him eat it?”
Her eyes narrowed. He knew well and good that she had a little addiction to sugar-coated cereal. It had been something he’d teased her about constantly.
Her lips turned into a smirk. “Hope you plan on staying long enough to get all that extra energy you just let him ingest out of him.”
Jack’s throat moved convulsively and he gazed down at the boy in his lap. Damn, she shouldn’t have said that. Too much of a reminder that he couldn’t stay. Remorse filled her heart as she watched father and son. Jack looked back up at her.
“I’ll stay as long as I can. As long as you want me to.”
Forever. Could you stay forever? Impossible in their case. She nodded and smiled. “Jonathan will like that. Are you still hungry? I could make some breakfast that doesn’t include fifty pounds of sugar.”
Throwing a few colorful bits in his mouth, he replied, “I think you promised me bacon if I remember correctly.”
Jonathan’s head perked up and his eyes gleamed. “Mama, baten. Luh baten.”
“I know you love bacon, sweetheart. Your daddy loves bacon, too. Let me go see what I can find in the fridge. I haven’t been shopping in a while. You sit with daddy and watch your show for now.”
Jonathan’s eyes had already swung back to the TV as he mumbled, “Otay.”
“Don’t go out of your way for me, Calico,” Jack said. “I can get by with sweetened cereal. Someone got me hooked a few years ago. Hmm, who was it now?”
She swatted at his head then walked into the kitchen. Rifling through the fridge, she sighed; she had cooked up the last of the bacon already. But she also needed milk and eggs and a few other things.
Poking her head back into the living room, she smiled at the two boys munching on cereal and laughing at the antics of the cartoon characters on the screen. She hated to take Jonathan away from this to buy some food but…
“I’m sorry. My cupboard’s a bit bare right now. I can run to the store to get a few things. I hate to pull Jonathan away from you, though.”
Jack’s eyes clouded over, pain flashing across his face. He took a deep breath as he responded. “Jonathan can stay here with me, Callie. I know you don’t trust me with him alone but I would never do anything to hurt him, and I’d never take him away from you. I’m not in any position to offer h
im anything.”
Jack didn’t think she trusted him? Had he known her fear when she’d woken this morning? Was that the impression he got from her?
“Of course I trust you, Jack. And I know you’d never do anything to hurt him. I don’t know why you ever thought that.” Liar, you live in fear someone will take your son from you, whether Jack or Victor.
Jack ran his hand over Jonathan’s head. Her son was still so engrossed in the TV he was unaware of the tension between the two adults in the room. As he got older that wouldn’t be the case. “The few times I’ve been here, you always hover in the vicinity, like you’re afraid I might take off with him.”
“Oh, Jack, that isn’t the reason I stay close. I love seeing you with our son.” This child was what kept them connected to each other, if only tenuously. “I want to get as many memories for us as possible. You’re so good with him and you both enjoy being together. I love seeing it.”
Jack smiled and his eyes echoed some of his happiness at her words. “So, why don’t you run to the store and Jonathan and I can continue to hang here. I promise we won’t have any wild parties or get strippers while you’re gone.”
Chuckling, she rolled her eyes. “All right, you goof. But you might want to check if he needs to use the bathroom a few times. He’s not completely potty trained yet and you don’t have a change of clothes. Check out where he’s sitting right now.”
“I made him go when he first got up. I’ll check with him again in a bit. You won’t be too long, will you?”
“No, but I have to get dressed first and grab my phone so I can transfer some money into my checking account.”
Adjusting in the chair, he reached into his back pocket, pulled out his wallet, and handed her a few large bills. “Here, take this and you can do your bank thing later.”
“Jack, you don’t need to give me money. I told you I can take care of myself and Jonathan.”
He reached out and took her hand. Pulling her closer, he stuffed the money into her palm. “Take it, please, Calico. Let me feel useful in some small way. If I can’t bring home the bacon, at least let me pay for it.”
She accepted the money. “I need to get dressed then I’ll go. Thank you.”
Jack still held her hand and her awareness of him was at an all-time high. He rubbed his thumb over her fingers. “No, Callie, thank you. For allowing me to stay a little longer today. Now go get that bacon.”
She let his hand fall and leaned down to kiss Jonathan on the head. Jack looked envious. “Sweetheart, Mommy’s going to run to the store. You can stay here with daddy. Is that good with you?”
The boy shoved another handful of cereal in his mouth and nodded. Then he leaned back and looked up at his father, feeding him a few bites of cereal. The look in his eyes was filled with adoration and Callie nearly cried. Why couldn’t they be together all the time? Jonathan needed his father in his life. She wouldn’t even admit, though, how much she needed him too.
* * * *
Callie had been gone for about fifteen minutes when the phone rang. Jonathan looked up at Jack, maybe thinking he would get up to answer it. Ruffling the boy’s hair, he said, “We’ll let the machine get it. It’s probably someone for Mommy.”
The answering machine clicked on and Callie’s sweet voice asked the caller to leave a message. The voice that responded was one Jack hadn’t heard in a while. One he never wanted to hear again. Victor Cabrini.
“Callina, I believe I dropped a cufflink at your house yesterday during Jonathan’s party. I’m on my way up to Boston for the week and thought I would stop in and see if I could find it. It was one that my wife gave me right before she passed. I’d hate to lose it. Hopefully you’re there and I’ll be able to check. I’m a few minutes from the house. I’ll see you then,”
The blood in Jack’s veins turned to ice. He needed to leave and fast. Victor couldn’t see him here. The man still had no knowledge that he and Callie had been together and he couldn’t know. All three of them would be in danger if he did. He glanced down at Jonathan who was bopping his head to the music on the show he was watching. What would he do with his son?
“Hey, pal, let’s go for a little walk. We can watch the rest of the show later.”
Jack lowered the foot of the recliner and shoved his feet into the work boots sitting next to it. Jonathan needed shoes too. As he reached down to tie his shoes, he heard a car pull up in front of the house. He peeked out the front window. Victor’s limo. Shit. Out of time.
Chapter 6
Scooping Jonathan into his arms, Jack shut the TV off and headed for the back door. Where could they go? Callie’s detached garage? Victor might look in there to see if her car was here. He slipped out the back, locking the door. Into the woods behind Callie’s house might be safe.
Callie’s yard was about an acre but she abutted town conservation land. There was another fifty acres of forest in which he could hide until Victor left. It was where he’d stashed his motorcycle. Could he use the bike to escape? Not likely with a two-year-old in tow. There was no way he could safely drive his bike with his son. They’d have to wait it out in the woods.
Jack dashed to the tree line before Victor could see him. Maybe the mobster would stay in the car and send his driver to get his cufflink. When he’d been the Cabrini chauffeur, he’d done all sorts of mundane tasks for the man.
No such luck. As Jack slipped between a cluster of trees, Victor walked around to the back door and knocked. Callie rarely used the front door and Victor must have known that. He waited for maybe ten seconds, knocked again then wiggled the knob. Good thing he’d locked the door. He didn’t need Victor going inside and snooping around Callie’s things when she wasn’t there.
“Dah dee? Dampa?” Jonathan wiggled in his arms and Jack ducked behind a larger tree as Victor glanced around the backyard. Had he heard Jonathan’s voice? Taking a few steps backwards, he kept his eyes on the house.
Jack held Jonathan close to him and whispered, “Yeah, it’s your grandpa but we’re going to play a game of Hide-and-Seek. So we need to be quiet. We can’t let Grandpa find us. Can you stay quiet while we hide?”
Jonathan’s eyes widened and a smile lit up his face. He raised his pointer finger to his mouth and said, “Shhh,” then began to giggle.
Moving even farther into the woods, he tried to keep it so he had a view of Victor. When the man walked to the garage and peeked inside, he was glad he had decided not to hide in there. Images of Victor shooting him dead, while his son watched, made cold chills run down his back like he was leaning against an iceberg.
Victor walked back around the house, hopefully leaving. No, damn. Part of the limo was visible as it sat parked in front of the house and it didn’t move. Victor was settling in for the duration. Apparently, wherever he needed to go, he wasn’t in a hurry to get there.
Jonathan wiggled in his arms again and whimpered, “Do pee pee.”
“Now?” There was no way he could go back to the house with Victor sitting outside. Plus, he’d locked the door and he didn’t have a key. Callie did keep a spare key, but it was under a fake rock in the side yard. There was no way he could get it without being seen. Maybe it was time for him to teach his son the conveniences of being a guy.
“Sure, pal, you can do pee pee, but I’m going to show you how you can do it when you aren’t near a bathroom. This is a really cool thing only boys can do.”
He continued to move farther into the woods then lowered Jonathan to a small flat stone. “See that little plant over there?” He pointed to a fern next to the rock. “See if you can water it.”
He helped the boy lower his pants and adjust himself. When Jonathan started urinating on the plant, he giggled. Looking up at his father with excited eyes, he squealed, “I pee pee, Dah dee.”
“Yes, you did. Are you all done now?”
“Yup,” the boy chirped. “Y
ou pee pee, Dah dee?” He pointed to the plant.
Jack groaned, wondering if he had done the right thing but he could hardly bring the child back in. And all boys needed to learn how to go outdoors. It was part of growing up. Now that he thought of it, he did need to relieve himself too. Might as well do it now. Who knew when Victor would give up and leave?
When he copied his son, Jonathan giggled again. Jack looked back nervously, but they were far enough in the woods he didn’t think anyone could hear them. Victor was more than likely sitting back in his climate-controlled vehicle. He never was the type for hanging out in the elements.
He picked up Jonathan once he was done and moved quietly back through the woods. Callie wouldn’t be much longer, and he hated the idea of her dealing with Victor by herself. Stupid, she obviously did it all the time. It wasn’t like he was around to run interference or even had the option to.
Callie. He hated to think of how much she had to deal with Victor. It shouldn’t have happened. But he’d taken one look at her and been lost. He’d hidden it well for a while but once he started driving her back and forth to work, it had become impossible to ignore her.
Most of the women he’d known were tough and street smart. Callie was sweet and innocent, shy and demure. But she’d had more strength than many women he’d known. She hadn’t thought so and had confided in him she hated any kind of adventure or danger and sought out peace and harmony. Until she had found Angelo’s incriminating documents.
He’d reminded her how brave she was to go to the police when she could have walked away without saying a word. She had an inner strength she wasn’t even aware of. Her claim was he gave her strength and she couldn’t do it without him.
Callie’s car pulling up a few minutes later brought his thoughts back to the present. He watched as Victor came up behind her and they spoke. Jonathan took that minute to start rambling in his toddler speech. Backing up into the woods again, he tried to shush the boy. But he had seen his mother and was starting to get louder.