"Oh, I see. Well, she must be the only woman in the world to turn you down."
"No," Bailey said, smiling faintly. "Just the only one to turn me down who mattered."
When Lenny left, Bailey reached for the phone and dialed her number again, but hung up when it rolled to voice mail. He banged down the phone in frustration, then glanced at his watch. She was already gone.
* * *
Virginia passed the evening shopping for Chad. She gathered underwear, socks, shirts and pajamas—it made her happy to rummage through the racks alongside other mothers shopping for their children. She bought him a pair of workboots, sturdy jeans, a ball cap, and a new life jacket—all things he would need at Shenoway.
It was strange, but after making the decision to let him leave, she felt more like a mother. Perhaps to fully appreciate the privilege of motherhood, one had to first experience personal sacrifice.
She dozed fitfully that night, missing Chad in the house and wrestling with the consequences of her own bad judgment where Bailey was concerned. But near morning she fell asleep, content with the knowledge that it wasn't as bad as nights she'd spent wondering if her baby was dead or alive, and wondering what had happened to her marriage. Considering her previous heartbreak, this was a mere crack. She'd make it.
She slept late and awakened to her phone ringing. It was Bailey again, and he left another message. "Please call me, Ginny. I need to talk to you."
Swinging her feet to the floor and pushing herself up, Virginia grabbed her robe and reached for her absent locket. She played the message twice more, listening to his deep, husky voice. Then she erased the message.
Her parents brought Chad home after lunch. When Virginia hugged her mother, Peg whispered that Chad had been subdued most of the trip. Virginia assumed he was still upset about not living with Bailey, so she decided to tell him her decision as soon as her parents left. She carried the wrapped shadow box to the kitchen, then called his name from the bottom of the stairs. For once, his music was at a normal level.
"Hungry?" she asked when he came to the top of the stairs.
He shook his head.
She waved him down. "I have something for you, and we need to talk."
Looking apprehensive, he descended the stairs. "Is it about the letter?" he asked.
She frowned, then remembered the court date. "No, we can discuss that later."
He followed her to the kitchen table and sat down, arms crossed.
Pulling the wrapped shadow box from behind the snack bar, she said, "I know this can't make up for my behavior, but I hope you like it."
Frowning slightly, he tugged at the heavy paper, then uncovered the shadow box a little at a time, saying nothing. He studied the frame, squinting. "It's my game—and all the stuff my mom gave me."
Virginia nodded nervously. "You can open the door and add more things if I left out something that’s important."
"You did this yourself?"
She nodded again. "I hope you don't mind me looking through your pictures—I didn't touch anything else in your room, I promise."
He chewed on his lip, studying the contents. "I like it," he said finally. "Thanks." Then he stood and walked over to her and gave her a hug.
Not a quick, little obligatory hug, but an honest-to-goodness hug. Virginia could have held on forever, desperately fighting her tears of happiness. When he pulled back, she said, "There's more. Sit." She patted the chair.
He sat, waiting.
Taking a deep breath, Virginia began, her voice only a little shaky. "Chad, I love you very much, and I'll never be able to tell you how thankful I am to have you in my life again." She felt herself begin to choke up, but she fought it and held on. "But I know you'd rather be with your father, and because I want you to be happy, I've decided that you should move to Shenoway and live with Bailey."
For a few seconds he said nothing. Then he asked, "Tomorrow?"
Her heart sank lower. She was hoping to have a few more days with him. "If that's what you want," she said softly. "You can call your dad later and the two of you can decide on a day."
"Are you coming too?" he asked, his dark brow furrowed.
"No."
"But Bailey wants you to live with us, doesn't he?"
She shook her head and chose her words carefully. "Grownups are funny. I think Bailey talked about us all living together because he thought it was the only way he could be with you. Does that make sense?"
He shrugged. "I guess." After a few seconds he began to squirm in his seat. "Can I take this to my room?"
"It's heavy, I'll help you."
Together they carried it to his bedroom and set in on a shelf. "It looks nice," he said. "My mom—I mean Lois—would really like it."
Virginia smiled. "I'm glad." She squeezed his shoulder, then glanced at her watch. "Are you going to call Bailey?"
Chad frowned slightly. "I'll call him later. Can I go to the park and skateboard—by myself?"
She started to shake her head no, then remembered her promise to stop being so overprotective. "I think that'll be okay if you promise to be careful."
He nodded. "I promise."
She ruffled his hair. "Okay, but be home before dinner."
She walked downstairs, then heard him gallop down several minutes later. "Bye," she yelled from the kitchen, but she was drowned out by the slam of the front door. Five minutes later the phone rang. Bailey again. Sighing, Virginia picked it up. "Hello?"
"Hi, Ginny, it's Bailey."
"Chad just left to go to the park."
"That's okay, because I called to talk to you."
"Bailey," she said calmly, "I've been doing a lot of thinking, and you were right—you and Chad were both right—he belongs with you. I've decided to let him come live with you at Shenoway."
After a few seconds of silence he asked, "Why don't I have a good feeling about this?"
"Relax," she said quickly, "I've already told him and he's very excited."
"Ginny—"
"If he's agreeable, I'd like to see him at least a couple of times a week, but we can work out the details later."
"Ginny, we need to talk about us."
She couldn't think of a statement that wasn't provocative, so she simply said, "Okay."
"I get the distinct feeling that you didn't believe me when I said I wanted all of us to live together in the house. I asked Chad not to tell you because I wanted to ask you in private."
"Look, Bailey," she said carefully, "you don't have to take the package deal. I appreciate you being nice to me—"
"Being nice to you?"
"—but I'm not putting conditions on Chad living with you."
"You think I made love to you so you'd let Chad move in with me?"
"I wouldn't have used those exact words," she said.
"I'm coming over right now," he growled.
Frowning at the dial tone, she replaced the handset and took a deep breath. A confrontation was inevitable, but she'd be calm and collected. Once Bailey had custody of Chad, he'd eventually feel free to drop the boyfriend act, then perhaps they could be friends. Until then, she'd be as cordial as possible, for Chad's sake.
A few minutes later, Virginia heard the sound of Bailey's car door slamming. He rang the doorbell twice, then started knocking before she could walk the length of the hall. When she opened the door, she swallowed her surprise at his work clothes—a dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a loosened silk tie. His face was anger-flushed as he stepped into the entryway.
She closed the door and turned to face him, carefully keeping her face impassive. For several seconds they simply looked at each other, Bailey's breathing becoming more and more erratic. He put his hands on his hips and glared at her.
"I assume you have something to say," she prompted softly.
"I'm so angry right now," he seethed, "I don't trust myself to talk."
"Angry at me?" she asked calmly.
"Angry at you, angry at myself," he said, r
aising his hands. She could see his big fingers were trembling.
"Do you want to sit down?"
"No!" he barked. "I don't want to sit down. I want you to tell me you don't love me, dammit!"
She blinked. "Excuse me?"
"If you expect me to walk out this door and never come back, you have to tell me you don't love me."
She opened her mouth and shook her head. "I..."
"Say it!" he demanded. He grabbed her by the arms and pulled her to him, holding her in an iron grip. "Say it and mean it."
"You're hurting me," she whispered.
"And you're hurting me," he said in a choked voice, then released her suddenly.
She stumbled backward a half step. "What's this all about?"
He took a deep, shaky breath, his eyes clouding with tears. "I love you, Ginny, and I'm not leaving here until you're convinced of that. I want to marry you, and I want us all to live at Shenoway as a family, but if you tell me you don't love me and there's no chance of it happening, then I'll leave you alone."
Speechless, Virginia stared at her ex-husband, realizing with sudden clarity that he was a different person from the one she'd taken her vows with years before. That Bailey had been a scared boy, pure of heart, but immature and selfish. This Bailey was a strong, capable man, unafraid to show his love, and willing to fight to keep his family together.
"I love you, Ginny, and I want you back in my life." He bit his bottom lip and inhaled sharply. "I've been kicking myself for eight long years, and I'm not about to let you go this easily."
She studied his eyes, overwhelmed at the love she saw there. Smiling tremulously, she murmured, "I—I don't know what to say."
"Just give me some hope we can work things out. Just tell me if there's a chance you might be able to love me again."
"Again?" she asked. This was her moment of truth. Could she risk laying her heart out for him to see? "I can't remember not loving you, Bailey."
He straightened and swallowed, then narrowed his eyes. "Say that again."
"I love you, Bailey… I never stopped."
A faint smile lifted the corners of his mouth as he took a step toward her. "Say it louder."
She smiled. "I love you, Bailey."
Another step, a bigger grin. "Louder!"
"I love you, Bailey Kallihan!"
He stopped in front of her. "I love you, too," he whispered. "So much."
Seconds passed and her gaze remained locked with his.
"Are you just going to look at me?" she asked.
His blue eyes narrowed. "No," he said softly, grabbing her arms more gently this time and pulling her to him. Virginia's heart thudded against his. He lowered his mouth until his breath brushed her lips. "I'm going to kiss you until you lose consciousness."
He descended on her mouth with force, kissing her fiercely. His lips were bruising and ruthless as he foraged her mouth, tongue on tongue, teeth on teeth. Virginia felt his need for her transferred through his kiss, his moans savage and his mouth unrelenting. Desire flooded her body, setting fire to her breasts, stomach, thighs. She surrendered to his demands and angled her mouth against his, matching him moan for moan, bite for bite.
He lifted his head long enough to bend, put an arm under her knees, and sweep her up into his arms.
"Where are we going?" she murmured, her eyes half shut.
"To your bedroom," he growled, charging up the stairs. At the top he veered into her room, then laid her on the bed. Immediately he began tugging at her clothes, and she felt herself being swept away in the tide of his passion.
"Bailey," she said after her shirt was removed and her bra discarded, "I'm still conscious." She raised her mouth for a kiss, and as soon as he rolled off her panties, he obliged, this one more tender.
"Ginny," he whispered, nipping at her chin, then moving downward, "when I said I'd kiss you unconscious, I wasn't talking about your mouth."
* * *
Around five-thirty Virginia thawed three pork chops and peeled potatoes to mash for dinner, all the while humming under her breath. She couldn't keep a smile from her face because she still felt Bailey's mouth and hands on her body. He'd left about an hour before, his hair and clothing a little worse for wear, but sporting a huge grin. Their good-bye kiss on the stoop would have the neighbors talking, she was sure.
She was waiting for the water to boil for the macaroni and cheese, when she started to worry about Chad. Virginia sighed and looked at her watch. He should have been home by now.
Ten minutes later she'd grown impatient enough to go to the front stoop and look down the street. Nowhere. When he hadn't returned in another fifteen minutes, she turned off the stove, grabbed her keys, and drove the few blocks to the park, her heart thudding in her chest.
She parked and walked toward the skateboard ramp, feeling relieved when she saw a small crowd of kids taking turns. She scanned their faces when she walked up. "Does anyone here know Chad Green?"
The kids looked at one another, then one rangy boy asked, "Black hair, red and blue skateboard?"
She nodded hopefully.
He shook his head. "Haven't seen him—but Buddy found his skateboard a couple of hours ago."
Virginia's heart dropped to her stomach. "His skateboard?"
The boy nodded, then a second boy stepped forward, holding out the skateboard. "Found it over there, near the trees." He pointed.
"Sh-show me," she whispered, reaching for his skateboard with trembling hands. She frantically searched the area the boy showed her, but she didn't find anything else of Chad's. A horrible sense of deja vu washed over her. She had visions of a stranger dragging Chad into his vehicle, and her heart nearly leapt out of her chest.
Clutching the skateboard, she stumbled toward her car. Tears blurred her vision, and she gasped for every breath. She didn’t have her phone, and how she drove the few blocks home without causing an accident, she didn't know. She ran for the phone, then stabbed in Bailey’s number.
He answered, his voice low. "Ginny, I’m in a meeting—is everything okay?"
"No," she whispered, tears dripping into her mouth as she talked. "I can't find him."
"Chad?"
"He's not at the park, and the other boys said he hasn't been there all afternoon. One of them found his skateboard." She broke down, sobbing.
"Call 911. I'll be right there."
Chapter Fifteen
WITH HIS HEART IN HIS THROAT, Bailey doubled every posted speed limit on his way to Ginny's house. Dusk was beginning to fall—it would be dark soon, the streets too dangerous for a lost eight-year-old. He pulled to a tire-squealing halt, ran past the police car at the curb, and through a knot of milling neighbors. Then he bounded up the steps and through the front door. "Ginny?"
She was sitting on the edge of the sofa in the living room, her face gray and pasty. Two police officers stood in front of her, taking notes and asking questions.
She jerked her head up when she heard him, then her face crumpled. "Bailey, we can't find him!" The officers stepped aside for him. He pulled her to her feet and into his arms, rocking her back and forth as she sobbed against his shoulder.
"I shouldn't have let him go by himself," she cried hysterically. "Someone's taken him again, I just know it."
"Shh," he said, blinking back his own tears. "You don't know that. Maybe he went home with some kid he met and lost track of time."
One of the officers coughed. "We were just wrapping up, sir. We've already talked to the kids at the park and put out an Amber alert. We're also notifying all patrol cars on southbound I-23 and I-35. I understand he's from Florida."
Bailey rubbed Ginny's back. "That's right. Fort Lauderdale. Do you think he's run away?"
"Could be hitchhiking back to Florida. Kids run away more often than they're kidnapped, sir."
"You have to understand how we're feeling right now, officer. Our son was kidnapped when he was an infant. We just got him back into our lives a few days ago."
The
man nodded sadly. "I saw it in the papers. I've been on the phone with Detective Lance—he filled us in and said he would contact the Florida State Police and the shelter where the boy stayed."
Stroking Ginny's hair, Bailey asked, "What can we do?"
"Someone needs to stay by the phone, of course. Call everyone he knows." He turned to Ginny. "Ma'am, check his room again and let us know if you can figure out what he was wearing when he left."
She pulled away and dabbed a shredded tissue at her puffy eyes as she explained to Bailey. "The clothes he was wearing when he asked to go to the park are on his bed, and"—she started crying again—"I didn't see him before he left." Looking into Bailey's eyes, she said, "I didn't even tell him good-bye." She bit her bottom lip, tears streaking her face.
"That's all we can do now, sir," the man said. "I'm Officer Handler. Be sure to call the station and ask for me if he turns up or if you think of something else. I'll keep you informed."
Bailey shook hands with the policemen, but let them find their own way out.
He made Virginia sit down again, then asked her to repeat everything that had happened since Chad had returned home from camping. She told him about the shadow box and the talk they'd had. "He seemed a little quiet," she said, sniffling, "but I figured it was everything happening so suddenly."
"Did you check to see if his duffel bag is missing?"
"It's still in the laundry room with his camping stuff in it."
"Did he have any money?"
"I gave him twenty dollars before he went camping—I don't know if he had any left over. And Mom or Dad might have given him some." She shook her head. "It doesn't make sense that he would run away. Besides, his skateboard... oh, Bailey"—her voice rose in panic—"it's happening again—"
"Hey." He snuggled her against his chest. "We don't know that. He's a big boy now, not a helpless infant." And still prey for all kinds of sickos, he thought, his gut twisting.
"What are we going to do?" she whispered desperately.
"Wait," he said firmly, squeezing her. "We'll wait together."
Mad About You (boxed set of beloved romances) Page 35