Vivian

by Marie, Bernadette

  Brock nodded holding up a chewed bill. “I think the mice found a few of these.”

  Clayton watched Amelia bite down on her lip. “We need to get into that wall. Something tells me that someone knows that’s in there. Because if they came for the box and then found a few of the books they know they don’t have enough.”

  “You think they’ll come back?” Clayton asked.

  Amelia let out a long breath. “I do. We can’t let her stay here.” She stomped her foot and looked up at both of the men watching her. “We have to move the daycare.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Vivian and Penelope had stayed on the main level until the last child was picked up. They couldn’t imagine what the noise coming from the bedroom could be.

  “Can you sit with the girls for a moment? I’ll go see what’s up,” Vivian asked Penelope as her girls and Clayton’s girls helped pick up the room.

  “Sure.”

  Vivian started for the stairs just as the buzzer on the door rang. She looked back to see Sam standing on the porch.

  She hurried back and opened the door for him.

  “Did you have a harried day? You look frazzled,” he said smiling at her.

  It was then another loud thud came from the room above them.

  “What in the hell are they doing up there?” he asked and then censored his question when he saw four sets of young eyes, and Penelope’s, shoot a look his way. “I mean what the heck?”

  “I was just headed upstairs to find out.”

  Vivian turned from him and they both hurried up the stairs.

  Dust filled the air and she could see Amelia, Brock, and Clayton in the closet of the bedroom pulling at a piece of the wall.

  “What are you three doing up here?” She stood with her hands on her hips, watching with Sam at her side.

  Amelia stepped away from the wall and pulled a dust mask off her face.

  “She hid money in the walls. There’s at least a few grand here alone.”

  Vivian was sure she couldn’t blink as she stood there looking at her. “You’re kidding.”

  Clayton walked toward them. His entire head was covered in dust and debris. “She’s not. Look.”

  In his hands were small bundles of money, which had once been banded.

  Amelia smiled. “Each one of these has a hundred dollars rolled up. It’s almost as if the wall is insulated with it.”

  Sam stepped fully into the room. “Why were you tearing up the wall anyway?”

  Brock stepped out of the closet and shook the dust from his hair. “Remodel.” He smiled. “The steps to the attic aren’t safe. I thought if she was going to live in this house she should have her own sitting area up there and it could be a loft from in here.”

  Sam’s expression changed. “I didn’t realize you were so handy.”

  “Can’t say I knew either, but it seems to run in my blood.” He smiled and headed back into the closet.

  Amelia moved closer in toward them both. “You know what this means don’t you?”

  “I have to sleep with the girls longer,” Vivian laughed as she spoke.

  Amelia shook her head. Her face had gone somber. “Someone knows there’s more money in this house. Having whatever they found in the box and in the few books they knocked over isn’t going to hold them for long.”

  “You think they’ll come back?”

  Amelia nodded. “You can’t stay here.”

  Vivian dropped her shoulders. “Right.”

  Amelia looked up at Sam. “We need to move the daycare,” she said and her voice dropped. “It’s not safe.”

  The air in the room had grown thick. They’d worked so hard for this and now they had to change everything all over again. It wasn’t fair. This had gone on too long.

  “She needs to be stopped. This is ridiculous. I can’t keep uprooting my girls because their grandmother is a psycho.”

  Sam rested his hand on her shoulder. “All the more reason to do it. I searched all day for her. I can’t find a single rehab facility that she’s in. I also can’t locate Frank.”

  Clayton stepped forward. “You’ll stay with us. We have the room. The girls will be fine.” He reached for her hand. “I want to do this. I don’t want you to think about it too hard.”

  She gave his hand a squeeze. “What do we tell the other parents?”

  They’d ordered pizza, which Vivian hated to do for the girls, especially since they’d just eaten out a few days earlier. But there was a need to make new plans.

  “We only have three other kids, aside from your four.” She looked at Vivian and Clayton. “Two families so far are displaced. I’m going to call Ann from the rec center at home and see about integrating our kids into their program for a few weeks.”

  “What are we going to tell those families?” Vivian raised her eyebrows at the concept of just moving their business.

  “The house has been under renovation for months now. They know the work we’ve put into it. We’ll just tell them we had an issue upstairs. We can be vague.”

  “I don’t like this,” Penelope said softly. “We’ve worked so hard.”

  Brock gave her shoulders a rub. “It’s temporary until we know where Stella Monroe is and what she wants.”

  Vivian grit her teeth. “When I find that woman…”

  Clayton had his hands on her arms. “You’ll do nothing. We let the authorities take care of it. For now, we make sure you’re not in harm’s way.”

  He was logical and she didn’t know if that was a good trait or one she’d rather he lose.

  Sam moved in toward the table to take another piece of pizza. “I’m going to follow up on a few leads I left untouched. Darby is being as cooperative as he can be. We’ll figure it all out.”

  “Maybe she won’t come back. It’s been over a month,” Penelope said softly. “We walked in on her—or them. Maybe they just gave up.”

  Vivian wished she had Penelope’s optimism. But she didn’t. Stella Monroe had been screwing with her for over a decade. Why would she stop now?

  Clayton rubbed his hands down Vivian’s arms. “Why don’t we get the girls and head to my house? We’ll stop and get some things for the night. Amelia call us when you know anything from the rec center.”

  “I will.”

  Vivian gave Clayton a nod and went to find the girls who were playing with the baby toys in the infant room.

  Clayton ran his fingers through his hair and looked at the other couples around the table.

  “I’ll keep her safe. But let me know where I need her to be in the morning.”

  Amelia stood from her seat to meet his eye. “I don’t know why that woman would do this. Except for the money buried in this house. Vivian deserves better.”

  “I plan to give her that.”

  Sam stepped in closer to Amelia. “I’m glad you happened along.” He held out his hand to shake Clayton’s.

  “I believe in fate,” he said shaking Sam’s hand.

  When he walked toward the infant room, he could hear Vivian and the girls laughing as they put away the toys they’d been playing with.

  “Who’s ready to go home?” he asked and all five of them turned their eyes to him.

  “Aw uf us,” Charlotte said firmly.

  “All of us. Tonight we’re going to stay at our house.”

  That put a smile on her face as she grabbed for Ava’s hand to do a little dance.

  Vivian gave him a gentle smile as she continued to help the girls tidy the room.

  He waited for Vivian to say her goodbyes and together they took the four girls out to their cars and buckled them in.

  “I was telling Amelia this morning that we needed a new car. A mini van or something,” she said as she closed the door on her car.

  Clayton laughed. “Be careful. You’re making us sound like an old married couple.”

  He walked toward her and wrapped her in his arms.

  She rested her head on his shoulder. “I’m beginning t
o think it doesn’t sound so bad.”

  He slid a finger under her chin and raised it so she was looking up at him. “I’m not sure it’s worth being decent anymore. My couch isn’t so comfortable.”

  He felt her swallow and then she moistened her lips. “Clayton, I don’t know. What if…”

  “What if those girls thought what they already do?” He moved his hand to cup her face. “They asked for this. They want this. I want this.”

  “What is this?”

  Clayton moved in as a cool breeze swirled on the air. He pressed a kiss to her lips and let it linger just long enough to convey what he wanted it to. “This is the beginning for both of us. For them. Are you willing to start over?”

  Now she shook in his arms. “It’s not over for me yet. I don’t have peace with Adam.”

  “I think you will.”

  “But his mother…”

  “Isn’t Adam.” He pressed another kiss to her lips. “Adam didn’t get the chance to see where all of his paths lead. I don’t know how you could hate him when you have Amelia and Penelope. Or Ava and Emma.”

  Her lips tightened and he could see the tears swell in her eyes. “You’re one of those people who looks at everything with rose-tinted glasses aren’t you?”

  He shrugged. “I would say I was. Until Linda died. I can’t find right in that. I can’t find peace in it. But when I’m with you I don’t ache. I don’t hurt. When I’m with you, I’m at peace with me.”

  Vivian lifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck. “I think your bed would be more comfortable to sleep in.”

  He pressed his forehead to hers. “I can’t tell you how much I’d hoped you’d say that.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Vivian looked in her mirror at the two girls sleeping in her back seat. For years, they’d been her life. Every moment was about them, but had she really taken the time to focus on that?

  Emma would start kindergarten next year. Where had the time gone?

  Ava stretched and turned her head in her seat. She looked the most like Adam, but often Vivian refused to acknowledge that. But her blonde hair and her blue eyes matched his. She had his nose and that same dimple in her cheek.

  Her heart clenched just a little bit when she thought about him.

  It seemed so long ago that they’d loved each other. He’d been everything to her for so long. But the moment Emma was born it seemed as though he’d been replaced in her heart—and then he was gone. First he was stationed elsewhere and then deployed. They’d never had a chance to be a family.

  Clayton’s car stopped at a red light in front of her and she eased to a stop behind him. In her headlights, she could see him raise his hand and wave at her. She waved back and smiled.

  In just the past week, she and Clayton had formed a family. How could that have happened? She didn’t really know him, but she felt as though she did. The girls were in love with his girls and she was too. Every part of what they had seemed right, even if it was new.

  As they eased through the light, she thought about sleeping in his arms tonight. She was sure he wouldn’t mind keeping anything more intimate for the night they’d have alone. It would give her some time to think about what was going on in her mind—in her heart.

  She was sure she knew though. She’d had this feeling as a young woman, but now it was much more intense.

  The very thought of him made her smile.

  His voice made her giddy.

  His touch sent tingles through her.

  She had gone and fallen in love with this man that just over a week ago she’d nearly yelled at for rescuing her off the side of the road.

  Following Clayton down the street toward his house she wondered if it was time to tell him of her revelation. The very thought of it had her bubbling with anticipation.

  She watched as he pulled into the driveway, but there was another car parked in front of his.

  Her heart began to race as she watched a woman open the car door and step out into the street lamp light.

  Clayton opened his door and stepped out of his car as she pulled to the curb. He walked to the woman and pulled her into his arms.

  Vivian’s heart lodged in her throat and tears stung her eyes. A moment later he was turning toward her and waving for her to come to him.

  She clenched her jaw. Something told her she wasn’t ready to get out of the car yet.

  As Clayton walked toward her car, and the woman began to help his girls from his car, she shifted to park and took a breath.

  He pulled open her door. “Are you coming?”

  “Who is that?” Vivian looked past him at the woman bent over in his car.

  A smile formed wide on his face. “It’s Dorothy. Linda’s mom.”

  She didn’t know what to do with that. This wasn’t the time for her to be at this house with the intent to sleep in his arms. Suddenly, she felt as though she was going to be sick.

  “Why is she here?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. I think she misses the girls.”

  “You didn’t know she was coming?”

  “No. This was a surprise,” he said still smiling.

  “I should go back to my house.”

  Clayton reached for her arm. “Oh, no.” He crouched down so he was face to face with her. “I’m not cheating on her daughter. This woman lost everything that day too and now I’ve taken her girls from her. She misses them. That’s all. She called the other day and missed them more so she came to see them. I want her to meet you.”

  “She’s going to hate me.”

  “Vivian,” he said capturing her attention and then her face in his hands. “It’s time for us all to move on. She needs to meet the woman I love now.”

  For a moment, she was sure she’d forgotten to breathe. What had he said? No. No. She was supposed to tell him how she was feeling. But this wasn’t the time.

  She looked past him to see a woman who resembled Linda, only about thirty years older, standing behind him with Charlotte and Stephanie holding her hands.

  Clayton rose to his feet. “Dorothy, this is Vivian.”

  She was in an awkward position now, she thought. Unbuckling her seatbelt, she managed to slide from the car without getting caught up in the strap.

  “Hello,” she said softly.

  “Hello.” Dorothy smiled. “I hope I didn’t ruin any plans, but after I called the other day I began to miss my girls so much I thought my heart might break.”

  “Dorothy,” Clayton’s voice shook as he said her name.

  She shook her head. “No, don’t go apologizing. I understand why you left Seattle. I don’t blame you one bit. I’m allowed to miss you all too. We all have to heal and it’s going to take longer than two years to do that, I’m afraid.”

  Clayton turned to Vivian. “Let me help you get the girls in the house.”

  “Oh, I should just head home. You two should catch up.”

  Dorothy smiled. “Clayton, I’ll take these two inside.”

  He nodded, handing her the keys to the door before turning back to Vivian as they walked away.

  She could feel the urge to cry and perhaps even yell—though it wasn’t warranted.

  He pulled her into his arms as if he knew what she was feeling.

  “There is one thing that happened when I married Linda. I married into this family who believes in forgiveness, second chances, love at first sight, and giving everyone an opportunity to prove how good they can be.”

  “What are you talking about?” she murmured against his chest.

  “Dorothy is the kind of woman who isn’t going to judge us. C’mon, she already knows there’s something going on. How could she not?”

  “This doesn’t feel right.”

  “It doesn’t feel wrong either.” He pulled back, but she stopped him.

  “What did you say to me before you introduced us?”

  Clayton’s eyes widened. “Is this a test? I don’t…”

  “You said she shou
ld meet the woman…”

  He smiled. “Right.” He took her hands in his and laced their fingers together. “I said she should meet the woman I loved.”

  Vivian let the air whoosh out of her lungs. “I thought that’s what you said.”

  “Does it bother you that I feel that way?”

  She shook her head. Her stomach felt as though a million butterflies had just taken flight inside of her. “I was thinking the same thing as I was driving over here.”

  “You knew I was going to say I loved you?”

  She laughed easily. “No. I realized that I’d fallen in love with you.”

  Clayton moved in and kissed her gently. “Dorothy is going to be okay with hearing that.”

  “What about you?”

  He raised her hand to his chest and slipped it under his jacket, pressing it firmly over his shirt. “Can you feel that?”

  She could. His heart rammed in his chest as hard as hers was.

  “I know the timing is awkward, but I think there is a lot to explore with these feelings. I hope you’ll tell me you love me again and again.”

  Clayton carried Emma into the house and Vivian carried Ava. “We’ll lay them in the girls’ room. My girls won’t be too far behind them to sleep.”

  Once they were situated, he took her hand and walked with her to the living room where Dorothy was seated with his girls reading a book.

  “We’re just catching up with some Max and Ruby,” Dorothy said.

  “Mommy’s favorite,” Stephanie added and Clayton felt Vivian’s hand squeeze his.

  “It was her favorite.” He moved closer to them, still holding tight to Vivian. “Why don’t the two of you go put on your pajamas, quietly, and then you can come see grandma some more.”

  They gave him a nod and ran off to their room.

  “Dorothy, can I make you some tea?” he asked.

  “That would be lovely. Perhaps Vivian would keep me company for a moment.”

  Clayton gave her a nod. He knew she was hesitant, but Dorothy would never, ever, say anything to hurt Vivian. In fact, he thought if he left them alone just long enough he’d come back to Vivian’s smile. Dorothy had that kind of effect on people.