Mitch spun her around, cupping her face in his hands. His dark eyes penetrated to her soul. “I’m leaving for Florida on the first flight out in the morning, but I couldn’t go without kissing you goodbye.”
Heidi moaned as he covered her mouth with his own. It wasn’t like his other kisses. This one was like a brand, sending scorching heat through her body. When he finally relinquished her mouth and walked out the front door, she wanted to die, but she couldn’t do that. She had a little boy to live for and cherish.
Her phone rang. She saw that it was Rich. He would have heard the news about the arrests from their father, but her thoughts were so far removed from anything except her love for Mitch and her son, she only had one need at the moment.
She flew down the hall to Zack’s bedroom and wrapped her arms around him so they could comfort each other through the long hours of the night.
* * *
A YEAR HAD PASSED SINCE Mitch had entered the church in Tallahassee where he’d been left as a baby. He found out from the secretary that the parish had a new priest. She showed Mitch into his office.
“Father Bouchard?”
The slim, middle-aged priest made a welcoming gesture. “Come in, my son.” He spoke with a faint French accent.
“Thank you for seeing me without any notice. My name is Mitchell Garrett. I just flew in from Salt Lake City, Utah, and came straight here.”
“Please, sit down. What can I do for you?”
“Thirty-four years ago someone brought me to this church in an orange crate and left me here.”
“Oh, yes.” He touched his fingers together. “I remember Father Antoine telling me something about that. You’re the Garrett boy who’s been looking for your parents all these years. Aren’t you in law enforcement?”
“Yes. I’m a federal marshal, but I got injured and had to take time off. I’ve been away, but now I’m back and came here first to see if you have any news for me. The secretary told me to talk to you.”
He removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Obviously if you’d found them, you wouldn’t be here.”
“No.”
The priest sat back in his chair. “I would love to be of assistance.”
“I’m sure you would. Everyone who knows my situation has gone out of their way to help me, but after all this time, it seems hopeless. Maybe I’ve been going about this the wrong way. If you have any suggestions, I’d appreciate them.”
“Tell me a little about yourself first. Do you have a wife and children?”
Mitch got a suffocating feeling in his chest. “No.”
“Were you ever married?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
Mitch took a fortifying breath. “I’m not sure what the answer to that is anymore.”
“Shall I tell you? It’s because you’ve been marking time all these years, waiting for your life to happen. What a tragedy! You know how I know this? Because I was abandoned, too, and recognize the signs.”
The priest’s admission took him by surprise.
“You’ve allowed yourself to wallow in a land of unanswered questions while there’s a whole world outside waiting to embrace you. But you’ve been afraid. You think you have to know who your people are before you can get onboard.”
For the first time in his life, Mitch was hearing someone describe his inner struggle from the inside out.
“You came to this church for help. All I can give you is a piece of advice someone gave me. It changed my life. Do you want to hear it?”
“Yes.”
“Leave your parents’ whereabouts to God. He knows where they are, but you don’t need to know. They’ve done their job. They gave you life. Your job is to live it fully. One day in the hereafter you’ll meet them. They’ll want to hear what you did with your life. Can you imagine how sad they’ll be if they thought you spent your entire time looking for them?
“By an extraordinary circumstance, I came to America on the QE2. Pure luxury. I remember during the crossing how I thought about all the thousands and thousands of souls who’d come here years earlier by ship under miserable circumstances. Many of them were orphans, or had lost loved ones and were striking out for new shores.”
A vision of the words on the Bauer float swam before Mitch’s eyes. Press Forward and Onward.
“They didn’t stay back pitying themselves and their lives,” the priest continued. “They arrived here and made new lives. It was during that crossing I had my epiphany and I determined that I would embrace life to the fullest from that point on. I urge you to do the same.”
The priest made so much sense, emotion had closed off Mitch’s throat. He shot to his feet, breathless with new energy.
Startled, the priest stood up. “Have I been of help?”
“You have no idea,” Mitch said in a thick voice. “Bless you.”
With time running short—if he were going to get back to Salt Lake in time for Zack’s program—he left the church and hailed a taxi. Twenty minutes later he entered the government building that housed the federal marshals’ office. Lew Davies almost fell out of his chair when he saw him walk in.
“Mitchell Garrett, as I live and breathe. You look like a totally different man since the last time I saw you.” He got out of his chair and came around to give Mitch a hug. “Talk about a sight for sore eyes….”
“It’s good to see you, too.”
“Damn it, Mitch. I’ve been waiting for your call. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming today? I would have arranged a big bash for you.”
Mitch had missed his old boss. “That’s why I didn’t want you to know.”
Lew sensed something was different. He stared at him, trying to read between the lines. “You’ve changed. Sit down and tell me what’s going on.”
“So much has happened I hardly know where to start. To put it simply, I’m in love with this fabulous woman, and if she and her son will have me, we’re going to get married.”
He was rewarded with another hug. “That’s the best news I ever heard! When’s the wedding, and how soon is she moving out here?”
This was the hard part. “Lew…”
“Uh-oh. Don’t tell me. You’re going to live there and be a P.I. for the rest of your life.”
Mitch nodded. “I don’t have a family here. She has a terrific family there and I want to belong to it. I’ll be flying back tomorrow night.”
“Boy, when you move fast, no one can catch you.”
Mitch studied his old friend. “You know I’ll never forget my time with the agency. You’ve been the greatest boss in the world. In fact, I owe you more than you’ll ever know. If it weren’t for you trying to protect me, I would never have been sent to Salt Lake and I would never have met Heidi.”
“Heidi, is it?” Lew smiled.
“Heidi’s short for Adelheide. It’s Austrian. She’s so beautiful, Lew. And she’s got a son named Zack any father would pray for.”
“I’m going to have to meet them.”
“I’ve got photos. If she says yes, you and Ina will be getting a wedding invitation.”
“Is there any doubt your sweetheart will say yes?”
Mitch closed his eyes for a minute. “I haven’t told her I love her yet.”
A sound of exasperation escaped Lew. “For being the best federal marshal this office has ever seen, it’s a different story when it comes to your love life. I’ve got to meet the woman who’s finally brought down the legendary Mitch Garrett.”
He patted Mitch on the back, then told him to sit. “You’ve got a ton of paperwork to fill out before you leave the department forever. I’ll tell Nancy to get it ready. Then I want to see those photos.”
* * *
A few mothers were helping the kids put on their costumes. Heidi assumed the white togas and fake laurel-leaf wreaths were meant to convey victory through excellence. His had slipped down over one eyebrow.
“I don’t want to be in the program.”
She put the wreath back in place. “I know you don’t, but you have to.” Life had to go on without Mitch, even if they were barely hanging on. Not one word from him, not even for Zack.
Mitch would never be intentionally cruel. It wasn’t in him. But it was evident he felt that no more contact was the best way to handle their parting. Her mind recognized he’d done the right thing, but emotionally she was shattered and knew Zack was, too.
“I’ve got a stomachache.”
Heidi believed him. This time she understood the reason. All the other kids had two parents who came to these programs. For the most part Zack had been handling his daddyless world pretty well. Then Mitch had come along. In a week he’d formed an attachment that gave him a taste of how great it would be to have the tough Marine around all the time. But Mitch was no longer available.
She could have told Zack how lucky he was that his grandfather Bauer would be coming. She could point out that there were kids whose grandfathers couldn’t or wouldn’t be in the audience. But even though he loved her father very much, it wasn’t the same.
“I’ll be right up front.” He didn’t like her to kiss him when the other kids were around. All she could do was squeeze his hand. “See you in a minute.” As she walked away, the image of a forlorn little Julius Caesar stayed with her all the way to the auditorium.
The gym was filling up fast. She beat another family to the only seats remaining on the front row—at the end. Heidi had no idea where Zack would be sitting on the stage, but at least she’d be close. All of the grades, K-6, would be in the program, so there was a huge crowd. Pretty soon her parents appeared. They sat down next to her just before the principal called everyone to order.
“How’s he doing?” her mom whispered.
“I don’t know. We’ll see if he makes it onstage.”
Both her parents knew how crushed Zack was because Mitch had left. She loved them for offering their moral support, not only to him, but to her. There were families in the audience who knew of Gary’s involvement in the embezzlement scheme. It had been in the news for several days now. Heidi had done everything to shield Zack.
Besides the fear that he might pick up on it, she had an even greater worry. For the next three weeks, Zack was going to be out of school. She’d taken time off from work to be with him. A happy Zack would be one thing, but he was depressed. To prevent him from falling into a pattern of not wanting to play with anybody, she’d decided they were going on vacation.
First thing in the morning they were driving to Nebraska to visit Evy and see the new baby. The distraction would be good for him, and he’d be forced to interact with his cousins.
“I want to welcome mommies and daddies and grandparents and great-grandparents and everyone else to our school program,” the school principal announced. “We’re very proud of our children and their accomplishments. Our first class to come on stage will be the morning and afternoon kindergarten.”
The teacher at the piano started playing. Heidi watched the kids with crowns march in, but didn’t remember anything else. Her stomach had been upset all day waiting for Zack’s part in the program. She was tired of fighting him and exhausted from crying into her pillow half the night.
Her dad nudged her in the ribs. “Zack’s class is coming in.”
She strained to find him. “I can’t see him.” Her anxiety increased.
“He’s probably the last one,” Ernst said.
Or maybe he’d decided to stay in the classroom. In about one second she would slip out and look for him. Being that she was on the end of the row made it easier for her. But someone else had just put a chair next to hers and sat down, blocking her exit.
Surprised, she turned to say excuse me, then almost fainted when she saw who it was. “Mitch!”
It couldn’t be—
“Sorry I got here at the last second,” he whispered. “My flight out of Atlanta was delayed.” He grasped her hand, sending shock waves through her body.
She’d never known his dark eyes to be this alive, as if he were the keeper of some marvelous secret. Whatever the reason he was back in Salt Lake, the thrill of seeing the flesh-and-blood man made her giddy.
“Here he comes!” her mother exclaimed.
Heidi tore her eyes from Mitch’s in order to find Zack and let him know they were there. He was third from the end on the other side of the stage. He walked with a solemn gait. She knew he was hating every minute of it.
Mitch leaned closer, brushing her ear with his lips. How she was breathing at all was a mystery to her. “He looks as if he’s pondering the great speech he has to make before the Senate.” It was so true, she had to fight not to burst out laughing. All she could do was squeeze his hand harder.
The children came forward in small groups to say a line. When it was Zack’s turn, he and two other children stepped forward. Heidi’s heart almost stopped beating when he looked in her direction and saw who was sitting next to her. It caused him to pause for a second before he remembered to say his part. After he got it out, his face lit up like someone had flipped on a switch.
Mitch gave him a thumbs-up.
Pretty soon his class had to file out to make room for the second-graders. Zack waved to the four of them before he disappeared behind the curtain. While the audience clapped, Mitch and her parents acknowledged each other and shook hands across Heidi, who sat there dazed.
When he sat back he felt for her hand again and tucked it under his arm. The proprietorial gesture sent fingers of delight up her arm. She glanced at his profile. “There’s going to be a party in his class once this is over.”
“You have no idea how much I’ve been looking forward to this.”
Really?
Heidi was filled with questions, but now wasn’t the time to ask them. It was enough he’d come to see Zack perform. It was a gesture more important to Zack than possibly even Heidi knew. These children were her son’s peers. Now he had Mitch to champion him in front of them.
The rest of the program passed in a blur. She had no desire other than to absorb the reality of him. He’d come dressed in a stone-gray summer suit and tie. With his dark blond hair and rock-hard jaw, Heidi found him outrageously handsome. She rejoiced in being with him.
After the last group had performed, Mitch ushered her out of the gym and down the hall to Zack’s room. While her parents went ahead of them, he kept a possessive hand at the small of her back, as if he needed to maintain constant contact. Heidi loved this sense of belonging. She’d never known a feeling like it.
They found Zack in a lineup in front of the room with the other children getting his picture taken in his costume. He was too restless to stand still. The second it was over, her parents were there to hug him. Heidi took her turn next, whether or not he liked her hugging him in front of the other kids.
“You did a great job today, honey. I’m very proud of you.”
“Thanks,” he said, but his eyes had focused on Mitch.
A lot of the children and parents were staring at the attractive man who let go of Heidi long enough to give him a hug. “You were awesome, sport.”
Zack’s face beamed. “You came! How come?”
“Because you asked me and
because I wanted to.” He helped him off with his costume. The teacher was gathering them.
“Did you go to Florida?”
That’s what Heidi wanted to know.
“Yes, but I had to come back to clear up some unfinished business, and I wouldn’t have missed your program.”
“Oh.”
Heidi’s parents sent her a silence message of concern before they gravitated to the table for cookies and punch.
“Do you want to see my collage?” Zack said.
“I want to see everything,” Mitch answered. “Lead the way.”
It was at the other end of the room on the wall. Heidi noticed Zack’s friend Jacob standing there with his parents. The children had made their 10 x 12 masterpieces out of colored paper. Above them was a sign that read When I grow up I’m going to be…
Zack pointed to his creation. “My teacher couldn’t guess.”
“Really?” Mitch’s brows lifted in surprise. “Anyone can see you’re going to be a master spy. That’s a cool-looking walkie-talkie you put in there.”
Jacob squinted at Zack’s picture, then stared at Mitch. “Who’s that?” he whispered.
“I’m Mitch. Who are you?”
“Jacob.”
“I’ve heard about you. You’re Zack’s friend. He and I ride bikes together and play spy.”
“I can ride a bike.”
“Maybe you could come with us some time,” Mitch said.
“He’ll need a walkie-talkie.”
Mitch winked at Zack. “That can be arranged.”
At this juncture Heidi introduced him to Jacob’s mom and dad. Then her parents came over to say they had to leave. “Maybe we’ll see you sometime,” her mother teased quietly.
“Don’t be silly. We’ll walk you out. Come on, Zack.”
“Okay. See ya, Jacob.”
The five of them exited the building. After they’d talked a little longer, her parents got in their car and drove off.
The Marshal's Prize (Harlequin American Romance) Page 17
