Daddy Patrol

by Sharon De Vita

  “Yeah, Ma, and Coach Joe, he likes baseball.” Connor was grinning from ear to ear.

  “A lot,” Cody confirmed.

  “I know,” Mattie said, amused.

  “Yeah. And Ma, he likes us, too.”

  “Yes, Connor, I know that, too.”

  “And we like him,” Cody added, giving his brother another look and a grin.

  “I’m glad,” Mattie said slowly, trying to figure out what was going on.

  “Ma?”

  “Yes, Cody?”

  “Could you ask Coach Joe something for us?”

  “Sure, honey, what?”

  “Could you ask him if he likes ’rithmetic?” both boys said nearly in unison.

  Mattie frowned, totally confused. Where on earth did this question come from? “You want me to ask Coach Joe if he likes…arithmetic?”

  Twin strawberry-blond heads bobbed up and down furiously. “Yep,” both boys said, grinning widely.

  “Okay, fine,” Mattie said with a shrug. “I’ll ask him.” She stood up. “In the meantime, dinner will be ready in a few minutes.”

  “Can we play until then?” Cody asked, glancing at Connor.

  “Sure.” Mattie bent and gave each of them a kiss on the top of their clean, shiny heads. “I’ll call you when dinner is on the table.” Mattie walked to the door, then hesitated a moment. “Oh, I almost forgot.” She smiled, slipping her hands in her jean pockets. “I got Amy’s birthday present.”

  “What? What? What did you get?”

  She smiled. “You know the ice-cream parlor across the street from the gallery? The one you two always want to go into?”

  “Yeah?” both boys said in unison.

  “Well, I bought Amy a gift certificate for the ice-cream parlor. It’s like money,” she explained when both boys looked confused. “Each month for the next year, Amy can go into the ice-cream parlor and get a free sundae, soda or malt. Anything she wants.”

  “You’re kidding,” Cody said, scratching his head. “For free?”

  “Yep. She just has to give them her gift certificate, and anything she wants—up to a certain dollar amount—is free.”

  “Cool,” Cody said with a grin. “Can we have one of those things for our birthday?”

  Mattie laughed, grateful she’d found something the boys approved of. “We’ll see, honey. Your birthdays are not for a long time yet.” She looked at her sons again. “Are you guys by any chance up to something?” she asked curiously, looking from one to the other.

  “No, Ma, honest,” Cody said solemnly.

  “And we’re not in any trouble, either,” Connor volunteered before she had a chance to ask.

  “All right,” she said slowly. “But you know if you ever want to talk to me about anything, anything at all, I’m here.”

  “We know, Ma.”

  “And you don’t want to talk to me about anything, at least not right now, right?” she asked with the knowledge that only a mother would have.

  “Right,” both boys said, grinning at each other again.

  Mattie sighed. “Okay, then. I’ll call you when dinner is ready.”

  Cody waited until he was sure his mom had gone downstairs before getting up to close the door. He turned to his brother.

  “You thinking what I’m thinking?” Cody asked.

  “Yeah, he likes us, he likes baseball and he even likes Ma. He kissed her this morning, remember?”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Cody said, bouncing up and down and beaming brightly. “I almost forgot.”

  “And I don’t think he’s got ’rthritis or nuthin’, or else he couldn’t run or play baseball, right?”

  “Right!” Cody’s eyes were shining with excitement.

  “Now, if he likes to do ’rithmetic, our problem will be solved!”

  “They’re both out like lights,” Joe whispered to Mattie as he glanced at the boys, who were sprawled on her living-room floor, sound asleep.

  She chuckled softly. “I know. Wait until morning when they realize they fell asleep during the middle of an Invaders movie. They are going to be so upset.” Her face filled with love as she glanced down at her boys, her life.

  “Well, the movies don’t have to be returned for a couple of days yet. I’ll leave them here so the boys can finish watching them tomorrow.”

  “Oh, Joe, you don’t have to do that,” she protested. He’d not only had dinner waiting for her, but he and the twins had gone to the video store and rented several movies for them to watch this evening. At first, the thought of spending an entire evening with Joe, even with her sons present, had made her nervous, but everything had gone very well.

  The dinner was fabulous, the one glass of wine she’d allowed herself, along with Joe’s excellent massage, helped her to relax and shed some of the tension of the day, and the movies had successfully lulled her mind so that most of the day’s irritations were forgotten. Almost.

  “Let me help you take them up to bed,” Joe said, keeping his voice low so he wouldn’t wake them.

  “Take Cody,” she suggested, getting up to scoop Connor off the floor. Fortunately, she’d made him take his glasses off the moment his eyes started drooping. Getting his glasses off while he was sleeping was always an experience. “He’s a bit heavier.”

  Carefully, with Joe following her, Mattie carried Connor up and laid him in his bed, pulling the blankets up and kissing him good-night on the cheek.

  “Coach Joe?” Cody murmured sleepily.

  “Yes, Cody?”

  “I like you.” Cody wrapped his arms around Joe’s neck to give him a good-night hug, and everything inside Joe melted into a warm pool of love.

  How on earth was it possible to lose his heart to a thirty-pound bundle of mischief? he wondered as he tucked Cody into bed.

  “I like you, too, sport,” Joe whispered, giving the boy a kiss on the forehead.

  Mattie turned as Joe was settling Cody into his bed. Her heart softened when she saw Joe kiss her son good-night.

  With a sleepy groan, Cody rolled over, burrowing deeper into the bed, making her smile.

  “They look so peaceful,” Joe said quietly, glancing at her.

  “Yeah, well, many an adult has been lulled by that look,” she said, bending to kiss Cody’s cheek. “Don’t let it fool you.”

  Joe grinned, reached for her hand and led her out of the bedroom. “They’re wonderful kids, Mattie,” he said as he led her down the stairs. “You’ve done an incredible job with them.”

  She sighed, more than a bit tired herself. “Thanks, Joe, believe it or not that means a lot to me.” Pushing her hair off her face, she bent to pick up the throw cover that she’d tossed over the boys when they fell asleep. “Single moms rarely know if what they’re doing is right or wrong.” Slowly, she began folding the throw, aware that he was just standing there, watching her.

  With the boys upstairs asleep, they were alone in the house for the first time. “It’s usually not until our kids are grown that we have any inkling of whether or not we did a good job.” She laid the comforter on the back of one of the Queen Anne chairs in the living room.

  “Well, I don’t think you have anything to worry about, Mattie. You’re doing just fine.” He reached for her hand again. “Come sit with me for a minute.” He tugged her down beside him on the couch. “Now, we didn’t get much of a chance to talk tonight.”

  Feeling slightly nervous with him so very close, she laughed. “Joe, we’ve been talking all night.”

  “Well, I guess you’re right. But we’ve been talking about the team, baseball, the first game, and hey, by the way, what was all that stuff the boys were asking me about arithmetic?” he asked with a confused shake of his head.

  Mattie shrugged. “Beats me.” She laughed suddenly. “But I have a feeling we might not want to know.” She hesitated for a moment. “I think they’re up to something,” she admitted with a slow smile. “Again.”

  “Up to something? The boys?”

  She laughed be
cause he looked so surprised. “Yes, the boys. They were incredibly interested in whether or not you liked arithmetic—”

  “Yeah, I know, but why?”

  She shrugged again. “I honestly don’t know. It makes no sense to me, but somewhere in their five-year-old minds it does, and until they’re ready to come clean, we can only…imagine what they’re up to.” Trying not to shudder, she rushed on at the look on his face. “Don’t worry, it’s generally not anything dangerous, just…mischievous,” she added, unable to contain her amusement. From the look on his face, she had a feeling he hadn’t quite dealt with any kids quite like hers.

  “I see,” he said, clearly not seeing anything of the kind. “Now, Mattie, why don’t you tell me something else.” Taking her hand again, he traced his fingers over the skin, wondering why she felt so incredibly soft all the time. And she smelled wonderful. She had on that sneaky feminine scent again, the one designed to drive a man crazy. So far it had been doing a pretty good job.

  Even though he was sitting right next to her, warming her with his body heat, and holding her hand in his, she leaned back against the couch, determined to relax.

  “Okay, what would you like me to tell you?” she asked with a smile. “Anything in particular, like the population of the planet? Or just general things like grass is green and radishes are red, that sort of thing?”

  “No, actually, I’d like you to tell me why you were crying earlier today.”

  “Oh.” He had her there. She was not an experienced or skillful liar, it just wasn’t in her nature. She felt the truth, no matter how embarrassing or awkward, was always the best way. She had to set a good example for the boys, which was why she was so adamant that they always tell her the truth. She couldn’t very well demand less of herself.

  He lifted his hand from hers and ran it the length of her hair, playing with the ends for a moment. “You were really tense and upset when you came home, Mattie. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you that upset.”

  “No,” she admitted with a sigh. “It’s been a long time since I was that disturbed.”

  “Who upset you?” His gaze went over her face, tracing every beautiful feature, coming to rest on that tantalizing mouth.

  “Joe, it’s a really long, boring story.” She managed a smile. “Not a pretty one, either. Nor one that I think you’d be interested in.”

  “Try me,” he persisted, unwilling to allow her to shut him out. He realized he wanted to know everything about her.

  She glanced at him for a moment, thinking about how just earlier today she’d wished and longed for someone to share her troubles with, to get another’s perspective. Joe was offering that to her now.

  Mattie took a deep breath. “I had an argument of sorts with my former mother-in-law.”

  “The boys’ grandmother, right?” he asked carefully, and she nodded. “I take it from what you’ve already told me that you two aren’t close.”

  Mattie laughed, but the sound was harsh. “Close is hardly the word I’d use. She hates me,” she admitted sadly, trying not to feel sorry for herself or embarrassed by her admission.

  Surprised, Joe drew back. “Mattie, maybe you misunderstood her. I can’t possibly imagine anyone hating you, let alone the boys’ grandmother. Surely she has to admire what a wonderful job you’ve done with her grandsons?”

  “No, Joe,” Mattie began carefully. “She doesn’t think I’ve done a wonderful job with them. In fact, she wants me to let her and her husband raise them because she thinks she and Bob can do a better job.” Lifting her head, she met his gaze and managed another weak smile. “She thinks I’m being selfish for wanting to raise my own children.” The absurdity of the situation just struck her and she wanted to weep again.

  “Mattie, is this woman a drunk?”

  She couldn’t help it, she laughed, then remembered how wonderful it was to talk to Joe. No matter what the situation or the circumstance, he always managed to find a way to make her smile about it, to make it seem as if it was going to be all right.

  “No, Joe, she’s not a drunk,” she finally managed to say when she’d stopped laughing.

  “Then I don’t understand.” He shook his head. “You are one of the most wonderful, loving, natural mothers I’ve ever seen. Totally devoted and in tune with your boys. It’s clear your life revolves around them and you adore them.”

  “Yeah,” she admitted, worrying her lower lip and hoping she wasn’t about to cry again. “I know.”

  “And they adore you, so how on earth can this woman accuse you of being selfish for wanting to raise your own children? And worse, think she could somehow do a better job?”

  “I wish I could give you a logical answer, Joe, but I can’t.” Mattie took a deep breath. “Their son, Gary, the boys’ father—”

  “And your late husband, right?” This was clearly dangerous ground, he realized immediately. Her shoulders stiffened and he saw the emotional gates slam down again, trying to keep him out.

  Not this time, he thought firmly.

  Joe had a feeling whatever had made her so wary and mistrustful of men stemmed from her past relationship with her husband. If he was ever going to get her to trust him, he had to understand why she didn’t trust men in the first place, and he had a feeling the conversation they were having was a good place to start.

  “Y-yes,” she admitted with a nod, embarrassed that she had to confess that she’d had such poor judgment in marrying a man like Gary. “He was Bob and Evelyn Maguire’s only child. He was born late to them, long after they’d given up hope of conceiving, and as a result, they spoiled and indulged him his whole life.”

  “Charming. Well, then, that certainly qualifies her to raise your boys,” Joe muttered sarcastically, making her smile again.

  “I got pregnant shortly after Gary and I were married, but he wasn’t interested in having a child.” Her voice had dropped to a hushed, hurt whisper and Joe felt something soften and ache deep inside him. “He just wasn’t ready, nor did he want the responsibility.”

  “It was a little late for that, don’t you think?” Joe muttered. “Go on, I’m sorry.”

  “Anyway, Gary went to his parents, told them he didn’t want the baby.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. He actually went to his parents and told him he didn’t want his own baby?”

  “Afraid so,” she admitted.

  He looked at her for a long moment, almost afraid to ask his next question. “And what did they say?”

  Mattie glanced down, trying to gather her emotional strength before she went on, knowing that it was going to be hard. She’d never told anyone this before. Not anyone, and she realized now why.

  It was both embarrassing and humiliating to know that she’d been so naively foolish to choose a man who was so reckless and irresponsible, and even more embarrassing to admit that she’d been too young to do much more than accept his treatment and make the best of a very bad situation.

  But Joe had asked, and she wasn’t about to sugarcoat the truth or lie to him.

  “Gary’s parents asked me to…take care of the pregnancy,” Mattie said slowly, feeling a lump form in her throat at the mere memory. “They said it was unfair to burden Gary with the responsibility of parenthood when he clearly didn’t want a child, and wasn’t ready for it.” Her vision blurred from unshed tears and she had to swallow hard past the lump in her throat.

  “Exactly how did they want you to ‘take care’ of the pregnancy?” Joe asked, turning to face her and unconsciously clenching his fists at the sheer, raw pain he read in her face, her eyes.

  Fury and frustration that he hadn’t been there to protect her, to prevent this, swarmed him like angry bees, and he had to clamp down hard on the emotions that streaked through him.

  What she was telling him simply didn’t compute. Not in his mind, his heart or his world. He simply couldn’t comprehend what she was telling him. This was her husband and her in-laws? My God, what kind of people were they?


  “They wanted me to terminate it.” Her response came out soft and shaky, and she lifted eyes blurred by tears to his, hating that she had to tell him all this, but knowing it might do her some good to finally get it out, to talk about it. She’d held all these emotions inside for so very long, now she feared they’d come spewing out like a volcano that had been capped far too long.

  “Terminate?” he repeated dully, as if he’d never heard the word before, and if he did, hadn’t understood its meaning. “They wanted you to terminate your pregnancy?” Shock had his eyes narrowing and his fists clenching. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, Joe,” she admitted quietly. “I’m very sure. But I refused. I adamantly refused.” With a sniffle, she shrugged. “I didn’t care whether Gary or his parents wanted my child. Or children, as it turned out to be. I did, and that was all that mattered to me.”

  “You were right, Mattie,” Joe said. “These people aren’t drunks. They’re merely insane.” He blew out a breath and dragged his hands through his hair, trying to make some sense out of this. “Obviously insanity must run in their family, since your former husband clearly inherited it from his parents.”

  She laughed, unable to believe that she could. “Well, yeah, that’s what I thought, but hey, I was in the minority at that point.”

  He turned to her and the look on her face made every protective instinct he’d ever had rise to the surface. He wanted to grab her in his arms and hold her close, and never let anyone hurt her again.

  “What happened, Mattie?” he asked gently.

  Shadows flickered over her face, but he could still see the pain, the tension, the remnants of a betrayal that cut far and deep into her soul. He wanted to hit something. Hard.

  “When I refused to terminate the pregnancy, Gary left me. He moved back in with his parents and resumed his bachelor lifestyle.”

  “Wait a minute.” Joe held up his hand, wanting to make sure he was getting this right. “Are you telling me your husband abandoned you while you were pregnant, and his parents approved of it?” His voice was so shocked, Mattie wanted to smile.

  Now, why did she know instinctively that Joe was the kind of man who would never be able to understand a family behaving in this manner? Would never understand such selfishness and cruelty.