“Wow! A solo part. That’s wonderful. That’s terrific news!” Matthew was beaming, and Molly felt happy for him. She wasn’t surprised, though. Lauren said Amanda had a beautiful voice, despite her speech problem.
“When is that concert?” Molly asked. “Isn’t it April something?”
“Earth to Mom. More like a week from Saturday?” Lauren reminded her tartly.
“Oops. I didn’t realize it was so soon. Guess I’d better mark the calendar.”
Matthew’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “This is the first I’ve even heard about it. When were you going to tell me, Amanda? That day?”
Amanda gave him a casual shrug. “I just forgot. I wasn’t even sure I’d be in the show since I just joined up.”
“Well, sounds like you’ll be there, front and center.” Matthew paused and glanced at Molly. “Why don’t we all go together, and I’ll take everyone out to dinner after?”
Molly felt her expression freeze in shock and tried to quickly recover. “That sounds nice. But you don’t have to take us out to dinner, Matt.”
“I want to. I’d like to reciprocate for this . . . this absolute feast. I can’t remember the last time I’ve eaten such delicious food. If the Beans don’t hire you to cook truckloads of all this stuff, they’re crazy, by the way. But I can’t have you over to my house. I’m a terrible cook.”
“He really is. You’d better let him buy,” Amanda chirped up.
Lauren and Jill giggled. Matt looked about to reply then brushed it off. I guess my feisty kids are rubbing off on Amanda, Molly thought. I hope he doesn’t get annoyed.
The girls talked more about the concert, and Matthew explained his frustrating delay in Southport regarding his privileges at the hospital. He’d thought that all the paperwork had been completed, and he would be able to sign in patients when necessary, but some form had been held up somewhere, and he’d spent the entire day there trying to figure it out.
“So finally, after about twenty phone calls back to my old hospital in Worcester, it was faxed over late this afternoon. I know I filled it out months ago.”
“Sounds worse than the Registry of Motor Vehicles,” Molly sympathized, but she was only half focused on the story. She couldn’t stop thinking about his invitation to dinner next Saturday. The whole idea of it made her nervous—and excited. She started to reach for another biscuit, then folded her hands in her lap. Get a grip, she told herself. The diet starts now.
Don’t make too much of this, she warned herself. It’s not a date. Not even close. He was just being friendly and polite, probably because he hasn’t made any friends in town yet. And once he starts meeting people, he won’t want to socialize with you. He’s more the type for the other side of town, where Dr. Elliot and the Warwicks live.
Matthew sat back and wiped his mouth with his napkin. “I know I said it before but I have to repeat myself. That was absolutely delicious, Molly.”
Molly felt her cheeks flush. “Thanks. Glad you could join us.” She rose to start clearing the dishes, but Matthew stood up and began clearing off the table, too.
“You sit. I’ll clean up,” he said.
Molly wasn’t used to anyone telling her to relax and not work. She just couldn’t do it.
“That’s all right. It’s getting late. The snow has stopped. You must be eager to get home.”
“It’s not late at all and I insist. I’m not going to freeload, then leave you with you a huge mess to clean up.”
I never met a man who didn’t, she was tempted to reply.
But she didn’t say anything, distracted suddenly by the sight of Matthew yanking off his expensive-looking silk tie and rolling up his shirt sleeves. He looked even more attractive somehow. It was downright annoying.
“If you’re done with dinner, bring your dishes to the sink,” he told the girls.
Molly picked up the dishes of leftovers to be stored away. “Did you guys finish your homework? I heard a lot giggling in there before,” she said to Amanda and Lauren.
“We didn’t exactly finish,” Lauren said. She and Amanda exchanged a secret glance, trying not to start giggling again.
“Why don’t you get back to work?” Matt suggested. “We’ll call you when we’re done.”
Jill brought her dish to the sink. “I’m going to call Daddy now,” she said quietly.
“Sure, that’s okay. The number is on the fridge,” Molly told her.
“I know the number.” Jill turned and headed for the phone in Molly’s bedroom.
Molly sighed, and Matt glanced at her. “I guess she’s disappointed that she didn’t see her father,” he said quietly. “Does he visit them regularly?”
“Not really,” Molly murmured. “Well, he says now he wants to. But this is only the second time after a long break, and he’s already messing things up again.”
She didn’t know Matthew that well. She didn’t know him at all really. She felt upset about Phil but wasn’t sure if she should confide in Matt.
“The snow really was heavy. I had trouble myself on the turnpike.”
“I know. And I think he was telling the truth. But I hate to see the girls get their hopes up, thinking he’s going to be a real father to them again and having it all come to nothing. I’d rather he didn’t see them at all. I guess that sounds awful of me, doesn’t it?”
Matthew wiped a dish with a soapy sponge. “You don’t want to see them get hurt. I understand. I’m that way with Amanda. I get so over-protective . . . too much, sometimes. But it’s hard not to be. You feel for them. It’s only natural.” He set the dish on the drain board and picked up another. “How long have you been divorced?”
“About seven years. We were married young. Things were always rocky between us. Then he met someone else. So we split up.” Molly turned her back so Matthew couldn’t see her expression.
Matthew didn’t say anything for a moment. He rinsed off a dish and set it on the drain board. “What happened then? Did he remarry?”
Molly shook her head. “His fling didn’t last that long. Just a way to get out of our marriage, I guess. He’s still single. Moves around a lot. Changes his job a lot, too. He hasn’t helped out much supporting the girls. He’s around for a few months, then disappears. He always has some excuse when he comes back and makes big promises. The girls want to see him, so it’s hard to say no.”
“That’s tough on you, too. I’m sure you don’t want to be the bad guy and keep them away from their father.”
“Tell me about it. Sometimes I think I should wear a T-shirt that reads, ‘Big Mean Mom.’ ”
Matthew laughed. “I think you’ve got something there. You could sell a lot of those. Some that read, ‘Big Mean Dad,’ too, of course.”
“I could have used one this Sunday. Phil showed up unannounced. I didn’t even want the girls to know he was here, but they saw him and that was that.” She took out a container of cookies and arranged them on a dish. “I’m just afraid he’s going to pull his famous disappearing act again.”
“It sounds like you’re in a tough spot. But I think you’re doing the right thing. Even if he does disappear again, at least you gave him a chance. You showed charity.” Matthew glanced at her over his shoulder. “Jill and Lauren will remember that. I don’t think you’ll regret it.”
“Thanks. I hope you’re right.”
Molly started a pot of coffee, and Matthew turned back to the dishes. “You’re a good mother, Molly. You’ve done a great job with Jill and Lauren. You should be proud.”
“I am proud of them,” she said honestly.
Still his compliment didn’t sit that easily with her. She knew that there were so many times when she showed the girls exactly the wrong example. Especially when it came to Phil. By now, she should have forgiven and forgotten all the slights, large and small, that had broken up their marriage. But the sore spots had never really healed, only covered over.
“So, how do you like Cape Light?” she asked, hoping to shift the conve
rsation to less personal matters.
“So far so good. I’m really pleased to see Amanda adjusting so well to school. She’s naturally shy, I guess, and her speech problem makes it even harder. She’s had a lot of speech therapy, but it never resolves completely.”
“That’s too bad,” Molly said sympathetically. “I hardly noticed it, actually. It’s great that she likes chorus. Lauren says she has a beautiful voice.”
Matthew smiled. “She really does. I think you’ll be surprised.” His expression grew more serious. “I can’t tell you how happy I am that she joined up. It must have to do with Lauren. She joined at her last school, then dropped out. She wouldn’t say why, but she’s always so tough on herself. Amanda has . . . well, perfectionist tendencies. I’m trying to encourage her to open up, to relax about life a little.”
“It’s hard for kids at that age. They’re so self-conscious. If Lauren wakes up with a blemish, you’d think it was a world crisis. She actually begs me to let her stay home from school.”
“Oh, yeah. I’ve heard that zit emergency myself. But this is different.” He paused, and Molly sensed he was deciding whether to confide some deeper issue.
“My wife, Sharon . . . she was a good mother, don’t get me wrong. But she could never really accept Amanda’s speech problem. She could never just let it go. Sometimes I felt when she looked at Amanda that was all Sharon saw: that she stuttered when she was nervous. Not how bright and sweet and beautiful she is.” He sighed and shook his head.
Molly didn’t know what to say. She had imagined Matthew being married to someone who was perfect in every way. It was surprising to hear his wife had shortcomings and also to learn there had been friction in his marriage.
“I’m not sure how I would handle a situation like that,” Molly admitted. “I guess there’s a fine line between trying to solve the problem and paying too much attention to it.”
“That was just it. Sharon kept finding new therapists, new treatments. I know she really believed she was just helping Amanda. But she couldn’t see how she was hurting her at the same time. It made Amanda feel like something was horribly wrong with her. As if she wasn’t good enough just the way she is.”
Molly’s heart went out to him. He loved his daughter so much. Strangely, she found she could also relate to Amanda, feeling she’d always been judged by her shortcomings and never her talents.
“I know this might sound a little crazy, but sometimes I think God sent Amanda into my life for a reason. She’s made me a better person . . . and a better doctor. I think she’s perfect just the way she is. I tell her that all the time. But I know she doesn’t believe me.”
Molly knew that feeling, too. If someone gave her even the slightest compliment, she couldn’t help but contradict them.
“Keep telling her. Someday she’ll believe you,” Molly advised him.
Matthew stood drying his hands on a towel. He gazed at her and smiled. His warm brown eyes held a tender light. Molly wanted to look away, but she just couldn’t quite. She felt a tug of attraction. Foolish, she told herself, but undeniable.
Lauren and Amanda ran into the kitchen. “We’re finished with our homework, and we definitely need cookies. Please,” Lauren announced looking around. She spotted the dish of cookies on the table and headed for it like a chocolate-seeking missile.
“She’s part shark, I swear. She has the most amazing sense of smell,” Molly said in amazement.
“My mom made these. They’re awesome,” Lauren promised, handing one to Amanda.
“They do look awesome,” Matt agreed. He started to reach for a cookie then stopped, staring at Amanda.
“What happened to your fingernails?”
Molly looked, too. Lauren and Amanda had pasted on fake nails and painted them alternating shades of sparkle blue, lilac, and silver.
“They’re just for fun.” Amanda stared up at her father with a wary expression. “I think they look cool.”
“They come off with a little nail-polish remover,” Molly explained. Matthew looked relieved but still disturbed. “They’ll probably fall off while she’s sleeping,” she added.
“With any luck,” he said, giving the dazzling fingernails a resigned look.
“Would you like some coffee?” Molly asked politely.
“Yes, please.” He nodded, unsmiling. The girls were uncharacteristically silent, munching mechanically on their cookies.
“Milk and sugar?” He nodded again, and she stirred some in. “How about some nail-polish remover?”
He stared at her for a moment, then his face broke into a grin. She heard the girls laughing and hoped he didn’t mind the joke at his expense.
“If you have an extra bottle, I’ll take it to go.”
“No problem.” She set the mugs of coffee on the table and poured glasses of milk for the girls, then joined them at the table where the pile of cookies was rapidly diminishing.
Jill walked in, sat at her place, and took a cookie. She seemed to be in a better mood, Molly noticed. Her chat with Phil had definitely cheered her up.
A few minutes later, Matthew and Amanda were putting on their coats and saying good night. “Thanks again for dinner, Molly. And for picking up Amanda. Sounds like there’s going to be a lot of chorus practice next week. Why don’t we share the driving?”
“That would be a big help,” Molly replied honestly.
“I’ll call you tomorrow and we’ll figure it out.”
“Okay. Let me give you my cell-phone number. I’m always running around.” Molly took one of her business cards from the basket near the phone and handed it to him.
“ ‘Molly to the Rescue. Cleaning, cooking, errands, and more,’ ” he read aloud. He looked up at her and smiled. “Not to mention the awesome cookies and sage advice.”
“There’s just so much you can get on a card,” she said wryly. “Oh wait. Don’t forget this.” She grabbed the bottle of polish remover that Lauren had retrieved from the bathroom and handed it to him. He slipped it in his pocket, his eyes flashing appreciation.
They said good night again, and she closed the door.
So he was going to call her tomorrow. She’d be recharging the cell-phone battery tonight, that was for sure.
TUCKER LET HIMSELF IN THROUGH THE SIDE DOOR AND PAUSED IN THE mudroom to pull off his wet boots, hat, and jacket.
“Tucker? I was wondering when you’d be home.” Fran came out of the family room to meet him. “Why didn’t you call?”
“I left a message on the machine. Didn’t you get it?” He kissed her cheek.
“You said you’d be a little late. It’s after ten.”
“That late already? I didn’t realize.” Tucker walked into the kitchen, and Fran followed. “Are the kids in bed?”
“Michael’s still doing homework, but Mary Ellen just shut off her light.” Fran watched as he sat down at the table and stretched out his legs. Tucker’s dog, Scout, trotted over and licked his hand. Tucker scratched his soft head.
“I saved some dinner for you. Would you like me to heat it?”
“That’s okay. I grabbed something on the road.”
“How about a cup of tea? I was just going to make some. You must feel chilled from the cold.”
“A cup of tea sounds good. I’ll have some with you.”
Tucker knew Fran was wondering where he’d been all night. Well, he had nothing to hide. “I went down to Southport to visit Carl again.”
He watched her expression as she filled the kettle and set it on the stove. “I had a feeling that’s where you were. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Tucker shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t really plan on going to see him. But I had to drive down to Hamilton at the end of the day to interview a witness on a hit-and-run. So I was halfway there anyway.”
Fran didn’t reply. Tucker could tell from her expression that it bothered her to hear he’d been visiting Carl. Well, he couldn’t help that. He could visit his brother in the hospital if he want
ed to. He didn’t need Fran’s permission.
The kettle’s shrill whistle broke into his thoughts. He watched Fran pour the water into two mugs, place them on the table, then sit down in her usual chair.
Neither spoke for a moment. Fran stirred some sugar into her tea. “So, how is he coming along? You never even told me what is wrong with him,” she said.
He hadn’t told her, Tucker realized. Mainly because, so far, he hadn’t gone into much detail about Carl; it seemed a subject best avoided.
“Well, let’s see. He’s in pretty bad shape. He has emphysema, a collapsed lung, an ulcer, high-blood pressure, phlebitis, and a touch of diabetes.”
“That’s too bad. Has he improved at all since the reverend found him?”
“A little. He looks better, and they’ve pulled a few tubes out of him.” Tucker blew on his tea and took a sip. He wondered what Fran was thinking. She didn’t look happy; her pretty face was drawn into a tight frown.
“You must feel sorry for him. It’s only natural.”
“Of course, I feel sorry for him. Don’t you?”
“Yes, of course, I do.” She looked up at him, her brown eyes open wide. “But he never took care of himself. He never lived a normal life. Now he’s facing the consequences, I guess.”
Tucker sighed. “Some people just don’t fit with a normal life. I see it all the time. You can’t really blame them. That’s just the way it is.”
“I wasn’t blaming him, exactly.” Fran looked away and sipped her tea. “When will they let him out of the hospital? Did his doctor say?”
“He’ll be released on Monday. You know how it is. They don’t keep you very long in a hospital these days, no matter what’s wrong with you.”
There was a basket of clean laundry on one of the kitchen chairs. Fran came to her feet and started folding the clothes. “What are his plans? Is he still going up to Portland? Maybe that friend of his has a job up there for him.” Fran matched a pair of socks and rolled them into a tight ball. “You’ll have to give him some money, I guess.”
“I thought I’d give him some,” Tucker replied. “But I’m not so sure now what to do.”
A New Leaf Page 10