Simon Says Mommy

by Kay Stockham

  But what all had he heard? Her cheeks flushed with shame. Ethan would have to arrive that moment, wouldn’t he?

  “Megan doesn’t respect boundaries,” Jenn said softly, her voice thick with tears. “If she sees a guy she wants, nothing stops her.”

  Her gorgeous host didn’t comment, but Megan caught the nearly imperceptible wince he performed at the news. Because he thought she was easy?

  She wanted the ground to swallow her. She wasn’t a slut. The first time Jenn had “lost a boyfriend” wasn’t her fault. Bryan What’s-His-Name had broken up with Jenn, claiming he was in love with Megan instead, just because he’d been hanging out at the house a lot. Hello, not her problem. She hadn’t given him any encouragement.

  But Sean…She had to accept blame for that—up to a point.

  “So you’re mad at her for taking a boyfriend, even though you’re now happily married to Nick? So that’s why he’s been in such a mood.”

  Jenn’s cheeks turned a bright, bright red. “It’s the fact that she did it, Ethan, that she hurt me that way. Not that I regret that it happened.”

  “Well—” he lifted a hand and rubbed the back of his neck, a contemplative frown on his gorgeous face “—if you don’t regret that it happened, what’s all the fuss about?”

  ETHAN FOUGHT his frustration with the sisters and tried to remember that in the heat of the moment, forgiveness was hard to give. So he chose to play dumb and focus on the obvious. “Something to think about, eh?”

  He managed a smile and tried to calm the situation with a change in topic. Simon was nearby and who knew how long the girls had been at it with him listening? “Jenn, thanks again for bringing Simon home.”

  Simon sat atop the slide, hard at work on something.

  Jenn finished poking the crayons in the box. “I’m glad they caught him before he made it off school grounds.”

  Megan inhaled and cast a worried glance over to where Simon sat. “Wait a minute. You said he got upset and sick. He tried to run away again?”

  Boyfriend stealer or not, Megan had a compassionate heart. Ethan liked that she’d come to care for Simon so quickly. “A last-minute spot opened up at the preschool located in the elementary school where Jenn works, but Simon didn’t appreciate the effort it took to get it for him. I was in surgery, so the principal called Jenn when he couldn’t get Simon calmed down.”

  “I was glad to help.”

  Ethan smirked. Jenn was polite as always even though he knew good and well she would’ve rather swum with sharks than spend the morning with Megan.

  “Simon’s probably getting hungry and tired. We’ve been outside since we got here.”

  No doubt to avoid waking Megan. “I ran through a drive-through. You’re welcome to join us. I bought plenty.”

  “No, but thanks.” Jenn glanced at Megan, then quickly away again. “I need to get going.”

  He watched Megan for a clue as to whether or not he needed to press Jenn to stay.

  Jenn pasted on a smile but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Ethan, I hate to say it but I think keeping Simon in private day care or maybe hiring someone one-on-one until he adjusts is probably your best bet.”

  “Any recommendations?”

  “You’re getting a late start on the school year. Day care is always a problem in this town. There just aren’t enough approved providers.” Jenn fingered her watch, looking anxious as she glanced down at the time. “I’ll check with the other teachers and get back to you. Simon isn’t ready and he needs to become acclimated in stages. You’ve signed him up for classes, right?”

  “Yeah. Most of them start next week.”

  “That’s perfect.”

  “Except that I have to find care for him while I’m at work.”

  Jenn quickly straightened the coloring books and crayons, putting everything on the outdoor table in neat little stacks. Every now and again she glanced at Megan, studying her as though trying to figure out what to believe.

  “Leave those. I’ll put them aw—” Ethan broke off, staring just past Megan’s hip as Simon approached them with his head down, feet dragging.

  “Hey, Simon. What do you have there?” Megan asked in French.

  Simon pulled his other hand from behind his back and shyly showed her the crumpled piece of paper he carried. Apparently he’d sat at the top of the structure and drawn a picture—that’s what he’d been working on so intently.

  Megan set the coffee mug on the table and accepted the gift with a smile. “Merci. Thank you, Simon.”

  Ethan moved close until he could see it. Simon had drawn stick figures of varying height and color. But there was no mistaking the woman in the drawing. The picture was of Megan, Simon and himself. She and Simon stood hand in hand while he…What the hell?

  In the picture he carried a doctor bag with the Doctors Without Borders emblem on it. He stood separate from her and Simon, a frown on his face and looking quite fierce, by a box? The little box had a circle on top with smoke coming off it.

  “It’s beautiful, Simon. Good job.”

  Ethan reached out to take the picture so he could get a closer look. Megan released it to give Simon a hug, and he studied the drawing with a frown much like the one in the picture. Finally the lightbulb came on and he felt a surge of wry embarrassment. The stove.

  Niger had sent him back to the States with a new penchant for overcooking everything, just so he knew it wasn’t raw or half-done as the food had been there. He made a mental note to back off on the heat.

  “Great picture, Simon.” Jenn straightened. “Ethan, I hate to be rude, but I have to get back to school. My lesson plans have to be turned in before tomorrow’s in-school service meeting.”

  Ethan’s attention shifted to Jenn. “I thought the principal said there wasn’t any school?”

  “For the kids. Teachers have to report, though.”

  The timing of it couldn’t have been worse. “There’s no way you can watch Simon tomorrow?”

  “No, I won’t be available again until Saturday. Sorry. Maybe Nick could take him to the garage and watch him?”

  “I don’t want Simon around all that traffic.”

  “Good point.”

  “I hate to ask but could you take a personal day?”

  “No. School policy is that we can’t use any of them until a couple months into the year. Exceptions are sometimes given but I don’t think your babysitting woes would qualify as an emergency.”

  Ethan rubbed the back of his neck in a sad attempt to ease the tension before he twisted and turned his head, sighing when it popped loudly. “I have a 6:00 a.m. surgery tomorrow morning followed by meetings all day.” Another smile formed and he didn’t try to hold it back. “I’ve, uh, been appointed interim chief of surgery.”

  Jenn’s mouth dropped. “What? What happened to Todd being Chief?”

  “Todd, who? Your ex-husband, Todd?” Megan asked, confused.

  Ethan nodded. “Dixon was appointed chief several months ago. And I don’t know what happened, but he isn’t chief now. One of the board directors asked me to fill in until a final decision is made.”

  Jenn smiled her first sincere smile since he’d arrived to find her and Megan in a huddle.

  “Oh, Ethan, congratulations!”

  He held up his hands. “It’s not a done deal. And after last time I know better than to count on getting it. I’m just playing it by ear. In the meantime, I’ll have to contact the hospital day care and see if they’ll give Simon one more shot.”

  Simon began jerking on Megan’s hand. “No, no! No day care, no day care.”

  Ethan scowled and lowered himself to Simon’s level, grasping the boy’s shoulder to gain eye contact. How sad was it that those were Simon’s first real words in English? “Simon, stop. Simon? We don’t have a choice. You’re going to day care.”

  MEGAN CRINGED at Ethan’s lousy French—and the way the kid backed away from Ethan when he knelt to speak to Simon. In Ethan’s defense, she knew he’d bee
n nothing but gentle and caring when taking care of Simon—she’d watched them interact enough now to know that. But Simon still removed himself from Ethan’s grasp and backed away until he was behind her legs, staring up at Megan as though he expected her to make everything better.

  Yeah, right, kid. I can’t fix my own problems.

  “Maybe your mother or Gram can watch him?” Jenn suggested.

  Megan listened, more than a little upset herself. In between naps, she’d gotten to know Simon better. He was quiet, too shy, and had to be drawn into conversation. He wouldn’t make friends easily, not at this stage and especially not with a language barrier.

  “Gram’s got that virus that’s going around, and Mom’s working overtime on some big real estate deal. They’re not available.”

  Simon hugged her legs, big tears swimming in his beautiful eyes. “Tu peu me garder S’il-te plaît, Mademoiselle Megan. Je serai gentil.”

  “What did he say?”

  Megan felt Simon trembling, saw the fear and upset in his eyes and knew she couldn’t say no. “He, um…He wants me to watch him.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  ETHAN NARROWED HIS GAZE in contemplation while Jenn’s head swung back and forth like a rag doll in a two-year-old’s hands.

  “He did not say that. Megan, you’re making that up.”

  “Actually, he did,” Ethan drawled.

  Jenn laughed, the sound strained. “No, that’s a horrible idea. Ethan, seriously.”

  “Are you feeling up to it?”

  “If she’s feeling that good, then she needs to be on her way.” Jenn gave Megan a death glare. “What about that job you mentioned?”

  Megan had Ethan’s undivided attention, and she felt her cheeks heat, which was hysterical since she had considered the ability to blush a lost art after all she’d experienced. “I’ve, um, felt better. And the job is sort of up in the air.”

  “I knew it,” Jenn murmured.

  “Look, the point is you can’t take Simon back to a place that obviously can’t keep track of him.”

  “Megan, don’t do this. Caring for a child is a big responsibility.”

  “Yes, it is,” Ethan murmured, “but Megan already has a bond with Simon and she isn’t well enough to travel yet. I could use the help.”

  Megan was thankful for the support, backhanded though it was. “And people change,” she felt compelled to add. “Jenn, I’m not a teenager anymore. I can certainly handle coloring books and games for a few days. It’s not my normal thing, I’ll admit, but we’d be fine long enough for you to find a day-care solution Simon can handle.”

  “No day care!”

  Never taking her eyes off Ethan and ignoring Jenn entirely, Megan gave Simon’s arm a reassuring pat.

  The tension in Ethan’s face eased a bit. “If you’re sure you’re up for it, it sounds like a great idea. You understand him, which is more than most people here can do.”

  Jenn’s arms flopped to her sides and she glared at Megan. It was a good thing Jenn looked good with some color in her cheeks, because with Megan around Jenn always seemed to be sporting it.

  “It’s the least I can do after you’ve taken me in and cared for me.” Megan couldn’t resist that little dig. If Jenn had let her stay at her house, she wouldn’t be indebted to Ethan now would she? “Maybe I can help Simon with his English. I’m not a teacher but I can work with him on the basics.”

  Ethan rubbed his hands together and practically melted at her feet with relief, the tension draining from his shoulders. “That would be fantastic. It’s settled, then. Megan will be Simon’s temporary nanny until she’s rested and recovered and I find a qualified alternative.”

  Megan refused to let Jenn’s you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me stare make her feel guilty. She could do this. Simon was a kid. She might not be a rocket scientist, but she and Simon could pull this off. They were tight. He wouldn’t run away from her.

  You hope.

  “It’s a paying position. I insist.”

  Ethan held up a hand as though to stall her protest, not that she was going to protest cash. It sorta made the world go round and when you didn’t have it, the world kept on going while you came to a screeching halt. She would’ve liked to protest, to counter the offer with something that would have wiped Jenn’s superior, here we go expression right off her face, but she wasn’t a fool. Cash was good, the more, the sooner, the better.

  “I’d have to pay for child care elsewhere, and if you can help him with the things he needs to learn, you’ll more than earn the pay.”

  “Thanks, I appreciate it. I feel bad, though, since I’ve already taken advantage of you.” The double entendre didn’t hit her until after the words left her mouth.

  Jenn gaped and turned beet-red, and Ethan just stood there, his weight balanced on his uninjured leg, a lazy smile pulling at his lips.

  Megan sighed. Open mouth, insert foot. She hadn’t said it on purpose but the look on Jenn’s face stated loud and clear that Jenn thought Megan had already tangled some sheets with Ethan or else it wouldn’t be long before she did.

  Megan gritted her teeth. The more she thought about it, the more she realized she was safer here than any other destination she might have in mind. Beauty was perfect. Her trip to see Jenn was supposed to have been temporary and last only long enough for her to get well and make amends. But why not stay for a while? If Sean was out there looking for her, this was the last place he’d ever think to search, and he’d be way off her trail by the time she packed up and left.

  She could keep a low profile, earn some cash and maybe while she was there, she could talk to Jenn and bring her around. If time and physical presence didn’t work, fine, but no one could say she hadn’t tried.

  “I wish,” Ethan teased, earning yet another glare from Jenn.

  The comment pulled at Megan’s heartstrings, though, because Ethan followed it with a conspiratorial wink of support. He wasn’t falling for Jenn’s warnings of doom and gloom. The wink and statement might have freaked her out before but not now. It was light, flirtatious, not a heavy-duty come on. And it helped that not once during their time together had Ethan behaved as anything other than a gentleman. But Jenn didn’t need to know the flirting meant nothing, did she?

  “So you’ll do it?”

  Megan smiled down at Simon’s upturned face. “I’d love to.”

  “Oh, Ethan.” Jenn grabbed her purse from the table and gripped it like a grandma in a neighborhood of hoodlums. “You are so going to regret this.”

  AFTER JENN LEFT, Megan returned to the house to get plates and drinks for the lunch Ethan had left on the countertop. Ethan figured she needed some time alone after her run-in with her sister.

  Ethan shook his head. Megan had slept with Jenn’s boyfriend? Married him?

  He was the last one who could throw stones when it came to sexual adventures, but even he knew better than to mess around with one of his brothers’ girlfriends, former or otherwise. People said time could heal wounds, and all the Tulanes knew that well after the falling-out with Nick years back.

  Ethan had done the right thing by asking Megan to stick around. She wasn’t a bad person—kids didn’t respond to bad people the way Simon responded to Megan—but she’d apparently made some poor choices. Who hadn’t?

  Ethan watched Simon play, wondering if this was one of his. Not that he regretted adopting Simon—not for a moment. But had returning to Beauty and forcing Simon to adapt been a wise decision? Would he ever get to a point where he was comfortable with the boy? Simon was a good kid and except for the day-care dilemma, Ethan barely knew the boy was around. But that was part of the problem. He and Simon couldn’t seem to connect. He didn’t know what Simon wanted from him, and he felt like a total screwup because he didn’t know what to do.

  Simon never said he was hungry, never spoke up and said he had to go to the bathroom, nothing. The only time the boy talked was if he was asked a direct question and pressed for an answer.

  S
o unless Ethan remembered to periodically feed Simon and nudge the boy toward the toilet…

  Simon climbed the slide for the tenth time and Ethan watched as the boy who’d clung to him to keep from being left in day care now wanted nothing to do with him. Which was why the relief he’d felt when Megan said she’d stay on and help with Simon had practically given him a head rush it was so potent.

  How did Garret and Nick do this? Garret had Darcy to help take care of their infant daughter, but Nick had raised Matt on his own for eight years until meeting Jenn, and he’d been estranged from the family then, too. How had Nick figured out what to do?

  Simon rarely made eye contact, and had never talked to anyone other than Ethan except to scream at Jenn and the day-care workers that he wanted to go home.

  Except for Megan. He talks to her and obviously likes her. This’ll work.

  But for how long? How long would Megan stay?

  How long would it take for her to recover? Would Jenn come around and forgive her sister before Megan got tired of saying she was sorry and took off?

  The past couple days of waiting on Megan, caring for her and hearing her cry out in her sleep…Nick was right. There was more to Megan’s story. People didn’t say those things, make those sounds in their sleep, unless something bad had happened to them.

  Like Simon.

  Ethan frowned, noticing that every few seconds the boy looked toward the door as though searching for Megan. Ethan couldn’t blame him. Megan was pretty, understood French and had a wicked sense of humor Simon had probably picked up on. They were two of a kind in a wounded kind of way. Maybe they could help each other somehow and in the process, help him figure out how to heal them.

  Not a problem—unless she’s as irresponsible as Jenn says. What’ll you do then?

  A knot formed in his gut at the thought. Was he making a mistake? Surely Jenn was exaggerating? Convenience was one thing, but he couldn’t put Simon’s safety at risk.

  “Simon?” Ethan waited, noting that Simon stilled but didn’t raise his gaze from the rocks he played with. Twelve hundred dollars in play equipment and repairs to the tree house at the edge of the woods and the kid played with rocks. It just proved how off track he was in his parental thinking. “It’s time for lunch. Food,” he said in halting French, then English, emphasizing the English words as the pediatrician had said to do. “Let’s go inside.”