by Toni Shiloh
“The empty one I passed on the way in here?”
“Yes that one.” She smiled. “Let me give you a quick tour.”
SATURDAY.
Guy didn’t know whether to embrace it or dread the full-time onslaught of hanging with his daughters. He loved them from the bottom of his heart, but they were a handful. They had some unspoken rule that one had to outdo the other in all forms of hilarity. While he didn’t mind the occasional giggles—who was he kidding, he loved the sound of their laughter—he objected to the manner in which they were caused.
Right now, he was mopping up the dish soap the girls thought would be fun to pour out onto the kitchen floor. Granted, the house would smell clean and the floor would be gleaming, but there didn’t seem to be enough water to soak up the soap.
Maybe if he took them to the park, mayhem would be kept to a minimum. If Holly’s daughter had been well, they would have gone anyway. Staring at the soapy floor, he let out a long sigh.
“Rebekah! Rachel! Let’s go to the park.”
“But we can’t move from time out!” Rachel’s voice carried from the stairs.
Guy knew if they sat there, they couldn’t get into trouble. Their timeout had turned out to be a way for him to breathe as opposed to a discipline tool. Right now, he needed fresh air and a way to run them until a nap was their only option.
Guy walked toward the stairs. They didn’t look contrite at all. Maybe it was time to put them in separate spots. “Time out is over. Go get some clothes and let’s go enjoy the park.”
“Okay, Papa,” they chorused.
A short while later, they arrived at the park. Kids were running around with endless energy while exhausted parents looked on from the benches. Guy nodded to a few parents as he made the trek toward the swings. Why they were separated from the rest of the playground equipment was beyond him. But hopefully, it would keep the girls busy.
He settled each girl into a swing before pushing them, alternating between each one. The blue sky and blooming trees began to wash the chaotic morning away. Freedom Lake was wonderful to look at in the spring time. His eyes scanned the parks patrons, always looking for anything suspicious. He couldn’t help it. The observation skill had been drilled into him to see the tiniest detail, even if he didn’t need his keen situational awareness skills, they still noted information to be ready in case a crime was committed.
Guy watched as mothers chased after their young ones. Elementary aged kids ran on the jungle gym, laughter and shrieks punctuating their fun. He turned his gaze to peer at the lake, which was nestled down the hill. He saw his bench, empty, and the call to sit on it reached out to him.
“Papa, push higher,” Rachel called out.
Duty calls. Guy turned and pushed her, then Rebekah. Their giggles drew a smile from him. He looked back at the lake and froze as he saw Michelle take a spot on the bench. At least he was pretty sure it was Michelle. Even though he couldn’t make out her facial features, his insides screamed out her identity. No one else had her graceful and classy stature. He wondered what bought her to the bench. Was she happy? Sad?
It had to be the latter. In the past, Michelle only went there when she was upset or meeting him. And since they hadn’t met for a secret rendezvous in over ten years, Guy was banking she was upset over something. People change though.
“But what if they didn’t?” he murmured to himself.
Before he knew what he was doing, Guy called out to her, in a voice that would carry and capture her attention. She glanced up and turned her face in his direction. He waved a hand in the air.
“Miz Chelle!” the girls cried out.
“Stop the swing, Papa,” Rachel cried out.
He slowed them down and watched as Michelle made her way up the hill. Rachel jumped off the swing and her little legs picked up speed as she raced toward Michelle. She scooped his daughter up and his heart beat strangely. Unidentifiable emotions swirled in his midsection.
Bekah followed sedately behind her twin, but her hug was no less exuberant when Michelle greeted her. She knelt down in front of the girls and their excited voices carried over the wind.
She’d make a great mother.
He stepped back. What in the world was he thinking? She wasn’t mother material. Was she? The care in which Michelle had shown when babysitting played over in his mind. Maybe he was wrong.
Finally, Michelle stood and took the girls by the hand as she headed his way. He gulped, trying to assuage the nerves that had suddenly popped up like a natural disaster.
“Good morning. Beautiful day, huh?” Her hesitant smile greeted him.
“Yeah, it is.”
“How long have you been in the park?”
“About ten minutes or so.”
“Oh.”
He stared at her, wondering what he was supposed to say and kicking himself for calling her name.
“Did you need anything?” She gestured toward the park bench.
He forced himself to calmly meet her gaze. “Just wanted to say hi. The girls are always asking about you, so I thought they’d like to see you too.”
“Yes, pway with us, Miz Chelle,” Bekah’s childlike speech was more endearing as she looked up, her eyes framed by black inky lashes.
No one could resist that look.
“Yes, you can push me and Papa can push Bekah.” Rachel stared at her as if it was a done deal.
“Nuh uh, Miz Chelle push me,” Bekah retorted.
“How about I take turns? Since you asked first, Bekah, I’ll push you first. Okay, Rachel?”
Guy forced down the laughter that welled up with one sour look from Rachel. She hated when others made fun at her.
“Fine,” she said primly.
“Come on, Peanut. Let’s go swing.”
They got the girls settled in the swings and started pushing them. Say something. Guy bit his lip while his brain searched for a conversation topic. He hated feeling awkward around Michelle, especially since once upon a time words had never lacked between them.
Taking a chance, he looked over at her and caught her gaze. Now he had to say something. “How’s Chloe handling everything?”
“Not well. She wants me to go with her to talk to Mrs. Adams.”
“Makes sense. You’re friends and she needs moral support.”
“Of course, she does. I just hate that I can’t give her good news. Who wants to find out they weren’t wanted?”
Guy paused, missing the next push for Rachel. Was there a double meaning behind her words? Was she insinuating he hadn’t wanted her?
The problem was he had wanted her. Too much in fact. So much that he’d lost control. He swallowed, feeling the pulse beating frantically in his neck.
“Can we switch now, Papa?” Rachel asked.
“Sure, Rachel.” Michelle said.
They swapped places and the orange scent of her perfume wrapped around him like a caress. He pushed Rebekah, trying to control his thoughts, trying to be nonchalant when everything in him screamed in protest.
But why should he care if Michelle thought he didn’t want her? That was years ago. They had been barely adults, more kids than not.
But your actions weren’t that of a kid, but of a man in love.
He rubbed his eyes trying to dislodge the images rolling in his brain. The embrace they shared after she found out her parents had died. The kisses he bestowed upon her for comfort, which quickly engulfed them with the heat of passion.
“So, how are you settling down in Freedom Lake?”
Guy turned to look at Michelle. “Come again?”
She gave him a bemused grin. “Are you settling down from the move? I know how hard it is to adjust.”
Of course she would. Her Boston accent had been noticeable among the Hoosiers when she first moved to Freedom Lake. But over the years, it had softened and she could almost be mistaken for a native now.
He looked at her, taking in her sundress. No. She could never be mistaken for being a simpl
e Indiana girl. She screamed class and high maintenance. For once, he didn’t see it as a bad thing. “Yeah, it was easy to switch back to the Freedom Lake’s lifestyle.”
Guy glanced at Bekah, as she looked up with her eyes closed, enjoying the sun. “The girls really love it here.”
Michelle smiled and he watched as she interacted with his daughter. She made a comment to Rachel and her giggles reached his ears. It was almost like they were a family.
What would Charlene think?
Would he ever stop feeling conflicted when it came to women? Guy had never thought about finding love again. It had never crossed his mind because he had loved Charlene with everything he had. Her death had utterly devastated him. But right now, in Freedom Lake, his thoughts couldn’t stop focusing on his first love.
He froze. What am I supposed to do about it now?
Chapter Nineteen
Michelle pulled up to Chloe’s apartment. She always pictured the house surrounded with woodland creatures. Chloe was just that angelic. She reminded her of a Black version of Snow White or some other Disney princess who was admired by animals.
She started to press her horn, but stopped in time when Chloe appeared. Her friend wore a yellow sundress with a white sweater. The girl even had a matching flower in her hair. Somehow, Chloe made the look seem causal and serene. Michelle wished she had that kind of peace.
Thankfully, the more she talked to God, the more it seemed to be within her reach.
The car door opened. “Hey, girl.”
Chloe smiled. “Hey, Chelle. Thanks for coming with me today. I’m super nervous.”
“Of course.”
Michelle pulled away from the house and headed to Mrs. Adams’s. Would Holly be there? She wanted to ask questions about Guy without being obvious. Maybe she’d have the opportunity since Mrs. Adams had invited them to dinner. Chloe had surprised her by accepting. She thought it would be awkward, but Chloe thought it would make the necessary conversation easier.
Her mind drifted to Tanya. Something about her brought out Michelle’s protective instinct. If only she could shield Tanya from the derogatory slurs and hate mail she had received from the victim’s family. People never thought of their actions could be just as illegal as the defendant. Fortunately for them, Tanya refused to press charges.
Now that Michelle was on the other side of the coin, or court more aptly put, it seemed overly harsh. Her client hadn’t hit the victim on purpose. Even though Tanya had been drunk, it had no bearing on the victim darting out into the street on a dark night. Kodiak City had more lights than Freedom Lake, but none to speak of on the street of the incident. Anyone could have been in the same position: sober or not.
“Michelle, I wanted to ask you a question.”
Chloe’s voice broke her reverie. She quickly glanced at Chloe before turning her eyes back to the road. “Sure, what’s up?”
“Do you think I should go see Mr. Davenport?”
How am I supposed to answer that, Lord? She inhaled, then exhaled. Nothing. “I don’t know, Chloe. Wasn’t that the whole point of your request? Didn’t you want to meet your father?”
“I did. I do. But knowing how I came about...makes it awkward. Plus, he has children. Will I be disrupting their lives? Will they not want me around?” Chloe turned to gaze out the window.
Michelle hated the hurt her friend was going through. Yet, how could she make it better? Then again...
“Would you like it if Jo and I came along? We could be your moral support?”
Chloe turned and met her gaze, her eyes lit up with relief. “You would do that?”
“Sure. I’m here now, right? I can always block off some time from work and we can do a road trip.”
“Thank you so much, Chelle. I’ll ask Jo if she can tag along as well.”
The sign for Mrs. Adams’s street appeared. She turned, nerves suddenly appearing. Lord, I pray Mrs. Adams has the good sense to not mention John Davenport denied Chlo. She didn’t know if her friend could handle the truth, but time would tell.
GUY PARKED THE CRUISER and hopped out. He had a few minutes before he had to pick up the girls. Enough time to run into the market and buy some dinner. He had no desire to cook or figure out what to make.
He turned down the frozen aisle searching for a family meal pack the girls would find appealing. Hopefully, one that could be cooked from frozen and not take all night. He paused slightly as he saw Darryl in the aisle in front of the pizzas.
Pizza would be great.
“Hey, D, going to stand there all night?”
Darryl turned and let out a full-fledge grin. “What up, G?”
They clapped hands then slapped each other on the back.
“You getting dinner for you and the girls?”
“Yeah, man. You’ve inspired me to get pizza. Quick and painless.”
Darryl snorted. “It is that, but it’s also fattening. I splurge once a month on junk but try to eat cleanly the rest of the time.”
Guy nodded, but he had no idea what Darryl was getting at. Food was food.
“How’s the job going?”
“It’s not bad.” Guy rubbed his face. “It’s more sedate than Virginia, but that’s a good thing. It’s nice coming home at normal hours and being with the girls. What about you? Have you decided on which doctor to hire?”
“Nah, so far the candidates haven’t been very good.” Darryl looked at him out of the corner of his eye. “I actually said a prayer the other day, figuring I tried everything else, why not that.”
Guy stared at him in surprise. Darryl had never been religious. Huh.
“When are you going to come for another Bible study?”
“I’m not sure, man.” Guy’s words were punctuated by a shrug. He had meant to go to another one, but life had shoved it from his mind. More like you locked the thought away.
“Why don’t you come this Friday. Jo’s going to be leading it. She’s a little nervous, but excited about it at the same time.”
“I’ll have to find a babysitter. I’m not sure Nana Baker wants to devote all her Friday evenings to watching my kids, considering she watches them all week long.”
“What about that one girl, Holly isn’t it?”
How did he know about Holly? He stared at Darryl. “What do you know about her?”
“Her little girl is one of my patients and Holly mentioned she worked at the sheriff’s department. I thought I heard through the rumor mill that she or her mother often babysit. It might be worth finding out.”
If he did, wouldn’t that be crossing the threshold from strictly business to mixing personal into it. Isn’t that what you did when you agreed to a playdate? Then again it sounded like they offered the service to everyone.
He sighed. “Yeah, I’ll talk to her about it.”
“Cool. See you Friday, then.”
Darryl clapped him on the back and left the aisle. Guy stood there, staring blankly at the pizza options. How had he allowed himself to be roped into another Bible study?
MICHELLE RANG THE DOORBELL to Evan’s house. It was the first time Bible study was at his place. She prayed that tonight’s study would help her with life’s issues. The thing with Chloe. Although the meeting with Holly’s mom and gone well, Michelle had no idea how Chloe truly felt. The girl was strangely closemouthed about the whole ordeal.
And the situation with Tanya. Michelle shook her head. She didn’t even know how to act around Tanya. Even though she agreed to represent her, she still had misgivings. And lately, she’d been haunted with nightmares of the abortion. In it, the baby always turned out to be one of Guy’s twins.
The irony was not lost on her.
Michelle swallowed and rang the doorbell one more time.
Evan leaned against the door, holding it open. “Hey, sorry, you know it takes me awhile to get to the door.”
She stared at his crutches. “Sorry, Evan. I was deep in thought and didn’t even consider it.”
“No proble
m. Jo and Chloe are in the kitchen preparing some snacks for us.”
With a nod, she headed for his kitchen. She took in the open floor plan, marveling at the fact that Jo had been the one to do the renovations. Michelle didn’t have one ounce of creativity to even fit into her pinky, let alone enough to redo an entire house. She always knew Jo had talent, but seeing Evan’s home really cemented the thought.
“Hey, Chelle,” Jo said. She stood there chopping fruit, the blade slicing rhythmically.
“Hey, JoJo, Chlo.” She hugged Chloe since her hands were free and patted Jo’s back. “How can I help?”
“Can you get the drinks and set ‘em on the counter?” Jo paused mid cut and gestured toward the fridge with a tilt of her head.
“Sure.”
Silence descended, but it was nice. The sounds of chopping mixed with the low brassy tones of a trumpet streaming through the house. “You’re always playing jazz,” she commented.
“Ain’t it grand? I love that Evan loves jazz as much as I do.” Jo’s smile was full of sap.
Love looked good on her. The stress lines on her face had faded. Michelle felt like she had picked them up instead. Her brow always seemed to be furrowed these days. Whether it was because Guy had moved back, Chloe’s search for her father, or dealing with Tanya’s case. She could really use a dose of peace and serenity.
The sound of footsteps brought her head up.
Darryl walked into the kitchen. “Ladies.” Though he greeted them all, his eyes were fixed upon Chloe’s face.
“Hey, Darryl,” they chorused back.
Michelle glanced at Chloe to watch her reaction. It was all she could do to contain a smirk in amusement as a blush bloomed on Chloe’s cheeks. What would it take for these two to stop toe-stepping and admit they liked each other? Michelle couldn’t do that. If she liked a man, she’d say something.
You haven’t said anything to Guy.
But she couldn’t. It was obvious he was still grieving the death of his wife. Michelle put the cans of pop on the counter and grabbed some bottled water. “Are we about ready?”