“Do you want a coffee, Silas?” Dusty asked. “Doc’s buying.”
“Sure. Black, no sugar. And get me the biggest chocolate bar you can find, too.”
“Gotcha,” Dusty said, then walked into the mini market, grinning wide in uninhibited joy at finally reconnecting with the love of his life.
***
“That went well,” Chuck said after the two couples had left. “Are you ready to hit the road, Nanny? Hmm. I really do like that name. It fits you. No nonsense, but nurturing.”
Grace Two, now renamed Nanny, couldn’t help but smile. “New name, new beginning. Works for me. Did you remember to pick up distilled water for mixing the formula? I didn’t see any in here.”
“Oh, shoot! I’m glad you noticed. No, I forgot. I’ll run in and get some right now. Do you want a soda or coffee or anything?”
“Coffee, black, would be great.”
“I’ll get you something else, too. Stress eats up calories and we have a long way to go,” Chuck said, then mumbled under his breath, “Wherever it is we’re heading.”
Chuck walked in and looked around. “Where do you keep the water?” he asked the clerk.
“What is this? There’s a real run on bottled water tonight. Back there. See that kid with the ball cap? Yeah, right next to him.”
“Thanks. And is the coffee fresh?”
“Just made a pot. Don’t tell me; you want a giant chocolate bar, too,” the clerk said, adding a chuckle.
“Hey, that does sound good.”
“Just follow the kid. He’s after the same stuff.”
Chuck went to the back of the store where the young man was and found the water. “Dang!” he said, checking the label, then noticed the kid had picked out a bottle with a different colored cap. “You got the last distilled water, didn’t you?”
Dusty lifted up his jug of water. “Shoot. I don’t want this kind. Here, I’ll swap you. I was after spring water for drinking.”
“Thanks,” Chuck said, then headed to the coffee kiosk. “What did we do before convenience store coffees?” he commented.
“Shoot. I don’t know,” Dusty answered. “I don’t think I was born yet. For me, they’ve always been around. I didn’t even know what a rotary phone was until I was clearing out my dad’s attic. I can’t imagine having to stay in one room while talking, tethered to a six-foot curly cord.”
Chuck blew out a breath, stopping short of a full laugh, and shook his head. “Yeah, our folks really had to rough it. Have a good night, what’s left of it,” he said and saluted the young man in farewell.
“Yeah, you, too,” Dusty said. “I know it’s going to get better because I just found my woman. Thank you, Lord!”
Chuck paid for the water, coffee, and candy then walked to the side of the building and rapped on the side door of the van. “What’s the name of Snoopy’s bird?” he asked.
Click.
Nanny opened the door and let him in. “Do we have to keep doing that?” she asked.
“No, probably not. I’m just trying to bring a little levity to this harrowing evening. I know my emotions are all over the place. Elation at getting out of there with all three babies alive; fear of either being caught by Buddy’s crew or being charged as an accomplice by the FBI; excitement with being able to help two couples get the daughters they were told were dead; and absolute sadness and loss at having to walk away from Grace. Lord, I hope the guys got her. Oh, shit!” he said, his voice loud as if he’d just been pinched. “I can text them!”
Chuck pulled his cellphone out of his front pocket and tap, tap, tapped the quick message to his father. ‘Did U get her?’
***
“Here you go, Mr. Stillwater,” Dusty said, handing the gallon of drinking water and chocolate milk to Hal.
“Seeing as you’ve been through so much hell and still seem pretty set on marrying my daughter, you can go ahead and call me Dad or Hal, whichever feels more comfortable.”
Beep! Beep!
“What was that?” Dusty asked, looking around.
“My cellphone,” Papa Doc said. “I got what they call a personalized alert tone for my incoming texts.” He took the phone out of his shirt pocket, tapped a few buttons, and then put it back in his pocket. He looked at Hal and grimaced. “Someone just checking to make sure all went well on our end,” and nodded at Grace.
“It’s going to take time for all of us to heal,” Hal said. “Some losses take longer to get over. Let’s hope you haven’t lost Chuck because of all of this.”
“Only for a little time. My son has a nurturing soul and is a gentleman. I think he’s just stepping back so Dusty can help her heal.”
“What do you mean? He didn’t know Dusty was coming with us or that we even found him. That was last minute, remember?” Hal said.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t know your son if I sat on him,” Dusty said. “Hey, does anyone want some chocolate?”
Grace listened to the men banter back and forth, their voices rising and lowering with their emotions and concerns. She hadn’t heard her father and two surrogate uncles in a month and didn’t realize until now how much she had missed them. She looked out the window. The world was getting better, itty bit by itty bit. Dusty was here. Would he accept her as she was? The way he had held her – sobbing uncontrollably with joy – when he rescued her after she had been abandoned by Nurse Ellen, she knew he’d do anything for her. He seemed to be sharing her feeling of loss for the babies, too. All her men could mourn with her. And they would heal together, too.
All but Chuck. Where was he? She closed her eyes tight and tried to find a thread of recent memory, struggling to recall the last words he had said to her. There it was. An echo of his words. He was leaving her, he said – leaving so she wouldn’t associate him with her loss.
Which would have been worse, the loss of the babies to adoption or death? Definitely death. With adoption, they would still have been happy little people with families who cared for and cherished them. Now with death, they were just little corpses. Was it her fault they had died? Did she do something wrong?
Grace looked at Dusty, blinking back the tears that had returned. A familiar movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. She leaned over him to watch the man coming out of the convenience store. “Who’s that?” she asked, pointing out the window.
Dusty recognized him as the man he had swapped jugs of water with. “Just some guy from the store. He got coffee and water, too. Why? Do you know him?”
She sighed then leaned back into his arm. “I thought I did…”
“Grace, I know it’s not exactly romantic – my timing and all – but I want to make a new life with you as my wife. I have a lot going on now. I have my own business and everything. I still want to marry you and always will. We can start again with a family as soon as you say the word. I kinda know what went on with the other guy, and it doesn’t matter to me. I mean, I know you have been hurt in about a million different ways, but I want to help you heal. Would you let me? I mean, I’d do it however you want, but I’d rather do it as your husband than as your best friend.”
Grace leaned into Dusty and inhaled his unique scent of boy and man. She felt the first smile in ages come to her face. She looked up. “Yeah, I think I’d like you better as a husband. Let me get healed up, and then let’s get married. But if you don’t mind, I’d still like to live with Papa Doc and Silas for a while. And hang out with my dad, too.”
“And me?”
“Duh! You’d be living with us, too. One great big dysfunctional family.”
“With a live-in groundskeeper,” Dusty added.
***
“One month today,” Papa Doc said. “Do you think we ought to have a candle or something for this cake?”
“Nope,” Silas said. “That’s just calling attention to what happened a month ago. You can put sparklers on it, though.”
“Why? What for?”
“I was going to let Hal tell you, but his divorce
is final. I talked him into sharing the news with everyone at dinner tonight.”
“Hey, there!” Grace said as she walked into the kitchen and gave both men a hug. “I was just wondering… And I want you to tell me the truth now. No sparing my feelings because if you do that when I ask a direct question, I’ll take that as lying to me.”
“Fair enough,” Doc said. “Shoot.”
“It’s been a month since…well… I haven’t heard from Chuck in a month. Have either of you? Or do you know of anyone who has? And that includes texts, emails, phone calls, or rumors of any or all of the above.”
“Wow,” Silas said, chuckling. “You don’t give a creative guy any wiggle room for shaving warts off the truth, do you?”
“Answer the question, because by that answer, it sounds like you don’t want to tell me something.”
“Grace, if my son called, you’d probably hear me yell at him from here to Canada, giving him hell for ditching you. No. Not a hint, whisper, cyber-sent word or letter. I don’t even know if he’s dead or alive. I know that sounds harsh, but yes, I’m concerned. I have a bucket of hope that he’s just giving you and Dusty time to get reacquainted and settled. Maybe he thinks if you see him, you’ll remember all you went through together.”
“Hmph!” Grace frowned, then turned to the other man in the room. “Silas…”
“Ditto what he said except I haven’t been sitting around waiting for him to contact us. I’ve been scouring the east coast looking for him. I have his credit card info, and there’s not so much as a five-dollar charge for a burger. He’s gone dark. He’s off the radar.”
“And don’t even think to say that he’s dead,” Papa Doc piped in, his voice high with protest. “If something bad happened to him, they’d notify next of kin, and that’s me. Nope, that man could give a shadow hints on how to hide in a spotlight.”
He came over to Grace and put his arm around her. “He’s given you the gift of a fresh start. Don’t stomp on it by looking for him. One of these days, he’ll show up. Mark my words. I feel it in my bones.”
“Me, too,” Silas said. “And it isn’t my rheumatism acting up, either. You and Dusty are doing great together. I appreciate you two hanging around here, but if you want to go somewhere to make a home of your own, let me know. I have a few bucks held back and I’m not bashful about sharing them with my adopted daughter and her husband.”
“Here, here!” Hal said, popping through the back door and saluting the group with a bottle of champagne. “It’s my emancipation day! The divorce is final! As a show of good riddance and thanks for not hanging around to make any more bad memories, I bought Victoria a one-way ticket – non-refundable – to Costa Rica.”
“And she took it?” Papa Doc asked.
“All I had to do was wave a blank VHS tape in her face, the box marked ‘My Good Times with André the Giant.’ Man, I wish I had a picture of the look on her face!” Hal wrapped his arm around Grace’s shoulder. “She’s out of our lives for good. I am so, so sorry that I couldn’t get rid of her sooner.”
“Well, as my old friend PollyAndy would say, ‘Better today than tomorrow.’”
“Come join us in a toast,” Hal said when he saw Dusty walk in the door. “Here’s to friends, family, and joyous tomorrows!”
“But, I’m not old enough…” Dusty stammered.
“No one’s carding tonight,” Silas said. “Cheers!”
“Cheers to all of us!” Grace said. “Happy Independence Day, Dad.”
“And to all a long life!”
***The End***
Afterword
Would you like to know more about Chuck, Grace and Dusty, and all those wannabe grandpas? I intentionally went back in time to late 1991 and early 1992 to begin this saga. Soon – very soon – the triplets will all be grown up with love lives of their own! Here’s a quick overview of the upcoming stories:
Vickie – Gloria and Roger’s daughter – is dealing with lifestyles of the rich and famous in Diamonds Aren’t for Everyone, part of All That Glitters box set.
Rhianna and her healing-oriented beau who has That Magic Touch will be giving her dad – Chuck, remember him? – fits in the box set Doctors in Love 2: Sexy and Committed.
The Woodstock hippie botanists – Luther and Leanne – have their hands full with their spunky terror. How Love Grows follows Tori Lynn, an independent beauty who doesn’t want to be taken at face value, as she tries not to fall in love with the new hand on her parent’s pot farm. Catch up with the whole oddball crew in the new romantic comedy set Cute But Crazy: Wacky, Wonderful Women.
The young woman Silas met at Woodstock in 1969 has shown up in his life again. Will they make a go of it? Will her secret ruin their possibility of a second-chance romance? They Call Me Sherlock, part of Cute But Crazy 2: Ditzy Dudes.
(Hint: there are some ‘Easter eggs’ planted in The Set Up, references to characters from two of my other series. Let me know if you find them!)
Thanks for reading, and remember, authors love to get honest reviews!
About the Author
Author Dani Haviland started writing late in life and has been making up for lost time with a flood of works from sports, historicals, time travel, romantic comedies, and Sweet and Sassy romances to Unforgettable romantic suspense and cozy mystery tales – with a Christmas Short thrown in to round out the reading experience.
Dani is also the owner of Chill Out! Books, one of the publishers for The Authors' Billboard. Follow her on Amazon and BookBub to make sure you get her latest stories.
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Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @dani_haviland
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Other Books by Dani Haviland
ARLIE UNDERCOVER SERIES (romantic suspense based in Alaska and Arizona)
A Stingray Christmas: (Book One) Anchorage detective on medical leave travels from Alaska to Arizona to see for the first time the son he’d fathered as an anonymous sperm donor. Great and rotten surprises await the cop with the smartest smartphone around.
The Biggest Heart Ever: (Book Two) When would Arlie learn that trying to do everything by himself could be deadly—and make Charlene a widow before they were married?
Always a Bigger Fish: (Book three) Back in Alaska, Arlie finds out he’s a target. Will vacationing detective Billy Burke (from THE FAIRIES SAGA) have information to help nab the scalper?
How to Fix a Broken Life: (Book Four) When Arlie’s very pregnant wife is kidnapped by pseudo terrorists, will he be the one to rescue her or will a surprise hero come in to save the day?
Because You Said So: (Book Five) Something’s amiss at the Port of Anchorage. Will Arlie be able to solve it and still be back in time to wear the Santa suit?
Heaven and Heartbreak: (Book Six – coming soon!)
THE FAIRIES SAGA SERIES (historical fiction/time travel, listed in order):
Kibbles and Bits: FREE ebook: Sample the first stories in the series before you buy. The Fairies Saga stories. Find out how the first five books got their crazy names, too.
Naked in the Winter Wind: (Book One) How does an older woman wind up as a young hottie in Revolutionary War era North Carolina? First book in the time travel series.
Ha’Penny Jenny: (Book Two) More about the naïve and psychic young girl who was adopted into a time traveling family. Will her past catch up to her?
Aye, I am a Fairy: (Book Three) Young British lord finds himself entwined with a time traveling family and must decide if he should go back in time, too.
Dances Naked: (Book Four) Directionally challenged time traveler is rescued by Cherokee in 18th century. What must he do before the chief will show him to The Trees, the portal through time?
Chasing Christmas: (Book Five) A young Cherokee is rescued fro
m an abusive man and changes the lives of many in this 18th century America family.
The Great Big Fairy: (Book Six) Very tall Benji grew up in the 20th century but was born in the 18th. When he finds a way to return to his grandparents in the distant past, he goes for it. Once there, he realizes he can’t stay, but must return to the future.
Little Bear and the Ladies: (Book Seven) What’s a bachelor trapper to do with all the females he rescues from the Hessian mercenaries? He’d better hurry and figure something!
Little Drummer Boy: (Book Eight) Young Scout works to earn money for a home in post-Revolutionary War America but runs up against prejudices and snowstorms.
Never Too Young: (Book Nine) Scout and Ha’Penny Jenny have grown up, but will they be able to spend their life together, or will the past and ruffians get in their way?
Time in a Little Blue Bottle: (Book Ten) Elvis, Mark Twain, and the prime vampire are racing to get the bottle of Fountain of Youth water before sweet Bella and the youthful pickpocket. So why are time travelers Marty Melbourne and Master Simon interested?
Kidnapped!: (Book Eleven) Benji’s sister has been abducted and he and his Scottish police officer brother-in-law will do anything to get her back...even trust the mysterious letter sent by an ancestor, a convict on The First Fleet into Australia!
Big Mac: Can Big Mac stop his sire, the errant Viking time traveler, from starting a pandemic?
CONTEMPORARY NOVELLAS – BENJI, THE LOST YEARS
Luke the Unexpected: Love of classic motorcycles brought them together, but Luke and Holly have other challenges to face. Find out how their friend Benji got his stripes here.
Pool Boy Wanted: No Experience Preferred: (rather racy) Young Benji has been a hostage and slave, but life gets worse when an older woman decides she wants him as her own.
The Set Up (Triplets: Three Aren't One Book 1) Page 16