“So she thought she was leaving him on your porch. Who’s Tiff?”
The scorn in her voice shot his defenses into place. “My ex-wife. We were only married a short time.” Short was being generous. Six weeks, two days and four hours, to be exact.
“Perhaps you should call her for an explanation.” Carrie stood and started for the door.
“I haven’t seen or heard from her in years. She never told me about...” He looked at the child, who had scooted onto the floor and was playing quietly with the battered truck.
Carrie crossed her arms over her chest, her expression clearly revealing her skepticism. “So you’re saying she kept the child a secret from you? Why would she do that?”
Good question. He put his fists on his hips. “I don’t know.”
He looked at the child again, so small and frail. Could the boy be his son? Somewhere deep inside, a feeling began to form. It wouldn’t be out of character for Tiff to have kept her pregnancy a secret. She’d thought she was marrying a fun guy who could keep her in high style. But when the money had run out, so had she. But why bring the boy to him now and abandon him on the porch? That was heartless even for her.
He ran his hands down his face, staring at Jack. “This is crazy. I don’t understand any of it.” The note said the boy was five. He’d done the math. It added up. A father. He’d never considered that. At least not for a long time. His foray into the Vegas lifestyle had drawn out all of his sinful nature, and he’d spent the last years trying to overcome it. Was it true? Was Jack his?
Carrie cleared her throat softly. “Seth, do you have something good for Jack to eat?”
Seth frowned. Was she kidding? His life had been upended and she was wondering about food? One glance at the child banished his irritation. He didn’t know a lot about children, but it didn’t take much to see the boy was thin and sallow-looking, and his cobalt blue eyes were set too deeply in his face, as if he might have been hungry awhile.
His eyes. Seth’s heart skipped a beat and that feeling deep inside grew stronger. The cobalt color was a Montgomery family trait. The only one of his siblings who didn’t have them was his sister Bethany, who’d inherited their grandmother’s hazel color. He glanced at Carrie. She was looking at him with expectancy. Food. Right. “Uh, like what? Cold pizza? Lunch meat?”
“Fruit or cereal, perhaps?”
He winced at her scolding tone. “Right.” He moved into the kitchen. Good food. Nourishing food. Things he rarely purchased. All he could scrounge up was a slightly overripe banana.
“Will this work?”
Carried arched her brows as she urged Jack to his feet. “Jack, let’s get you over to your dad’s table and you can play with your truck while you eat this. We’ll be right here where you can see us, okay?”
After settling Jack at the table, Carrie approached Seth, her blue eyes wary and concerned.
“Seth, what’s going on? Is he yours or not?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. It’s possible. I have to figure out what I’m going to do with him.”
“You’re not thinking of sending him to foster care, are you? You can’t. He’ll be just a number there with no one to comfort him.”
Seth frowned. “I only meant I need to find someone to take care of Jack while I’m at work. I just finished orientation for my new job. I need to show them I’m committed and dependable. I can’t do that if I keep taking off work to watch Jack.” That wasn’t the only thing he was concerned about. Jack’s sudden appearance would stir up gossip. He didn’t want his family paying for his past mistakes.
“What about friends and family? I know you just moved here, but are they close by?”
Seth shook his head. “Moved back here. I grew up in Dover. My family has lived here for generations. Everyone knows us. But I can’t ask them for help.”
Carrie put her hand to her throat. “Wait. Montgomery. Are you one of those Montgomerys? Montgomery Real Estate, Montgomery Electrical Contractors and the woman who has the event planning business?”
“Yes. Why?”
“So why don’t you want to ask them for help?”
“I need time to sort this out and look into things and see if this child is really mine. I can’t just take the word of some faded paper. There’s no point in upsetting my family until I know more.” Embarrassing them was closer to the truth. In a town the size of Dover, an unexplained child could start tongues wagging.
“I suppose. But they’re your family. Don’t they deserve to know what’s going on?”
“My family knows nothing about that time in my life.”
“Why not?”
He took a moment to collect his thoughts. It wasn’t a topic he liked to think about, let alone discuss. “Let’s just say I was the rebel of the clan. I was never content in Dover, so I left and moved to Las Vegas. Eventually I came to my senses and the end of my finances, and I came home.”
“The prodigal son. And that’s when you got married?”
“One of my big mistakes. I’m not proud of that time in my life, and I’ve spent years trying to put it behind me.”
Carrie stiffened her neck. “And an unexpected child now would be awkward. Even scandalous.”
“Yes. It would. Especially since I’m starting a new job. But first I have to find out the truth about this boy and why he was dumped here without any word.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“Try to find his mother. She’s the only one with answers.”
“And Jack?”
He glanced at the boy before facing Carrie. “I’ll take care of him until we get to the bottom of this.” Her blue eyes lightened in relief. Had she expected him to toss the boy out again? Did she think he was the kind of man who would walk away from his child? He couldn’t blame her given the cryptic note she’d read. She’d probably pegged him as a deadbeat dad.
She stood and started toward the door. The long blue skirt she wore swished attractively below the soft white blouse, making him think of clouds in a summer sky. He shut down the thought. “Where are you going? You can’t leave yet.”
“I can and I am. This is not my problem. I brought him safely to you. Now I’m going home.”
“Carrie.”
Jack ran out of the kitchen, traces of banana on his mouth. “Don’t go.”
She stooped down and hugged him. “It’s okay, Jack. I’ll be right next door if you need me. You can see my house from that window. I’ll wave to you when I get home, okay?” She shot a warning glare in Seth’s direction.
Jack’s mouth puckered up and he nodded. “Leo?”
She led him to the window. “He’ll wave, too. Now you stand right here, and as soon as I get inside I’ll wave at you.”
The thought of being alone with the little boy suddenly filled him with terror. “Carrie, are you sure you can’t stay awhile? I could really use your help.”
“I’m positive.” She opened the door. “And, Seth, be gentle with him, okay? He needs to feel safe and loved whether he’s yours or not.”
Her warning triggered his curiosity. Why was she so protective of a child she didn’t know? She seemed very knowledgeable about how Jack felt and what he needed. He had a feeling she was coming from a place of experience. Assessing people was part of his job and one of his gifts. He wanted to know more about the intriguing Carrie Fletcher.
She stopped at the threshold and glanced over her shoulder. “Oh, and, Seth, he needs a bath before you put him to bed.”
Her stern expression reminded him of the disapproving looks he’d gotten from his teachers when he’d misbehaved. He watched her start across the lawn, then realized his major mistake. “Carrie. Thanks for taking care of Jack.” She looked over her shoulder, her blond hair catching the light from the streetlamp.
“Make s
ure you take care of him or I will call the cops.” If he hadn’t been so shell-shocked he would have laughed at her threat. But she had a point. He needed to get to the bottom of this and find out the truth about the little boy. A father. The possibility was both scary and intriguing.
He started formulating a plan as he went back inside. He needed the truth and he needed it fast, before everything in his life started to unravel.
* * *
Safely inside her cottage again, Carrie scooped up Leo, went to the window facing Seth’s house and raised the fabric shade. She could see Jack’s little face pressed against the glass and his hand waving frantically. Behind him a shadow moved. Seth? She waved until the boy disappeared from view, her heart pinching. Had she done the right thing in leaving him there?
Had there been another option? The rest was up to Seth to figure out. In the kitchen she put away the groceries, filled a bowl with leftover casserole and set it to heat in the microwave. Leo followed her to the bedroom, where she changed into a pair of sweatpants and a loose T-shirt. Friday night was movie night and she had every intention of keeping to her routine.
But her thoughts kept replaying the expression on Seth’s face. She’d been furious with the man, but not so upset that she hadn’t seen the color drain from his face as he read the note.
She’d expected continued denial, even anger, but he’d been more stunned and confused than anything. He’d stared at Jack as if he were an alien creature. But he’d also spoken gently to him, and she’d seen a glint of compassion in his eyes. At least he hadn’t thrown her and Jack out.
Her instincts told her Seth had been telling the truth. He hadn’t known about Jack. He’d even shared about his less-than-noble life in Vegas. Yet he was doing the right thing in keeping Jack and at the same time trying not to bring shame on his family.
She wandered to the window and peeked over at Seth’s house again. The window was dark. Had they gone to bed? Had he tucked Jack in? Given him a bath? After grabbing the cord beside the window, she lowered the shade and turned away. Out of sight, out of mind. She had to let this go. Jack was Seth’s responsibility now.
Her cell phone rang and she picked it up, surprised to see Kathy Edwards’s name on the screen. What would she be calling for? The supervisor of the church preschool was a good friend and coworker. But with two small children and a husband, they rarely spoke outside of the office.
“Sorry to disturb your evening, Carrie, but I wanted to let you know I found a volunteer to take charge of the games the day of the picnic.”
“Wonderful. Who?”
“Earl Michaels. Turns out he used to work for his uncle’s carnival growing up and he says he knows all about managing several events at once.”
Carrie chuckled at the image forming in her mind of the dapper Mr. Michaels barking for a carnival. “That leaves only two more spots to fill.”
“Yep. However, I have to tell you, I ran into Ralph as I was leaving and he forgot to take the flyer to the printers today, and now we won’t have them to hand out at church on Sunday.”
Carrie sank down onto the sofa. “Great. I really wanted those available this weekend. What happened?”
“He claims we never gave the original to him. Carrie, I know Ralph has been the go-to guy for the church forever and he prides himself on being an unofficial assistant to every church event, but he’s getting older and forgetful and he doesn’t hear as well as he should.”
Carrie knew only too well. Ralph had pledged his help for the Chili Cook-Off last month, but she’d ended up doing everything herself, taking valuable time away from other projects because Ralph either didn’t show up or confused his instructions.
“I think we need to make an announcement for a new assistant.”
“And break Ralph’s heart? Not to mention humiliating him. I can’t do that.” Ralph had a heart as big as all outdoors and he loved his Lord and his church. He would never understand being replaced.
“Carrie, you need someone to help you. You’re stretched to the max now.”
“I know. We’ll have to pray that the Lord will provide the perfect solution.”
“I wish I had your faith. All I see is a worn-out friend who’s going to crumble into dust once this picnic is over.”
“Then I’ll count on you to bring me hot soup and chocolate cake.”
They discussed a few more issues with the picnic before hanging up. Carrie was continually amazed at how the Lord had worked through her life, bestowing blessings that she never dreamed possible. He’d taken the battered, confused and hurting person she’d been, restored her and made her whole again. Her life was finally moving in the right direction. She had a decent education, a job that paid a comfortable wage and a work environment that not only made her happy but fed her spiritually, as well.
Now she was free to save up for her house and finish her degree. One by one she was conquering the shadows of her childhood and sealing them up as securely as the record of her past.
Or was that really the truth? Seth’s past had revisited him tonight. Would hers do the same? Would it rise up like a dark fist and smash her new world to pieces again? She shook her head to dislodge the negative thoughts. Her past followed her around like Marley’s chain. She’d tried to forget it, to ignore it, but she couldn’t let it go even though she knew deep down she wasn’t that person anymore. She was a child of God—loved, worthy and valued. He’d set her on a new path, and looking back wouldn’t gain her anything. She had to trust that He would sort it all out. But it wouldn’t hurt to keep her guard up and her heart protected.
Chapter Two
Seth stared at the small boy playing with the battered yellow truck. He’d reread the note a dozen times, looking for something he’d missed, and had spent the last half hour making calls that had gotten him nowhere. There was no number listed in Vegas for his former wife, and the few contacts he still had proved to be dead ends. A quick search on the internet had been fruitless, too. He couldn’t take the note at face value, but something inside him knew that the words were true. He simply wasn’t ready to accept it without investigating. He needed a birth certificate, proof of some sort that Jack was his. He needed access to the police department files, but as a newbie on the Dover force he didn’t have many favors to call in. He’d have to wait until he reported to work on Monday and see what he could accomplish.
Right now he had a more pressing task to address—telling his mother about Jack. He needed to do that soon. It wouldn’t take but a moment for word to get out, and he didn’t want her to learn about his son from strangers or rumors. Telling his siblings was another thing he wasn’t looking forward to. He had to uncover the truth for everyone’s sake.
His attention returned to the little boy sitting in front of the hearth. Their gazes collided, sending a jolt of recognition along Seth’s nerves. Those big cobalt blue eyes were better than any birth certificate.
The boy looked uneasy, forcing Seth to realize that since Carrie had left he’d been preoccupied with phone calls and internet searches instead of paying attention to Jack. That was something he’d have to correct.
He leaned forward, opening his arms and offering his best smile. “Hey, Jack. Come over here. Let me see that cool truck of yours.” The boy hesitated only a moment before standing and coming to him. He stopped within the circle of Seth’s body, and he was struck again by how small and frail the child was. His throat tightened. Jack was a baby. Too young to be abandoned by the one who should love him most. Seth sent up a grateful prayer that Carrie had been the person to find him and that Jack was now safe with him.
“That’s a really sharp looking truck you have, buddy.”
“It’s a supertruck.”
Seth smiled at the sincere look in his blue eyes. It was the most Jack had said all evening. He hoped that meant he was feeling more comfortabl
e. “Awesome. What does it do?”
Jack fingered the battered toy. “It can fly.” He angled the toy into the air. “It can go way faster than anything.”
“That’s cool.”
A frown tugged his little brows downward. “What’s your name?”
The simple question hit with the force of a sledgehammer to his solar plexus. That was the biggest question of his life. What did he tell the child? While his instincts said Jack was his son, if he was wrong it would be wise to keep some emotional distance for both their sakes. He searched for a compromise. “My name is Seth, but how about you call me Pop?”
Jack thought a moment, then smiled. “That’s a silly name.”
He picked Jack up and set him on his lap. “It’s what we used to call my dad. It’s sort of a special nickname.”
“Are you my dad?”
The longing in the little voice tore through him. He pulled the boy closer. “We’re going to figure that out together, okay?” The odor from his dirty clothing assaulted Seth’s nose.
Carrie had pointed out that he needed a bath. It was after eight o’clock. Time for Jack to be asleep. Reaching for the plastic sack, Seth pulled out what he hoped were clean clothes but proved to be little more than rags. His shoes had holes in the toes, the thin T-shirt was useless and there was no clean underwear at all. How could Tiff have treated the boy this way? She’d had her problems, but he’d never imagined her as an unfit mother. Who was he kidding? He didn’t know anything about his former wife. That was the problem.
His problem now was what to do with Jack. The clothes he wore would probably disintegrate in the washer. This was a bachelor household. He’d only been back in Dover a few weeks, and he’d been too busy getting settled into his house and his new role as a Dover police officer to think of much else.
He needed help. Seth rubbed his forehead. There was only one person he could turn to, and he dreaded asking. A glance at the clock pointed out how late it was. Jack needed to go to bed. He picked up his phone and dialed Carrie’s number. “Hey, Carrie.”
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