“Money.”
She poked at her lunch again. “Yes,” she said, sighing. “I can’t help but think that not so long ago, I wouldn’t have questioned that bottom line.”
Alec was certain he was gaping. He couldn’t believe she was actually admitting it. She’d come a long way in the ten days or so he’d known her.
“Now,” she said, meeting his eyes at last, “I’m more confused than ever. I hate the thought of handing the kids over to just anyone.”
He waited for her to make the connections, join the dots to realizing she couldn’t leave them at all.
“What should I do?”
Disappointment flooded through him. Not there just yet, he thought. But getting closer. “The decision is up to you, Tess, and it has to be something you can live with.”
He saw at once that his response had been an equal disappointment. She ducked her head, picking away at what was supposed to be the best enchilada in town.
“Believe me,” he said, his voice low and earnest. “I want to be able to tell you what to do, but I can’t. As I said, it’s a decision that has to be yours alone.”
She nibbled on her food, giving his statement some thought. Then she obviously tucked it away for future reference, because the next thing she said was totally off subject.
“A strange thing that happened, though, was when I drove over to the art gallery to confront Tomas Kozinski about the painting.”
It took Alec a second to pick up the thread of thought that led to the non sequitur. “What?”
“I had just parked the car when I saw Jed Walker and Tomas outside the art gallery in deep conversation about something. They looked really ticked off at one another.”
“So what happened?”
“Not much. Jed got in his car and drove away. I didn’t have the nerve to face Tomas because he looked furious. That’s when I called you.”
Alec didn’t know what to make of the incident. He’d never met Kozinski but figured anyone who had business dealings with Walker had to be suspect, too. With the exception of Richard Wheaton, he amended. Though he couldn’t for the life of him work out that business connection.
“I wondered if their argument had anything to do with my painting.”
“Perhaps,” he said, shrugging. “Seems a stretch, though, don’t you think? I mean, isn’t their only connection your father? Unless Walker’s a customer as well.”
“They didn’t seem that friendly when Jed took me to the gallery to meet Tomas.”
“Maybe they’re not friends so much as business acquaintances.”
“Perhaps.” She had a distant look in her eyes.
“What else is new on the home front?” he asked, wanting to get back to the kids.
“Molly’s birthday is on Sunday and I wondered if you would like to come for dinner.”
“Sure, great. Is she having a party?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I mean, I haven’t talked to her about it. Should I?”
Still a ways to go, he was thinking. He smiled. “Most kids expect or want a party. You could ask—maybe some of her classmates could come.”
The doubt in her face turned to worry. “I guess. I haven’t the faintest idea what to do. I’ve never put on a kid’s party before.”
He had to laugh at the bewilderment in her face. “Yeah, but haven’t you been to any?”
“Not for a very long time,” she said.
Something in her tone tugged at him. He wished he were sitting on the banquette seat next to her, instead of across the table. He also wished he didn’t have to go back to work.
“Look,” he said, signaling the waitress for the bill. “Take your time with your lunch. I’ve got to go. I’ll call you tonight, okay?”
The look she gave him made leaving damn near impossible. “Keep that thought,” he said, tapping her forehead with the tip of his index finger. “Until we’re alone together again.”
She blushed but said nothing. He walked out, feeling her eyes on him the whole way.
JUST BEFORE TESS turned into the drive leading to the ranch, a car passed from the opposite direction, braked, made a sharp U-turn and drove up behind Tess. By the time she had turned off the Volvo engine and climbed out, the other driver was doing the same. A woman in her early forties walked toward Tess, smiling.
“Hi! I’m Marci Stone.” She held out her right hand and gave Tess’s a firm shake. “Larry told me about the break-in. That’s so horrible! I’ve been meaning to call and invite you for a drink, but things have been hectic at our place. After what happened yesterday, I bet you could use a drink.” She uttered a tinkling laugh. “How about dropping by about fiveish?”
“Sure. That would be great. Thanks, Marci.” Tess watched the petite blonde get back into her car and drive off. The custom of having a social drink with a neighbor was alien to the workaholic’s life Tess had led in Chicago. And after her lunch with Alec, she didn’t feel much like making the kind of small talk the occasion would require. On the other hand, Larry Stone had done a wonderful favor for her that morning. She had bought a bottle of wine in town as a thank-you and would take it with her.
When she went inside, she saw that Nick was playing with Molly and her hamster. He’d been almost ignoring his younger sister for the past few days and Tess was relieved to see him giving her some of his time. He looked up as she stood watching them from the family room doorway.
“I’ve just been invited to the Stones for a drink. Think you two can manage? If you’d rather I stayed here, just say so. It doesn’t matter a whole lot to me.”
“We’ll be fine,” he said right away. “Want me to start something for dinner?”
Wonder of wonders, Tess was thinking. Maybe this is his way of apologizing. “I forgot to get something out of the freezer. Any suggestions?”
He thought for a moment. “There may be a pizza in the freezer. Or lasagna.”
“Great. Well, whatever you two decide on is okay by me. And if you get hungry before I come back, go ahead without me. Though I doubt that I’ll be long.”
He nodded, then just as she was about to turn away, said, “I told Molly I’d help her plan her birthday party. Is that okay?”
Oh, are we having a birthday party then? Tess nodded slowly. It appeared that the two men currently in her life—namely Nick and Alec Malone—were one step ahead of her again. “Sure,” she said. “You can fill me in on the details when I get back.”
Molly jumped up from the family room floor where Squiggly had been trying to master a homemade maze and ran to throw her arms around Tess. “Thanks for letting me have a party, Tess. Mommy always let me have two or three friends with games and videos.”
It was the first time she’d referred to her mother without tears in her eyes and oddly, it made Tess feel weepy. Molly squeezed her again and then ran back to join Nick and Squiggly on the floor. As Tess left the house, she was struck by the full impact of how much the children—at least, Molly—had begun to accept her. How could she possibly leave them with someone else now?
She was still pondering the question when she arrived at the Stones. Their house was also a ranch-style bungalow, but sprawling in the shape of a T. Marci greeted her at the door, martini glass in hand. Tess was surprised that she’d started without her and assumed Larry must be home as well.
“No, he’s got some meeting in town tonight. Larry’s always busy with something,” Marci said. “Come in.”
“I brought this for him,” Tess said, extending the wine in a decorative gift bag. “Just a token of appreciation for arranging to get the broken windows fixed at the house.”
“You didn’t need to do that, silly. Larry likes to help people.” Her thickly fringed eyes narrowed. “I hope the contractor gave you a good deal.”
Tess laughed. “Oh, yes. I think Larry made sure of that, as well.”
“We’ll go out to the patio since you brought a sweater. The evenings are quite cool this high up, no matter how hot the days are,” Marci
said. She took the wine and set it on a table inside the front door. Her high heels trotted along a ceramic-tiled hall with Tess in tow, past a family room and some closed doors to the rear of the house. They exited through the kitchen onto a pretty flagstone patio surrounding a pool. “We haven’t filled it yet,” she said, “because we don’t want the bother of the expense and work if we move after all.”
“You’re moving?”
Marci was pouring Tess a martini from a stainless steel shaker and glanced up sharply at her question. She gave her an ironic smile. “Well, I think so. Though not very far.” She handed Tess the frosty cocktail and led her to a grouping of wicker chairs.
“Surely you know?” she asked, taking a seat.
Tess sat down opposite her. “Know what?”
“Maybe I’m not supposed to say anything yet but,” she giggled behind her hand, “the cat’s out of the bag now, isn’t it?”
Tess smiled, completely confused.
“We put in an offer the other day—on the ranch. Richard and Gabriela’s,” she explained.
Tess wasn’t certain if the dizziness she was experiencing was from the martini—not a drink she usually indulged in—or Marci’s revelation. Of course, she’d known about a buyer. She simply hadn’t considered that it might be Larry Stone.
“You seem surprised.”
“Well, uh, I am. Mr. Walker just told me today that there might be a buyer but I assumed it wasn’t definite.”
“Oh, dear.” Marci finished off her drink and got up to pour another. She held up the shaker questioningly.
“No, no thanks. You see, I’m not really certain yet what’s going to happen with the kids. I asked Jed to give the matter more time—so I could come up with a plan that would satisfy everyone.”
“Then I am sorry, Tess. I shouldn’t have said a word. Obviously I’ve misunderstood the situation. Larry and I have always loved the Wheaton place. There’s the studio, which I know Larry would love for a workshop. He makes furniture, did you know that?”
Tess shook her head, focusing on what Marci had just revealed.
“And I weave. Just amateur stuff, you understand. We’re not in the same league as Richard and Gabriela were.”
A touch of envy there? Tess wondered.
“Plus Larry’s always interested in buying property. We may hold on to this place and rent it out for a while, since the market’s low for selling right now.”
Tess half listened to the other woman babble on about local real estate and all the development in the area. She sneaked a peek at her watch, thinking dinner preparation would be the perfect excuse to leave as soon as possible.
“There are so many tourists coming up here. You wouldn’t believe this place in the peak of summer. Especially around Estes Park. Did you get up there yet?”
“Uh, no. I’ve been to Lyons and a bit past it.” She didn’t know where exactly the campsite had been located, but vaguely recalled Ken mentioning Estes Park.
“Well, the places south of Estes are unbelievable. It’s the gateway to the park—you know, Rocky Mountain National Park?”
Tess gave a faint smile. “Yes, I’ve heard the name.”
“So many people own summer and winter places there. It’s really overcrowded now and developers are always looking for new locations.” She downed the last of her martini. “I’ve always wanted a place up there, but Larry says we can’t afford it just yet.” Marci walked over to the patio table and tilted the martini shaker into her glass. A trickle of liquid came out. She grinned at Tess. “Ooops! Ready for a second? I can make another batch.”
Tess jumped to her feet. “No, but thanks anyway, Marci. I’ve got to get home and get dinner for the kids.”
Marci frowned. “Oh, yes. Those poor souls. Unfortunately, Larry and I never had any children.” She sighed and looked off into the distance. Then she turned back to Tess. “You must find it a challenge, suddenly being responsible for two children. I mean, someone said you have an important job back in Chicago. Don’t you miss it?”
Tess was struck by the question. Until that moment, she hadn’t given her job much more than a moment’s thought since arriving in Colorado. Of course, she rationalized, she was officially still on vacation. But she wondered if perhaps she was getting too used to being away from the office.
“And I bet those kids—as cute as they are—are a real cramp in your single lifestyle.”
“Hmm,” Tess murmured. She reached for her purse and followed Marci back through the house and out the front door. The Wheaton ranch was less than a five-minute drive along the highway but it was enough time for Tess to decide not to tell the children about the possible sale of the house to the Stones.
They were setting the table for dinner when Tess walked into the kitchen.
“Just in time,” Molly said. “We decided on the lasagna because maybe we’ll have pizza for my birthday.” She gave Tess an anxious look.
“Oh, well that’s a good idea then. So you two have made some plans?”
Molly burbled on about the party throughout the meal. Her excitement was almost matched by Nick’s whose offer to organize some games left Tess speechless but pleased. After a dessert of ice cream and berries, Tess announced that she would do the tidying up so Nick could start on his homework. Molly ran off to the family room to watch her favorite television show and Nick, with a fleeting smile for Tess, headed to his room. The smile was exactly the encouragement she needed. Tonight she would have her talk with him.
Once Molly was tucked into bed, Tess walked down the hall to Nick’s room. He gave a clear and distinct “Come in,” at her soft knock.
“I thought maybe we should come to some kind of agreement. You know,” she explained at the question in his face, “about how we can work together so that you can be successful at school and I—I—” Tess stopped, sensing she was floundering badly. She sat down on the edge of the bed.
“The thing is, Nick. I’ve never dealt with kids before. I was an only child and my only playmates were kids in my class. After my father—I mean, our dad—left, my mother had kind of a nervous breakdown. She’d always been what people called high-strung. Unpredictable with mood swings. I think she might have been manic depressive. Anyway, our household was always in turmoil so I never invited friends over. Never even had a birthday party until I was eleven and was living with Mavis.” Tess paused. She was getting off track.
“You and Molly—well, you were right when you said that I considered you two a hindrance. I did. Especially that first weekend. I didn’t want to deal with this…this problem that just appeared out of nowhere.”
Nick wasn’t saying a word, but he kept his eyes on hers. Another good sign, Tess thought.
“But after being here these past few days, the strange thing is that I seem to have taken on another kind of life. When I was at Marci Stone’s today, she asked me if I missed my job in Chicago and you know what? I realized I hadn’t thought about it at all. Not once. Not even to check my e-mail or phone Carrie.” Tess shook her head in disbelief.
“What does that mean?” he asked. “That you like it here?”
She thought about it. “Well yes, I do. But it’s not that simple. I have financial obligations, too. Some very serious ones.”
“Molly and I are getting money. We can help out.”
Tess patted his hand. “I know that, but your money will be in a trust until you’re adults. That’s the way it should be. That’s the way your father wanted it.”
“He was your father, too.” His eyes narrowed in reproach.
“Yes,” Tess said. “My father, too. I have only sketchy memories of him. Maybe you can tell me more—give me a bigger picture.”
Nick nodded. “I was wondering if you’d ask,” he said. Then he started talking, at first in short disconnected phrases, and as his stories of Richard and Gabriela Wheaton took life, Tess climbed up onto the bed beside him. She leaned back against the wooden headboard and stared at the ceiling while Nick talked for
a long time. He stopped for breath, finally, and gasped out, “I miss them so much!” before bursting into tears.
Stunned, Tess wrapped her arms around him. He lowered his head onto her shoulder and sobbed until there were no tears left. Her hands and arms were numb from lack of circulation and her shoulder ached from his body weight, but Tess didn’t move a muscle. Eventually, Nick pulled away. He seemed embarrassed and averted his face as he got off the bed.
“Think I’ll take a shower,” he mumbled, “then hit the sack.” After he left, Tess sat a moment longer. Every part of her ached, but the physical soreness was nothing to the pain deep inside. She rose from the bed and moved, zombielike, down the hall to the living room. She was grateful for the protective darkness of the room, needing a quiet place to sit and think. Molly had left the television on and the glow from the family room seeped across the terrace through the French doors in the living room. It was just enough light to catch Gabriela’s portrait, so lovingly painted by Tess’s father.
Love was everywhere in the house, Tess realized. In every piece of art and in the way the house had been designed, so that all rooms had a connection to the terrace and the outdoors. There was beauty everywhere one looked, from the distant view of the Flatirons to the gardens tucked into every alcove.
She gazed up at the painting of the woman who had made Richard Wheaton’s new life so precious. The woman who made his dreams come true. It was a rare gift to be able to do that for the man you loved and Tess envied her for that. And she knew that she, too, had received a gift. The rediscovery of her father. It was a gift and a chance to change and enrich her life. Tess felt certain about that. Just as she was certain now that being with Molly and Nick was an integral part of holding on to that gift.
THE MORNING was unfolding in a calmer, more relaxed manner these days. The three of them seemed to have developed a routine without Tess having to impose one. She got up with the alarm and woke both kids. Molly got the use of the bathroom first because she was quicker and Nick took a while to get out of bed. Tess started making lunches while Molly set the table and put the cereal boxes or fixings for toast out. She also poured juice and milk. By the time Nick appeared, Molly was usually finished breakfast and busily feeding Squiggly or cleaning his cage. Nick ate quickly, then put all the breakfast dishes into the machine before walking Molly down to the bus.
The Second Family Page 19