Weekend Collision

by C. A. Szarek

  Ethan stood beside them, his face practically plastered to the glass outside the white tigers’ enclosure, trying to get a better view of the two cubs rolling around batting at huge hanging knotted ropes.

  Mel stood behind them, manning the massive stroller Andi had left for them to use. It was handy for storing all the toddler and little boy paraphernalia, but it was a pain to lug around.

  With the seat empty, no less, because their two-year-old charge preferred to be held or walk on his own. Whined when his bidding was disregarded.

  “No!” and “I can do it!” had become the mantra for the morning, and well into the afternoon.

  She swallowed back a yawn. They’d left at seven-thirty to make the drive in to Fort Worth, and despite nestling in her husband’s arms all night, she hadn’t slept much.

  “Your family is beautiful.”

  The voice had her head turning, and her gaze rested on an older woman watching Jared and the boys instead of the big cats.

  “It’s always nice to see an involved father.” The pleasantly plump woman wore an outfit that screamed Golden Girls. Her hair was groomed in typical Texas big style and her smile was sweet.

  Mel didn’t feel like explaining, so she flashed a return smile and thanked her. Plus, her gut ached a little. It would be a long time before she and Jared could take their own children to the zoo. If they ever had any.

  Her husband waggled his eyebrows over his shoulder. Evidently he hadn’t been so absorbed with the tigers or the boys.

  “So handsome, too. Lucky lady.” The older woman reached out and patted Mel’s hand, which rested on the stroller handle.

  Jared grinned.

  She wanted to roll her eyes—like her man needed help with his ego—but she just agreed politely. Was relieved when an older gentleman collected her. He wore a cowboy hat and boots and offered a nod.

  “Okay, guys, let’s go see the elephants,” Jared said. He put Micah in the stroller, and for once the little boy didn’t protest.

  “Yay!” Ethan jumped up and down, then slid one of his hand in Mel’s.

  Micah rubbed his small fist against his eye and relaxed into his seat.

  “Uh oh, someone’s tired.” Her husband dropped his voice and made eye contact with her.

  “Thank God,” she whispered.

  “Am not,” Micah announced. The high pitched toddler tones mixed with such vehemence made her smile again.

  “How did he even hear me?” Jared chuckled.

  “C’mon, Aunt Mel!” Ethan tugged her hand.

  “Whoa, take a breather, buddy. Aren’t you tired?” her husband asked.

  He shook his head, his auburn curls floating.

  “Of course not,” Mel said.

  “No more sugar!” Jared waggled his finger in Ethan’s face, and the little boy giggled.

  “I like cotton candy.”

  “Too much,” she said.

  “Are you having fun, Aunt Mel?” Ethan cocked his head to one side as he studied her.

  “Yes, sir. Now, let’s go. We have some elephants to see.”

  He jogged ahead as they started to move, but they let him, since he wasn’t far.

  Jared admonished him to stay close. Then sidled up and kissed her cheek.

  Mel leaned into him and sighed. “Thanks,” she whispered.

  “You okay, baby? You’ve been awfully quiet today.” He slid his arm around her as they walked.

  “I am. Glad the boys are having fun.”

  “Hmm, but what about you? You didn’t just lie to a child, did you?”

  “You or Ethan?” She laughed at her husband’s mock-glare.

  “Well, at least I made you laugh, even at my own expense.”

  “That’s usually the best kind.” She winked.

  “Hey!” He clutched his black T-shirt over his heart, but the grin he flashed made her melt a little.

  Mel felt a little guilty for her desire to go home as the day wound on, but when they finally called it a late-afternoon, they had two tuckered out little charges.

  Micah fell asleep before his car seat was buckled, and even Ethan was yawning as she helped him in to his booster.

  The little boy flashed a sleepy smile as she reminded him to buckle up. Like his little brother, the first-grader liked to do things himself, and he could handle the fasteners on his booster.

  “Did you have fun, buddy?” she asked.

  “Yup!” He clutched a stuffed zebra close that Jared had bought. Ethan had saved his tired tooth fairy money at her husband’s urging.

  Micah’s giraffe lay on his lap, tucked in one small hand, even as he slept.

  She straightened, then shut the back door to her Kia SUV.

  Jared was at the back of the car. He’d already unloaded the stroller, and was folding it like a pro.

  “Need help?” she asked.

  “Nope.” He threw a smile at her as he made the last fold and lifted the behemoth thing into the back of the SUV. “Today was great.” He closed the hatch.

  Mel nodded.

  “We can totally handle this parenting thing.”

  “They sure wear ya out, though,” she said.

  “Says the kindergarten teacher.”

  “That’s different.”

  “Yeah?” He chuckled and pulled her to him. Jared brushed his mouth over hers.

  She kissed him back, but pulled away before she got lost in him. They had the boys, after all.

  He caressed her cheek, then glanced at his watch. “It’s almost six. Wanna grab something to go instead of hitting a restaurant? They’re both tired. With Micah that means grouchy and whiny.”

  “Same goes for Jared, too.” She smirked.

  “Hey!” He slapped her bottom and she yelped. Her husband beamed. He kissed her hard and fast. “So, let’s get home, get them bathed and in bed. Watch a movie maybe?”

  “Sure. As long as there are no more minions.”

  Jared laughed. “I meant a grown-up movie after the boys go to sleep.”

  “You’re on.” Mel grinned. She got in the car, glancing at the boys as she reached to snap her seatbelt on.

  Ethan had fallen asleep, just like the toddler.

  She and her husband exchanged another smile. “Thanks for today,” she whispered, feeling much lighter than she had last night.

  He arched an eyebrow as if to say, ‘what for?’ but his dark eyes shone with understanding and love.

  She relaxed into her seat.

  Maybe her husband would have three sleeping passengers before they got home.

  Chapter Four

  The crash made her wince. Mel had to consciously loosen her grip on the loaf of bread so she wouldn’t smash it. Her gut told her the ruckus a few aisles over was nothing other than her husband and the two little boys still in their care.

  Andi and Cole wouldn’t be back until late Sunday afternoon, and now it was barely eleven.

  Her sneakers screeched as she changed direction to leave the baked goods aisle and hurry—but not run—toward the raised voices.

  She cringed when she heard Micah’s familiar cry. “Jared?” she called even before she could see them. Had to dodge rolling cans of green beans.

  Her husband was righting a grocery cart from its side on floor.

  The store manager was fussing over them, a clipboard in hand. His balding hair got mussed as he bent over to pick up a bag of lettuce and tossed in it in the cart.

  Tears streaked Ethan’s cheeks, and Micah sat on the floor, his wail at glass-breaking pitch, and snot running down his face.

  “I’m so sorry,” Jared was telling the manager. And ignoring the kids.

  “What happened?” Mel asked Ethan.

  The little boy shook his head and looked at her husband. His chest rose and fell as he sniffled. His jeans were ripped over his right knee.

  Concerned shoppers picked up cans of green beans, and an employee started restacking them.

  If her memory served, they’d been in the shape of a huge p
yramid before disaster—three names came to mind—had struck. Of course, only one person was really responsible.

  Jared should’ve known better.

  Mel dug in her purse for some tissues, then changed her mind and grabbed the baby wipes from the diaper bag. She squatted down in front of the crying two-year-old and wiped Micah’s face.

  He fought her at first, pushing her hands away, but she soothed him with whispered nonsense until tears were dry and snot was gone.

  For now.

  She stood and hiked him up on a hip, trying not to glare at the big tough police detective she’d married.

  He was currently backpedaling as he explained the scene before them to the store manager. There was a lot of “Um...” as well as, “It was an accident.”

  Mel rolled her eyes and put the scenario together in her head. She never should’ve said, “I’ll be right back,” and left them to get the bread.

  Jared had had Micah in the cart and Ethan riding on the back—against her admonition in the first place.

  He’d probably tried to make shopping ‘fun.’ Maybe rushed down an empty aisle.

  Ethan had probably jumped off the cart—or onto it—and tragedy had struck.

  Her husband’s version to the man taking notes was tame.

  Mansplaining if I ever heard it.

  She didn’t believe a word.

  “I’m sorry about the mess.” At least he had the decency to look embarrassed. Jared’s cheeks were a little pink, actually.

  Good.

  “Micah, does anything hurt?” She focused on the little boy in her arms. “Do you have a boo boo?”

  He shook his head and sniffled, his big blue eyes shiny and his dark hair disheveled. He sucked his bottom lip into his mouth. His little chest heaved with residual sobs.

  Mel looked at each of his hands, but there were no marks. His arms were okay, too. She tugged his red tee straight. No rip in his pants, like his older brother.

  “Aunt Mel, my knee hurts.” Ethan’s voice grabbed her attention.

  She set Micah to his feet so she could inspect the damage.

  Blood trickled from a skinned knee, visible through the small hole.

  “It’s not too bad.” She looked into the six-year-old’s blue eyes and offered a reassuring smile. Caressed his cheek, wiping tears away. “We’ll get you fixed up.” She cleaned the small cut with a baby wipe, and grabbed a Band-Aid from the diaper bag. Andi really was prepared for everything. “What happened, buddy?” she repeated.

  Ethan whimpered once, but thanked her. He looked at Jared before answering. “The cart fell over.”

  “Oh yeah? How?”

  “We…” he sniffled again, fighting more tears, “went…too fast.” He bit his bottom lip like his little brother.

  “Don’t worry, you’re not in trouble. Your Uncle Jared is, I suspect.”

  Her husband glanced away from the store manager, as if he’d heard his name, and offered a half-smile. He ran his hand through his dark hair, like he always did when he was nervous.

  Mel glared.

  He winced, then turned back to the older man.

  The groceries they’d had in the cart were scattered on the floor—including a carton of eggs lying open on its side. Shells and sticky yellow broken eggs covered the linoleum. The milk carton lay upside down, but it was holding its contents.

  Canned goods rolled back and forth—not just the fallen tower of Green Giant. A box of Hamburger Helper was smashed, as well as the cereal.

  She sighed and ruffled her former student’s red curls, then got to down to the business of picking up the food on the floor.

  Jared was still working his way through the incident report with the store manager.

  Maybe she didn’t need a kid. She already had one.

  He just happened to be twenty-nine.

  It was going to be a loooooong morning.

  ****

  “Just a hunch, but I figure Andi and Cole want their children back in the same condition they dropped them off in.” Mel arched an eyebrow.

  Jared shifted on his feet, feeling about two inches tall. “I’m sorry.” He fought the urge to study his cowboy boots. “I’m sorry,” tumbled out of his mouth again. It already had about hundred times.

  I’m an idiot.

  He’d said that, too, but didn’t offer a repeat now, because he didn’t want her to agree with him. He’d apologized to the store manager, all the employees, the boys, and Mel.

  Thank God the only injury was a small scratch on Ethan’s knee.

  They’d paid for the damaged food anyway, but it was the least he could do for the freaking embarrassment.

  He hadn’t volunteered he was a cop, but Antioch wasn’t that big. If the, “let’s have a little fun,” blunder made its way to the PD, he’d never hear the end of it. Hopefully, none of the interior cameras had caught it.

  Wouldn’t that be some shit?

  His partner was probably going to kick his ass for endangering his kids. Or, Cole would laugh his ass off. One never knew.

  Mel snorted and put Micah in his car seat without answering.

  I’m screwed.

  His wife wouldn’t argue in front of the kids, but after their parents picked them up, he was in for it. He should probably volunteer to sleep on the couch now and get it over with.

  Ethan tugged his hand free of Jared’s much larger grip.

  He smiled down at the little boy. “Are you okay, E-man?”

  Red curls bobbed. “Yup. Aunt Mel fixed my knee. It only hurts a little.”

  “Good deal. Put your seatbelt on, when you get in your booster, okay?”

  The kid scrambled to obey.

  Mel ruffled Ethan’s hair and smiled when they passed each other, but the curve of her gorgeous mouth faded when she glanced at Jared. She narrowed her eyes and went around the front of her SUV. Wrenched the passenger door open and climbed inside.

  He knew better than to say anything regarding her not helping with the grocery bags. Didn’t want to pull couch duty for a whole week.

  Scratch that.

  She was furious. He was probably looking at two weeks.

  A month?

  Dammit.

  Maybe he could cajole her. Use his charm. After all, they couldn’t make a baby if they didn’t sleep together.

  Jared winced.

  Her expression had said it all.

  He wasn’t getting laid for a while.

  Jared put the bags in the back quietly and efficiently, inwardly cursing the fact it hadn’t taken longer. He didn’t want to slide into the driver’s seat.

  Hated when Mel was mad at him. This time was all his fault. And his best friend’s kids could’ve gotten truly hurt.

  He was torn between cowardice and shame.

  Shit.

  Dragging his hand through his hair, Jared swallowed a sigh and reached for the door handle. He’d take his medicine. Would have some explaining to do to his partner later, too.

  Two sets of big blue eyes caught his line of sight in the rear-view mirror.

  The boys were fine.

  Score one for me.

  A glance at Mel gifted another glare.

  “I love you,” he whispered.

  She stared, then shook her head. “Don’t do that when I’m trying to be mad at you.” Her voice was low and she shot a glimpse over her shoulder at the kids.

  “I hate when you’re mad at me,” Jared muttered.

  “You deserve it. They could’ve been hurt. Really hurt.”

  “I know.” He started the car and tried not to grimace. “I love them. I’d never want anything bad to happen to them.”

  “So irresponsible.”

  “Now you sound like a teacher.”

  Mel arched a fair eyebrow. “This is serious.”

  “I know, I know. I’m sorry.”

  She tossed her head into the headrest. “You’re totally on your own with Cole and Andi.”

  “They’re fine!”

  “S
o? Still your mess, you clean it up.”

  “I will.”

  “If Cole clocks you, I won’t say a word.”

  Jared snickered. “I bet he’ll laugh.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Figures.”

  He smiled, and turned down Main Street, to head home. “No worries, baby. I got this.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of, I think.”

  He reached to pat her jean-clad thigh.

  She squeezed his hand, which had him smiling all over again. Maybe Mel wasn’t so mad at him after all.

  “Just don’t be reckless with other peoples’ kids, okay?”

  “You got it. What about our own?”

  She smirked and his heart jumped, like always when she looked at him like that. “I’d kick your butt.”

  Jared chuckled and shook his head.

  Chapter Five

  Micah threw his arms around his mother’s neck and kissed her with an enthusiastic smack.

  Mel couldn’t help the envy in her gut, either. Or the guilt that circled because of it. The feeling wasn’t for Micah specifically. She had a special relationship with the little boy, even if he’d never call her ‘Mommy.’ Didn’t want Micah Lucas to call her that, anyway.

  She just wanted what Andi had. The child. The bond. The little person who looked just like his dad.

  “What’s wrong, Mel?” Her friend’s blue eyes were concerned as she set her two-year-old to his feet.

  Mel swallowed a sigh. “Nothin’. Had a great weekend with the boys, notwithstanding ‘the incident’ at Marty’s.”

  Jared groaned at her air quotes and she flashed a smartass grin.

  She’d meant it when she’d promised he’d be on his own regarding the toppled cart.

  Cole arched a dark eyebrow.

  Andi looked at Mel, Jared and back. Then at her husband. Her expression feared the worst.

  “Of course, I’ll let Jer tell you all about that.” Mel beamed when her husband narrowed those beautiful mocha eyes she loved so much.

  “The zoo was fun, Daddy!” Ethan announced, bouncing up and down and tugging on Cole’s hand. “Uncle Jared bought me a zebra, and Micah got a giraffe!”

  “That’s awesome, E-man!” The tall detective ruffled red curls, then his steel gaze landed on his partner of three years. “What happened at the grocery store? Need I go request video footage?”