Falling for the Single Mom

by Mia Ross

  His gaze held hers with no effort at all, softening as it roamed over her face. The smile lighting his features mellowed into one that was less flirtatious and more something she couldn’t quite identify.

  “I—well—” Mortified by her stammering, she drew herself up and tried to gather up the shreds of her feminine dignity. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Standing to his full height, he flashed her one last knee-weakening grin before turning and sauntering back to where a half-empty hay wagon stood waiting for him to unload and get back to his baling. Feeling like a complete moron, Heather debated whether or not to follow him and explain her sudden, embarrassing bout of brainlessness. After a few seconds, she decided against it and headed out the way she’d come in.

  She dropped Annabelle off to visit her siblings in their blanket-lined box and then gladly immersed herself in work. Having endured so many years of rigorous schooling and demanding practicums, she loved being able to put her training into practice every day. The difference was that, here, she was tending to animals that no one wanted in an effort to make them healthy enough to be adopted later.

  During her lunch break, she added a note to the to-do list she kept on her phone. Contact wildlife rehabber re: lessons. The Oaks Crossing Rescue Center’s dual purpose offered her a unique opportunity to familiarize herself with patients beyond the usual pets and other domesticated creatures. She didn’t know what type of animal hospital she’d end up in down the road, and being comfortable with treating wild animals just might put her over the top in comparison with the other candidates who applied for the same position.

  Beyond that, it would be fun.

  Where had that come from? she wondered, shaking her head at the foolish idea. Pragmatic by nature as much as by habit, everything she did had a purpose and a price that she’d thoroughly examined ahead of time. These days, she was up to her neck in student loan debt and had a niece to raise. While she had Craig’s life insurance in the bank, that money was earmarked for Bailey, to make sure she’d have as secure a future as Heather could give her.

  Sometimes being the grown-up was hard, but someone had to do it, and by default the role was hers. Bailey was counting on her, and she’d do it to the best of her ability, the same way she did everything else.

  The rest of the day flew by, and when Heather was finished, she went to collect Annabelle. Over the Dutch door, she saw quite possibly the most adorable scene ever. Bekah had given a couple of female lop-eared rabbits the run of the small space, and one of them had taken up residence on a corner of the kittens’ fluffy blanket.

  Annabelle had obviously woken up to find that she was sharing space with someone new and was cautiously creeping over to investigate. The rabbit sat totally still, her twitching nose the only evidence that she wasn’t a lifelike statue in someone’s garden. Sniffing the air between them with each tiny step, Annabelle sat next to the rabbit, ears perked as she cocked her head in feline fascination. Because her eyes were on the sides of her head, the bunny had an excellent peripheral view without having to move.

  When Annabelle mewed, the rabbit crinkled her forehead in disapproval but didn’t seem to be irritated enough to move. Apparently, the cat interpreted that as a gesture of friendship and plopped herself down shoulder-to-shoulder with her new buddy, rubbing her cheek over the soft fur in obvious appreciation.

  Heather caught the sound of muted laughter behind her and turned to find Sierra holding up her phone, video camera rolling. The tech lifted a finger to her lips and pointed to the touching scene that she’d been filming. Heather nodded her understanding and waited a couple of minutes until the rabbit got tired of being adored and hopped away to join her cotton-tailed friend on the other side of the room.

  Sierra tapped the button to end her video and let out the laughter she’d been holding in. “That’s about the cutest thing I’ve seen the whole time I’ve been working here. We’ll have Bekah fix the lighting and post it in the adoption section of the website. Those rabbits should have a new home by Monday.”

  “That would be fantastic,” Heather said as she checked the area in front of the door before opening it to retrieve the kitten. Touching noses with her, she asked, “What do you say, little miss? Are you ready to go pick up Bailey?”

  Annabelle responded with a half meow, half yawn that made the two women laugh.

  “Have a good weekend, boss.” Waving, Sierra headed into the kennel to start bedding down the residents for the night.

  Heather stopped to say goodbye to Bekah and a high schooler who came in to help out three days a week. The center had a small army of volunteers, and while she’d gotten to know some of them, most still blurred together in her memory. That didn’t feel right to her, and as she drove into town, she made a mental note to ask her full-timers for a list of everyone who worked at the center and some hints on how to keep them all straight.

  Driving past the town park, she noticed that the demolition of the playground had started. The worst of the damaged beams were gone, leaving a thin skeleton of what had been a sturdy compound of towers, bridges and slides. Abby’s beloved pirate ship had been reduced to a pile of kindling, and while she’d never been there herself, Heather felt saddened by the sight of what had been destroyed. It would take a lot of sweat and skill to return the playground to its original state, she thought somberly.

  That reminded her of the deal she and Bailey had made with Josh in return for him donating his time and labor to the project. She’d have to check in with Erin and see if the bachelor auction dance had been scheduled. If the early enthusiasm she’d been hearing was any indication, the women in town were looking forward to the event, and it would probably end up being their biggest source of cash. Something like that never would’ve flown in Detroit, she mused as she pulled into the church parking lot. It was just one more example of the 180-degree turn her life had taken since she’d connected with Erin Kinley.

  It hadn’t taken long for the quaintness of Oaks Crossing to grow on Heather. But like everyone else, she had bills to pay, and even though their apartment was free, she could stretch her modest salary only so far. Once her larger loan payments started up this time next year, her financial situation would go from grim to deadly.

  Until then, she’d take the opportunity to enjoy this small Kentucky town with Bailey. There was no point being gloomy before it was absolutely necessary.

  “Hello, Dr. Fitzgerald!” Tammy Sheppard greeted her with more energy than any adult should have after a day spent leading a class of preschoolers. “How are you this afternoon?”

  “Fine, thanks. And you?”

  “We had a blast today. Mrs. Wheaton—our pastor’s wife—came in and gave us a music lesson. I’ll let Bailey tell you the details.”

  “Okay.” Heather didn’t understand the need for secrecy, but before she could question the teacher, her niece came racing over and into Heather’s arms. “Hey there, bean. I hear you had a fun day.”

  “I learned a song on the piano!” Bailey exclaimed, eyes dancing in excitement. “And Cara Simon invited me to sleep over on Saturday. Can I go? Pleeease?”

  “Wow,” Heather stalled, trying to get her bearings. She caught movement out of the corner of her eye and turned to find a professionally dressed woman gliding toward them on to-die-for designer heels.

  “Hi, Dr. Fitzgerald, I’m Joanna Simon, Cara’s mother.” Offering a hand that sported some dazzling rings and an antique gold watch, she added an apologetic smile. “I told the girls it would be more appropriate if I called you later to ask you myself, but you know how kids are when they get excited.”

  “Sure.”

  “I’m a family court judge over in Rockville,” the woman went on. “We moved to town last month, so Cara is new here and hasn’t had the easiest time fitting in. She goes on and on about what a great friend Bailey has
been to her. We were hoping to show our gratitude by having Bailey over for dinner and some movies. All G-rated, of course.”

  “Of course.”

  “We’ll be home all day tomorrow and Sunday, so if she wants, she’s welcome to spend the night with us. We live on Main Street, too, so we’re not far away if she decides she’d rather be in her own bed. We can just play that by ear.”

  “I want to stay, Aunt Heather,” Bailey insisted breathlessly. “I’ve never had a sleepover, and it would be so much fun.”

  “I’m glad to hear that, honey, and I know Cara would love it, too,” the judge said, giving her a warm smile. “But if you change your mind, just speak up and we’ll take you home.”

  Heather thought five years old was a little young for staying over at a friend’s house, but Bailey was so thrilled by the idea, Heather couldn’t bear to disappoint her by saying no. “Thanks so much for inviting her, Mrs. Simon. Should she bring anything special?”

  “It’s Joanna, and just send her regular overnight things,” the woman replied airily, waving as if a girl’s first night away from home was no big deal. “We’re not fancy, so whatever’s comfortable for Bailey is fine with us.”

  Heather eyed her niece, who was bouncing in place like a helium balloon ready to break free of its tether. What harm could there be? Best case, she’d have a fabulous time with her new friend. Worst case, Heather would travel a few blocks to retrieve her in the middle of the night.

  Feeling a bit more confident now, she smiled. “What time would you like me to drop her off?”

  “We have some errands and appointments in the afternoon, so you can come by around six.” Grasping her daughter’s hand, Joanna waved. “We’ll see you then.”

  Before Heather knew it, she and Bailey had collected everything from her cubby and were opening the door to their apartment. Her whirling dervish of a niece blew through the living room and dumped the contents of her backpack onto her bed, all while listing what she needed to take with her to Cara’s.

  Amused by the whole thing, Heather poured formula into a saucer for Annabelle and hung back until Bailey announced, “Okay, I’m ready.”

  “That’s great, bean, but you know you’re not going until tomorrow, right?”

  “I just want to be ready.”

  Heather wished she had that much energy at the end of a day. She grinned. “Okay, but let’s check and make sure you’ve got everything.” Rummaging through the hastily packed bag, she couldn’t help laughing. “You’ve got some fun games and your favorite stuffed animals. What about your pj’s and clean clothes for Sunday?”

  Bailey blinked at her, and a sheepish grin crept along her freckled cheeks. “I forgot.”

  While they gathered up the extra things, Annabelle sashayed into the room to see what was going on. Obviously confused by all the commotion, she sat down on her haunches, pawing to get up on the bed. Bailey gently picked her up and set her on the pillow before turning to Heather. “She likes to sleep under the covers. Will you let her do that in your room, just for tomorrow night?”

  It finally seemed to have occurred to her that she’d be away from home for the first time, and her excitement had dimmed a bit. Heather’s own emotions were starting to do the same, and she forced a bright smile for her niece’s sake. “Of course I will. I’ll even let her pick out a movie to watch.”

  “She likes The Aristocats,” Bailey informed her in a very grown-up voice. “And if you don’t keep an eye on her, she’ll chew the books you keep on your night table.”

  “Gotcha.”

  * * *

  Saturday raced by in a flurry of laundry, art projects and hunting high and low for Annabelle when she somehow got lost in the small apartment. After finding her asleep in a corner of Bailey’s closet, Heather realized that it was nearly time to take Bailey to the Simons’. Where had the day gotten to? Sometimes she really missed those college years when she’d spent her Saturdays hanging out in the student lounge or shopping with friends.

  Ignoring the rare bout of self-pity, she called out, “Bailey, it’s almost six! Are you ready to go?”

  She got an eager shout in reply, and Bailey charged into the living room wearing her backpack and carrying her fluffy pink pillow. Since the Simons lived so close, they walked up Main Street toward the address Joanna had given Heather yesterday. A lovely center-hall Colonial rose up behind a wrought iron fence that framed a big yard and a herringbone-patterned brick walkway lined with flowers. It was early May, and up north the weather could still be cool at night, so gardens were a long way from looking their best. Here in Kentucky, everything was already in full bloom. Something else to like about Oaks Crossing, Heather mused with a smile.

  “This is such a pretty house.” Bailey echoed her thoughts almost perfectly. “Maybe we could have one like this someday.”

  “That would be fabulous,” Heather agreed heartily as she rang the doorbell.

  Unfortunately, she added silently, until she paid off her student debts, their home would have to be a modestly priced apartment. Or free, as it was now. Yet another plus for this quaint little town. She couldn’t help noticing that they kept adding up, making her current situation even more appealing to her.

  Her meandering thoughts were interrupted by the thudding of feet inside, just before the inside door swung open to reveal a breathless dark-haired girl about Bailey’s age. A female voice sounded in the background, and Cara took a deep breath before saying, “Hello, Dr. Fitzgerald. Welcome to our home.”

  Heather often received compliments from other adults about how polite Bailey was, but Cara’s greeting was almost black-tie formal. Not wanting to hurt the girl’s feelings by showing her amusement, Heather smothered a grin. “Thank you, Cara. And thank you for inviting Bailey over. She’s very excited.”

  “Please, come in.” Opening the door wide, she stepped back to let them through.

  When Joanna appeared behind her, the judge was beaming proudly. “Very nice, honey. Why don’t you take Bailey up to your room so she can put her things away?”

  “Okay.”

  More childlike now, Cara grabbed Bailey’s pillow and bolted up the elegant stairway with Bailey close on her heels.

  “I love that child,” Joanna said with an indulgent smile. “She’s a handful sometimes, but she’s the light at the end of every day for me. Sometimes, knowing I’ll see her is all that gets me through.”

  “It must be tough, with the kind of work you do,” Heather sympathized. “As Bailey’s guardian, I have some experience in the family law system. It’s pretty complex, and I can only imagine how difficult it must be to deal with it on a daily basis.”

  “You’re right about that, but it can also be very rewarding. My husband is a family therapist, so we’re committed to helping children and their parents in any way we can.”

  “That can’t be easy. I really admire both of you.”

  The lovely woman beamed in gratitude. “Thank you. After the week I had, you have no idea how much that means to me. But I’m sure you have things to do with your free evening. Why don’t we exchange contact information so you can be on your way?”

  It took them only a few seconds to beam the data to one another, and then Heather said goodbye. Only after she’d left the Simons’ immaculate yard and was strolling up the sidewalk did it hit her.

  She had nothing to do.

  Nowhere she needed to be, no dinner to make, no new art project to gush over. When she caught the scent of something delicious wafting from the Oaks Café, she paused outside the open double doors and considered whether or not to treat herself to dinner.

  Why not? she finally decided, pivoting to head inside. She’d been living next to Cam’s diner all this time and hadn’t eaten there except for snacks at committee meetings. Tonight seemed as good a time as any to sample the full menu.
Early as it was, the place was about half-full, with several tables still vacant. Someone called her name, and she spun around to find Josh Kinley waving at her from a table by the bay window.

  Ever the gentleman, he stood and waited for her while she threaded her way over to him. Motioning to the empty chair, he asked, “You look a little lost. Would you like to join me?”

  Lost? She rolled the word around in her head, then acknowledged that was exactly what she’d been feeling. These days, her life revolved around the clinic and Bailey, and now that she had some alone time, she didn’t quite know what to do with herself. “Thanks. That would be great.”

  “So,” Josh began as he handed her a menu from the rack. “Where’s your cute sidekick?”

  “At her friend Cara Simon’s for a sleepover. I wasn’t sure about it, though. I’m worried she’s a bit young to be doing that.” The confession dredged up her earlier concerns, and she discreetly checked her phone for a possible SOS from Joanna. The screen was blank, and although she knew she should be relieved, she couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed.

  “They’re good folks, and they handle children and teenagers all day long, so Bailey will be fine with them. She’s a great kid, and she’s making friends. Isn’t that why you brought her here in the first place?”

  “Of course.”

  Cocking his head, he grinned. “But?”

  He seemed to understand that she was wrestling with emotions she hadn’t encountered before. She had no idea how he knew that, but the sympathy in his eyes made her feel more open to confiding in him. “I want her to be strong and independent, so she’ll have the confidence she needs later on in life. I just wasn’t ready for her to start wanting that kind of freedom now.”

  “Kids have a knack for surprising grown-ups. It’s part of their charm.”

  “Meaning that it’s going to keep happening?”