Kyle gathered up what lay scattered about the floor and began to fill the bag Darci held. No argument. Probably because the request came from Darci instead of him. Or maybe it was because he was excited about Christmas.
Conner dropped to one knee and set to work trimming the trunk. Hopefully, Kyle’s excitement would carry through the month. After all, he was the reason for the chaos in the living room. Conner had never been much for making a big deal over Christmas.
But since Kyle was with him, at least for this one holiday season, he would make it the best he could for the kid. And in the process, a little bit of the Christmas cheer that seemed to be everywhere was rubbing off, chipping away at that bah, humbug attitude he usually carried through the entire month of December.
Kyle picked up a box of ornaments. “What goes on first?”
Darci laughed. She was kneeling in front of the window, working on assembling the tree stand. “We’ve got to get the tree upright before we do anything else.”
After Conner cut the trunk, he and Kyle supported the tree while Darci tightened the screws to hold it in place. Jayden stood in the middle of the room, as still as a statue, watching the activity. Darci had said he could throw a temper tantrum that set her teeth on edge, complete with stomping feet and ear-piercing screams. But he hadn’t seen it yet.
Darci crawled out from under the tree and stood. “Okay, I think I’ve got it. Let it go.”
Kyle released the branches he held and danced backward to stand next to Jayden. Conner used more caution. Once sure that the tree wouldn’t topple, he stepped back to view it from several different angles, then nodded his approval. “We handled that like pros.”
Kyle grabbed the box of ornaments again. “Now these?”
Darci shook her head. “The lights go on first.” She picked up a box and removed the hundred-count strand, snapping it free from its plastic holder. “We’ll probably need all eight of these. We can’t skip the back since it’s standing in front of the window.”
While he and Darci worked on the lights, Kyle grew more and more antsy. Finally, he plopped down on the small section of couch that wasn’t still covered in decorations. “I’m bored.”
Darci let the strand she was working on drape and walked over to the couch. “I have a project for you.” She fished through several bags, then pulled out three packages of hooks. “How about attaching these to the ornaments so they’ll be ready to hang?” After demonstrating with one, she handed him the open package of hooks.
Kyle took his assignment seriously. Over the next several minutes, he unpacked several boxes of ornaments, inserted a hook into each and laid them on the coffee table.
And he was happy doing it. In fact, Kyle would probably do anything for Darci. In two short weeks, she’d broken through his walls of anger to connect with the hurting boy beneath. And Conner wasn’t surprised. Her sweet tenderness and gentle concern would melt the coldest heart. She was a wonderful mother, just what Kyle needed. Was there maybe a chance...
What was he thinking? He didn’t need to find a mother for Kyle. Conner’s own mother was going to take Kyle, as soon as his stepfather regained his health. Maybe the situation wouldn’t be ideal. But she couldn’t do any worse than he was doing. And this newest stepfather seemed all right. At least he was a whole lot better than the ones Conner had grown up with.
Darci again joined him at the tree, and soon they had all the lights strung and plugged in. The garland went on next, and Conner smiled at Kyle. “Okay, buddy. Now we can hang those ornaments.”
Kyle hurried to the table, then walked to the tree, a glass orb hanging from each hand. As he placed them, Jayden watched. Darci picked up a silver star, put the hook between his fingers and, with her hand around his, led him to the tree. As she guided the curved wire over one of the branches, she talked softly. Although Jayden didn’t speak much, Darci incorporated language into everything she did.
When Conner headed back to the tree, he turned to find the little boy’s eyes on him. He extended his arm. “Do you want to hang it?”
For several moments, Jayden just watched him. His hair was a much lighter shade of brown than his mother’s, but he had the same vivid blue eyes. Finally, one side of his mouth cocked up in the slightest smile, and he reached for the hook.
Conner steadied a branch. “Let’s hang it right here.”
Whether Jayden understood his words or his actions, Conner wasn’t sure. But within seconds, the miniature bell was hanging exactly as he’d intended. He straightened to find Darci watching him, a softness in her eyes.
After Kyle placed the last ornament, Conner closed the blinds, blocking out the midafternoon sun, and dimmed the overhead lights. Then he sat back to admire their handiwork, arms outstretched on the back of the couch and an ankle crossed over his knee.
Kyle was almost dancing with excitement. “Now we need presents to put under it.”
Conner laughed. The kid probably knew that most of them would have his name on them. “Those are coming.”
“Will Miss Darci and Jayden have presents, too?”
“I’m sure they will.”
“Here?”
Conner hesitated, warmth filling him at the thought of shopping for Darci. The act somehow seemed intimate. He hadn’t thought that far ahead, but yes, he would definitely buy a gift for Darci. “There’ll be presents for Jayden and Miss Darci under the tree, too.”
Kyle seemed satisfied and quickly shifted gears. “Can Jayden spend the night tonight?”
Darci put a hand on Kyle’s shoulder. “He’s a little young to spend the night away from home. But you’ll see each other tomorrow.”
“Where are we going?”
He and Darci answered simultaneously, “Church.”
Initially, he’d started attending for Kyle, not believing Christianity had any real relevance for his own life. But something had changed over the past few weeks. Some of it was due to the messages he’d heard at the Chiefland and Cedar Key churches. Some of it was due to watching the gradual change in Kyle’s behavior. But seeing that faith lived out in Darci’s life had affected him in a way that was hard to ignore.
Darci eased onto the couch next to him, and he dropped his arm to let it rest across her shoulders.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
He nodded toward the tree. “All this.”
“You’re the one who bought everything. I just helped set it up.”
“You did more than that. When you climbed into my truck this morning, you brought the spirit of Christmas with you.”
Before she could respond, Kyle crawled up onto the couch next to her.
“Great job.” She held up a hand for a high five, which Kyle vigorously returned. “Our tree could win first place in a World’s Best Decorated Christmas Tree contest.”
Jayden reached for her, and she pulled him onto her lap. And the four of them sat nestled together. Hundreds of tiny bulbs cast their light throughout the room while Perry Como crooned, “There’s no place like home for the holidays.”
Conner released a sigh, an odd sense of contentment seeping into every cell in his body. Darci had said our tree. What would it be like to have someone share his life, to think in terms of ours instead of mine? To have his very own family?
He mentally shook himself. Kyle was only temporary. His stepdad wouldn’t be able to milk a heart attack forever.
Actually, Darci was temporary, too. He’d been forewarned. She didn’t do relationships. Her focus was 100 percent on her son. Once this was over, he would head back to C. S. Equipment, and she would continue at P. T. Maybe they would remain friends. He hoped so. But that would be all.
And it was for the best. Any future with Darci would involve fatherhood, something he had no business even considering. He didn’t have what it took
to be a good husband, much less a good father. And having grown up with no real example of either, he wasn’t likely to learn, with or without God’s help.
All the arguments against falling for Darci were right on the tip of his tongue, backed up by the voice of reason.
Unfortunately, his heart was ignoring them.
* * *
Darci made her way toward home under a steel-gray sky, the heavy cloud cover creating the illusion of dusk. The rain would probably start soon and continue through the night, followed by a cold front.
But the weekend had been perfect. And not just the weather. Shopping with Conner had been fun. Helping him decorate while Christmas carols played in the background had provided a temporary balm for the loneliness that had begun to plague her life.
Then yesterday, Conner and Kyle had again joined them for church. Once she and her friend Allison had exited the platform after singing in the worship ensemble, the eight of them had occupied an entire row—she and Conner and the boys, Allison and her husband, and Hunter and his wife.
Darci sighed. All her closest friends had found their happily-ever-afters. Allison married Blake, and a year later, Hunter met Meagan and fell in love. Darci was the last holdout.
Of course, she would be holding out for a long time, no matter what she felt for Conner. Once Kyle went back to live with Conner’s mom and stepdad, Conner would again be free. She refused to saddle him with a child, especially one like Jayden. It wouldn’t be fair to Conner, and it wouldn’t be fair to Jayden. No, her special little boy was her responsibility, hers and hers alone.
She pressed the brake, then turned onto Highway 19-98. Today at work, she’d discovered an icon in the right-hand portion of her task bar—a blue circle with three white dots. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it had always been there, and she’d just never noticed. But chances were good someone had added it recently.
Her first thought had been the keylogger program. But when she clicked the icon, she landed on a website. She immediately clicked back off. If Wiggins was watching, he would assume she’d gone there by accident. But in that brief moment, she’d gotten what she needed.
The site was LogMeIn. She wasn’t sure what LogMeIn did, but she would find out tonight. In fact, she and Conner could work on it together. He would be about forty-five minutes behind her.
A half mile from home, she glanced in her rearview mirror, something she did regularly now. Doug was behind her. She heaved a sigh. She would let him see Jayden, then send him on his way.
She turned onto her street, and when she reached her driveway, movement at the side of the house drew her attention. A figure stood there, dressed in all black, a ski mask hiding his face. He turned toward her, then bolted away, headed toward the woods that bordered the backs of the houses.
Panic shot through her. Her mom and Jayden were inside. She screeched to a stop next to her mother’s Intrepid.
Doug apparently saw the man, too. Without taking the time to turn into the drive, he jammed on the brakes at the edge of her yard, half on and half off the road. Before she could even get out of the car, he was in hot pursuit.
Leaving Doug to his business, she snatched her purse and ran to the door. When she stepped inside, her mother looked up from the book she’d been reading to Jayden and raised her brows.
“Are you all right, dear?”
Darci smoothed her hair with shaking fingers. Her mom was oblivious to the fact that moments earlier, there had been a masked man just outside the dining room window.
Before she could explain, Doug appeared at the still-open front door, breathing heavily. His jaw was tight, and there was a somberness in his eyes that sent uneasiness through her.
“Darci, you’d better look at this.”
The ominous tone confirmed what she saw in his gaze, and suddenly, she didn’t want to know what he had found.
Her mother set the book aside and stood. “Honey?”
Darci held up a hand. “Stay here with Jayden. I’ll be right back.”
She dropped her purse on the end table and followed Doug off the porch and around the side of the house.
“I lost him.” Doug threw the words over his shoulder. “It may have been the same guy who was trying to get in your window last week. But this is what I wanted you to see.”
He stopped at the dining room window and pointed to the ground. At the edge of the shrubs that lined the foundation of the house was a six-inch-long pipe, a metal cap on each end. A thick string emerged from a small hole in the center.
“What is it?” It looked sinister.
“I think it’s a pipe bomb. I’d say your prowler dropped it before he had a chance to ignite it.” He nailed her with a stern gaze. “You need to level with me, Darci. Who is after you?”
Wiggins? No, if he wanted to kill her with a bomb, he would plant it in her car. A wave of nausea rolled through her at this new possibility. Oh, God, help me.
She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“You must know something. This is serious stuff.”
She turned without responding “I’m calling the police.” When she reached the corner of the house, she stopped and looked back at Doug. “Don’t mention the pipe bomb in front of my mom. I don’t want her to worry.”
“All right. But I need to make sure you’re safe.”
She walked away without comment. She didn’t want Doug’s protection. She’d gotten along fine without him for the past five years. But she would face that argument later.
When she got back inside, she pulled her phone from her purse and addressed her mother. “Someone was prowling around the yard, hanging out next to the dining room window. I’m going to have the police check it out, just to be safe.”
Her mom’s eyes filled with concern. “Oh, my. Are you going to be okay? I can stay with you.”
“No, you go on. But maybe you could keep Jayden at your place for a few days.”
“I’ll be glad to. Why don’t you come home, too?”
Darci hesitated. It was tempting. But she wouldn’t put her parents in danger. And as long as they had Jayden, he would be out of harm’s way, too.
“I’ll be fine. I’ve got good, strong locks.”
Her mother gave a reluctant nod, then turned to Doug. “Will you stay with her until the police get here?”
“Yes, ma’am, I’ll be glad to.”
Darci sighed and placed her call. By the time she’d finished, her mom had packed a bag for Jayden. Darci scooped him up and gave him a tight squeeze, breathing in the berry scent that still lingered from last night’s bath. She was going to miss her little boy. She’d never been separated from him for more than one night.
After she put him down, her mother took his hand and opened the front door. Before stepping onto the porch, she threw Darci one more worried glance. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”
Doug put a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll take care of her, ma’am.”
She bristled and followed her mom and little boy out the door. Before putting Jayden into his car seat, she gave him one more hug. Then she stood waving as the car backed and moved up the road. Her mom waved back. Jayden didn’t. His head rested against the side of his car seat, his gaze straight ahead.
She turned and walked back inside. When Doug put his hand on her shoulder, she shrugged it off.
He heaved an exasperated sigh. “Darci, let me help you. Whoever is after you, he’s playing for keeps. Come and stay with me.”
She faced him squarely. “I’m not staying with you, so you need to let it go. I appreciate your concern, and I won’t keep Jayden from you, but that’s the extent of it.”
Music sounded from inside her purse and grew in volume. She pushed past Doug, grabbed her phone and swiped the screen. It was Conner. He had picked up th
e chicken and the yellow rice packet they had talked about and wanted to know if she needed anything else.
“No, that’ll do it. I’ve got plenty of stuff for a salad. But there’s a change of plans. It’s going to be just you and me and Kyle. I sent Jayden with my mother.”
“Is everything okay?” There was a distinct note of concern in Conner’s tone. Though she’d tried to keep her own nonchalant, he was intuitive enough to know something was wrong.
“I got home from work, and someone was in my yard. I’ll tell you about it when you get here.”
When she ended the call, Doug was studying her with his arms crossed. “Who was that?”
“Conner.” Not that it was any of his business.
“Who is Conner?”
“A...friend.” Let him think there was more between them than there actually was. Then maybe he would leave her alone.
Doug uncrossed his arms, and his hands curled into fists. Gone was the easygoing, smooth-talking man she’d fallen in love with in college. Anger flashed in his eyes. But it was tinged with desperation, which didn’t make sense. Doug didn’t know the meaning of the word desperate. He could schmooze his way into or out of anything.
Except this, because she wasn’t budging.
“Fine,” he began. “I had hoped that the three of us could be a family, you and me and Jayden. I’m willing to give you one more chance. Otherwise, tomorrow I see my lawyer.”
Her mouth suddenly went dry. “For what?”
“Custody of Jayden.”
Her heart stuttered, and her thoughts spun off in a thousand different directions. No, not Jayden. He was her life. Doug had no interest in him. It was obvious every time he saw him. This afternoon, he never once directed his attention to his son. So what was he trying to accomplish?
“Is this about child support? If so, you don’t need to worry. I’ve supported him by myself for four years. I’m not going to come after you.”
Doug laughed, but there was no humor in the sound. “Do you really think a little child support would put a dent in my financial position?”
Mistletoe Justice Page 9
