by Natalie Ann
Yet Meredith hadn’t come to the graduation ceremony. Why?
And she’d told him that she’d attended the University of Louisville for her BA, and then Northwestern University in Chicago for her MA.
Why had she skipped the graduation ceremony? Why had she forsaken a scholarship to a prestigious Ivy League university?
Deep in his thoughts and memories, Daniel blinked several times.
The yearbooks had given him a starting point for his research. Tomorrow, he’d drive to Columbus and visit St. Mary High School.
Meredith called him around eight o’clock. “Finally Lizzie went to bed. She kept asking why she didn’t play with Noah today. Can we organize something for tomorrow?”
“I’ll be late at work tomorrow.”
“Do you mind if I pick up Noah and bring him to my house?”
“Actually, you’ll be doing me a favor. I won’t have to worry about leaving before I’m done.”
“Well, come straight from work and have dinner with me.”
“Thank you, Meredith. See you tomorrow.” He was too preoccupied to indulge in small talk and settled in front of his laptop to wrap up some work.
***
The next day, Daniel left the court at noon and grabbed a burger from a fast food drive-through. Eating as he drove, he reached the highway and headed to Columbus, hoping against hope that he’d learn something new at his alma mater.
He stopped to fill the car at the entrance of the city and then called the school and asked to speak to the librarian. The receptionist connected him.
“How can I help you?” a wobbly feminine voice answered.
“I’m Daniel O’Malley, class of 2002. I’d like to—”
“Dany O?”
“Yes, ma’am. And you are?”
“Lucia Spear, the librarian.”
“You’re still there, Ms. Lucia?”
“Oh yes, Dany O, librarians don’t graduate and leave like students.”
Perfect. That suited him. “Ms. Lucia, I’d like to talk to you about an article I may write. Would you be in the library in thirty minutes?”
“Of course. When you arrive, press the intercom button and ask to see me. I’ll come and let you in. The security is quite strict these days.”
“I’ll do that. Thank you.” He stopped at the closest mall and bought a box of chocolates for Ms. Lucia.
True to her word, she came to the door to let him in and opened her arms for a big hug. “You were already tall, Dany O, but you filled in.” She giggled with motherly pride. “And your hair is less messy than before.”
Pleased to see that she remembered him well, he laughed. “And you haven’t changed one bit, Ms. Lucia. I remembered you love chocolate.”
“What a dear boy. Thank you. Come to my office.”
He followed her and sat in the same old brownish gray velvet chair in the corner, where he’d often waited for her to allow him to sign out a book.
“A few days ago, I was looking at our yearbooks and got an idea about writing an article about teenagers growing up in parochial schools. Quite an emotional trip to the past when one peruses the yearbook pages and recognizes faces. Some dear friends I lost track of.” He gave her a couple of names. Sure enough, she remembered their whereabouts.
“I also recognized Jeremy Dodd.”
“Jeremy did very well for himself. He got a football scholarship at Princeton, and later a position as a coach at Ohio State here in Columbus. He married the mayor’s daughter and now volunteers twice a week to coach our kids.”
“Great.” So he’d better not criticize Dodd in front of her. “I also saw pictures of Meredith Kandel, that girl who graduated at the top of our class.”
“Ah, Meredith.” Ms. Lucia lost her smile. “Poor girl, to think she had such a bright future ahead of her.” Count on Ms. Lucia to listen to every bit of gossip, past and present, from the comfort of her library.
Daniel’s heart squeezed in apprehension. “She was our valedictorian but didn’t attend the commencement.”
“How could she? She stumbled on the stairs and rolled down a week before graduation.”
“And?” A fountain of information, Ms. Lucia might reveal some important clue.
“I was passing in the hallway. I saw her pitch forward and roll down the stairs. We called the nurse, and she dialed 911 while I left a message to her parents to join us at the hospital.”
“Did she break anything?”
“Her arm. But I was in the ambulance with her, and she was holding her belly and sobbing, crying about her baby.”
“Her baby?” Daniel’s heart skipped a beat. He’d have expected anything but that. “Meredith was pregnant?”
“Apparently. She must have fainted before falling. I waited at the hospital with the nurse. Later, the parents told us she had a fractured arm and lost the baby.”
Poor Meredith. Pregnant at seventeen and losing her baby and her future. “What a shame.”
“Yes, can you imagine? Such a smart and beautiful girl spoiling it all with her reckless behavior.”
“What do you mean?”
Ms. Lucia lowered her voice. “We heard a rumor that she switched boyfriends faster than she changed dresses.”
“I never heard that.”
“The rumor spread after she left school. We tried to smother the gossip and prevent a scandal in regard to the school’s good name.”
The school’s good name? What about Meredith’s reputation? Considering how Meredith hated Jeremy, that scumbag must have made her pregnant, avoided any responsibility, and started the gossip about her trampy behavior.
Daniel fisted his hands to control his anger. If the jerk ever crossed his path, Daniel vowed to blacken his face.
“I should give you good news for your article. The school has expanded by...”
Without paying much attention, he let her ramble for a few minutes, then excused himself and promised to come back when he finalized his article.
His pulse racing with fury, he stopped by the cafeteria to buy a can of pop, hoping the cold drink might cool his blood and alleviate his thirst. It was already five o’clock, the height of rush hour on a Friday afternoon, but he didn’t care and resolutely drove to the highway.
He couldn’t wait to go home and hold her in his arms, play with the children, and let their squeals and giggles soothe his heart.
And he pledged to make her forget her miserable experience and the pain of the past.
Chapter Fifteen
“Daddy is here,” Noah yelled, and ran to the door, Lizzie on his heels. From the kitchen window, Meredith watched as Daniel climbed the three front steps, his suit jacket slung on his shoulder, his tie hanging loose around his neck, his sleeves rolled to the elbows. She’d never seen him so tired.
He hugged the children, threw them in the air, and carried them both in his arms.
“Can we have a slumber party, Uncle Daddy, please?” Lizzie wrapped her arms around him.
He chuckled. “How can I resist such a sweet demand?”
“You say yes, Uncle Daddy?”
“I say yes. If Mommy says yes.”
Her Mommy nodded.
“I have a surprise for you at our house. The serviceman opened the pool this morning, and cleaned it. It should be warm by now.”
Squeals of joy answered his announcement. “Can we swim tonight?” Noah asked.
“I don’t mind. Meredith?”
“It’d be great. Hey, Lizzie, can you go pack? Nightclothes, day clothes for tomorrow, bathing suit, and anything you may need at Noah’s house.”
“Noah, come help me,” Lizzie ordered as she ran to her room, Noah on her heels.
“Hungry?” Meredith asked with a warm smile, and filled a plate for him with roast beef, potato, and green beans.
“Not that much.” This was the first time she’d heard him say he wasn’t hungry. Something must be bothering him.
“Eat what you can. A drink?”
“I�
��ll pour myself a glass of water.”
“How was your day?” She sat next to him and examined the shadows under his eyes with concern.
“Long, tiring, frustrating. A swim in the pool with you and the children will do me a world of good.” He started eating, then looked at her. “Any news from Steve?”
“Yes, good news. Hector called to say that the doctor is pleased with the results of the tests. Surgery is scheduled for Tuesday.”
“Great. And how is Hector holding up?”
“Poor man, they have him wear a mask and a sterile gown when he visits Steve.”
“This doctor is careful. He’s not taking any risks of contamination.”
“Steve asked for prayers. We’ll go to church on Sunday and light a candle for him.”
“Good idea.” He pushed back his chair and stood. “Your food was delicious. I ended up eating the whole plate. We’ll have dessert around the pool. Now, go help the kids pack, and I’ll clean the sink.” Acting like a helpful but edgy husband, he rinsed his plate and set it in the dishwasher, then soaped and scrubbed the pots, a deep frown etched on his forehead.
Something was definitely wrong at work. Had he heard about the drunk driver checking into an AA center?
“Meredith, aren’t you getting ready?” Impatience underlined his voice.
“On my way.” She’d never seen him so frustrated.
She packed shorts, blouses, bikinis, and her needed clothes for a weekend at the pool, and stopped by her daughter’s room.
Lizzie had practically emptied her drawers on her bed. “Mommy, I need a lot of clothes.” Meredith sorted through the pile on the bed, folded the clothes into Lizzie’s girlie carryon, and zippered it.
“Here, take your carryon to Uncle Daddy.”
“Noah, bring Wendy, please.” Lizzie pulled her carryon, and Noah followed with Wendy in his arms.
Meredith helped the children into Daniel’s SUV and settled next to him, hoping that a dive in the pool and a vigorous swim would restore his usual cheerful mood.
***
As soon as Daniel parked in his garage, Noah made a beeline to the backyard. “Lizzie, it’s true, the pool is open.” He kicked off his sneakers and snatched off his socks, ready to feel the water.
Daniel was already behind him, lifting him away from the edge. “Listen to me, you two. No one comes close to the water without an adult with you. Am I clear?”
“But Daddy—”
“No buts. I’ll check the pool first, and then I’ll allow you to get in. Take your sneakers and go put on your bathing suits. Okay?”
“Okay.” Noah pouted and lowered his head.
But Lizzie raised her chin, her lips squeezed in an assertive pinch. “Why are you so mad? Noah didn’t do anything bad.”
Daniel peered at the little elf defending her friend. She was right. His son hadn’t done anything wrong to deserve his rough tone. He shouldn’t take out his anger on the innocent children or on the woman who’d already suffered so much. He caught Meredith staring at him, her eyebrows arched in bewilderment.
Forcing a smile, he softened his tone. “You’re right, Lizzie. Noah hasn’t done anything wrong, but children should not go into the pool without a parent. Go put on your bathing suit, sweetie. Can I count on you to wait on the swing with Noah?”
“Yes, Uncle Daddy, we’ll wait. Come, Noah.”
Meredith hadn’t uttered a word, but her glare spoke volumes. “I’ll change too, and wait with the children,” she said in a cold, clipped tone.
“All right.” He rushed to his room and changed into trunks and flip-flops, gathered a dozen towels, and raced down the stairs. “Here are the towels.” He piled them on a chair and opened the umbrella. “Give me a couple of minutes to get everything ready.”
Meredith and the children sat on the swing and waited obediently.
In Cincinnati, at the beginning of May, sunset wouldn’t come until nine o’clock, and at seven, the sun still provided agreeable afternoon light before slowly dipping behind the houses. The open umbrella would simulate a cheerful vacation mood around the pool.
Next, he unlocked the shed and pulled out a plastic box with goggles, snorkels, frisbees, and balls, then dragged out a few noodles and floaties. “We have all the equipment needed here.” He yanked off his T-shirt, slipped off his flip-flops, and felt the water with his foot while the kids watched him quietly. “Perfect temperature.” He backed away from the edge of the pool, then ran and dove into the water, swam to the deep end, and returned.
“Come on, kids.”
Noah and Lizzie didn’t wait to be asked twice.
“Lizzie, can you swim?” Wrong question.
The little girl’s eyes shot daggers. “Of course I can swim. I’m not a baby.”
“Okay. Jump in, sweetie.”
She jumped right next to him, with Noah right after her, both splashing him with a fury. He laughed and suggested a race to the other end to assess Lizzie’s skills in the water. Noah had learned to swim at the age of two and could be trusted in the water.
Lizzie accepted the challenge, dove underwater, and reappeared further away from Noah.
“Great job.” Reassured that she wouldn’t drown, Daniel clapped his hands and got out of the pool to throw in the floaties, frisbees and balls. “Have fun. Hey, Meredith, aren’t you coming? The water is great. Exactly what we need to relax after a long day.”
“Sure.” She shed her wrap, and his jaw sagged. Meredith in a bikini was a sight to behold. Her pants and skirts had suggested a great picture, but nothing like the ideal woman swaying toward him.
“Jump in.”
She shook her head and slowly descended the few steps, feeling the water and lowering herself until it reached her neck.
“Mommy, it’s so much fun.” Lizzie came into her arms to float.
A joyful smile lit Meredith’s face. “I love it.”
Relieved, Daniel closed his eyes for a few seconds. With time, he’d erase her bouts of sadness until she’d totally forget the past.
They played in the pool for a fun hour, then he left to bring ice cream for everyone. “Ice cream break,” he called.
The kids dashed out of the pool, and Meredith followed.
“Can we go in again?” Noah asked.
“Sure. We’ll stay until it’s night and the lights come on around the pool.”
The children giggled, and Meredith laughed. “Wow, a midnight swim?”
“Not exactly, but close enough.”
He let the children swim in the dark not too far from him and came close to Meredith. “How about floating on my arms?”
Without answering, she swam toward him and let him carry her on the water.
“Just relax.” He lowered his head and stole a kiss.
“Heaven.”
A moment later, Daniel realized it was too dark for him to keep an eye on the children.
“Last five minutes,” he called. “We’ll all race to the other end and come back. You too, Meredith. Let’s see who will win.” He gave the signal, and the kids raced across the length of the pool.
“I won,” Noah squealed a moment later.
“And I’m next,” Lizzie screamed. “Mommy, you’re third and Uncle Daddy is last.”
“Now out of the pool. We’ll go under the shower and into our towels.”
In less than ten minutes, the children were dried and in their pj’s.
“Can we have—”
“Straight to bed.” Daniel slipped on his T-shirt, lifted them both in his arms, and strode to the house and up to Noah’s room. “Noah, in your bed. Lizzie in the guest bed,” he said, referring to the second twin bed in Noah’s room. He used it when the boy was sick. “Nighty-night right away, if you want to spend the whole day in the pool tomorrow.”
The kids were so exhausted, they drifted off instantly. He kissed each little forehead. Dressed in her beach wrap over her wet bikini, Meredith followed him to kiss the children good night.
&
nbsp; He switched on a nightlight and left the door open.
“Can we share a drink to celebrate the pool season?” He kept his voice low.
“Sure. Let me get changed first.”
He held her arm. “Meredith, we’re not going out. I’ll put on my night clothes.”
An impish smile played on her lips. “You mean the shorts I saw when we FaceTimed?”
“What else? He chuckled. “Wear your night clothes and join me downstairs. It’s our time to have a slumber party.” He winked, and she burst out laughing.
***
A slumber party with Daniel? What more could she ask for? She felt like singing. This slumber party was way overdue. By eighteen years, damn it. If they hadn’t been such good kids in high school, she wouldn’t have suffered the hell she’d coped with for so long.
Maybe she and Daniel would have married. Or maybe they’d have enjoyed a few months of happiness, loved and fought, and broken up like a normal teenage couple. She cursed Jerry Dodd one more time, and resolutely buried her memories as she’d done a thousand times.
Digging out the flimsy soft pink cotton nightie and matching shorts from her backpack, she spread it on the guestroom bed and peeled off her damp bikini. A quick glance at the bathroom mirror made her grimace. She looked like a teenager in a baby-doll nightie. She should have bought some sexy night piece. As if she’d ever practiced the seduction game.
With a shrug, she pulled her hair back in an elastic band. She loved this man. She’d loved him for so long. And he’d repeated that he loved her so many times. Hopefully, he’d accept her the way she was. Barefoot, she ran down the stairs, and then slowed down and sauntered to the kitchen.
“Ready for my drink.”
A bottle of scotch in his hand, he spun to face her. And smiled to his ears. “You look adorable. Just like in my teenage fantasy.”
“Ah, what about your current...huh...”
“Oh, no. I can’t tell you about my current fantasies. You’ll blush to your toes.”
“You’re horrible.”
“No, I’m crazy about you, sweetheart.” He set down the bottle and brought her against him for a quick kiss.
