by Nan Dixon
All the Smythes glowered at him.
“I’d just gotten authorization to tell you who I was.” He kept his voice low when he wanted to shout. He had to get her to understand. “There were...circumstances.”
“If I’d known Issy was in danger, I would have taken more precautions,” Courtney snapped. “She was terrified.”
“It was politics.” His excuse was weak. He’d underestimated Bole. And worse, he’d underestimated Courtney, just like everyone else in her life did.
Roger needed to pull him from this assignment.
“And was it political when you asked me on a date without telling me why you were really at the B and B?”
“What?” Gray snarled. “He was dating you?”
“Not anymore.” Courtney waved, but her brother looked capable of taking Kaden’s head off.
Her statement was another shot to the chest. Kaden couldn’t keep the exasperation from his voice. “I was undercover.”
“Yet you still asked me out.”
The Smythe men watched their conversation like a tennis match, crossing their arms and staring at him.
“I’m sorry.” He held out his hands to her.
She rolled her eyes. Pain streaked across her face. “Why don’t you leave and find this monster of a mother. You’re not doing any good here.”
“That’s an excellent idea,” Gray said.
Kaden nodded. Trying to explain hadn’t changed anything. Courtney wasn’t going to forgive him.
He left the room, but headed straight for the waiting area. Until the plastic surgeon took care of her, he wouldn’t leave.
* * *
COURTNEY CHOKED DOWN her breakfast. The hospital food did not live up to Abby’s.
“I don’t know how to thank you,” Nathan said for the third time since arriving at the hospital.
“Anyone would do what I did.” Courtney pushed away the tray.
“I don’t believe that.” Nathan smiled.
After two hours of getting stitches, Courtney’s father had insisted the hospital keep her overnight. At least she’d convinced her family she didn’t need anyone staying in her room. “How did Issy sleep?”
Nathan closed his eyes and swallowed. “Not well. She had two nightmares.”
“I’m so sorry.” She touched the get-well cards Josh and Issy had drawn for her. Nathan had also brought a small duffel with the clothes Gray and Abby had packed for her.
Nathan shook his head. “She’s worried you’ll die.”
“Oh, God.” She sat up, making her stomach ache. “Once I get home, can she come over and see that I’m all right? I can’t wait to give them hugs.”
“That might help,” Nathan said.
A nurse knocked and entered her room. “I have your discharge papers and instructions.”
“I’d better go. Gray will be here soon.” Nathan gave her a hug. “Thank you for keeping the kids safe. We owe you so much.”
Courtney listened to the nurse’s instructions and then took the bag of ointments and pads she handed her. “Thank you.”
She headed into the bathroom one more time. Leaning on the sink, she stared in the mirror. The bandages covered her forehead down to her cheek. The doctor had been optimistic that the scar wouldn’t be noticeable. Her family was ecstatic.
At least her eye was undamaged. She hoped any scar wouldn’t frighten the children. That would be terrible. She straightened her shoulders and touched the furrows on her brow.
Her mouth dropped open. What she looked like didn’t matter. The scar, if there was one, didn’t matter. Heather had freed her from that worry. From now on, the kids were all that mattered.
“Courtney, are you in the bathroom?” Gray called.
Taking a deep breath, she looked at the new her. She could do this. “I’ll be right out.”
In the room, Gray smiled. “The mummy look is good on you.”
“You’re a laugh a minute.” She picked up the bag of wound care supplies, the cards and her prescriptions. “I’m ready.”
Gray kept a hand on her elbow and she was shaky enough to appreciate the help.
“Maybe you want a wheelchair,” he said.
“The only reason I spent the night was because Father hounded the staff. I want to walk out on my own.”
“We’ll walk out together.”
She shuffled down the hall, her bruised stomach protesting. At least Heather hadn’t broken any ribs. They crossed in front of a waiting room.
Kaden’s large body was scrunched into a chair. His eyes were closed and his head rested on the chair back.
She whispered, “Did he sleep here last night?”
“It looks like it.” Gray walked into the room and tapped Kaden’s foot with his own. “Farrell?”
Kaden jerked awake, reaching behind his back.
“Kaden!” she said loudly. Did he have a gun in the hospital?
“You’re up?” Gravel filled Kaden’s voice.
“I’m leaving,” she said.
His face went pale. “You’re leaving Savannah?”
“The hospital.”
Relief flooded Kaden’s face.
“Gray, can you give us a minute?” she asked.
“I’ll bring the car around.” He scowled at Kaden. “Can you get her to the entrance? Safely?”
“Of course.” After Gray left, Kaden put an arm around her waist.
She didn’t want him to touch her—ever. It hurt too much. But so did walking. “Why are you still here?”
“I couldn’t leave when you were hurt.” His blue eyes pleaded with her.
His words were as painful as the stitches in her cheek, but they pierced her heart, not her flesh. “With your cover blown, I assumed you’d head back to Atlanta. If that’s really where you live.”
“I really live in Atlanta.” He tightened his hold on her. “My cover wasn’t blown.”
Her frown set off pounding behind her eyes. “But...”
Hadn’t she learned he was FBI in the courtyard? “Didn’t you have a gun when—when all this happened?”
“Bole didn’t see it. For all she knows, I was a guest who stumbled on her beating you up. She doesn’t know I’m FBI.”
“So the FBI will continue to use Issy as bait.” She spat the last word out like it was the bitterest food she’d ever tasted.
“I thought I could get there in time.” His shoulders drooped. “I should have known better.”
They moved outside to a bench. She sank onto the surface and tipped her face to the sun. The warmth felt good.
He sat next to her. “I’m sorry I couldn’t keep you safe. I wish you could forgive me.”
He was clueless. “I don’t expect you to keep me safe.”
“I did. I do.” He took her hand. “Can you give me another chance?”
“You used Issy and me for your job. Used us.” Why couldn’t he understand? He’d pretended to see the real her. “If you’d told me what was going on, you would not have needed to sleep with me.”
“I didn’t sleep with you because of my job.” His jaw clenched. “My being with you was...for me.”
He would never convince her he hadn’t gotten close to her because of his job. “We’ll have to agree to disagree.”
“Courtney—”
“No.” She held up a hand. “I’m not arguing with you.”
“What will you do now?” He reached out to touch her cheek, but she shifted away. His hand dropped to his lap with a smack. “Will you head back to Boston?”
“I’m not going back to Boston.” It was time to take control of her life, and that life wouldn’t include Kaden. “I have children to take care of. I have a day care to run.”
And she
would keep Issy safe.
She would be smart, vigilant. This was her job. And unlike Kaden, she wouldn’t screw it up.
CHAPTER TEN
COURTNEY STARED IN the mirror. A raw red slash spanned from her forehead to her cheek. She didn’t recognize her face anymore. It was individual features: eyes, nose, mouth, hair and the red scar. Should she be crying about her injury? If her face had defined her before, now it was her badge, guiding her toward a new life of courage.
The stitches were out. The doctor was pleased with his work and her progress. She massaged in the creams the surgeon’s assistant had insisted would minimize the scarring, watching the clock to ensure she met her daily massage goal. But she didn’t care about having a scar. It was one more indication that she wasn’t the old Courtney. She was new and improved.
It had been a week since she’d fought with Heather. No one had spotted Issy’s mother since then. For a blissful seven days, Courtney hadn’t seen Kaden. He was still hanging around the B and B. He’d sent flowers with another worthless apology. But she hadn’t laid eyes on him.
For the last week, the Fitzgeralds, their spouses and significant others, along with Cheryl and Nathan, had taken care of the kids. Today she would finally have Josh and Issy all day. She was glad Josh had a day off school. They planned to spend the morning in the new facilities.
She’d had plenty of time while resting and healing to create daily schedules. She and Abby, with Cheryl’s input, had hired an experienced assistant for the day care. Courtney was happy to have Martha’s help. And Martha loved her plans.
She walked out of her bedroom and into the carriage house kitchen. Mother sat at the island with a cup of coffee and her iPad. Probably reading the Boston Herald. A Savannah paper wasn’t good enough.
Mother’s gaze zeroed in on her scar. Her chest shook as she exhaled. “You shouldn’t be working while you...” Her hand waved at her face. “You don’t want an infection and children are germ factories.”
“The doctor was happy with the way I was healing. He said it’s fine to work.” Courtney headed to the coffeemaker. “I need to get back to my job.”
“But your father said you could come home.” Mother set a hand on Courtney’s arm as she boosted herself up onto a stool. “I thought that’s what you wanted.”
“I thought I did, too.” She sipped her coffee. “Not anymore.”
Weeks ago, she would have been on the family plane. Now she had something to prove. She had a business to create. “Maybe my work isn’t a multimillion-dollar real-estate empire like Gray’s, but what I do is important.”
“Babysitting?” her mother asked.
“It’s more than babysitting,” Courtney explained. “I impact children’s lives. If I can make one child feel worthwhile, I’ll make a difference.”
“You don’t need to work.” Mother’s lips pinched together.
“I want to work, to be useful.” Maybe if Courtney had had a teacher who’d understood that she’d felt worthless, she would have found her passion sooner.
“Come back to Boston and do something...useful. Take over some of my charity work.”
“You do great work.” She linked her hand with her mother’s. “But I need to be more...ground-level. Individual.”
Mother squeezed her fingers, holding her gaze. “What is it about this place that changes my children? First Gray. Now you? Is it Savannah or the Fitzgeralds?”
“I don’t know. Father started the change by forcing me to face my...shiftless life.” Courtney finished her coffee. “Back in Boston I used to run a reading hour in one of the libraries. I never told anyone.”
Except Kaden. Before she’d discovered he was only with her because of Heather Bole. Obviously, she was a terrible judge of character.
Mother blinked. “You did?”
“I love children.” She slipped off the stool. “I also make up stories.”
Mother’s blue eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t know.”
“I didn’t tell you.” She pulled her mother into a hug. “I love you. Have a safe flight home.”
“If you need anything, call. Or I’ll send the plane to bring you home.” Mother brushed back the hair from the side of her face with the scar. “I hate the idea that your beautiful face might scar.”
“My looks don’t define me.” Not anymore. “I’ll be fine.”
After hugging her mother one last time, she headed to the Foresters’ apartment. She and the kids would have breakfast in Fitzgerald House. When the center officially opened, they would eat in the day care, with food provided by the B and B. Knowing Abby and Cheryl, she would have the best-fed kids in the area.
She knocked on the door and then let herself in with the key. Walking into their home didn’t feel awkward anymore.
“I’m in the kitchen,” Cheryl yelled.
“Miss Courtney.” Issy ran over and wrapped her arms around her knees.
“Hey.” She knelt and gave Issy a hug. She wasn’t supposed to pick up anything heavy for a while.
Issy pointed at her face, and whispered, “Hurt?”
“Not too bad.” Now that the stitches were out, there wasn’t any tugging. “Where’s Josh?”
She pointed toward the bathroom.
Courtney took Issy’s hand and they headed to the kitchen.
Cheryl looked up from unloading the dishwasher. “It seems strange not to be feeding the kids breakfast.”
“Hopefully, that will make your day easier.” Courtney appreciated that Cheryl didn’t stare at her face. “How’s everything going?”
Cheryl sighed. “Issy, will you knock on the bathroom door and tell Josh that Miss Courtney is here?”
Issy ran down the hall.
Cheryl took a seat at the kitchen table. “She had more nightmares last night.”
“I’ll see if she’ll take a nap today.”
“At least she’s still talking.” Cheryl pressed a hand to her chest. “But she’s afraid to leave the apartment.”
“Is Heather still in Savannah?” Had Kaden said anything to the Foresters?
“Kaden doesn’t know.” Cheryl twisted her fingers together. “He’ll stick close to the day care. And eat his meals with you and the kids.”
Great. Not. “Thanks for the warning.”
Cheryl frowned.
No one had known about her and Kaden. Just another reason to believe his feelings for her weren’t real.
“Nathan’s working at the restaurant all week,” Cheryl said. “He’ll be close, too.”
“Did you know Kaden was with the FBI?”
“Yes.” Cheryl paced to the stove and pulled off the towel hanging on the handle. She refolded it so the edges were perfect. Then she straightened a cruet and large salt and pepper mills sitting on the counter. “I wish I could have told you. Kaden was the one who suggested you become the kids’ nanny.”
“He did?” She smiled. Then stopped.
It wasn’t because Kaden had understood her. He’d wanted the kids to stay at the B and B. The hits just kept on coming. “I understand he’s asked to be replaced.”
“Nathan didn’t say anything.” Cheryl’s hand pressed against her chest. “Why?”
“Because he failed?”
“But I...trust him with Issy and Josh. So does Nathan.” Cheryl bit her lip. “Do you?”
Not with my heart. Could she trust him to keep the children safe? “I don’t know.”
Josh and Issy ran into the kitchen.
“Let’s go get breakfast.” Courtney pushed away from the table.
“I’ll be there in a few minutes,” Cheryl said. “I want to throw the wash into the dryer.”
Courtney held Issy’s hands as they headed across the courtyard.
Josh ran ahead,
peering around the palm trees and fountain. “I’ll check and see if your mom is trying to steal you.”
Courtney’s chest ached for Issy. “Don’t leave my sight,” she called to Josh.
Issy twisted her head, looking around, her lip caught between her teeth.
“What do you think we’ll have for breakfast?” Courtney asked, trying to distract her.
“Pancakes?” The little girl’s eyes lit up.
“Maybe.” Although she was hungry for Abby’s muffins.
When they crossed by the frog fountain, the little girl’s fingers gripped her hand.
“She’s not here,” Josh yelled.
Issy relaxed.
Courtney held the door and they moved inside.
“Hey, guys.” Abby looked over from her big griddle. The bacon she flipped sizzled. “Let me get this onto a platter.”
Now Courtney wanted bacon. She was going to be two feet wide if her appetite didn’t slow down. Maybe it was her skin trying to heal. Did bacon have healing powers?
She poured the kids juice, served them fruit and got them seated. Then Abby brought over a basket of warm muffins.
“Anyone want cream cheese or butter on their muffins?” Courtney asked.
“I like butter.” Josh eyed the bowl and grabbed the biggest muffin.
Courtney helped him spread his butter. Then she helped Issy, who pointed to the cream cheese. “Like you.”
“I love cream cheese on my muffin.”
“When are the new kids coming to day care with us?” Josh asked.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full.” Courtney grimaced a little at her mother’s words coming out of her mouth. But she had to help them learn their manners. “Daria’s coming on Thursday. Theresa on Monday.”
“I’ll still be the oldest.”
How did he know that? “Have you met Theresa?”
He nodded and swallowed. “At the Fitzgerald House picnic. End of last summer.” He turned to Abby. “Will there be another picnic?”
“Labor Day weekend.” Abby dropped off a plate with bacon and sausages. She set her hand on Josh’s shoulder. “And the staff will be testing the food from the restaurant.”
“I want to win all the games.” Josh snatched a piece of bacon.