Montana Love Letter

by Charlotte Carter

  Hailey peered into the box. “That’s a Montana sapphire. The lady said the pendant was made by a local craftsman.”

  “It’s beautiful. But Adam shouldn’t be giving me—”

  “Let me see, Mommy.”

  She held the box lower.

  “Excuse me, ma’am. I think your husband has brought the truck around now.”

  She lifted her head to correct the gentleman’s assumption and thought better of it. Her relationship with Adam was far too complicated to explain to a stranger, particularly since he’d just given her a lovely gift for no reason at all.

  “All right, let’s go, girls. Hang on to your bag of clothes and your teddy bear, Rae.”

  She put the lid back on the gift box and closed it tightly in her hand. It felt warm there, as though the residual heat of Adam’s hand clung to the box.

  As she walked toward the exit, that same heat slid up her neck to warm her cheeks. What did his gift mean? It felt too personal, too extravagant, for a simple “I’m sorry” kind of gift.

  Down deep in her heart, she hoped it meant more to Adam than he’d let on, but she was afraid that that was only wishful thinking.

  Not wanting to be separated from Raeanne, Janelle slid into the truck’s backseat with her. Hailey sat up front next to her dad.

  Janelle leaned forward. “The necklace is beautiful, Adam, but there really wasn’t any need for you to apologize.”

  He shifted into gear. “If you don’t like it, I can take it back to the gift shop. No big deal.”

  It might not be a big deal for Adam, but it was for her. Raymond hadn’t been much of a gift giver. Certainly he’d never been so spontaneous that he’d pick up a necklace on a sudden impulse. Remembering Christmas was about his limit in the giving department.

  “I’ll put it on when we get home.” She leaned back and put her arm around Raeanne, who held the teddy bear snuggled in her arms. A very thoughtful gift on Hailey’s part and Adam’s.

  At home, Adam parked his truck close to the house. He hopped out and opened Raeanne’s door.

  “Come on, Buttercup. I’ll carry you inside.”

  “I have to look for Kitty Cat. She’ll be afraid all alone.”

  “Let Adam carry you, sweetie. Hailey and I will find the cat while you rest a little.”

  “Up you come.” Adam scooped Raeanne up in his arms. “It’s not often I get a chance to carry a pretty little girl into my house.” He winked at Hailey, who’d come around to his side of the truck.

  Following Adam, Janelle reached out to give Hailey a squeeze. “Your dad’s a pretty nice guy, isn’t he?”

  “Yeah, he is. Most of the time.”

  Janelle squelched a smile. Hailey’s teenage years were fast approaching.

  Inside, Adam lay Rae on the couch. Janelle found a light blanket to cover her and sat down beside her.

  “How do you feel now?”

  “My head still hurts.” Her whiny, helpless tone sliced into Janelle’s heart. Her poor baby.

  “You close your eyes and rest.”

  Rae’s lower lip poked out and tears threatened. “I want Kitty Cat.”

  “Look!” Hailey slid open the glass door to the deck. “She’s right here waiting for us.”

  The kitten bounded into the house as if her tail was on fire. She leaped up onto Raeanne and began kneading her tummy. Rae giggled, scratching the kitty’s head.

  Janelle stood back. Kitty Cat was the best medicine possible for Raeanne. Thank You, Lord.

  Edging away from the couch, she felt for the jewelry box in the pocket of her slacks. She glanced toward Adam, who was standing by the fireplace watching her, his arms folded across his chest. Her heart lurched. With his face so serious, what could he be thinking? Was he sorry he gave her the necklace? Or was he still feeling guilty about Raeanne?

  Opening the box, she looked at the lovely rose on a delicate silver chain and then back at Adam.

  “Would you do the honors?” she asked, holding out the box as she walked toward him.

  His Adam’s apple bounced as he took the box and lifted the necklace out. “I’m usually all thumbs when it comes to stuff like this.”

  His hands were large and muscular, with short, even nails, and as gentle as those of any man she’d ever known.

  “I think you’ll be able to manage.” She turned her back to him.

  After a moment’s hesitation, he lifted her hair away from her neck, sending gooseflesh down her spine. The backs of his fingers brushed her nape, lingered as he worked the clasp.

  “There you go.” His voice deeper and more husky than usual, he stepped back.

  She adjusted the rose in the hollow at the base of her throat where her pulse beat so heavily. She turned toward him. “How does it look?”

  His gaze focused on the pendant, then slowly he raised his eyes to meet hers. Electricity sizzled between them as though the power of yesterday’s thunderstorm still raged.

  “I’ve been thinking.” Speaking softly, he continued to keep her snared with the power of his intensity. “If you can figure out what I’m supposed to do, I’d like to try that online class you were talking about. The one that might help me read better.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Adam spent the following morning second-guessing himself and looking for an excuse not to take the online class. It had to have been her perfume—something light and flowery—that had taken over his mind when he lifted her hair off her neck. And then the feel of her baby-soft skin got into the act.

  How could a man think straight with all of that going on?

  He should have skipped the necklace. Except seeing it resting just below her throat, where everyone could see the gift he gave her, was enough to drive any man loony. Willing to say or do anything to keep her close.

  He flexed his jaw. He’d talk her out of the whole idea. That’s what he’d do.

  “I don’t want to sit out in the garage half the night working on my computer,” he complained to Janelle, who had come into the garage office to do some work while Rae was taking a nap.

  An I-know-what-you’re-doing smile tilted her lips. “We can use my laptop and set it up on the dining-room table.”

  He shoved his hands into his overall pockets. “No way could I concentrate with the girls hanging over my shoulder. Besides, I don’t want Hailey to know what I’m up to.” Nor did he want to be forced to admit he had dyslexia.

  Her nicely arched brows lifted, her eyes challenging his excuses. “You can do the program after the girls have gone to bed.”

  Despite his best efforts, Janelle countered every excuse he offered. She was a whole lot smarter and less susceptible to his boyish charm than the teachers he’d conned in school to get himself out of a jam.

  He must be losing his touch.

  * * *

  That evening after the girls were in bed, Janelle pulled a chair around so she could sit next to Adam at the dining table and see the computer screen.

  “I talked to the program coordinator this afternoon,” she said. “You’re all set to go. To start, you simply have to double-click the icon on the left.”

  He stared at the screen. The tightness of his shoulders, the grim set to his jaw, screamed that he didn’t want to do this. She could almost hear him loudly complain, “I’d rather eat tacks.”

  Poor guy.

  A deep inhale raised his chest, apparently giving him enough courage to click the icon. The screen filled and a voice welcomed him to Fast-Track Reading, then it asked that he click on lesson one.

  “How many lessons are there?” he asked.

  “I don’t know. The description said it usually takes three to four months to complete the course.”

  “You’re kidding!” He glared at her and his voice
rose. “I’m not going to sit here every night for four months fussing with some reading program.”

  “It’s only for a half hour per night and only five nights a week. Unless you want to do more.”

  “Yeah, right!” He barked a humorless laugh. “As if I’d want to do more just for the fun of it.”

  Janelle had no doubt his attitude and anger were born of many years of frustration and repeated failure. Fear kept him rooted in his old habits, finding work-arounds to disguise his limitations or blustering his way through when discovery was threatened.

  “Adam, listen to me.” She rested her hand on his forearm. “You’re a successful businessman. Everyone in town respects and loves you. You’re a great dad. You’ve conquered every challenge that you’ve faced and overcome all the odds. You’re a genius when it comes to fixing cars. Now is the time to face this challenge—your dyslexia.”

  Adam speared his fingers through his hair. All the fight went out of him, and he nodded. He’d told her he’d try the computer lessons. He couldn’t back out now. “Okay, what do I do next?”

  She gave his arm an encouraging squeeze. “Click on lesson one.”

  The screen filled with colorful animated characters waving back at them. Music swelled. A dapper-looking owl stepped forward. “Hi there. I’m Ollie the Owl, and I’m going to help you navigate Fast-Track Reading. You’ll be surprised how soon you’ll learn to read faster and understand more.”

  Shocked and humiliated, Adam shoved back his chair and stood. “It’s a cartoon program! For kids! You can turn the thing off. I’m not going to make a fool of myself with some fake barn owl.”

  Closing her eyes, Janelle cringed. “I’m sorry.”

  “Daddy?”

  Simultaneously, they both turned toward Hailey, wide-eyed and standing at the entrance to the living room in her nightgown.

  “I heard you yelling. Is something wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong.” He reached behind him to close the laptop. This was his worst nightmare, that Hailey would find out about his dyslexia. “You go on back to bed now. Everything’s fine.”

  “Tell her the truth, Adam,” Janelle whispered.

  He couldn’t!

  “Were you and Janelle having a fight?”

  “No, of course not.” He got the lid closed. His palms were damp, his mouth dry. “You want me to come tuck you in again?”

  “She loves you, Adam. She’ll be so proud of what you’re trying to do. Tell her.” Janelle’s voice was ripping him apart.

  “No, it’s okay.” Hailey’s gaze shifted between them. “Can I get a drink of water?”

  “Sure, Peanut. Help yourself.”

  Still keeping an eye on him, she walked barefoot into the kitchen, got down a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water. What was she thinking? Was the water an excuse to hang around, find out what he’d been hiding all these years?

  “So if you aren’t mad at Janelle, why were you yelling?” A good question from a kid who wore a troubled expression.

  Problem was, Adam didn’t have a good answer.

  “It’s nothing,” Adam repeated. “I was just mad at myself, that’s all.”

  “Why?”

  As hard as he tried, he still couldn’t come up with a ready answer. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. A hangnail on his thumb drew his interest. He couldn’t meet her eyes.

  “See, here’s the thing,” he began with a shrug he tried to make casual. “I’m not a real good reader. Janelle found this program online that might help me to speed up my reading. It’s kind of a dorky thing for kids, and I got—”

  “You’re going to learn to read? Really?” A big smile brightened Hailey’s face.

  “Well, you know, I can read,” he backpedaled. “This is just a way to read faster. I’m not even sure I’m going to try it.”

  Hailey left her glass of water on the counter and ran to Adam, hugging him tightly. “This is great, Dad. I didn’t know there was a way to fix it so you could read. Now you’ll be able to read all the books you want to and help me with my homework and everything.”

  He met Janelle’s gaze over the top of Hailey’s head.

  Tell her the truth, she silently mouthed.

  He pursed his lips and squeezed his eyes closed. It would kill him to have his daughter think he was stupid. But could he keep lying to her, making excuses? Hiding the truth? A truth it seemed she’d already figured out.

  “Hailey, sweetheart, there’s something I need to tell you.” He sat down in the chair and held her hands. “See, the truth is, I really can’t read. I’ve never been able to, not very well, anyway. I’ve got something called dyslexia.”

  She stood there silent for a moment while he held his breath waiting for her reaction. “It’s no big deal, Dad. I’ve known forever that you couldn’t really read. I’m just glad Janelle’s helping you.”

  He shook his head. “You’re not ashamed of me?”

  “Why would I be ashamed of you? You’re the best dad in the whole world. Everybody knows that.” She hugged him again. “I gotta get back to bed. Don’t study too hard.”

  With that, she dashed back down the hallway to her bedroom, leaving Adam totally nonplused.

  He turned to Janelle, who was smiling like a Cheshire cat. Smart aleck! He wanted to wipe that smile off her face. Instead he found his own lips lifting into a grin.

  “She said it’s no big deal.” He felt light-headed, kind of floating, as if a big weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

  Tears glistened in Janelle’s eyes. Good tears, he thought. Tears of approval. Maybe even a little more than approval.

  “So, does that mean you want to get started on lesson one?”

  Slowly, he lifted the laptop lid. Gut-wrenching fear tangled with hope. Sweat dampened his palms. Yeah, he’d try again. Maybe he’d get it right this time.

  * * *

  Sharon called the following morning to check on Raeanne. She wanted to meet for coffee and discuss the Jackson house.

  Janelle declined. “I’m sorry, Sharon. For the next day or two I’m going to stick close to home, keep an eye on Raeanne.” Plus she needed to recover from her attack of guilt that she’d been nearly unreachable when her daughter needed her.

  “How would it be if I come to you? You can make the coffee and I’ll bring doughnuts for all of us, including Adam and the girls.”

  That offer was hard to turn down. Among other things, the beginning of school was fast approaching. Janelle wanted to get Raeanne enrolled, but until she settled on a house she didn’t have a permanent address to give to the administration. Giving Adam’s address would invite too many questions.

  It wasn’t so much that she was concerned about what others might think about their relationship. In fact, it was the opposite. She had no idea what their relationship was. And that was something she didn’t want to push.

  She’d chalked up one less-than-successful marriage in part because she had pushed Raymond for a commitment long before he was ready. She’d been young and filled with the fantasy of marriage. She’d gone right from living with her mother to being Raymond’s wife.

  She needed to prove her own independence before stepping into a new relationship. That’s what the counselor in Seattle had said.

  So Janelle agreed to Sharon’s idea, and the Realtor showed up at the house right at 10:30 with a bakery box of doughnuts in her arms.

  “I stopped in the garage to give Adam and Vern first choice.” She placed the box on the kitchen table and opened the lid. “Vern was on the chocolate donut like ants at a picnic. Adam took a glazed one, but I bought two of everything so you can have your choice.”

  Both girls came running. Kitty Cat raced along behind them as though she was due for a treat, too.

  “Can
we have any one we want?” Hailey asked.

  “You certainly may.” Sharon moved the box to provide easy access.

  In a nanosecond, Hailey made chocolate her choice.

  Raeanne, still frequently quiet with strangers, carefully plucked a jelly-filled doughnut from the box.

  Mentally, Janelle pictured the sugar high the girls were about to experience and laughed. Keeping Raeanne quiet the rest of the day might be a challenge. What a blessed problem.

  Letting the girls eat in the kitchen, Janelle took the pot of coffee, cups, plates and napkins to the dining table, where she sat down with Sharon.

  After she poured the coffee, Janelle took a bite of the extra-glazed donut and nearly moaned with pleasure. “I have the feeling you’re trying to wear down my resistance with a sugar overdose.”

  Sharon laughed. “That wasn’t my plan. But if it works, that’s fine by me.” She opened the Jackson house file and spread out the photos. “I don’t think you had a chance to see all of the extras at the house yesterday, since we had to rush away. We could go back and take another walk through, if you’d like.”

  “No, I don’t think I need to do that. It’s a beautiful place, but the bottom line is I still don’t think I can afford that house. It’s really too big for just the two of us anyway.”

  Sharon stirred some milk into her coffee and took a sip. “I think they’ll come down in their price quite a bit. We could make an offer and see what they say.” She named an amount that was twenty thousand dollars less than the listing price.

  “That almost sounds unfair to the Jacksons. They’re lovely people.”

  “People who are eager to move to be nearer their grandchildren.”

  Janelle still didn’t feel right about buying the house. Even the lower price was a bit of a stretch. Until she found some regular employment, she didn’t know what her income would be. It would be awful to move into the house and then have to sell it, uprooting Raeanne again.

  Apparently, Sharon sensed her resistance. “Tell you what, I brought along some forms from the bank. You can get a preapproval for a loan, and then you’ll know exactly how much your mortgage payments will be. The interest rates right now are so low, you’d be amazed how little you’ll have to pay.” She slid the papers toward Janelle.